Chapter One: Keeping Cool
CRASH!
Huey always knew that his household was passive when it came to dishes, but he was not expecting this rude awakening at six o'clock in the morning. Since he is going to school, he decided to take this chance and rise for his morning routine.
While he was making his bed, there was another crash coming from the kitchen. "Grandad! Is that you?" Huey asked in annoyance. It had to be his grandfather because there was no possible way it was his brother. Riley only wakes up when Huey tells him to.
"Huey! Get your ass down here! Boy, I don't understand why everything is so slippery this morning!" Grandad exclaimed from downstairs.
Huey sighed, "I'm coming."
"And hurry up! I ain't got time to mess around!" Grandad exclaimed sternly.
As Huey started walking towards the staircase, he banged five times on Riley's bedroom door. Since the boys got older, Grandad decided that it was better for them to have their privacy. Therefore, Huey moved into the guest bedroom.
"Ugh, a'ight! I'm up! Damn…" Riley fumed in an irritated manner.
"Take your time it's only six o'clock" Huey explained.
"Is Grandad breakin' shit again?" Riley asked exasperated.
"Yes" Huey answered with the same exasperation as his brother.
"Wake me up in another fifteen minutes" Riley commanded.
"No"
"Nigga it's six o'clock!"
"Then you should start getting ready. Yet, like I said, take your time" Huey commanded sternly. As much as Huey and Riley have one of the most fascinating relationships, they somehow always have each other's backs. However, they would never admit this to themselves or to each other.
After helping Grandad clean up his mess, Huey went upstairs and started to prep himself for school. His final outfit consisted of a pair of predominantly white All Stars, denim jeans and a plain grey t-shirt.
When walking out of his bedroom, he met with his brother. Riley was wearing classic Timberlands, black torn denim jeans, a Chicago Bears basketball shirt with a matching snapback. The brothers looked at each other and gave each other a nod of approval. Huey approving Riley's outfit and vice versa. Even though these two brothers have completely different sources of interest and clothing, they somehow always make sure one brother fits his role.
When the family was done having the breakfast that Grandad had prepared (which explains all of the noise he had made), they exited the household and retreated to Dorothy. Huey is seventeen years old and therefore has a driver's license. Riley still has a year to go before he can apply, because he is fifteen. Huey was about to honk the horn until Jazmine was already out of her door.
As Jazmine walked over to Dorothy she waved goodbye to her parents. She was wearing a white tank top with a floral dress shirt over it, white skinny jeans that were rolled up to her ankles and badge ankle boots. Her beautiful strawberry blonde locks were down today and they shaped her heart shaped face perfectly.
"Good morning", Jazmine chimed as she entered the car.
"Hey", the Freeman boys replied in unionism. As they turned out onto the road, Huey switched on the radio and started playing his tunes. As they drove to school, Riley started nodding his head to the familiar tune.
"I like em brown, yellow, Puero Rican or Hatian
Name is Phife Dawg from the Zulu Nation
told you in the jam that We Can Get Down" Riley rapped to his brother waving his hands around throwing gang sides around. Huey glanced sideways at him for a second and then focused on the road again. Riley laughed, "Damn nigga! I haven't heard this one in a while! It's been a minute!"
"What's the name of the song?" Jazmine asked intrigued by their conversation.
"None of yo' damn business Mariah Carey!" Riley yelled.
"I told you stop calling me that" Jazmine stated sternly, clearly irratated.
Riley gave him her a grin and a side glance as well.
"Electric Relaxation by A Tribe Called Quest" Huey answered for Jazmine because he knew that Riley was going to start something we could not finish. Jazmine smiled and nodded in appreciation. Riley just furrowed his eyebrows and frowned at his brother. Before, Riley could argue with his brother, Huey parked Dorothy and started getting out of the car.
As everyone was closing the doors to Dorothy, they met with Hiro "What it do?" Hiro shouted in a ghetto matter while smiling. Hiro was wearing black and grey Airmax sneakers, grey drop crotch pants and a red hoodie that wrote 'Kawaii in the Streets, Senpai in the Sheets'. Jazmine greeted her friend and hugged him. Hiro gave the Freemans dap and they all walked into the dreaded building they called Woodcrest High.
As the four friends walked down the hallway, they were approaching Cindy and Caesar. Cindy wore baggy denim jeans, black All Stars, a hugging white animated t-shirt that wrote '#Muse' in black and her hair in her signature platted pigtails. Caesar wore classic Chucks, army camo pants and a navy long sleeve top with his dreads down. Cindy was leaning against her locker with her arms crossed over her chest chatting to Caesar who was standing in front of her and had one of his hands leaning against her locker as well.
Riley frowned at this. Ever since they had started dating, he became more aggravated than normal. He knew the proper reason for his aggravation was the jealousy he actually felt. Riley has had feelings for Cindy since he was ten. If only Huey would come to terms with his feelings for Jazmine. The sad part is that he still doesn't know himself.
"Aayyy what's good!" Cindy shouted out to her friends when she realized they were coming their way.
