Brooks High school. Chicago, Illinois. Not what I’m used to, but I’m
great at making the best out of uncomfortable situations. I make my
way down the hallways. I can already feel the dudes gawking and the
females mugging. I’m used to all the attention. I’ve been cute all my
life. It’s nothing new. I stop in front of a door that reads 204. That’s my
home room. I enter with just a minute to spare. I stop at the teacher’s
desk to see where I sit.

https://soundcloud.com/talesofthetextpodcast/tuesday-text-tales-the-kiana-murphy-story-bonus

“Excuse me,” I say, “I’m Kiana Murphy. I’m new here.”
“Oh yes, Ms. Murphy. I got notified about you last week. You sit next to
Jada. “ She points over to a girl with wavy hair and glowing brown skin.
She’s pretty. I hate other pretty girls. They always see me as competition when it’s not even like that.

“Aye ma, what’s up with that number?” some obnoxious boy hollers
from across the room.
“Shut up derrick, don’t know body want your crusty behind.” Jada
replied for me.
“Man, shut up Jada.” The boy responded bitterly.
Maybe Jada and I were going to get along just fine.

At lunch I sat with Jada. She was really cool. She got me caught up on
everybody and let me know everything I needed to know. She put
strong emphasis that I should stay away from Deja. Deja was basically
queen bee and hated completion. And I was going to be seen as just
that.

“I’m not sweating shorty,” I assured her.

“Ok,” Jada said giggly, “I’m just letting you know.”
Jada told me about everything under the sun at Brooks. But that still
didn’t stop me from being shook when the six-foot cutie approached
me in the hall after lunch. He was the definition of fine. He had dark
skin, a pearly white smile, strong jawline and smelled amazing.
“Yo, you Kiana, right? “ He said as he smiled.
“Y-yeah” I stuttered.
“My name is Taiji. I heard you were new. I just wanted to give you my
number in case you wanted me to show you around sometime.”
“I’d be down for that.” I told him.
“Cool.” He replied as he walked away.

That was the beginning of a crazy time. Taiji and I started texting and
hanging out a lot. He was really sweet. I could see why everyone
wanted him; Including Deja, who has had a target on my back lately.
Any chance she gets to humiliate me, she doesn’t hesitate to take it.
But I don’t trip over it. I know how to deal with a hater. And I bet the
fact I have Taiji is proof enough to who’s really winning. But have
noticed she’s been trying to be too friendly with him. I’m never the
type to worry about a dude, but this was really bugging me. I’ve really
started to like Taiji and I’d hate to have someone ruin it. But Taij and I
have a lunch date today so that might take my mind off of things.
At lunch time, I was waiting for Taiji. After him not showing up for 20
minutes, I decided to hang with Jada.
“Hey girl. Weren’t you supposed to be with Taiji? What happened?” She
inquired.

“I don’t know. He never showed.” I said.
“Yikes, I can see why.” One of Jada’s friends stated.
She turned her phone screen to reveal a snapchat video of Taiji and Deja
at the same burger joint we were supposed to hit today. I couldn’t help
but feel angry but I didn’t want to show it.
“Hope he’s enjoying himself.” I said as I removed myself from the table.
Jada followed me and promised we could have a girl’s day at her house
later tonight. I never thought about how much I needed that.
That night at Jada’s, we discussed what happened.
“I just don’t understand what she has I don’t”. I exclaimed
“Girl, rumor has it Deja’s been sexting him”
That makes sense I thought. Boys love girls willing to give something up
Jada must have sensed I was thinking something crazy cause the next
thing she said was even crazier.

“You know, it probably wouldn’t hurt if you got a little risky too.”
“Heck no!” I insisted.
“Think about it, you don’t even have to be naked. You’re ten times
badder than Deja too. All you need to do is send a picture in your bra or
something and boom! You got your man back.”
I spent a long time thinking about it before deciding it really couldn’t
hurt anything too much worse. Jada helped me with the picture and it
looked bomb. The angles were right, my underwear set was looking
good, my body looked amazing, and the makeup I was wearing was on
point.
“So, remind me what happens when I press the send button.” I giggled

“Nothing,” She replied sarcastically. I pushed the button grinning
“It’s after you push the button that things get nasty.” she laughed.
I thought it was a joke. But, Jada was right the next day after I woke up,
everything I saw down my time line was nasty. It took a turn for the
worse.

