"CHAPTER ONE-IN THE BEGINNING"
Her name was Veronica Hollis, seventeen years old, with a smooth chocolate complexion and a bodacious figure that made the boys eager to have her—and the girls eager to hate her. Today, she was walking across the high school campus with her friend Shantrese—known to many as Poochie—when they both spotted a group of young men standing in the center of the courtyard. They were in military fatigues, practicing drills. "ROTC," Veronica said. She pointed to one particular cadet. "That one right there is always mean to me."
"Girl, he's like that to everybody," Poochie reminded her. "He don't really hang out with many people. He's either seen with ROTC or with his sisters and brother." Veronica's eyebrows furrowed and she eyed her friend suspiciously. "How you know so much about him?"
Poochie laughed. "Chill out, Ronnie…I don't know him that well! All I know is what I see."
And hear, Veronica thought. Poochie kept staring at the young cadets, now doing squat thrusts in formation. "Ooh, girl, imagine one of them squatting like that for you!"
"Poochie, you need to stop being so boy-crazy," Veronica said, rolling her eyes. As they were talking, a burgundy Hummer glided into the school parking lot. The girls looked to the car and watched a young woman get out. Her skin was the color of brass, her shoulder-length hair was ebony. She was wearing a flowered skirt that was quite snug around her hourglass shape, which she did not mind flaunting to any red-blooded male to cross her path. Veronica flinched, knowing who was dropping the girl off at school. Poochie pretended not to notice her, but Veronica was not fooled. This girl and Poochie were bitter rivals…they absolutely could not stand one another. The girl saw them watching her and decided to tease them, so she deliberately sauntered toward them. "And good afternoon to you, too," Veronica said with a sarcastic tone. "Good to know that you can at least show up for the last two hours of the day, Tangie."
"Jealous, are we?" Tangie snapped, sighing haughtily and throwing back her hair. "Well, that's understandable. I mean, it's not my fault that I can get all the men's attentions…while some girls can't even get a low-ball boy to look her way." Veronica's first mind was to snap back at Tangie's insult, but Poochie hushed her. "She ain't even worth it, girl."
Tangie smirked nastily at Veronica, before turning her attention to Poochie. "And how are you today, Shantreese? Still trying to put some meat on those scrawny bones? Well, I have no problems in that department." She rubbed her ample bottom. "Now, some girls have a little too much to work with," she said with a superior sneer as she eyed Veronica. "Might wanna lose some of that extra pound cake, darling." With those last words, Tangie sauntered away. Poochie watched her go, disgusted. She then turned to her best friend and put her arm over her shoulder. "Ronnie, don't stunt that bitch. You and I both know she's a hoe to the umpteenth power."
Veronica rolled her eyes, but Poochie could tell that Tangie had deeply hurt her feelings. Knowing how Veronica felt about her figure, Tangie had deliberately picked that emotional scab. Veronica shook her head. "She don't bother me," she said, but her eyes were watery and she refused to look up.
"Girl, don't worry nothing about what she says. I see how boys look at you," Poochie assured her. Veronica smiled fleetingly, not believing her friend. Just then, one of the cadets approached them. "Hey, y'all. I'm throwing a house party this Friday. If you got nothing to do Friday night, come on over." He gave them the address, then returned to his group. Poochie turned back to Veronica, excitement filling her already-bright eyes. "Ronnie! This is what you need, girl! You need to get out and meet somebody!" Veronica shrugged her shoulders. "I'll go, but I ain't about to have no nigga rubbin' up on me." She absently looked over at the young cadets, ending their drills, and focused her attention (briefly) on one young man. The boy caught her eyes and smiled at her. Veronica turned away, but Poochie saw the blushing. Veronica didn't say anything, but she quickly turned back to catch another glimpse, but he had already gone back inside the building.