"Ay yo' ma what dat mouth do!" Riley exclaimed back with a huge grin on his face starting to laugh. Hiro joined in with Riley due to his response. The next thing they know Cindy is confidently showing off her middle finger to the two boys while chuckling herself. The boys laughed a level louder due to her reaction. Huey shook his head at his brother and friend while Jazmine just smiled.
"Reezy you's a bitch you know that?" Cindy asked still smiling.
"Naaaah Reezy's a real nigga!" Riley retorted as he was still smiling himself. Cindy chuckled a little more and opened up her arms for a hug as he began to approach her more. This ended with Cindy being swung around in a bear hug from her longtime friend.
"You good?" She asked.
"You know it girl" he answered as he put her down. Riley went to give Caesar dap while Cindy was being hugged from Hiro and Jazmine.
After all the greetings, the squad made small conversation before the first bell went. "Jazmine" was all Huey said before they headed off to Geometry together. This left the remains of the group to give a sly smile to the duo without them looking.
"So how are you?" Jazmine asked while they walked.
"Fine" Huey answered.
Jazmine nodded, "Cool, so how was summer? Any jobs?"
"The same."
"Promotion?"
"Yes."
Jazmine gasps, "Huey that's amazing I knew you'd get it!" Jazmine hugged Huey unexpectedly.
"Jazmine, let go." He commanded. She obeyed.
"I just knew they'd promote you! The Bushido Brown Dojo would be nothing without you!"
Huey just nodded. This was his manner to say thank you to Jazmine, and she knew it. She just gave him a bright smile in return as she fanned past him into their Geometry Class.
Strawberry, like her hair, Huey thought when he caught a wiff of Jazmine's perfume as she entered their class.
After school hours…
"No" Huey stated.
"Oh c'mon Huey" Cindy begged.
"I said no."
"I'll pay you interest for your gas money! Just stop being a bitch for once in your life!" Cindy said irritated.
Cindy has told the squad that they should all hang out by her house today so they could have lunch, do homework and catch up from summer holiday. However, Huey was being a hard shell as always because they would all need lifts to and from Cindy's house.
"DuBois, convince this bitch" Cindy ordered.
"What on earth am I supposed to do?" Jazmine asked now annoyed as well.
"Find that nigga's weak spots or some shit! Just make sure his ass loosens up! I'll be back in five with an answer" Cindy commanded sternly.
Jazmine rolled her eyes and walked over to her longtime friend. "Jazmine I already said no. Therefore you cannot do anything." Huey stated.
Jazmine sighed, "No dumb questions, no white indoctrination music, unlimited free meals for a week, and…"
Huey raised his eyebrow in anticipation, "And?"
Jazmine closed her eyes, "One free favour".
Huey raised his eyebrows slightly, but then furrowed them back to normal. "You better keep your word DuBois." Huey stated.
Jazmine sighed and nodded her head.
"Everyone in the car, now." Huey said to his approaching friends.
"YES!" Cindy shouted in victory.
It was just coincidental that the song that they listened to on their way to school was being played again at random in the car on their way to Cindy's. "Relax yourself girl, please set-tle down" Caesar, Hiro, Riley and Cindy rapped to the chorus as they were making a left turn into Woodcrest Estates.
Cindy pressed the access key to her gate since Huey was now in the driveway. As Huey drove into her lot, Cindy stopped rapping for a moment as she realized something unfamiliar about her yard. There was a red BMW in her driveway that caught her attention. She frowned in confusion as everyone got out of Dorothy.
"Cindy, I could be wrong, but has any of your parents ever had a red Beemer?" Jazmine asked also puzzled by the vehicle.
"I was asking myself the same thing" Cindy replied.
It was only the girls that took note of the car. They were in front of everyone else on their way to the front door. She forgot her keys at home and therefore knocked on her front door. When the door opened, Cindy's eyes had popped out of their sockets as she realised who was in front of her.
"Hey Cindy, it's been too long cousin" the girl said smiling showing all her pearly white teeth.
The next thing everyone knew, Cindy was jumping and squealing at the top of her lungs with excitement and happiness. This made everyone jump a bit as well, because Cindy McPhearson barely does that in front of her friends.
"SKYLAR! OOOOH SHIT! SKYLAR! OH MY GOSH, SKYLAR!" she screamed as she leaped into her cousin's arms.
"Cindy you're heavy, damn" Skylar choke out as she had winded from her cousin.
"Goddamn…" Hiro muttered staring Skylar down.
Caesar punched him in the arm so he could come to his senses. As Hiro came back to earth, he just smiled trying to hide the fact that he was staring down his friend's cousin.
"Giiiiiiirl! What's been happening cuz? It's been a minute!" Cindy exclaimed to her cousin.
Skylar Emilia McPhearson was one of Cindy Diana McPhearson's closest cousins. Cindy's father, Marcus McPhearson had two brothers and a sister. Their names were Ezra McPhearson, Quinton McPhearson and Francesca McPhearson. Quinton was the oldest following Marcus, Ezra and then Francesca. Quinton had three girls, Skylar being the first and the twins Veronica and Victoria being the last.