https://soundcloud.com/talesofthetextpodcast/the-kiana-murphy-story-part-2-tuesday-text-tales/s-rwh1JZjEeQu

All hell had broken loose the next morning. I was woken up to the sound of my phone buzzing. At first I thought it was the group chat I was added to earlier in the week, but I realized that was not the case when I really started looking at the screen. My notification section was full of tags, comments and direct messages. I didn’t know what was happening and why id suddenly become so popular. I opened my phone to see what had caused such a fuss. I was then paralyzed with disbelief. The picture I had sent Taij was all over Instagram. I felt so violated. I knew he was the type to leave you for another girl apparently, but I trusted him more and thought he had more respect for me than to ever post my picture. I started to panic. I didn’t know what to do. I woke Jada up to get advice. I can’t believe I let her talk me into this. We scrolled through the comments together. They ranged from heart eyes to hoe to even nastier. I didn’t even want to read my messages. 

“I can’t believe he’d do that. “I said in shock.

“Me either, honestly.” Jada replied.

“what am I going to do,” I asked, “I just got here and I’m already going to be seen as the school hoe.” 

“Don’t sweat it. This will all blow over. But first we need to get Taiji to delete that picture off his page. I can call my big brother and get him to handle that.”

“Let me talk to him first.” I reasoned.

Monday at school was worse than my first day. Not only did I I feel people looking at me, but I could hear all the crap they were talking. I always hated being the butt of the joke, and now I couldn’t escape it. 

I practically ran to Taiji when I saw him at his locker. I didn’t even know what I was going to say to him. 

“Excuse me.” I said trying to hold my ground.

“Hey Kiana.” Taiji said smiling.

“don’t hi me. Why would you post that picture?”

“What are you talking about, I didn’t post it.”

I couldn’t believe he was lying to me. But it was ok, because I was going to let Jada handle it her way, now.

“you know what,” I snickered, “it’s all good homeboy.”

I turned away from him and walked down the hall.

“Kiana, wait!” I heard him yell. But I wasn’t trying to hear anything that he had to say.

I shot Jada a text:

“Girl, he lied straight to my face. Have your brother do his thing.”

She replied ten minutes later: 

“Bet. Say Less”

The next day, it was all over school that Taiji had got jumped after track practice. I started worrying when I saw he wasn’t at school. I didn’t know Jada’s brother was going to jump him. I decided that after school I would go to his house and make sure he wasn’t dead. 

When the bell rang to dismiss the students, I was heading towards my locker when I ran into Deja,

“Ew, watch where you’re going.” She said.

“Deja, I don’t have time for you right now,” I replied as I tried to push past her. 

“Yeah I know. You’re too busy sending whack pictures to other girls’ boyfriends. If you’re going to do it. Make sure it looks good.” She laughed as she high fived the wanna-be next to her.

She better be glad I was already busy enough trying to control this picture thing, or else I would have laid her out there.

“yeah whatever, just move.” I said.

“Aw, is this all the thanks I get for making your bougie self known around this school? Good thing I had Taiji’s passwords, right?” she laughed then walked passed me

That’s when it all clicked.  Taij really didn’t send the picture. Deja must have logged in to his Instagram and posted the picture. 

“oh man this isn’t good. “I whispered to myself

I went to Taiji’s house prepared with my apology. I was so happy 

 When he opened the door.

He looked bad but not too bad. I mean, he was Taij. 

“Hey Kiana., “He said curiously, “What are you doing here?”

“I came to apologize. Deja told me she was the one who posted my picture on your account. I didn’t know she still had your password.”  I explained to him.

“I didn’t either.” He chuckled. 

“I also was the reason you got jumped. I thought you were lying to me, so Jada had her brother and his friends get at you.”

“I deserve it for standing you up that day, anyway. I should have left Deja in the past”.

“Honestly.” I said.

“Well I’m sorry too, I never apologized.”

“It’s fine, that’s your loss” I said jokingly but deep down I was serious.

After we talked about everything and he promised he wouldn’t get me in trouble for having him hurt, we were cool. 

My first week was crazy. The whole picture thing blew over but I learned a few things. And one of them was that I would never send anything like that again, no matter how hard my crazy best friend hypes me up. Oh, and to stay away from boys with crazy exes.