School was about to start. Rosa became confused, seeing as she hadn't seen Huey, Jazmine or Caesar since they met them. Riley was over every day, almost like Angel. He kept telling Rosa not to worry about where they were at, but it got to the point where Huey didn't even show up to the hill like he said he was going to be.
It dissappointed Rosa, seeing as she thought she was going to be friends with Huey and Caesar. She was even warming up to Riley, as well as finding new ways to shoot him down. She didn't think anything would come of being friends with Jazmine, seeing as she seemed to be insanely jealous of her. She didn't understand why, it's not like she wanted Huey or anything. Even Cindy, who was damn near impossible at first, warmed up to Rosa.
Angel was still being Angel however. She barely got along with Riley or Cindy, but she was beginning to be somewhat nicer to Ed. It was something, and more importantly, it was saving Rosa a few headaches a day.
Rosa smiled at Angel as they fell asleep. She was glad she had a friend in Angel, and even more glad that she made friends in the others as well. She fell asleep happy. Rosa woke up in a fuzz, staring right into the face of Riley, who was inches from her face, winking.
"Riley, what the hell are you doing here?" she asked.
"To wake yo ass up, whatchu think? Caesar tol' me he was gon show y'all the bus stop, an he tol' me ta come and get y'all in da mornin." said Riley.
"And you couldn't let my alarm clock wake me up because?"
"Shit, that woulda been boring as fuck. So I shut the shit off, and woke you up myself. C'mon, Huey's gay ass is waitin on us downstairs. He don't like ta be round Ed an Rummy fa too long."
"Ugh, fine Riley." grumbled Rosa as she got up from her bed.
Rosa shook Angel a little bit, knowing that she was a hard sleeper. She remained motionless. Riley kicked the bed as Rosa shook her head and rolled her eyes. Here we go again...
"Wake up call bitch! Get yo ass up!" he yelled.
Rosa left her room with her clothes for the day as she heard a loud thump from her room. Riley most likely getting dropped no doubt. She showered and left out of the bathroom, locking eyes with a groggy Angel, who had her clothes for the day.
"Why the fuck did you let Riley in the room?" she mumbled.
"I didn't. He just decided to come on in, turn off the alarm clock, and wake us up himself." said Rosa.
"Well, he got dropped, so maybe in the future, you should tell him that waking me up by kicking my bed is a bad option."
Angel brushed past Rosa and went into the bathroom while Rosa went downstairs. Riley staggered down after her, rubbing his cheek.
"Why the hell she hit so hard anyway? It's like she got man hands or something. Damn..." he muttered.
"Serves you right. I could have told you that kicking her bed was gonna get your ass dropped." said Rosa.
"Then why didn't chu?"
"Shit, that would been boring as fuck." she mocked him.
"Bitch, you cold."
Rosa rolled her eyes as she realized Huey wasn't downstairs anymore. She saw him sitting out on the porch. She looked to see Ed once again making a dent in the couch, snoring loudly as he tossed and turned. Angel finally came flying down the stairs, and the teens left the house, Rosa closing the door behind her.
As the four teens started their walk to Caesar's, Angel's stomach started to growl.
"Hey, it's nice that you guys offered to walk us to Caesar's and all, but is there breakfast at school? I'm hungry as fuck when I wake up and drop someone." said Angel.
"So that's what that noise was?" asked Huey.
"Man, you a cold ass b-" started Riley, who studied Angel's glare. She raised a fist at him and he gulped.
"I'm a what?" she asked.
"A...cold ass person in the morning." he corrected.
"Good boy! I knew you could learn! I knew you weren't completely stupid!" praised Angel, who ruffled Riley's head. He grumbled as he smacked Angel's hand away.
"Man, whatever. Anyways, it's a breakfast thing at the school. But I wouldn't eat that shit. You'da been betta eatin at the crib." said Riley.
"And you couldn't tell us that earlier because?" asked Rosa.
"I assumed Riley told you. The school is run by white people, so most likely, the food is high in fats and sugars. Nothing that will cause high blood pressure, just diabetes." said Huey.
"Don't listen to that gay ass hater. He a vegan or some shit. He don't eat no fried chicken, and it's the weirdest shit I ever heard of. But he right 'bout one thang. That white breakfast shit is nasty." said Riley.
"I'm a vegetarian, as I've told you numerous times. And just because I want to live as long as possible and not die of congestive heart failure, doesn't mean I'm weird."
"But it means you not a real ass nigga like me."
"Pfft, as if. Being a vegetarian doesn't mean he's not a real nigga. Shit, he might be realer than you." said Angel.
"I don't need you to stick up for me, especially if it means you're gonna call me something as ignorant as a 'real nigga.'" said Huey, who went to Caesar's porch where he was waiting.
"Well, sor-ry. Shit, I thought I was complimenting him. I can see what kind of relationship I'm gonna have with him." said Angel.
"Maybe you offended him." shrugged Rosa.
"Why do I feel that anything I tell him is going to offend him?"
"Cuz dat nigga sensitive. He and dat nigga Caesar are some of the gayest niggas in life." said Riley.
Huey heard him, and glared hard at Riley. Riley returned the glare, not being scared of his older brother. Caesar smiled at the girls, trying to ease the tension.
"Hey, wassup Angel? Rosa? Y'all alright?" he asked.
"Im hungry as fuck! I woke up to a fucking child kicking my bed this morning and had to beat some ass before I could even eat my morning bowl of cereal." said Angel.
"I'm kind of hungry too. But I don't really do breakfast. I usually sleep through the morning." said Rosa.
"Oh, didn't Huey and Riley tell you? The bus doesn't come for another hour." said Caesar.
It was Rosa and Angel's turn to glare at them now. Riley looked frightened for a moment, but Huey kept his cool, glaring right back.
"Why in the hell. Did you bring us here so damn early." asked Angel.
"For breakfast? We told you that we don't eat at the school. It's also the reason why I had Riley go and wake you up. Other than the fact that I wasn't about to get beat." said Huey.
"Yeah. We always eat here. My parents get good stuff, and they go to work at 5 in the am. We have my house to ourselves until the bus gets here." said Caesar.
"Oh, well why didn't you just tell us that?" asked Angel.
"Because we cain't say shit to you when you start bitchin..." mumbled Riley.
"What was that?!"
"Not a damn thang, I'm goin in."
Riley sped into the house while Angel glared at him. Huey and Caesar went inside too. Angel and Rosa exchanged looks.
"What do you think? You think you can keep control of your temper for an hour?" asked Rosa.
"Eh, maybe. It's food, so I think I can manage. But I make absoulutely no promises. Riley pisses me off, Huey is getting there, but Caesar might save both their asses." said Angel.
"How about you try this. If you don't have anything nice to say, don't say shit."
"Man, you really wanna stick up for them huh? What, you like them or something?"
"It's not even like that. Haven't you realized that they know everything about this place? They're our help out here. Without their help, we'd have to rely on Ed and Rummy. Do you want that?"
