A Street Girl Named Desire: A Novel by Treasure E. Blue

there selling flavored ice cups. There were packs of children in uniforms leaving school as well, being led by caring and concerned parents. It had been hard for them to notice what was good about the streets when they had lived most of their lives caught up in the bad. The time after school when they walked home was their time to keep their bearings on all that they had come from.
    They were about to step in their building when they noticed a crowd of guys watching someone get a beat down. Scenes like this were typical, and depending on their mood, the girls would either walk past or try to get a glimpse of the action without getting too involved. Today, they weren't in a hurry. Hattie Mae never questioned them when they were a little late coming in from school. She always just assumed they were out being girls. She didn't worry about them as much anymore. But today, there was something about the action that made them have to get into it.
    “Hold up, Tiah, I think that's Carvelas fighting!” Desire shouted once they got closer to the chaos.
    Tiah squinted her eyes and said with surprise,“Carvelas? You think so?”
    Desire said,“Yeah, I think so, come with me.”
    They walked toward the melee and discovered that, sure enough, it was Carvelas, fighting valiantly against a local troublemaker named Lyfe. Lyfe was tall, lanky, and had a mean scowl. He had a reputation as a big gun on the block. He ran with a packof other troublemakers, who considered him their leader. He was used to getting whatever he wanted from his followers: cigarettes, blunts, takeout from the corner restaurants, even sex from the girls who followed up behind them all. Desire and Tiah had mostly avoided him up to this point. But not today. Desire pushed her way into the brawl and said to Lyfe,“Leave him alone, nigga.”
    Lyfe didn't know Desire or Tiah, so he assumed they were just average Janes. He huffed,“What you say, lil bitch?”
    Calmly, Desire said,“You heard me.”
    He could punk the average person out with a simple stare, but not Desire. She read right through him and knew he was a faker or he wouldn't be fighting a boy like Carvelas, who was clearly smaller than him.
    Bloodied and bruised, Carvelas stepped in front of Desire. She couldn't believe how he looked and wondered what on earth would land Carvelas, of all people, into the middle of a brawl. He was normally so quiet and peaceful. He panted,“Desire, I ain't afraid of him. I got it.”
    “I know,” said Desire.“You showed him what's up.”
    She took Carvelas by his arm and attempted to walk away. The crowd around them made their objections known, as they protested loudly that the fight was ending. Desire heard laughs and taunts aimed at Carvelas:“pussy,”“scared little nigga” and even“he got a bitch fighting his battles for him.” Lyfe stepped in front of them and said,“Bitch, where you think you going?”
    Desire looked at him and said,“Yo, check this out, I ain't gonna be too many more bitches, nigga. Now, if I ever see you touch him again, you gonna—”
    Lyfe cut her off and jumped in her face. He said,“You gonna do what?”
    Desire answered point-blank,“You gonna get your back dirty.” She then smiled.
    Lyfe looked around and said,“Who the fuck this bit—”
    Before he could get the words out, Desire and Tiah were on him, as Carvelas held Lyfe's crew back. Chaos erupted on the street while Desire kicked Lyfe all over his body. Tiah sat on his chest and held him down so Desire could do her damage. Desire was like a wolf. The old, familiar urge to fight had been reawakened and renewed. As she pummeled Lyfe, she beat down the Corleys, the other foster families, the pack of bitches who had chased her down the street the day she met Tiah. She was even fighting the mother who had abandoned her. Even Tiah was shocked at Desire's ferocity. Desire barely knew Carvelas, and here she was fighting for him like he was Hattie Mae.
    An NYPD squad car squealed its