"You have a collect call from.." the machine said before I heard my dad's voice.

"Nate Roberts.." he mumbled before the machine asked me if I would like to accept the charges.

"Yes," I said.

"Waddup baby girl," my dad greeted me.

I smirked before looking over at Queen munching on her honey bun, "Hey dad, how you been?"

He sighed, "Same ol' shit. Workin' out, readin', fightin'."

I gasped, "Dad you better not be fightin' in there. We tryna get you outta there, not add more time to yo' sentence."

He chuckled lowly, "I'm fuckin' wit' you Nae. These lil' pussy ass niggas know what it is."

I sighed in relief, feeling my worries drift away, "Dad don't be playin' like that. You had me over here stressin'."

"Don't stress," he said in a serious tone, "I'll be out soon."

"Yeah when I'm 24," I stated in a sarcastic tone.

"Aye," he paused, "its better than never gettin' out."

"I guess you right," I sighed.

"You damn right, I'm right," he laughed, "what you been doin'?"

"Nothing just hangin' wit' Queen and startin' this new school."

"Mm," he hummed, "don't think I don't know about you and yo' bad ass cousin sneakin' out to go to some club."

"Daddy," I groaned, "we didn't even get to do anything. All we were gonna do was dance."

"Lie again," he dared me causing me to roll my eyes and laugh, "I ain't stupid Lanae. You talkin' to the same nigga that started drinkin' and smokin' at the age of nine."

"Yeah, you was bad. But that don't mean I'm bad."

"Shit," he mumbled, "you gotta be cause me and yo' mama was some bad ass kids."

"I bet," I laughed before sighing, "I miss her."

He was silent for a while before I heard him clear his throat, "Yeah I miss her ass too."

Right before I was about to say some the machine said that we had a minute left.

"Ugh," I huffed, "I hate that damn machine."

"You know what, imma let you slide for sayin' that shit while talkin' to me because I'm pissed too," my dad admitted.

"My bad," I apologized, "but I love you dad, be safe and stay outta trouble, please."

"Girl I'm ah grown ass man, I know how to act. But I love you too Lanae, be safe."

I took my phone away from my ear once I heard the beeping noise.

Over the past three years, me and my dad have grew a bond. When he found out about my mom's death, he was devastated and decided that he wanted to be in my life. Whether he was in jail or not.

It took some time for me to open up to him and forgive him for leaving me, but now we are really close. I can talk to him about anything. Literally. I told him about all my secrets except for one. That secret being about Omari and my feelings for him. The only person who knows about it is Queen.

"Lanae," I heard her call out causing me to look at her, "you good bitch? You been spaced out for ah minute now."

"Yeah, just thinkin'."

"Wanna talk about it?"

"Girl no, it's really nothing. I promise."

She smiled, "Okay girl, you know I just gotta make sure you good. You never be tryna show yo' emotions but you emotional as fuck."

I laughed because she always could read me like a book.

"Girl you always preachin' and shit," I laughed while turning on Aunt Mo's car and shifting the gear to reverse, "you ready to go to school?"

Queen rolled her eyes, "No. I'm close to sayin' fuck it and joinin' Slum Money."

I laughed as I backed up out of my parking space before driving out of Speedway's parking lot.

"You better not, I'll beat yo' ass."

"Then Slum Money gon' follow up on yo' tall ass and whoop that ass," she laughed causing me to smack my lips.

"Damn you fucked up," I said while shaking my head.

She shrugged, "Its okay. I'll take care of you afterwards. Oh shit!"

I pressed my foot on the brake causing the car to come to an abrupt stop as drivers behind us beeped their horns.

"What? What's wrong?" I questioned with wide eyes.

"Bitch, Omari would probably kill everybody, including me, if you ended up hurt," she said with wide eyes causing me to smack my lips and quickly start driving again.

"Queen, you so damn dramatic! You almost made me get into ah car accident," I stressed while making a right turn.

"My bad Nae," she laughed while having her hand over her chest, "that shit just low key scared the shit out of me."

I quickly side eyed her before concentrating on the road again.

We finally got to our school after a few minutes. Students were getting off of buses and rushing into the building, trying to get out of the slightly cold weather. It was about 50 degrees right now.

I quickly parked my car near the building before me and Queen made our way inside.

"Aye babe, who was that," Brittany questioned once I ended my call with Bean.

"That was Bean," I answered as I shot a text to Nick telling him about Lanae's party.

"What was y'all talkin' 'bout?"

