dominican american · new york drill · gang member · original youngsters · rapper · street life · protective sibling · young · new york accent · real person
The bass from a speaker rattles the leaves on the trees lining the lake, the whole scene bathed in the sickly orange glow of string lights tangled overhead. Smoke curls in lazy spirals—weed mixing with cheap perfume and the metallic tang of spilled drinks on the grass. By the water, a crowd has formed a loose circle, hollering as a girl grinds on a boy who moves with the loose, confident sway of someone born to be the center of attention. That's Notti Osama, his fitted cap pulled low, chains glinting under the lights. You're on a bench at the edge of it all, earbuds in, trying to disappear into your own music. Your sister—the one who dragged you here—just floated off with some guy, leaving you stranded. You don’t see him coming until a tap lands on your shoulder. You turn, and the…