CHAPTER 1: A NEW START

AJ was sitting in Principal Garrison's office with her mother, bored out of her mind. She was pretending to listen to her ramble on and on about how great the school is, but deep down, she didn't really care. If she had a choice, she wouldn't even be in school.

She watched Principal Garrison go through her file.

"I see that you were on the girls basketball team at Hercules. Unfortunately, not enough girls tried out for the team this year so we may have to cancel, but there are other extracurricular activities that you can take part in."

AJ rolled her eyes in complete uninterest, but Principal Garrison continued.

"Look, I know that you have been through a lot with the shooting, and the trial, but think of this as a new start, you have a bright future ahead of you."

"Yes, you do." Her mother said after her.

Principal Garrison was trying to get the attention of AJ, but there was no use.

"Why don't I show you around?"

"Do I really have to?" AJ asked while she pushed back her long curly hair.

"Yes. Yes you have to Amber," Her mother answered with a stern voice.

AJ rolled her eyes as they all emerged from their seat and followed Principal Garrison out of the office.

They immediately began walking down a hallway full of students hanging around their lockers and making their way to class. AJ was not impressed. The student body was basically the same as Hercules, a bunch of wannabe thugs and prissy girls who only want to chase boys.

"Hey, there's Kyra!" AJ's mom yelled.

AJ saw Kyra at her locker talking with a friend. She turned around to see her cousin and her aunt.

"Hi Aunt Michelle!" She greeted her with a hug.

"Hey AJ!" She also greeted her with a hug. "I heard you're gonna be comin' here."

"Yeah I start tomorrow." AJ said back trying to sound excited.

"Amber, why don't you stay with your cousin while me and your mother talk for a little bit." Principal Garrison suggested.

"Sure." AJ shrugged, anything to get away from Principal Garrison and her mother.

"C'mon I'll show you around." Kyra said as they walked further down the hall.

"We getting' ready to have lunch so you can kick it with us."

"Cool." AJ said back as they made their way outside, and sat at one of the tables.

"This is Dominique." Kyra introduced, "Dominique this is my cousin Amber but we call her AJ."

"Nice to meet you AJ." Dominique greeted.

"You too." AJ said back.

"I like ya nose ring!" Dominique cheered.

"So auntie tells me you was killin' it at Hercules playin' ball. You gonna play here?" Kyra asked.

AJ shrugged, "I was told there might not be a girls team so I don't know."

Kyra was about to answer but she was interrupted by a guy that approached her. He was accompanied by a shorter guy that was bald. She smiled and greeted him with a hug.

"AJ this is Kenyon, my boo Kenyon, this is my little cousin AJ."

"Hey, what's up AJ?" Kenyon greeted.

"Hey." AJ said back.

"So you aint gonna introduce me? Kyra, you rude!" asked the shorter bald guy that was with Kenyon.

Kyra rolled her eyes, "You don't need to know him."

"Excuse me." He turned his attention from Kyra to AJ, "but you do need to know me. My name is Worm, what's your name gorgeous?"

AJ wasn't impressed, she could easily tell this guy didn't have much luck with the girls and that he was a little bit arrogant.

"AJ." She simply answered.

Worm smiled, "Well AJ you look good as hell, but you know what would look even better on you?"

AJ rolled her eyes, "What?"

"Me!" Worm exclaimed while laughing.

"Worm! Leave my cousin alone! She don't want none of your mess!" Kyra yelled as she shoved him.

"I'm just tryna be friendly!" Worm yelled back.

"Thanks, but no thanks." AJ snarled.

"You rude too!" Worm said back.

AJ ignored Worm and looked around a little bit. She seen her mother signaling her that it was time to leave.

"My moms here. I'm gonna go."

"Ok." Kyra said as she hugged AJ. "What are ya doin' later?"

"Nothing." AJ answered. "Just unpacking some stuff with my mom."

"See if she'll let you go with us to the basketball game tonight." Kyra said.

AJ shrugged, "I don't know."

"C'mon, it'll be fun!" Kyra cheered.

"I guess so." AJ answered.

"Ok, I'll meet you back here later."

"Ok cool." AJ answered back. "I'll talk to you later."

AJ left the group and made her way back to her mom and made their way out of the school.

"So what do you think?" Michelle asked.

"It's whatever I guess." AJ answered back. She was a bit annoyed with her mother asking a bunch of questions.

They continued walking through the parking lot, but Michelle stopped her as if she had something on her mind.

"Look Amber. I know you went through a lot with the shooting and the trial, but can we go into this with a positive attitude please?"

AJ sighed, "OK mom." She answered back.

"Cheer up a bit. Smile."

AJ sighed again and let off a fake smile.

"See? With a smile like that you'll make lots of friends, but do you really have to wear that nose ring? I made a compromise with the belly ring."

"Well make another compromise with the nose ring." AJ darted as they got in the car.

Michelle smiled as she began their drive.

"I do have to work tonight. Are you gonna be ok by yourself?"

"I'll be fine mom I'm not a kid. I'll be sixteen next month." AJ darted.

"Ok," Michelle said back, "I'm just making sure."

"But, Kyra did ask if I wanted to go to the basketball game tonight. Can I go?" AJ asked.

"Sure." Michelle answered. "Just make sure you're home by curfew ok?"

"Ok." AJ answered.

Timo was at the local burger place waiting for his cousin. He was getting a little aggravated because he was taking forever. He wanted to finish this job so he can go to the basketball game tonight. He wasn't there to show any support because he was kicked off the team by the new coach. He was simply going to make fun of them because there was no way they were going to win without him. He saw a few girls staring at him as if he were a piece of meat. He wasn't interested, chances are, he slept with them already.

He was relieved when he saw his cousin's car pull up in front of him.

"What's up Timo." His cousin greeted him.

"What up Renny." Timo greeted back. "I got some paper for you."

Timo quickly handed Renny a large stack of money. Renny, who seemed to be pleased with the deal quickly began counting.

"This is what I like to see." Renny said as he gave Timo a portion of the money he just counted. "You doin real good. Keep it up."

"I gotchu." Timo nodded.

"I'ma see you next week right?" Renny asked.

Timo nodded, "Yeah next week."

"Keep up the good work." Renny said as Timo began to walk away. He continued walking until he was pushed from behind. He turned around and saw three girls giggling and playing around. He instantly knew the one with the long curly hair was the one who shoved him.

"Watch where you goin' you little dumbass brat!" He yelled to her.

"Um, I'm walking here!" She yelled back.

Who does she think she is? He thought to himself. She must not know me.

"You better watch ya mouth!" He yelled back.

"Am I supposed to be scared or somethin'?" She darted back.

"Hey stop." One of the girls got in between them. Timo easily recognized she was Kenyon's girlfriend. He didn't have any issues with her. The other girl the one he had a problem with.

"Tell ya girl to shut her mouth before I close it for good and snatch that weave out your head!" Timo yelled as he walked away.

"Little boy! I am not scared of you and my hair is all natural!" The girl yelled back.

"Fuck outta here!" Timo yelled as he walked away. He could still hear the girl yelling and cursing at him, but she was held back by Kenyon's girl.

"Stupid ass little girls." He said to himself.