SAY NO

Chapter 1

Sirens echo outside of the house again.  Aeren's  mother opens the door before they knock. Another crime had broke out as usual. "You can check the house officer" she says in a tired tone. The officers looked so surprised she let them, an expression she saw from every new pair. his siblings do their usual routine and didn't seem bothered by them at all. "This is ridiculous, so, so ghetto" he whispers. This was not the first, and wont be the last time this happens. "I'm going out mom" Aeren says. He was secretly going out to the girl he couldn't say no to. He makes it to the park, she was waiting on the swing. She see's him and smiles at him showing up. "I thought you said you weren't going to show up." He sat on the next swing and sighed to himself more than her. "How can I when my house situation is a mess?" She felt sympathetic, she has known him since 5th grade, this might've been going on all his life. "How about you come over with me and the friends?" Aeren looked over at her, he stopped swinging to meet her pace. His feet kicked against the dirt making his shoes dirty. " 'Me and the friends' you mean those guys?" Ray huffed and crosses her arms. "They aren't what you describe...what is that word?" Aeren rolls his eyes knowing he had to finish it for her, "Ghetto." She smirked and quickly holds onto the swing almost falling off. "Yes, that. The boys aren't so bad, I promise." He stops his swing completely and stands up. "You should hang around more women in your school." Aeren faces her, she had a frown on her face. "Not tryna be rude but, a lot of men can be dangerous." Aeren watches Ray and begins to stand up also. "That's why you are here, I wont be alone. I only hang around those guys unless I have you." He tensed up, she shouldn't depend on him. "Ray, i'm serious, those women might've been mean but only mean. It's much better than hanging around of guys." Ray places her hand around her hips. "You just would give people the wrong idea. One girl and a band of men, people would think..." Ray stops him before he could finish what she knew he'd say. "None of us think like that, I think you should give them a chance." He sighs and looks away from Ray, not wanting to give them a chance. "Black hoodies, balaclava's over their faces, really?" Ray sighs, she thought he was always so quick to judge. Aeren knew everyone didn't call them by the fancy name he just called them. "skee masks" was the name everyone else used in the hood.  Ray starts to walk looking behind herself. "Are you coming or not Aeren?" He follows, only for Ray's safety of course. As they walk  he heard more and more gunshots. The neighborhood's gotten darker and darker until it can be finally be called a real hood. "Ray, you don't even live this far into the city." She ignores him and continues walking until they make it inside a house. He saw the boys already settled and playing games. He looked over seeing a substance in their hands. "Is that a cigar?" he whispers to Ray. She waves her hand dismissively at it.  She then plops herself to watch TV with them all. Aeren uncomfortably stands up behind the couch. He knew they were too young to have alcoholic beverages and any sorts of substance. She giggled and watched as men talked about things not in their age group nor in a young women's category. He sighs about to head out, but he can't without Ray. He takes her hand and starts to walk out. She follows him before stopping. "You hadn't even said a word to any of them!" He turns back to her and tenses. "You haven't either, can't we just hang out somewhere else? I don't like smelling smoke and alcohol every second of the day." She refused to oblige, he then started to walk home. When he gotten home a gun  shot goes through the air. It went through his window.  A vein formed on the side of his head.  He punches the shooter until he was satisfied. He also made sure that the window had gotten fixed. He sits down on the couch and sighs. "Why do you smell like that? Don't tell me you're becoming like those bad kids!" He turns to his mother and shakes his head. "Ray just dragged me into some weird crap and I dipped." His mother sighed relieved, his siblings already in bed. "You get some sleep, school is in the morning for you." Aeren nods and heads upstairs. The mother frowns, he was already becoming too serious like his father. The door opens, it was the man of the house. He kisses his wife on the forehead and hangs up his coat. "How is the kids doing love?" She sits down on the couch with him. "They're all fine, Aeren made sure of it. He just seems... tired of living in this condition." The father frowns and rubs her shoulder. "He knows we can't afford anything else right now." The mother sobs into her husbands arms, he quiets her.  