Brooklyn -- chapter nine: brooklyn nights

Brooklyn -- chapter eight: some things never change...

Nicole maneuvered her way through the cautious drivers of Clinton Hill with experienced ease. Selena sat back comfortably against Nicole's custom plush-leather seats as she watched her friend intensively, smiling and feeling genuinely happy, as she listened to her friend fill her in on what she had missed from around the way and about her first year at New York City's finest university. Nicole's sandy brown hair and CoCo Chanel perfume blew in the wind as the pair breezed through the night. "...And I mean, all the guys wanted me... Football players, basketball players, baseball players, you name it girl." Nicole said as she chuckled at the thought. She turned momentarily to look over at Selena who, up until that moment had been hanging on to her every word, now staring out of the window, solemn and withdrawn. Unbeknownst to Nicole, the two had turned down a familiar street for Selena, one that had led her down a dark and unforgivable path. They were riding down the street that Anthony had taken her down on his way to his house. "Are you okay baby?" Nicole asked, looking between the road and her shaken up friend. "W-where are we going Nicole?" Selena spat, staring down the street, anticipating seeing that dreaded house, full of all those men and possibly even Anthony himself. "To Jasmines. She got her own spot now in Bushwick. Her boyfriend of course is paying for the whole thing... Lucky bitch." Nicole said rolling her eyes and laughing. And there it was, the house, coming up on the left. The door and windows were boarded and the shingles were completely corroded and even bare in some areas. The place was obviously vacant and looked to had been for some time now. They zipped past it and just like some sick twisted dream, it was gone. Selena sighed and sat back. It was all gone and behind her, literally, she thought as she watched it fade away in the distance in the passenger side mirror. "So what's up. You gonna tell me what's got you so shook or what?" Nicole asked, hitting her jokingly. Selena shook her head and just laughed, "...you wouldn't believe me if I told you." Selena replied and turned the radio up.


Ten minutes later, Nicole and Selena were pulling into an all white driveway of an all white house. The house itself looked like a fantasy, three stories high, and decorated with the works. The lawn, which included a pond  that sat in the very middle of it, bordered by white marbled stones, with white cherry blossom trees in full blossom surrounding the pond, manicured shrubby which lined the pathway to the front door and the perimeters of the house, and chandelier style lights that hung from the front porch. Selena watched in disbelief as her very first friend, Jasmine Moore made her way out of what appeared to be Barbie's Dream House. Nicole beeped excitedly as Jasmine, who always had an apple bottom, strolled up to the car in a short tight black dress and 4-inch heels, with a body like a pear. Selena smiled. "...I know that's not my Selena James!" Jasmine exclaimed and ran around to Selena's side of the car, as Selena got out. They embraced tightly and for a moment, everything felt like it was all the same. When they finally pulled apart, Jasmine took a moment to run her pretty fingers through Selena's hair. "All that hair... gone." She said quietly. Selena stared at Jasmine. Even though Nicole hadn't known what had happened to her, Jasmine was more than aware. Word got around fast in Brooklyn and Jasmine was always one to keep an ear to the streets. It was the end of her junior year of high-school, after finding out that she had failed, that she got that call from Jasmine. After a long conversation, they both agreed not to tell Nicole, the sensitive one out of the bunch. It was after that phone call that Selena truly knew that Jasmine, who had always been there for her, from the very beginning that fateful day at Packer Collegiate Institute, would always continue to be. "I love you Selena.. and I'm so glad to see you." Jasmine cooed. "I love you too." Selena said softly. Nicole looked between the both of them, disgusted. "Ew. If y'all don't get y'all lesbian asses in the car! It's Saturday in Brooklyn and I ain't wearing panties! Let's go bitches!" Nicole exclaimed and laughed out loud.

