Fast Life by Cassandra Carter Page A

Michael, too. My girl Nicole is with him.” Veronica snottily nodded back to her friend.
    â€œWatch your mouth. I hate to do it, but I will beat all y’all on my first day of school.”
    Kyra was about to swing on Veronica when Quentin and Angel showed up and stepped between the girls to avoid the conflict.
    â€œDon’t start any stuff with her. You know she’s new, Veronica. You’re not even with Justin anymore, so you need to let it go,” Angel said.
    â€œLittle girl, don’t come over here trying to speak to me on some shit you don’t even know about. Just let your little friend know she needs to watch her back as well as her mouth,” Veronica threatened as she and her crew continued to walk toward the building. The bell rang, and the rowdy crowd began to file back into school.
    â€œI’m glad we have an understanding!” Bridgette yelled from the doors. She wanted to make sure Kyra heard her.
    â€œOoo, I’m gonna beat her ass!” Kyra raged through clenched teeth. Bridgette giggled before she disappeared inside. She had elicited just the reaction she had been seeking.
    â€œDon’t pay them any mind. Just don’t play into their games. They do it to everyone on their first day, and Veronica definitely does it to anyone she even sees within a few feet of Justin,” Angel said.
    â€œYeah, she still claims him, even though they’ve been over. Don’t even worry about it,” Quentin said.
    â€œBut she’s disrespectin’ me, bottom line. I ain’t no ho, and I sure ain’t quick to back down. If she wants some, she can come get some.”
    â€œDon’t fight her, Kyra. She’s not even worth the trouble. She thinks that just because her family has money that makes her better than everyone else, and it doesn’t.”
    â€œDid I miss something?” Michael walked up slowly, zipping his pants.
    â€œMike, man, where were you?” Quentin asked, noticing his friend’s unzipped khakis. Quentin quickly excused himself from the company of the females to hear another one of his friend’s scandalous tales of sexual conquest.
    â€œAre you all right?” Angel turned her concerned look back to her new friend.
    â€œYeah, I’m fine. They’re nothin’, like you said.”
    â€œOkay, good. Let’s get back in before we’re late.” Angel sighed and flashed a reassuring smile before they rushed back inside.
    For the rest of the day, Kyra half listened to the lessons. She could see Justin frequently looking over at her, but she would only glare back, and he would look away.

CHAPTER 7
    T he final bell of the day hadn’t even finished ringing before Kyra was out the door. She brushed by the crowd into the sun and its suffocating heat to start her brisk walk home up the tree-lined lane. She had reached the middle of the path when she felt someone clutching her elbow. She spun around with her eyes narrowed, expecting a fight.
    â€œAre you okay?”
    â€œDo I seem okay? Go on somewhere. You’re causin’ more trouble than you’re worth,” Kyra snapped at Justin.
    â€œVeronica is nothing to trip off of, trust me. She’s just too red eye of you. That’s all.”
    â€œRed eye?” Kyra asked.
    â€œOh, my bad. Red eye means she’s jealous of you.”
    Just then, Richard, Veronica and her girls sped by in her car. Kyra heard the music blare, and the car stirred up dust in the air as they rolled past. She bent down quickly and picked up a large rock to pitch, but Justin’s hand grabbed hers. He slowly brought her hand toward the ground and let the rock fall. His hand replaced the hard mass as he locked eyes with her.
    â€œLet me go.” Kyra snatched her hand away and continued to walk. Justin kept up with her.
    â€œSo…wasn’t that that one boy from our class in the car with her?” Kyra asked after walking a few steps. Once her