Nyla (Urban)

Nyla 12

Nyla

My mind was reeling while I sat in the back of the classroom, caught up in my thoughts. I was startled out of my reverie when Ms.Walker placed a paper in front of me. It was the test that we had taken last week. There was a big red B- at the top of the paper and Ms. Walker was beaming at me. "Well Nyla, I'm impressed. It seems your grade has been improving in here. I always knew you were a smart girl."

My brain wouldn't even come up with a snarky comment to hit her ass with so I just smiled weakly and muttered, 'Thanks'.

I hated feeling this paranoid. It usually only came about when I was trying to avoid my mother, but this was bigger than any of that. Someone had tried to kill me, and as much as I didn't want to think about it, thoughts of King warning me about Castillo flooded my mind.

I felt someone staring at me so I looked up to find one of Malakai's friends giving me one hell of a mean mug.

My senses finally came back to me and I pushed my eyebrows together, "Do you have a staring problem sir?" I hissed in a low tone. I wasn't up for anyone's bullshit today. Or ever.

"Nah. I have a problem with you turning Malakai into a pussy. How long is your hoe ass gonna control him?" He replied back lowly.

I rolled my eyes and looked at him with distaste. "For as long as he lets me. What you need to be worried about is controlling the odor of your stale ass breath. I can smell the ass from all the way over here." The people around us chuckled and I could tell he was resisting the urge to smell it for himself.

"Kelly, is there something that you would like to share with the class?" said Ms.Walker. He gave me one last murderous look before facing the front again. "No, damn."

I huffed and went back to minding my business. King had ran down the street looking for whoever it could've been, but of course he didn't make it in time. I shuddered as I remembered how the police questioned me just yesterday.

When the bell rang, I made my way to culinary arts. It wasn't a well funded program, but it was the only class I had an A in. Khadi also had this class, but more for the free food than anything else. When she saw my facial expression she frowned. What the hell happened yesterday? You hung up in such a rush."

I gave her the best fake smile I could manage. "Someone knocked on the door. Sorry I forgot to call you back yesterday, I just got busy."

She looked a little hurt and I could feel myself getting guilty. "It's cool, you do what you gotta do. We chillin at lunch?"

I smirked at her as I stirred a broth in the pot. Today was chicken soup, which I planned on adding my own little spin to. "Well duh, nobody else at this school likes me. Start chopping up some onions?"

She grabbed a knife, pointing it at me,"That can't be."

I tasted the broth and turned it down so that it could simmer," Well it is. Don't tell me you haven't noticed that my reputation isn't exactly squeaky clean."

She shrugged, "I think if people really got to know you or at least tried to, they'd realize how cool you really are." She replied.

I took her words into consideration and continued stirring my concoction, thoughts flooding my head once again. My teacher, Mr. Bauer, came around to taste our soup, raising his eyebrows at me.

"Nyla I would say I'm not surprised, but I really am. You blow me away with the things you cook in this room. I don't think any other student in here could take a simple chicken soup recipe and turn into anything more exquisite."

I blushed at all of his compliments, "Thank you Mr. Bauer."

"It's my pleasures in fact, I wouldn't be surprised if you made it into the Culinary Institute of Education. They'd be lucky to have you, and I be happy to recommend you." He said.