Hood Defined Love

by Raevyn Renee

Genres: African American Urban

Synopsis

Raevyn Renee’s debut novel explores the idea that love can blossom even among the most difficult of circumstances in the hood.

Riley has been doing her best to raise her cousin Mikayla, even allowing some of her desires to fall by the wayside to make sure Mikayla is okay. Her love life is practically nonexistent, and there are times she doesn't know whether she’s coming or going.

Mikayla’s past has caused her to look for love in all the wrong places, not recognizing that the love she needs comes from within. The mask she wears can only hide what she feels for so long.

Jermaine took over for his mother when his brother became too much for her to handle. Now his brother is determined to spiral out of control no matter how Jermaine tries to steer him otherwise. What Jermaine doesn't expect is for his brother's mishaps to bring someone into his life that he didn't know he needed.

Jeremiah isn't sure what he’s missing, but he knows he can't find it from his big brother. He’s focused on doing his own thing no matter who he disappoints. It isn't until he meets Mikayla that his views begin to change, but unfortunately for him, it may be too late.

Mikayla’s and Jeremiah's troubles seem to get worse without a chance of getting better. However, with everything they’ve learned about one another, this may be the one chance they have to finally get things right.

Release date: May 30, 2023

Publisher: Urban Books

Print pages: 288

Sample

Mikayla’s heart pounded inside her chest as her eyes darted from left to right. She hadn’t noticed how heavy her backpack was until now, as the straps dug into her shoulders. She tucked her hands under each strap, hiking it up a bit, hoping to bring herself some relief, but the wall she was pinned against and the three young men before her gave her little room to do so. With the small space she had between them, she shifted her body weight to her right, glancing up at each boy, expressionless. Her goal was to display a relaxed demeanor even though she was silently freaking out. Jason, Daniel, and Levi, three of McClane High’s most popular students, had her cornered near the boys’ bathroom door. And although rationality told her they wouldn’t try anything crazy, she still couldn’t shake the queasy feeling in her gut as the three pairs of eyes stared back at her.

“You’re Mikayla, right?” Daniel, the first to speak up, looked down at her with a slight smirk. He wasn’t that much taller than her, but the difference in height was enough to have her eyes upward and his head tilted down to meet them.

Though she found his question absurd, she was glad one of them finally said something to her instead of continuing to stare at her like she was a foreign object. She and Daniel had fifth period together, the class they were currently missing because he and his friends had her cornered. So she knew without a doubt that he knew exactly who she was. She’d always thought of Daniel as a good-looking guy in a “rough around the edges” sort of way. He dressed nicely and had a hard exterior, with a slice across his cheek rumored to have come from a fight in juvenile hall. Besides the scar, his chestnut complexion was smooth, and his deep-set eyes were sexy. His antics in class, though, kept him from being her type.

Deciding to humor him in hopes that her answer would prompt them to move out of her way, Mikayla nodded, confirming her identity. With her eyes still on Daniel, she slightly stretched her neck as if to say, “Now what?” His smirk switched into a full-blown smile, showing his semi-straight teeth.

Annoyed, she moved her eyes from Daniel over to Levi, then Jason, who she unintentionally allowed her eyes to linger on a bit longer, before looking at her feet. Each boy was handsome. Jason, finer than the other two, had crept into her mind a time or two due to her bulging crush on him. He reminded her of the guy who played Khalil on Black Lightning, just darker and maybe shorter. Still, the resemblance was enough to have her lusting for the imitation if she couldn’t have the real thing. Right now, however, she couldn’t see past his creepy and lustful gaze to find even a hint of joy that he was even acknowledging her. It was something he’d never done until now, and she had no idea why. Mikayla wanted to push through them and go about her business, but the wall their broad teenage shoulders built discouraged her from doing so.

“So listen, me and my boys are trying to see what’s up with you. I’ve seen you watching me, and I’m assuming that’s ’cause you like me.” Jason’s smooth and confident tone prompted her attention back to his face, although she purposely avoided his eyes. The way he practically told her she liked him was as if he was daring her to deny it. So she didn’t. It would be a lie if she had anyway. Her admission of finding him attractive came from nodding her head, still avoiding eye contact with him and his friends.

“That’s what’s up. I mean, I’m trying to get to know you. Possibly like you too. I need you to do something for me first, though.”

