"Asia!", yelled her mom as she was rushing through her room, grabbing everything she needed for school.

"Coming!", Asia answered back while grabbing her phone and walking down the hall and turning the corner to the living room. "Bye ma. Imma miss the bus".

"Have a good day" she said as Asia left out.

Riding the bus is not the best, of course. Asia doesn't have the money for a car, nor does her mom. They're not the Richest, but they aren't the poorest. She always had what she needed, but unfortunately not what she wanted the majority of the time. They live in the projects. It's not too rough, but it's not a place where you're guaranteed to be safe.

Asia sits down in a seat of the bus to herself and puts her headphones in. As she listens to her throwback R&B playlist, she feels an arm brush across hers. She looks next to herself and spots no other than ... "Zay, what do you want?", she said with a bit of annoyance and a slight smile as she took an earbud out of one ear.

"Dang, a nigga can't sit next to his friend?" he asked as he looked her up and down.

Asia has known Zay since the 10th grade. He is a goofy ass nigga, and he always making people laugh. He's around 6 foot, light-skinned. He's hella cute, but he ain't her type. He be in A LOT of shit and he's unloyal as hell.

Asia chuckles and looks out the window continuing to listen to her music.

- - - -

"Heeeyyyy friend!", a loud voice let out as Asia were walking. "Booty looking right, okaayyy"

Asia couldn't help but laugh. "You already know bitch!" Asia said as she did a little twerk. "Jayla, where you been?"

Jayla is Asia's BEST friend, her sister, her A1, her everything. She's the only person Asia trusts.

"Boo'd up", Jayla responded with a smile. "He did the sweetest thing last night"

"What ?", Asia asked with curiosity.

"He picked me up and we went to the lake and had a small dinner... Chinese takeout, my favorite. We watched the stars and talked about our goals..future ... he said he loved me." Jayla said with excitement.

"Wow, that sounds nice" Asia said with a smile. "I'm so happy for you"

"Yea, but how about you? When you gonna date? Not that I'm rushing you or anything, I just wanna see you happy", Jayla said as y'all began to walk together.

Asia smiles, "I am happy. I got the most best friend in the world"

Jayla nods, "of you do, cause I'm a bomb ass bitch"

Suddenly a hand grabs Jayla's butt, which causes her to jump. It was Mikey, her boyfriend. He was milk chocolate, probably 5'9 -5'10, and straight ass teeth. They've been dating for about 2 years.

Jayla laughed, "Mike!". She smiles and kisses him.

Mike kisses her back and pulls away. "Hey baby.. what's good Asia?"

"Nothing much," Asia says as she continues to walk. "Heading to class, see y'all later".

- - - -

It was later on and school was finished, Asia was on her way to dance practice until a tall figure came in front of her. She looks up and it was Zay.

"Asia I got a question", he said nervously as Asia looks at him in curiosity for an answer. "I was um wondering if you wanted to grab a bite to eat with me and my boy and his girl".

Asia's eyebrow raises, "this sounds like a double date to me"

Zay sucks his teeth, "none of that. Just hanging out with a couple that's it".

"iight. Cool, because as we both know I don't deal with none of y'all niggas around here" Asia said as she rolls her eyes.

"I'm a good as nigga", he said with confidence. "But he ready tonight at 7"

"Okay, thot pocket", she said as she began to walk away"

- - - -

Later that evening, Asia was finishing up getting dressed. She wore a short-sleeve white crop top, a distressed light blue jean skirt, some white vans, and her hair was in her curly state. When she began doing her makeup, she heard her mom cough. Her mom sounded weak.

Putting on her eyelashes, "mom are you okay!?". It was a moment of silence, she heard nothing.

A little figure came running in the room. "Asia, mommy said she okay but she doesn't look okay".

This is Asia's little sister Nicole. She's 5 years old, and the most innocent yet baddest thing you can witness.

Asia gets up and notices her mom sleeping. She thinks to herself, "maybe she's just tired from work". She turns to her sister, "don't mess with mama tonight. If you wanna watch TV go in the living room, you should only be in here if you wanna sleep... okay?", she whispers.

"Okay", Nicole answers.

As Asia walks into her room, she begins to think to herself. "My mom hasn't been herself or looked herself in a few weeks. She looks sick, like the flu sick. I don't know what's going on with my mom, but it doesn't look good." Asia thought to herself.

TO BE CONTINUED...