"Psht, hell no. They both wouldn't know shit."
"Okay then. Try and make it work."
Rosa and Angel went into Caesar's house, finally. It was big, Rosa would give him that, but it was simple. Angel followed the food smell to the kitchen, where Riley was making toaster waffles, Caesar was eating cereal, and Huey was chopping up a banana.
"So, make yourselves at home! There are a lot of choices, but I'm afraid Riley has all claims on the waffles." said Caesar.
Rosa shrugged and got a box of cereal out, not really being one for breakfast anyway. Angel, being Angel, got out bread, eggs, fruit, and bacon. If he said she could eat, she was going to eat.
"Damn Angel! He said we could eat here, not rob him!" said Rosa.
"Girl, shut up. I'm barely touching the surface of this refrigerator. Shit, Caesar wasn't lying when he said his parents buy the good shit!" said Angel.
"Yeah, but that don't mean you be a fat ass!" said Riley.
Angel pointed the spatula at Riley while cooking her bacon. Riley glared at her as she turned to look at him.
"You shut yo ass up. I'm tired of you already. If I didn't have this food in my face, I'd beat yo ass again. But I told someone I'd keep it together this morning." said Angel.
Huey rolled his eyes as he ate his banana. Rosa noticed him, and looked at him confusingly.
"You didn't get more to eat?" she asked.
"I eat at my house because Caesar's parents buy food that are high in fructose corn syrup, dyes, and they buy a lot of pork. At least at my house, I know that my food is safe." said Huey.
"Oh, right. You're a vegetarian."
"What about you Rosa? You eat pork?" asked Caesar, who began eyeing Angel's bacon.
She noticed him looking and glared at him hard. She made a motion to cut his head off if he tried to come and try to steal her bacon. He nervously gulped and turned back to Rosa.
"Um...sometimes? I'm not really a pork fan. I love chicken though. My foster mother used to make this fried chicken that was to die for." said Rosa.
Huey sighed. Another typical 'black' person, eating chicken, and getting high blood pressure. Riley snuck up on Angel, trying to get at her bacon that was done cooking. She was so engrossed in cooking her eggs that she didn't even notice Riley snatch a piece and pop a little bit in his mouth as he sat down with his waffles.
As she put her eggs on the plate, she realized that she was missing a piece of bacon. She glared at the whole room. Riley swiftly closed his hand, hoping to hide the missing piece.
"Seeing as Huey's a vegetarian, he gets a pass. Which one of you greedy ass niggas stole my bacon?" asked Angel.
"How do you even know a piece is missing?" asked Caesar.
"The same way you gonna know when I whup yo damn ass. You don't think I counted my bacon before cooking it? I'm paranoid as fuck about my food!"
"Well, it doesn't matter. I didn't eat it."
"Neither did I." said Rosa.
"Well, I ain't eat it! As if I wanna get slapped again!" said Riley.
Angel glared as all of them, knowing that one of them was lying. Rosa never had a reason to lie to her, especially not about food. Plus she wasn't lying about not liking pork, so that only left Caesar and Riley. Her toast popped up, and she stared Riley right in the face.
"I know you lyin. Next time you take my food, when I catch you, you gon wish I'da killed you." said Angel.
"Aye! I said it wasn't me!Why you gotta be like dat?!" asked Riley.
"Simple. You got a piece in your hand. Next time, make sure you eat all the evidence, dumbass."
Angel popped Riley on the head as she finally had her plate fixed. By the time she had finished her food, Caesar took her plate and Rosa's bowl. Both Huey and Riley got up and out, leaving Caesar to put all the dishes in the sink.
"Hey, come on. The bus is about to come." said Caesar.
Rosa and Angel got up and followed the Freeman boys out of Caesar's house up to the corner, where a bright yellow bus was speeding up to them. Caesar made it out there just it time for the bus to stop in front of all of them. In it, a big fat black man with one normal eye and one googly eye was driving the bus.
"Alright you african hooligans! We ain't got all day to be sittin here waitin on y'all. I got a bus of beautiful white children I need to deliver to the school, and you niggas wanna take yo sweet ass time." said the bus driver.
"We comin Ruckus. Damn, you ain't retired yet? You about as old as my grandad." asked Riley.
Ruckus ignored Riley as Rosa and Angel got on the bus.
"And who are these monkeys? Just what we need around here. Two mo nappy headed negro females tempting the little white boys." said Ruckus.
"What did you say?" asked Rosa, offended.
"Ignore him. He's more racist than some of the white people around here." said Huey.
He and Rosa went to the back of the bus and sat down, where Cindy was wating for them. Riley sat next to Cindy, wrapping an arm around her. Angel however, couldn't be moved. She stepped aside so Caesar could get on the bus and Ruckus started moving the bus again.
"But...he's as black as the ace of spades!" said Angel.
"What what? I'll have you know, you little coon, that I have a medical condition. Re-vitiligo." said Ruckus.
"What kind of bullshit condition is that-" started Angel, who got pushed away from Ruckus by Caesar.
"Trust me. You don't want him to get started on his little sob story. We all know he's black, he knows he's black, but it's 'better for his self esteem' if he thinks he's white." said Caesar.
"Is every black person crazy here?" asked Angel.
"Nah. Just him. We're obviously normal."
Angel rolled her eyes as she sat in the seats in front of Rosa and Huey. Caesar sat next to her, grinning stupidly. She noticed him, and looked at him confusingly.
"What."
"Soooo..."
"What?!"
"Are you and Rosa like...lightskins...or...?" asked Caesar curiously.
"Oh yeah! I wanted to know that too, but I knew better than to ask..." said Cindy.
"It's obvious. They both lightskins, duh. Rosa's Rummy sister, and he's whiter den white. But I asked, and they legit brother and sister. Dat mean that dey mom and dad was white and black, like Jazmine's parents." said Riley.
"Uh...no. I may not remember my parents, but I've seen pictures. They're both black. I'm not a lightskin. I'm like...in the middle." said Rosa.
"Well how ya explain Rummy den? Was yo momma a hoe or somethin?"
"You better watch your mouth. Have some respect for the dead, or I'll beat it into you."
"Calm down girl. I was just playin wit chu."
"You just called her momma a hoe. That's not a joke man. That's an ass whuppin." said Caesar.
"True that. I'da killed you for that. As for me, I'ma lightskin. My grandparents on both sides are white. My parents are both mulatto, which makes me a lightskin too. What about y'all? Obviously Caesars a darkskin, and Huey and Riley, y'all have enough attitude to be lightskins. Also, what's with your hair? Caesar, those dreads are really long, Huey, that afro is hella big, and Riley, when was the last time someone did your cornrows?" asked Angel.
"I'm half Jamaican. I've had these dreads since I was like, 7. I got them in then, and have been getting them tightened ever since. I mean, I've had to cut off a few and start over, but it's been worth it over the years. These dreads have seen a lot of women." bragged Caesar.
