North Philly Nights: A Love Story🌃

||Off the court||

In gym class the next day, Aniyah was put on Azalea's basketball team. It wasn't long before their rivalry kicked in. Azalea, known for her competitive nature, wasn't used to anyone keeping up with her on the court, especially not a new girl. But Aniyah, who had played basketball back in South Philly, wasn't about to back down.

"Yo, you trying too hard," Azalea said after Aniyah blocked her shot.

"I'm just playing the game," Aniyah shot back, her voice cool but sharp.

Azalea gave her a hard look. "We'll see."

From that moment on, it was clear that the tension between them wasn't going anywhere.

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After school, Aniyah was trying to blend in, but it seemed like she couldn't escape Azalea's crew. They were everywhere, whether posted up in the school yard or walking through the North Philly streets, smoking and bidding on people. One afternoon, Aniyah was chilling outside her house, a few blocks from Broad Street, when Korina, a girl she had started getting close to, invited her to a house party.

"It's at Zayshawn's crib," Korina said. "You coming?"

Aniyah was hesitant, but she didn't want to seem like she was scared. "Yeah, I'm down."

The party was everything she expected-loud music, blunts being passed around, and people dancing in the cramped living room, ot7 quanny playing. Azalea was there too, posted up in a corner with her arms crossed, watching everything like she owned the room.

When Aniyah walked in, Azalea's eyes met hers, and they exchanged a look. Aniyah didn't know what to make of it. Was it a challenge? An invitation? She wasn't sure.

It wasn't long before the drama of North Philly came crashing in. The party was in full swing when two guys from another block showed up, and the tension was immediate. Words were exchanged, and before anyone knew what was happening, shots rang out in the small rowhouse.

Aniyah ducked behind a couch as the room exploded into chaos. People ran for the door, screaming. She looked up and saw Azalea, frozen in the middle of the room. Without thinking, Aniyah ran over and grabbed her arm.

"Come on!" she yelled, pulling Azalea through the back door into the narrow alleyway behind the house.

The two of them ran down the alley, hearts pounding as the sounds of sirens grew closer. Once they were a safe distance away, they stopped, trying to catch their breath.

Azalea looked at her, surprised. "Why'd you help me?"

Aniyah shrugged, trying to act calm even though her heart was still racing. "I wasn't about to leave you in there."

For the first time, Azalea didn't have a smart comment. She just nodded, and for a moment, they were silent, the tension between them replaced by something else something neither of them knew how to handle.