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Kaplan University, Davenport *

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English

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Oct 30, 2023

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docx

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Uploaded by KiQuonjaW19

Pedersen Literary Services DEVELOPMENTAL EDIT (with Comments Only) Title: Journey’s Buds to Blossoms (Story #2) Author: KiQuonja Dixon Initial Word Count: 5458 Ending Word Count: 5423 TOUGH DECISIONS She…well, we all had made it to our senior year without giving up our virginity. I still had mine because the guys weren’t worthy enough. They would flirt and fill up on everyone. They didn't have goals, and most of them chose to be in the street despite coming from good families. Like being in a street gang was a goal? See we grew up in this little city called Milledgeville, Ga, where the guys slept with their girlfriends’ sisters, cousins, friends, and enemies. They didn't care, and the fact that these girls would fight about it instead of standing up for each other was sad, which made me not want any part of it. Even though I had male friends, I wouldn't date them. We would hangout, go to the movies, but nothing serious. However, there was this one guy I might have been interested in. His name was Jeremy and he'd been in my inbox. He was different, but I think that's because his mom was a beast and would have knocked him down to her size. Unlike most of the guys who were incapable of caring about their future or themselves, Jeremy was kind, he got good grades, was active in multiple school activities. Jeremy was different and I admired that. Most of the teachers would talk about us students and our parents. Especially the ones

who were often kicked out of class, or had a reputation for being a “behavior problem.” I remember walking towards Ms. Holloway while she was talking to some other teachers about ShaNiya’s behavior and how her attitude had led up to ShaNiya’s pregnancy. Ms. Holloway said “Ms. Bridges, I told you she was going to get pregnant with all that carrying on. I don’t know who should feel worse about her situation: ShaNiya or her wannabe, boujee-acting mama. Those people know they can talk shit, can’t pay for shit, but keep running up here like she wanna fight.” “Now Ms. Holloway, ShaNiya’s family is not that bad,” said Ms. Bridges. “Oh, really? Just wait ‘til you get them next semester. I said the same thing to a teacher last year.” I couldn’t believe they were just up there talking about people like that. It wasn’t the first time teachers belittled students, and I knew it wouldn’t be the last. I'm Shanice, the dark-skin, gray-eyed girl with curly hair. People usually assume I'm mixed because of my eyes and hair, but that was far from the case. Just great genes. Shannon was our other best friend. Shannon was the Personality of our clique. She held us together. She was also the most dramatic. But Shannon was my girl no matter how dramatic she got. Most of the boys at school were drawn to her, but she turned them all down. I mean Shannon literally refused to do anything boy- related, whether it was a group thing or single date. Some of the boys at school eventually started a rumor that she was gay. Whether she was or not, she still won class president our eighth, ninth, and tenth grade years. Shannon was the glue that held us all together. Jade was the star of the group. She loved to play basketball. Well, when she wasn’t back and forth between juvie and group homes. Jade didn't play when it came to respect. In fact, she demanded it, and didn't take crap from anyone. She was quick to speak and even quicker to fight, no matter the circumstances. Most times I wished I could act like I didn't care about anything, but I did. I cared too much. I even cared about what other people thought and said about me. We all got good

grades, for the most part. We all struggled with at least one subject, but we'd help each other. "Shanice! Guess what, guess what!" said Jade I said, "I don't wanna guess. Just tell me." "My big brother Marcus will be home soon. Very soon. I think my mom said he would be home in April." "What!” I screamed. “I know you're glad. I can't believe it. It's been a long time." "But I’m nervous. Shanice, what if he comes in taking over and shouting out rules? And my prom dress—he's going to go off on me," Jade said. "It might not be that bad, and you can always have a decoy dress," I suggested. "I'm not messing up my hair or makeup to avoid my brother. I'll figure it out," said Jade. Jade was comfortable with herself and she didn’t mind showing everyone else either. Jade was what the boys called “a tease,” but she wasn't ready to have sex, especially not when her brother would be home soon, watching Jade and make sure to threaten the other guys in the neighborhood. he protected Jade from guys like him and their brothers any guys really. Not to mention that since we have been in high school so many of our classmates have gotten pregnant over the last couple of years. Our freshman year was the worst. We had seven girls pregnant in school. Junior year some of them had another baby, and some other students were pregnant for the first time, but overall we had eleven people pregnant in school. Jade and I knew better since we'd seen what happened to Jade's brother Samuel's high school girlfriend. Samuel got Jessica pregnant their senior year in high school and he still went off to college. Now Jessica was home working and taking care of her baby—well, their baby—by herself. Meanwhile Samuel was in college working on his future. When our senior year started, we had a few transfer students due to a fire that occurred over