Angel rolled her eyes and smirked at him slightly. She didn't think anyone saw her, but she gave off the slightest blush when Caesar winked at her. Rosa caught it, and smirked devilishly.
"I'm all natural. No relaxers. No dreadlocks. No corn rows. No nothing. I've always had an afro, and I always will." said Huey.
"An I get my rows done almost every week by my hoes. Granted, Tati sucks at it, but she all I got." said Riley.
"Not no more. If you're nice to me, I'll re-do em for you. I do pretty good hair. Plus, I do dreads too." said Angel.
"Aw, you do dreads?! That'll be a lot easier than going to my mom! She's always gone anyway, and I never get em done on time. With you around, I get get em done every other week!" said Caesar excitedly.
"Calm down dreadlocks. Who said I'd even do them? I said you have to be nice to me."
Caesar smirked at her suggestively, wrapping an arm around her and pulling her in close. Rosa snickered as Angel blushed heavily.
"Beautiful, when am I not nice to you? I've been the nicest to you."
Angel pushed him away as he and Rosa shared a laugh at her expense. The bus finally came to a halt. Everyone got out to see Jazmine, who was getting dropped off. She clung onto Huey as she always did, and Huey remained motionless, as always.
Caesar rolled his eyes and held his arms out for both Rosa and Angel. Rosa smiled and took the arm, but Angel glared at him and scoffed. Caesar shrugged and began walking with Rosa, leaving the others, who all split off into different directions.
"Why are you such a flirt?" asked Angel.
"Who, me? Nah girl. I'm always like this. Just naturally sweet to the ladies." said Caesar cockily.
"Especially the ones who do hair." teased Rosa.
"Nah girl, it ain't like that. It's just...mom's getting old, ya know? She's got weak wrists, all dat...pretty soon she was gonna have to pay to get my shit professionally done. Dad ain't gonna like that, and he'da probably cut it all off in my sleep."
"You're full of shit." said Angel.
"Nah, never that. One day, I could walk up in here with a damned fade."
"Alright! Alright. I'll do your damn hair. If it means your dad won't come near those dreads with some scissors, I'll do em. But you'll owe me. Big." said Angel.
"Anything you want, girl. Shit, what do you want? Food? Money?" asked Caesar.
As they made it up to Angel and Rosa's first class, Angel stepped up uncomfortably close to Caesar. Now, it was his turn to blush. Rosa let go of his arm, rolling her eyes at how obvious the two were being. Angel got closer to his face, her breath blowing gently on his lips.
"When I want something, I'll let you know." she murmured.
She pulled away from him, his face stuck in a shocked expression. She and Angel went into their first class, while Caesar tried to snap out of his stupor enough to walk away, seemingly to his class. Angel and Rosa sat next to each other, Rosa smiling at Angel.
"Are you naturally a flirt, or is this some kind of game you've started with Caesar?" she asked.
"Girl, mind your own business. He just entertains me more than the others is all. It's just because he's hilarious." said Angel.
"...and it has nothing to do with the fact that you're obviously attracted to him."
Angel blushed as Rosa snickered at her. As the school day went by, Rosa began to notice that the others were nowhere to be seen. They sat together at lunch, hoping to see at least one of them then.
"Yo, where do you think the others are? I mean, Riley and Cindy are underclassmen, so I didn't expect to have any classes with them. But Huey, Jazmine, and Caesar? I expected to at least have one class with them." said Angel.
"I don't know. Maybe we don't have any classes with them. It's possible." said Rosa.
"But for them to skip lunch too?"
"Maybe they go out. Upperclassmen are allowed to leave the school for lunch."
"Withoutinviting us?"
"Maybe they can only take a certain amount of people. I mean, there are 5 of them." shrugged Rosa.
"Maybe. Shit, maybe they're skipping." said Angel.
"On the first day? Yeah, right."
"Have you ever been to a ghetto school? I used to know people who would show up for the first day, and not show up for the rest of the year. And peep this: They'd still make it to the next grade!"
"That's probably because no one else wanted to deal with them."
Angel and Rosa shrugged it off as they went through the rest of school. They got on the bus to see all of them occupying the back of the bus. All but Jazmine, who they assumed was getting picked up by the same ride who dropped her off this morning.
Huey and Caesar were sitting in the last seats of the bus, so Rosa and Angel sat in front of them.
"So, how was it?" asked Huey.
"Where were you guys?! We both feel like we haven't seen y'all all day since Caesar took us to class!" said Angel.
"Aye, that ain't our fault. We don't have y'all's classes. Shit, the way I heard shit, y'all dem smart classes." said Riley.
"But during lunch too?" asked Rosa.
"Okay, that was our bad. We didn't invite y'all to lunch with us. We thought that y'all would say no, seeing as it was the first day." said Caesar.
"Don't worry guys. Y'all can just come with us tomorrow. That's no problem." said Cindy.
"Yeah, sure. Whatever." said Rosa.
"It's not like you missed much." said Huey.
"Aw, c'mon Huey. You talk like we bore you or somethin." said Caesar.
Huey shrugged, making Caesar look at him in fake hurt.
"We're supposed to be best friends. How can you be so cruel."
"Cut the dramatics. We are friends, but not if you keep acting like that. Sometimes, you're worse than Jazmine."
"Aw, but you love me anyway." said Caesar.
Huey looked at him skeptically as Riley rolled his eyes at the two.
"I told you them niggas were gay. The gayest niggas in the world, yet they tryna hide it from everyone. Why don't yall just admit that y'all suck each other's dicks already?" said Riley.
Both Huey and Caesar exchanged glares with Riley as the bus stopped on Caesar's corner. Huey smacked Riley over the head as they all got out, leaving Riley and Cindy on the bus. Riley groaned and let out a 'Hey!' before they exited. Caesar let out a laugh.
"I don't know why he always questions my sexuality. He's not fooling anyone. Everyone in the school knows he'd fuck anything with two legs." said Caesar.
"Careful Caesar..." warned Huey.
"I know that's your little brother and everything, but why is he so concerned with our sexuality, when he can't even define his feelings for Cindy? If he's not too careful, I might snatch her up. It's not like he would even notice."
"But that's his girlfriend. I'm pretty sure he'd notice." said Rosa.
"Not girlfriend. As he's tried to explain to me, she's his right hand of sorts. She's the only one who thinks it's an actual relationship." said Caesar.
"That's fucked up. Why not just leave him alone then? I'm sure if I'd let him, he'd flirt with me and Rosa too." said Angel.
"Riley cares about her. At least, that's what he tells me." said Huey.
"Is that where he went? To her house?" asked Rosa.
"Hell no! Her father hates Riley and the rest of us. They don't even treat Ruckus with respect." said Caesar.
"Pure white racism at it's finest." said Rosa and Huey at the same time as they exchanged glances.
