04. Beautiful

[ Warning: Mentions of sexual harassment]

I felt the sun beams hitting my face, mostly my eyes as they burned. I groaned before turning away from the window, to find the other side of my bed empty. My brother is probably getting ready for school.

I got up from bed and made my way to the lounge, only to find my grandma on the phone.

" Good morning nonna," I greeted her and she waved back, before walking out and dashing to her room.

Weird.

I decided to make Andrea breakfast, well, a breakfast smoothie, since he was going to train today in the morning as well as afterschool. I made him my favorite frozen pineapple and mango smoothie with double cream plain yogurt.

He went into the kitchen, with nothing but a towel around his waist. I glared at him and he smiled.

" Good morning sleepy head," he said, smiling.

" Not really, it's still seven," I said, pointing at the time in the microwave.

" Yeah sure," he said, disappearing from my sight.

I placed the smoothie in his bottle before rushing up to my room; closing the door behind me as I rushed up to my closet, and grabbed a hundred-dollar bill before walking out my room; going back into the kitchen and drinking some of the smoothie I made for myself.

He finally emerged wearing a yellow hoodie and matching sweat shorts and yellow Jordans. His duffel bag straddled his shoulder while he held his backpack in his hand. I passed him the bottle and he thanked me.

" So should I fetch you or should I walk with you to school?" I asked him and he smiled.

" I would prefer both," he said, and I nodded.

" I'll be right back," I said before rushing into my room and ripping off my clothes off; grabbing a sweater and matching sweatpants and topping off my outfit with a pair of slides. I rushed out of my room, and he was already waiting by the door, busy on his phone.

" Let's go," I said to him and he followed on.

" Who do you think nonna was talking to?" he asked as we were walking down the corridors.

" I don't know hey," I said truthfully. " Seemingly it was very important."

" What's as important as greeting your favorite and only grandson?" he scoffed as we started descending the staircase.

" Well, she just waved and ran out the lounge with immense granny speed," I mocked and we both laughed.

" Oh wow, really?" he said while chuckling.

" Yes," I said before I decided to hand him the dollar." This is for you."

He looked at the note, then back at me. He shook his head no before shoving my hand away.

" No thanks. You need the money to take care of us," he said as we started walking out the building.

The sun's rays slapping our faces. It is soon to be summer, and the sun decided to visit early. The homecoming game is tomorrow. It is a very important game for my brother, because if they win, he might get a scholarship, lessening my problems.

We strolled down the pavement, ogling the fancy cars that seemingly were following each other. My brother would involuntarily gasp every time a black fancy car drove by. I kicked the rocks on the pavement trying to find a way for him to take the dollar bill as there were stashes of them in my room.

" Do take it Andrea," I whined, handing it to him, and he shook his head no.

" You need it," he exclaimed.

" If I did, I wouldn't be giving it to you, now, would I?" I asked with my hands on my waist, in a standing stance.

" The Xbox was enough," he said before dragging me along, and I decided to sneak the dollar into his pocket without him noticing it. He wrapped his arms around me and continued to pull me with him.

"When last did you attend your classes?" he asked.

" Last week. I have handed in an assignment. I'm not far behind though. I'm just having semester tests," I answered truthfully and he nodded.

We finally reached his school building, after we took a hard right. The building looked old yet still modern.

He hugged me for the last time before he let me go. A group of familiar faces, calling to him as he rushed up to them; greeting them one by one. I smiled before rubbing my arms, and walking back home.

It didn't take as long as it did when we went. Also, maybe because my legs had picked a very low-key fast pace when I felt like someone was following me.

I would turn and check who walked behind me but I saw no one. But I had the constant feeling that I was being watched, and I didn't like that fact. When I reached the apartment building, I picked up the pace and rushed up to the third floor, going to the apartment.

My grandma was standing near the stove, glaring at a pot. I walked over to her and realized that the oil in the pot was popping and jumping on to her flesh.

" Nonna!" I shrieked, pulling her from the stove.

" Huh?" she asked, facing me with a frown on her face.

" You want to burn?" I asked, lifting up her hands with traces of hot oil.

" No, I'm sorry," she said, shaking her head. " I've just been thinking."

" Yeah, I can see," I scoffed.

She walked over to the stove and switched it off. She looked seriously troubled. Her tiny body was slouching over, and her slow walks were now more at a snail's pace. She sighed aloud before rubbing her face. She then traced her hand onto the grey bun situated on top of her head.

" I need to go somewhere," she said quickly, moving towards the exit of the kitchen, going to her room.

" What is it?" I asked, following her.

