Caught In A Trance

Risk it Til' The Last Dime

Saturday at 10:00 am

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Korinna's POV

     Since Thursday, I have been working on school assignments that are due next week. I wanted to get ahead of classwork so that I could dedicate my time to tryouts. To make life easier, I plan on going to the beauty supply store to pick up some hair and products. I need to start on my hair by 1pm.

    I got a phone call from my mom. "Hey, Ma." I started the phone call. "Morning, I already made some breakfast this morning. I'm over at Rio's place. Bring your dance CDs over once you've gotten ready." I went ahead and got ready for the day. I saw pancakes, grits, and bacon. It's something simple but it's pretty good.

     I head over to Ms. Rio's place with the CDs. I knocked on the door and she answered. "Hermosa, your mom was telling me about your talent in dance! I would like to see!" I went ahead and handed her the recordings. I thought about going back to my room to see what hair products I needed to get, but I entered a state of nostalgia. I sat and watched a few of my dance recitals as a child. My mom and Ms. Rio gushed over my small stature and quick movements in the video.

     I was washed over with a sense of curiosity, so I walked through the home while they were distracted. I noticed the set up near the tv of Miles' dad. It was a picture of Captain Jefferson Morales with his folded American flag next to it. It was standing alone; a section specifically dedicated to the loved one.

     I continued to walk around the home looking at decorations and photos. There are a few here of Miles when he was younger and without braids. There was a photo of him and his dad holding a basketball, a family photo, and a middle school graduation photo with him and a girl. I picked up the one with the girl and examined it. I turned the photo around and saw a message.

Congratulations to Phin and Miles on graduating!

     Further in the home, there was another photo of them. I looked at the girl a little closer. She was a black girl with a salmon colored top, nude glasses, and her curls pulled into a puff with a green headband. Miles did seem to be happier. This must have been before the tragedy. I walked down the hallway to see a door cracked open. I stuck my head inside and noticed no one was in the room.

      This must be Miles' room. The light decorations of the house juxtaposed this room. It had splashes of green and purple for decoration. The sneakers on the floor gave it away too. The entire room wasn't too dark, but it screamed that a guy lived in here. Surprisingly, the room had a musky cologne smell that contradicted the organization. His bed wasn't made and his clothes were stuffed entirely too much in his bins. I looked to the side and saw an easel stand with a half drawn image. I guess he loves art, because the room is covered in graffiti like sketches and the trash next to the stand has old drawings. His room is literally an organized mess. It kind of reminds me of him.

     One drawing caught my eye in the trash can. I walked over to the sketch paper bin and picked up the crumpled art. I opened it and saw...me? It was my annoyed yet assertive facial expression that I made at him in the gym Thursday. It was a beautiful drawing. He nearly had every feature perfectly lined. Why did he draw this? I heard movement on the steps outside, so I hurried and balled the paper back up and threw it in the bin. I rushed out of the room as quickly as possible.

    I walked back into the living room where our moms were. Shortly after I made it into the room, Miles walked out of his room pretending to just have woken up. Why would he lie about that? He looked at me, nodded his head, and headed towards the kitchen. I start to feel a bit off with Miles in the same room. It's time for me to stop by the store and start on my hair.

"Hey, thank you for inviting me over Ms. Rio. Mom, I need to head to the supply store to grab some hair and products. Let me know if y'all need anything." I take my leave.

Miles' POV

     I had been at Uncle Aaron's house all night training. I've gotten a lot more jobs since the job I completed for Kriger. The sinister six currently run the crime underworld and reached out to me about taking a couple of jobs. I was conflicted last night on whether to take that big step. Truth is, Korinna has completely infiltrated my mind. I needed to let off steam in the training room with Uncle Aaron.

     My mom told me, uncle Aaron told me, Ganke told me, but when Korinna called me out I listened. I don't know what I want in life, so I use my double life to distract myself from confronting my issues. I tried drawing in my room to get it off my mind, but I unintentionally drew her a few times. She's fiery, certain of her worth, beautiful, but I'm not trying to pursue her. Regardless, If I take these jobs from the sinister six, life will become more dangerous.

     I walked a few blocks back home until I reached the stairs up towards my window. I ascended the stairs until I reached the window to my room. I went ahead and climbed inside and changed into something my mom would think I slept in. I noticed that my door was slightly opened and not cracked like I normally have it. I look around to see anything out of place. I saw a balled up piece of paper next to my easel stand on the floor and not in the trash. I always put it inside the bin. I opened the sketch, and it was the drawing of Kori when she went off on me. I know I put it in the bin, someone was here snooping. My mom doesn't just come in to snoop. She dumps my clothes in here, organizes a bit, anything to indicate her presence. She never messes with my art. The person didn't want me to know they were in here.

     I throw something on and walk out of the room. I saw my mom and Ms. Tamera watching dance videos squealing. I also saw that Kori was here. That's who was in my room. I walked into the kitchen next to her getting ready to question her, but she spoke before I could get anything out.

    "Hey, thank you for inviting me over Ms. Rio. Mom, I need to head to the supply store to grab some hair and products. Let me know if y'all need anything." She's avoiding me now. Either she is still upset with me from Thursday or she saw that drawing in my room. Kori turns around and heads out without saying anything to me.

      "Mijo, look at Kori! She is a great dancer." I looked at the screen and it was the performance where she had the same costume as the photo I looked at when she first arrived. I have to admit that she is talented. I'm not dumb, someone with a box full of achievements is good at what they are doing. I don't want her on that team looking like a target for other guys. Just as Gwen bends over easily for me to see everything, I can only imagine Kori bending-

     "My mookie has been dancing since she was 7! She gets it from me! She's trying out for the dance team at your school, Miles. She talked about how scared she was to me on the phone the other day. I'm trying to have her branch out in a new environment. Make sure she's ok at school for me. I can see her losing her motivation for it." Fuck. I know I made it worse with the comments I made to her.

Why the fuck do I even care? I look at the clock and it's 12:25 pm. I have a couple of assignments that need to be done before I make my final decision with the sinister six tonight.

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    A message dinged through my work phone. An unknown person wants to meet at 11:15 tonight to discuss my final decisions. The sinister six. I pull out my gear from my hiding spots and head out for the night. I perch myself onto a building across from home to take in the night. I look down and Kori still has her light on. She had a pair of headphones connected to a pink ps5 controller playing Horizon. Gamer Girl? She was screaming and pressing the buttons furiously.

    I noticed her new hairstyle that was half wrapped up in a scarf. It gave her a different vibe. My mind drifted to if we really did pursue each other. I don't want to go do dangerous Prowler work only to come home to a worried girlfriend who knows nothing. What if I drag her in? I have to make a choice.

    Kori shifted and took her headphones off. She knows I'm watching her. I bounce back towards our apartment building to ensure she doesn't see me. After a couple of minutes, I slowly make my way to her window to get a closer look at her. I came up with my decision, and ran across her window towards the sinister six.

A/N: Unedited. I'll edit later on!

KAZINO -BIBI