I was completely shocked as I watched ole girl who I now knew as Essence walk away from me. I shook my head looking at Gianni as she laughed and headed to our tables.

"Gianni!"

"What Roe?" She laughed stopping in front of Jordan "I want no parts"

"Come on G!"

"What happen?" Jordan and D smirked

"She curved his ass" Zucca chuckled "Sorry fam but that shit was hilarious. Baby girl cold"

"Gianna what's up with her?" I asked

"Essence just don't fuck with people like that"

"She yo LS?"

"Duh" she laughed "Y'all always asking Kira where her front at. Well Ess is the dime piece boo"

"That's the dime!" D got hype "I thought Yonni said she wasn't coming back"

"Yonni pillow talk with yo ass too much" Gianni rolled her eyes "And that aint your business just know she still hear"

"So you gone put me on or what?" I asked

She paused look at me then the guys, then me again.

"HELL NAWL" she laughed "You must've lost your mine"

"Come on GiGi"

"Roe that's not just my LS. Me and Essence been best friend since we were in high school. I love you my guy I do... but you a whole hoe outchea!"

"I am not!"

"Just because you not as bad as Divine ass don't mean you aint a hoe" she shook her head "Plus as gorgeous as my sis is, we both know she not your type"

"What does that even mean" I chuckled knowing it was true

"Nigga bye! You know you don't go for us plush pounds!"

"You not plush dumbie" Divine pushed her

"Yall swear I aint thick but whatever! Anyway! Essence aint light skin trash like Harmony and her evil twin" she smirked "She extra melinated with ass for days! Not to mention my girl ain't one of these weak bitches yall brag about banging. To be real with you she's really out of your league my guy"

She shook her head before ignoring me to talk to Jordan. I shook my head before grabbing my backpack and heading out. I knew I was going to have to do my research on Essence to figure out how to get her to even acknowledge me. I was never going to admit it but for her to turn me down was a huge shot to my ego. I mean I'm me and she's... well her. I had women ten times better than her graveling at my feat on a daily. How could she just reject me.

I shook her from my thoughts for the day as I headed to my parents house to pick up my little brother. They were going out of town and I didn't plan to leave the city since Fall Break was nothing but party central. Plus my baby brother just turn 18 and wanted to kick it with his big bro. When I got to my parents I hope out and headed inside. My little brother was still at school so I headed to the kitchen surprised to see my mom.

"Hey ma!" I kissed her cheek "How you doing?"

"Hey my first born baby" she laughed "Mommy's just fine if your father would hurry up"

"Where is pops?"

"He went to get King from school early so that we can leave early. We were gone drop him off on the way out but you're here so it works even better" she sat down "So what's going on with you baby? What do you have planned for this weekend"

"Not much. Probably going to have a little kickback at the condo"

"Don't have my baby around a bunch of foolishness and loose hoes"

"MA!"

"I'm serious!"

"Chill" I laughed "It's probably just gone be me, Zucca, Jordan, and Divine... our lines and some sororities. So it's just be a Greek Kickback really"

"Mmmhmm"

"I'm serious ma" I laughed "Plus I'm scoping out a new shorty so--"

"Every time you come home it's a new girl"

"This one different ma" I shook my head "She not pressing me like that. I'm trying to get a chance"

"Some girl got my Pharaoh actually working for her attention?" she was visibly shocked "I like her already!"

"Dang ma!"

"I'm sorry baby" she laughed "You know I love you but you've been a heart breaker since you were in kindergarten. Every girl throws herself at you. Why do you think I don't press to meet them. You not dealing with women of standard"

"Well I guess I am now" I shrugged "We'll see what happens"

"Don't give up if she makes you work baby"

"Oh trust me I'm not" I smirked "You know I always liked challenges me"

She laughed and we kept talking until my father and brother came home.

I walked out of Blancos with Gianni laughing about ole boy that tried to talk to me. I was beyond surprised for sure. I mean I'm a baddie but he looks like the shallow type so I doubt he's into me on some serious shit. Not to mention the fact that according to Gianni they whole group is some hoes. I shook my head as we got into my car and headed to pick up my sisters.

"I just don't get how you gave Jordan a chance if you know he's a hoe"

"I mean Jordan is different. Don't get me wrong I know about how he use to be but Jordan aint been out there like them. I've seen him with an actual girlfriend here and there. Zucca had a girlfriend at one point but he was cheating on her ass"

"Not surprised"

"And don't even get me started on Divine"

"That's the nigga who Yonni dumb over dick for right?"

"You got it"

"It's always a Bruh" I laughed "Yonni a hoe too though"

"Which is why they work"

"I guess"

"But I will say this" she shook her head with a smirk "Pharaoh not the type to give up"

"Lord"

"He said he's interested and wanted to get to know you. Maybe you'd be better off friend zoning his ass than having to constantly reject his ass for coming at you"

"I don't want to have to hang out with him"

"I mean I know you don't want to get to know him but you should make more friends"

"I'll pass"

"Come on Ess" she sighed "Your auntie coming to get the twins for fall break---"

"Actually I'm going with them"

"No! You promised to stay and have fun with me!"

"I know but I don't feel comfortable allow my little sisters to fly to Louisiana alone"

"We use to fly down there solo all the time"

"Bruh we were teenages!"

"So!"

"I'm getting my ticket as soon as I get home!"

"Sis I know you've been going through a lot and you want to isolate because that's what you do... but you know that's not healthy. It's okay to open up and let some people in"

"I got you and Kira" I smiled "What more do I need? Plus my sisters---"

"Your sisters are fine! I'm not saying go to a club but just stay and kick it for the break this one time. If you don't like it I'll pay for your flight to NOLA for Thanksgiving"

"Shit bet! You aint said nothing but a word!"

We laughed as I pulled up at my sisters school and got them. We all talked and joked on the way to my condo. My auntie was a district attorney and though she couldn't take my sisters in while I finished school (I didn't want her too anyway) she made sure to pay the mortgage on my condo. The deal was she would pay it until a year after I graduate.

As we rode home and joked around about my baby sisters leaving me I thought about everything we been through this year. Unfortunately, I knew Gianni was right and I could lock myself out of the world. My momma would be disappointed if she knew this was how I was coping. But it was the only way I knew how.