Fast Forward
Written by Celeste O Norfest
1 4 Real I’m Fine
Nothing’s the same! In the following sequel to Press Pause Kenishia Lewis seemingly perfect life has taken a turn for the worst. Recap. First she has to give up her luxurious lifestyle when her father walks out on her mother for his side line hoe, one of her so called girls gets pregnant by her boyfriend LaVon, her mom dies from a over dose of sleeping pills, and last but not least she finds out her cousin is really her sister. Damn! Now she’s back at Hazelburst Academy and even things there seem different
The story opens with Kenisha in the principles office for fighting some random scanch, who dared get up her face talking bs. Can’t really blame her there. What would you have done? We see her attitude has taken on that of indifference as she watches her dad smooth talk her out of being expelled by laying it on thick about how tragic his wife’s passing was, and the effect it had on them both. I had to agree with Kenisha’s thoughts about how Barbara wasn’t really his “wife”. Instead just a women he lived and laid up with, had her, cheated on for 12 years and then left for some other heffer who he probably was stepping out on two. Yup Keneth ain’t bout sh@!
The only thing that have remained constant are her girls Diamond and Jalessa. Kenisha is let go with a warning but when she goes back to get her cell phone from her father she is excused for the day and has to spend the afternoon with a shrink that her guidance counselor recommended. I know the feeling? Why is it parent’s always think the first thing you need is a shrink? Like sitting there pouring out your guts to a complete stranger is the magical antidote to behavorial or sometimes even mental problems? PUH LEASE! But she’s like whatever. At this point not too many things phase her. Its been 3 weeks and she hasn’t even opened her school books yet. What in the world kinda school does she go too? With the teachers I had in the 11th grade ain’t no way in hell!
2 Looking in the Mirror
Kenisha and Dr. Tubbs have a session. She plays a lotta mind games on him, and I think that was kinda sly on her part. She doesn’t revel to much or let him get to deep. Instead she turned the tables. I agreed with her thoughts that would would a middle age white male know about the drama of a almost sixteen year old African American. Plus I seriously doubt that he had lost anyone close to him.
Then I also agreed with the insight about Frued, and how he was considered a genius but any other person that had done drugs would have just been considered a crack head, Nice observation. Her dad picks her up and tries to show to give us a little act of sympathy about missing her mom, but in the same breath takes off and tells her he’ll be back later and he has something “better yet someone” to do and he’ll be late.
When she goes in her dad’s fiancée is on the phone with one of her girlfriends, and upset about
how Keneth is never there and always mentioning Keneshia’s mom lately. Then the surprising part comes when Keneshia hears her dad’s voice in the background AT the girlfriends house saying he’s home and wants to get sexed up. I was thinking what the…? DAMN! Girlfriend plays it off and gets off the phone quick but she’s not fooled. She knows her man is screwing around. Keneshia almost feels sorry for her but DUH. Did she really think that he’d change and not do the same thing to her that he did to her mom? Yeah don’t feel too good does it Courtney?
What goes around goes around goes around comes all the way back around *Justin Timberlake*
3 Wait I’m Not Done Yet
Lavon calls and tries to run his tired game. She tries to keep her word and finishes up on some homework, but her friends come through and she decides to take a break. Her and her girls chill at the mall for a while. She learns that Chilli is gonna come back to school. When she gets home her dad tries to get her to sit down and have a discussion The disscuttion turns into a argument Courtney is already pissed from earlier and even more so that Kenisha seems to have some kind of mind control over her to younger sons that do what she say at will. I don’t know whether to hate Courtney or feel sorry for her.
4 No Big Surprise
The next day at school wouldn’t you know Chili gets up in her face about Lavon. Like someone is really thinking about him. Please! She probably mad cause you know he screwed her and don’t want nothing to do with that baby. Keneshia tries to walk away twice but after Chilli shoves her once again it’s on. Now you have to think Chilli is pregnant and maybe Keneshia shouldn’t have whupped her behind but seriously if you get in someone’s face talking **** pregnant or not. And Keneshia IS kinda rough. Ain’t saying she a hood rat chick but she definitely is tough! I mean I can’t BELIEVE she got expelled though for that. It wasn’t even her faut. She walked away! Why didn’t they expell Chilli’s skank behind too? I don’t think I like Hazelhurst@
5 Commercial Interruption
That night Kenneth tries to have another discussion. He wants Keneshia to be home school until she can take the test next semester and be accepted back at Hazelhurst which leads to another argument between Courtney and Kenneth. Keneshia just walks out. The next day she packs her stuff and leaves to go to her grandmothers *for good* only Courtney tries to get her to stay by telling her dad wants her to wait on him so they can attempt to talk some more since they really didn’t get anything resolved the other night. Keneshia leaves anyway. Wow! What that must be like to be almost 16 and not give a damn and just do whatever the hell you wanna. I’m 31 and still can’t.
