Street Soldiers Read Online Free PDF Page A

near-crime. Emilio and Misty look pleased at my intervention. I hope I didn’t just walk into one of their evil traps.
    “Mind your business, Jayd,” KJ says, not taking his eyes or hand off of his girlfriend. “This doesn’t concern you.”
    Money and Brandon stand on the sidelines, as usual, watching their boy dig a hole for himself. What kind of friends are they?
    “I don’t need your help, Osunlade. But thanks for your concern,” Misty says, slurring my spirit name. How does she even know it? Mama, Netta, my mom and Mr. Adewale were the only ones present when it was given to me. “I’ve got just as much power as you do now, or don’t you remember?” Misty smiles, revealing her shiny, sharp incisors for my personal view even though there are others around.
    How is it that I’m the only one who notices Emilio and Misty are the latest shape-shifting couple at South Bay High?
    “This is your doing, isn’t it, Jayd?” KJ asks, finally releasing Misty’s arm and turning his heat toward me. “What, did you put some sort of voodoo curse on Misty to make me break up with her because you want me back?”
    “As if, fool,” I say, disgusted by KJ’s accusation on so many levels. “I don’t need to cast spells on dudes to make them like me. You need to take a closer look at the latest vampire you’ve been laid up with.”
    Misty and Emilio exchange a knowing look, satisfied at this morning’s events.
    “Jayd, whatever,” Money says, butting in just to hear himself talk. “We all know you still got it bad for our boy.”
    Usually Del adds the last two cents for comic relief, but he hasn’t been hanging with his boys so far this year. Dudes have fallouts just like us girls: Drama’s an equal opportunity employer.
    “Yeah, okay. I’ve got to get to English and read some real fiction, not the unnecessary bull y’all have going on here,” I say, taking off to class.
    The late bell begins to ring as soon as I start my sprint toward the Language Hall across the courtyard. Lucky for me the classroom door is open. I make it to my seat completely out of breath but before the bells stops ringing, much to Mrs. Bennett’s displeasure.
    “Thank you for joining us this morning, Miss Jackson,” Mrs. Bennett says, closing her roll book. “Your morning expository assignments are on the board. Please be prepared to share your essays from last night’s homework.”
    If she weren’t so evil, I’d actually enjoy this class. It’s not as free-thinking as my junior AP English teacher, Mrs. Malone’s class was, but the literature is just as interesting if not more. Mrs. Bennett’s a smart lady, no doubt. I had her sophomore year and she was just as mean and equally brilliant as she is this year.
    When I was a child, Mama and I used to watch the cartoon Kirikou and the Sorceress almost every day. In it, the Sorceress was a beautiful, cunning and wealthy woman who seemed like she was made of pure evil. It took a very special newborn to pluck the thorn out of her back, relieving her suffering and as a result, the suffering of everyone around her. Kirikou also revealed he was a grown ass man at the end, making the Sorceress even happier. Maybe that’s what Mrs. Bennett needs: a tall, dark and handsome man to ease her pain and mine as well.
    My estranged man, Jeremy, and his wannabe wifey, Cameron, step inside the full room and each hand the teacher excused tardy slips. It must be nice existing in the good graces of the attendance office like Misty, whose mom also works there.
    “It’s so nice to see the two of you together,” Mrs. Bennett says with a wide smile spread across her chalky face. She’s a little too involved in student business for my taste, even if she is a friend of Jeremy’s mom.
    Jeremy looks at me sadly and I feel his pain. On cue, Cameron steps in front of my ex and smiles victoriously at her handiwork. If she only knew how much I despise her existence she’d back the hell off. But like Mickey