7 years later...

Senior year, it's been a long journey but I made it. My last year of high school. I'm so excited!

I just made it in from my morning run. My me time before school.

We live in a gated community. It's peaceful. So I don't mind being out alone, or should I say my brother doesn't mind. He makes sure I have my pepper spray and taser handy. Mikey usually woke up either while I'm out running or after. So he could get ready for work then drop me off.

"Mikey, you up?" I yelled from the other side of his door. He said he was so I walked my sweaty self in and sat with my legs crossed on his floor waiting to hear my speech.

"How was your run?" He sat on the bed in his dress slacks and undershirt, looking down at me. He was somewhat ready for work.

"Refreshing." I stretched my arms out smiling.

"Cool, cool. You ready for your big day?" A goofy smirk appeared on his face.

"Why must you be so dramatic, it's just high school." I gave a fake smile.

He smiled at me while pulling at his beard.

"Rai you know I'm proud of you, right?" His smile grew. I nodded genuinely as he went on. "You've accomplished so much already and still haven't scratched the surface yet.

I know your schedule is hectic but it'll pay off. It might not feel like it but it will. —You're in drama, the track team, and have all of your different clubs you're in. You have your tutoring sessions, and your acting classes. Then on top of that you're graduating early, and you're managing a 4.5 gpa." He smiled pridefully. It was warranted. He helped me to climb this ladder with my focus and discipline intact.

He paused, shifting his mood a bit. His elbows rested on his upper legs, pondering his thoughts. "We're all we got." He looked away, now rubbing his palms against his knees. He's not one to express how he feels. It takes a lot out of him. Especially when communicating with me.

"Hey." I replied with concern getting his attention feeling the need to lighten the air. "Don't forget I sing too." I shrugged jokingly knowing that would instantly put a smile on his face.

"Seriously, I get it. We have to push hard for what we want and no excuses right?" I smirked, reminding him of our motto.

"Right, because they're so so useless," we mocked in unison. Something my grandma would always say.

"I'm about to get cleaned up. You want me to fix you something after?" I stood smoothing down my shirt.

"Nah, I'm good Rai go ahead and handle your business. Don't forget to take your medicine."

I nodded proceeding out the door closing it behind me.

"Brush your teeth, your breath stink." I yelled from the other side of the door.

"Go wash, your arms stank. —Next time throw on a little deodorant before you go running." He countered in the same tone.

"Mine is an easy fix, but your breath smell like you need to get something pulled." I joked while walking away. I smelled my pits scrunching up my nose. I sprinted to the shower.

"Shut the hell up Raina." He shouted, I barely heard it.

****

"Guess who?" My best friend came behind me covering my eyes trying to disguise her voice.

"One thing I know for sure, whoever it is better get their hands off my perfectly arched brows." I smirked sarcastically.

Squeezing the life out of me, Sienna squealed. "I missed you so much sis, seems like its been ages."

Sienna, she's tall and has beautiful honey skin. She's her mothers twin but has her dads height. Her personality sometimes doesn't match her look. Stereotypically speaking that is. She's dropped dead gorgeous, and will run up on you.

She has her own web page and blog site with almost a million views. Showing off her MUA skills with tutorials. Her words exact, 'You might not feel your best but you should try to look it, whatever your best is to you.'

"Girl we were together yesterday at the mall." I scrunched my face flicking my eyes up and down at her.

"You know that's how this shit go with us." She giggled, then sighed with concern. "How you been holding up? It's only been two weeks since the funeral?" She asked sincerely.

Pausing briefly thinking about how much my life has changed. "It's getting better. Mama Laurie was everything to us. Of course Mikey doesn't talk about it much. That's just how he is. Thank you though." We both smiled.

"You know we're family. I'll set shit off if anybody even look at you crazy." She pointed her finger in the air to I guess solidify that fact.

I looked at her knowingly. My best friend is just that crazy. I love her though as if she was my blood.

She shrugged. We shared a look. We missed our mama Laurie, my grandmother.

"You know what I'm going to miss the most?" She stared off down the hall. "Those beauty tips, all that good food, and lets not forget our girls trips just the three of us. Mama Laurie was a rare breed."

I nodded agreeing. Mama Laurie made a huge impact on so many. So of course Sienna would be greatly affected by her loss as well.

"I'll see you during lunch I guess since we don't have any classes together. —You geek with all your honors classes." She playfully rolled her eyes.

"Don't think I forgot to ask you about Adrian. I saw the way he was eyeing you yesterday in Neiman's. Be careful girl, you know your brother will flip the switch on both of y'all asses. You're making me sound like a broken record with this." She warned and I squinted my eyes trying to play clueless.

"Mmhmm, bye girl." She mumbled while walking off.

Sienna and I hit it off my third month here in Atlanta, I'm so grateful for her. I was closed on the idea of talking to anybody let alone befriending them. So much had already happened in my life, it was hard to see the good in people.

