Read Online Hustlin' by L. Divine - Free Book Online Page B

we all live in the same hood and go to a white school outside of Compton. The other students got in on an out-of-district voucher program at our local high school, but my mom applied for it too late and had to use a friend’s address to get me into South Bay. It’s a volatile mix, mainly because the hating doesn’t stop. There are only a few black students at the entire school, making it easy to spread news quickly no matter where we are.
    And now with my girls hating each other, it’s going to be even more uncomfortable around Nellie, Mickey, and their men. Part of me wants to take sides, but I can’t. I’m the only one thinking clearly. Between Mickey’s pregnancy hormones and Nellie’s jealousy, I don’t know what’s going to happen next.
    â€œWhat’s taking you so long in there, princess? Other people have places to be too,” Bryan says, interrupting my morning bathroom time. He’s got some nerve rushing me, considering how long it takes his primping behind when he gets in here.
    â€œNow I know you’re not talking. If I didn’t know how you look, I’d say you were a pretty boy judging from how long you’re up in this mirror.” There are only three mirrors in this house: the one in the bathroom, the one above the dining room table, and the one in Mama’s room. None of them are full length, but I usually stand on top of the clothes hamper in here to get a full view of my outfits.
    I gather all of my toiletries, pajamas, and purse, ready to clear out anyway. Today is the first dress rehearsal for Macbeth , and I want to get to school on time to try to catch Mrs. Sinclair in the drama room. I’m anxious to see my costume, and want to lay my hands on it before Laura gets her clutches in the mix. I want to make sure my ashe is all over that dress.
    â€œShut your jaw jacking and hurry the hell up. I got to get on the corner before I get to work,” Bryan says.
    â€œWhen are you going to get a legal hustle and give up your non-job on the corner?” I ask. One more look in the mirror and I’ll let him in. Whoever said beauty couldn’t be rushed obviously didn’t live in a house full of dudes.
    â€œIt is legal, baby girl. I know what you’re thinking, but I’m not talking about that. Besides, when did I ever need to stand on the corner to slang a dime bag?” He and Rah have had the same side hustle for as long as I can remember. The shame is that Rah’s game is much tighter than Bryan’s when it comes to slanging herb. But it still doesn’t make it right, and it isn’t a good choice for either one of them. “And why you all up in my grill this morning? Get out now, Jayd. I gotta go.”
    â€œWhatever, punk,” I say, opening the door slightly and taking my time just to piss him off.
    â€œHaven’t you heard of respecting your elders?” Bryan is more like my older brother than my uncle. How can he expect me to take him seriously?
    â€œHaven’t you heard of acting your age and not your shoe size?” I push him out of the doorway to make my way back into the room he and Jay share with Daddy. I place my things back into one of the three Hefty garbage bags I use to hold my stuff in the room’s smallest closet and close the door.
    â€œWhatever, smart-ass,” Bryan says, stepping into the bathroom and laying his things down on the hamper.
    I step into the hallway, ready to grab a banana from the kitchen and head out the door. I pull the bathroom door shut, pissing Bryan off even more.
    â€œI just know you better start showing a little respect around here, that’s all I’m saying,” he says, reopening the door so I can hear him clearly. “By the way, my girl likes my braids,” he says, rubbing his hands across the cornrows still tight under his do-rag. “When can I get a touch up?”
    â€œI don’t know, maybe tonight.” I’m