“What the hell are you doing?!” my brother yelled at me as I stood in the bathroom, desperatly working on my hair to do something, anything.
“My hair, why?” I asked annoyed.
“We need to go Melissa!” he yelled.
“Give me a second,” I whined.
“You better be downstairs in two minutes or we’re leaving you,” he hissed and walked out of our small apartment.
I groaned and brushed out my hair. Perfect. Now why couldnt it do this twenty minutes ago?
I did a last makeup check, teeth check, I grabbed my bag from the counter and rushed out of the apartment and down the stairs. I knew my brothers wouldnt leave me. My dad would kick their ass if they did. Me and my sister arent allowed to walk around by ourselves. There were too many gangs and everything.
“Its about time,” Anthony, my oldest brother said.
“Give me a break Tony,” I rolled my eyes.
“Damn, it doesnt even take me that long to get ready,” Alana, my slightly younger sister commented.
“Get over it,” I said.
We all started walking to school. I had a lot of cofindence today. I was wearing my new black Tommy Hilfiger bootleg jeans, a red Tommy Hilfiger tank top, and my white Lugz. My long, straight brown hair, was left down.
I didnt live in a good neighborhood. There were two main gangs that were always at it. My brothers and these other group of boys. They didnt have those stupid names or anything, but it’s not like it’s the name that makes the guys feared. My brother’s gang was just called Ant and his boys and the other gang was called Ricky and his boys.
We all went to the same school and of course they were always causing trouble.
If a guy even looks for a sec too long my way or Alana’s, Anthony and his boys start up trouble.
We walked onto school property and into the huge building.
“See you later guys,” I waved to Alana, Anthony, Robert, and James. Robert and James were my older brothers. Alana and I were the youngest. Alana was just 11 months younger than me. Our mother died when I was 5 years old. She was killed in a hit and run.
I walked down the hallways, now by myself. I stopped at my locker and opened it. I grabbed my notebook and slammed it shut.
“Hey baby,” Nick, one of Ricky’s boys winked at me.
I glared at him.
“Damn, you look good,” another one said, I turned and saw it was Ricky. They all knew I was Anthony’s sister too. I cant believe they’re saying that.
“Damn, you guys are just looking for a fight,” one commented. I didnt know his name, but I figured he was in the gang.
“Why’s that?” Ricky asked.
“You know Im Anthony's sister,” I said.
“Yeah, so what,” Ricky smirked.
“Whatever,” I rolled my eyes and walked off.
“Bye baby,” Ricky called after me.
“What the fuck did you say?” I heard a loud voice bellow. I cringed as I turned around. Robert was standing two inches from Ricky’s face.
“You heard what the fuck I said,” Ricky spat.
“Bitch, you dont talk to my sister like that. In fact, you dont talk to my sister, period,” he ordered.
I walked over to them, trying to get Robert away from him.
“I’ll talk to her if I want,” Ricky told him.
Robert went to swing on him. I rushed up and stood in front of Ricky.
“What the hell are you doing?” Robert yelled.
“It’s not worth it Robert,” I told him.
“Yes, it is. Im gonna beat this bitch’s ass,” he told me.
“Save it,” I told him.
“You just wait bitch,” Robert said. He grabbed my arm and he dragged me down the hall.
“Why do you have to do that?” I asked.
“What?” he asked, looking completely innocent.
“You know what Im talking about,” I said.
“Because, they arent going to talk to you like that,” he told me.
“I can take care of myself Robert,” I told him.
“We’ll see about that,” he said and walked off. I went into my classroom and sighed as I sat down in my seat.
*After School*
“Hey baby, where’s your brother?” Ricky asked.
“Look at that ass,” another commented.
“Id like to get into those pants,” another said.
“You dont even want to know what I would do to her,” yet another said.
I sighed, annoyed.
“Just ignore them,” Alana said.
“They could be talking about you too,” I said.
“Please, you know they’re talking to you,” she said.
“Why dont you come over here baby,” Ricky said.
I stopped walking and turned around. I walked over to where they were standing and stopped, “Humor me.”
“What?” the one who made the comment about what he would do to me.
“Humor me,” I repeated. He looked at his friends confused.
“What exactly would you do to me?” I asked.
“You really want to know?” he asked smiling.
“Yeah, well I havent heard anything funny all day,” I shrugged.