Brooklyn -- chapter seven: the other side of the tracks

Selena settled into her new dorm fairly quickly. Her adviser had told her that she wouldn't be having a roommate this semester so her and Cynthia were able to place things wherever they liked. She was sad when Cynthia had to finally leave to go to work but she was glad for all of her help. The two hugged each other tight, speaking kindly of one another, something the pair hadn't done for a very long time, before Cynthia grabbed her things and parted ways. Selena plopped down on her tiny full-sized bed, and leaned her back against the wall. From the hallway she could hear loud music and giggling as other students and their parents moved into their dorms as well. Selena sighed and stared out the window. Pratt Institute was located in the heart of Brooklyn, sandwiched by tall sugar maple trees that also littered the sidewalks on both sides, as far as the eyes could see, in a white neighborhood called Clinton Hill. The private school sat surrounded by big beautiful cobble brownstones, with long driveways and expensive cars. Selena studied the faces of the folks below, on the go. They all looked important, with big plans and bright faces. They were nothing like the faces Selena had been so accustomed to seeing in and out and below the two bedroom apartment she had shared with her mother on Nostrand Ave. Selena sighed and began to think of one face in particular.. Anthony Morellez. She cringed as the memory of that dreadful night drifted into her thoughts, as it did from time to time and felt her body shiver. She remembered what his face looked like as he pinned her down to the bed... Excited... Pleased. "Knock, knock!" A cheerful voice called out as the door swung open, interrupting Selena's painful trip down memory lane. In walked a slim and well dressed white girl, with bright blue eyes and pink stained lips. "Hey! Are you McKenzie?" She asked in a thick country accent, with a smile on her face as wide as the East River. "No, sorry." Selena replied, sternly, upset that she had forgotten to lock her door. "Oh, well I'm sorry to have disturbed you. I'm new to the city and I don't really know my way..." She admitted. Selena stared at her. The girl stood there for a moment, expectingly. Selena continued to stare at her in silence. "Um.. Ok. Well, my name is Lauryn, Lauryn Hitchcroft. If you happen to see McKenzie can you tell her that her new roommate would be awfully happy to meet her?" She asked, once again flashing that big white pageant smile. Selena nodded. Lauryn looked alittle puzzled but thanked Selena for all of her "help" before turning and walking out of her dorm room. Selena hopped up and closed and locked the door behind her. "I have got to get out of here..." Selena muttered to herself. Without a second thought, Selena reached for her cell-phone and purse, quickly pulling out Nicole's business card and dialing her number.


Within an hour, Selena was showered, dressed and waiting for Nicole downstairs in the lobby. Selena had never been the type to keep up with the latest fashion trends - usually only sporting things that she felt comfortable in. But ever since she had hit rock bottom only months before, recalling days where she wore the same shirt and pants, three days in a row, Selena had decided it was time to step her game up. Tonight's 'fit included a pair of skin tight black leather pants, a white halter top that exposed her petite and bronze midsection, and a pair of off brand stilettos that she had picked up before applying to Pratt. Selena felt confident and sexy, two that she hadn't felt for a long time. As she stood and waited for Nicole, by the lobby door, two white guys approaching the Institute stopped to give her a little company. "Damn girl. I've never seen your pretty ass around Clinton." The tall, brunette exclaimed and flashed his best smile. "Yeah, you're like a dark brown cup of water girl. And I'm thirsty!" The blonde said as he pulled up his sleeves and flashed her his bulging biceps. Selena chucked at their corny attempts to "holler." Before she could respond, Nicole and her candy red jag whipped around the corner and parked in front of the lobby building with a swift turn and stop. Nicole pushed a button and suddenly the roof of her car mechanically lifted and regressed. Nicole beeped the horn, getting the two guys attention, who were too focused on Selena to notice her pull up. "Hey you clowns! Get away from my girl!" She exclaimed. Selena laughed. The guys turned around and then towards each other before devilishly smiling, and turning back. "What do ya mean.. your girl?" The two asked in unison. "I mean, that hot-pocket is MINE, so get away!" Nicole warned, laughing as she spoke. Selena rolled her eyes and laughed hard. "Oh God. Excuse me..." Selena pushed pass the guys and hopped into Nicole's two-seater. They both hugged before waving at the guys and speeding off.

