A few days later

❤️

Wat you been on?

wym

Knowledge mugged the phone at her response, before typing.

Haven't really talked to you in a few days.

it's been three days, ive just been dealing w some things

You couldn't text me that instead of ignoring all my calls?

you the one that hung up on me the other day..

You know what it was tho

ion have time for this knowledge, ill call you a little later on

Ight.

"You ready bruh?" Tay asked as he walked out of the locker room.

Knowledge looked up from his phone and nodded.

"Ouu what's wrong wit you?" He chuckled as Knowledge walked fast and angrily to his car.

"Amber ass." He blew out a breath and leaned against his car door.

"Y'all not even together and she stressing you out like thisssss." Tay shook his head and unlocked his car door.

"I'll see you later bruh," he said, getting into the car.

Knowledge nodded and unlocked his own car door.

__________________

Once Knowledge made it home, he headed straight into the shower since him and Tay had spent multiple hours playing basketball.

played as he started his shower and grabbed some new towels.

After thirty minutes of cleaning himself and just standing there, he decided to stop wasting water and get out.

His playlist continued playing as he moved to the sink to take care of his skin.

"This music too soft for me." He chuckled and reached for his phone to change playlists.

"Throw that mask on, when you jump out first, you better blast." He rapped as Lil Durk sounded through the speakers.

*personally not a durk fan.

Soon, he was finished in the bathroom and walked out with a towel wrapped around his waist.

He took his phone off of focus, and saw that Amber had called.

Hello.

Her soft voice sounded, causing Knowledge to feel a way.

Yea.. wassup.

Nothing..

The two both went silent after that, causing Knowledge to blow out a breath.

Pull up, im tryna get a nap in.

Amber cheesed on the other end, she loved being in person with him. They were always extra weird on the phone.

Ok.

Knowledge had finished getting dressed, and decided on cooking himself something for dinner.

He wanted breakfast food.

The doorbell rang as cracked some eggs into a bowl.

After washing his hands, Knowledge went to open the door, where he found Amber shyly stood there.

They stared each other down until her spoke.

"Come on bruh." He smacked his lips and started back to the kitchen.

She internally rolled her eyes at his attitude, but followed him inside.

"I'm making sum to eat if you want any." He offered, going back to what he was doing.

"I actually with Sky before I got here."

He nodded and poured his eggs into a frying pan.

"Why're you making this anyway?" She giggled, eyeing the time on the oven.

"This was just what I was feeling." He chuckled.

Soon, he was finished cooking and plated his food.

The two sat in an awkward silence as he ate.

"Stop being weird man, what you got going?" He asked before shoveling some food into his mouth.

"..Nothing." She shrugged.

Knowledge was growing more frustrated, he knew that Amber was naturally stand-offish but it seemed like she was going out of her way to be distant with him.

He finished his food, and rested his plate in the sink.

Instead of going back to sit with her, he leaned against the counter looking her over for a moment.

He scrunched his face up once he saw it.

"Amber.."

"Mhm." She sounded, not looking up from her phone.

"C'mere right fast."

She eyed him weirdly but got up and started towards him.

"Why you ain just come over to me-"

She was cut off by him grabbing her chin to look closer at the faint bruise on her cheek.

"The fuck is this? You been by that nigga Monte?"

She felt her stomach drop, and began to tear up.

"I told you bout him.." she watched as he walked away from her and went into a closet.

When he came out, there was a gun on his waist.

"Knowledge no-"

"Fuck you mean no?" He said, as he slid some sneakers on.

"Stop and listen to me Knowledge, Monte did not touch me.. m-my dad did this"

She watched as he scrunched up his face and walked back over to her.

"Why would he- what happened?"

"You remember when I was coming that day, then I didn't?" he nodded and let her start explaining what had happened.

Once she finished, he was back on his feet, fuming.

"Nigga sit down." She let out a laugh causing him to eye her.

"Whatchu mean sit down? He put his hands on you."

She nodded "I know, and it was wrong but that's still my dad."

"It's not worth it." She told him.

Knowledge scoffed and sat down.

"You okay?" He asked still eyeing the bruise on her cheek.

"Mhm." She sounded. "What's going on wit this hair?"

He chuckled and rubbed his hands over his braids.

"I'm getting it braided tomorrow, I was gon take these out in the morning."

He looked at her and smiled "...but you can take them out for me."

She playfully rolled her eyes before motioning him over.

"Where's a comb?"

____________________

Once Amber was almost finished with his hair, Knowledge stopped her.

"You said he told you to get out?"

She bit her lip and nodded, trying to keep her focus on his hair.

"Mhm."

"So where you at now?" He asked, stopping her hands and looking up at her.

"Ummm-"

"Amber.." he mugged her.

"That Doubletree by-"

He sat fully up to stare at her, she watched as his jaw clenched and discreetly crossed her legs.

not the time. she thought

"Yeen think I gotta whole house Amber? And if not me, Sky or even ya mama.."

She shook her head "I don't wanna bother anyone Knowledge."

"You not bothering shit, you be over here anyway." He fussed.

"I'm sorry.."

"You don't gotta be sorry, but you know you could've came here."

She sighed seeing he wasn't gonna be done with his lecture anytime soon.

"And-"

"Knowledge, calm down man. I can't go back and change whatever decision I made, it's not like I'm in a bad hotel. I'm safe and I'm comfortable there." She said cutting him off.

"But my girl- you shouldn't be in a hotel when I got four bedrooms in this bitch and it ain like you haven't slept over before."

"Okay." She nodded, hoping he would stop.

Knowledge got the hint that he was dragging and softened his face.

"My bad."

"It's fine Knowledge," she smiled, moving his head back into her lap so she could finish his hair.

"So what you gon do?" He asked her.

She laughed to herself at how he couldn't let anything go.

"Tomorrow I'm meeting with my mom to see if she'll emancipate me like Sky's mom, then imma sign for a place in Sky's building." She explained.

"If it makes you feel any better, I'll sleep here tonight." She offered.

Knowledge nodded "Ight, little ms. i got it figured out."

"And do." She smiled.

__________________________

"No." Ariele looked up from the papers and shook her head.

Amber scrunched up her face "You didn't want me anyway.. just sign these."

"Amber that is not what it was and you know that. I love you so much, but your behavior-"

"You didn't even try to see what was wrong wimme.. you just decided that you had enough and it wasn't working for you and your family so you just left me."

Ariele rubbed her stomach and sighed "That's not true Amber, I couldn't constantly worry about you and my pregnancy."

"And I get that, but the thing is you didn't even try with me. Yea you noticed the changes in me, but you never tried to get to the root of everything." Amber shook her head.

"So tell me Amber.."

Amber shook her head again. "No just sign these.. I don't want to be in your house and I don't want to be in Rodney's."

Ariele sighed "I'll co-sign for you, but I'm not signing these Amber."

Amber thought about it then nodded.

She only had a few more months until she was eighteen.

"Okay, can you come by the apartment office tomorrow?"

"I can." Ariele gave her a sad smile as Amber stood up with her purse.

"I'll give you the car back in a few-"

"Amber you can keep it, I'll continue paying the insurance and whatever else." Ariele sighed.

"Okay."