“Man, bitch, Id be the best you ever had,” he told me.
“Really? What makes you so sure?” I asked.
“Come on Melissa, let’s go. Anthony’s waiting for us in the front,” Alana said walking up.
The guy didnt say anything.
“What’s your name?” I asked.
“Rock,” he answered.
“Rock?” I asked.
“Yeah,” he nodded.
“Well, Rock. Consider this a turn down,” I smiled and slapped his across the face.
“Fucking bitch!” he went to grab me, but another guy, one of his friends grabbed me away. It was the only one who hadnt made a disgusting comment.
“Chill out Rock. This is a female,” he said.
“Yeah, a female that’s about to get her ass beat,” he said.
“Let her go,” Ricky said.
“What?” Rock asked.
“Man, you dont hit a female. I’ll beat your ass for that,” Ricky said.
“Number one, she slapped me and number two she’s Anthony’s sister. Why the hell do you give a fuck about her?” Rock yelled.
“Number one, you deserved it bitch. And number two, I dont give a fuck who she is. You’re not gonna hit a female,” he said.
“Let’s go Melissa,” Alana begged.
I turned and started walking away with Alana. I turned back around to see who had pulled me away from Rock. He was cute. He was looking at me too. We had eye contact for a moment and then he turned to Rock.
“Where the hell were you two?” Anthony asked as we walked up to him.
“Nowhere,” Alana glared at me.
“Ok, let’s go,” he said.
We all started walking down the street.
“Robert told me what that punk Ricky said to you this morning,” Anthony told me.
“Ok?” I asked.
“Robert or James are gonna start walking to your locker with you in the morning. I gotta walk with Alana,” Anthony said.
“Ant!” one of his boys said coming up. They slapped hands and started talking.
“Hey man, I saw Rock messing with your sister earlier,” he told Anthony. I groaned.
“What?” he asked looking at me.
“Nothing,” I said.
“Nah, man, he was about to hit her,” he said.
“Did you go up to him?” Anthony asked.
“No, man, I started to, but I was almost up there, she was walking away,” he answered.
“Did you say anything to him?” Anthony asked.
“Yeah, I told him next time he talked to her Id beat his ass,” he replied.
“Why do you guys do that?” I asked annoyed.
“Huh?” they both asked turning to me.
“I can take care of myself!” I claimed.
“Melissa. Dont start,” Robert said, getting frustrated.
“Whatever. Im going home now. Alana, are you coming with me?” I asked turning to my sister.
“Yeah, Im going,” she agreed. We began to walk down the street.
“Hey Melissa!” I heard someone, a girl, yell.
I turned around and saw Rock’s girlfriend coming up to me.
Shit.
“Oh G-D. She’s huge,” I muttered under my breath. I looked at Alana, she looked just as scared.
“What?” I asked.
“I heard you slapped my man,” she said coming up to me.
“So,” I answered.
“So, bitch. Im gonna beat your ass for it,” she said walking up closer to me.
I knew she was going to hit me, so I didnt even bother letting her hit me first. I swung and hit her across the face. We got into a huge fight right there on the sidewalk.
“Damnit, get off her!” Anthony pulled me off the girl.
“You little whore,” she shouted at me.
I tryed to break loose from Anthony but he wouldnt let me. I looked over and saw Alana, being held back by Robert. She had been fighting with the other girl. That’s how it worked in this neighborhood.
“Get out of here,” James yelled at the girl.
She glared at me and walked off. Just like that.
“Let’s go Melissa,” Anthony said harshly.
I looked at Alana and felt bad.
“Im sorry,” I whispered to her.
“Its not your fault,” she shrugged.
“You ok?” I asked.
“yeah, I kicked her ass,” she said smiling.
“Good,” I laughed.
We walked up to our apartment and Alana and I went straight for the bathroom to clean up our cuts.
“I wish we didnt live like this,” I whispered to her.
“I know. Me too,” she whispered back, putting some peroxide on a cut on her knuckles.
I cleaned a scratch that was across my cheek.
“You girls ok?” our father asked looking in the bathroom.
“yeah, its cool dad,” I assured him.
“Ok, good,” he said.
I looked at Alana and frowned.
“I cant wait for school tomorrow,” I groaned.
“yeah, we’ll probably get in another fight,” she smiled.