the summer at the other school across town. Some of the cheerleaders had met him he was the finest one out of all the transfer students. Prior to us coming back to school because of football camp. He was the talk of the school. There he was, this arrogant boy named Tyler. He was a fine, tall, dark-skinned dude. I did say fine, right? He had straight pearly white teeth and dimples. His voice had some bass in it. He was nothing like the guys we were going to school with. When they announced him as the new quarterback, the girls were going crazy over him. I mean, Jade Shannon and I would look, but we didn't try to get his attention or offer to do his homework like some of the other girls. Shannon used to be the only person who swore he wasn't fine. We knew she was looking though. Especially when she told us about the poem he wrote in their AP Lit class. When Tyler realized who Shannon was, I guess he focused on her because he became relentless trying to get with her. She blew him off for a couple of weeks until he asked her to the fall dance. "Soooooo, all I wanna know is what happened with you and Tyler after the dance,'' Jade said. "You disappeared on us." "Nothing really,” Shannon said. “We walked around the track, talking ‘til we got picked up.'' "Did he try to sex you? Did he kiss you? Did he ask you out? What was he like? Come on, I need details!” Jade pressed. I burst out laughing. I couldn't believe how excited Jade was. "Why Jade all up in your business?" We all laughed. Jade looked at me and said, "She still didn't answer the questions.” Then Jade looked at Shannon. Shannon sighed then finally said, "I enjoyed myself and he made me feel special, but I’m still a virgin now stop with the third degree.” The next few weeks at school we barely saw Shannon. If we did, she was with Tyler. They looked happy. All I saw were smiles and jealous eyes as they walked down the hallway some were

happy for them some were jealous. I'd never seen her so intrigued by anyone, let alone a guy. When third period hit, I met up with Jade for lunch. "Please tell me how we lost our girl?” Jade asked me. We laughed and went to meet Shannon for lunch. Thank God we got there before Tyler. We walked to get our lunch and went towards the tables. We hadnt gotten a real opportunity to spend time with our friend. On the way over Shannon called, “Guys!” We looked at her, laughed, and walked slower until we were able to sit down at the table together. "I'm happy. He's sweet and thoughtful. We even talked about college," Shannon told us. “Jade, what did you want earlier before second period? I couldn't get out of class.” Jade shrugged. “Nothing, really. I haven't seen you and I was just making sure you were going to still sit with us today.” “How does it feel to be in a relationship? Do you think he really likes you, or he likes the fact that you weren't stunning him?” I asked Shannon. "Honestly, I've been having fun, he makes me laugh. He's been blowing people off right in front of me. He makes me feel special, '' Shannon said. “He also walks me to and from my classes and carries my books. "Let's not forget how he questioned you two about me before we got together,” she continued. “And we ended up matching outfits for the dance. And he always draws me a picture with something yellow.” Shannon was the glue that held us together. "Now does that answer your questions, Jade?" Shannon laughed. Over the next two months it was mainly Jade and I. We'd hear from Shannon occassionally, but for the most part she was always with Tyler.

When I got to school on Monday, the first two people I saw were Shannon and Tyler. She had been so into him that she hadn't been spending much time with us. I felt like she was leaving me out. The three of us had made a pact to wait till after prom night to have sex. By then, we would all be graduating, which was important to us. Especially considering how our classmates were getting pregnant and dropping out of school to work within the last few years. A few weeks had gone by and I noticed Shannon had started changing. Even though most girls in my grade were sexually active, that didn't make any of them ready. Shannon, Jade, and I would always watch them as they dated multiple people, bouncing from one relationship to the next. They couldn’t keep one relationship, and sex only seemed to make things more complicated. Shannon and Tyler had apparently decided that prom night was too long to wait “just for sex”. A week or two had gone by since Shannon told Jade and I that she and Tyler decided to have sex. So Jade asked her, "Well, what was it like? Don't leave us in suspense." Shannon laughed and told us that they had talked about it first. She said Tyler wasn't a virgin, that he'd been with an older lady, so he was going to teach her what he had learned. I screamed at Shannon. “How old was the woman? And what does he mean ‘to teach’ you?” Shannon laughed and proceeded to talk. "He told me to get undressed and lay back on the bed. So, I did. Then he kissed my toes and my fingers, and he started licking my whole body. Girl, I thought I was having a seizure. I couldn't stop shaking! Then I felt a whole bunch of pressure, like my insides were being torn apart. He grabbed my face and told me he loved me. And after a few strokes…I felt it.” I cleared my throat, but before I could get it out Jade interrupted. “What did you feel?” “I felt what they wanted to keep us away from,” Shannon said. “What are you talking about?” I asked. I was beyond puzzled now.

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