"No, they're probably going to the Wuncler place. They're in some kind of gang with Ed the III's little sister and a couple other people from school." said Caesar.
"Gang? There are gangs at that school? That white ass school?" asked Angel.
"Of course. You thought ignorance was just going to pass that school because it's white?" asked Huey.
"I figured that there was at least one. I guess if Riley wants to be in it, that's his business." said Rosa.
"Well, we'll see you guys later. If we don't meet up with Jazmine, she'll start getting hysterical. Unless you two wanna come with?" asked Caesar.
"Pfft, no. As if I wanna deal with her jealousy right now." said Angel.
"She's not that bad." said Huey.
"Says her boyfriend. She's downright stupid for you. Anybody can see that."
"Or maybe I know her a little better than most people, and I genuinely think that shes not that bad." ground out Huey.
"Yeah, sure. You keep telling yourself that." said Angel.
Huey scoffed and rolled his eyes. Caesar hugged Rosa and tried to hug Angel, but she flipped him off. Caesar just laughed and waved them off. Rosa rolled her eyes at Angel as they began their walk to Rummy's house.
"Why are you so damn mean to Caesar all the time? You are so backwards. One minute, you guys are all buddy buddy because you're both from Brooklyn, and then when he tries to flirt with you, you immeadiately shut him down." said Rosa.
"Can't you see what he's doing? He's buttering us up. He's trying to see which one of us is gonna fall for his flirtin ass. And you're taking the bait: Hook, line, and sinker." said Angel.
"Oh, I don't believe that for a second. Why would he care about trying to pick us up?"
"Easy. We're probably the only colored girls that these guys have seen ever. Jazmine isn't completely black, and obviously Cindy's not black."
"Why does that matter?"
"Haven't you realized that's his type? He's obviously into black females. How could you not know that? He's from Brooklyn. He and Huey are into black girls, and Riley's into whatever's thrown at him."
"I still don't think you're right. I mean, if he liked us, wouldn't it seem to be more like him to...I don't know...tell us?" asked Rosa.
"Yeah, if he knew which one of us to choose! Girl, don't act like you don't know what he's doing. You supposed to be the smart one out of both of us."
Rosa rolled her eyes as she and Angel went into the house. Ed and Rummy looked at the two, smiling.
"Well, hey. How was the first day?" asked Rummy.
"White. I'm assuming you knew that though. Ain't no one up there but a bunch of white teachers, white people, and about 5 and a half niggas." said Angel.
"5 and a half? How you figure dat?" asked Ed.
"Me, Rosa, Huey, Caesar, Riley, and Jazmine's only half black. 5 and a half niggas." said Angel as-a-matter-of-factly.
Ed and Rummy looked at each other, and laughed loudly. Rosa rolled her eyes at the ignorance coming from out of the room. Angel giggled a little too, and noticed the TV was on. There was a videogame on, and Angel lit up. She jumped onto the couch from behind, sitting in between them.
"What y'all playin?! Looks fun!" exclaimed Angel.
"Eh, it's an old game that Ed, and Riley like to play. You know me, I fuckin hate technology." said Rummy
"You hate technology? The fuck does that mean?" asked Angel.
"Man, you may as well stop barking up that tree. Rummy's been like this forever. Even though an iPhone saved his life." said Ed.
"Man, fuck an iPhone. I ain't like them bitches then, and I don't like those bitches now with that Siri bitch in em." said Rummy.
"Siri is useful." said Angel.
"Yeah, it goes from that Joaquin Phoenix movie Her, to that damn Shia Labeouf movie Eagle Eye. Fuck that."
"Then how do you contact people?" asked Rosa.
"I ain't never said I didn't have a phone. I have one, just not one of those stupid ass iPhones, or that bluetooth shit."
"For the last time Rummy, there ain't shit wrong with bluetooth!" said Ed.
"Bullshit there ain't! That shit looks too futuristic for this generation, and there's a damn reason that people put their phones to their head! I don't know how many times I have to say it! That fuckin shit's about as useless as Ed's damn plans."
"When have my plans not worked?!" asked Ed.
"What about the time we tried to rob the liquor store? We ain't count on them having guns, and we almost got Riley and his brother shot up! Or the when we used to rob them banks and it took us whole episodes of Seinfeld to get through them! Hell, I even kept forgetting to tell em to take us to the damn safe..."
"Man, you said yourself that shit was an unknown unknown. And plus, we were the best robbers in Woodcrest! You was just a damned perfectionist!"
"Hold up. When did you two ever rob banks? Y'all are both stupid." said Rosa.
"Hey, shut the hell up. I'm not stupid. I've always been the brains of the operation." said Rummy.
"No you wasn't! I was the brains, Riley was the eye, and you were the muscle!" said Ed.
"Which is why your plans fail. C'mon Angel."
Rosa went upstairs, Angel following after her, sticking her toungue out at Ed, who flipped her off. Rummy just chuckled at him as the two went upstairs. Ed looked at his best friend with a very confused face.
"What the fuck you lookin' at?" he asked.
"You nigga. You special as hell. Arguin and flirtin' wit a lil ass girl." said Rummy.
"What?! Nah, it ain't like dat at all. Hell, I cain't stand that annoyin ass lil girl."
"Yeah, yeah...whatever you say Ed."
Meanwhile, Angel and Rosa played their own videogame until dinnertime, in which Rummy and Angel battled for the stove. Rosa laughed at their attempt to cook food together.
"C'mon girl, move over! Shit, I'm tryna cook!" said Rummy.
"Shit, whatchu think I'm tryna do! Pick flowers?! Move yo damn ass!" Angel shot back.
Angel fried up some chicken, while Rummy made macaroni and cheese and mashed potatoes. After dinner, Angel and Rosa went back up to her room, and laid down in their beds.
"Man, you can fry some chicken..." said Rosa.
"Better than your foster mother?" asked Angel.
"Oh, never that. I mean, you're a good cook and everything, but she...was amazing."
"Was? Did you finally find out what happened to her?"
"No, I just always assumed the worst."
"That's a pessimistic way of looking at it. What if she's still out there?"
"Then she would have come back. She loved me, almost as much as I loved her. Plus, she had a lot of...animals to take care of."
"Animals? Like dogs?"
"1 Dalmation, 2 Retreivers...and15wolves..." she said the last part real fast, hoping Angel wouldn't catch it.
"Wolves?! This woman had wolves!? Isn't that dangerous?!" asked Angel.
"She was raised around them. She always told me 'As long as you weren't afraid to establish dominance, there's nothing wrong with wolves.'" said Rosa.
"What the hell kinda person were you living with?!"
"The greatest fighter I've ever known. She was a hard teacher, but she was fair. Anything she wouldn't teach me, I eventually learned myself. Because of her, I know one of the most deadly styles of Kung-Fu there is."
"Wait, you can fight? Why didn't you tell me?!"