“Probably,” I agreed, smiling.
“Melissa, phone. It’s Ms. Richards,” James said coming into the bathroom. I brought the phone to my ear.
“Hello?” I asked.
“Hi, Melissa. Dear, I was wondering if you would go down to the store for me?” she asked.
“Sure Ms. Richards. I’ll be over in a minute,” I told her.
I hung up the phone and gave it back to James.
“Im gonna go to the store for Ms. Richards,” I said to no one in particular.
“Be back before dark,” my father ordered.
“Ok,” I agreed.
I walked out of the apartment and down the hall to Ms. Richards’ apartment. She wasnt old, but she needed a lot of help. Her son, whom Ive never met, never helped her out, so I always offered to help.
I knocked on her door and slowly it opened. She was standing before me, a beautiful smile appearing on her face.
“Hey honey. What happened?” she asked looking at my scratch.
“Oh, it’s nothing,” I shrugged.
I didnt want to tell her I got in a fight. I wasnt proud.
“Did you get in a fight?” she asked softly.
“Yeah,” I said looking down.
“Oh, come in dear,” she ushered me inside.
“You ok?” she asked.
“Yeah, I’ll be ok,” I smiled.
“Ok, are you sure you dont mind going to the store for me?” she asked.
“No, I dont mind at all,” I said smiling.
“Great. I have a list here for you and here’s the money,” she said handing it to me.
“Ok, anything else?” I asked looking up at her.
“No sweetie. Thanks so much for doing this. I dont know what Im going to do if you ever leave,” she smiled.
“I’ll take you with me,” I said smiling.
“That’d be nice,” she laughed.
“I’ll be back in a little bit,” I told her.
“Ok, hon. Be careful,” she advised.
“Ok,” I nodded.
I walked out of the apartment and started down the hall.
“Where are you going?” Anthony asked walking out of our apartment.
“To the store for Ms.Richards. Didnt you hear me?” I asked.
“No,” he replied.
“Oh.”
“Be careful.”
“I will.”
Anthony walked down doors down to Pete’s apartment, another member of the “gang”.
I walked down the stairs. As I was turning a corner, I almost ran into someone. A male.
“I am so sorry,” I said looking up. I was face to face with Ricky and the only guy who didnt make comments at me.
“It’s ok baby. Hey what are you doing tonight?” he asked.
“Why?” I asked, glaring.
“I was thinking maybe you and me could get together or something. We could get a little freaky,” he said smiling.
“Sorry, you’re the last person I would want to get freaky with,” I hissed and walked past him.
“Hey! Where you going?” he asked.
“None of your business,” I said stuffing the money and list in my pocket.
“Follow her,” I heard him whisper to the guy. Damn.
I jumped the last two steps of the stairs and walked out of the building, into the afternoon, busy city streets, and crowded sidewalks. I started walking down to the store.
“Hey! Wait up!” I heard that guy to me.
I hesistated, but finally turned around. He almost crashed into me.
“Hey,” he smiled.
“Hi,” I said. I must admit, I was very attracted to him. But, it wouldnt work. He was one of Ricky’s boys. I shook the thoughts out of my head.
“I didnt catch your name,” he said.
“Melissa,” I told him.
“Im AJ,” he told me.
“Hi AJ,” I said and started walking again.
“So, where you going?” he asked.
“The store, why?” I asked looking at him.
“Just wondering. Mind if I join you?” he asked.
“Why?” I asked.
“Because I want to,” he told me.
“Really? Usually Ricky’s boys dont want anything to do with anyone associated with Anthony or his boys,” I told him.
“It’s all good. Im not like the rest of them,” he told me.
“Oh yeah? So, why did you want to walk with me?” I asked.
“Because I like all the envious stares Im getting from that group of guys over there,” he smiled pointing to a group of guys that were hanging out in front of the store I was headed to.
“Is that the only reason?” I asked.
“Of course not,” he said, pretending to be offended.
“Ok,” I shrugged.
“What are you getting from the store?” he asked.
“Some stuff for a neighbor,” I answered.
“Oh, Chelsea told us you two got in a fight,” AJ told me.
“Is that Rock’s girlfriend?” I asked.
“Yeah,” he answered.
“Yeah,” I said pointing to the scratch on my face.