Aeren pulls a pillow over his head. He wasn't bothered by the sound of the kids not being asleep. He can't stand to hear the sound of his mother crying, he should be the one crying. They could afford a better house just choose not to. That's why he is saving up for enough to move out. His parents will definitely kick him out when he's eighteen. In the morning he had to take his siblings to school. He avoids all dark places and alley ways, it felt like a fight for survival. Never make eye contact with anyone, always stay far away from people, especially someone in black. He drops his siblings off , he watches them walk inside the runt down school. He sighs and walks to school himself. He started jogging before running fast. He makes it inside, a variety of people talking amongst himself. Aeren puts in headphones to zone out all the sound. It worked, but didn't prevent people from avoiding him, especially Ray. She walks up to him with the band of boys. She seemed to have forgot last night. The men try to give him a handshake, he gives them a handshake so no problems erupt. "I knew you'd come around Aeren" Ray remarks. He thought if he out on his headphones then it would all go away. Unfortunately, the background noise is gone saving that her voice wasn't. He should've learned a lesson from fifth grade that he could never escape from her grasp. He sighs before following the group as always, forced to go. He had no place in home nor in the school. He studies while skipping class, while the rest of the men chatted and talked about the next girl. "Yea, I saw this cute girl just down the street, I think he's interested." All of the young men agreed as if she'd take them all on at once. The problem being; she would let them all date her at once. That's why women in the streets are called 'for the streets'. They are for the streets though, the saying aint' lyin'. "What about you Aeren, found a pretty girl yet?" He shakes his head and pulls down the headphone from one ear to talk without yelling. "No, I'm not interested in that type of stuff, I'm stuff worried about education and getting a job." The men looked at eachother then at him. Ray knew he made no effort at all, she rolls her eyes and crosses her arms. "What about Ray? You both seem really close!" That comment from the other guy didn't help neither. Key words here were 'seem' because they weren't as close anymore. At least he wasn't as close to her as she was to him. They used to be locked around the ankles until she decided to bring these fools into their life. He hadn't thought about the concept of love either. Love gets in the way of his future as a business men, or to take over his company. He gets up and doesn't hear Ray's protest although she yells out to him. He makes his way inside class, he didn't have much problem catching up. "Hey Ray," one of the young men says. "I think you should stop hanging around us, it is really ruining your relationship with Aeren." All of the younger men nod in agreement. Her heart softened at how considerate they all were, they seemed rough but really weren't. Ray hoped that Aeren could see that, but he saw too much ghetto to think any different of anyone else he's seen. She runs downstairs and sits next to him in class. "Look who decided to join us finally" the teacher says. After school Ray walks with Aeren to pick up his little sisters. She walked without a care in the world. She glanced at at least five men who hand guns and gave warning glances. They make it In front of the poor  excuse  of  a school. His siblings run into his arms, Ray watches and smiles. "You seem like the type of man to have children one day." He didn't respond, obviously still upset with her. She walks with him back home, they did what they were taught. Their eyes never met another mans, every man that saw them walk by pierced into their soul. "At least those kids know their place," a thug mutters. They make it inside the house, the mother looked happy to see him invite Ray over. "You never invited Ray over in a while son, I was starting to get worried. You and Ray used to be so close." The mother took care of his siblings although he wish he could. He would do anything to avoid a conversation with her right now. Ray walks upstairs into his room, he follows after her. If he didn't, she would've broken something. The father sits beside the mother waiting for the kids to leave.  Lea, Taylor, and Darrel get the signal and go up to their rooms. "Do you think him and Ray are finally gonna-" "Don't think about such absurd things! Even if our son had the chance you know he isn't interested." The father nodded and looked away disappointed. "He will grow up right, not the wrong way," the mother scolds. "Its not the wrong way," the father interjects. "He is seventeen! He should at least court Ray instead of havin' her follow round' like some stray pup" The mother sighs and rubs her forehead to try and stop a migraine. "Don't you think this should be our concern about now? He hasn't showed interest in any of the ladies here." The mother crosses her arms, she seemed annoyed at his persistence. "He doesn't like the women around here, their too 'ghetto' remember?" The dad shakes his head and mumbles "right, right" like a song. He then knew he couldn't stop here, he had to persist further. "I don't think that's the case, he seems like a gay darling." The mother scowls and stands up from the couch. "What he indulges in does not concern us anymore. He