FOUND [COMPLETED]

I

Isabella- Atlanta, Georgia

"Yo Bella, what's good shawty?"

I glanced over my shoulder at Darien and rolled my eyes. No matter how many times I denied him, he continued to come back. I didn't have the energy to fight with him today, so I let him be.

"Headed home, D. You?" I replied, deciding to make use of the conversation. I had no doubt he would follow me all the way home, and I didn't do awkward silences.

"About to meet up with boys downtown. We got some business to take care of." Darien stated with a shrug.

We grew up in Atlanta, more towards the inner city than the rich neighborhoods like Buckhead. Our area was like a happy medium. Most everyone who went to our school were either middle or lower class, and lived around here. I don't think we have any rich kids, and if we do, I sure as hell don't know them.

"Business, huh?" I repeated, raising my brow. I had no doubt he was headed to do some gang banging shit, but I chose not to question it. I tried to stay away from that type of stuff, because I knew it wasn't safe. The gangs in ATL don't play, and sixteen is way too young to die.

"Yeah, you heard me." Darien nodded. I simply hummed and nodded my head as well. We walked in a comfortable silence for a few minutes. "Send me the math homework tonight, ight?" He stated once we were standing in front of my house.

"Okay." I nodded.

Darien grinned and nudged my shoulder. "See ya later, shawty. Stay outta trouble."

"I should be saying the same to you." I smirked. He shrugged before jogging off down the street. I just shook my head.

I stood outside for a few more minutes before deciding to head inside. Ma's car wasn't in the driveway, which meant she was probably still at work. She worked down at a hair salon during the day, then at night she did part time stock at Walmart. In between her two jobs, she found time to be a semi alcoholic. I didn't say much about it, because it didn't really affect me and I was just thankful it wasn't anything harder like meth or cocaine.

Just because she drank a lot didn't mean she was a bad mother, though. It was quite the opposite, actually. I had no doubt in my mind that my mom would do anything for me. That's why she works as hard as she does, to keep funding my life along with her own. I don't have a dad, so ma has to take care of everything financially by herself. She's all I got, and I'm all she's got. We're pretty close, despite everything.

I tossed my bag on the floor by the door, knowing I'd pick it up before ma got home. She didn't play when it came to "tossing my shit around her clean house like I pay the bills." Even though I do help with bills sometimes, since I work a part time job at a local music store down the block. We sell records, tapes, CDs, you name it. I love music, so as soon as I saw they were hiring, my ass was down there with an application.

I quickly made myself a turkey sandwich before grabbing my bag and heading to my room to get ready for work. I thought about doing my homework before leaving, but I didn't have the time. I'll just finish when I get off.

I changed into a pair of jean shorts, my favorite Michael Jackson vintage tee and slid into a pair of adidas. Thankfully my job didn't have a strict dress code, so I could pretty much wear whatever.

As I was searching for my mascara I came across the only photo I had of myself when I was younger. I was wearing a bright pink dress and a matching bow, cheesing real hard. I had no idea where the picture was taken, but it looks like there's a pretty big house in the back. Ma said the flood in our apartment building years ago destroyed all my childhood pictures, and this is the only one that survived. It's kinda sad, but it's whatever.