The Forbidden Fruit (DISCONTINUED)

Chapter One: Just Like The Others

"Dad, where's my bag?" I yelled downstairs as I rushed to get ready for school. First day of senior year. Why would I want to be late? "It's right by the door, Val," My dad yelled back. I buckled my pair of shorts and tied my favorite pair of Converse. I skipped down the hallway and I saw him coming out of his room. I kissed him on the cheek, and he grinned at me. "Good morning, sweetie." He coughed nastily, I'm guessing it was a cold. "Ew, dad. Maybe you should take something for that," I said, jokingly. He laughed, "I'll be fine sweetheart. Now get to school! You don't want to be late on your first day." I smiled, zoomed down the stairs and lunged for my bag.

My stepmom, Gina, looked up at me from her bowl of cereal, "No breakfast this morning Usain Bolt?" I shrugged and took a granola bar from a dish on the counter. "This will just have to do." She rolled her eyes, "Where are you rushing off to, anyways? You have to wait for your sisters." I snickered. "Yeah, sure," I said sarcastically. I unlocked the front door, and slung my bag over my shoulder. "Bye dad," I called out. I simply waved at Gina; not like she was gonna wave back anyway.

You see, my stepmom wasn't too fond of me. She favorites my annoying ass twin stepsisters, Alexa and Natalie, over me. They were both tall and skinny. Natalie had a short bob hair cut, like Rihanna, and Alexa usually wore her hair in tight coils. I really couldn't care less, though. The worst part about having them around is that my dad really likes Gina, so it hurts him when I'm rude to her. But one day, I'm going to curse her ass out.

I let the warm Mid-August sun soak into my skin. I pulled my hair back into a low ponytail, my signature style. I looked pretty basic, but I was never the type to worry about appearances; unlike most of these chicken heads out here. That's when I saw my best friend, Jaz, pull up to the curb in front of my house. She pulled down her shades, "Aye Val!" She flashed me a smile, "You hoppin' in or what?" I laughed as I walked to the passengers side of her car. This girl was too much for me.

As soon as I was in, she stepped on the gas pedal. "Damn, this is really the first day of twelfth grade. It's the beginning of the end, shawty!" I laughed, "Slow down girl! This isn't Speed Racer. But yeah, I'm hype too." She put her sunglasses back on. "How's the Wicked Witch of the East treating you?" I rolled my eyes, "Poorly, but what else is new? And in ten months, I will never have to see her again!" I began to cook, and she laughed at me. "You are a trip, Valerie. And what about the two rats?" I snickered, "Still whack. Natalie actually took my silver head band without asking me this morning. Now, if I would have did that to her, she would have ran to Gina about it, and I would've gotten grounded for it." Jaz sucked her teeth, "Damn bro, that sucks. And your dad doesn't say anything to her?" I shook my head. "Nope. Never. He's too 'blinded by love' to even realize how much of a cunt she is," I said, with air quotations. Jaz shrugged, "Well, don't let them ruin your day. Senior year is about to be the best year of our lives, man." I smiled, and looked out the window, "Yeah, hopefully."

We were at school in no time. I looked stepped out the car and got a good look at everything and everyone around me. Once Jaz was by my side, we walked up the front stairs to what was known as Northshore High School for the Gifted and Talented. I examined the faces of people that I've known for almost four years now. It looks like everyone has matured over the vacation.

When we were inside the school, I took out my schedule. "What do you have first," I asked her. "Home Ec, Theater, AP English, Gym, Spanish, and the rest of my day are free periods. You?" I looked down at mine, "Um, Spanish, a free period, AP Chem, Gym, another free period, AP World History and Dance." She pouted, "Ugh, we only have gym together." The first bell rang. I shrugged, "We'll make the best of it. Talk to you later, Jaz." She waved and walked up the nearest staircase. I took a look at my schedule one more time. "Spanish, room 303."

I walked up to the third floor and opened the door. The class was already packed. Our teacher this year was Ms. DeLaina, the easiest teacher in this whole damn school. She was such a pushover. All you had to do was show up and behave to pass with flying colors. That lowkey got me hype. When I walked in, she had her head down on the desk, probably asleep. The class was all rowdy, too. I spotted a free seat over by the window. As I went to sit, I sucked me teeth loudly, for I saw the people who I couldn't stand.

It was my idiot sisters, Alexa and Natalie, and their best friend, Danika. Everyone called her Nik, pronounced like Nique. She was short, brown skin & and thick, with honey blonde weave down her back. I swear she was the most basic person I've ever had to associate with. When I walked over to my seat, she was making out with her boyfriend, Randy, but everyone called him Ray. He had two long braids. It was kind of his signature style. I think he's Indian or some shit. He was one of the most popular boys in the school, along with his friends, Jacob and Craig. They were just a bunch of hood rats in my eyes; sagging their pants, trying to get with every girl in school, cursing and laughing up a storm in the middle of class. Jacob was Mexican with some curly ass hair. I think the girls at this school liked him the most, and I can't even lie, I've had a crush on him at one point before. Craig had this Mohawk, low fade type thing going on. He was handsome too, and he was actually a pretty nice person. The six of them basically ran this school; everyone wanted to be cool with them. Everyone except Jaz and I, that is.

Unfortunately, my seat was right next to their clique, so I would have to endure their foolishness for the next 51 minutes. I noticed there was a new kid sitting with them. He had a light brown complexion, and his hair was in short curls. He was honestly more attractive than the other three boys, but if he was willing to chill with a group of people like them, then he really wasn't worth my time. As I approached my seat, I glanced at Nik and Ray kissing, and pretended to clear my throat. "You guys thinking about coming up for air soon? You wouldn't want to sallow each other's faces." Ray and Nik broke away from their kiss, and looked up at me with a nasty glare. Nik just sucked her teeth and rolled her eyes, but of course Ray had to make a smart remark. "Why you always hating on somebody, yo? Instead of worrying about what we doing, worry about them train tracks in ya mouth," he said, looking at my braces.

Their crew erupted in laughter. I didn't see what was so funny, considering he couldn't even make a comeback using proper grammar. Jacob gave Ray dap, "Aye, nice one man." I rolled my eyes. "Jacob, no one was even talking to you. Simmer down and go sell some mangoes or something. And as for you, Pocahontas," I said to Ray, "You should be the last one talking, considering you're the ugliest dyke I've ever seen." Half the classroom busted out laughing at my remark. Craig was basically on the floor, "Ray, she got yo ass." The new kid was laughing too. "Man, Chris, shut the hell up. She ain't funny," said Jacob. I'm guessing he was salty. So I'm guessing the new kid's name was Chris.

I just turned back around and copied some notes from the board until the bell rang. I never really rushed out of class, but anything was better than sitting back here with the assholes. I ran to the fifth floor really quick to get to my locker. I wanted to get my wallet, I was going to grab something to eat on my free period. As I zoomed up the staircase, I accidentally bumped into someone, causing them to fall on top of me, and we both tumbled to the ground with a thud. The person rolled from on top of me, and helped me up. I looked up to see who it was, it was that Chris kid from Spanish class. I dusted myself off while he began to apologize. "Aw man, I'm so sor-" I held up my hand and cut him off. "Save it. Just watch where you're going next time, okay?" He raised an eyebrow, "Fine, damn. My bad." He continued walking down the stairs, making sure to brush right past me. I felt a little bad afterwards, because I did react a little rude. But, who cares? He was just like the others anyway.