Page 167 of Justice II

Since coming home, I had been so fucking pleasant. I picked up after myself and answered his questions without rolling my eyes. I even asked how Dream was doing. He probably thought those doctors had accomplished something.

Meanwhile, I was counting down the hours until I met Tavares.

Justice could keep trying to fix me, but I wanted somebody who didn’t think I needed fixing. Tavares had a checkered past so I knew he wouldn’t judge me for mine.

I took the bus to the diner and checked my secret phone while I was on my way.

Tavares: I’m inside. Waiting on my girl.

I smiled at the screen. That was what I wanted. Somebody who was excited to see me without needing to discuss my behavior first.

For a second, I wondered whether I would recognize him. I was only able to find one picture online and that was of his mugshot. He was pretty private and I couldn’t find anything about him anywhere.

I pulled the cord to get off at the next stop. I checked my reflection in the window before getting out. I looked fine. As cute as I could look in my uniform.

Tavares was sitting in a booth when I got inside. He looked up as I approached, then stood with his arms open.

“Come here, baby girl.”

I hugged him, smiling against his shoulder. He held me for a few seconds before pulling back to look at my face.

“Damn. Look at you.”

I looked more like Monica, so I didn’t see much of a resemblance in him. He looked rough. His beard was knotty and untamed. Justice would never leave the house looking like that. He wore a black hoodie and a pair of black sweatpants. And dirty Timbs. I knew he just got out of prison, but damn. Did you even try to put yourself together before meeting your long-lost daughter?

I slid into the booth across from him. He’d already ordered an orange juice for me.

“Anybody know you here?” he asked.

“No.”

“Your lil friends?”

“I don’t really have friends.”

“What about Justice?”

“He doesn’t know anything.”

Tavares nodded, watching me over his cup.

“You sure?”

“I used my other phone. The one he doesn’t know about. I’m not dumb,” I replied.

“Smart girl.”

“Why you ain’t got no friends?” he asked.

“The other girls aren’t really on my level,” I responded.

“I see. What about a boyfriend?” he pried.

“Definitely not.”

“You never had a boyfriend before?”

“No.” I shook my head. I tried to make Tron my boyfriend to make Justice jealous but it didn’t work. It just got me in trouble. I was still a virgin and was saving it for Justice. But he’d rather be with booty wipers like Melody.