Ryda

Chapter 1: They Meet

"Hey ma," a dude with a red hat and dirty jeans said as I walked pass him and his boys.  "Yes?" I asked stopping but not looking at him. "Why you be fading me and my brothers every time you walk by us?" He asked trying to sound cool. "That's because I don't have anything to say, just because it's a different day doesn't mean I have to say wassup to y'all." I explained walking away. " I mean we not tryna pull you its just that we be seeing you around hanging with some jawns and you seem like the type of girl that like to hang with niggas like us." He exclaimed following me down the street. " hmm, so y'all like in a gang and y'all tryna have me in it?" I joked "Yeah," he smiled. " Y'all tryna get me killed." I started walking fast, when he grabbed my arm. "Trust me. I'll keep you safe, I won't let nobody touch you, you live right across the street. I got you." He implored. I thought about it for a moment, not sure of what I should say, I bit my lip. "Please, I promise." He continued. "Alright but no funny stuff." I said pulling my arm back. He motioned his boys to come with us. "I'll introduce you." He said. " My name is Jaylin but you can call me smoove this is Javon, Brill, and Omari. Omari go by O, Brill go by Connect and Javon we call him Mill." Jaylin said. I laughed. "Go 'head now spill the beans." Jaylin joked. "I'm Alasia and I don't have a gang related nickname." I joked. "Ima call you Ryda." Brill smiled. "Why Ryda?" I asked. "Somethings telling me you gon be here for a long while." He said. We all laughed. We ended up walking all the way down Main St before somebody suggested going somewhere. "Ayo Connect lets slide by the crib real quick." Omari said putting his hood on because it was starting to rain. We walked down two more blocks before reaching the house. As soon as Jaylin opened the door the smell of weed and colon hit my nose. "Damn." I murmured. I sat down on the couch looking around the house. I saw the guys taking off their hoodies. They all had the same tattoo on their arm. "Ay Ryda where were you headed before smoove stopped you?" Omari asked. "I was going to get a lightbulb my light had blew." I took off my jacket and shoes. "Damn you needed a lightbulb, I thought you did everything in the dark." Mill joked. The guys laughed, I blushed and looked down. Jaylin threw a pen at Javon's head. "Ryda don't take that hard, I was playin." Javon said walking in the kitchen. Jaylin, Omari, and Brill sat down on the couch next to me. "Why you so tensed, relax." Jaylin joked as he rubbed my shoulders. "You don't have to be scared, we don't bite." Javon said squeezing himself into the couch. He rolled up some paper filled with weed and he lit it. They passed it amongst each other. I contemplated as I looked at them smoke. "Can I hit?" I asked. I felt so stupid saying it. "Ohhh. First lady of course you can have a puff." Jaylin joked. I put the roll up to my mouth and took a pull. I then looked over to the guys. "Go 'head savage take another one." O coerced. I took another pull and instantly I choked. They laughed, we all got high in the living room watching this unknown movie nobody knew about. "Damn, you really are a Ryda. I ain't never met a girl that was down like you." Smoove explained. "I'll do anything Jay, anything for y'all at least." I said. "That's why you out Ryda. Now come here I know you cold." Jaylin said holding his arms out. I laid between him and we all fell asleep.