"Well, because I'm not really supposed to use it. I mean, she used to use it all the time, because she had a slight temper problem, but I'm only really supposed to use it if I'm in trouble."
"Well, shit. Sounds like I need to start learning from you!" said Angel.
"No."
"No?! Whatchu mean no? A deadly style of Kung-Fu? Just think of the power I would have!" said Angel.
"That's exactly why I can't teach you. I'm not a master, only my teacher is. I only have an intermeidiate grasp of the style myself, and even that was grueling, and really hard to learn." said Rosa.
"Man, whatever. All I know is that I wanna see it one day! I wanna see my girl in action! Beating niggas left and right!"
Rosa shook her head at Angel, knowing that if she did use her style, it could mean trouble. Angel got up from her bed.
"Where are you going?" asked Rosa.
"Oh, didn't I tell you? I have to go home for this week. For some reason, my parents seem to think I havent spent any time with them during the summer. Can you imagine?!" asked Angel.
Rosa rolled her eyes as Angel left. Great. Now she was going to be bored. She looked out the window to see her walking across the street to her house. She looked out of the corner of her eye to see a familiar afro walking down the street. Huey was most likely going to the hill, as he said he would. She quietly crept out of her house and followed him down the street.
When she reached the hill, he was there, sitting up against a tree, looking up into the sky before meeting her gaze.
"So, you finally showed up." he said.
"What are you talking about? I've come out here for most of the summer after meeting you, and you've never showed up." said Rosa.
"I meant from following me. I know you've been doing it since I passed by your house, and I thought you would have said something earlier. As for me not being here during the summer, I was busy."
"Ah, I see. Well, I didn't want to sneak up on you, I guess."
"Wouldn't have bothered me. I've been tracked by the government before. I know when someone's behind me."
Rosa sat next to him against the tree.
"The government?"
"I was a domestic terrorist when I was 10. I've retired since then though."
"You were a domestic terrorist." said Rosa, not believing him.
"Yeah. But I did small things. Hunger strikes, lemonade picketing against child labor, attempted jail break...you know..."
"Attempted jail break...?"
"When a brother goes the prison for no reason, I have to act."
"I respect that. I personally don't know anyone who went to prison but I know injustice when I hear about it."
Huey looked at her sternly. Rosa look back at him, confused.
"I hate to change subjects, but there has been something about you that has been bothering me." said Huey.
"What's that?"
"When you said you've met us before. I know I've never personally met you before, but it is possible I've seen you before. I can't seem to put my finger on it, but I know I've seen you before, and that's what's bothering me."
"I know how you feel. I've seen you somewhere before too...I mean, I saw you on the news when Obama got elected. But that was like, 6 years ago. You...are that Huey Freeman right?"
"I am. I don't like to think about that though. It really wasn't that big of a deal. It was just niggas being ignorant. Are you sure you've never been to Woodcrest?"
"Never. I mean, I even know your brother Riley. Every time I went into a new foster home, one of the kids was into Thugnificent. I've seen all of his stupid T.V specials at least twice. I know enough to know that he was the youngest member of the Lethal Interjection Crew."
"He gave all that up when Thugnificent lost all his fame. I mean, they're still friends, but that group is dead."
"I imagined as much. I haven't seen Thugnificent since he made that song about dick riding Obama. Anyway, I'm sure it'll come to us eventually. I mean, there's got to be some reason we recognize each other, right?"
"Sure. Anyway, I'm gonna take off. I don't stay here for very long. If I do, Grandad starts coming out looking for me. I'd rather avoid the potential embarassment." said Huey.
"Oh, okay. I guess I'll pack it in too. Angel went home for the week, so I guess I'll see her tomorrow morning..." said Rosa.
Rosa got up, ready to leave the hill. She thought about going back to Angel's, but what for? She had to stay at her parents after all.
"Rosa." called out Huey.
Rosa turned around to face him.
"Yeah Huey?"
"...come across the street to my house tomorrow morning. Bring Angel if you want. We have a few things to discuss about school."
"Oh...sure."
Well, that settled that. She started her walk to Angel's, Huey following close behind her. He passed her, and went into his own house, giving Rosa a wave. Rosa waved back and went two houses down, knocking on Angel's door. What she didn't expect was to see Caesar open the door with Angel right behind him.
"Oh...hey Rosa!" said Angel.
"I thought you had to stay home." stated Rosa, who was beginning to think Angel was blowing her off.
"I do. Caesar just decided to bust up in here like he owns the place. I ain't blowing you off or nothin, before you start trippin. What did you want?"
"Huey invited us to his house tomorrow morning. I didn't know if I was gonna see you until we got to school tomorrow, so I came over."
"Oh snap! Huey invited y'all over already?" asked Caesar.
"Yeah. We were talking, and he asked us over. So, I guess I'll see you guys in the morning." said Rosa.
"Yeah, aiight. Peace." said Angel as she pushed Caesar out of her house and shut her door.
"Daaaaamn, Angel so cold. Why she so mean to me? All I'm tryna do is be friends." whined Caesar.
"How am I supposed to know? She's a complex person. She's really guarded, and for some reason, she thinks that you're trying to pick one of us up."
Caesar blushed a little as the two began walking down to his house.
"Oh...she picked up on that? I mean...you're both pretty cute. I thought maybe...there wasn't any reason for me not to try, y'know?"
"So, she wasn't lying when she told me you were flirting with us to see which one of us you could date?"
"...would you be mad if I said no?"
"No, I'd be really flattered, but I'd have to decline. I'm not at a point in my life where I'm looking for something serious, plus I think a relationship between us would only ruin what could be a really good friendship later."
"I dig it. I think we could be great homies too. Now, be a good homie and tell me how I get with Angel." he joked.
Rosa giggled a little at that as they made it to Caesar's house. She hugged him.
"All I got for you is to tell you to be yourself. I don't know if you've noticed, but I think she might like you too, even if it's a little bit." said Rosa as she broke the hug.
"You think so? Shit, maybe I need to try harder." said Caesar.
"No, maybe try a litte less, and don't be so flirty towards both of us."
"Hmm...aiight. I'll try it your way, and we'll see. I'll see you tomorrow Rosa. Thanks for bein' a homie an' all." Caesar smiled sweetly at her.
"Of course." Rosa beamed.
Caesar went inside, as Rosa hopped off his porch. She finally went home, dodging her brother and his friend, who seemed to be arguing about something else as she walked up the stairs.
"All I'm sayin' is we could still be big! Man, we used to arm bombs an' shit Rummy!" said Ed.
"Yeah, until we got shot at! Man, remember yo ass got kidnapped!? And why did they find us!? Because you dropped yo dumbass iPhone! Forget it Ed! I ain't doin' no more shit wit' chu for yo grandaddy! We boys an' all, but I ain't doin' it." said Rummy.
"Man, what happened to you!? You gettin' soft on me?!"
"Naw! But unlike you, I got someone who's dependin' on me!"