“She was pissed,” he told me. We walked up to the store and we went in.
“She shouldnt have come up starting stuff. I dont like to fight, but I can defend myself,” I told him.
“Obviously,” he smiled.
“So, I havent seen you around much, you new around here?” I asked.
“Kinda, Ive been here for about two years,” he answered.
“What a sorry place to move to,” I rolled my eyes.
“Melissa!” I heard a female voice shout. I took a deep breath and turned around. Rock’s girlfriend had just walked into the store.
“Damn,” I cursed.
“Dont worry about it,” AJ told me.
“I dont feel like getting in another fight,” I told him.
I dont know why I was so comfortable around him, I just was. Usually I was completely uncomfotable around anyone from another gang.
“Yeah?” I asked.
“You’re lucky I promised Rock I wouldnt fight you no more,” she spat at me.
“Ok,” I said, annoyed. What was the point of her saying that?
“What the hell are you doing with her?” she yelled at AJ.
“Man, dont worry about it,” AJ said, sounding just as annoyed as me.
“Ricky has you out here with her, doesnt he?” she asked.
“What are you talking about?” he asked.
I looked at her and then I looked at AJ.
“Whatever, I have shopping to do,” I said and pulled out the list from my pocket.
I walked up and down the aisle, grabbing items I saw on the list.
“Hey, Im sorry about her,” AJ said coming up to me.
I looked up at him, “Its ok.”
“No, really. I am sorry. Dont go thinking Im only talking to you because of Ricky,” he told me.
“Right.”
“Please talk to me.”
“What do you want to talk about?”
“You.”
“What about me?”
“How old are you?”
“17.”
“Where did you get your good looks?”
“Excuse me?”
“You heard me. Where did you get your good looks?”
“You think Im good-looking?”
“Oh yeah. Come on, you know your gorgeous.”
I blushed, “Thanks.”
I walked up to the register and the items started to get ringed up. I handed the money to the cashier and got the change.
AJ picked up the two bags and we started walking back to the apartment.
“So, uh, how many brothers do you have?” he asked.
“Three.”
“Oh, and they’re all in the gang?”
“Yeah, why?” I asked.
“I was just wondering. Do you get along with them?”
“They’re my brothers. You cant expect me to get along with them all the time,” I replied.
“That’s true,” he shrugged.
“Here we are,” I said as we came to my building.
“I’ll walk you up,” he told me.
“I dont know. If my brothers saw you...”
“Dont worry about it. Come on. Let me walk you,” he said.
“Fine, come on,” I said. We walked into the building and up the stairs. I led him to Ms.Richards’ door and I knocked, patiently waiting for her to answer. But, this time, she didnt answer, Ricky did.
“Hey man,” AJ said walking past me and into the apartment. I slowly walked in, shocked. All this time, I never knew Ricky lived here.
“Ms.Richards, Im back,” I called walking past Ricky.
“I love it when girls surprise me at home,” Ricky whispered in my ear.
I rolled my eyes and Ms.Richards appeared, smiling.
“Hey honey. Thank you so much for picking those things up for me,” she beamed. AJ had set her things down on the kitchen counter.
“You’re welcome. Here’s your change,” I said handing her the change.
“Thank you so much,” she said.
“It was no problem,” I assured her.
“Hey Melissa. Why dont you come on back to my room. I wanna show you something,” Ricky said smiling.
“Aww, how nice Ricky. Thanks for attempting at a friendship,” his mother beamed up at him.
“You know it Mom,” he laughed.
I glared at him, but followed him. I didnt want Ms.Richards to get offended if I wasnt friendly.
“What?” I asked bitterly as I walked in behind him. AJ right behind me.
AJ shut and locked the door. I turned around, nervous.
“Relax. My mom has a habit of coming in uninvited,” Ricky scolded me.
“Yeah, well. I think I’ll be leaving now. I didnt want to offend your mother. Good-bye,” I said walking over to the door.
“Hey baby,” he called as I unlocked the door. I turned around and looked at him.
”What?”
“Come back over sometime. I wouldnt mind showing you how comforable my bed can be,” he laughed.
“Man, that aint cool,” AJ said annoyed with him.
“What the fuck did you say?” Ricky asked AJ.
“Nothing man,” AJ shook his head.
I rolled my eyes and walked out of the room.
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