(Kayla's POV)

My name is Kayla Brown. Im 16 and moving from Cleveland, Ohio to Maryland, Woodcrest with my mother.

There is a reson for this move, I have a past. In some ways Im going to miss my hometown, but in some ways Im

happy to finally get away from all the bad memories. I just want to forget everything and move on, but I have a feeling

that it's going to take a lot.

When we finally get to the new house that I will be calling "home" I look around. Im wearing my usual, a black wife

beater, baggy jeans, back Nikes, and my black snapback. My long red hair is down falling down my back and around my face. I sit

outside watching the movers take in everything into the house. I get the feeling of needing to smoke so I make sure everything

I need is in my pocket. Im pretty sure I saw a park down the street. "Hey Ma! Im goin to dat park down tha street Ill be back soon"

My mom looks at me like she knows what Im thinking. Sighing, she looks at me and tells me to be back around 5.

I get up and start walkin towards the park I saw while driving. It was'nt that far of a walk. When I got thereI saw some benches,

a backetball court with some people playing at it, and a jungle gym. I think about where I can roll up at when I spot the perfect spot.

I walk over to this big tree with a couple bushes and a park bench under it. I walk over to it and sit down, taking my supplies out.

As I was rolling up my blunt and letting it dry, I felt a presence. Someone was standing over me and I don't think that he knew I knew. I look up and saw the most attractive man I think I've seen, well besides Terell, but he was a different story.

He had on some black and red backetball shorts, a black wife beater, some black and red Jordens, and his hair was in braids. He had a smerk

on his face and a basketball in his arms.

"Yo waddup" I just had to break the silence. He just kept staring at me with a look I couldn't make out. When I said somethin it looked like he

came back to reality. "OH uh waddup.. I was just ova there wit ma homies playin ball and saw you. I don think I been you befoe...you new?"

Well he spared no time. "Uh yea I jus moved here from Cleveland. Im Kayla." He smerked at me. "Im Riley" I wasnt sure if I liked him yet or not.

I got up while lighting my blunt I been wanting to smoke on. I acted like he didnt matter, in the end I feel like Im just protecting

myself. "I uh should get goin. Gots to unpack an errythan ya know?" Riley looked disappointed that I was leaving, for some reason I felt bad.

Takin a hit from the blunt I thought fast. "Well if you uh wanted ta talk more I guess I can give you ma number..." I said, trailing off at the end.

Riley perked up at the thought of this. "Yea that would be great. You can text me wheneva n shit..." We exchanged numbers and we both started walking

in seperate directions.

Smoking the last of the blunt, I start walking and letting my mind wonder. I hope this town was better then the place I just moved from.

I can already tell this place going to be different. Im happy my mom decieded to move the day school ended, so I didnt have to bother with being awkward

and meeting new people in school. Hopefully Ill meet people slowly and become friends with them during the summer. When I reached my new house it was a

5 so I wont get yelled at. I walk through the door way and find all my boxes, bed, and my bags in the living room. "Uh ma? why is my things down here?"

My mom peaked out from the kitchen with a big smile on her face. "Well I figured you could pick your own room. Theres two rooms upstairs, the attic thats

been remodled into a room, but it's more like a mini apartment, or the basement. Pick whatever you want suger." I hated that name. I was happy that she waited

for me to pick my room though. I ran upstairs and looked into the first room, that was right by the stairs. It was big, but it has no closet and a small window.

Not happy about this room, I went into the hallway. I walked a couple steps and found another door. I opened up the door and found the bathroom. This bathroom

was way bigger then the bathroom we had in the apartment back home. It had a medium bath tub/shower, a sink, and a toilet. Everything was evenly spaced out

so the person in here did not feel like he or she couldn't move. I walked out and went next door from the bathroom and found the other room. This one was way

bigger then the other room, had a big window, and a huge walk in closet. I smiled softly and thought that my mother would probably like this room. Shaking my

head, I walk out and down the hall to the last door. I opened it and was met with a staircase. I walked up it and came to another door. I already like the

privicy, I thought while smiling to myself. Opening up the door, my face dropped in amazment. The door opened up to a nice sized living room. It was big enough for a couch,

a table, and a tv. Straight back, off of the living room, was a mini kitchen. It had a sink, microwave, a fridge, and a small stove. To the right of the living room, was

a nice sized bedroom. It was just big enough for a queen sized bed, a couple dressers, and had a big built in closet. To the right of the bedroom, was a bathroom. It had a

a big tub that i loved, a toilet and a sink. I smiled to myself, imagining all my things up here. I was 16 so I thought maybe it is time to have my own space. I wouldnt

be completely on my own, but still would have that feeling of indepentence. Excitedly, I ran down. Before closing the first door to my new bedroom, I saw that it had locks on

it. Maybe my mom had the keys.