Ed was taken aback by his longtime best friend. Rosa was changing him, and Ed couldn't tell if it was for the better or for the worst. Meanwhile, Rosa laid down in her bed, willing herself to sleep, but it was kind of hard, seeing as Ed and Rummy could be very loud when they wanted to.
Rosa's alarm woke her up today, thankfully. She lazily turned off her alarm and got up. She showered and got her clothes on for the day. When she left the bathroom, Angel was standing at the door, Caesar right behind her. Rosa looked at them both confusingly.
"Why are you two here?" she asked.
"Well, Huey told us to meet them over there. I wanted to make sure you actually were getting up." said Angel.
Rosa rolled her eyes at her friend as they all went downstairs.
"Says the girl who heavily sleeps in."
"Hey! Hush, or I won't make you breakfast this morning."
"Go ahead. I don't eat breakfast anyway. You know that." said Rosa.
"That's the saddest thing I've ever heard. Breakfast is the most important meal of the day! Shit, if Angel don't cook for you, I will!" said Caesar.
"Don't waste your food. She won't eat it." teased Angel.
"Shut-up! I'm not so rude that I won't eat when people are cooking for me!" said Rosa.
"Hey! Calm down ladies. There will be enough for everyone once we get to Huey's." said Caesar.
The three teens walked across the street to the Freeman house. Caesar knocked, and an elderly man answered with a smile on his face. Rosa looked at him with a scowl on her face. Now, she knew she had seen him before. His smile dissappeared as he looked at Caesar.
"Oh, it's just you. Boy, I thought you were someone important. Now, what chu doin' on my porch?" he asked, acting as though he didn't see Rosa or Angel.
"Hey Mr. Freeman. Huey told us to meet them here this mornin', so here we are! Your beloved third grandson, and the two new girls!" beamed Caesar.
"Peh. 'Third grandson' my ass! That's the last thing I need! Another hungry ass nigga to eat up my food and not appreciate me!"
He moved from the door and let Caesar and the girls in. He smiled once again and held out his hands for both Angel and Rosa. They both took one.
"It's nice to meet you, Mr. Freeman. I'm Rosa, Rummy's little sister. We live across the street over by Jazmine." said Rosa.
"Yeah, I'm Angel. I live two houses down." said Angel.
"Nice to meet you too, cutie-pies. My name is Robert Freeman, but all the little babies call me Grandad." said Grandad.
Robert Freeman...it was a name Rosa knew. She couldn't put her finger on it, but she felt as though she was getting close. They met Huey in their kitchen, where he was already eating. Rosa and Angel sat at the table, while Caesar rummaged through the refrigerator.
"Hey, where's Riley?" asked Angel.
"Please tell me he's still asleep." said Rosa.
"He usually is until it's time to go." said Huey.
A creepy smile crept onto Rosa's face. Angel seemed to get the hint, because before both Huey and Caesar knew it, both girls crept up the stairs as Grandad looked at him confusingly.
"Where the hell they goin'?" he asked.
"Probably to wake Riley up. And to give us all a headache." said Huey.
The boys both groaned. Meanwhile, Angel and Rosa crept through the doors of the upstairs before they hit Riley's room. They opened the door to see him sleeping peacefully in his bed. He had headphones in, and a whole bunch of clothes around his bed. He also seemed to be drooling all over his pillow.
Angel and Rosa crept into the room, when they realized there were two beds in there. And the other bed was made up and that specific side of the room was perfectly clean.
"You don't think they have to share a room do you?" whispered Angel.
"Probably. I don't know why though. There's a guest room in here." Rosa whispered back.
Angel stayed near Riley, waiting to see what Rosa was going to do. All of a sudden, Rosa kicked Riley in his butt, pushing him off his bed. He hit the ground with a thud, and Angel snatched his iPod and ran for it, Rosa right behind her. Rosa looked back to see a very groggy Riley running after them, and they ran into the bathroom, shutting and locking the door behind them. Riley started pounding on the door.
"Y'all bitches must have lost y'all minds! Gimme back my iPod 'fore I bust this door down!" he screamed.
"Riley! Boy, if you break my door, the next thing that'll break will be me breakin' my foot off in yo ass! Stop all that screamin'! And nigga, watch yo damn mouth!" screamed Grandad.
"You betta open this door..." said Riley, quieter now.
"You gotta say magic word..." teased Rosa.
"Uh, 'Bitch open this goddamn door?'" said Riley.
"No, say 'I'm a soft ass nigga who only acts hard for his friends.'" said Angel.
"...Y'all must have lost it."
"Hey, I got an idea. Let's see what's on his iPod!" said Rosa.
"NO! OPEN THE DOOR!" he screamed even louder and more desperate than before.
"Oh. I think we hit a nerve Rosa. Unlock that bitch right now."
Angel and Rosa crowded around each other to unlock Riley's iPod, which surprisingly didn't have a password. What they hadn't realized is that Riley picked the lock on the door, and he scared both of them as he frantically snatched his iPod back from them.
"If y'all want a fight, I'll give y'all one. We'll see who keeps wakin' up who." stated Riley.
"Um, no thanks. I was just playin' wit chu. I'm not interested in your little kid games." said Angel.
"I'll play. Sounds fun. And if anything, it'll keep me laughing. Especially if you think you're gonna 'get' me so easily."
"Aiight, bet. I guarentee you losin'." said Riley.
He grumbled and returned to his room, complete with slamming his door. Angel and Rosa laughed at him, going back downstairs into the kitchen, where Caesar was at the stove, seemingly burning some bacon. Angel quickly grabbed the pan from the stove.
"What the hell are you doing!?" she asked.
"Um...I thought I was cooking bacon." said Caesar.
"More like you were burning it! Why the hell did you have the stove up so high?!"
"It cooks faster that way. I know what I'm doing. It's not like I don't eat if even if I burn it."
"...that's sad. Just sad. Just...go sit at the table. I'm guessing it's safe to say that Huey doesn't eat your cooking either."
"I eat it sometimes. But only if he's not burning pork." said Huey, who shrugged it off.
Rosa shrugged too, eating a bowl of cereal, as she did almost every day. Riley eventually came downstairs, still kind of groggy, but overall ready to go. The teens left the Freeman house and they made their way to Caesar's house, where the bus came to pick them up. The bus driver glared at Angel and Rosa.
"What y'all still doin' here? After seein' what da white man's got ta offer ya, I'da thought y'all ungrateful niggas woulda dropped out by now." said Ruckus.
Rosa tried her hardest to ignore him, but it took Huey pushing her forward for her not to say anything to Ruckus. Angel, being Angel, opened her mouth to say something, and got the same treatment from Caesar and Riley.
"Girl, you just gon' have to learn how ta ignore dat nigga. He da most self hatin' nigga anyone will eva meet. The faster you ignore him, the happier you be in dis place." said Riley.
"Man, whatever. All I know is that one of these days, that muthafucka is gon' get cussed out." said Angel.
