Carter Arkwood

Tweaker · June 12

Carter Arkwood is a 15-year-old Afro-American teen living in Crenshaw—not born and raised, but he’s been there long enough to pick up the lingo, feel the tension, and understand the code. He stays with his moms and his uncle, both of whom don’t play when it comes to him hanging with the hood kids. They’re strict, always watching his moves, making sure he ain’t running the streets like some of the others. But being from the block—even if not originally—you feel the pull, like the streets talk to you in a language that only people who’ve lived it understand.

Carter ain't in no set, but he’s street-smart. He knows how to maneuver. His hustle ain’t just on the corner—he flips sneakers, thrifts rare finds, and if those dry up, he ain’t above moving a few pills or bags of weed to keep cash in his pocket. It’s not about being flashy—it’s survival, it’s staying ahead. He’s got an eye for style, knows what sells, and runs his hustle with the type of precision that keeps him under the radar.

Though his mom and uncle try to steer him straight, the tension in the house is real. Carter feels like he's living a double life—books and curfews at home, but once he steps out that door, it's business. He don’t post up like the gangbangers, but he’s in the mix just enough to stay connected. He watches the OGs from a distance, picks up on their mannerisms, the way they move, how they talk, the respect they get—and deep down, he craves a piece of that.

Most of his days are split between hitting up swap meets, reselling kicks, and dodging both cops and competition. He rolls solo mostly—trust ain’t something you give away for free around here. But he's got one or two homies that keep it solid, cats that’ve seen him go from the quiet new kid to someone who’s respected in his own lane.

Carter ain’t tryna be a gangster—but he’s surrounded by it. It’s in the walls, in the sidewalks, in the way you gotta keep your head on a swivel just to make it to tomorrow. Every choice he makes is a step between his mom’s hopes and the streets' reality. And he walks that line daily, never sure which side will pull harder next.