My first few months here in Atlanta I was homeschooled, that gave me time to heal. We were both the same age and she was just as crazy then. She's so real and it's so easy for her to just be herself. She doesn't hold back and whenever I need her she doesn't hesitate. We've cried and laughed together we're very close.

—Well we're close but I still couldn't aloud myself to be completely open, not even to her. Although she could always sense things, I'm grateful she never pushed. She'd ask what was life like before Atlanta, I would automatically put my guard up. She knew I came from a small town in South Carolina, and she knew my parents were murdered. She get me and understands I had a traumatic past. I know when I do tell her she will be nothing less than supportive. I just don't want to see that same look my brother gave me seven years ago or treat me differently.

Now Adrian, he's my everything and is perfection if there ever was. He's so sweet, smart and he's soooo good looking. He has beautiful smooth caramel skin, a clean low fade, and has the most perfect smile ever. Adrians also tall, medium build and has dreamy green eyes. It's almost like his eyes glow sometimes.

He's very blunt, I've seen him hurt many feelings. —I'm going to marry him someday, at least all this sounds good in my head. Ok, so he's not my everything in fact he's my nothing. I know this is very pathetic, but he's that guy for me.

Been a pretty boring but ok day, just going through the usual first day stuff. Lunch was ok, got a few phone numbers from some guys who swear they've never seen me before. Oh and this one guy was sweet up until I accepted his number in one of my AP classes. He started acting weird as if we were together mid conversation. He literally had our entire life planned out, but he seemed nice. His name is James, he's just not someone I'm interested in.

Sienna asked again about Adrian of course. Oh, and did I mention he's my brothers best friend. We secretly flirt with each other, —well at least I think we're flirting with each other. You know the staring and the glancing way too long. The nervous energy in the room all of a sudden when he walks in. Perhaps maybe I'm delusional and it could possibly be one sided but he cannot deny the chemistry. —Ever had a moment in your life when your crush seems so perfect. You're like if a guy steps to me it better be on this level. That's why I'm single, because Adrian sets the bar way too high. Well that and also my overly protective brother of course.

"Is your brother coming or you want to ride with me?" Sienna asked already knowing the answer. We were standing outside near the front parking.

"He's coming."

"Your brother can be pretty strict, like worse than my parents strict sometimes."

I sighed. "Yeah it gets pretty tough, he keeps me on a short leash."

"Aight well I'm going to go hang with my boo for a bit, before I have to get home to post a vid." She smiled.

"Nice, tell Trey I said hey."

"Will do, love you Rai and call me later." She yelled running off.

"Love you too." I yelled back.

I stood next to a nearby bench. After about five minutes I spotted my brother pulling up grinning hard, for what— I don't know. "You ok?" I asked him not understanding his excitement.

"Well damn hello to you too, I can't be happy my baby sister had her first day of her last year of high school." He sarcastically stated.

"If you say so." I replied in a deadpanned toned, opening the door.

Getting into the passenger seat of my brothers all black Audi A5 Coupe. We were off to his shoot around hang out spot at the local gym. His buddies go there every Monday to ball, and do a little gossiping. Over the years I've overheard some of the most horrific stories.

Troy the smooth chocolate ladies man usually has the most embarrassing ones. Amina the Latin tomboy, she's super dope and fit right in with the guys. She's been single for almost a year. Her ex- girlfriend of four years cheated on her with some guy. She later found out they were engaged. So apparently Amina was the side chick.

Then there's Chance, he's very chill. He look like he could play superman, with the dark hair, blue eyes and pale skin. He's married to his beautiful queen Rita, they've been together since high school. That's his world, I admire what they have especially with all the backlash they got early on in their relationship regarding race.

Oh and of course there was the one and only tall and sexy Adrian Amir Adams Jr. also known as A3. Sigh.

I usually just hang out in the bleachers, write and listen to music which I think today I'll tune into one of my old R & B playlist.

Walking in the gym I immediately spotted Adrian, he's such a beautiful man. He was doing some warm ups and had already started breaking a sweat, it was evident. He's wearing some black and red basketball shorts with compressions underneath and thats it. So I could see the sweat rolling down his chest, all the way down to the v dent that was half covered by the waistline of his shorts. If only things were different that could be all mine, his bold personality and all.

Ok I need to stop, and let this dream go. For starters my brother would kill us both, and well then there's the fact he's a grown man, a seasoned one. Which by that I mean experienced. Adrian is twenty-one years old, he'll be twenty two in September, in a week. —Well I just turned seventeen last month.

I had my music down on low, while listening to the tail end of Adrian and Chances conversation. They're standing on the court in front of where I'm seated at the very top. They didn't know I could hear them.

"Nah don't try and play me. The only way I'm trying that is if it's mutual.You know how these females can get, clingy and shit. If a girl said she was cool with inviting her homegirl over to join then that's on her not me. I say just enjoy the night." Adrian stated shrugging to Chance, while spotting Mike walking over.

