Artist: Wu-Tang
Song: Protect Ya Neck (literally just the end of the song where it says "Best protect ya neck")

"Dude, are you sure we're going the right way?" Ashton asked, furrowing his brows in confusion as they re-enter the neighborhood they promised the police they'd never re-enter.

Calum sighed, already growing annoyed with his overly-concerned friend who may or may not have asked the previous question more than once already.

"Yes, Ashton. For the third time, already," He slithered his eyes over at the boy, side eyeing him as he continued. "We are going the right way."

Ashton threw his hands up in faux surrender then continued his semi-terrified stare outside the window.

The area looked different in the day than during the night.

Well, the usual guys hanging at the corner were still hanging at the corner but you could clearly see the blue or red clothes they wore.

And yes, there were the same black or Latino men with baggy clothes dapping each other up and giving Calum's car a look, because this car isn't too common in the hood, then whispering to one another a bit after.

But, you could see where you were going.

Well, given, it's daylight and streetlights don't play a big role during that time.

However, it wasn't a dark as Calum had in mind the first time around when they accidentally stumbled upon the neighborhood.

Of course it was no 'Edgewood Heights', where he lived but it didn't matter.

From the looks of it, everyone knew everyone and if that didn't scream 'community' then he didn't know what did.

He smiled as he briefly passed by a park full of people dancing, hugging and jamming out to music, making a right turn soon after.

"Up there." Ashton called out, pointing up the road. The brown boy nodded as they approached a sign that directed them to the way of the school.

"Who would've thought this school was literally ten minutes away from ours." The golden haired one added, scanning the auburn and beige colored building, the words 'East Compton High' displayed proudly atop.

Calum struggles to find a parking spot, which meant they had to continually pass by students that gave them either dirty or questionable looks, probably wondering why they were here.

Ashton, of course, waved and offered the biggest smile he could give which only made them burst into laughter.

"They seem friendly." He commented, nudging Calum, who held in his laughter as he finally reached a vacant spot to park.

He unbuckled his seatbelt. "Yeah, oh so, friendly. C'mon."

The two hopped out the expensive car and took in their surroundings.

They surely weren't at the Richmond Academy.

"Coach said this school has the top soccer team in the county." Calum commented, giving Ashton a heads up. The boy turned away from gazing at how high one of the car sat to his friend.

His eyes widened a bit. "Top?," He turned back towards the building and bit his bottom lip. "I guess you can't judge a book by it's cover, huh?"

Calum shrugged, nodding at a black student who threw up a peace sign in return.

"Yup," He sighed and rubbed his hands together then clapped. "Let's go."

The brown boy noticed how different this life was in comparison to his own.

It stuck out like a sore thumb, the obvious difference.

From the way they dressed to the way they greeted one another.

It intrigued the boy a bit, it scared Ashton, but it definitely grew interest in Calum.

His whole life he's only really seen the world one-sided, from lifestyle to ethnicity.

Let's just get straight to it, he's never been around so many black and Latino persons in his life.

Excluding the ones who catered in his home or cut his grass.

And yes, he's fascinated with R&B/Hip-Hop music, hence how he knew most of the lyrics that night.

But, this, the actual whole community, the city of Compton, the south side of downtown LA, was something completely foreign to him.

But Calum did his best, he really made an effort to not look like one of those tourist visiting another country.

So, he nodded as a greeting for the guys, who seemed to respond well, just as he did that night.

And for the ladies...well, he didn't really need too much of a routine to know what to do.

His charming smile and small wave worked well enough.

"Hola, Chico." One said, winking at the brown boy as he passed them, her friends giggling and playfully smacking the girl.

"Good morning, ladies." He greeted, causing them to all giggle and whisper once he faced forward.

Ashton chuckled and nudged his friend. "Dude, even in foreign land you get chicks to dig you." He whistled and shook his head in disbelief.

Calum just smirked and shrugged as if it was nothing.

They approached the double doors, pulling them open but soon finding a few guards a few inches inside.

"Please remove everything from your pockets and place them on the voyeur. After you can step up and spread 'em." A dark skinned woman, way shorter than the two boys announced, a hand metal detector in her hand.

Ashton squinted slightly then moved his head over to his friend.

"Top team in the county?"

"Top team in the county." Calum answered, politely smiling at the guard, his was a man, gaining a blink from the older man.

Ashton sighed and retrieved everything from his pockets, Calum following his motion, dropping everything into the small buckets that carried through the x-ray like machine.

"Arms up, legs spread...money bags." The older woman chuckled, causing a few of the guards to join her.

Ashton followed suit, though he wanted to roll his eyes and tell her a thing or two but he didn't want to risk staying there any longer.

So both him and Calum sucked it up and assumed the position.

"Clear. Where are you two headed?" Asked the lady guard, whose names read, Burnetta, according to her name tag. She raised a brow and looked between the two boys.

The boys collected their items from the bucket and stepped closer to the woman.

"We're here from Richmond Academy and we were sent to speak to the players of the soccer team via our coach." Calum informed, hoping she doesn't find the obvious holes in his answer.

After the words left his mouth, he wanted to take them away, to steal them from the air.

It didn't even sound half convincing to himself, and evidently to Ashton either due to the look he gave Calum.

Burnetta raised a suspicious brow then threw her hands up dismissively. "As long as you don't blow this joint up, then we good. It's around the corner, down the hall then to your left." She simply replied, giving each boy a nod then stepping away back to her station.