"Ma! ma, can I pleeeease have the attic?" She looked at me and smerked. I think she knew which I would pick. "On one condition suger." I thought about it. Maybe it wouldnt

be such a bad condition. "OK what?" She gave me that look like she was planning something. "You can have the room AND the keys if you find at least a part time job or a way to make

some money. You wouldnt be paying me rent, but if you would like that room, maybe you can start buying your own food and having your own spending money. This is a big step and Im

trusting you. And yes if you find friends, male or female, you may take them up there and lock your room. It will be your own apartment almost and I am trusting you. Please dont

prove me wrong" The whole time she was talking my smile grew bigger and bigger. I threw my arms around her. "Yes! its a deal ma. I wont do wrong, youll see!" She chuckled while she hugged

me back. "Ok ma Imma start workin on ma room." She laughed. "Sweetie do you need any help?" I thought about it, remembering Riley. I wonder if he would help me any. "Ma I met a new

friend at tha park maybe he can help me wit tha heavy stuff" I try so hard not to cuss in front of her. "That will be fine Suger." Riley is pretty big and looks like he can carry

and life big things. "Heres the keys to your new apartment suger" I smiled thinking about it. This is so much better then my enormuse room back home. That's why I actually have a couch

and other big furnature that can easily fit up in my mini apartment. I ran outside to relax and think bout this. Right when I was going to text Riley, he texted me.

Riley: Ey waddup

Me: Nothin tryna figure out how Imma take up ma shit to ma room.

I didnt want to tell him about it yet, I wanted him to see it.

Riley: Yu need help shawty?

I smiled at the lil nickname he called me, wondering if he called other females that.

Me: Yea that would b great.

Riley: Iight what street yu on doe

Me: Timid Deer Lane?

Riley: Awwww shit yu on ma street

I had to read that text a couple times. I couldnt believe it.

Me: Fa real?

Riley: Yea...I think dat there was only like one house for sale so Imma go dat way ta c if its yo house.

All of a sudden I saw Riley open the door to a few houses down from me and came walking towards me. I got up to meet him and to lead him into the house. When he got to me he smiled a smile that made

my knees weak. I cant be falling for him yet, I mean he is just a friend. I know nothing about him yet. I returned the smile. "Ya ready? I got lots of shit to take up." He nodded his head "Yea shawty.

Lets do dis thang." I laughed at him while bringing him in the house. When we got inside, my mom was sitting on her couch. "Hey ma dis Riley, he gone help me wit my things." She looked at him and

smiled. "Hey sweetie Im Kayla's mom, you can call me Emily or mom if you would like" He smiled at her, and when I looked, it looked like an almost sad smile. I wondered what was going on in his head. "Nice to

meet you ma'm" My mom got up and grabbed her keys. "Well I need to go and get some dinner and maybe something for tomarrow. Ill be back later Suger, have fun." She left right after that. I looked up to Riley.

"Ya ready?" He looked down and smiled. "Yea this yo shit?" He pointed at the big pile of bags, boxes, and my little bit of furnature. "Yea thats it. But I think I should show yu ma room first." I take his hand

and leads him up the stairs, down the hall, and to the door. I let go of Riley's hand and stopped. "When you see this shit, you gone flip" I said with a smile. He looked at me confused. I opened the door and

lead him up the stairs and to the next door. I did'nt lock it the first time so I just opened the door and turned the lights on. Riley came in and gawked at the apartment. "Yo dis shit yours?" I smiled, "Hell

yea. Imma need help puttin errythan into place...you up for it?" He turned around and smiled at me, for the thousandth time today. "Hell yea lets get shit strated!" he grabbed my hand and pulled me down stairs.