The Queen's Game

Chapter 6: Oakland's Beat

Soleil's POV

The house buzzed with the sounds of my siblings’ voices. My mom, Aurora, was in the kitchen, humming to some old R&B tune, while my dad, Jaden, was hyping up Orion and River in the living room about their sports practice. Meanwhile, my triplet sisters Ivy, Azalea, and Dahlia were sprawled on the couch, glued to their phones.

I had just gotten home from school when my phone buzzed with a message from Tiana:
Yo, wanna come hang with us after school tomorrow? We’re hitting up the spot.

I grinned, my thumbs tapping back a quick I’m down.

I’d only known Tiana and the others for a couple of weeks, but they already felt like my people. There was Maya with her bold opinions, Kailani who always had a sarcastic comeback ready, Jaz with her quiet but solid vibe, Devin the class clown, and then Tiana—who basically ran the group. They’d taken me under their wing, showing me the ropes of Oakland’s high school scene, and now, it seemed, they were ready to introduce me to their world outside the school walls.

Lost in my thoughts, I hadn’t noticed my mom watching me with one eyebrow raised, a smirk playing on her lips. “Soleil, I see that smile. What’s got you cheesin’ like that?”

I shrugged, trying to play it cool. “Nothing, Mom. Just… some friends want to hang after school tomorrow. Thought I’d go.”

“Uh-huh,” she said, placing a hand on her hip. “Who are these ‘friends’? And where y’all planning on going?”

My dad overheard from the living room and chimed in. “Better not be anywhere sketchy, Sol. I don’t wanna be called into the principal’s office my first week as the new coach.” His voice was light but carried that dad edge of seriousness.

I laughed, rolling my eyes. “Relax, Dad. They’re cool, I promise. Just gonna show me around, I think.”

Mom nodded, more relaxed but still curious. “Well, I like that you’re making friends. Just keep it safe, you hear?”

“Got it, Mom.” I grabbed an apple from the kitchen counter. “They’re just regular high school kids.”

Orion piped up, throwing a football in the air. “Yeah, until you get mixed up with some shady folks and end up on the news.”

River laughed, spinning his basketball on one finger. “Better watch out, Soleil. Oakland’s wild!”

The triplets laughed, chiming in with their own teasing. “Soleil’s too good for trouble,” Ivy said, grinning. “She’s like, Little Miss Perfect.”

“Yeah, you wouldn’t last a day in the streets,” Azalea added with a smirk.

I rolled my eyes, tossing a playful glare at all of them. “Y’all are so annoying. I’m not a kid, you know.”

My mom’s expression softened, but she still looked a bit amused. “Just be careful, Sol. We trust you, but this is a new city. And Oakland’s got… character.”

———

The next day, I met up with Tiana and the crew after school. They were all waiting near the corner of the school building, looking effortlessly cool.

“Ready to experience Oakland?” Tiana asked with a grin.

“Absolutely,” I replied, trying to keep my excitement in check.

We walked through the neighborhood together, and I quickly noticed how different the vibe was compared to LA. There was a kind of unspoken energy here—a mix of grit and pride, of history and change. People greeted each other on the streets, and the smell of grilled street food mixed with the faint sound of music playing from passing cars.

Maya caught me looking around and nudged me. “Oakland’s got its own rhythm, huh?”

I nodded, feeling the weight of her words. “Yeah, I’m kinda feeling it.”

We ended up at a spot that seemed like a local hangout—a small park with benches, where a few teens were already chilling. Tiana introduced me to a couple of kids who were clearly part of the Oakland scene, their clothes sharp and confidence even sharper. I felt like an outsider but in a good way, like I was getting a peek into a world I didn’t know existed.

Kailani leaned against a tree, watching some guys play basketball on the nearby court. “This park? Kehlani’s crew practically owns it.”

I blinked. “Kehlani?”

Jaz smirked, folding her arms. “Yeah. Don’t tell me you don’t know about Kehlani Parrish.”

I shrugged, playing it cool. “Not really.”

Devin snorted. “Well, you’re in Oakland now, so you better get used to hearing that name. She’s basically, like, the queen around here.”

“Queen?” I asked, raising an eyebrow.

Tiana nodded, lowering her voice a bit. “She’s got respect from everyone, even people who don’t know her personally. She’s powerful—like, really powerful. Got people in all corners of the city.”

Maya glanced around, as if checking to make sure no one was eavesdropping. “It’s not like she’s a saint or anything, though. People respect her, but there’s a reason they keep their distance.”

My mind spun as I took it all in. It was like hearing about some kind of legend, but Kehlani was real. She was out there, someone who held sway over the streets, and everyone knew it.

“So,” I asked cautiously, “have any of you, like… met her?”

Devin laughed, shaking his head. “No way, man. That’s not how it works. People like her don’t just hang around with high schoolers. She’s got her own world.”

Tiana nodded. “It’s like, she’s there but untouchable, you know? But, trust me, you’ll feel her presence everywhere in this city.”

———

As the sun started to set, we walked through the neighborhood a bit more, stopping by some food trucks to grab snacks. The whole experience was a sensory overload—the colors of street art on every corner, the beats of hip-hop from passing cars, the smells of spice and smoke. I felt alive in a way I hadn’t in LA.

Eventually, it was time to head home, and Tiana gave me a quick side hug. “Welcome to Oakland, Sol. I think you’re gonna fit in just fine.”

I laughed, feeling more confident. “Thanks, T. This was… eye-opening.”

As I made my way back to my neighborhood, my mind kept replaying everything I’d heard. Kehlani Parrish, the queen of Oakland, the one everyone respected but kept at a distance. Part of me felt intrigued, but I knew better than to get too curious.

When I walked through the front door, my mom was already setting up for dinner. She took one look at me and chuckled. “Have a good time?”

I nodded, still a little dazed. “Yeah, it was cool. Definitely different from LA.”

“Good,” she said, smiling. “Different is good. Just remember—family’s always got your back.”

Orion and River were tossing a football in the living room, and the triplets were already at the table, animatedly chatting about their day. It was chaotic, loud, and familiar—the perfect ending to a day of discovering Oakland’s pulse.

As I sat down to eat, I couldn’t shake the feeling that this was just the beginning. Oakland had so much more to show me, and I was ready to dive in.

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