Summer Before Fame

Chapter 2 "Cornerstore walks, Barbershop talks"

"Shit. Happy and successful. I wanna be a rapper. I just need a chance to prove myself worthy of getting a spot in dis rap game. I wanna see my grandma face once she sees I made it. I wanna be able to buy her a nice house in a gated neighborhood. Be able to touch money while sleeping...to be never broke again." Kentrell smiled to himself thinking of his dream.

Yara admired him and his aspirations. She saw something in Kentrell, she didn't know what it was, but she felt confident that all his dreams would one day come true, wholeheartedly.

"Whatchu wanna be when you grow up?" Kentrell asked Yara turning to face her

"I wanna be successful. Start my own business. I've always loved clothes and fashion, maybe something towards that angle. I really just want to provide a better lifestyle for my grandma, the Lord know she deserves it. Once that happens, I'll be happy just knowing that I can put a smile on her face." Yara said as she smiled to herself

Kentrell admired Yara. One think he liked about her was her love for others. She was so selfless and caring. He never had someone with those traits in his life besides his grandma, so Yara was pulling out the good traits in him without her even knowing it.

"Shit we gon be be rich together!" Kentrell smiled dapping up Yara.

"Fasho, we gon be touching money... never broke again!" Yara said as they both started laughing

"Look at yo lil ass starting to talk like me. Lil mini me." Kentrell said holding the door open to the store for her

"Boy you wish. If anything I definitely am a mini you cus my head ain't as big as the one that sitting on yo neck." Yara said while bust out laughing

Kentrell was quick to throw a bag of chips at her head. Yara just shook her head while she continued to laugh.

"Whatchu want?" Kentrell asked while skimming through the aisles

"Umm, lemme get some skittles, hot fries and a brisk." Yara said

Kentrell nodded going to get her stuff in the next aisle. The door to the store opened making Yara glance to the entrance. A light skin boy walked in with a short taper cut fade. He had on a white tee with some baggy jeans and white air forces.

"Aye wassup wit the AC in here mane? Hot as da fuck." He said loudly to the owner

Kentrell appeared handing Yara her stuff while looking up at the sound of the voice.

"Mane 3three wassup my nigga." Kentrell said while dapping up the light skin boy

"Wassam Trell what you on?" 3three replied

"Mane nun, rey go to barbershop wit Yara." Kentrell said nodding his head at Yara

3three said wassup to Yara and she said hey back.

"Y'all heading to the shop? Mane I'm was on my way over there cus the gang there too." 3three said

"Fasho, lemme just pay fa this right quick." Kentrell said walking up to the counter

Kentrell payed for him and Yara's items and the three kids walked out the store in the blazing Louisiana heat walking in the barbershops' direction. Once they got to the shop it was packed. Yara didn't know any of these people who Kentrell seemed acquainted with and she felt awkward and out of place. Kentrell took notice of that and introduced her to the gang, which Yara learned their names as 3three, Ben10, Kd, Boomer.  Yara looked to her left and saw Kendell, Kentrell's little brother and said hey. He was the only one she knew besides Kentrell.

Kentrell sat down in his chair as his barber started getting to work.

"So Yara, how you meet Kentrell dent headed ass?" Ben asked Yara

Yara laughed. "His grandmother lives two houses down from my grandma's house. And his 'dent headed ass' gave me a warm welcoming by pushing me down on the sidewalk." Yara said as the gang started laughing

"Aight you doing too much now cus I only sprayed you wit some water, not my fault yo lil ass got mad and ended up getting pushed" Kentrell said in his seat grinning at Yara

"Smcht, Kentrell let's not act like I didn't spray you back and Ms. Alice didn't backhand slap you on the side of ya face, leaving you standing there like you ain't have no home." Yara said causing the whole gang to laugh again except Kentrell.

"Maneee, I fuck wit her. She funny as hell." Kd said laughing causing Kentrell to mug him.

"Mane whatever." Kentrell said sitting back deeper in his seat wit his arms crossed.

"Oop, get rid of that frown Kentrell, if you keep on stressing that frown line anymore deeper on your forehead, you might just get some more dents." Yara said

The whole gang busted out laughing, even the barber cutting Kentrell's hair. The rest of the time at the shop just consisted of the kids laughing and joking around. The gang grew accustomed to Yara and took a liking to her. Yara liked this new friend group that she had. Each visit to Louisiana always put a smile on her face.

———————————————————————————

This chapter was kind of short. But it shows how they confide in one another which led to their friendship. Holding things in feels good for the moment, but not for longevity. 💞

Don't forget to comment and vote!