(Soleil’s POV)
The afternoon sun beat down on Oakland as I walked with my friends through downtown, laughing at a joke Devin had just cracked. It was only my second week in the city, but things already felt familiar. It was weird, though—Oakland had this energy I couldn’t quite figure out. In Los Angeles, everything felt open, like you could just walk into any neighborhood without thinking twice. Here, though, it felt like each block had its own rules, and I could see the locals following them without a second thought.
Ahead of us, Tiana pointed toward a little café tucked between two old, brick buildings. “We gotta stop here,” she said, leading the way. “Best iced lattes in the Bay.”
Kailani nudged me with her elbow. “You ever had iced lattes that make you want to come back every day? Because this place will.”
I grinned, following them inside. The café smelled like fresh coffee and sweet pastries, and the vibe was cozy, with art from local artists on the walls. I ordered an iced latte, watching as Tiana and Devin traded places in line, and Jaz and Maya claimed a table by the window.
“Feels good to just chill out,” I said, plopping down next to Maya and letting the caffeine hit. “I don’t miss the chaos of moving.”
“Right?” Tiana replied, her eyes scanning the street outside the window. “Oakland is loud in its own way, but it’s home. It’ll grow on you, trust.”
I took a long sip of my drink, thinking about what Tiana said. I was trying to settle in, but the city had its edges. Some streets felt friendlier than others, and even though I hadn’t met Kehlani yet, her name was all over town—like an echo of someone powerful, someone with real weight.
When we finished at the café, we headed down the street toward a basketball court. My brothers would have loved it here; Orion and River were always talking smack at each other on the court back in L.A. I was starting to miss my family in little ways. But maybe Oakland could be home too, eventually.
---
Later that evening, after a few hours of hanging out, I got home and found my mom, Aurora, in the kitchen with my dad, Jaden. She was experimenting with some new recipes, talking about adding a few to her catering menu, and Dad was playing the taste-tester, as usual.
"Hey, Sunshine," my dad greeted me, using the nickname he’d had for me since I was little. "How was the day?"
“Good. We went to that café Tiana likes—it's nice over there,” I said, grabbing a glass from the cabinet. “Different from LA, though.”
Mom raised an eyebrow. “Different how?”
“People just... I don’t know, seem to know where to go and where not to. Like, certain streets, people just don’t go to unless they know what they’re doing.” I shrugged. "Not saying it’s bad, just different.”
She nodded thoughtfully. “You gotta get used to it, but it’s a good city. Just like any place, you learn who runs what around here.”
My dad chuckled, his deep voice filling the kitchen. “Sounds like my old neighborhood. It was like that when I was growing up. You know the rules, you’re fine.”
“What kinda rules?” Ivy, my fifteen-year-old sister, chimed in, popping into the kitchen with Azalea and Dahlia trailing behind her. They’d been glued to each other ever since we moved here, giggling and whispering about who-knows-what.
“Rules you pick up over time,” Dad replied, keeping his answer vague but smiling knowingly.
River ran in next, clutching a basketball. Orion wasn’t far behind him, holding his football. “Are we going to the courts again this weekend?” River asked, glancing at me hopefully. “I want to see if Oakland kids can play like L.A. kids.”
“They got game,” I assured him. “Better watch out, though. Some courts are off-limits unless you know people.”
“Yeah?” Orion asked, eyes wide with curiosity. “Like who?”
“Just people,” I replied, grinning. “Look, when you’re older, maybe I’ll let you in on it.”
Orion rolled his eyes, and Dad laughed. “Soleil’s right. It’s a city with its own flow. You’ll get used to it.”
---
That night, I lay awake, thinking about what Tiana and my parents had said. Oakland was different from anywhere I’d ever lived, but I wanted to know it. Not just the safe parts, but everything.
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The Queen's Game
Fanfic"The Queen's Game" follows Soleil, a young girl new to Los Angeles, as she unknowingly steps into the dangerous world of Kehlani Parrish, a powerful and feared gang leader. Kehlani, accustomed to controlling everything and everyone around her, sees...
