@Geniis4you Genesis never planned to be here, she had been in many fights, but this one fight at her school in Chicago got her expelled and sent to live with her aunt in Harlem, New York. She planned to keep her head down, finishing the school year off right, and then getting to go back home. But Harlem doesn't let people stay invisible for long. It's not romantic at first. They met on her second day at Harlem High. He was in the hallway on the second floor next to the Green lockers, talking loudly with his friends. She caught him looking at her, but she didn't stop walking. The thing is, Notti has never met a girl like her. She's doesn't seem to be interested in the least by him. As a matter of fact, she barely even looks his way. That indifference hits him harder than anything. At first, he starts small, showing up in the spots she hangs out, accidentally sitting next to her in class, and finding excuses to talk to her. The more she brushes him off, the deeper the obsession gets. It's not about her saying yes, it's about making her see him. When he had finally told her how he felt, she rejected him. It was like lighting a match in gasoline. Instead of backing off, he got worse. He wanted everything. Her attention, her time, her loyalty, and if she didn't give it willingly, he would make sure she didn't give it to anyone else. Sometimes, he would call her phone late at night, just to hear her voice. Genesis had always been a light sleeper. So the soft, tap tap on her window yanked her out of sleep. Her room was dim except for the streetlight bleeding through the blinds, and her bonnet had slid halfway off in her tossing. She squinted at the clock. Three o four am. Another knock came, it was louder this time. She groaned, threw her comforter off of herself and trudged over to her bedroom window. She pulled the curtains back, and nearly jumped out of her skin. "... Notti? Why is you at my window at three in the morning?" Her voice was groggy, thick with sleep. He was standing on the fire escape, with the faint shadow of a grin on his face. In his hands, a box. Purple wrapping paper, neat corners, and a shiny bow. Her favorite color. "I made you somethin'," He said, like this was normal. She rubbed her eyes. "Bro. You couldn't give it to me in school?" "Nah." His voice was low, certain. "And don't open it 'til I leave." She stared at him for a second before finally taking the box through the window. "... Aight dic." He nodded once and stepped back, disappearing down the fire escape. She watched him until he hit the street, then shut her window, locked it, and closed the curtains. Sitting on the edge of her bed, she turned the box in her hands. Curiosity had won. The wrapping ripped under her fingers, the lid came off. Her breath caught in her throat. It was Malik . Her classmate. His eyes were glassy. Genesis screamed so loud. The box fell to the floor, and malik rolled onto her carpet. Her aunt's footsteps pounded down the hall. "Genesis! What happened?!" She couldn't answer. She couldn't even breathe. Because in that moment, standing frozen, her aunt fumbling with the door, she realized something that made her blood run colder. She had never told notti where she lived.