Chapter 2:
Gang's All Here
Kinara made her way up the flight of stairs and looked around. She looked at her schedule and at her homeroom class number. Looking up at the doors, she began to count. She found the room she'd been searching for and walked up to it. She was about to walk in when…
"Nara?" a voice called.
Kinara turned around to see her best friend, Sweetie from her old gang. Kinara smiled. Sweetie or Sira Greene had cinnamon brown skin and hazel-green eyes. Her long black hair with red streaks was in three cornrows, hanging past her shoulders. She was wearing a camouflage cami and baggy camouflage pants.
"Hey girl!" Kinara smiled, giving Sweetie a hug.
"Girl, you look so cute!" Sweetie said, playing with one of Kinara's curls.
"Those were the ones I was talkin' about," one girl whispered to another. Sweetie turned towards them.
"You got somethin' to say?" Sweetie demanded.
"Um, no Sweetie, sir," the girl stuttered, "I mean ma'am."
"Run," Sweetie said through clenched teeth, narrowing her eyes.
The girl grabbed her friend's hand and took off down the hall. Kinara grinned as she watched the girls run. Sweetie smiled. This was one thing that Kinara missed, scaring people.
"You got stuck with Heslep too?" Sweetie asked. Kinara nodded. "She's not too bad. She's really laid back and Boxer could get away with anything."
Kinara smiled and they walked in. She looked around. Everyone was staring at her and she had no idea. She caught some of the whispered comments. Some were compliments that mostly came from boys as well as a few girls. Others were just from haters hating, majority being girls. Kinara followed Sweetie toward the back of the room. She sat down behind a boy who was leaning over, going through his backpack. His curly hair was pulled back in a ponytail. Sweetie sat in the desk beside Kinara. Ms. Heslep walked in and sat her things on her desk.
"Good morning, class. I'm Ms. Heslep, your homeroom teacher," she said. "Now, sit quietly while I go through role."
All the students looked around, but no one uttered a word.
"Sira Greene?"
"Here."
"Carl Horner?"
"Here."
"Marissa Hunter?"
"Here."
"Kinara Jones?"
"Here," she said.
"Kinara?" Zero whispered, as his eyes grew wide.
"Sean Kingston?"
"Here."
"Martin Lawrence?"
"Here."
"Chris Lewis?"
"Here."
"Ashley Martinez?"
"Here."
"Sarah Nelson?"
"Here."
"Mark Twain?"
"Here."
"Nicholas Tipton?"
"Here."
"Madison Vernandez?"
"Here."
"Hector Zeroni?"
"Here," he said.
"Hector?" Kinara whispered, looking up. Ms. Heslep sat her pen and attendance folder on her desk.
"To start off the day we get announcements on the TV from some of your very own schoolmates," she said.
Just then two girls appeared on the screen, sitting at a desk smiling. They were identical twins. They had brown sugar colored skin, gray eyes, and long black hair. To tell them apart they both had on a necklace with their names on them.
"Hi, I'm Safari."
"And I'm Egypt. And this is…"
"What's The Happs at Roosevelt High!" they said together.
"Welcome back for another year!" Egypt smiled.
"We don't have many announcements today, except that our first football game is this Friday. Come out and support the school," Safari said. "And in addition to that our first dance is in two months: The Homecoming Dance."
"There will be a meeting after school today for anyone who wishes to be on the dance committee," Egypt said.
"Members of the dance committee plan all the dances for the year," Safari said. "And so far they have done a pretty good job."
"Well, that's all we have today. See ya' next time on….." Egypt said.
"What's The Happs at Roosevelt High!" the two girls smiled.
The TV screen went black and everyone turned their attention back to Ms. Heslep.
"You will be coming to homeroom everyday this week, except Friday and after that you just go to your first class of the day and so on. Now, you all know how on the first day of school, teachers would make you sit in alphabetical order and play a name game so everyone could remember each other's names?" Ms. Heslep asked. Everyone nodded.
