Hampton

Chapter One

"Dom, wait up!" I heard a voice too familiar.

"What do you want Jayden?"

"Damn, what's up with your mood today?"

"Did you see the news this morning?" His face dropped.

"Yeah. It's disgusting. Can't believe another white pig got away with shooting a 14-year-old black girl."

I sighed. "Yeah well, this is America."

"Hey, it's okay." I looked at him. "We'll be kick ass lawyers one day and we'll make sure that those racist fucks get the punishments they deserve."

I couldn't help but let out a chuckle. "Yeah, maybe you will. You're like the smartest fucking person ever. You can think of the wittiest remarks right on the spot."

"Stoooop. You're just as smart. And I can help you with the public speaking. You have so much potential, why don't you see it?" He sighed.

"Because I'm surrounded by smart fucks like you." He started laughing. I couldn't help but laugh, his laugh is contagious.

"Alright, alright. I'm done with this lack of confidence. You're coming over after school and I'm gonna help you become a kick ass lawyer."

"Jay-"

"I'll meet you at your locker after the 7th period bell rings and we'll get some coffee and walk home. Okay?"

I sighed. "Okay."

"Good. Now go kick some ass in your colonization class."

"It's called United States History, Jay."

"Yeah, that's what I said."

I rolled my eyes and laughed, "you right."

"When am I not?"
"Shut up."

I was about to leave when  Jayden pulled me in for a hug. "It's gonna be okay. You're gonna be okay." He whispered. He always knew what to say. He was the only one who understood how I felt. He gave me a half-smile before he left for class.

As I walked to class, I ran into Jaida, my other best friend.

"You ready to learn more about this country's shitty past?" she asked me.

"Always. But is there a difference from the past U.S. and today's?"

"Nah dude, this country began to suck the day Columbus sailed the ocean blue in 1492."

"Man, fuck 1492."

"True. See the news?" she asked me in a pretty serious tone.

I could feel my face fall. "Yeah."

"Hey, dude we don't have to talk about it right now" she said, attempting to reassure me.

"See, that's the problem with this country. No one ever wants to talk about anything when it involves minorities. This country avoids any type of fucking conversation if it doesn't involve white kids. No one talks about the dumbass justice system that doesn't even serve justice unless you have white skin."

"Dude, it's not always the right time to talk about these things."

"What?" I said with a very confused look on my face.

"People need to grieve."

"People need to grieve? You think the Jones family had time to grieve when their little girl was murdered? No, they had to fucking start finding lawyers and working with them to try and get their little girl some justice. Yet, it still hasn't happened and it's been weeks. Maybe because all of y'all are so damn silent when shit happens to other families and not yours."