"Don't waste your time. He gets his ass whupped, cussed out, hell, even shot at. He'll still keep talkin' like that." said Caesar.
Angel shrugged and rolled her eyes. As the bus stopped in front of the school, both Rosa and Angel noticed that Jazmine wasn't being dropped off like normal. Next thing they noticed is that Cindy wasn't on the bus. When they got off the bus, Caesar pulled Rosa and Angel off to the side, waiting until the bus left.
Huey and Riley caught up with them, both Angel and Rosa looking at all of them confusingly.
"So...what the hell?" started Angel.
"Okay, it's like this..." said Caesar.
"We don't go to school. That's why you didn't see us." said Huey.
Angel and Rosa both looked at the boys, shocked. Angel smirked at Rosa.
"Told you so." beamed Angel.
"So, you guys just skip all year?" asked Rosa.
"We don't really learn anything at that school. It's been ruled over by a white supremicist for years. We tried to go, when we were kids, but honestly, Caesar and I had enough by the time we came to highschool for the first time. This is the first year that we've been skipping though." said Huey.
"It's nothing too big. I mean, we go from time to time. Riley's people keep us posted on the tests and shit, so we can still do well enough to pass." said Caesar.
"Yeah, plus being at that school is for bitch ass niggas. There ain't no niggas that actually go to that school." said Riley.
"So, are you guys in? If you're not, it's okay, but you can't snitch on us." said Caesar.
"Shit, I'm in. I legit think I lost brain cells trying to survive the first day." said Angel.
"I'm in too. It'll be interesting to see what you guys do instead of going to that school." said Rosa.
"Jazmine is the only one of us that can drive. She gets her parent's car everyday, and she takes us to the city. There, we pair up amd separate. We don't want to be caught in a big group." said Huey.
"Sounds smart. So, I'm guessing you and Jazmine are a pair, then?" said Rosa.
"Yeah. They always a pair. Anyway, I call being with Angel, so you either with Cindy or Riley." said Caesar.
"Who said I wanted to be paired with you?" asked Angel.
"I know where to go? I'm cute? I've got some really good restaurants we can go to that aren't owned by Wuncler?" said Caesar.
"...Fine. But don't think yo slick ass is gon' be callin' this a date."
"Rosa gon have ta paired up wit Cin today. I got shit ta do today. Important thangs." said Riley.
With that, Riley separated from the group immeadiately, walking up to a big, black limo. A skinny girl with long red hair and green eyes opened up the door for him and he got in, the limo driving away.
"Who was that?" asked Rosa.
"Katie. Wuncler's only granddaughter. She's the worlds biggest spoiled brat." said Caesar.
"She's also the only person I've ever met that was dumber than Ed the III. She's a prostitute. The only one I know who's one by personal choice. I can't count how many times she's tried to get with me or Caesar." said Huey.
"Ew, really?! But the Wunclers are rich! She doesn't need to do all that! Wouldn't her grandaddy get her everything she wanted?!" asked Angel.
"She a ho by choice. She act like she don't love herself. She basically fucked every rich white guy in the school." said Caesar.
"That's...weird...I've never heard of someone being a whore by choice." said Rosa.
"Well, that's Katie. And Riley collects from her each week."
"Wait, that little kid is her pimp!?" asked Angel.
"It's that stupid gang Riley's apart of. They whore out three girls from the school." said Huey.
Before Rosa and Angel could ask any more questions, a van pulled up, Caesar opening the door and ushering the two inside. Jazmine and Cindy were in the front, while Rosa sat in the way back with Huey, and Caesar and Angel sitting in the middle.
"So, Angel and Rosa are in now?" asked Cindy.
"Yep. And Rosa's paired with you." said Caesar.
"What?! I don't wanna be paired up wit her! Where's Riley!?" asked Cindy.
"He went in a limo with that girl Katie. I just need someone to take me around the town..." said Rosa.
Cindy sighed and looked back as Jazmine drove farther away from the school.
"Look, it's like dis. If you paired wit me, you gon' have ta keep up wit me. If you fall back, I'ma leave yo ass, aiight?"
"Doesn't look like I have much of a choice." agreed Rosa.
"Coo'. We gon hit up da mall. So y'all stay away from dat area." said Cindy.
"Fine." said Huey.
"Alright, I can live with that." said Jazmine.
"Coo'. Angel and I can stay downtown if y'all got uptown. Where does that leave Huey and Jazmine tho? Out of town again?" asked Caesar.
"Most likely." said Huey.
Jazmine stopped the car, and let Cindy out. When Rosa saw Cindy get out, she quickly got out too, waving at the others. Angel waved back, Caesar threw a peace sign, and Huey nodded his head as she got out of the car. As Jazmine drove away, Cindy linked arms with Rosa, leading her into the large mall.
"Cindy, can I ask you something?" asked Rosa.
"Fo'sho'. Whatchu' need?" she asked.
"Do you know? About Riley I mean. He's not very faithful to you. He makes passes at me all the time."
Cindy stopped and looked down. She sadly nodded and ushered Rosa over to a bench in front of a clothing store.
"I've...known about Riley since he started this bullshit." said Cindy.
"Wait...really?"
"Yeah. I've been datin' him since I was in 7th grade. He was...my best friend..."
"Was? I mean, isn't he now more than ever now that you're dating?" asked Rosa.
"It ain't like dat. We was ride or die homies when I was 9. When he and his brother first got here. I neva thought I was gonna like him doe. I mean, I knew Huey was a hater, but Riley? He was a balla' like me. We used to hoop togetha' all da time." said Cindy.
"...you play basketball? Why don't you play anymore?"
"...shit happens, y'know? I used to play for my moms, but then after my parent's divorce, I started playin' fa me. But then...I stopped going ta school. When I got to highschool, I knew I wasn't gon' be playin' no mo. Cuz I knew I wasn't gon' be goin'. We've been doin' this skippin' shit since I was in the 8th grade."
"...were you any good? At basketball I mean."
"Of course girl! I was the greatest! The only one who could see me at the damn game was Riley...but those were the old days. Once he asked me out, I thought shit was gon' be tighter between us, and it was..."
"...but?"
"He changed once we had sex...last year, I decided that I was in love with him enough to give myself to him. Once he lost his virginity, he thought he could fuck any girl he wanted..."
"And...you put up with that?"
"I love him...I mean I ain't neva tell him dat, but...I love him. An' I don't want a relationship like my parents had. I wanna show Riley dat I'm down fo' him." said Cindy.
"Cindy...that doesn't sound very healthy...I mean, I'm not gonna try and steal Riley from you or anything, but you should really look after yourself better. I mean, you've got a future. You could go somewhere with your basketball if you wanted, but you let Riley hold you back, and all he does is cheat on you."
"I kno' you don't know us like dat, so I'm not finna say nothin' to dat. But you really don't know the situation. I kno he cares about me..."