"Well, we're not gonna do that," she said. "I never liked those games, so I'm gonna pass out these papers and you can talk or whatever. Is that cool?"
"Sure," everyone mumbled.
Ms. Heslep put a stack of papers on the first desk in each row. When the stack came to Zero, he passed the papers behind him, not bothering to make sure they were in a hand, and they fell to the floor. Both Zero and Kinara went to pick them up.
"Lo siento," Kinara said, placing some of the papers onto her desk. "I wasn't paying attention."
"I shoulda made sure you had'em," Zero said.
They both leaned forward to grab the papers that had gone under Sweetie's desk, and bumped heads.
"Ow," they said, rubbing their heads.
"You okay?" Kinara questioned.
"Yeah," Zero said. "You?"
"I'm fine," Kinara replied.
They looked at each other and their eyes widened. The two stared at each other for a few minutes. Sweetie looked from Kinara to Zero. Neither of them spoke. Zero was the first to break the silence.
"Tweety?" he asked.
Kinara didn't know what to say, so she just nodded. She wasn't expecting to see him. Zero pulled her into a hug. She was shocked at first, but she soon relaxed against him and hugged him back. Everyone peered over their desks to look at them.
"I thought you moved," Zero whispered in her ear.
"I did," Tweety bit her lip and nuzzled into Zero's neck. "God, I missed you."
"I missed you too," Zero smirked, tightening the embrace. Sweetie cleared her throat.
"Nara, you're drawing attention to yourself," she whispered, through clenched teeth.
Tweety and Zero pulled away from each other and looked around. Everyone was watching them. They looked at each other and blushed. They got up and slid into their seats.
"Do you two need to be alone?" Ms. Heslep asked.
"We're fine," Tweety replied, her cheeks still slightly pink.
Ms. Heslep grinned and sat at her desk. Tweety shook her head. Zero reached for her schedule and compared it with his own. They had three classes together; Spanish and Algebra on odd days and Child Development on even days. Sweetie smiled at the two.
"You guys make an adorable couple," she said. Zero and Tweety smiled.
"Who do you have for Spanish?" Tweety asked Sweetie.
"Bley," she replied. "You?"
"Same," Zero and Tweety said.
The bell rang for all students to report to their first class. Tweety, Zero, and Sweetie walked to class together. Tweety grinned inwardly. She always wondered what it would be like to go to school with all of D tent. Now she was gonna find out. School may be a lot more exciting than she thought.
It was lunchtime and anyone in the Freshman Building at this time had A lunch. Tweety and Sweetie followed Zero into the cafeteria. Zero looked around and spotted Twitch and Tinker at a table with Stanley and X-ray. The three went to get their food and Zero led Tweety and Sweetie to the table.
"Hey guys," Zero said, sitting down.
"Hey Zero," they said back.
"Hi guys," Tweety grinned as she and Sweetie sat down.
"Hey, Tweety," X-ray said, glancing at her.
"Hey," Twitch, Tinker, and Stanley said.
"Tweety!" the four teens looked at her.
"Whoa," Twitch and Stanley said.
"Good God, girl," X-ray said. "You look...."
"Cute..? Fine...?" Tweety smiled, pushing back her curls. "Beyond description?"
"You do," Twitch nodded. Tinker elbowed him.
"And then some," X-ray smirked. Tweety grinned.
"Dudes, that's my girl!" Zero said.
"Chill, babe," Tweety said. "You know I've only got eyes for you."
"I thought you moved," Stanley said.
"I did," Tweety said.
"Yeah," X-ray said. "To the neighborhood right behind you and Zero."
Everyone looked at X-ray, then at Tweety. Tweety stared at X-ray.
"What did you say?" she asked.
"That you moved to the neighborhood behind Zero," X-ray repeated.
"How would you know that?" Tweety questioned.
"Boxer told me," X-ray smirked. "That girl is hot!"