Mikayla frowned. She certainly wasn’t in the mood to do any favors. Besides, she was still uncomfortable with how they had her surrounded.

“We heard what you did for that boy Greg, and ol’ boy ain’t even a quarter of us on our worst day. So I’m sayin’ if you giving out favors like that, then you may as well do it for some real ones who can make it count for something, ya dig?”

Her eyes bulged at the mention of Greg’s name. She’d heard he spread some things about her around the school, but she hadn’t really taken it seriously because he didn’t have anything to tell. They’d kissed behind the bleachers of the baseball field, and she vomited right after, disgusted by whatever he’d eaten that day lingering on his tongue. Either that or he naturally had some bad breath. Plus, she only kissed him because he was kind of cute, nice to her, and showed genuine interest in her. She was having one of her moments where she wanted some male attention. Those days didn’t come frequently, and one day that it did, Greg was the lucky guy.

Today, however, her guard was up, and given the subtle aggressive nature of the three guys before her, it was rightfully so. She wasn’t in the mood for male attention, even if one of the guys happened to be her secret crush. Mikayla opened her mouth to . . . Hell, she had no clue what she was going to say, but before any words could formulate, there was a loud squeak throughout the hallway, indicating someone was coming, which prompted the boys to shove her into the restroom.

Their lustful gazes landed on her as she backed away from them, finally having room to do so. She only wished she could back out of the bathroom door as the pungent smell of piss invaded her nostrils. Unfortunately for her, that wouldn’t be happening with them blocking the way and Jason and Daniel advancing on her slowly. Her eyes shot to Levi, who began checking the stalls.

“I should be getting to class.” She spoke without an ounce of confidence.

“You’re already late, so you may as well kick it with us. You’ll make it to next period,” Daniel said as he caressed the left side of her face, causing her skin to feel as if she were getting pricked by a ton of needles.

“Ain’t none of us gon’ make it to our next class nor get our dicks sucked if we keep beating around the bush. I ain’t miss a fuckin’ quiz to miss out on my turn.” Levi’s words pierced her ears like nails scratching a chalkboard.

Mikayla thought her heart had been pounding before. Now it felt as if it would leap from her chest at any moment. Her mouth immediately felt dry, her cheeks heated, and she could feel sweat beads form on her forehead. Her eyes shifted toward him, widened because she couldn’t believe the words from his mouth. Oddly, Levi looked the most innocent of the crew, with light brown skin, silky hair he wore in a low Afro, and one dimple near the corner of his mouth on the right side of his face. It only proved how looks could be very deceiving given the filth that had just left his mouth.

“Fuck it, let’s get this over with. Mikayla, after you do this, I promise you’ll be the most popular girl in the school, and you can sit at our table a couple times a week during lunch. And if you’re worried about anyone finding out, don’t. We won’t say shit,” Jason said, rushing into her. His hands immediately grasped her breasts, while another set grabbed her ass. Tears stinging her eyes caused her vision to blur while the swift movements of hands roaming her body left her unsure of which guy was touching where. It wasn’t until she felt a hand between her legs that she found her voice again.

“No!” she screamed, forcing her body backward into one of them.

“Ay, what the fuck is going on in here?”

Relief washed over her as the hands that had been violating her were removed. She wasn’t sure who unknowingly came to her rescue, but she was grateful.

“Mind yo’ fuckin’ business, dawg,” Levi said, moving from behind her.

Mikayla wiped her eyes as she took two steps to her left to see who’d come into the restroom. Jeremiah, a boy from her second-period class who was known around the school as a troublemaker, had unknowingly just become one of her favorite people, especially if he could get her away from Daniel, Jason, and Levi.

“Yo, you good?” he asked, looking her over. She saw a flicker of concern in his eyes before they went dark, and he turned his attention back to the boys.

“Yeah, she good.” Jason slung his arm over her shoulder, and the shiver that possessed her body couldn’t be mistaken.

“Y’all some bitch-ass niggas if I’ve ever seen any. And we all know I’m not the nigga you want problems with.” Jeremiah stepped up, his hand going toward the back of his pants as if he was reaching for something. Based on his reputation, she wouldn’t put it past him if he did have a gun.

