Something Different

By Nicole Jackson

Their paths were never supposed to cross. She came from rags. He came from riches. She was headstrong. He was compliant. He had a girlfriend. She had a boyfriend. She was black. He was white. So different, yet the two were so drawn together. I guess opposites really do attract.


Braelin never wanted to move in with her mom and her soon-to-be stepdad. She never wanted to leave her family, friends, and boyfriend back home. And she sure as hell didnt want to start having feelings for the quarterback of her new school.

Cameron had his entire life planned out for himplay football in high school, go to UTF, marry his girlfriend of four years, and live happily ever after. Nowhere in that plan did it ever say to start falling for the beauty who started attending his new school.

Through racist comments, hard times, laughter, and the possibility of love, join Braelin and Cameron as they prove that just because you dont experience something doesnt mean its something new; its just . . .

. . . something different.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Xlibris US
• Release date: Feb 23, 2018
• ISBN: 9781543483819

Book preview

SOMETHING

DIFFERENT

Nicole Jackson

Copyright © 2018 by Nicole Jackson.

Library of Congress Control Number:            2018901677

ISBN:                  Hardcover                   978-1-5434-8383-3

                            Softcover                     978-1-5434-8382-6

                            eBook                          978-1-5434-8381-9

All rights reserved. No part of this book may be reproduced or transmitted

in any form or by any means, electronic or mechanical, including photocopying, recording, or by any information storage and retrieval system,

without permission in writing from the copyright owner.

This is a work of fiction. Names, characters, places and incidents either are the

product of the author’s imagination or are used fictitiously, and any resemblance

to any actual persons, living or dead, events, or locales is entirely coincidental.

Any people depicted in stock imagery provided by Getty Images are models,

and such images are being used for illustrative purposes only.

Certain stock imagery © Getty Images.

Rev. date: 02/23/2018

Xlibris

1-888-795-4274

www.Xlibris.com

769015

CONTENTS

Acknowledgments

Prologue

Chapter 1     Black People Are Always Involved in Criminal Activities

Chapter 2     Black People Are Shootists

Chapter 3     Girls Can’t Play Football

Chapter 4     Black People Are Ghetto

Chapter 5     Black Men Can Only Be Athletes and Rappers

Chapter 6     Black People Are Always Struggling

Chapter 7     Black People Do Voodoo

Chapter 8     All Hispanics Are Mexican

Chapter 9     Black Women Are Stubborn

Chapter 10   Black Men and Women Cheat

Chapter 11   Being Smart and Black Is Rare

Chapter 12   All Black People Are Good at Basketball

Chapter 13   Black People Are Thieves

Chapter 14   Black Women Sleep Around

Chapter 15   All Black People Have a Price

Chapter 16   Black People Are Uneducated

Chapter 17   Black Girls Are Easy

Chapter 18   Blondes Are Dumb

Chapter 19   Black People Are Brash

Chapter 20   White Men Date Black Women as a Phase

Chapter 21   Women Can’t Be Engineers

Chapter 22   Young People Are Not Proactive

Epilogue

ACKNOWLEDGMENTS

First and foremost, I want to thank God for giving me the strength and ability to write this story and for continuously blessing my life and family.

Next I would like to thank my family for pushing me to get this book published—figuratively and literally. I love you so much! Also, a special thanks to my extended family—Aunty Liz, Uncle Ken (you owe me a macaroni pie), and the Wellingtons.

To my crazy friends whom I couldn’t imagine living my life without, Farrah and Monica, I can’t even express how thankful I am for you two entering my life and continuously making every day another adventure. Next stop: Montreal. Another friend who became like family to me is my Wattpad sister, Khaliah, the successful entrepreneur and soon-to-be published author who continues to slay everything she does. Love you, girl! (PS: Be on the lookout for her debut novel that will be out April 2018.) Can’t forget about Shantell and Kahala. Love you, guys!

To my teachers who pushed me to strive for what I believe in, Mr. Tullouch, Mrs. Robinson, and Ms. Sherwood, I don’t know where I would be without you guys. Thank you so much! Also, a special thanks to Mr. Cornish for educating me on the importance of black figures and Ms. Lappas for her constant support in any and everything I do.

And finally, to the greatest fans in the entire world, my Wattpad day ones, my Niks, I don’t think I can say thank you enough. You guys are the reason I’m here, and I’ll never forget any of you or how much you mean to me. You guys are the biggest inspiration to me in the world. I love you so much. If I could name you all, I would, but since I can’t, I’ll just give you another book update … someday.

Dear Readers,

First I would like to thank you for taking time out of your days to read this story. Braelin and Cameron’s story is very close to my heart and I’m sure you will love it just as much as I do.

This story tackles the ‘uncomfortable’ topic of racism, sexism, biases and stereotypes and the purpose of every chapter is to diminish a stereotype or bias in a different way.

By the time you finish reading this story, I hope that not only you learn something from Braelin’s experience but that you take a little bit of it with you everywhere you go.

So with that being said,

Welcome to Something Different.

PROLOGUE

Black People Are Affiliated with Drugs

Braelin

Police sirens roared from behind me as I sharply cut the corner on Fox Street and continued my descent down the road. My heart beat rapidly as my feet pounded against the concrete, and I clutched the package closer to my chest with every step my legs took. Almost. There.

The sun’s blazing heat rays battered against my aching body like hits from a leather whip, rapid and painful. Breathing heavily, I made a right turn into an alleyway and cursed when I noticed an iron fence blocking my way to freedom. The thought of turning back and finding another way crossed my mind briefly, but it was gone as quick as it came when the police sirens came back, louder and closer.