knows from what's right and what's wrong. And don't you dare say that my son is interested in men when you know he's not!" She never raised her voice like this, Aeren started to worry. Then again, he'd waste energy worrying about this. Ray sits on his bed uninvited, she was always uninvited. She popped up in his life one day and just wont go away! "You have to find you someone before your parents go crazy." Her remark didn't help at all with what he was stressing with. "What's more concerning is that your using this hood slang. I can't find no one if they're all for the streets." She knew one weapon that she could use against him, he couldn't say no. "How about we sneak out and go somewhere?" He felt conflicted, anywhere she went, ghetto always seemed to follow her. He felt himself drawn to her adventures, he didn't want to leave her unintended. Yet again, he had his siblings to also worry about. He didn't trust them to be alone with anyone, not even his own parents. "We can just go through the front door, my parents wont mind us going out." He couldn't believe it, he was saying yes to her? He was supposed to be caring about his family right now. Why was his legs following her out of the door then? He can't stop himself neither, his hands grip onto the door but something pushes him forward. It couldn't have been the wind no, something bigger pushed him. He looks back seeing nothing was there. Maybe it was just himself who wanted to eagerly go.  His mother and father watch them walk out the house together. "There the boy goes, maybe he's too shy to make noise upstairs." The mother scoffs at the father's absurdness. "You know he is just trying to protect Ray, that's the only friend he had since forever." The father didn't believe her, his eyes rolled so far it could be stuck up his head. "I can prove it, follow me." They both leave out, leaving the kids in the house by themselves. Darrel, the oldest of the little siblings make sure the two don't get in trouble. "Did dad and mom really leave us alone again?" Lea and Taylor being old enough to be considered a child and a toddler were playing with dolls. Darrel rolls his eyes, he was a kid, but not an oblivious one. "Come on, we have to find somewhere to hide." At this time of night, when the parents aren't home, the robbers come out and steal something from the house. The three hide in a closet, he makes sure that their quiet. Once the robbers leave, he helps them out the closet. They both fall out clumsily, he helps them up. "When is everyone coming back?" Taylor's question was a hard one. Darrel shakes his head and looks back at the two. "I don't know, let's just go see what they had stolen this time." He listens out for anyone, making sure that the robbers were truly gone. They went downstairs and searched for what usually got stolen. Darrel went to the living room looking for the television and couch. The girls opened every cabinet and looked inside the pantry. "They stole some of our utensils, and dad's favorite knife," Lea calls out. "Knife..." Darrel mummers for a second before his eyes widened. "They're still in the house!" All of the kids hear footsteps, the robber smirks. "Now, I heard noise in here, I should be the only one getting the goods." He saw that no one was there, what was left was a hamster. The kids used this as an distraction to escape. "Just a scrawny hamster? The food belongs to only me you sun of a gun!" The robber stomps onto the hamster, the hamster escapes with a bruised back. The kids were running in the street like they were homeless. "Brother! We can't keep up!" Lea pants, out of breath. He stops when they are far away from the house. A gunshot blows, the kids hide behind a trash can. "As far as were concerned that house is theirs now," Darrel mummers. "That was our favorite pet.." Taylor frowns. Darrel snaps at her, "either that or our lives!" The girls never messed with Darrel when he was angry or serious. They didn't dare argue back at him, as much as Taylor wanted to. "Let's go to the park, brother is most likely there." The girls follow behind Darrel closely. "And what would the park do us any good?" Lea's innocence did herself no favors. "He is the only one who knows what to do in this situation," Darrel says through gritted teeth. "But you saved us, what do you think we should do?" Taylor asks him. He looks over his shoulder, the same look telling them to back down. He then looks away and scoffs, "the park is what I wanna do, it's where were heading." The kids see Aeren and Ray, they both looked equally confused to see the kids. "The robbers took over the house," Darrel says. Darrel always had short explanations to everything. Aeren sighs seeing that Darrel had gotten the girls here safely. "And where is our parents? Have they gone out again?" Darrel looks in the bushes seeing them, he then points to them. The two come out the bushes, ashamed, of being caught of course. Aeren seemed happy despite the situation. Maybe because they would finally move. "You know what this means kids, we are moving." Ray seemed disappointed, she hasn't spoke her mind on what she wanted to