DOWN BY LAW // WHEN THEY SEE US *DISCONTINUED*

Chapter 6

Make Friends.

Make Enemies.

They'll act on their unhappiness.

They use you to their advantage.

Rose Smith

"We saw y'all trial on tv! Girl you looked' like a star"

"They did y'all dirty"

"We know y'all didn't do it, just like we ain't do it," the girl in the blue shirt clapped while we ducked our head low. The trial drained all of our energy. Falsifying a image in the eyes of the public. They made us look like enemies, they wanted our community to tear down itself.

"Girl it's been a hour, you already writing Korey?" I joked hitting Lyric's notebook. Her eyes ain't sparkle no more, she hasn't uttered a word to her sister & it's only the first day.

"Look-talk to me girl, we in this together," I hugged her with my bright orange shirt. We start off at orange, and when we get to blue shirts, we get more freedom and they increase our time in Juvie if we're older so we don't have to go to prison or jail really quick.

"We shouldn't be here, we ain't do this, now look," she pointed around, "all because we went to some damn park," I could tell breakfast wasn't going to be easy. And everyone looking at us, they knew who we were.

Everyone knew who we were.

"What the fuck is this?! A bagel?" Dmirikel yelled sitting down at the green table.

"Bitch no, issa croissant," Megan laughed, we all didn't say anything, she hasn't said a word to us for about 3 months. Nor has Monica and now they sitting with us.

"Y'all sitting at my table, get up," the stud looked at us, she thought this was a joke. It's 5 open tables so couldn't she just go to the next.

"I'm sorry we'll move-" Monica picked up her tray and I pulled her back down, "we ain't moving, it's other places you can go, bye bitch," I dismissed her, while she continued standing there.

"Girl, leave dem' lil' kids alone," the big Mexican girl came over, giving us all a handshake, "we all saw ya' trials, I'm Big Red, we here to welcome y'all. You could trust me easy, I run this place," she pointed at her blue shirt, "if anything happens, come to me," she went back to go sit down.

I buried my face into my hands while Lyric demolished her food. The first girl blew a kiss at Dmirikel. Me and Lyric's mouth dropped. While I sized up our potential threat. Like 5'7 even, toned body, it was obvious she worked out. Dark brown fade on the sides while her curly hair stayed at the top. She was mixed with something and black. She wasn't African American. She wasn't just black. She wasn't Asian. She had to be from somewhere else.

"Whose that?" I whispered while we all looked at each other, thinking, "She looks like a Brianna"

"Nah she got a ghetto name I bet, I think it's Shonda," Monica laughed whispering, "bitch ain't that a car?"

"It's Chevy, you dummy," Lyric rolled her eyes, "her name Tasha, I bet my milk carton on it"

"Her names Trina, I suggest you stay away from her," the other girl leaned in from the table next from us, "I heard she almost killed like 2 people, the bitch is nuts like a squirrel" We all nodded at the girl, we probably just spoke too loud, but thanks for the heads up.

"Stop talking!" The guard slammed his night stick on the table causing me to glare at him.

"Excuse me sir, you did not have to do that," I blinked my eyes at him, he looked like he'd just cause us some trouble. Like he'd have a problem with us.

"Chill on the new girls Dave," Big Red said while he continued glaring at me in my face, "they not even the loudest people in here, you just picking on them"

Everyone's attention focused on us. Getting in an argument with a guard on the first day.

That's badass, they knew we were problem children, but we didn't even start half of the problems we had.

"Mom just put $150 on my commissary," Lyric whispered to us while Dmirikel smiled, "she put $200 on mines," Dmirikel stuck out her tongue, "don't worry big sis, I'll give you $25 so it'll be even"

"Did y'all get commissary money?" I raised my eyebrow, my mom had put $300 on mines for 6 months, that was more than enough. A pimp gon' be eating good noodles everyday. And I could buy some braiding hair and do my hair in two braids.

And I could take out them damn faux locs from Lyric's head, it's been a while since she had some other hairstyle.

"I got $500, but I'll get y'all whatever y'all need," Monica smiled, the gang was back together. I felt deflated. Everything seemed so surreal.

"My dad gave me a $1000," Megan mumbled while I made a sour face, $1000? Her dad wasn't really there but I guess it's the thought that counts.

"I'm giving each of y'all a $100, it's the least I can do, I'm the main reason we in here," she started tearing up while we all rubbed her back, "Don't think like that girl, it's not your fault," no one was to blame. It wasn't any of our faults, but we take the blame.

Black people always take the blame.

Lyric Jackson

The courtyard looked nice, nicer than I thought it would be, I thought we'd be in old ass creepy building. Where the light didn't shine, but it did.

Korey needed money, I knew his mom didn't have it. I'll give him $100, Rose was already giving Yusef some money, but he didn't need it. They were all in Juvie, but they put my poor baby in prison.

My little baby. He couldn't even function well in school, how come he had to go to prison. Dmirikel wasn't as worried as I was which was a relief, my little sister didn't need to stress herself out.

She was worried about Raymond, but the weird thing was. Antron, Kevin, Yusef, and Raymond had each other.

Korey had nobody.

And I left him, I feel like I've lost him forever.

Please be safe Korey.

"Lovestruck? Homesick?" Big Red sat besides me, she didn't seem like a bother, it was her friend we needed to distance ourselves from.

"A mix of both," Big Red frowned, clicking her tongue, I've been trying to figure out whether I could trust her or not, but right about now, she seemed like the coolest person here besides my group.

"I know what that's like, I got a son at home, my moms taking care of him, but I hate being away from, I'm tryna do better but the system ain't helping," she said. I looked at the clouds. I know he wouldn't just give up, no matter what happens, he'll be fine.

Flashbacks of his face started popping up in my mind.

Why didn't I cherish the time I had with you?

Why didn't I love every piece you gave me?

If I hugged you longer maybe that honey smell would last on me forever. If I kissed you longer maybe that would have stopped your worrying. If I would've gotten him from school and been late everyday, it would've been worth it.

I wish I could tell you how I feel Korey.

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A/N: Kind Of boring. Kind of sad. I took a nap but I'm feeling better.

Ideas?