Most good stories start with a fundamental list of ingredients: the initial situation, conflict, complication, climax, suspense, denouement, and conclusion. Great writers sometimes shake up the recipe and add some spice.
Exposition
Oh No She Didn't
We're introduced to our three main characters in a few chapters: Trina the artist, Leticia the busybody, and Dominique the basketball star. Dominique's in a foul mood, and Trina gets all up her space in the hallway before school. Behind Trina's back, Dominique announces that she's going to jump Trina to her friends. Leticia sees it all, though she remains unseen by Dominique and Trina.
Rising Action
Not Just Another School Day
The three narrators each go about their days, Trina completely oblivious and Leticia torn (as much as she can be—meaning kind of) about what to do. Dominique internally justifies her decision to jump Trina and externally tries to get her minutes on the court back. All this internal conflict makes it to the climax at the end of the day, even though we hope the impending fight is derailed.
Climax
The Less Obvious One
Leticia decides not to tell Trina or anyone about the attack during lunch. Before, she could have gone both ways, but after lunch, she's made her decision. She thinks Trina needs to be knocked down a notch or two.
The Obvious One
Dominique attacks Trina, and Leticia narrates the attack to Bea over the phone. Trina is taken away in an ambulance, unconscious, and Leticia denies any knowledge of the fight to the assistant principal.
Falling Action
Beep… Beep… Beep…
Ivan is in the hospital talking to Trina, who is in a coma. It's a few months after the attack, and he reveals that she needs to have more surgeries and that people have signed a card for her. His narrator's voice ends up filling in some depressing gaps for us readers.
Resolution
Any Lessons Learned? Nope.
Leticia is watching television and sees Dominique interviewed for a news story about girl-on-girl violence. She calls Bea, and the two watch as Trina, forever damaged, tells her side of the story: She doesn't remember being attacked, and she still has no idea why the attack occurred. Bea has to go, but Leticia thinks that she could have gotten on television, too, since she knew all about the fight. And she "just can't believe it" (35.18). Neither can we, Leticia—we can't believe you either.