“Ay, Mikayla, we’ll catch you another time.” Jason removed his arm from her shoulder, and he and his crew exited the bathroom. Each mugged the hell out of Jeremiah, even going so far as to bump into him on their way out.

“You sure you good?” he asked her once they were the only two left.

“I said I was fine!” Mikayla snapped, rushing toward the door. She halted, then she went back to him as her hands flew to her face in an attempt to silence the sob escaping.

“Ay, man.” Jeremiah’s tone was soft and full of concern. It was also what got her feet back moving. Mikayla rushed out of the bathroom, not stopping until she reached the end of the hall. She placed her back against the lockers, shielding herself as she tried to compose herself.

“Mr. Stately, what did you do to that young lady?” The voice carried to the end of the hall where she stood frozen hoping that Jeremiah wouldn’t snitch on her or Jason, Daniel, and Levi. That would open a whole other issue she wasn’t interested in dealing with.

“Mr. Feng, I don’t know what you saw or think you saw, but it wasn’t that. Number one, I didn’t do nothing to nobody, and two, I don’t know who or what you’re talking about,” she heard Jeremiah say.

“Sure you don’t. We’ll finish this discussion in my office.” Mr. Feng’s voice boomed through the hall, and she knew he didn’t buy what Jeremiah told him. In fact, she was sure he was about to dig into Jeremiah’s ass, because that was the kind of stuff he lived for. Mr. Feng took his job as principal seriously, determined to instill enough fear in the students that they didn’t disrupt his school. He cared about accolades and test scores and making sure to keep delinquents in check, Jeremiah being one of them.

“I’m telling you, I ain’t do nothin’.”

Jeremiah’s protest was the last thing she heard before footsteps drew farther away from her. Mikayla knew that whatever was about to go down in the principal’s office would not be good for Jeremiah. Still, she couldn’t bring herself to save him the way he had her. Besides, he didn’t know she was listening, and he’d already lied about knowing who she was, so there was no need to intervene.

Hoisting her backpack up onto her shoulders, she headed for the exit, not stopping until she made it behind the same bleachers where she and Greg had kissed. Mikayla sat in the dirt Indian style, not caring about the dirt stain that was sure to be left on the back of her distressed boyfriend jeans.

She couldn’t believe the nerve of Jason, Levi, and Daniel. To think she would suck all or even one of them off proved that not only were they delusional but naive as well. She knew she was giving them too much credit to think that high school boys would know better than to believe a rumor. But that was what high school was pretty much about—everyone trying to prove or deny something someone else said about them. Rarely were people’s high school reputations based on their own actions and not descriptions given by their peers. Still, the last thing she thought would happen was that a rumor would get her almost raped.

“Oh, my God,” she cried, placing her face into her palms. The revelation of what was close to happening hit her like a ton of bricks. They were about to rape her. She said no, and no one stopped touching her. If it weren’t for Jeremiah, there was no telling how far they would have gotten. She was happy she hadn’t worn the corduroy skirt she originally planned to wear, as she remembered hands being forced between her legs.

Tears continued to run like a leaking faucet from Mikayla’s eyes as everything played back in her head like it was stuck on repeat until the loud blaring of the school bell scared her. Pain and agony filled her so much that she’d forgotten all about the few hours left of school. Removing her phone from her back pocket, she opened the FaceTime app. Instinctively her thumb hovered over her cousin’s name. She was ready to call her before she immediately decided against it. Her almond-shaped eyes were puffy, and traces of red surrounded her light brown irises. Her jet-black curly hair was all over the place, and she had no clue how her ponytail had become so loose since she couldn’t remember her nor any of the guys’ hands in her hair. Her disheveled look was more than enough to have her cousin ready to head to the school and take off anyone’s head who even looked at her wrong.

Wiping her face with the sleeve of her Abercrombie T-shirt, she stood and dusted off as much of the dirt as possible before making her way to the bus stop. She was done with school for the day. She also knew her cousin would get messages alerting her of every class she missed, and she didn’t care. Mikayla was getting as far away as possible from McClane High and its nasty-ass male students. She would deal with the repercussions of her absences later.