"My cousin told YOU where we moved but didn't tell ME?!" Tweety demanded. X-ray shrugged.
"You didn't know where you moved to?" Sweetie asked.
"I was asleep the whole ride," Tweety said, looking at her plate of nachos.
"She was probably gonna tell you," Sweetie said.
"Yeah, right," Tweety scoffed. "You know her, Sweetie. She was gonna put it off 'til I found out. Trust and believe."
"That does sound like her," Sweetie said.
"She probably didn't count on me finding out so soon, though," Tweety said.
"I know one good thing about yo' cousin," X-ray said. Everyone at the table looked at him.
"What?" Tweety asked.
"She's hot!" X-ray said.
The others laughed and Tweety groaned and rolled her eyes. After about another fifteen minutes, the bell rang for them to go on to class. Next was B lunch and the entire A lunch student body had to clear the cafeteria.
"You know something good does come out of this whole thing," Zero said, as they walked out the cafeteria.
"What?" Tweety asked, looking at him.
"We get to spend more time together," Zero said.
"True that," Tweety grinned.
That was a wonderful bright side to her cousin's impudence. She reached her hand in her pocket and pulled out her cherry chocolate razor. But that still didn't mean her cousin didn't have to explain herself.
"She's gonna be so pissed at you when she finds out, Boxer," Viper said, as they grabbed their trays and entered the fry line.
Viper or Dawna Brown had long platinum blond hair that she wore in cornrows halfway down her back, and hazel-blue eyes. She was wearing a black wife beater and baggy blue jean shorts. The two walked over to the table that Magnet, Armpit, Zigzag and Squid were sitting at. It was B lunch and Boxer and Viper were talking about the stupidity of Boxer's plans.
"No," Boxer said, as she and Viper sat down amongst the boys. "She won't find out 'cuz nobody's gonna tell her. I'll just text X and tell him to keep his mouth shut."
"Probably too late," Zigzag said.
"Why's that?" Boxer asked, with her Blackberry in hand.
"'Cuz he had A lunch," Magnet said, eating a nacho.
"Ugh!" Boxer groaned, dropping her phone in her lap.
"How 'bout we talk about something else," Viper suggested.
"Fine," Squid said. "You guys goin' to Homecoming?"
"Yeah," the boys said.
"That's two months away!" Viper said.
"So," Squid said. "You said, change topic. You ain't say it had to be in a certain time range."
"You're infuriating," Viper said.
"Only for you," Squid grinned.
Viper rolled her eyes and dipped two fries in ketchup. Boxer grinned and dipped her fries in ketchup. They talked a little about homecoming and who they might go with. The only two who said nothing about a date were Viper and Squid. Boxer smiled.
"So, does that mean you two are goin' together?" she asked.
"What makes you say that?" Viper asked.
"'Cuz you're the only two who didn't even come up with someone to go with," Armpit said.
"There are a million girls in this school," Squid said. Viper rolled her eyes.
"And who says I'm even gonna go," Viper said.
"You've got to," Boxer said. "It's a necessity. If people from our crew go then you've gotta-"
Boxer stopped short when her cell phone vibrated. She took her phone out her lap and looked at it. It was her cousin. Her eyes widened. Oh, shit.
U think u slick? Her text asked.
Wat do ya mean? Boxer replied replied.
Dnt play. Y didn't u tell me?
I didn't thnk it was necessary
Im so gonna get u
"Well, Viper you were right," Boxer said. Viper looked at her questioningly.
"She's pissed," Boxer said.
"Told ya'," Viper replied. Boxer sighed and shook her head.
"I don't think I'm goin' home tonight," she said.
"Wanna come to my house?" Viper asked. Boxer nodded.
"You gotta go home eventually," Squid said.
"Don't think anyone asked you!" Viper snapped.
"Yeah," Squid snapped back. "But I added my two cent anyway!"
"¡Ay caramba!" Boxer muttered. "Love in denial."