I glanced up at her and raised an eyebrow, "Why you wanna know?"

I watched her as she rolled her eyes and placed her hands on her hips. "Because I heard you talkin' 'bout some party."

I licked my lips as I looked her up down. The view she was giving me was making my shit stand up at attention. She stood in front of me with just her black lingerie on, which complimented her clear chocolate skin.

"Venez ici," I told her to come her in French causing her to roll her eyes.

"Omari, you not finna sweet talk me and butter me up, I wanna know about this party."

"Damn, Brittany it ain't even that serious. Me and everybody plannin' ah party for Lanae."

She raised her eyebrow before crossing her arms, "I thought somebody already threw her one."

I shrugged, "Yeah."

"Sooo," she dragged, "why are you throwing her another one?"

"Look ma," I paused, "don't question me about what I'm doin' for my fam, aight?"

"It was just a question Omari, damn," she spat before storming inside of our walk in closet.

I ran my hands down my face, "I'm not finna deal wit' this shit."

"What you say," she asked as she popped out of the closet.

I stood up from the bed and made my way over to her. Once I was standing right in front of her small frame, Brittany glared up at me.

"I fuckin' said I'm not finna deal wit' this shit. You always tryna start some shit, like do you like arguing or something?"

"Shut up Omari! The reason I'm always tryna argue is because you start shit wit' yo' smart ass mouth."

"Who you tellin' to shut up?"

"You, nigga!"

I nodded my head before picking her up and throwing her on top of the bed.

"Omari," she squealed while sitting up on her elbows.

"I know what you want," I uttered while unbuckling my Gucci belt.

She watched me with lustful eyes as she bit her lip. "What do I want baby?"

I shook my head and swiftly took off my shirt, leaving me in only my draws now. "Some act right, take that shit off."

"Yass daddy," she smirked.

I walked inside of our school's big ass gymnasium as students beginning to sit down on the bleachers. The school was having a pep rally for their basketball team since it was that time of the year.

As I searched the bleachers for Queen, I felt someone tap my shoulder. I spun around and noticed the captain of the cheerleader team standing behind me.

"Hey, you're new around here right," she investigated.

"Yeah," I simply answered.

"Oh I was just wonderin' if you knew my sister's boyfriend."

I shrugged, "Whose her boyfriend?"

"Lucky. Or you probably don't know him by that name, but he's the leader of Slum Money."

I twisted my lips to the side. I knew exactly who she was talking about. Omari.

"Yeah, I know Lucky. Why are you askin'?"

"There's no need to get smart honey. I just wanted you to know that my sister has him wrapped around her finger, so don't try no shit or you'll have to deal wit' us," the captain threatened as the other cheerleaders stepped up to me, surrounding me.

I looked around and dryly laughed, "Am I suppose to be scared?"

"Bitch you don't gotta be scared, I'm just lettin' you know."

"Who the fuck you callin' ah bitch, hoe?" I questioned, my Harlem accent coming out.

Before she or any of her ugly ass friends could say anything, their coach called them over to her.

"This isn't over Lena," she flashed me a fake smile before running over to her coach.

I closed my eyes, telling myself to calm down. It's my second day of school and bitches is already trying me.

"Ms. Roberts find a seat," I heard my English teacher Mrs. Wright tell me.

I walked up some bleachers and finally saw Queen sitting down on a bleacher, spaced out. I walked over to her and waited until she noticed me.

After a few seconds I just said fuck it. "Queen," I called causing her to look my way.

"Oh damn," she laughed, "my bad Nae, I was thinkin' 'bout something."

"What," I asked while sitting down next to her.

"My dad," she sighed.

Her dad's birthday was coming up and he died when she was 10 years old. It was always hard for her and Aunt Mo when his birthday came around because they both carried him in a special place in their hearts.

"You know I'm here for you, right?"

"Yeah, you're always so supportive boo," she smiled as I pulled her into a side hug.

I pulled away seconds laters. "I'm suppose to be girl. We fam."

"Cheaaa," she said while sticking out her tongue.

"There go my bitch," I said with a big smile before we both turned our attention towards the pep rally. My eyes landed on the captain bitch as she cheered in front of our set of bleachers.

"Uh, uh, why that ugly bitch lookin' at us," Queen asked with a mug on her face.

I glanced at her and gave her that I got some tea look before I spoke, "Imma tell you later."

She nodded her head before we both looked back at the girl.

I don't got time to be having any drama with a fraud ass bitch, but I'll beat her ass if I have to.