Chapter 1
Cause you ain’t got
A half a million-dollar condo
And you ain’t got
A hundred thousand dollar car
But you got a billion-dollar body
Trust me I know
You keep it hood no matter where you are
Cause you come from the ghetto
~August Alsina- GHETTO~
Let me start by telling you my name. The name is Jamila, but most people call me Mila. I’m 24 years old and attending Sienna University in Atlanta, Georgia. ATL is my home where I’m from. My best friend Keke is here with me as well. She and I have been cool since I was ten years old. It took a lot for me to get to where I’m at now, but I’ll get to that later.
I just got done with my last class for today. I was waiting for Keke and Micah. Micah is my gay best friend who I’ve been kicking it with since high school. As I was waiting, August walked past me. He said hey and winked at me and kept walking. Now August is beyond fine. He’s tall, light skin with hazel eyes and curly dark hair. He is the quarterback here at SU. Every girl here wants him, including me. It’s kinda wrong seeing that I have a boyfriend. But that’s another complicated situation.
“Hey, girl,” Keke said, taking me out of my train of thought.
“Hey!” I said
“I saw Mr. Mcdreamy walk past.” Keke said
“Gurl ain’t he, though. If only…” I said.
“If only what? Yea, you got a man but he ain’t no good, so upgrade.” Keke said.
“Mm-hmm, where’s Micah?” I asked.
.
“Gurl I don’t know, probably talking to his little crush.” she said
We both started laughing. Micah has been liking this one particular guy for the longest, but this guy is not openly gay. They can only talk after school or when others aren’t around. It bothers me he puts up with that, but we will see where it goes. Right at that moment he comes running up.
“Hey chicas, what y’all laughing at?” he asked
“We’re laughing at you, that’s what.” Keke said.
“What about me?” He asked, giving us the side-eye.
“The way you were running our way.” I said
“Whatever. What we about to get into?” he asked
“Well, I gotta work tonight, so I figured we could go to the mall so I can get an outfit or two.” I said.
“Cool with me. I need to do some retail therapy.” Keke said
“Ok, let’s go.” Micah said
We got in our cars and drove to the mall. On the way there, I got a text from Derrick. It read:
Hey baby girl I know you mad w me bt I’m sorry. HMU later ok.
I ignored it. Derrick is my so-called boyfriend I met my freshman year here. It’s been a roller coaster ride since. Sometimes I ask myself why I stay with him. I pull up in front of the mall and got out. Keke and Micah follow suit. We go inside and check out some shops. We ended up in Charlotte Russe. As we were looking around, I looked out the window and saw Derrick at DTLR. He was with some other chick. I’m guessing Keke noticed cause she asked
“Ain’t that Derrick? And who the hell is that he got with him?”
" Yeah, that’s him and girl I don’t know who that is.” I said with attitude
“Come on, let’s go find out.” Keke said while grabbing my arm.
Keke is dragging me over to DTLR. She yanks me right in front of them. The look on Derrick’s face is priceless.
“What a surprise to see you. Who is this?” I asked.
“Mila, what are you doing here?” He asked
“I should ask you that.” I said.
“Yea she should. Now who the hell is this bitch.” Keke said.
“Bitch!! I suggest you change your damn attitude hoe.” mystery women said.
Keke is quick to lay hands on someone, so I had to block her before she grabbed ole girl.
“Answer the question Derrick.” I said getting angry
He was taking too long to answer the question, and the girl said
“I’m his girlfriend.”
“Girlfriend! Naw I’m his girlfriend.” I said.
“Well, from the looks of it, hunny no your not. Plus bitch, I’m pregnant.” she said
“The fuck you mean pregnant.” I said, completely pissed.
She didn’t need to respond. I slapped the shit out of her and then slapped the shit out of him too. I walked out. I heard him scream my name, and I just kept walking. Keke and Micah high on my tail.
“Gurl you okay?” Micah asked
“Fuck both of them. I’m good.” I said
“Yeah, that’s right girl.” Keke said
I was ready to leave at this point. We were walking towards the entrance when I heard a deep voice call my name. I turned, and it was August.
“Mila, hey glad I caught you.” he said
“Hey, but I really gotta go so I’ll talk to you later.” I said
“Its cool I just wanted to say I saw what happened in DTLR and that he is dumb as hell for that shit.” he said
“Yeah, he is, but I’m good. I really have to go. Thanks for checking on me.” I said.
I didn’t even let him respond. I walked out towards the entrance. I told Keke and Micah bye and left. I was fuming, but I should’ve seen this coming. All the lies he told me and the false love he gave. The break up to make up ride I am so done. I drove home to my apartment. I had to get ready for my job and forget about what happened. I went and took a shower. I got out of the shower and got dressed. I packed my bag, got my keys and left. I pulled up at my job and went inside.
" Hey Diamond.” I said
“Hey, Trinity. You dancing tonight?” she asked
“Yea. You know how it goes.” I said
She said bye and walked off. I walked into the dressing room and got changed into my neon pink fishnet two-piece set with my platform heels to match. If you haven’t figured it out by now, I am a stripper. Here at Nude Peaks, I go by Diamond. I know the cliche, but I love it and I have to pay for school somehow. After a while, they called me to the stage. The men were hollering and screaming my name. I was doing my thing. I zone out all the noise around me and drift into my mind.
Flashback:
Jamila is about 13 years old. She is wandering around the street yelling out a name. She was yelling out Winter Winter. She was asking people if they had seen Winter. She walked into a club that she knew Winter went to a lot. She walked into a cloud of smoke. She saw men at the bar drinking and women all over them with no clothes on. She walked further into the club and saw stages with a pole in the middle. She searched around and saw her, Winter, dancing on one stage. She yelled at Winter, but didn’t get a reaction. She can’t get close to the stage because too many guys are in front of it. So she just stood there and watched her mother dance for these men.