Scrambling over the fence, I earned myself a slight graze across my right forearm. It was not enough to draw blood but enough to send a searing pain through my body, but I paid it no mind as I continued running until I knew I was finally far enough. Slowing down my pace near a familiar creek, I took a couple of deep breaths to calm my racing heartbeat before grinning to myself.

Outrunning a police car? Not bad, Braelin. Not bad at all, I muttered aloud to no one in particular before taking the package out of the crook of my arm. Now let’s see what’s so important about this.

Hand over the package, Braelin, a deep voice bellowed, one that I recognized immediately.

Involuntarily, I spun on my heels and came face-to-face with him. I wonder if I can make a run for it, I thought to myself.

Don’t even think about it, he threatened as if he could read my mind.

Think about what? I asked, feigning innocence, but the look on his face let me know that he was not only unimpressed but also growing irritated at my lack of compliance.

The package, Braelin, he repeated, his absence of patience visible. Sighing in defeat, I slowly handed it over before he ripped the envelope open and began reading the contents.

"You know, Dad, most parents just … I don’t know, ask for the report card, but nope, you chase me home from school in your police car," I grumbled, taking a seat on one of the bigger rocks that surrounded the creek; and instead of responding, he grinned.

This is a nice report card, Braelin. All As except one class where you got a B minus, he noted with a slight nod of his head.

In my defence, that teacher refuses to give anyone an A, not even when I wrote a well-crafted letter telling her why I deserved it, I mumbled.

He chuckled before handing me back the envelope. As long as you do your best, you know I’m happy, but I do have a concern. Where did you learn to jump a fence like that?

"Grand Theft Auto," I replied with a grin, and he rolled his eyes.

Of course, video games. You do realize those will eventually rot your mind right? he said, and I couldn’t help but shake my head.

Sounds like someone is still holding a grudge from his last loss. I told you your eyesight was starting to deteriorate. You can’t be blamed though. It’s the age, I teased.

He raised an eyebrow in my direction, amusement written all over his face. You did not beat me.

Mhm, if you say so, I mumbled, giggling, before he pulled me into a hug. I noticed he held on a little longer than usual, as if he were hoping to freeze this moment in time and have it for life.

But within the next few hours, everything was going to change. My brother and I would be on an airplane to Loston Hills to go live with my mom, and he would stay here.

Dad, I still don’t understand why I have to move. I like my school.

Braelin, we talked about this. Your guidance counselor said the work isn’t difficult enough, so you need to go to a school with an Advanced Placement Program, and well … Bookerton Academy has it.

But all my friends are here, and that school lacks … How do I put this nicely? I pretended to think about it for a second before finishing my sentence, Diversity.

What do you mean? There are hundreds of programs at Bookerton Academy.

Dad, there are no black people! None! At all! I stressed, and he chuckled at my pain. Dad of the Year Award goes to …

I’m sure you’ll make friends. You’re a natural social butterfly.

Yeah right. I’ll be lucky if I even make one.

You’ll be fine. Now come on. We have to get back before your brother thinks you’ve left and gone without him.

Is that an option? I asked, and he shot me a look, letting me know he was not amused. I’m joking, I said, putting my hands up, before I pushed myself off the rock I was sitting on and followed him to his police car. Climbing into the vehicle, I relaxed against the comfortable leather before glancing at myself in the drop-down mirror and sighing.

My dark-brown curls that were once in a neat high bun was now a tangled mess that lay atop of my head, and my golden-honey skin was now dripping with sweat. I scrunched my nose up at the scent I produced and thanked God that we had arrived home in such a timely matter. I quickly escaped the car and sped up to my room to go take a shower and get the smell of sweat off my body and the scent of Dove onto it.

***

The airport was packed with people of all different sizes, colors, and races, unlike the school I was going to attend. I gripped my luggage tighter in my hands as I tried to think of the positive. What was that again? I turned to face my dad and noticed him wiping his eyes with a handkerchief.

Dad, are you crying? I teased.

He rolled his eyes at my antics. Me? Cry? Yeah right. My allergies are just acting up.

Mhm. I pulled him in for a hug, and he squeezed his body against mine, gripping me tighter and tighter until I was growing light-headed. Dad … you’re killing me.

He pulled away, apologizing before pulling out his wallet and handing me two hundred-dollar bills and my brother a fifty.

A fifty! Come on, Pops. You know I’m good for it! Sam whined, and I could’ve sworn I saw my dad roll his eyes before he handed him another fifty.

You two be good for your mother now. Don’t make me have to come down there.

Yes, sir, we mumbled simultaneously, and he nodded before giving us one final hug and sending us on our way.

We were headed toward our gate when someone yelled, Wait! Then I was picked up by two muscular arms and spun around before Darnell, my boyfriend, placed a kiss on my cheek and placed me back on the ground.

So what? You were gonna leave without saying anything? he asked.

I rolled my eyes. I told you goodbye this morning at school, at lunch, and again when you laughed at me when my dad showed up at the school in his police uniform.

He didn’t get the chance to respond before my best friend, Layla, pulled me into a hug.

Bestie, don’t leave me! she yelled dramatically.

I rolled my eyes, trying to be the mature one. I am not leaving you. We’ll talk every day like usual, and I’ll visit. I’m not dying or anything.

I’m still going to miss you.

Same here. I pulled her into my embrace.

The attendant called our flight to board, and I waved goodbye to my family and friends before my brother and I boarded the plane. I guess I should’ve been thankful that my mom handled the tickets and that