Interlude: These hoes, they reckless

"I'm not playin' wit'chu, Nathaniel. If I find out ya got one o' ya walnut head ass friends ta bring ya some shoes, ya ass is grass and I'm the muhhfuckin' lawnmower, aight?" my mom says to me, and I know better than to try her patience anymore, even though I'm dreading going to school at all. I turn and look at the school's entrance where people have already started gathering, most of them my friends. They've already claimed victims and school hasn't even started. I'm done for, I know it. It's my fault for ending up in summer school though.

I say goodbye to my mom, even though I'm sure she doesn't love me. She can't if she's treating me like this. All I did was sneak out the house to smoke some bud. Shit, it ain't like I robbed a liquor store. I don't have time to think about how unfair my life is anymore, because I'm outside the safety of my mom's truck. All the activities that were in progress before I got out seem to stop completely. My heart rate increases as I start to walk. Everyone's eyes are on me, specifically my feet. My parents have got to be the most evil people on the planet.

My specific group of friends consists of a senior, DiRoy Rinker, Jinta Hanakari a junior, though he should be a senior as well, and Lilynette Gingerbuck, a sophomore who looks like she's in sixth grade. They're known for roasting people, which is exactly what's about to happen to me. I feel sweat beading up on my palms as I walk toward them. I don't know what they're gonna do, but I can almost guarantee it's gonna be fucked up.

Just as I'm about to approach them, DiRoy clutches his chest and collapses. We all know he has a heart problem so we rush to his side because this could be bad.

"Di, you good, fam?" Jinta asks, shaking DiRoy's shoulders. DiRoy nods but turns on his side slightly, still clutching his chest.

"I just need. . . I need. . ."

"What'chu need, bih?" Lilynette asks. DiRoy pulls himself up to a sitting position, his features marred with discomfort.

"I need to know. . ." He points his hand at my shoes before he yells, "WHAT'RE THOOOOOOOSE?!"

I roll my eyes as everyone within earshot of us erupts with laughter. Of course DiRoy would be the one to go to the extent of using his illness as a means to roast somebody. These kids play too much.

"Man, fuck outta here," I say as I start walking away from them. Lilynette follows me, wrapping her arm around mine.

"Aww don't be mad, Nino," she says, reaching up to pinch my cheek.

"Uh-uh," Jinta calls. "He ain't worthy of that nickname with them school shooter elevens he got on."

"Damn, you right," DiRoy adds. "He got on the 'my mother will go to the principal' elevens."

"That is true. Sorry, Nathaniel," Lilynette says. "Answer one question for me though?"

"What?"

"What are those?"

You ever been getting flamed and you ain't have no good comeback so you just hadda mock they laugh? That's me right now. I could flame them back, but I have a tendency to say shit that's way too harsh. They're just roasting my shoe game; ain't no need for me to get too deep about it.

The rest of the day isn't much different; I get flamed periodically. I swear even the teachers are laughing at me, and by the time lunch comes I'm so ready to be done with this school and my entire life.

I sit down at my usual table and wait for my friends to join me, if they're going to join me. I feel completely lost without my phone. That's expected though, since I always have it. My parents gave me a replacement so I can call them, but fuck if I'm taking that monstrosity out in front of these jackasses. I'm already under enough fire as it is.

"Hey bae," I hear, and I look up, smiling slightly at the pink-haired girl in front of me. She smiles back, popping her gum as she sits down next to me. "What'chu doin' sittin' over here all by yer lonesome?"

"I guess I'm on punishment for havin' weak ass shoe game," I say, with a shrug. Yachiru peeks down at my shoes, frowning a bit.

"What're those, Nino?" she asks, but I know she's not trying to roast me. "What'chu do this time?" I pop my lips, picking at my pizza.

"Man, it won't even that deep. Dad's boo-thang seen me in front of the Spot, and it was over. Dad was bein' reckless af."

"But ya know they don't like ya hangin' 'round there, babe, 'specially yer moms. They got good reasons too."

"Yeah, yeah," I say, with only slight attitude because I can never have full 'tude with Yachiru. Well, I could, but she'd probably beat my ass.

