I sighed and started to walk up the block. I know for a fact she took the money. One minute she's talking about 'Cinnamon Toasters' and 'Marshmallow Matey's' and then the next she's eating out of a Lucky Charms box like a savage. Please.

I walked up my porch steps and opened my front door closing it quickly and kicking off my boots. Damn it's cold in New York.

My father was no longer in the living room so I ran up to my room calling Jasmine on FaceTime in the process.

"I like how your bitch ass left me on read! I know you saw that I texted you hoe!"

"I'm sorry best friend I had to do something." I said smiling weakly

"Whatever hoe, I just wanted to tell you I'm visiting in two months for Christmas."

"Oh my god yes, I can't wait!" I exclaimed wanting to cry

Jasmine been my closest friend since 6th grade. She's a fun person to be around, she could make you laugh no matter the mood you're in.

"So you know what that meaaans." She said in a sing song tone "You put me on to your little New York niggas."

"I'll have you know, I don't know anyone over here." I walked over to my bed and laid on my stomach

"Well by the time I get down there I bet your ass will be popular and know all the niggas in your school."

"Speaking of school, I start Monday." I said bored "And daddy won't even let me go shopping for new clothes." I started picking at the little lint balls on my sheet

"You want some fries for that salt hun?" I looked up at my phone and gave her the straightest face

She laughed "You gotta chill out with the spending shit Trin, it's not how it was back in Cali. Once you get you a job, you don't gotta depend on anyone. How you think I'm coming to New York? With my own money hoe, get a job."

I kissed my teeth "Can you stop being serious? It doesn't suit you."

I know It's real when Jasmine is all serious, she's goofy 24/7 It's really rare.

"I'm coming up expecting some presents from your ass so you betta find a damn job." She started to laugh

I chuckled "I'm about to take a shower, I'll text you."

"No need to lie, I know yo' ass aint gonna text no one back. But okay, go wash your ass."

"Goodnight." I said

"Night hoe."She blew a kiss and hanged up

I had math with Chris, Kae, and Michael. I have majority classes with Kae and Chris though.

In math, the seating arrangements were in several rows of twos. Chris sits in the second to first row with no one sitting beside him because he usually puts his leg up or has his thot Nike Elite bag, as Chyna would call it, taking up the chair space.

Michael and I sit behind him in the third row and Kae and some other chick sits behind us in the fourth row. The smart kids sits in the very first rows. Our row is all the way on the right side of the room by the windows.

Chris really doesn't talk to me, so while in math class I talk to Michael. We've gotten really close since our assigned seats are next to each other and we have math everyday.

After that Thursday when Kae took my money, which she still claiming she didn't, none of them spoke to me until the following Monday which was my first day of school. Michael actually started talking to me since we sit next to each other. We spoke about the situation and him and I decided to just drop it. Chyna eventually started talking to me again, so I guess we're cool? I still don't talk to Kae or Chris. Chris been giving me the cold shoulder since I first met them.

Right now we're doing independent work and we was gonna share out in a couple of minutes. I couldn't even finish because Michael was distracting me reciting perfectly might I add, a bunch of random vines and dubsmashes.

"Go best friend, that's my best friend that's my best friend! Ayee, you betta, you betta fuck it up."

"Michael stop playing! Let me do my work." I managed to get out while laughing so hard

"Okay Mr. Stevenson, answer for number one."

My laughing ceased and he immediately stop bothering me as his name was being called.

"Uhh..." Michael started looking at his math work

People hands started going up trying to answer the question Michael was struggling with. I looked over at his math binder and saw he didn't do anything.

"Ooh, right here." Chris spoke up waving his hand rapidly in the air

"Mr. Stevenson..?" Mr. Johnson went on

"Yo say anything." Chris swerved in his seat looking at Michael

"Uhh, twenny one? Michael spoke

"Oh my god." I faced palmed and started laughing loudly

Chris busted out laughing and Kae shook her head. All of us was weak on the right side of the classroom.

Mr. Johnson shook his head "Chris." He said calling on him

"X=158" Chris answered confidently

"Correct, thank you Mr. Brown." Mr. Johnson said lowering his eyes at Michael

"And Ms. James stay on task." He said directing his eyes to me "Already off to a bad start." He added mumbling

Michael kissed his teeth and pushed away his math binder

"Sucking mad dick." Michael mumbled under his breath leaning back and slumping in his seat

I pursed my lips and leaned back in my seat also feeling stares burning the back of my head and the side of my face.

After going over all the independent work, the bell rang. I packed up and dipped to lunch.

'''

I don't think y'all know how fast I hopped off that bus and sprinted home like Usain Bolt. Oh my god I miss Cali so much! These kids are so scary at school, I never wanna go back there again.

As soon as I walked through my front door, I dropped my things in the living room and made a bee line straight to the kitchen to get a snack. I'm not eating that prison food they try to serve us at school. Over my dead body.

In the middle of munching, my phone started to flash and ring. My father was calling and I hurried and answered my phone. He never call me while at work.

"What's wrong!" I answered panicking

"Nothing." He chucked "why something always gotta be wrong?"

"I don't know, you never call me while at work."

"Nothing happened. I just need you to come to the city. I forgot some important paperwork."

If it was so important why the hell you left it?

"Daddyyy that's farrrr." I wined

He sighed and kissed his teeth in annoyance. I swear my dad act like a teenage boy

"Alright, I'm on my way." I said giving in

"Thank you Trin. Take your time and be careful on the train."

"Okay." I said hanging up

I entered back in the living room and ran upstairs to get my beats considering it's gonna be a long train ride and headed out the door locking it behind me.

When we first moved the first thing daddy and I did was take the train to and from his job so I can make sure I know my way in case of an emergency since I don't have a car.

I started down the block and walked to the bus stop. Surprisingly the gang wasn't outside.

I stood at the bus stop with my music blasting staring down at my feet. I don't wanna draw any unwanted attention, I never been on the main road for more than 10 minutes.

I looked at the bus stop schedule on the pole I'm standing next to and I missed my bus 3 minutes ago.

"Crap." I started kicking at the ice and snow on the ground bored

Another bus won't be here for a while.

An all black BMW then stopped in front of me. A boy got out with a grey Nike sweatsuit and jogged in the corner store that's behind me. Moments later he jogged out with a black plastic bag getting in his car but looking at me right before.

I watched as he wined the tinted passenger window down.

"Wassup ma."

His mouth was moving but I couldn't hear since I was playing my music.

"What?" I asked pulling my headphones down around my neck

"Where you headed?" He asked

I took the time to admire his face and he's really good looking. But he looks older than me, like he's in college. In his early twenties

"Why? I didn't order an Uber."

He chuckled slightly looking ahead "Where are you going?"

A gust of wind hit me in my face and I felt my lips go dry "The train station." I said shivering

"I'll give you a ride ma, no buses gonna come and if they do its gonna be packed due to the weather." I looked at him "I won't hurt you." He added

Another gust of wind hit me and I hopped in his car. Desperate times call for desperate measures.