Upon arriving she sees her man “lawnmover guy” who by the description sounds DELICIOUSLY SEXY! Apparently he’s pledging so he’s shaved his head. HOT! 3 guesses which frat he’s pledging. Her grandmother gives her a lecture for her actions and make it clear in no way does she approve but she agrees to sign her up for Penn Hall. Does that name remind anyone else of the penitentiary? Terrence surprises her and spells out Happy Birthday on the lawn with paper. Aww! Then they talk about school and college and then he brings in her birthday with a little toung action. I’m jealous!
6 .BFF
Her grandmother and Terrence greet her and wish her happy birthday and get ready to go to church. Outside are Diamond, Jalissa, and her sister Jade. Her fiancée Ty whose a famous singer has rented a limo. They drop off her friends and Ty poses for pixs with Keneshia. They drop of Terrence who assures Keneisha that she has him after some girls are sweating him hard, and she kisses him. On the way back Jade tells her it’s okay to talk to her if she needs to release some of her anger.
7. Penitentiary
Kenisha realizes public school might not be as easy as she thought. She does make a friend name Cassie. When she gets back her dad and brothers are there. She and her dad have a somewhat heart to heart. Her dad revels more about his relationship with her mom and something a little shocking but not REALLY shocking about his feelings for Courtney. All I can say is damn! It’s agreed she can continue Penn Hall but there are rules.
8 .Knock Knock Whose There
She has both classes on lock even though it’s a challenge to do 2 sets of assignments *Hazelhurst and Penn Hall). Rumors start to fly at her new school because of her relationship with Ty and Lavon. Extra drama! She gets approached by a guy in varsity jacket and warned by her new friend Cassie about a girl name Sierra.
9. Trouble
At the studio she’s meet by her friends and Lil T who kinda reminds you of Roger on Sister Sister. “Go home Roger!” lol. Can’t u just see Lil T played by Marques Houston? The friends catch up and she tells them about her latest drama. They tell her it’s at Hazel hurst too now. After practice she declines there offer of a ride, and decides to walk. Passing a house a girl gets all up in her face with two other girls. The girl is Sierra. A guy in a car comes to her rescue, and its clear that they have drama issues. Kenisha takes that as her cue when they start going off on each other and walks away. A girl named Ursula stops her and introduces herself. She tells a little bit more about the guy *who is her half brother* and Sierra’s relationship. Then Darien introduces him self.
10. Common Ground
Miss King gives Keneshia a brief lecture about boys and sex, then tells her to start dinner. I think it’s neat the way she has this book that she writes down recipes in and life lessons. I might use that. Then someone calls but she thinks it’s just the guys at school playing around so she hangs up on the guy. It’s Darien. Didn’t he tell her his name just earlier that afternoon? Her dad comes by and gives her five computer conference call systems. That is so TIGHT! Are there really such things in exsistence?
Ursula stops by and Keneisha introduces her to her grandmother and invites her in to breakfast. She tells her some more Darrien. Darien calls Keneshia again and she decides that she’s feeling him a little.
11. Holdin On
Keneisha gets a in school detention for doing Trig in English class. Ursula also gets detention. Keneisha’s teacher thinks that since she is so advanced in his class that she needs special assignments. That’s so not cool. She calls her boy to complain but instead he’s like telling her she’s wrong. So when Darien shows up and offers her a ride, she’s still feeling stung and accepts. They talk. Darien seems to understand the whole extra work thing. When he drops her off they kiss.
12 Guaranted Happy Ending?
She takes the Hazel hurst online test in the morning. Then because it’s a teacher’s day she’s off of school. Ursula invites her to a birthday -welcome home party her mom is having later. She invites Keneshia over to see a new outfit. She’s introduced to Ursula’s mother, who makes her daughter go and vacuum. She tells Darien to show her to Ursula’s room, but instead he shows her to his. Then he starts undressing in front of her. Keneisha is standing there checking out his body but Ursula *Im sorry but I keep thinking of the sea witch in Little Mermaid. Why in the HELL did her mama give her a name like that* shows up and they go to her room. We learn
a very important part of Sierra and Darien’s relationship.
Keneshia brings Jalissa and Diamond to the party hours later. They walk there with Lil T, who knows all about Keneshia and Darien’s kiss. Jalissa and Diamond don’t know so of course Keneshia is a little pissed. They get there introductions are made. Then guys start asking them to dance. Darien starts to dance with Keneisha but she backs up a little when he tries to grind on her. He asks her to go for a walk and she accepts.
