Selena's phone began to ring. She picked it up and looked at the Caller ID. It was her auntie Maria. Selena sat up and rolled her eyes, contemplating not answering. Whenever Selena and her mother would get into a fight, Ms. Gomez would always call her sister to handle it for her. Selena thought it would be smart to just act like it never happened. "Hola Maria, Como estas?" Her aunt giggled from the other end. "Oh stop it Selena, now you know.." Maria started. Selena couldn't help but laugh at herself. "Ok, ok. What did mommy tell you this time?" She asked. "Selena you know Cynthia loves you and she just wants the best for you.." Maria started. Selena sighed and stood up. She walked up to her window as her aunt spoke to her and peered out. She couldn't help but smile.. Anthony "MostWanted" Morellez, one of the finest dudes to ever bless the brownish green grass of Brooklyn, and two of his friends, rolled past in Anthony's all black and chrome 1999 Camero. He beeped the horn and flashed a smile when he saw Selena looking down at him. Selena smirked and waved as they disappeared down the road. "..and that's why we always do. Do you understand now Selena? ..Selena? Chica are you listening to me??" Selena snapped back to reality when she heard her aunts voice. "Oh yeah, of course. Yup. Tell mommy I'm sorry for whatever it is that I did Ok aunty Maria? I've gotta go though. Love you, bye!" Selena hung up the phone before her aunt could get a word in edgewise.
The night came fast for Selena and with all the tension in the house between her and her mother, she just couldn't wait to leave. Her best friends, Jasmine and Nicole came walking into Selena's living room at around 9:15pm. In the hood, ironically, nobody kept they're doors locked, so it was easy for the girls to come right in. "Hey misses Gomez, is Selena here?" Nicole asked before descending up the stairs. She didn't answer, just nodded and kept stirring up a bowl of rice and salsa. They looked at each other and shrugged, but went upstairs anyway and walked into Selena's room, closing the door behind them. "What's up with Madre?" Nicole joked and laid across Selena's bed. "Yeah, crazy attitude tonight. Didn't smile and didn't speak." Jasmine added, walking over to the full length mirror that stood in front of Selena's closet door and examined her curves. "I don't know.. period I guess." Selena lied as she braided the last corn roll threw her hair and down her back. "Finished." Selena said, and smiled as she turned to face her friends. "What yall think?" Jasmine turned away from her reflection to look at her bestie. "Oooooo! I see you Alicia Keys!" Jasmine joked and laughed. Selena smiled at her friends.
Selena, Jasmine and Nicole had been friends since elementary school. Selena remembered the first day they all met and the reason why she dismissed her Latino background..
"Okay Selena.. now don't mess up your pretty dress and don't eat too much or talk too loudly or..." "Okay mommy, I get it.. don't be human." Cynthia smiled at her daughter and kissed her forehead. "Te amo Selena." She cooed. "Te amo mommy." Selena replied and walked into the building. Being that it was the first day of 4th grade was nerve wrecking enough but Selena could tell that something else was throwing her off. Blue and green eyes met her at every corner, blonde hair and pale skin brushed against her. "Hello there!" A high pitched voice startled Selena. When she turned around and looked up, she saw a middle-aged white woman with the rosiest cheeks and biggest smile she had ever seen. "H-hi?" Selena stuttered. "Would you happen to be Selena?" She asked, just as chipper as before. Selena nodded. "Well, welcome Selena. My name is Mrs. Williamson, and it so very nice to meet you. Come on, follow me." She smiled and took Selena's hand, leading her into a classroom, where she was greeted by dozens of surprised eyes. "Alright class, I would like you all to meet Selena.. oh, gee willy, I didn't get your last name sweetie, mind telling us?" Mrs. Williamson asked Selena, still smiling. Selena looked over the class for a moment before answering. "...James." She mumbled. "James!?" A red-haired boy called out. "Shouldn't it be like, RODRIQUEZ or CARLOS or something?" The class burst out with laughter as Mrs. Williamson did her very best, not smiling either, to calm the students down. The whole day was pretty much that same exact way for Selena - kids laughing and picking at her and teachers trying their hardest to understand. But no one did. When recess came around, Selena was the first one out the door. She found a quiet spot between a see-saw and the metal fence that kept Packer Collegiate Institute away from the harshness of Brooklyn. She looked over her shoulder and saw the other kids run rapid throughout the playground, laughing loudly and talking - mocking her unhappiness. She didn't understand why she was so different from them.. tears began burning at Selena's eyes until she realized someone was watching her threw the fence. Threw her teary blurry sight, she saw tan skin and curly hair.. someone like her. "Hola!" She called out to the person. "Por favor! Ayúdeme!! Me llamo Selena y no tengo gusto de él aquí, estoy muy triste! y..." "WHAT IN THE WORLD ARE YOU YELLING ABOUT?? I cant understand you AT ALL!" The girl yelled. Selena paused and wiped her tears. She wasn't Latino at all.. she was black. "Oh.. I-I'm sorry.. I thought you were Spanish.. like me." Selena admitted. The black girl neared the fence, so Selena did the same. "Na, just black. You sure you Spanish? 'Cause that schools for white kids." The girl informed. Selena looked behind her at all the children and down at her own skin, then back at the girl. "Trust me, I'm pretty sure." The girl grabbed the fence and examined Selena. Even though Selena's hair was extremely fine and curly, her skin was a very dark bronze. "Sure you aint black?" The girl asked. Selena had never considered it. She was a lot darker then her family members so she really wasn't sure. Selena shrugged. The girl smiled. "Well, you look black to me. And as long as you are black, you won't ever have to worry about being alone like this again. They'll always have your back." The girl said and motioned behind her to the streets, buildings, and people of Brooklyn. Selena's eyes lit up. She couldn't have been any happier with those words. "I'm Jasmine by the way." Jasmine added and stuck her hand threw the fence for a handshake. Selena grabbed it right away and shook it. "I'm Selena." Selena said. Jasmine smiled and withdrew her hand. "Hey, if you can survive today then me and my friend Nicole will be back to visit you tomorrow.. ya know, so you won't be alone.." Jasmine smiled. "Seems like this black thing is really starting to work out." Selena said and they laughed. "See ya Selena!" Jasmine said and ran off towards Brooklyn. "See ya." Selena smiled and sat back down. The three had been best friends ever since.
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