Seventeen's Threshold

two .

August 20 , 3:00 pm
Calabassas , California
002

new day , new place

" mannn imma beat you 10 to 4 let's go " Rakim and De'Angelo were in the basket ball court as Rakim was already in the lead with only 6 to 2 points on the field .

" AND HE MF SCORES niggaaaaa , come on Angelo run me my 40s where my 40s man ? Thankss " De'Angelo and Rakim the continued playing for fun until Jaylen and Malik got in the field .

" move nigga this our motherfuckin' turf now buddy " Jaylen purposely pushes Rakim out the way catching basketball into his hand under the hot scorching sun but he didn't mind .

" nigga say excuse me next time dumb bitch I'll smack the shit out you dawg " Rakim and Jaylen eat into each others faces , Rakim gets pushed down to hard hot ground by Jaylen who was chuckling with Malik until Rakim got back up giving Jaylen a hard punch .

" stupid bitch " each time he said a word each time he gave him punches until Malik broke them up , " yo chill she coming let's go... oh shit " Miss James walked down to the field with a basket full of cleaning supplies .

" you four was supposed to be cleaning like the rest what are y'all doing out here ... are those blood on y'all's ... how many times ? You two inside now " after the talking and the two having to " reconcile " .... Rakim was busy tidying up his mirror standing in front of him .

Rakim brought rash downstairs coming across a guy who was talking with Miss James in the front , " oh there he is ... Rakim this man here is Madison and Madison this is Rakim here , Rakim you can go and pack your stuff you're going with him " .

Rakim carefully folded his clothes and packed them into a sturdy cardboard box, each item neatly placed as he prepared to move. His room, once a sanctuary filled with memories, felt oddly empty. The walls, stripped of posters and photos, seemed to echo the quiet anticipation of the change ahead.

Mister Bowden, his new guardian, had been a steady, reassuring presence during their meetings, offering Rakim a glimpse of the stability and care he longed for. As Rakim packed, he thought about what living with Mister Bowden would be like: a new home, a new routine, and the promise of support.

He tucked away the last few items, took a deep breath, and looked around the room one final time. With the box sealed and ready, Rakim felt a mix of hope and nervous excitement as he prepared to step into this new chapter of his life with Mister Bowden.

" alright let's go , uh you are anything yet ? You want Olive Garden ? McDonald's ? Wing stop ? Just wanna make sure you ain't starving before we go back to my place ." Rakim had agreed to get some wingstop before driving back to Mr. Bowden'a place

As Rakim had seen the home, he was jaw dropped by how it looked . As Rakim approached Mr. Bowden's home, he was awestruck by the sheer grandeur of the mansion before him. The estate was sprawling, its façade a testament to timeless elegance. High columns flanked the entrance, supporting a gabled roof adorned with intricate carvings. Large, arched windows allowed sunlight to spill into the spacious interior, while an ornate, wrought-iron gate led to the meticulously landscaped gardens.

Inside, the mansion was just as impressive. A grand foyer greeted visitors with its soaring ceilings and a magnificent chandelier that sparkled with a warm, welcoming light. The living areas were expansive, featuring rich hardwood floors and detailed moldings. Each room was tastefully decorated with luxurious furnishings and fine art, creating an atmosphere of refined comfort.