Jeremiah held his head high as he walked through the office door Mr. Feng held open for him. He tittered slightly as he knew the gesture wasn’t one of courtesy but to further establish his dominance, which didn’t move Jeremiah at all. Taking a seat at Mr. Feng’s desk, he sat unshaken with his legs wide as he brushed his hands down his jeans. He wasn’t in the mood to be interrogated, yet he knew it was sure to come. Jeremiah was pissed that his meddling had landed him across from Mr. Feng. Since he started at McClane High, the principal seemed to have it out for him. Granted, he wasn’t what one considered a model student, but he surely wasn’t as bad as he was made out to be.

At least, he wasn’t at first. Although he kept his grades decent enough to guarantee graduation, he’d become the school misfit they deemed him. He felt he might as well give them the kid they wanted him to be so badly, so he acted out when he felt like it. He recognized he’d get further by proving them wrong. However, he hadn’t cared enough to take that route. Being rebellious was more fun anyway. He sat back, waiting for Mr. Feng to say a bunch of shit that didn’t apply to him because, for once, he was in his office for being a solution and not the problem, whether Mr. Feng knew it or not.

“Mr. Stately, would you like to tell me A, who the young lady was coming out of the restroom with you, and B, what you two were doing in there?” He gave Jeremiah a stern stare, hoping it would persuade him to not only answer his question but also reveal the identity of the young woman who moved too quickly for him to catch. Given the numerous times he’d had to chastise Jeremiah, he could pick him out with his eyes closed. Besides, he was almost certain that whoever the young lady was, she had been influenced by Jeremiah. Truthfully, he wanted nothing more than to get the young woman’s side of the story, but because he had no clue who she was, Jeremiah would have to do. He’d never understand why good girls seemed to be so intrigued with bad guys. He would’ve liked nothing more than to let whoever the girl was know that dealing with a kid like Jeremiah would do her more harm than good.

“Mr. Feng, there is honestly nothing to tell. I wasn’t in the bathroom with a girl,” Jeremiah said with a straight face even though he was having a fit on the inside. Subtly he shook his head as Mikayla entered his mind. The relief that washed over her face when she first locked eyes with him, then the tears that spilled from her eyes before she stormed out of the bathroom, played back as if it were happening again in real time. Still, he wouldn’t admit to being in that restroom with her or any other female.

“My eyes were playing tricks on me, huh?”

Jeremiah’s eyes met his as he shrugged. “I can’t tell you what’s going on with your eyes, sir.”

Mr. Feng’s face transformed to beet red, and Jeremiah did his best to keep his face even. “Why must you think everything is a game, Jeremiah?” He called him by his first name, leaving not an ounce of doubt that anger consumed him.

“Mr. Feng, I’m not. I mean, I don’t. Anytime I’ve been in your office, it’s behind something I’ve actually done and owned. Always. There’s nothing to own up to this time, so there’s no reason for me to be here. You gonna keep asking me a question I can’t give you an answer to.”

“Maybe if I give you a couple of days at home, it’ll come to you.” He slid back his chair enough to open the center drawer of his desk and removed a pink slip.

Jeremiah peered at Mr. Feng as if he’d just lost his mind. He hated the position that he was being put in, because if anyone needed any time at home, it was Jason and his bitch-ass friends.

“Last chance, Mr. Stately.”

“My answer isn’t going to change, Mr. Feng. The truth can’t be forced into a lie no matter who don’t like it.” Jeremiah sat back, irritated. He refused to speak on what he walked into in that bathroom because it wasn’t his business to tell. If she wanted to tell Mr. Feng what went down, then she could. She had a better chance of Mr. Feng believing her than he did anyway. He could sit there and run the entire situation down and he was sure their beloved principal would still deem him guilty until proven innocent. Not only that, but it would also be his and Mikayla’s words against Jason, Levi, and Daniel, and as shady as they were, those three could flip the script on him quick. Regardless of how he thought the truth would prevail, he knew it wouldn’t work in his favor.

“Three days’ suspension.” Mr. Feng slid the pink slip in front of Jeremiah like he was handing over a $100 bill.

“Three days? That’s bullshit! I can take one, maybe two, but three days is pushing it. I have a test this week, Mr. Feng.”

“You will watch your language in my office. Those three days can easily turn into five. I say three days is fairly reasonable since you broke school rules and you’re failing to cooperate.”

“Can I go now?” Jeremiah sat up, grabbing his backpack from the floor and slinging it onto his shoulder. He was about to leave whether Mr. Feng said it . . .