Prologue: The Story of Us

Heavy smoke begin to fill the air, Diamonique noticed, as she stared up into the sky. The smoke hovered over the tall building, which stood alongside the highly populated streets of New York. Queens, New York would be the place in which Diamonique and her friends resided in. The six friends reside in the project neighborhood called Queenbridge North houses. That would be the place where their friendship all began, and where it all flourished. The six of them made there way down the streets of Queens, laughing and carry on with their usually conversations. Conversation which often consist of casual jokes on one another, which then could span to sports stories, and often ended with discussing their clothing choices to their shoes. The six of them met when Diamonique an her twin bother, Ronny Matthews', aunt Shay would babysat them, when they were all were walking in diapers.

They all attended the same public high school in Queens, and all had committed to each other, to attend Tennessee University together. Fontaya Williams was the oldest of the six,as she was a junior, and also was the tallest of the girls in the group. Fontaya stood five feet eleven inches from the ground, and maintained her slender figure. She was light in skin complexion, with medium length dark brown hair. Fontaya often wore big round ear rings, stylish glasses, which were prescriptions, and somewhat boyish style clothing. Though, she would designate three days a week to dress prissy. She was attractive in looks, and had long nails, that she would have done, when she dressed up. Fontaya was highly intelligent, with an accumulated GPA of 4.0 as a junior. Shayla Woods was walking next to Fontaya, as she was seen covering her face, with the attempt to protect her face from the smoke. Shayla was extremely prissy, as she often did anything that would make her release any perspiration. That was her unique personality, that separated her from the rest of the group. Shayla was just a sophomore, and held a GPA of 4.0, as she rarely received any grades under a hundred, as she held a desire to become a lawyer. She was described as beautiful by the countless men, that would often throw themselves at her, as if she had been some kind of celebrity. She had long silky dark black hair, to go along with her Puerto Rican ethic background. Shayla often spoke with an ascent that would attract men to her as well. She stood five feet five inches from the ground, although she would always wear high heel boots, that would leave you guessing about her actual height. Shayla pulled her hair back behind her ears, to prevent her hair from blowing in her face again.

Often labeled as "The Boys," of the group, Ronny and Lionel, was walking behind Shayla and Fontaya. Ronny and Lionel was both the stars on the boys basketball varsity team, as just freshmen. Though they had only been freshmen, they caught the interest of many different colleges. Ronny, whom was Diamonique's twin, was usually called air flight Mathews, as he usually soared passed the rim. He was an amazing ball player, and carried his basketball every place he went. Ronny stood six feet three inches from the ground, and was extremely built in body structural. He had natural curly brown hair, green eyes, bright complexion, and had a huge tattoo on his back. It was that of a large hawk, with a basketball attached to one of the large wings, soaring to a basketball goal, surrounded by busting flames of fire. Underneath the hawk, it read, "While you're wondering if you could fly, I'll be soaring to the hoop." Ronny did just that, and it was amazing to watch. He was handsome, and extremely conceded about his looks. Lionel Wiggins, Ronny's teammate and best friend, walked next to one another. Lionel went by the name "deadly cross," as opposing teams often fears guarding him, with respect of his deadly cross over. Lionel had been a freshman as well, tough he was the youngest in terms of age. Lionel was not as built as Ronny had been, as he held a more smaller frame. He rarely lifted weights, as he did more running for his strength and conditioning. Ronny felt the need to be protective over Lionel, because he had been so small. Lionel and Ronny favored more in look, as they looked as though they could have been twins. Though Lionel had baby blue eyes, but their hair color, and complexion, as well as facial features were virtually the same. Lionel would keep his hair in long braids. Lionel was more adorable than handsome, as he had more of a baby face. Lionel had self proclaimed him self the "comedian," of the group, as he often was known for his many jokes.

Shanell Wiggins and Diamonique Mathews walked behind the boys. Shanell and Diamonique were the stars of the girls varsity basketball team, and also had been best friends. Shanell was Lionel's cousin, but had grew up as brother and sister. They both had no known knowledge that they had been cousins, as Shanell's mother had adopted Lionel when he had been a baby, from their aunt. Shanell was extremely beautiful, and had been admired upon, by many men. Though, those men, respected the fact that she had been Ronny's longtime girl friend for three years. Although, Shanell had been a sophomore, she held true to her relationship with Ronny, until he had become a freshman. Though she had been a super star on the basketball court, she was as prissy as Shayla, off the court. Shanell had long reddish blackish hair, that hung pass her shoulders, to accommodate her light brown skin complexion, and her baby blue eyes. She was slender in weight, and was five feet six inches tall. Shanell had been extremely close with Ronny's twin sister Diamonique, whom was usually called Diamonds. Diamonds was five feet ten inches tall, and was the biggest tomboy. She often wore clothes that was big enough to place three other people in them. She kept her hair in long braids, as Lionel had done. She was bright in skin complexion, and against her aunt's approval, tattooed her entire right arm. Though she had been slender, she was somewhat muscular, as she often lifted weights with her brother. They often walked the streets of Queens together, as they had built a bond strong enough to withstand the greatest storms.

Diamonds looked at her friends on this day, as they all laughed with one another, and could not escape the feeling that something awful was about to happen. That behind the laughter lurked tragedy. Diamonds knew that to fully understand all that has happen, you have to start from the beginning. That to appreciate all six of them,you have to get to know them. That to witness the end, you will have to witness the beginning. The beginning of six down to one...