She grabbed her old yet reliable hand bag and took her sachet that she used as a purse, stuffing it inside the bag and grabbing her very old Blackberry, throwing it in the bag as well.

She sighed aloud before she pushed me out the way, walking past me and going out the apartment door. For an old lady with arthritis, she sure moves fast.

I was now left alone, but I had to go to the diner, so I rushed over to take a quick shower and brush my teeth. After spreading the lotion allover my body, I opted to wear the clothes I had worn earlier when taking Andrea to school.

I quickly threw my hair into a messy bun before grabbing my stuff and rushing to the diner. I still had the feeling that someone was watching me, so I turned back, and the only thing that looked out of place, was a black BMW moving at a snail's pace.

I stood with my arms on my waist and watched it. Suddenly, I took a glimpse and noticed the driver was busy on his phone before speeding off.

No one was watching or following me. It was just my paranoia. I finally arrived at the Mexican building, pushing the doors open, greeting the awaiting customers and rushing to the back of the diner to go change into a pair of jeans and a white gold shirt.

Seemingly, Jorja hadn't arrived yet, so I decided to take the shift myself. Brunch and lunch were always busy hours in the diner. Most people decide to work in the diner and some have meetings. I had to double my game as I was literally the only one serving.

As I was placing a tray of food in front of a very hungry customer, his belly out of the very tight cream-white shirt, probably dyed by food stains, a convey of big fancy cars caught my eye as they parked right out on the road.

I placed the food on the man's table, before rushing back into the back of the diner, getting more orders. Jorja finally rushed in wearing a pair of baggy jeans with sneakers. She looked sick and she looked like she had a rough night.

" Sorry I'm late, had stuff to do," she said.

" What is this stuff?" I said, placing the food on a tray.

" I went to a frat party not far from my house, made out with a few guys, hooked up with some guy, forgot his name but then yeah...hangover, vomited my lungs out. The usual," she answered before offering to help me with the heavy tray.

We rushed out and placed the food in a booth and as we're about to walk out, we got called over to a very big table.

The table had about twenty very scary looking men. Jorja decided to pull me with her as we discussed how I was getting the drink orders and she the food.

" Good afternoon, how can we help you?" Jorja asked.

" Twenty lunch specials please and only cola," one of the big scary men said, while the others were staring at us and we nodded.

We rushed back and placed the order. Jorja looked at me and I looked back at her before we burst into laughter.

" Those things are scary damn!" I exclaimed.

" Things?" Jorja said, snickering.

" Yes," I said, chuckling.

" Oh wow", she said, grabbing out the glasses and quickly wiping them; passing them to me, as I filled them with cola.

When we were done, she filled a tin bucket with ice. We placed the glasses on a tray as we walked over to the "scary" table.

Their seemingly heated conversation came into an awkward lull when we arrived and placed ten glasses and an ice bucket before we went back to the kitchen. Jorja collected the food while I was busy with their drinks.

We placed the food down on the table and left with a " Enjoy your meal", before we were to turn, only for one of the men to spank me and say something in Italian, causing his friends to chuckle. I froze and Jorja's face was filled with fury.

" Hey you punk!" she roared at the man, who was three times her size.

" What?" the man asked, amused. He had a very rich Italian accent that couldn't ever be missed.

" Is she your wife? Is she your slut for the night? Since not, why the fuck would you think you have the fucken right to touch her ass? It's not yours! Your little dick wouldn't even suffice!" Jorja ranted and I tried to stop her but damn, she stood her ground.

" Do you know who you are talking to?" the guy asked, suddenly pissed off.

" I DON'T GIVE A FUCK EVEN IF YOU WERE A GOD! YOU WILL RESPECT A LADY YOU DIRTY ASS COWARD! ACTUALLY, YOU ARE NOT DIFFERENT FROM A HORNY TEENAGER!" She continued.

Jamie stepped out of his office, quite confused when he heard the hassle.

" What's happening?" Jamie asked.

" Are you the manager of this place?" the man asked and Jamie nodded.

" Well, you should teach your staff how the customer is always right and also put these dogs on a leash," the guy said livid.

" NO, YOU PEDOPHILE! YOU CAN'T SPANK MY FRIEND AND THEN CALL US DOGS, YOU BITCH. YOU WEAK DICK! YOU SMELLY ASS HOLE! YOU WEAK ASS FUCKING, MOTHERFUCKIN PUNK ASS NIGGA WHO STILL HORNY AS HELL!" Jorja spat.

The scary man seemed to be moved and seemingly looked like he was about to break Jorja in half, when one of his friends pulled him back. I pulled Jorja back and rushed her into the back of the restaurant. She was seething with anger. Fury embedded in her face.

