Chapter One: Fresh Out

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The heat hit me soon as I step out the car. It's that thick, sticky summer heat that make you sweat in places you ain't even know could sweat. The air too fresh, the sky too blue, like the world don't know I just spent almost a year locked up.

Mom's standing by the Benz, watching me like I'm a wild animal that might bite. She always do too much.

"Jordan, sweetheart, are you ready?" Her voice all soft, like she don't wanna set me off.

I roll my eyes. "I been ready."

I yank my duffel from the trunk and slam it shut. She flinches. I pretend I don't see.

The mansion still the same. Big-ass white house, long-ass driveway, too many windows. We rich as hell, but it don't mean shit. Money don't fix nothing. My room untouched, like she been waitin' on me to come back, but it feel smaller now.

I drop my bag and flop onto the bed. Mom hovers in the doorway.

"I know this is... an adjustment," she says.

"Mm-hm."

"I just want you to know I'm here, okay?"

I turn my head and glare at her. "Yeah? Where was you when they locked me up?"

Her face tighten. "Jordan, I tried—"

"Nah. You threw money at it and hoped it'd go away."

She opens her mouth, then closes it. I ain't wrong.

I sit up, rubbing my temple. "Look, I ain't tryna do this right now."

She sighs. "Dinner's at seven."

Then she gone.

First Day, New School, Same Bullshit

New school. Same fake-ass people. Same whispers.

I walk through the front doors, and the energy shift. People staring. Whispering.

I ain't dressed like the other girls. My uniform got "special permission"—black slacks instead of that ugly plaid skirt, my white button-up untucked, blazer hanging off my shoulders like I don't care. 'Cause I don't.

A group of girls near the lockers start whispering—probably tryna figure out if the rumors true. I smirk, let 'em wonder.

I don't do friends, but this dude don't get the memo.

"You the new girl?"

I turn. Tall, dark-skinned dude with thick twists, gold chain glinting under the hallway lights. He lean against the lockers like he own 'em, grinning.

"And if I am?"

He chuckles. "Then you need a tour guide."

I snort. "I'm good."

"Nah, you not. This school bougie as hell. You need somebody who know the ropes. I'm Matthew."

I squint at him. "And you wanna help me outta the kindness of your heart?"

He laughs. "Nah, I just think you look like you got hands. And I like people with hands."

I smirk. "You got a good eye."

And just like that, I got my first friend.

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Chapter One: Fresh Out (Part 2)

Me and Matthew barely make it halfway down the hallway before some dude calls out.

"Yo, Matt, you ain't gonna introduce me to your lil' boyfriend?"

I stop walking. Matthew tenses beside me. I turn my head slow, locking eyes with some tall-ass white boy in a letterman jacket, grinning like he own the place. I don't gotta ask who he is.

Kaleb. Quarterback. Big deal. The type that gets away with everything 'cause he can throw a ball.

Matthew keeps walking like he don't hear him, but Kaleb steps right in front of us, blocking the way. "Damn, you the new girl?" He scans me up and down, his smirk widening. "Thought you was somebody's lil' brother."

Matthew mutters, "Ignore him."

But Kaleb ain't done. He leans in, fake-whispering to Matthew, loud enough for everybody to hear. "This your girl, bro? Or is she—"

I don't let him finish.

My hand shoot up and shove him back. Not hard, just enough to make him stumble. Enough to let him know I ain't the one.

Kaleb blinks, like he ain't expect that. "The hell—?"

"You in my way," I say, voice calm, cold.

The hallway dead silent. Everybody watching.

Kaleb squares up like he thinking about doing something. I raise an eyebrow, daring him. He don't move.

Smart choice.

"Yeah, aight," he mutters, brushing past us, but I see the way his jaw tightens. This ain't over.

Matthew lets out a breath. "You ain't have to do that."

I smirk. "Yeah, I did."

We start walking again, but then—

"The fuck you think you doing to my man?"

I turn.

Maiesha.

Cheerleader. Queen Bee. The type that thinks she run the school just 'cause she cute. She got her arms crossed, nails tapping against her arm, looking me up and down like I'm dirt.

I exhale, already tired. "Girl, go sit down somewhere."

She steps closer. "Nah, see, I don't play about mine. You think 'cause you fresh out juvie you scare somebody?"

I tilt my head. "You scared?"

She scoffs. "I should slap the—"

I step up to her real slow, closing the space between us. She shut up real quick.

"You should," I say, voice low. "But you won't."

Maiesha swallows, but she don't back down. "I ain't done with you."

I smirk. "Good. I like a challenge."

Then I walk away, leaving her standing there, fuming.

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Chapter One: Fresh Out (Part 3)

By the time lunch roll around, the whole school buzzing. People whispering, stealing glances at me like I'm some kinda zoo animal. Word travels fast, and apparently, "New Girl Who Beat Up Kaleb and Checked Maiesha" is the hottest topic.

Matthew and me find a spot in the cafeteria, far from the preppy tables. I drop my tray and lean back in my seat, stretching my legs out.

"You good?" he asks, watching me.

I smirk. "Why wouldn't I be?"

He shakes his head. "Man, you different."

"I been hearing that my whole life." I pop a fry in my mouth, chewing slow.

Matthew laughs under his breath. "I ain't gon' lie. Ain't nobody ever stood up for me like that."

I glance at him. "Kaleb been messing with you for a minute, huh?"

"Since freshman year." He shrugs, playing with the wrapper on his juice box. "Dude act like he own the school. Teachers don't do shit 'cause he the 'golden boy.'"

I scoff. "He golden till somebody knock the shine off him."

Matthew grins. "That's exactly what you did."

I smirk but don't say nothing.

"Yo, new girl!"

I look up. Some random dude from the basketball team slides into the seat across from me. Another one joins him, followed by a couple more. They all watching me with that damn, she really crazy look.

The first dude leans forward. "You really jumped Kaleb first period?"

I grab my drink, twisting the cap slow. "That's what they saying?"

"Man, they saying you almost killed him!"

I chuckle, shaking my head. "See, that's how rumors start."

"Kaleb pissed, bruh," another dude chimes in. "He talking 'bout getting you back."

I sip my drink. "Let him try."

The table erupts in laughter. Somebody slaps my shoulder like we cool.

Matthew side-eyes me. "You really don't care, do you?"

"Not even a little."

And I don't. Ain't nobody at this school gon' scare me.

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After lunch, I duck out to the back of the school. Too many people, too much noise. I need a break.

I lean against the wall, pull out a cigarette, and light up. The first inhale hits my lungs, and I let the smoke curl out slow.

"Figures you'd be back here."

I glance to the side.

Josie.

I seen her in class earlier. Light-skinned, curly hair, kinda short but got this don't-fuck-with-me energy. She got her arms crossed, watching me with a look I can't read.

I exhale. "You lost?"

She smirks. "Nah. Just wondering if you always this reckless or if today special."

I take another drag, my eyes never leaving hers. "Reckless? Girl, I ain't even get started yet."

She tilts her head like she studying me. "You know Kaleb gon' come for you, right?"

"I'd be disappointed if he didn't."

Josie laughs under her breath. "You got issues."

"Tell me something I don't know."

She shakes her head, still smirking, then turns to leave. But before she go, she glances back. "Try not to get expelled before the week's over."

No promises.

I take another slow drag, watching her disappear down the hall.

Damn.

She fine.

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