New Native Land (The Next Step) (Book II)

Chapter 6 (Long Live)

It was February, the coldest month of the year. I couldn't deal with it, it was so cold, I refused to walk to the bus stop. I let Cecil take me to school and I didn't even care, it was that serious. I didn't even know temperatures could get to this point and yet, here I am in New York, and there would be weather colder than 19 degrees outside. I wanted to cry, but the tears would freeze on my face.

Today was a better day though, the sun was out and shinning and made it a bit easier to tolerate. I decided today I'd be taking the bus, I know my friends will be excited because they keep commenting about how missed I am on the bus. Ce's dropped me off at the usual spot and I smiled "Have a good day." He told me and I waved him off.

The medicine I took still made me feel kinda off, though I was getting used to it, I choose to take it in the evenings instead because that way I could go to school and not feel so awful. I turned the corner and I didn't see the crew, but I heard they were causing trouble all throughout Crown Heights. I don't know why they were being menaces but I minded my own business because it wasn't my business anymore.

I hadn't seen nor talked to Ahm since our last altercation so that just goes to show you right there where we're at. I smiled a bit as I walked past the place they usually stand and I laughed thinking about Scrap stopping me and saying something funny, and then Shad jumping into the mix.

I turned the corner and I walked to the bus stop and in no time I hopped on the bus and saw the crew. "Aye Reagan!" Drew yelled. "She lives!" Caz said and I laughed at him as I walked to the back. "You finally getting used to the New York winters huh?" Draya joked and I smacked my lips at her. "This ain't gone work, y'all shouldn't be happy to live like this." I said and they laughed at me.

"Heard they started that 'Make Bronx Clean Again' campaign." Drew said and PB nodded "They said Brooklyn next, but I don't think crack hit us as hard as Bronx." They all agreed. "They're getting all them gangster locked up and stuff up there." Caz said. "They just got Freddie Jacobs." Drew said and everyone shook their heads. "He's a kingpin, you know he ain't coming back." PB said and we laughed.

"Them niggas be getting drugs from like overseas and ship it here easy then a bitch, it's amazing man." Drew explained and PB sighed "Good thing it ain't as bad here as it is in Bronx. But Harlem is a different story. I went up to Harlem a couple weeks ago and it looked trash. Crack messed up that whole area."

"Damn, not Harlem too." Caz said and Drew shook his head "Ain't no jazz been played in the Apollo for three years." He stated and everyone looked grim.

We got off the bus and went to the subway, the ride was a bit lighter.

My last class let out and I walked to the front to get my test back. PB looked nervous "Why are you nervous?" I asked him and he sighed "That was a hard ass test, why wouldn't I be nervous?" he stated and I laughed at him just a bit. "It's fine." I assured him and we both got our test back. I opened the blue book and saw "A+" I nodded happy, even though I was taking these classes I still felt like they weren't enough. I was still making the same grades and all that stuff, I don't know this stuff just comes easily to me.

"What did you get?" PB asked me grimly. "A." I simply said and he sighed out in defeat "How do you do this? You make A's on everything."  I smirked a little "I don't know. Once I learn something, I don't forget unless I think it's useless." I told him what my method. "But you don't even learn, you fall asleep in class." He was so perplexed. We walked out the classroom. "Not all the time." I said defending myself. He just smacked his lips "I'm jealous, your brain's storage capacity is probably higher than regular people. That's why you're a genius." He tried to deduce. "Maybe."

We saw the crew and they waved at us and by "they" I meant Draya friendly self. "Dray, you're so friendly." PB told her and she pouted at him. "Dray, you still have your Valentine's date this weekend huh?" And she beamed "Yes! With Jeremy! I cannot wait!" I smiled and PB scoffed, I think he was trying to keep it to himself but it came out. We ignored him. "I am jealous honestly." I told her "I'll take you somewhere, don't you worry Reagan." Caz said to me and I smiled at him. "Thanks Caz." We walked down the stairs to the Subway.

"Please, like she'd go with you." Drew said bursting his bubble. "Better me than you." Caz clapped back. "She'd rather go with me then you Caz. She likes me better than you." Drew teased and Caz huffed "That might be true, but she sees me in a romantic way, not platonic." Drew rolled his eyes. "Duh, we're just friends fool ass nigga." Drew said I looked at both of them admirably. "I just love when you two fight over me." I joked and Draya chimed in, "I feel bad that it's them two that fight over you. You can do better."  We both laughed.

Caz turned his attention back to me, "I'm telling you, if you gave me a chance Reagan, you'd never forget it. We'd probably end up getting married." I nodded with my eyebrows raised, "Yeah, I'll remember that." He winked at me. "Aren't y'all both trying to be doctors? A match made in heaven." PB threw out there and we laughed, "PB, we know you wish you could be a doctor, but please, continue your life of justice." Caz commented on PB career choice, PB answered, "Oh, I will. And when your dumbass messes up and gets sued for malpractice don't come running to me."

"You hear that Reagan, he said he won't help us." Caz tried to get a rise out of me. "No, Reagan won't need me. She won't mess up like you will." PB snapped at him and we all laughed at Caz's reaction.

We were on the bus and I looked at the time, I needed to get home soon so I could take my medicine. My stop was next "Reagan, I'll call you later to discuss our physics homework." PB told me and I nodded "And I'll call you later to tell you what I got Jeremy!" Draya said. "And I'll call because I just want to hear your voice." Caz teased and I hit him softly. "And I'll call just to check up on you." Drew told me and I smiled. "You're so famous girl!" Draya joked and I laughed "We'll call you too Draya." PB said sweetly as the bus stopped at my stop.

I got off and I smiled because that was cute. They were so funny. I looked at my watch and noticed it wasn't ticking and I sighed out "Batteries dead." I said to myself. I started walking back to the car. It had warmed up significantly, it was now 33 degrees and I've never been happier for 30-degree weather.

I turned the corner and lo and behold I saw Ahm and his crew there. I was shocked, it's been over a month since I saw them. I wondered what to do because this would be hella awkward. I contemplated and thought, I could walk across the street. So, I did and I continued on my way.

I got passed them before I heard "Texas!" I sighed because I'd know Scrap's voice anywhere. I breathed out and I waved at him and then I kept walking "Hell nah, that was fake, get yo ass over here." He yelled at me embarrassing my whole life.