Brooklyn -- chapter six: new beginnings

A few months had passed since that solemn day Selena and her mother shared in the kitchen. Selena had found out that her father was a drug pin who had been reduced to a crackhead in just a couple of years, but more importantly, she found out how strong her mother was as a woman and how she raised Selena with no family and no help. The air was now clear between them and their relationship had begun to blossom. Fall was approaching and Selena and her mother were preparing for her first year at Pratt Institute. "Aiye. Why so much luggage Selena, your going to give me a heart attack." Cynthia joked as she carried yet another box out to the truck. "I don't know, It's my freshman year.. I just wanna be prepared. Aliste para conquistar todos." Selena smiled. It was a saying her grandmother would always say, "Ready to conquer all." She was starting to realize how important family really was. As Selena packed the last box on to the truck, she heard someone calling her name from afar. "Selenaaaaaaaa.." The voice cooed. Selena looked across the street. Standing behind a candy red Jaguar, smiling from ear to ear, was none other than her old best friend Nicole.

"Oh my goodness, Nicole?" Selena said with surprise and walked towards the now running Nicole, who met her with a huge hug and a kiss on the cheek. Selena couldn't help but smile. Nicole's hair had gotten longer and was now a little ways down her back. She had matured a lot since Selena had seen her last. She wore 4 inch leopard print stilettos and a red Versace mini dress that hugged her every curve. Her red lipstick made her olive completion pop, and the leopard print Dior sunglasses that masked her eyes, tied the outfit together. "You look astonishing." Selena admitted, a pinch of jealousy in her voice. Nicole smiled at Cynthia who waved from afar. Nicole turned back to Selena and removed her sunglasses, revealing her big brown eyes. "Oh Selena, I can't even believe I'm seeing you right now.. after all this time! You stopped partying - we didn't see you on the block no more. And when you didn't graduate with us... well, we thought we lost you. And with all the mood swings you were having..." Selena smiled and waved her hand to stop her friend from talking, as well as to not rehash the painful memories. "No need to explain, I get it.. I mean, If I made you guys feel any type of way then I'm sorry. I just..." Selena's voice began to trail off. Nicole looked at her friend sympathetically and tried to change the subject. "Wow look at this hair! You cut it! Yes Halle Barry!" She exclaimed and laughed, running her fingers through Selena's short hair. Selena laughed with her friend, grateful that they were no longer talking about her disappearing act. "So when's the last time you talked to Jasmine?" Selena asked as they both took a seat on a nearby bench. "Are you kidding me? When don't I speak to that bitch?" They both burst out laughing. "I was actually on my way to see her, wanna come? I know she'd just die if she knew I was with you." "Um.." Selena looked over her shoulder to her mother, who had already finished packing the car up and was now talking to a neighbor. "I was actually on my way to Pratt." Selena admitted. "Pratt! Get out of here! I'm so proud of you Selena. I'm actually starting my sophmore year at NYU so, if you ever need any help with anything, give me a call." Nicole said, stood up, smiled and put her sunshades back on. She reached into her clutch and pulled out a card and handed it to Selena. She read it: "Nicole Lenard, Fashion Stylist, Designer and Model. I do it ALL!" Selena chuckled. "What? I thought it was innovative!" She smiled. Selena stood up and suddenly grabbed and hugged her friend. "I missed you so much Nicole..." Nicole hugged her back and they held each other tight before pulling away. "Tonight. We are cranking this city all the way up. You, me and Jas. Just like we use to... Call me ok!" Nicole kissed Selena on the cheek before sashaying off and getting into her Jag. She honked twice as goodbyes to both Cynthia and Selena before speeding down the road.