“Give me my ball or else…” She preened, strutted, and started her head-wagging routine.
“Or else what…? What’re you gonna do?”
Claire reached for her ball and one of the guys shoved her. She made another attempt. This time he shoved her so hard, she fell backwards and hit her head. Jacque rushed to her help her.
“Jacque is she alright?” shouted Sheryl.
Jacque knelt next to the fallen and unconscious Claire. He checked her pulse as if he was a paramedic then shot a mean stare, batting his eyes at the guy who had pushed Claire.
“You mean, lily, white bully. I oughta…”
“Listen you lil’ black fag, I’ll kick your teeth in if you so much as look this way again. Why don’t you and your girlfriends go on your side of the park…?”
“Hey, what’d do to my sister?” shouted Candace.
“I done told y’all, you are not welcome on this side.”
The group laughed as Candace and Jacque tried their best to resuscitate Claire. It seemed like an eternity. Candace shook with fear but bravely gave her sister mouth-to-mouth, trying to revive Claire. It was a procedure she had learned in swimming class. Candace gently shook her sister. The cobwebs seemed to clear from Claire’s dazed mind. Close to tears, she and Jacque were able to finally help Claire to her feet.
“Claire, Claire…”
“Who got the ball?” asked Claire.
“Forget about the ball, are you…” Jacque started.
“Forget it? No way, Mimmy told us not to lose that ball,” Claire said, jumping up and brushing herself off. “I’m not leaving without our ball,” she said, blinking rapidly and shaking her head.
“Oh girl, why don’t you just forget that damn ball,” offered Jacque, dragging Claire back from the picnickers.
“Jacque you’re such a sissy…”
“Shoot, I’d rather be a live sissy than a dead brave boy.”
“Hold up, why we walking away? We ain’t leaving without my damn volleyball,” Claire said, brushing off Jacque.
“He got our ball,” Candace firmly said, pointing to the white teen.
He was smiling, proudly holding the ball. They walked over to where the group of kids stood sunning and guffawing.
“Uh oh, here they come again…” one of them said.
“They must want some more,” another laughed.
“Give me back my fucking ball,” Claire yelled.
“Ooh… Or what…?”
“She gonna break your heart with them tears…”
The group broke out in laughter.
“I’m gonna ask you for the last time…”
“Or what…?”
“She’s gonna blow your dick… Ha, ha, ha…”
“Yeah bitch, do this…” the boy taunted.
They were laughing so hard, the kid with the ball didn’t see Claire swing. The blow caught him in the soft of his throat, catching the boy off guard. He staggered, choking.
“Shit, th-th-this bitch just hi-hit me…” he said coughing up blood. He wiped the red liquid trickling from his mouth.
There was no chance for a recovery. Claire was on him, hitting him hard with another left, and a right. Her Reeboks landed in his groin, leaving him doubled over.
“Whoever wanna clown c’mon step up.” Claire said, recovering the ball.
She tossed it to Jacque. Candace moved in behind her while Jacque cowered next to Sheryl.
“It wasn’t me…” a kid screamed when Claire rushed him.
“Kick his ass Claire! Who they think they is anyhow…?” Jacque hollered, puffing up his chest.
“I wasn’t down with it from the jump,” one said.
“It was not my idea… He did it,” another said pointing at the teen spitting blood.
Claire stared at the teen cringing with his bloodied lips and felt something surging through her veins. She was the victor and he was the vanquished. This thought caused a surge of power to rush through her frame. It made her feel like she had super powers. Claire smiled and walked away.
“Damn girl, you punched his ass out. He was so dazed his homey had to help him out. What do you have in those fist of yours, girlfriend?” Jacque snickered.
CHAPTER 2
The girls were very close and grew even closer the older they got. Popular and admired, Claire and Candace Osorio hung together so tightly that nearly everyone thought they were twin sisters. Claire was the older by two years to the baby-faced Candace. Despite being in different classes, the girls were always seen together in school. Whether they were hanging in the halls or playing basketball, they were with each other constantly. They never seemed bored with each other’s company.
Not only were they the most athletic pair on the school’s varsity teams, but they were the tallest and the best players. From volleyball to basketball and baseball, it didn’t matter. The Osorio sisters were winners at their games.
Best friend and neighbor, Jacque was always with them. He was tall but lacked real athletic skills unless dancing fit the category. Jacque guided them and watched over them like a trained Chihuahua, with a loud bark that drew plenty attention. It was his way. Then they met Melanie, a Cuban girl. She was much older and experienced in every aspect of living. She quickly became the girls influence, especially Candace. Jacque was a member of the marching band and he was Cuban. Melanie was not athletic—simply beautiful, cunning, saucy and vivacious. From the very jump, everyone could tell she carried a Latina fire that burned anyone she didn’t like within her vicinity.
It was also known to everyone that she would go for whatever. Whether straight or bi, Melanie was down to do whatever it took to get her way. The first time Jacque encountered Melanie was a day never to be forgotten. She had her eyes on the athletically built sisters but it was clear, Jacque was smitten.
Melanie was walking with the sisters. Jacque saw them in their sexy outfits and walked over. The sisters always looked really good but Melanie was ravishing.
“Are you on detention, Jacque?” Candace asked.
“No, why…?”
“You don’t even come to school enough. And when you do come, you overstay your day? Oh, you’re trying to make up for lost time?” Candace cackled and Claire laughed.
“Everybody wants to be a comedian, huh?” Jacque deadpanned.
He turned to Melanie standing next to them. Jacque ogled every inch of her curves. When he was satisfied, he turned to Sean, nodding. They struck a high five and posed for a beat. Jacque turned to Melanie with his pearly whites on display.
“Hi, I’m Jacque. I know you’re Melanie. Fuck what they say about you, you’re beautiful, girl,” he announced in his most social voice.
“Are you trying to push-up on our friend?” Claire teased.
“Melanie, Jacque has never had a girlfriend and if you give him some he won’t know how to act…” Candace started as Jacque stare shot to the roof. Rolling his eyes, he stomped his Nike in the hall.
“Get out! You mean he’s a virgin?” Melanie