Rosa shook her head, knowing that Cindy was right. She didn't know the situation, plus she may have overstepped her boundaries by telling her that Riley held her back. The two walked through the mall for a while, and before they knew it, it was after 3.
Cindy had called for her father to come and pick them up, dropping them back off at the DuBois house. She waited until he drove off, and then she and Rosa walked across the street to the Freeman house. Huey, Riley, Jazmine, Caesar and Angel were all inside, sitting in the living room from what Cindy could see. Riley was the first to spot them, and went to open the door for them.
"Aye, where y'all been?" he asked.
"Da mall. You know I had to go hol' it down over there for a minute." said Cindy.
"Okay, okay. True dat. Anyway, come in. We just in here arguing about what to watch."
As Cindy went into the living room, Rosa went in after her, not noticing that Riley was behind her until he smirked and palmed her ass. She whipped around to him with a scowl on her face, more upset that he was making a pass at her right in front of Cindy than anything else.
"Riley, if you don't keep your damn hands to yourself..." she warned.
"Aw, c'mon girl! You know you want this. That's why you mess wit me all da time. Shit, you might even be able to make yo'self some paper in my gang wit an ass like dat."
"...what." she stated, Angel paying close attention, knowing that Riley just pushed a big button.
"Yeah, you could be one of my hoes. Shit, wit yo body, you could be bottom bitch in no time." he smirked as he wrapped an arm around her.
Rosa closed her eyes. For the moment at least, because next thing anybody knew, she did a hand-stand, wrapping her legs around Riley's neck and throwing him onto the living room floor. Everyone, even Huey, looked at her in shock as she assumed a Kung-Fu stance.
She snapped out of her silent rage to see Riley pased out on the floor, and it was her turn to be shocked. She blushed and walked out of the house, silently cursing at herself for not having more self control. No one is supposed to know that she could use such a deadly style.
She walked up to the hill, the last place anyone would look. She knew that everyone would look for her there. She wasn't ready to talk about what happened, nor explain herself. She shamed herself, and her master would be ashamed of her.
FLASHBACK
Rosa hit the ground with a thud, coughing up blood, her master expressing concern.
"Rosa, maybe we should quit while we're ahead. You've got nothing to prove to me. You already know how I feel about your skills." she said.
"No Master. I cannot fail you, not even for a moment. I'm 10 now. I want to be able to keep up with you." said Rosa.
"Well, if that's how you feel, we'll take it from the top. No mistakes, or it might be your last. And remember what I told you about all of this."
"Sure. Don't tell anyone, and don't teach anyone."
"You can't let your anger get the best of you, okay? You and I both know how bad my temper gets, but yours is almost destructive. You must keep yourself in check, got it?"
"Yes Master."
"If people found out that I was teaching you this, foster care would take you away from me. Truth be told, you're much too young to learn, but I think you could be great, with the right amount of practice." said Rosa's Master.
Rosa hugged her master before assuming her Kung-Fu stance.
FLASHBACK OVER
"Are you going to hurt me if I approach you?" asked a voice from behind her.
She turned to look and see Huey returning her gaze. She shook her head as she turned back to look at the sky, not really paying attention to when he sat down beside her.
"Is he hurt?" asked Rosa.
"Who, Riley? No. if anything, he just feels stupid. Care to explain what happened?"
"Well...I don't like being called 'Hoe.' Kinda like with Angel and 'Bitch'. I know Riley was messing with me, but a part of me also knew he was being serious, and that's what pissed me off, along with the fact that he was invading my personal space in front of Cindy."
"I see. Well, I can't apologize on his behalf. I gave up with Riley years ago. About your fighting style however...Who is it you said trained you?"
"My most treasured foster mother and Master. She dissappeared after visiting Woodcrest."
"...I've seen your stance before." started Huey, who was secretly hoping that Rosa's master wasn't who he thought she was.
"You...you have?! From who?"
"...When I was 10, my grandad invited a woman named Luna to our house to stay for the weekend. She was a Master in White-Lotus Kung-Fu. She had the same stance when I challenged her to a friendly sparring match...and lost."
Rosa looked at Huey more carefully, and realized that this was the connection she was missing. They were indeed the grandsons of the man who last saw her beloved Master.
"...You! Now I know where I've seen you before! I met your Grandad on one of Luna's video chats...and he showed us pictures of you two. I knew I had seen you somewhere before...so...what happened?!" asked Rosa.
"It's...difficult to say. Luna fell for my Grandad, but everything was happening so fast for him, that he freaked out. Plus, after beating me and telling us about her wolves, we had no doubt in our minds that she was...not sane."
"Even I know that. Luna was insane, but I loved that the most about her. A sane person would have never taught me anything as advanced as what I know."
"Well, anyway...we had to get her out, so Grandad told her a lie to get her to leave. It seemed to work, except...somehow she found out he was lying, and came back. She locked both Riley and myself in our room and tied my grandad down. She got Tom involved too, when he came to check on us. Eventually, my Grandad talked Luna into letting them go..."
"And then she went on her way, right?"
"We thought so...but...I hate to be the one to tell you this...seeing as I barely know you, but...Luna died that night." said Huey.
"...what? No...no...she's much too strong to have died over anything."
"She blew herself up in her car in front of our house. I'm sorry if you've been looking for her, but it's the truth."
Rosa could believe her ears. She stood up, running for her home. Huey made no attempt to chase after her, knowing that she needed to battle her own demons. Rosa slammed herself into her room, crying her eyes out.
FLASHBACK
"What do you mean you're going to Woodcrest? What about me?! What about my training?" asked Rosa.
"Hey, it's only for a weekend! Besides, I've taught you everything I can. It's time for you to figure out the rest. When I became a Master, I didn't have my hand held by my master the whole way." said Luna.
"Doesn't Robert have grandsons? Why can't I go with you and hang with them!?"
"This is supposed to be an ADULT weekend Rosa. I highly doubt the boys'll be there. No, you'll have to stay here."
"What about the dogs?"
"Take care of em for me. If you need anything, Nicole is on speed dial. I know you don't like her, but I've gotta make sure you're being taken care of. And, as always, if I don't come back, you know what to do."
Luna hugged Rosa and kissed her forehead as she exited the house. Rosa watched as Luna drove away from their house, and out of her life.
FLASHBACK OVER
Rosa screamed wildly as she punched her wall over and over again. Her tears were hot and streaming down her face. Her hand was bleeding at this point, and her knuckle was split open. She punched it hard one time, and she heard a crack. A painful crack. She looked down and realized that she had broken her hand. She blacked out after that.
When she came to, she was in a hospital bed, her hand casted up, and Rummy looking at her intensely.
"Rosa? Are you awake? What happened?!"
Rosa turned her head, her eyes threatening more tears. She didn't want to talk to Rummy about Luna, but then again, she didn't want to tell anyone about her. Rosa couldn't believe that she was gone...
Without Luna, Rosa didn't have any reason to be here.