say to him fully. Minutes later Aeren was annoyed to see Ray coming along. "Look at this, we all are having a family trip!" the mother says with enthusiasm ,matching the father's. "May I remind you, Ray is not family," Aeren says through gritted teeth. The father glances over in the mirror. "I think it's time you consider her as apart of the family son."They arrive at a big house. It was big enough that it might get robbed again. There was something different about this neighborhood though. There was no muddy streets or trash all over the ground. It stinked, but not of garbage, it was a rich town. This is what Aeren has always wanted, he always wanted to get out of that place. Ray's eye light up an so does the girls. "Why did you have to come with us Ray?" Ray had a frown on her face after that question. "Nevermind," he says his hands going up in the air. Inside the house was like a castle, they had four stories instead of two. The rooms so huge that it could fit five people inside. The little kids except Darrel chased to find the biggest room. Darrel didn't even try, he knew mom and dad would find the biggest one and claim it. He prefers the smaller room in contrast to the girls. He didn't care about moving either, it's a bit refreshing from what his brother calls 'ghetto of a school.' Ray makes herself comfortable in her new room. Aeren wasn't happy at the situation at all. He was happy, but not with this. "Come on, how about we share a room."  He wanted to say no but his legs started to move yet again. He groans as he drags his feet to their new shared room. The next day, everyone gets ready for school. Ray wears a pink pony tail and a causal school girl outfit. It looked so pretty on her Aeren had to admit. The kids to him looked more adorable, especially Darrel. The Taylor and Lea wore pink dresses and Darrel wore something that only sophisticated people wore. "Darrel, you are too young to be looking that sophisticated." "Everyone has a style Aren, it's so annoying to wear dinosaurs and the latest super hero." Aeren smiled, he even sounded all grown up. he ruffles Darrel's hair and gives him a toothy grin. "True, just don't grow up too fast promise me." Darrel smiles even though he tries to suppress it. "No promises," he says stubbornly. The kids are escorted by a fancy taxi. There seemed to also be bodyguards. Father must be on high alert after what had happened. It seemed that, that incident finally clicked his fatherly instinct. Aeren was wearing something casual because Ray asked him to. This was unhealthy, maybe he was the type to be too nice. Aeren knew this was far from true though because he said mean and rude things. Perhaps only like this when it came to people asking favors. He also knew that this was not the case. Anytime he'd think too much on it, he felt like he was being watched. He was, his parents eyes always became more creepy and dull, so does Ray's. He shrugged it off, he couldn't fight this monster. It must've been too big for him to fight anyways. "Let's go Ray, we will be late to school." She follows him, they make it In front of the school. It was as large as a mansion, like two of his houses combined. "muy grande.." he murmured to himself. He wasn't the type to use his Spanish much, but when he did, it was for serious occasions. They both head inside, greeted by a pretty girl. His heart thumped, she was beautiful. Ray saw this and became really upset. "How about we go check in with the principle," she says gently. "No, I might go say hi to this girl." How about we go say hi to the principle His head ached and everything started to spin. Things rushed through his mind, he never could say no, never say no. And more importantly, what was that voice? "Y-yes we should, come on Ray." The aching feeling leaves, he stumbles along with her. This was his life, a dog on a leash. If he said no, then consequences came along. He was nice, too painfully nice. They make it to the principle. No liquor bottles or any type of substance at all. All Aeren's eyes came up on was a neat area. He looked around and took a double take before conforming it was normal. He even does a triple check underneath the desk to see if there were any secret passage ways, nothing. The princeple looked at him like he was crazy, he didn't care. The shelves looked way too organized, the man was too composed. "Nice to meet you Ray and Aeren, welcome, here is your room number." The princeple gave them their schedules which were for goodness sake different. Ray looked agitated and slammed hers back on the desk. "There seems to be a mistake, our schedules aren't the same." The princeple looks at the two schedules and compares them. "I was just basing the schedule off of data and anylsis." The man was obviously calling someone here less intelligent. This is something Ray couldn't control, something already planned. She storms out, Aeren whispers a 'thank you' and leaves too. He ends up in the class as the girl he had saw earlier. His parents always nagged on how he should find someone, this was this someone. He sits down next to the girl, ready to initiate a conversation. He didn't have the confidence, she speaks up instead. "I am empress, nice to meet you." He nods and looks over at her nervously.  