Calum blinked as if he's surprised his answer worked. He was sure she was going to turn them away.

"Dude, let's jet before she changes her mind." Ashton said, smacking Calum's arm and walking in the direction she gave them.

The two hit the corner and came in full view of the school's population.

It was then, Ashton slowed his steps and swallowed as they were stared down, terror likely roaming his body.

But Calum kept a brave face, carefully walking pass the body of students, trying his best to blend in.

Not like it was too hard for him, it was Ashton he felt sorry for.

They'd look pass the brown boy but furrow their brows at the paler one behind him.

Well, minus a few girls who gazed at him like he was a white chocolate snack they'd love to devour.

"Bro, did you see that?" Ashton ask once he caught one of the girls licking their lips at him.

Calum could only chuckle, turning left as the guard instructed. He was relieved when he saw the locker room door, taking a deep breath before opening it.

"Maybe they're out on the field?" Calum questioned once he noticed the room was empty, making Ashton shake his head.

"During school hours?"

"We're at another school during school hours." Calum replied, proving a point.

Ashton snapped his fingers then pointed to him. "Touché."

Calum took the lead towards the back door, the sun peeking out before they got a chance to fully open it. He squinted and searched for the field, his eyes finding the players running drills.

"How timely." Ashton commented as they began to trek towards the area they practiced.

Calum couldn't help but feel his competitive side rear it's ugly head as he watched them perfectly pass the ball and shoot it in the goal before the goalie can react.

Most of the shots came from, who he suspected the captain to be, something he can sense since he's one himself, a light-skinned player sporting the number one.

"That's it Reece, show them that leadership spirit!" Their coach yelled, blowing his whistle then writing something down on his clipboard.

Calum threw on his charming smile, stepping to the older black man, extending a hand.

"Good morning, Coach." He greeted, causing the man to take his eyes off the board and to the boy. He raised a brow then raised them in shock.

"Well, I'll be," He raised his hand and shook Calum's. "If it isn't the Richmond boys. What y'all doing down here?" He repeated the same action with Ashton.

Calum shrugged and dug his hands into his front pockets.

"Just checking out the competition. You know how that goes, coach." The brown boy said, his boldness spilling through his words.

Once that light was switched and he was in the face of his competition, who was literally staring him in the face, Reece, his jaw clenching, it was no time for games.

The coach raised his brows at his boldness, whistling. "I do know how that goes, son. How's ol' coach Gordon?"

"He's great and strong." Ashton replied, remembering the grip the man had on his shoulder.

The older man chuckled and nodded. "Yup, that's Gordon for you."

"What's up?" Reece interrupted, sizing the two boys as if they didn't belong.

Which they didn't but Calum didn't care.

Actually he was kind of enjoying it.

The brown boy grinned and offered a hand. "'Sup Captain." He said, causing the light skinned boy to snicker.

"Nah, somebody get this chico/cracka' combo off my field." Reece waved his hand at them like they were disposable, making the rest of the team burst into laughter.

"Alright you all." The coach warned, giving them a look.

"Ah, so you know who we are."

"Yeah, y'all them rich kids from that preppy uptown Academy but that don't do nothin' over here, partna'." Reece spat as if the words were disgusting on his tongue.

Calum narrowed his eyes and tilted his head.

He hated when someone brought up his school as if it gave him an advantage. It's his talent that made him who he was, it was his skill that made him 'Captain'.

"And it does nothing towards my skills, bro. I earned that title." Calum shot back which only made Reece chuckle darkly some more.

"Yeah or y'Daddy bought it for you."

"Excuse me--" Calum stepped forward, causing the opposite team, along with Reece to repeat his action.

Coach Boomin stepped between the two boys and extended his arm. "Alright, y'all have had your fun. Get back on the field." He said with a warning glare.

However, as the rest of the team dispersed and jogged back towards the field, Calum and Reece remained, staring each other down.

"Reece, let's go." Boomin said, looking at the boy as if he had lost his mind not listening the first time.

"This ain't over, rich kid."

"See you soon, captain." Calum replied, watching as the boy backed away, his jaw clenching before he turned and jogged away.

Boomin shook his head then nodded as he began to step away.

"Good day, boys." He called out before tending to his clipboard.

Calum sighed deeply then closed his eyes.

"Dude, what the heck was all that?!" Ashton asked, glancing at the field then back to his friend.

Calum turned to the boy and opened his mouth to respond but his eyes first caught sight of something--no, someone.

The boy wanted badly to be pinched because he could've sworn he was dreaming.

He squinted to get a better look and that only confirmed that it was none other than...

"Blu."

OMG DID I JUST ADD REECE INTO THE MIX AS A FOOTIE PLAYER HA YEAH I DID AND BLU GOES TO COMPTON HIGH!

AND THEY GOT A SECURITY TEAM AT THE ENTRANCE?!?! Oh LAWDT

SO ALOT HAPPENED BUT I HOPE YALL CAN KEEP UP!

FIRST ID LIKE TO SAY THANK YOU FOR ALL THE READS ON THIS STORY AS WELL AS THE DAILY LOVE IT RECEIVES THANK YALL!

SECOND I APOLOGIZE FOR UPDATING LATER THAN USUAL! I'll TRY AND CONTINUE UPDATING AS SOON AS I CAN BECAUSE I LUB THIS STORY!

So with that said, since I'm done screaming, make sure you show ya girl some love!

You can do that by commenting and voting :]

Thank y'all again!

Ttyl 💕