"Not my Rita, she doesn't play that. You know how she is if I even mention another girl around her she would flip. You know how she is. Besides I would never want her around anyone else either, male or female." He chuckled and I smiled at the thought. I love Chance and Rita.

"What you have with your wife is rare, I promise you that Chance."

"Yeah, but you're not even open to commitment or have even shown any serious interest in being monogamous. So of course you don't have it or anything close to it. It'll happen. You're young anyway." Chance stated walking off leaving Adrian to ponder on that. He glanced at me and I quickly busied myself.

"Mike, what's good?" Adrian turned his attention to my brother while picking up the basketball.

"Shit."

"Come on and get this ass cuttin' then."Adrian tossed the ball to Mikey.

"Don't play yourself take your L's like any other normal person, with some dignity." Mikey countered.

"Yeah ok, keep talking yo shit. You need to work on that outside jumper."

"Who?" Mikeys brows came together in confusion. "My shit is butter."

"More like Lard." Adrian joked, and I tucked my lips to keep from laughing.

"Man both of y'all shut the hell up and come on." Troy yelled from the other end of the court.

"Foreal." Amina added.

Mikey shoved Adrian in the shoulder and they both looked at each other laughing. They walked over to Chance, Amina and Troy.

They played a few games and goofed around a little and the time started to whined down. I was relieved because I was beyond ready to go. They played a game called contested shots, where they're guarded heavily and you try everything to make the shot. Mikey won. This game's very aggressive, I'm surprised nobody got hurt. They ended the day in a shoot off and of course Adrian won that. Him and Chance are the best shooters. Troys the best defensive player he can block and rebound. Amina the ankle breaker gets very low and she's very fast and she can shoot too. With her being so short compared to all these tall men she can hold her own though. Mikey knows how to get open and will usually get it to the hole.

"Aye I'll catch y'all later." Chance stated out of breath as he gathered his gym bag. Everybody waved him off, he's usually the first to leave. He lives out the furthest, he had Rita back at home.

"A3 you feel like going out tonight?" Amina asked looking at Adrian.

"I don't know maybe, whatchu' you got?"

"Oh I forgot Leah invited us to this event tonight, down at her spot." Mikey remembered, so they're going to the strip club.

Y'all trying to go, let me know?" Amina looked up at them.

"Y'all know I'm in." Troy slightly yelled while walking over with his stuff.

"What kind of event though?" Adrian asked.

"Leah said they have some new girls and their trying to test 'em out. We got the VIP reserved with bottle service and private dancers. Oh, and they're bad too." Mikey smirked raising his brow.

"I'm down." Adrian nodded slowly.

"Aight let me go drop my sister off and I'll meet y'all there later." Mikey said looking over in my direction.

I glanced over at them, still somewhat focused in my purple binder. I had to look away, but I wasn't quick enough Adrian saw me looking. So he looked away even quicker. For some reason I'm a little jealous. Him going out to be around naked women. While I'm home bored. It's not like he's my man or anything. I just feel way out of his league.

We got home and showered, Mikey made a quick dinner for us. A stir fry, rice and some pan seared shrimp. After dinner I cleaned up then went up to my room.

Mikey got dressed to go out. I think he's nervous. Leah and Mikey are complicated so him going to see her down at the club is different for him. He's very jealous when it comes to her, they're not together but he loves her.

Mondays are pretty easy for me, I don't usually plan much on Mondays. The rest of the week is crazy and all over the place though. I just lounge in my room relaxing at home, writing, or reading. I also try to catch up on missed shows.

I heard a faint knock on the door.

"Come in Mikey."

"Aye I'm going out for a bit, I'm trusting you to stay home with no issues by yourself tonight. I'll be back in a few hours, I know you're getting older and I'm trying to adjust to that. Especially now since it's just us. You're still little sis though, do I need to call Mrs. Margie from next door?" I shook my head no, giving him a stale look.

"I'm good, —where are you off to dressed in your all black?" I quizzed already knowing where, just thought I'd ask.

"Just a little a hang out spot, nosey."

"Ok, like I said I'm good, I do not need a babysitter. —You got your dollars ready?" I smirked and he chuckled.

"Ha ha real funny. I knew your big head heard us talking, listening to grown folks conversation I see." He smiled shaking his head. "No company whatsoever, I know I don't have to tell you that but just so we're clear. I'll lock up before I leave. Also keep your phone on loud and near you. I'll be texting and FaceTiming."

"Ok." I promised while rolling my eyes.

"Aight." He stated while giving me one last look before walking out.

This is the first time I've ever been left alone. My brother trust absolutely no one. I'm pretty sure he has the neighbors snooping around, spying on me.

So ice cream, popcorn and HBO it is. Since I have the house to myself why not have a solo twerk session.

________________________

{Song: Best Friend by Brandy Norwood.}