His hands figit and he glances every where else. "My name, it's Aeren, empress is a pretty name." He couldn't believe he said that! He had the confidence of saying his own name. He also had the confidence to tell her in a sly way that she was pretty. She smiles sweetly, that smile could kill anyone in a heartbeat. The class starts before anyone else could speak. Aeren knew reputation wasn't everything, but it is how you show yourself to people. He notices that he had gotten a few stares, none of them were bad ones though. This was crazy since all he had gotten back at the old school were nasty looks. Maybe because he didn't use slang and always proper Grammar. Maybe because his pants didn't sag, and he preferred pants that didn't limit him to running. He wore the type of pants that were enough to run in but not too tight. Sometimes he even preferred baggy pants. Maybe because If he were to seek out girls it'd only be one, Empress. She was the only thing on his mind as of now. This is what his parents described as teenaged feelings. Meanwhile, over in Ray's class. The teacher was very strict and sent people home crying. Ray couldn't help thinking back to Aeren. He seemed to be more defiant to what she wanted. The secret she'd show him later on today would change everything. He'd no longer question anything and focus on the present time. She sighed, she felt selfish and guilty. Ray always was the one to bud in his life, he didn't truly want her there. He just tolerated her because his parents see something in her. Her parents never saw anything in her, they only thought about themselves. When she met Aeren all of her hopeless life changed. He was a ray of sunshine to her. The best part being that apart of those two words had her name in it. If only his name was sunshine instead. Despite her disappointment, she also felt a mix of other emotions too. The family was nice in taking her in after her parents had gone. She felt a mix of emotions for them leaving. Aerens parents claimed they were in a better place. What could be a better place than at home with her? They left her a gift, a gift she'd keep forever. She plans to show Aeren this gift when school is over. Darrel was a year or two years older than the girls. Meaning, for once in his life he'd be separated with them. He had to admit, he is  a mix of both relief and sadness. Although the two had a nut for a brain they brought the fun in things. Now there he was in first grade learning the basic of all basic grammar. No one even approached him on the first day most likely he was intimidating. He thought his rich clothes would make him fit it, turns out and didn't and made him a stand out instead. He sighs and  relaxed his head inside of his arms. The teacher rambled about stuff he already knew because he studied it. Lea and Taylor were together more often because they were only grades apart. They'd somehow have new topics about things anytime they'd chat. Darrel glances out the window to see the two together. He had to admit they were inseparable, he felt like he was just tolerated. His head goes back into the desk, he wishes he'd sink into a black hole. Unfortunately, only his face sinks into the desk. The mother of the family was busy writing her third essay of the week. The husband was running another business meeting. After she was finished she closes her computer and sighs. She sips her coffee before getting up to get fresh air. The grass fresh like on the first day God made it. The cars always drove at the speed limit, she didn't have to worry about cars speeding. The sun shines brighter on this town, leaving no room for dark alley ways or shadows. She breaths in the air, no cigarette or polluted air. The only thing that filled her lungs was something heavenly, the most fresh air she has ever smelled in forever. This reminds her of when she was a mere country girl. Working in the farm with her parents seemed like a big deal for all the rich kids. She taught her children how to farm, but they only do it out of obligation. Maybe another child wouldn't hurt, a baby that looked like all it's siblings. The house was big enough to afford one, and she was always in good health. The husband was exhausted from his business meeting. His professional façade went away when he got inside his office. His assistant by his desk waiting. She looks up from her clipboard once she see's him. "Nice day were having yeah?" "What do you want?" he snaps. She only made up a conversation when she wanted something from him. "Why do you choose to give those kids a nice home now?" He sits down in his office chair rubbing his temples. "What I do is none of your concern." She knew something about all of this wasn't right. Without second thought she went down the halls. She heard two workers talking and hid behind a wall. "Those kids are in danger for sure." The other man nods in agreement. "A curse I tell you, I heard it had struck the son." The assistant was confused, "curse you say.." she whispers.