" Calm down!" I said to her.

" No! Men like him deserve to die!" she yelled.

" Yeah, I know, but calm the fuck down!" I spoke. "Walk it off!"

She groaned before walking out the back of the restaurant. I sighed aloud as I walked back into the restaurant, only to find Jamie shaking in his pants as the guy placed a gun near his temple.

I shrieked and covered my mouth with my hand, to stifle the gasp that was to rip out of my throat. It's how casual every one of the men was. They continued to eat as their friend continued to harass us. I rushed back into the kitchen and did nothing.

Jamie could handle it. Even though he was seemingly pissing on himself at the moment.

Jamie rushed in, with wide eyes. He rushed towards me and muttered a " you handle it" before he ran out.

Me?

Handle it? I was the one harassed, for Pete’s sake!

I peeked out and, luckily, they were walking out now. I rushed towards the table, and they had left a huge stack of cash on the table.

Luckily, there were only two other customers but they were sitting outside having lunch, so they couldn't have seen what had happened.

I cleared the table, trust me, I did not even know where I had got the strength to clean up everything by myself. I placed the money in the till and realized they had left a five hundred-dollar tip. I cashed it and saved the other half for Jorja.

I went out of the diner to clear the table outside and grab the money when I felt a pair of very manly hands on my ass.

I froze.

The person kept on molding it in his hands and I would flinch at every touch, disgusted. He then said something in deep Italian. I only know a bit, but mine is more American Italian than Italian from Italy.

" Leave her alone, Granté. Boss needs us," one of his friends said and I could feel his cold breath that stung my nose as it was bad.

" Bella," he spoke.

I knew what that meant.

Beautiful.

He walked away and I heard him getting into one of the very expensive-looking cars and through the glimpse of my eyes, I saw the cars drive past me.

I felt a tear sting my cheek as I was harassed in broad daylight, making me feel dirty. I sighed, vigorously wiping off the tears and grabbing the plates and rushing back into the diner, only to throw them in the sink.

" Why are you angry at my precious babies?" Kenneth asked grimly.

He was the dishwasher in the diner. He, in actual fact, was from Ghana but came to this side to study. He decided to get a job as his scholarship didn't pay him enough pocket money. He was three years older than me. He had long dreadlocks and he had fair brown skin with black eyes and a very thin body.

" I'm not angry!" I said with a strained voice and he nodded.

I rushed out to go back and change into the clothes I had previously worn before my shift. Jorja stormed inside the changing chambers with her bag on her back. We then left.

" Here is your tip," I finally spoke, giving her the money.

" I don't want that shit and where is your half?" she asked, and I handed it to her and she tore the money in half and I frowned.

" Why would you do that?" I asked, grieving over the loss of my two hundred and fifty dollars.

She took out her purse from her bag and took out six hundred dollars and handed it to me. I was about to protest but she shut me up, placing her hand on my mouth. I furrowed my eyebrows and sighed aloud before she removed the hand.

" We are going to watch Andrea's practice," I said to her and she nodded.

" How are you?" she asked, glancing over at me.

" I've been through worse," I answered truthfully.

" Don't do that!" she hissed.

" What?" I asked, confused.

" That thing where you just feel as if you are an object," she answered.

" Let's hurry, or we will miss his practice," I said, dragging her along, shutting her up.

We finally reached the big school. Used to be my old school, not Jorja's though. We walked in the school yard before heading to the field. The familiar formation of cliques and the labeling of nerds, jocks, plastics and duffs filled the atmosphere.

I tried to ignore the looks and glares I got from a couple of students who had repeated the grade. We hurried up to the tunnel that led through the field. The sun beamed on the other end. We could see a few athletes running around the field, while others stretched their bodies. We finally reached the busy field.

Cheerleaders in their skimpy gold and black uniforms, dancing about, practicing for the game tomorrow. The players jogging about in their sports shorts, others in their football uniform.

We rushed up to the grandstands and took a seat in the second row. I caught a glimpse of Andrea as he was pulling on his number 07 jersey and pulling up his helmet. He seemingly looked like he was looking for someone but couldn't find them.

" ANDREA!" I roared, vigorously waving my arms about until he caught my attention.

He gave me the thumbs up before turning towards his team. A few cheerleaders turned my way and I saw them snicker.

" Argh, what is up with those bitches?" Jorja scoffed and I giggled.

" They think I'm his girlfriend," I answered with my laughter at the tip of my tongue.

" You lie!" Jorja exclaimed and I laughed at her expression.

" That's what a lot of people think actually, and he doesn't even try to correct them. Only his group of friends know we are siblings." I spoke.