Yachiru isn't exactly my girlfriend, but she's the closest thing to one that I have. Her dad is pretty strict, so we're not allowed to be official. She's amazing; she's always got my back, and sheh doesn't judge me even though I know she thinks I make some dumb decisions. She isn't the only person in my life who thinks that though.

"Why you tryna be part of that life so bad, babe? You have a great life as is." I just shrug because I don't really know how to answer her.

I know about all the shit my dad went through growing up round the way, but I still hang around there because that's where my friends hang. It's bad, I know, but it don't matter. I know how to run when shit gets too real. I ain't no plans to go to jail no time soon.

"Thanks for sitting with me, baby," I say, giving her a dazzling smile. She blushes slightly, but I can still tell that she's not thrilled about my choices.

"You're not welcome," she says, but she still leans over and kisses my cheek before she gets up to sit with her friends.

The rest of the day goes by kinda fast. My friends finally decide to let up until I have to pull my phone out to call my mom. Jinta faints, causing Lilynette to have to hold him up and DiRoy just shakes his head. I get defensive even though I hate the phone.

"Y'all can shut the fuck up. This phone is a hundred times more durable than yours."

"But it has. . ." Jinta starts once he recoups. He pokes my phone slightly before shuddering. ". . .buttons."

My friends laugh and I mock them again before I dial my mom's number. She lets me know that she's on the way, so I walk off from my friends to wait for her, not that I'm even sure if I can call them my friends anymore.

Once my mom pulls up, I make my way to her truck as fast as I can. She's on the phone so I just nod my head at her, and she smiles. I usually put in my earbuds so I can't hear her talking because then she'd say I was trying to be "in grown folks business", but obviously I can't do that right now. Really it's her own fault that I can hear everything she's saying.

"Yes, I had a good time last night. . .oh my god, stop," she says with a laugh. I roll my eyes because she's using that voice. You know the one I'm talking about, the one every woman uses when they talking to a dude they fucking with. I ain't tryna rain on my mom's parade. I'm happy for her, but she needs to stop talking like that because she sounds like she's in high school. "Again tonight? But I'm still so tired. . ."

Okay, I really, really, really wish I had my phone. It doesn't take a rocket scientist to figure out what she's talking about and I sure wish I didn't have to. Ugh, I'm gonna die so young of disgust and neglect. This is the end of my life. It was so short.

When Mama pulls up in front of Sakanade, I waste no time jetting from the truck like I stole something. I make it inside the store where I see Shinji and Ichigo chatting. I wish I still had friends.

"You okay?" Shinji asks once he notices me. I let out a long drawn out sigh.

"Nah, man. I got fried all damn day at school. They started roastin' soon as I stepped through the door. I wanted to skip, but I promised ya I wouldn't."

"Well I'm glad I convinced ya that that's not a good idea. Also, didja really wanna risk yer parents findin' out 'bout that?"

"Definitely nah. They rude as shit for having me walkin' 'round in these muhhfuckas here though," I say before I show the shoes to them. Of course that was a mistake, seeing as even someone like Ichigo - whom I considered to be the epitome of maturity - wastes no time in roasting me.

He clasps his hands in front of his lips as if he's praying and says, "Boy. What're those?"

He and Shinji bust out laughing and I frown. I'm not even mad anymore, just frustrated. I wanna go home.

Once Shinji stops laughing he fixes me with a sympathetic gaze.

"You can stay in the back if ya want."

Now that's the best goddamn news I heard all day. I smile at him before I head to the stockroom to find something to read. I don't know how long it is, but I manage to get through four volumes of Yu Yu Hakusho before Shinji comes back to check on me. A brilliant idea pops into my head, and I smile at Shinji as he sits down across from me.

"Hey, Shin, can ya get my dad ta gimme my stuff back?" I ask, and I see him almost laugh.

"What makes ya think I can do that?"

"I know ya can; he try ta front, but he mad into you. I bet he'll do whatever ya want." He rolls his eyes and chuckles slightly.

