“Why are you sitting here?  You’re loitering!” exclaimed the mall cop.

  “We were sitting here,” I replied.
“Well, you have to leave.”
As Mando and I were walking, we noticed other benches were occupied by people - white people  at that.  “That was racist as s***,”  Mando said as he held the door open.
   “I know. We were just sitting and talking,” I said .“We were barely there an hour”. Our bus ride home was an awkward silence.
The next day, he was upset. I could tell from his body language. Something was wrong. I wanted to know, so I approached him. “What’s wrong. Please tell me,” I pleaded.
   “I hate the way people treat us.”  Mando was still thinking about the incident at the mall.
“We can’t control how other people feel. When they see bi- racial relationships, there  is always going to be a negative,”
    “I guess.”
“Are you gonna be okay?”
    “Sure.”
As we walked to our first hour, one of Mando’s friends saw him. “Hey, stranger,” she said.
   “ Oh, hey,”  Mando said as he looked back at her.  As Mando stopped walking with Myiesha to finish his conversation with his friend, Ashley and her clique of white girls and boys came to surround Myiesha.  Myiesha turned around looking for Mando, but he was nowhere to be found.
“ So, you were the girl who was at the mall,” Ashley laughed.
“What are you talking about?”  Myiesha didn’t know where Ashley had seen her.
” Oh, don’t play stupid.   My father was the cop,”  Ashley always thought she was better than everyone else.
     “We were minding our own damn business,”
    “Shut up,” she said as she shoved Myiesha to the floor. Myiesha got back up and punched her, but Ashley’s little clique all came at Myiesha.  One of them pulled her hair.  Another kicked her.  A third one punched her in the face.  The passing time bell had rung and Myiesha was on the floor with her nose bleeding. Mando came around the corner.
   “Oh my god, who did this?” he shouted.
    “Leave!”  Myiesha said through her tears.
    “Me, what did I do?” he asked
    “You left me. You were suppose to protect me.”
    “Im sorry,” he “I didn’t know you were going to be attacked by those b****es.  If I would have known, I would have stayed right near you.”
Myiesha stormed out into the next hallway. Mando ran after her. Myiesha went into the bathroom to vent into her poetry diary. Writing poetry is how she coped with all of her feelings.

                         Protect Me
I’m scared, help me
Where are you?
All the hatred is after me
I need you to protect me from all the pain,
Shield me when it begins to rain
Wipe my tears when i begin to cry
Hold my hand tighter as time goes by
I am blinded by the negativity
I cant see the form of liberty
So I need you to guide me,
Protect me.
Writing the poem helped Myiesha calm down so she could deal with the situation.  She went to find Mando.
“ I’m sorry Myiesha. I would have protected you if I was there. You know I would have,” Mando cried as he embraced Myiesha. They went to the office and reported the situation.
Day by day things got better for Myiesha and Mando, which made them stronger. Stronger not just together, but as individuals.  A month later, everything seemed normal. Besides, they weren't that popular in school, so they thought they wouldn't be the trending topic for long. Although there were a few watchers laughing and whispering,  it didn't phase them. It was the start of a new beginning for them.
Myiesha always felt the need to write about her feelings. This time it was happiness.  
Love & Color        
The way we attach
tells me that were a perfect match
The way the world separates us
absorbs pain continuous
but it will not fail
when the times come i will not bail
Even though we are a different race
You still make my heart race
They may hate you and I
But soon it will be over as time goes by
Although you are hispanic and i am black
We will keep fighting until equality is back
Together, hand in hand
Against the world we will stand.

Their journey continues…...