Page 94 of Grown

“Oh. Well, it’s whatever. And he did help me get away from Korey, by sending me you.”

Derrick’s face turns up into a snarl, his voice stern.

“Yo, you can’t keep burying what happens to you, thinking it’ll solve itself. Your voice ain’t just for singing, you know? You gotta speak up. If not for you, then for the next you, ’cause there’s gonna be one if you let people think they can get away with hurting you.”

Guilt pulses up my spine. I nod my head. “You’re right.”

Derrick takes a relieving breath before his eyes light up. “Yoooo! Did you watch last week’s episode?”

Within minutes, the mood shifts, and we’re back to shit-talking, debating which we like more,Love and Hip HopNY or ATL. I’m always a fan of NY but ATL has some characters. I laugh, like really laugh with my whole chest, for the first time in months. Feels good. Almost normal.

From the corner of my eye, I see Malika—hard to miss being the only person in the middle of the room not dancing, a bright phone screen reflecting off her face. Hand to her mouth, she gapes in horror before her head pops up, looking dead at me.

A sickly feeling takes over.

Malika rushes across the room to Sean, jamming her phone in his face.

Derrick is still talking as I watch them. His phone buzzes. He takes one look and flinches.

“Oh shit,” he mutters, eyes wide.

“What is it?”

Phones chirp and buzz around us, like that day the world saw our YouTube video. Except I know it’s not as innocent as us singing. From everyone’s shocked expressions, I know it’s something... more.

“I... I... fuck,” Derrick says, grabbing my hand. “Come on, we have to go.”

For a split second, I wonder if Korey killed himself like he said he would. Maybe out in the parking lot. And it would be all my fault.

Once in the lobby, I can’t take the suspense and yank away from him.

“Would you just tell me what’s going on?” I snap.

Derrick bites his fist, seeming torn. “Aight, there’s a video... a sex tape. With Korey.”

My stomach lurches. I blink slow. “A... a what?”

He stands next to me, pressing play on his phone. It’s a blurry video of Korey naked... with a girl in his house... his house in Atlanta... in my old room... naked.

Derrick studies me, sorrow covering his face when it finally hits me. And I let out a delirious deep belly laugh.

“Oh, you think that’s me? Nah, that’s not me.”

Derrick’s jaw clenches, holding a grave stare.

I shake my head. “It’s not, Derrick. That’s not me!”

Chapter 64

Group Chat

W&W Squad (w/o the Jones sisters)

Malika:Well, that was a memorable Teen Conference.

Sean:Y’all. Bruh! Son! WTF!

Aisha:Some girl in the Danbury chapter said that our chapter is now known as the Porn Hub Squad.