Us Against the World || Ty Young

c h a p t e r | o n e.

I know this may not be how New Yorkers talk but this is just how I want my book.

Kyriee in Mm

Kyriee De'Shun Simmons

Riding through the slums of Harlem, New York in my Royal blue 2014 Maserati Quattroporte I take glances at the streets while keeping my focus on driving. Everyday there is something new going on, but at the same time it's was always the same. Ms. Ruby always has children lined up to buy snacks and frozen Kool–Aid pops from her house, dope boys on the corner selling, prostitutes walking the block trying to find a sugar daddy. Usually a normal prostitute would be out at night but around here it doesn't matter, they are out at all times even early this Monday.

I continue my drive to Park East High School. I am a Senior this year, thank God. One month down, ten to go. This school is ghetto as hell, but hey, I fit right in. No, I'm not ghetto but the people in the school come from the same struggle—some worse. I pull into my regular parking spot and I turn my car off. I step out of my car and all eyes are focused on me. I have gotten so used to it that it doesn't even faze me anymore. I get greeted by people and simply wave. I'm quiet, careless and observant. I see things before anyone else has seen them. I don't speak to a lot of people except my best friends Tyrin, Zariah and Julez. We are childhood best friends. If anyone fucks with one of us we are there for each other ready to knock some heads off. They don't mind my sexuality either, I'm just one of the boys.

As I walk inside the bell rings. I check the time, 1:35. Damn, I am late as hell, we are just now entering 7th period.

"Ky!" I turn around and I see my crew.
"Hey y'all." I give them each a hug.

"What you doin' afta' school?" asks a high, glassy–eyed Tyrin.

"Probably hit up the mall, my closet lookin' a lil too empty."

"Yeah, I need to go too. They just dropped those new J's." says Julez.

"No joke?" I ask. He shakes his head. "Damn, I gotta go hit it up for real now."

"Anyway," Zariah rolls her eyes. "Who drivin' 'cause my car messed up."

"Again? Damn girl, the fuck you be doin' to that car?" Tyrin laughs.

"Shut the fuck up shit turd. I ain't did nothin' to it, it just keeps fuckin' up."

"I'll catch y'all later," I laugh and dap Tyrin and Julez. They walk away so it's just Zariah and I—we always walk to class together. I throw my arm around her neck and I pull her closer to me while we walk to World History. "Ria, Ria."

"What Ky?" she asks.

"When you gone get a new car?"

"When you gone take me?"

"When you gone let me fuck?" I laugh.

"Girl, shut up," she giggles. Zariah is one out of the three females I trust, she been riding with me forever, hell we even live together. "Oh, and sorry I didn't wake you up. I was over to Cheyenne's."

I nod. "It's cool, I was tired as hell."

"Didn't nobody tell your ass to go to that party."