Is He The One? 4 Me?
Jamel White
Shayna Chapman
Rashaad Jacobson
Rasheim Jacobson
Jaslene Rivera
Yasmene Rivera
Hasan White
Samaia Sanchez
Raul Romero
Best Friend or Boyfriend
True Love or Just a crush
Present or Future Love
Which one do I choose?
First day of School
"Shayna, get up NOW!" I heard my mom yell as she made her way up to my room. She always yells early in the morning, no matter what day it is. "Come on ma, give me 5 more minutes please." I pulled the covers back over my head and tried to go back to sleep. "Shayna Nichelle Chapman, if you don't get up now, you won't be happy if I have to come back." I sighed and pulled the covers off me and sat up. "Thank you, now get ready so you can eat something before you go to school." She left my room and I headed straight to my bathroom to prepare myself for the first day of school.
After taking my 15 minute shower and getting dressed, I went back into my bathroom and brushed my teeth. "Dang man, she said the gov't," my pestering little brother said to me as he entered my bathroom. "Shaed, please get out before I hurt you." I was trying to be as calm as possible because he knows how to push my buttons. "You ain't gon do shit. I dare you to touch me." He tried to provoke me by standing in front of me like he was trying to scare me. "I can do better than that." I walked out the bathroom and stood in the doorway of my bedroom door. "MA! Shaed is in here cussing and threatening me." I turned around to Shaed's mouth wide open. "In 5…4…3…2…" I counted down as if I could already feel my mom yell for my brother. "Rashaed Jamal Chapman, get your grown ass down here, RIGHT NOW!" He took off downstairs by the time she got to "right now." I stuck my head back out my door and shouted, "Dang man, she said the gov't"
Push Pause. I am so sorry. Let me introduce myself. My name, as my mom has so kindly mentioned, is Shayna Nichelle Chapman. I'm 17 and a senior at Jefferson Davis High. My brother Shaed is starting his freshman year there. I am so not looking forward to it. Press Play.
My mom Sharita Chapman or Rita is a stay-at-home mom. She used to be a social worker until my dad got his miraculous job position. It's been six years so far. She's still kind of fresh to the "job." She has a kind heart but also knows when to lay down the rules at the right times and sometimes at the wrong times.
Now my dad, Rashaun Chapman or Shaun, he is the one who spoils me and my brother. He gives us whatever we want, no matter what. He's the right hand man to the Senator of Georgia. He doesn't have a mean bone in his body. At least, I don't think he does. That's probably why my parents disagree all the time. But they still have love for each other.
Now like I was saying, I attend Jefferson along with my brother (gag), my boyfriend and our crew. Jamel and I have been together since our freshman year. We are so happy together. He makes me smile when I frown and laugh when I'm feeling down. He's the quarterback at Jefferson and is taking us to the championship this year. His brother Hasan is in our crew too. He's point guard for our basketball team. They have a close relationship and I love seeing them interact with each other. He's dating Samaia. She is the only sophomore Puerto Rican girl to make J.V. Cheerleading Squad. Her own cousins couldn't even make the squad.
That brings me to Jaslene and Yasmene. They are juniors at Jefferson and identical twin sisters. Lead singers in the choir. Those girls can blow. And they are the co-creators of "Dance Boogie" Dance Squad. The other creators are my cousins Rashaad and Rasheim. Both sets of twins are dating each other. Rashaad and Jaslene are dating. Yasmene and Rasheim are dating. My cousins are identical too. Both couples have been together for two years now. They can dance anything from tap to merengue. They've won every competition that has come to the A. Ras and Ra Ra are the most protective in the crew. They protect all the girls, especially me because I am they "lil" cousin.
And last, my best friend Raul. I call him Cheech. Don't ask me why. We've known each other since were in our mothers' womb. Our moms have been cool since they were in middle school so it was just destined that we would be friends and close. Even though he is only three months older than me, he considers me his "lil" sister.
It doesn't bother me because I'm so used to it now, after all these years, but I think our close relationship bothers Jamel. I've told him a million times that me and Cheech are just friends and are practically brother and sister. But it won't get past him so I just give up. And that's the crew. We may just be friends, but we are also one big family.
I finished putting my jewelry on and grabbed my purse, book bag and keys. I headed downstairs and seen my dad sitting at the table reading his Sports Illustrated and drinking his coffee. My brother was playing his PSP and listening to his Zune. He looked up for a minute and mugged me hard as hell. I just smiled and walked into the kitchen. "What's for breakfast ma?" I asked as I kissed her on the cheek. "Grits, bacon, eggs and toast," she said as she turned around to hand me my plate. "I think imma get me a bagel instead." She gave me a slight frown "Why? You love my cooking." "I do ma but I just remembered that I have to get to school so that I can make this step meeting. I have to be there or I won't be able to step at the competition."
She gave in and popped a bagel in the toaster oven for me. I thanked her and headed to take a sit at the table. I kissed my dad on the cheek as I sat down. "Good Morning baby girl, how does it feel to be a senior?" He asked peering up from his magazine. "I'm just ready to get it over with and graduate so I won't have to see Mrs. Haynes anymore." My mom brought my bagel out covered in cottage cheese and sat it in front of me. "Thanks mommy." She smiled and headed back into the kitchen. 5 minutes later, she returned to the table with a plate for herself, her cup of coffee and finally joined us at the table.
"Now Shayna, don't forget that you will be taking your brother to school with you every morning and you will make sure he returns safely." I dropped my bagel and my jaw dropped. I stared at her as I tried to muster up what I was gonna say next. "Ma, do I have to, every…single…day?" She sat her cup down before she spoke to me. "Yes, every day or you will be riding the bus like everyone else. I don't want to hear another word." I sunk down in my chair and folded my arms. I can't believe she is actually making me do this. "Daddy, do I have to?" I gave him the infamous "puppy dog" eyes. He was just about to cave in when, "Shaun don't baby her. It won't kill her to drive her brother to school. She's lucky we are even letting her drive after what happened this summer."
