Living in Brooklyn was starting to get even tougher for Estriella. Nothing like Napoli, where she grew up. In Napoli, Italy you would see the minimum age of six years old walking around without anyone by their side to protect them. The crime rate was very low there, but in New York, Estriella always feared for the worst. She moved to Brooklyn that year when living in Florida with her Grandmother Sophia was getting harder. They were living off of the money from her parents and her grandmother since the age of nine, but couldnt any longer - spending so much of it on the house, her grandmothers health, and other needs - having to move to a lower class area just to survive instead of living ... well ... in a box.

Estriella was now sixteen and had a job at a local community theatre, Recreational Centre, and a pizza shoppe down the street from her home. Her grades had been slipping ever since she had to take the three jobs. Every night of hers was full, except for Fridays, where she spent time with her Grandmother at her home. Her only prized possession that Ella took with her since she moved was her piano, nothing else would fit into the new home. She had the black grand piano sitting snug in her room, giving her not much more room for other things, except her bed and a dresser.

It was Friday after school. Ella decided to stay at the basketball court, hoping to meet up with Malina before her and her sister went home, just to hang out for a little or something. However, Ella didnt know when or where they left. To her knowledge, they could have left hours ago. Ella just hoped that nothing happened ... people didnt come and find her at the court. She sat at a beat up bench on the grass and sighed, starting to hum a song very quietly.

Why didnt Ella think of this before? Of course Shanice was going to be at the basketball court. She was everywhere Ella was ... just criticizing her on her actions around the town. Could she ever get away from her? The only place better was her home, but even there wasn't probably the best place for a teen girl and an elder lady from Italy to stay. Ella was scared for her life, even at school, and wondered what would have happened if she stayed in Napoli and her parents weren't killed. A few seconds later, Ella put all of that aside and stopped humming, lowering her head and sighing softly once more. She wasn't about to answer Shanice, but decided it was for the best ...

"No this is not my spare time ..." She looked up to Shanice, a bit angry, "I know the dangers, I was just looking for a friend. I guess she left for home already." But something came to mind as Ella answered her. Why would Shanice care what Estriella did or didnt do? It wasnt like Estriella would join Shanice in her group ... or even cared for her. Was she mocking Ella once more? Maybe it was best to just go home. Ella didnt want to make more drama between them that was already flaming. Estriella was furious at herself, god, and anyone else she really wanted to be mad at. But that was just taking her parents death on others. She stood and started to walk away, yet had a feeling Shanice may follow her and mock her even more, but once they get to her home, Shanice would be trespassing.

How far can Shanice go with saying things about the clique they called the Would Be Populars? Apparently pretty far to be racist about them. Estriella was apart of that clique since she was friends with Malina and her sister was basically head of the group. She felt a bit more safe with them, reason being why she wanted to find them instead of being alone in the court or at home that day with her grandmother. She loved her grandmother very much, she was getting a little sick and Ella was worried, but she hoped one day hanging around with her friends wouldn't do anything to her health.

Ella heard footsteps in the grass, crunching behind her. She turned around and saw Shanice following her. Ella sighed once more to herself and asked her, "Why would you interrogate me like this? Don't you have better things to do?" Estriella knew that most peopl were like this, but she would think that if she was always so innocent looking, that they wouldn't even waste their time. At least it was only Shanice instead of her and her whole group.

Ella was in her way? Ugh. That first off didnt make any sense to her because Shanice walked up to her. Shanice, once again, could have just ignored her and left. Then Estriella wouldn't have been in her path of leaving. Apparently she had nothing better to do.

Ella moved off to the side of the sidewalk from the basketball court toward where she was walking. She crossed her arms and looked over toward the school, straight back. Now if Shanice was telling that she was in her way, Shanice could just walk passed her now and go on her own instead of with Ella, but Estriella doubted she would do that. She learned her throat, not making eye ontact with Shanice, yet waiting for her to leave. Was there another way Ella could get home instead of passing the main street? She looked around, but nothing popped.

No, Estriella didnt have anything to say. She was getting annoyed, but would never try anything on Shanice. It got to the point where Ella didnt care what Shanice did at that moment, she just wanted to get home. Her grandmother was possibly worrying and that woulnd't be good for her health or the family at all. She fixed her bag on her shoulder and twirled a piece of her own hair on her finger in her right hand, "Im letting you through. You know, so you can do whatever you need to do ... without me." She added at the end. Her accent and whispered tone sounded a bit like mumbling, but the person could still tell what she said.

Ella planned on going home, making dinner for her grandmother and herself, and having her piano lesson from her grandmother Sophia. She didnt have much homework, so maybe she would also do that. But she knew that she was definitely not leaving the house that weekend unless it was with the group of friends she made at the school.