Retributed

Chapter 6

Retributed: Chapter 6

~Ivanna P.O.V.~

Sitting in Econ, I was prepared to be bored out of my mind. It wasn't that I hated school, I just didn't like sitting in a classroom where I felt like we were just told to figure out a way to learn the material on our own. That was how Econ was because my teacher was more focused on what was on her computer screen than what was actually going on in her class but today we had a substitute who was engaged in teaching us so the atmosphere was different and it wasn't nearly as boring as I was expecting it to be.

Some how we ended up getting on the topic of social status among the various parts of Oakland. East Side was considered the rich side, people who were very well off and could afford the large six bedroom homes without worry about breaking their bank and in contrast we had South Side. The true slums and struggle, people's homes were rundown as they couldn't afford to keep up with it and we were pointing out key differences aside from money that put these two sides at opposite ends of the spectrum.

The kid who sat next to me was one of the kids directly from South Side, it was safe to say I had an interest of curiosity for him. Maybe it was the way he talked, the way he dressed or the way he carried himself but it was thuggish-vibes that came from him. He may not have gang ties that I know of but he looked like someone I could see walking around Dad's trap strapped and with a red bandana around his nose and mouth- then again, just about any guy could put on a bandana and walk around that trap not sticking out like a sore thumb.

He was cute in the sense that he has a nice smile, not freakishly tall like my brothers but he looked to be about five eight when he was standing. I'd only just noticed him about a month ago when our seats were changed and we ended up next to each other in the back of the class. We've only talked a couple times and even then it was just to ask what page to turn to or if there was homework due. Today was different as we were told to come up with differences between those sides of town so we scooted our desks right next to each other and were trying to brain storm.

"So what else besides money and poverty?" I asked when I looked down at our sad list, trying to avoid looking up at him because I know I'll end up doing a weird smile that I can't help. This is when I need Natalia here because she's like Uncle Varo and knows how to break any kind of ice smoothly and naturally.

'Well what's good over on East Side?" He asked me in a kind of stand offish tone like as if he was assuming I was actually from that side of town.

"I don't know, I'm not from that side." I shot back a little coldly at him. "Was born and grew up in West Side." There was a pause but I continued looking down at the paper, I'm sure I had an annoyed look on my face to match the tone of my voice.

"Oh for real?" I nodded. "Don't look like it, if anythin' you look like one of them spoiled girls. My bad, I thought otherwise."

"Far from spoiled but I know crime down in South Side is probably high huh?" Shifting the conversation back to the assignment so we don't get off track.

"What makes you think that?" Because Dad tells me all about it and why he doesn't want us kids down there trying to sell anything or pick up money unless we go with one of the Uncles or the twins... but even then we're still warned not to go there.

"I figured if poverty is higher, so would crime rate. Its not unheard of for people to shoot each other for a gold chain around ones neck." I said which got him to laugh and I finally looked up at him. "That funny?"

"Yeah that's funny but we joke around and say as a baby your lullaby was gun shots. You fell asleep hearin' niggas yell what they rep and then bang, gun shots and eventually sirens." That isn't anything new to my ears, Uncle Varo gave us the run down long ago. "What you know about people shootin' each other for a chain though?"