Push Pause. Let me tell you the story before she try and add unnecessary stuff. Ok. Jamel, Cheech, both sets of twins and me had been going to this teen spot called Club 360 everyday since summer started. Well, this one night was crazy. We had all decided to ride in my Denali. I had got it for my birthday. So we were leaving the club and just driving around cause we weren't ready to go home. It was only 1 o'clock in the morning so it was way to early to go home. The radio was boring as hell, so I popped in my Drought 3 CD. I changed it to Crazy freestyle.
I was looking down for two seconds when the light started to turn to red so Istarted slowing down. I was coming to a complete stop when some jackass decided he was gonna bump my car, jerking it a little. The girls and I screamed a little. The boys were about to jump out without thinking and jump the fool but I managed to calm them down. The rest of the ride home was silent. I dropped everybody off and went straight to my house. I guess my mom was waiting on me because as soon as I got to the porch, she came outside. She saw my face and I guess her natural reaction told her to run straight to the car to check it out. The minute she saw the dent, she flipped out. She blamed me for whatever happened and didn't even get my side of the story. I haven't been able to live that day down yet. Press Play.
"You understand me Shayna?" My mom asked as she took another sip from her coffee and a bit of her grits. "Yes mommy. Come on boy before I be late for this meeting." I got up and kissed both parents on the cheek before grabbing my purse, book bag, keys and walked out the door with my brother laughing.
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"Come on nigga, wake your happy ass up." I told my brother as I was getting dressed. "Man, give me like five more minutes, damn." I shrugged my shoulders and proceeded into our bathroom to wash my face and brush my teeth. As I was about to leave, my phone vibrated, signaling that I had a text message.
Shay-Boo: Ready 2 b a senior baby
Jay Mac: U kno it. I cant wait 2 knock dem niggas out…c u at school
Shay-Boo: Ok...I luv u
Jay Mac: I luv u 2
I closed my sidekick and proceeded back into my room.
My brother was still sleep so I decided to mess with him, just to see what I would do. I clicked the TV on and turned to MTV Jams. Ne-Yo Video "Do You" just so happen to be on at the time. "Damn Tae got a fat ass." In less than 5 seconds, the covers flew off the bed and this nigga was standing in front of the TV. "I knew that shit was gonna work. Now get ready so we won't be late for school. You got ten minutes or your ass will get left."
I walked downstairs to see my little sister eating dry Cheerios and watching Wonder Pets. "You ready to go to big school Bri?" She turned to me and gave me
the biggest smile. "Yea Jay, cause I'm a big girl and I want to show everyone where I lost my tooth." She opened her mouth and showed me, for the millionth time, where her tooth used to be that she lost two weeks ago. I can see that she will be doing this routine for a while.
By the way, my name is Jamel Hakiem White. I'm 18 and a senior at Jefferson High, Home of the White Tigers. We some beast and ain't never been beat. I have two siblings, Hasan and Sabrina, and one on the way, Jasmiana. Hopefully this will be the last one cause ain't trying to be that much older than my siblings.
Hasan is 16 and a sophomore at Jefferson. He's on our basketball team. They are some killas. They ain't been beat yet neither. He and his girl Samaia have been together for a year. The second perfect couple, a cheerleader and point guard. I say second because of course me and my baby are the perfect couple. No ifs, ands or buts about that.
And my sister Sabrina is 5. She is starting kindergarten this year. My mom was too attached to her and didn't want to let her go. I mean she went to daycare, because she had to, and she's taking gymnastics but nothing too serious like school. Although to everyone else, it wasn't serious like it was to my mom. But ever since she found out she was going to be able to spoil another girl, she has slowly started detaching herself from Bri.
My mom, Marie White, is a Spanish Teacher at Jefferson, so you know me and San have to be on point with our grades. My mom is from Argentina but she moved to the U.S. when she was 10. She's cool but she can also be moody and strict. Especially now cause she pregnant.
My dad, Ahmad White, is an attorney. A Celebrity Attorney. He knows and has been a lawyer to every celeb you can name that has law problems, especially those in the A. Even Luda's daughter Karma comes over to play with Bri.
"Morning pops, you working tonight?" I asked him as I sat downat the table while my mom fixed me a plate to eat. "Yea, you know Mike got into more trouble this month." He responded sipping his coffee. "Oh yea, he stay in trouble." My mom finally brought out my plate and set it in front of me. I said good morning to her and thanked her for my food.
"Go ahead and eat because I don't want you late this morning. Coach Johnson needs to talk to you." She told me in her thick accent. I groaned at the mentioning
of his name. Now, football is my life, while after Shay of course, and my passion but I can't stand my coach. He just didn't seem like the right person for this sport. Something was up with him.
"Yes ma but can you tell your son to come on before he don't have a ride to school." After I said that, she walked to the foot of the staircase and yelled for my brother. In less than two minutes, he ran downstairs, fully dressed with his hair slicked back in a ponytail. San has always kept his hair long. I opted to keep it cut like my pops. My mom didn't like it at first, because in her family, all the men had long hair. But she has now gotten used to it. San is a mama's boy so that's the only reason why his is still long.
"Si mami?" He asked while putting his backpack straps over his shoulders. "Come on and eat so you can go. I will be getting to school a little late so Jay is your only ride to school." She walked back into the kitchen and my brother sat down at the table. "How come pops can't take me?" My mom came back with his plate and was about to answer him when my dad took control. "Because I have to into the office today and it will interfere with my route." San gave up and started eating. Ten minutes later, we were heading out of our neighborhood and off to school.