"Yeah mos def girl. How about you bring you and your friends inside first?" Skylar initiated trying to give attention to the people behind her cousin.
"Thank you!" Riley exclaimed pushing past everyone into the house. The group laughed (except for Huey of course) as they all entered the McPhearson household.
The friends had just finished off their homework while Skylar was already getting a head start with lunch while Hiro and Caesar were working the stereo so they could get the music started. "So, are you finally going to tell a bitch why I found you in my house?" Cindy asked smugly approaching the kitchen where she was going to assist Skylar.
"You still such a bitch" Skylar joked while she was checking the ribs in the oven.
"And you still ain't telling me why you're here!" Cindy fought back with a chuckle.
"Okay, okay! Some mad stuff happening at school back home in Wisconsin. Some crazy environmental stuff like unknown potholes, sinking soil and stuff. They told us to find a substitute school in our standard until that stuff gets sorted. In other words, we're going to be graduating together" Skylar said with a smile.
Cindy squealed once again and hugged her cousin almost choking her once more. "That's pretty sick Sky! I mean, sorry about your school, but damn! I'm glad that we'll be hanging together more often now" Cindy chuffed.
"Cindy, you make so much noise" Jazmine said joining the family in the kitchen after finishing off her homework.
"Yeah whatever" Cindy said laughing and pushing Jazmine slightly. "Anyways, I didn't introduce you to the fam properly. Jazz, this is Skylar, but I call her Sky."
"Hey" Jazmine said and smiled.
"Hey" Skylar said and smiled in return.
"You're really pretty" Jazmine said taking in Skylar's beautiful features. Skylar was the same skin tone as Cindy, but was slightly shorter than her. There was nothing really different about the two except for the fact that Skylar's eyes are hazel and her hair is golder and wavy. Skylar wore khaki pants, maroon Nike Suede shoes and a loose black tank top with her hair loose.
"Gee thanks" Skylar responded completely flattered and smiling brightly, "Like wise."
"Pssshht girl I'm the cute one in this house!" Riley exclaimed as he bombarded everyone with his presence. Skylar laughed at this. Riley turned to her. "What? Are you telling me that this face don't make yo' legs quiver?" Riley asked with a sly smile.
"Riley, don't scare her. She's only known you for roughly an hour." Huey stated flatly.
The girls burst out laughing at this. This makes Riley give everyone a scrowl. "Riley chill out man" Skylar laughed out loud as she just shook her head at her new acquaintance.
"Oh so you do think I'm fresh?" Riley asked.
"I never said that, and don't expect me to either" Skylar concluded and checked on the fries.
"OOOOOOOOHHHHHH!" Hiro and Caesar roared out as they started rolling on the floor with laughter. Caesar was tearing up and he did not hold back. Hiro was busy banging on the floor while laughing as hysterically as Caesar. This ended up with Huey leaving the room and going outside onto the patio.
"Damn girl! Slow down!" Riley argued feeling a bit embarrassed.
"Riley, relax it was a joke" Jazmine said.
"No one asked you Mariah Carey!" Riley spat back.
"Ey! Sit yo' ass down Snoop Dogg!" Cindy yelled in defence.
"Woof." Skylar barked.
The next thing they knew, Hiro and Caesar were stumbling outside before they roared in a second fit of laughter. This caused Huey to return inside, but walk to Cindy's study.
After the insane fits of laughter and getting to know Skylar, lunch had been served. Jazmine however went back inside and made a veggie sandwich. When she was done, she took her plate and the sandwich to the study.
"May I come in?" Jazmine asked.
"It seems like you've already let yourself in" Huey retorted while his eyes were still stuck to the book he was reading. This just made Jazmine roll her eyes and close the door. She placed the plates on the desk and brought a chair not too far from Huey. Huey finally let his eyes leave his book as he looked at the sandwhich infront of him. Jazmine just smiled at this reaction.
"I did say unlimited meals for a week" Jazmine informed him.
Huey nodded and she just smiled as she dived into her ribs and chips. When they were done, they exited the study room and went to wash the dishes while everyone was still.
After a lot of conversation and music, by 17:05 everyone was ready to leave. Everyone said their farewells to the McPhearsons and drove off. Huey dropped off Caesar and was making his way to drop off Hiro as well.
"Ey, thanks man" Hiro said with appreciation as he gave Huey dap. Just before Hiro was about to exit Dorothy, his front door flew open.
"HIIIIROOOOOOOO!" A girl screamed.
Everyone froze except for Hiro as he covered his face with despair. "Ahhhhh shiiit!" Hiro exclaimed.
"HIRO KYOYA OTOMO!" she screamed even louder.
"Ming! Shut the hell up! I'm coming!" He spat back.
"It's 17:54! Anata wa okurete imasu!" she spat back as well!
"I know I'm late! Shikashi, anata wa koko de nanishiteruno?"
"Ie ni hairimasu!"
"Okaaayy!" Hiro exclaimed. "I'll see you guys tomorrow. Don't ask."
However, Huey did not need to ask. This is because he already knew who she was.