Fast Life by Cassandra Carter

you want me to holla at you. You want me to come over to your house and tutor you on all kinds of stuff.” Justin moved in so close to Kyra’s face she could feel his breath on her lips as he spoke. The way he looked in her eyes, it was if he was trying to seduce her. It was working.
    â€œUgh! Bye!”
    She threw away her garbage and headed for the school building. As she neared the school doors, her path was blocked. Kyra sized up each of the three girls in front of her.
    Kyra assumed the girl who stood front and center was the leader of the clique by her in-your-face stance. She was tall and thin but had a large bust. Her silky jet-black hair was long and curled at the tips. Her lips were thick and full, and her cheekbones, as well as the rest of her facial features, were well defined. She had long, curly eyelashes, and her jealous eyes were a pure shade of brown. The girl was beautiful, but Kyra would never admit that to anyone.
    â€œWho do you think you are?” the leader said in a voice loaded with attitude.
    â€œExcuse me? I dunno who you think you are, but you need to move up out my way and you need to do it now.” Kyra was quick to shoot back a similar attitude almost instinctively. She was never one to run from a confrontation.
    â€œObviously you don’t know who we are. This is my friend Nicole,” she said, pointing to the mixed-looking girl, “and this is Bridgette.” She pointed to the girl with too much makeup. “And me, I’m Veronica,” she introduced herself, placing her hand on her chest.
    â€œOkay…so what’s your point?”
    â€œMy point is that me and my girls run this school. So don’t think that you’re about to come down here regulating shit, because you’re not. You’re nothing but a newbie, and you need to keep in line, because if you step out you will get dealt with and it won’t be pretty.” Veronica bravely stepped into Kyra’s face as she made her threat. In truth, she was all talk and no action, but to protect her status and image she made sure to pretend otherwise. It worked on her other peers, but Kyra wasn’t having it.
    â€œHold up. First off, I dunno who the fuck you’re threatenin’. Second off, this school you runnin’ ain’t nothing’ to be proud of, and if I wanted to, I could run this in a day. Yeah I’m a newbie, but don’t you ever come over here with some bullshit like this, ’cause others up in here may be scared of y’all, but I’m not. Don’t even jump stupid with me. You don’t know me. So now if you will excuse me…” Kyra growled back, attempting to pass the girls when Veronica stopped her with a shove to the shoulder.
    â€œBitch, who do you think you’re talking to?”
    â€œYou and your punk-ass crew. And don’t touch me again if you want to have that hand still attached to your skinny little body.”
    â€œWe should whoop your ass right now for everyone to see.”
    â€œTrick, I wish you would even flinch at me.” She moved so close to Veronica they could’ve kissed. She meant every word.
    â€œHa! Please. It’s three against one. You don’t want none. Face it, you don’t want drama. Just keep your place and keep your distance from my man.” Veronica backed up and placed her hand on her hip. Kyra’s being so close to her made her uncomfortable.
    â€œAnd who the fuck is desperate enough to go out with you?” Kyra scoffed.
    â€œJustin Hartwell. Don’t act like you don’t know who he is. You were just over there with him. I saw you.” Just then it clicked for Kyra. This was the same Veronica mentioned at lunch.
    â€œWhat the…? I should slap you just for sayin’ some dumb shit like that. Let me lay it out for you: I don’t like him. You can have him.”
    â€œOh, don’t worry, I’ve already got him. And keep your ass away from