THE BLOCK

Them Kicks 👟👟

Brandon's Point Of View.

I look down at my fresh Jay's. I lick my thumb to wipe off a mark on them. I watch Fuck Shit and Ray skate around on their boards while Jamal and Jib practice dunking into the hoop. Flaco took me to Oakland yesterday after everything happened between Lark and I. I didn't even see her at school today.

"Aye, Brandon you wanna shoot some hoops?" Jib questions throwing the ball over to Jamal, who misses it completely making it hit his chest.

"Nah, I don't want to get my Jays all messed up"

"That's what their for. The dudes a basketball player"

"He shoots hops for a living" Jamal stresses as I watch two girls slowly approach Ray while whispering something to each other.

"Fuck, shit that was dope" Fuck Shit yells over to Ray who did a kick flip off some stairs.

I continue to sip Jib's concoction of Red Bull and Vodka in a red cup. I wipe some of my lips watching the girls as they make their way to Ray.

"Who's your friend with the hair?" One of the girls question Ray.

"Who? Fuck Shit?"

"No, not Fuck Shit" she replies.

"Oh, B, he got a girlfriend but you can get at him" Ray tells her. I take another swig from the drink when the girl approaches me.

"Hey"

"Hi" I respond.

"Ray said you had a girlfriend but I still wanted to come over here and talk to you"

"Well we kind of broke up"

"Even better" she comments as she looks down at my drink. "Can I get some?"

I hand the cup over to her and watch her sip it.

"A couple of us want to hangout and maybe watch a movie at number nine on Grove Street tonight at seven, you should come"

"Yeah, can I get my drink back though?"

I hold out my arm, but she holds it away.

"Promise your coming first"

"I promise" I state when I see Lark approaching Jamal and Jib with Chloe, Diggy and Lay.

"Pinky swear" she responds holding out her pinky finger so I wrap my smallest finger around it. I watch as she kisses he hand and raises an eyebrow for me to do the same, so I do.

"I promise" I repeat as she hands me the drink back.

"See you later then" I nod before she smirks, turning around passing Lark. I watch as they give each other a mean look before she goes over to her friend, they both say bye to Ray before linking arms and leaving.

I smile looking down at my feet. I look up again to see Lark starring at me, we make eye contact for a moment or two before she gets distracted by Fuck Shit, who puts her in a headlock, fucking around as usual.

"Yo" Jamal calls to me as the ball dribbles over to where I'm sitting. I climb off the bench to grab it as Jamal jogs over, so I throw the ball to him.

"You not gonna say hi to Lark?"

"I told you, we broke up" I repeat to Jamal, who probably wasn't listening the first time or thinks we're playing.

"Oh, y'all serious?"

"Yes" I stress "And if she wants to talk, she can come over here"

"You're so petty" Jamal confirms, turning around to play basketball.