Page 48 of Stay Dangerous

Where the hell am I?

I leaned over to Porscha’s ear, as the guy was whispering in her other one.

“Where these niggas from?” I whispered high enough over the music, but low enough the guy couldn’t hear.

Porscha’s eyebrows dented before she whispered, “Tree something, I think. They’re bloods though, for sure.”

I nodded, combing my bottom lip with my teeth as my heart dropped to my ass.

Rico kept me out of his gang shit, but that didn’t mean it didn’t spill over to social media.

As more and more local groups and rappers gained traction, different gangs began to make their own versions of popular songs, bragging on their own or dissing others.

Tree something or another were definitely bloods.

Anddefinitelybeefing with the Birch Babies.

I suddenly couldn’t breathe. Porscha wasn’t paying attention to me, the boy in the chair easing his hand up her skirt. I got up and started making my way to the door.

A guy stepped in front of me and bumped into me. His hands went to my arms, but I couldn’t see his face since he had his hoodie up.

Until he lifted his face enough.

His permanent scowl twitched just a little, as he stared into my soul.

Peanut scared the absolute shit out of me. It was all in his eyes.

Thick black hair he’d let grow until he got it cut to a buzz. Red pimples dotted his forehead and cheeks, like he couldn’t help but pop them. He was extra pale then, even though it was summer, like he didn’t like being in the sun. And everyone who knew him that I knew loved him.

But his eyes told me everything I needed to know. And the way he looked at me when he realized who I was, and his hands dropped from my arms like I had the cooties, I knew he was just as crazy as I thought, as my mind recognized.

His gaze shifted behind me right before I turned to get away from him, but then I was stopped again.

There, in front of me, in a matching black hoodie, was my Rico.

His eyes were partially covered by his hoodie, but I knew it was him by the cologne that wafted from him. He was the only boy I knew who didn’t bother with body spray. He always wore cologne.

He leaned in, letting his lips graze my ear. “Go wait outside, Snow.”

“But–”

“Snow.”

I eyed Porscha, who was now staring daggers at me, even through the sea of people, never mind the guy sucking on her neck. I gestured for her to come with me outside, and only moved when I saw her get out of the guy’s lap.

Peanut shoulder checked me as I walked out of the house, but I didn’t dare say anything about it. Something was very wrong, and I was thanking my lucky stars that, if I needed to run, I didn’t bring anything I absolutely loved in my sleepover bag.

“What’s going on, Wyn?” Porscha asked as she walked up to me on the lawn.

I whirled on her, palming my forehead with both hands. “Porscha, why didn’t you tell me we were gonna be in the Tree Streets?! I know you’ve seen all the bullshit online!”

Porscha looked around like I was tripping, before grabbing my wrist hard and pulling me away from the door.

“First off, please stop acting like you’re Miss Project Bitch because you know them. My cousin said them niggas are busters, anyway, and them twins are fags.”

I got in her face, even though I hadn’t fought a day in my life. “You and your slow ass cousin don’t know shit. You’re tripping, and we need to leave.Now.”

Porscha pushed me out of her face and stomped away, back into the house. My feet wanted to follow her, but as soon as I took a step toward her, Rico strolled out, heading toward me.