"Ya got a lotta faith in me, kid. I'll see what I can do, but I ain't gon' make no promises."

"You the real MVP," I say, grinning from ear-to-ear. I see a light bulb come on over his head as he grins back.

"Now ya gotta do somethin' for me." I'm scared for a second and Shinji laughs. "Ugh, nothing of the sort, ya nasty. I wantcha ta ask yer goddad how he feels about Ichi, okay? And make sure he doesn't lie or try ta get outta answerin'."

That doesn't seem terribly difficult. I mean it's already obvious how he feels about Ichigo, he just keep playing games. But in the name of my iPhone 6 Plus, I will ask him to level with me.

"Aight, I gotchu."

The rest of the day flies by, and once it's almost time for me to go home, I text my mom and ask her if I can go to Uncle Grimm's house. When she says it's okay, I text him,

Uncle Grimm can I go to your house?

His response comes promptly, and I roll my eyes,

Why you got a green ass bubble? Witcho broke ass.

Quit being childish

Only childish person round here is you with them monstrosities you wearin on your feet

Look, can you pick me up or nah?

Nah. Ion want them playground bully elevens scuffing up the interior of my fine automobile.

I roll my eyes even harder. Why does Ichigo even like this clown? I'm boutta say fuck it, but then I remember that my precious items are at stake, so I suck it up and pull out the big guns,

You really gonna let your nephew walk alone in the dark?

Don't nobody want a lil beanpole with light up Sketchers and a firefly. You will be fine. Get to stepping. Ya shouldn't be out the house anyway with them nasty ass shoes on.

Aight, but I'll remember that when you want me to lie or cover for you…

…where you at?

Once I tell him where I am, I step outside the store to wait for him. It doesn't take him long to get here, and when he does, I make my way to the passenger side of his truck and open the door. I frown when I see that the floor is covered in saran wrap. I glare at him as he starts to laugh that fucking loud ass manic laugh of his.

"You not funny," I grumble as I get inside the truck, the plastic making utmost annoying sounds under my feet.

"What'chu thought I was playin'?"

"Yeah, cuz that's all ya do."

"Aight, Nnoi Jr., don't be shiesty or you can walk for real."

"Whatever."

Uncle Grimm puts on Future just for me, and we talk about random shit until we get to his house. I always like going to Uncle Grimm's house because he tends to let me do whatever I want as long as I don't mess up his furniture or carpet. He gotta work on that though, because he can't just let his son do whatever. Then he'll end up like me.

Me and Unc are watching The Punisher on Netflix, and I'm trying to figure out how to approach him about what Shinji wants to know. I can't be too forward about it, but I also don't wanna be too vague because my godfather is kinda dumb as shit.

"Aye, Unc, wassup wit'chu and Shinji's friend?"

"What'chu mean?"

See? Dumb as shit.

"I mean, when you gon' quit playin' games? I know ya like 'im."

"Course I do, or I wouldn't be fu -" I smirk at where he cuts off his statement. My mom jacked him up because of how he talked in front of me, and I guess he's still feeling the effects of the wrath of Nelliel Tu Oderschwanck. He rolls his eyes at me, before he sighs. "I mean, of course I like Ichigo. I just don't know if I'm ready for a relationship right now."

"Why not? You old as shit, and ya already got a kid."

"Boy, ya better watch that mouth before ya get popped in it."

"Okay, but you know I'm right, so why dontcha just cave?"

"I can't."

"Why not?"

"Because I'on think he feels the same way."

"Why you so gay for?" Uncle Grimm hits me with a malevolent side eye and I start laughing. He's so dumb. When I stop laughing, I give him a level look. "Just ask him, yeah? Shit's only hard as ya make it."

He seems to think about it for a second before he nods. I grin and we bump fists.

I am so getting my shit back.

To the person who thought a chapter from Nino's perspective "would slick be boring", I'm sorry to disappoint you but you got outvoted lol. To everyone else, this was so much fun to write, so I'm glad you guys wanted me to share it with you. I hope you all enjoyed it. Thank you for reading :)

Until next time,

Patd06