We then saw them huddled up in the middle of the field, others wearing black and gold while others were white and blue. Andrea's team were wearing black and gold.

It was the first team as well as the second team. Andrea was in the first with his best friend, Tae. We saw them running into different positions. Jorja's iPhone was already out, taping the practice on her phone.

The practice game began. Through all the cheers, the shouting, the roaring, the sideline coaching me and Jorja did as if they could hear us, it paid up as the first team won the practice round.

The guys were ecstatic and they cheered. They took off their jerseys and threw them in a cart, leaving their helmets near another bench.

They were all walking around with their abs and I could feel myself twitch a bit. I might be older than some of them, but they were very well structured.

" Damn, your brother is hot," Jorja exclaimed and my eyebrows furrowed.

" Excuse me?" I asked and she waved me off.

" You also ogling your eyes at those children," she said and I laughed.

We left the stands and rushed over to the tunnel to wait for Andrea and Tae. After a few whistles and a few "Hey's" from the guys as well as Jorja, Tae and Andrea finally reached us. Their shirts clung to their sweat and you could see the perspiration on their foreheads.

" Hey," Tae greeted me before wrapping an arm around me and hugging me. He had a very hoarse and deep voice, just like Andrea but thicker.

" Hey," I said, hugging him back. " You smell like cologne and sweat with a bit of sun"

" Thanks...it's a new scent I'm using." He joked and I laughed.

" Can I hug my sister now?" Andrea scoffed after hugging Jorja.

" Yeah no, she is mine," Tae said as we started walking away from the field.

" Nah dawg, don't fuck with me like that." Andrea complained and I snickered.

" Language!" I warned him.

" Don't talk to me, traitor," he whined, and I rolled my eyes.

" Andrea, why are you complaining, I'm literally here," Jorja spoke.

" And?" Andrea shot back and Jorja chuckled.

" Damn, you are colder than me," she said, and they both chuckled.

We were now walking towards the exit of the building. When we arrived by the school gates, Tae bid farewell before climbing onto the school bus.

He lived a few blocks from us but he decided to use the bus because he was tired. We continued to walk back home. It didn't take much time to arrive at the apartment building and we waited for Jorja's Uber on the staircase.

When she left, we climbed up and went to our apartment building only to find out grandmother wasn't there. Andrea looked at me with a confused face, which I, too, returned. I went to check her bedroom, but she wasn't there. I went into my room before I plopped on it, tired of the very disgusting day I had.

I tried to close my eyes but I couldn't because I could still see the smirk on his face. Still smell the weed and skunk in his breath. The way he touched and molded my butt was as if he was entitled to it.

I felt the tears rolling down my eyes. Somehow, it reminded me of that day. When back at the strip club, I don't feel violated because I know what I was doing, but when you are in a diner as a waitress, it hits differently because it means all they see is a sex object.

I frowned at the thought, trying to stifle the sob that was to escape my lips. A knock pierced through the silence of my room. I jumped up, wiping off all the traces of tears on my face, took a deep breath and walked to open the door. Andrea was standing there with books in his hand and I frowned at him.

" Can you help me with mathematics?" he asked, rubbing the back of his neck with the other hand.

" Get in," I said and he did. " I also want to do my last assignment."

" When are your exams?" he asked, placing the books on the bed near the French door.

" Next semester. I'm doing my last test in a month's time though," I said, grabbing my bag from the floor and throwing all my books on my bed.

While others used a laptop, I used textbooks. I couldn't afford a laptop and I didn't even bother buying one. I then jumped on the bed, and so did he. I grabbed his book and started paging through to the section they were busy with before schools closed.

It's funny how they were going to write a Mathematics test on the last day of school.

I began to explain the work to him. When I was done, I focused on my work. After three hours and forty-five minutes of working, I finally jumped off bed. Andrea left an hour ago and said he was very hungry, so he decided to go make food for us.

I packed up my bags and placed them back on the floor. I grabbed Andrea's books, walked out of my room, and went to his to place his books back on his bed.

I walked out of his room, going into the kitchen, only to find him talking to my grandmother. She was already back at home and she didn't even come to check on me. This lady is being funny these days.

I walked past her and went to grab a glass, so I could fill it up with water from the fridge.

" Stasia?" she called, and I turned to face her.

" Nonna?" I asked

" I need to tell you and your brother something," she spoke and both our eyebrows furrowed together.

" Your..."

She managed to say until her phone started ringing. She took it out of her shirt pocket and quickly answered it in Italian. She rushed up to her room and closed it shut. Both Andrea and I were confused.

" What is up with your grandmother?" I asked and he shrugged.

" I don't know."