13. Caution: Merging Drama Ahead
Darien leads Keneisha out back. They run into some people all of which he speaks to and doesn’t introduce her. Thinking of Darien reminds me of a guy I use to date named Reggie. Cassie comes running up saying she needs to talk to Darien but he dismisses her and tells her later? Hmm. Now what was that all about? Drugs? So he takes her to his car and proceeds to snort coke in front of her. Now THAT reminds me of a guy in college who did the same thing only it was weed. I was PISSED. Keneshia is cooler than I would was. He tries to get her to drink and she takes one sip and gags. Then he tries to take advantage
of her.
She pushes him off and heads back inside. She and her friends dance and get props. Darien tries to talk to her, but she is still heated. A friend of Jade’s interrupts and afterwards another guy asks her to dance. She leaves Darien standing there watching and pissed off.
14.2 Far Out of Bounds
After a few more dances Kenesha and her friends decide to leave, but on the way Darien and a friend pull up and ask do the want to go to a dance contest. The next day her friends leave and Cassie invites her to go out to a club. She sneaks out but after getting in the club a fight breaks out and there is chaos when gun shots are heard. As usual Darien is right in the middle of the fight. He takes off leaving his weapon with Sierra. Now the girls have no ride. Thankfully
Lil T comes to the rescue with a cousin of his that has borrowed a car.
15.2 Fast 2 Furious
After getting back home Darien comes over. Keneshia and he sit outside and talk about what happened at the club. He tries to explain to her about his lifestyle and she tries to explain back how he has a choice not to hustle. Lil T tries to warn her about Darien. Jalissa and Diamond try to warn her to slow down.
16. No Exit
Lil T tries to talk to Kenesha again about the weird way she’s been acting and he tells her about what everyone saying about her and Darien and that he hit it. He also hints at Darien and Cassie having a thing. Darien shows up and takes her to a house that has a couple of chicks and a guy in it. HMM. His supplier? He invites Keneshia to a party but the weird thing he talks to Darien about her like she isn’t in the room. This pisses her off and she thinks she seriously ought to consider hanging out with Darien. Her grandmother busts her about the lying and sneaking out.
Jade calls and they catch up on everything that’s been happening in each other’s lives.
17. All Hell Breaks Loose
Troy hits on Kenesha again and gets dismissed. A friend of his Barron comes up to her and expresses his interest in Diamond. Cassie asks her to go to a party. She declines. Diamond and Jalissa send her a video message it’s Halloween and they are dressed up like the Power Puff Girls with the exception of one. They hold up note cards because they aren’t speaking but soon they make up. They do their usual talk about boys and school. Kenesha tells Diamond about Barron and she seems to be interested. I think Jalissa is already going with somebody. Cassie calls and tells Kenesha that Ursula is in some kind of trouble.
Kenesha goes over to Ursula’s house and Cassie and Darien are there getting high. Probably something else. Then when she comes over Ursula leaves and Darien forces hisself on her. She fights back and is able to exscape him but he does rip her shirt
18. Faster than a Speeding Bullet.
Kenesha runs home. She doesn’t see TB and he grabs her. Lil T told him he saw her running out of Darien’s house. TB rushes over Darien’s house and kicks his ass as the neighbors root him on. The police come and arrest both Darien and TB. Kenesha rushes home.
19.Looking 4 Plan B
She lays down and turns off her phone. When she does answer it its her dad. Courtney is in labor and he needs her to come to the hospital and get her half brothers.
20. An incidental subplot.
Jade and Kenesha go to the hospital and pick up the boys. In the car on the way back Kenesha tells Jade everything! When they get home their grandmother all ready has heard about what happened. She and a bunch of her church friends have all ready gone to the station and bailed Terrance out. I think in one of these chapters it tells about Darien’s and TB’s history. I think the story goes Darien stabbed and killed TB’s brother and so TB stabbed Darien and they both ended up in Juvie. TB didn’t care about anything or anyone for a while after losing his brother and one time he threw a rock at their grandmothers window. She made him clean it up and had a talk with him and what she said seemed to straighten him out.
21. Slowing Down 2 Begain Again
Kenesha talks to Ursula and finds out that Darien is in serious trouble and will probably be locked up a long time. Then she and TB make up and she also decides that it’s okay to be angry and she realizes that she needs help and is going to go see Dr. Tubbs again. TB and she are back together and in love again.
I really liked this book. I especially liked Kenesha's My Space entries at the beginning of every chapter. I also liked her grandmother's wise words of wisdom and the idea that she keep her recipes in a notebook. I kinda also understood her need to be with a "bad boy" When I was her age I had my share of "bad boys". But in the end I am happy that she resumed her relationship with TB. Another thing is I liked the message the book conveyed that it's okay to be hurt. It's okay to be angry sometimes but the key is finding a effective way to express that and not make choices that will eventually be detremental to ourselves and those around us. GREAT BOOK! I give it eight stars! ! !
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