Tweety walked into the gym for her last class of the day, Team Sports. Entering the gym, she looked around for a familiar face. She smiled upon seeing D tent, but her smile grew when she saw the boys that they were talking to. Tweety tossed her things onto a bleacher beside her.
"Yo!" she yelled. The boys all turned and looked at her. Tweety broke off into a run.
"Sage!" she screamed. "Butterbean!"
She jumped at them. The two boys caught her and smiled. Putting her down, they shook their heads.
"McNasty!" Sage grinned, pulling Tweety into a hug.
"Nara!" Butterbean yelled, shaking her by the shoulders. Tweety laughed.
Sage, or Samuel Williams was one of the two boys in Tweety's old gang. He had brown sugar skin, hazel eyes, and black hair in cornrows. He had on a red Ed Hardy shirt and baggy black jeans. Butterbean, or Brian Dunwoody was the closest thing to a brother that Tweety had. He had butter brown skin, green eyes, and short curly brown hair. He had on a black Ed hardy shirt and baggy blue red Hardy jeans.
"I've missed you guys!" Tweety smiled.
"You don't know how shocked we were when we heard that our sweet little Nara went to jail," Sage said.
"I go by Tweety now," she smiled.
"Oh, Really?" Butterbean said.
"Yeah," Tweety smiled. "Gotta tat to prove it."
"Let's see it," Sage grinned.
Tweety pushed up her sleeve and revealed her Tweety Bird tattoo. Sage and Butterbean smiled. Tweety grinned. Butterbean ran a thumb across it.
"My baby girl got a tattoo," he said.
"Look like you got some competition, Z," X-ray said. Zero's eyes widened.
"Competion?" Tweety repeated. "No, Butterbean is like my brother. My Z-baby ain't got nothin' to worry about."
Tweety leaned into Zero and smiled. Zero grinned. Butterbean crossed his arms and looked over Zero.
"Z-baby, huh?" he questioned.
"Oh, um, Zero, Butterbean," Tweety said. "Butterbean, this is my boyfriend, Zero."
"Boyfriend?" Sage asked. Tweety nodded.
"Let's get somethin' straight," Butterbean said. "You hurt her, you die."
"Quit playin' BB," Tweety nudged him.
"I ain't playin," Butterbean said, shaking his head. Zero's eyes grew wide and Tweety glanced at him.
"Can you not terrorize my boyfriend?" Tweety demanded.
"Girl, relax," Sage said, "besides ain't he supposed to be a big bad boy. Wasn't he in that camp with you?"
"That don't mean nothin'," she said, pulling Zero to her.
"Dress out!" a coach yelled.
All the teens headed to their respective locker rooms to change. After changing, Tweety walked into the gym and over to the others. Sage and Butterbean looked at her. She looked back at them.
"What?" she asked.
"Girl, what the hell do you have on?" Butterbean demanded.
"Uh, clothes," Tweety relied looking down at herself.
She had on a white tank top and red cheerleader shorts. Zero stared at her. Tweety looked at him and grinned. She pointed at Zero.
"Zero seems to like it," she said.
"Of course he does," Sage said.
"You know what I haven't done in a long time," Tweety said, turning to Zero.
"What?" Zero questioned.
Tweety pulled Zero to her and kissed him. Zero was a little nervous about kissing her in front of her brotherly figures and former gang members, but after a few seconds he relaxed and kissed her back. Tweety slowly pulled back and grinned.
"God, I really did missed you," she said. Zero grinned.
"Don't ever kiss him in front of me again!" Butterbean yelled.
"Whatever," Tweety rolled her eyes. She winked at Zero and walked over to the volleyball courts. D-tent, Sage, and Butterbean watched her. Butterbean shook his head.
"That girl is gonna drive me crazy," he said.
"Who you tellin'?" X-ray shook his head.
"At least the gang's back together," Sage replied.
"True that," Butterbean said.
I don't really like that ending. Oh well, it's done. R&R mii peepz!!!!