The first book in a trilogy about high school sweethearts navigating love and relationships in a poverty stricken area. Will a tragic home and family life tear them apart, or can they withstand the test of time? Follow Ari, Corky, Mel, and Tyra in t...
And then a hero comes along, With the strength to carry on -Mariah Carey
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Carmella Nicole rays "Mel"
"Stop crying Carmella," He exclaimed. It was always amazing to me how he could go from sweet to a monster in seconds. "I don't like this game," I cried even harder. My seven year old body felt like it was about to give out. "Why do I have to play this game?" "Do you and my sister play this game," I asked. I knew it was wrong. I felt it was wrong. "No, just us," He answered. "Its our special game," He said wiping the tears that were cascading down my cheeks. "And you can't tell your mom about it," He exclaimed turning back into the boogie monster, I hated. I nodded, not wanting to feel the pain anymore.
End of flashback,
I think my biggest regret is that I never told my mother I was being molested. When she died, I wished I did because I was instantly shipped off to my uncle. Sh*t got real. I remember the first time I admitted I was being raped out-loud. It felt like a weight was lifted off my, thirteen year old under developed chest.
"There aint no heroes in this world only villians. There d*mn sure aint no heroes in my story", I spat pulling my jacket closer to me. "Aint nobody gone help me, cause don't nobody give a f*ck about me," I exclaimed with tears welling in my eyes, threatening to spill over. "I do," Corky exclaimed putting his hand on my shoulder. "You aint gotta hurt no more," Corky said softly rubbing my shoulder. "Imma get you out of there," He promised.
We were both just middle school kids, but by the time high school came around we weren't even talking. Corky had got into the streets. He got involved with some bad sh*t and I felt he had forgotten about me. My freshman year, Corky showed up at my door. "Pack ya sh*t," Corky said. No, Hey. No explanation to where he had been. Just "pack ya sh*t." I was so confused. "I got an apartment, and you don't have to be here anymore," He said. "I said I was going to get you out of here," Corky explained. I felt like crying, I honestly thought he forgot about me. No man had ever kept their word like Corky did. I wrapped my arms around his neck, giving him a warm embrace. He didnt have to tell me twice, I packed my sh*t. Upon leaving out, my "uncle" spotted us. "Where you going," my "uncle" asked me. Corky looked at him with disgust. "With me," Corky spoke up. "I have custody of you so you need to," My "uncle" started but was interrupted by Corky lifting his shirt up revealing the gun on his hip. "I should kill yo pedophile a*s," Corky spat. I softly touched Corky's shoulder. "We are leaving," I spoke up. I was wrong, heroes did exist.
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"Yea this shouldn't be hard," I agreed. "I'll start on that powerpoint tonight," I suggested. Que nodded. I had to admit, Que was handsome. He had chocolate skin and bright hazel eyes. He has on the basketball team so he had a fit body. "Yeah just hit me up," Que suggested. I paused for a minute, how? "Give me your number," He chuckled handing me his phone. I smiled putting my number in. "See you tomorrow, Mel," He smiled with his perfect Colgate smile. I leaned against my locker.
"Creep," I snapped looking across the hallway at Corky who was burning a hole in my face. "Girl I was looking at that big a*s booger in your nose." "Shut up," I giggled throwing my backpack over my shoulder.
"So who is that your boyfriend," Corky asked following me as I walked out the building. I chuckled at his jealously. Corky had a girlfriend he had been talking to for months and had the nerve to be jealous. If corky wanted me, he should act like it.
"Girl," Tyra walked up. Tyra had been my best-friend for as long as I can remember. "I saw you and Que," She gossiped. I let out a shrill of excitement causing Corky to look at me with disgust. "Make me murder, que a*s," He mumbled. I turned to him, raising my eyebrow. "Aint nobody murdered yo lil girlfriend yet," I spat putting my hand in his face. He frowned. "Whatever, Imma go catch up with Ari," He walked off.
"No ride home," I asked as he walked off. He waved me off. "He is something else when he get jealous," I mumbled rolling my eyes. Tyra giggled. "So what's been up with you," I asked. "Pastor White had you on lockdown," I joked. She nodded with a giggle. "He claims I can never see Ari again," She added as we walked home. "D*mn," I sighed.
We spotted a group of girls walking up to us. "Those yo friends," I asked Tyra. She shook her head no but the crowd of girls was getting closer and closer. "Wassup," I asked immediately defensive. "You're Corky's girl, right?" a girl with some cheap extensions asked. "Who wanna know," I frowned. "His girlfriend," She rolled her eyes.
"Stay away from my n*gga," She spat walking off. Was that a threat?
