{Unedited}

Mike went back to see Rai and he came back sort of in a better state. Everybody was here in the waiting room at this point.

"How is she?" Sienna went up to him still in tears.

He looked around the room at everybody then spoke. "She was asleep when I went in, then she woke up a little confused. She's just trying to take everything in." He paused scratching the back of his head. "They have her on suicide watch, but the main thing is she's here. She's going to be ok."

I let out the air I had been holding in. I started thinking about what Mike confessed about Rai. It's taking everything in me not to break down. I was shaking and feeling like I was losing control of my emotions. The lump in my throat burned to the point my neck stiffened and my lip wouldn't stop trembling.

Sienna looked over at me asking the very thing I didn't need to hear. "You ok?"

Mike instinctively glanced over in my direction.

"Yeah." I replied mumbling. I got up and walked toward the hallway. I didn't make it there. I couldn't hold it in anymore, I slid down against the wall and broke down.

Sienna and Rita came over hugging me saying she's going to be alright. I just cried harder.

After a few minutes I got up and left them standing there. I went back to my seat hunched over with my face buried in my hands. Everybody sat quietly for awhile.

"Hey Sienna, if you want to go back there and see her you can." Mike finally spoke and she nodded. She quickly rushed back to where Raina was.

I sat and waited. I don't plan to leave this place until Raina's released. I don't give a damn what Mike has to say. I noticed he keep glancing at me like he want to say something. I really don't want to have it out with him here.

"How could you do this to me?" Mike stared into my eyes attentively, with a look of disgust.

"I'm not trying to argue with you Mike. —I don't want to fight." I said honestly.

"So you just go behind my back fucking my sister and you expect me to not say nothing?"

Everybody except Leah looked at us shocked, clueless to what was going on.

"We just rushed Raina here hours ago and that's what you want to talk about? Right now? —I'm not doing that." I shook my head. "My focus is on her getting better and that's it.

"Oh but just to clear it up, I did not sleep with your sister Mike. That's the honest truth." I added staring back directly in his eyes.

"So what is it then, because I know you! You don't just talk to these girls. You sleep with them, then you leave. That's the way it's always been." He went on totally ignoring my request to not talk about it right now. Leah was trying to calm him because he was getting loud.

I shook my head giving no response, hoping he would drop it.

"She's seventeen A3, that's my baby sister. You don't know shit about us." He scoffed, everybody else was sitting around listening.

I roughly rubbed my hands down my face and spoke calmly. "I'm sorry Mike, I did go behind your back talking to her but it's totally innocent. It's just talking that's it."

"See you lying to me, I read the messages. Talking about you love her and baby this and Munch that. Who da fuck is Munch?" He shouted.

"You was in her room last night, talking about you had her pinned up against the wall." He paused, shaking his head. "You were suppose to be in the basement last night with Leah's friend. —So let me get this straight you were laughing up in Toni's face one minute and fucking my sister the next. You disrespectful motherfuc-"

"It's not like that Mike, the only reason I agreed to hang out with Leah's friend was because I had been saying no to you about a lot of stuff. Rai and I both agreed for me to go through with it. You would know if you had read her messages further. —I knew Rai wasn't comfortable with it so I went up to her room, instead of going to the bathroom."

He sucked his teeth. "Nah I don't believe yo hoeing ass. Y'all was plotting on me to meet up today. —You can leave."

"This is a hospital Mike, public place. I can stay right here. I'm not leaving." I shook my head while shrugging my shoulder.

"You won't see Raina so you're wasting your time."

"Alright Mike." I retorted wanting to dead this entire conversation.

"Well damn." Troy spoke looking back and forth between Mike and I.

"Shut up, T." Amina whispered loudly.

It was quiet for a while then Sienna came back, she had stopped crying but still had a look of concern on her face.

"She said she wants to see Adrian." Sienna looked over at Mike.

"Nope, not happening." He responded quickly, and chuckled dryly.

I sighed and sat back.

Mike got up and went back to Raina's room.

Leah and the other girls went to get food. I told them I wasn't hungry.

****

The next day everybody alternated leaving to go freshen up and come back. They had to convince Mike to go home and shower. Myself on the other hand didn't go anywhere.

My parents had just walked in bringing me some stuff from my house. I guess I better talk to them.

"Hey... oh my, what happened to your lip?— Never mind here is your stuff, go ahead and go freshen up we'll be out here to wait for you." My mom said.

I went to the restroom to clean myself up and to try to mentally prepare myself for this talk with my parents. I've honestly never lied to them before, I have that type of relationship with them where I never felt like I had to. The only reason I didn't tell them about Rai was because I knew they wouldn't understand it. Her age and she being Mikes sister— they know how he is about her, everybody does.

I finished up in the restroom and bagged my stuff then walked back out to my parents.

"Hey." I said while taking a seat next to my mom in the waiting room. I handed my bag over to my pops who was seated in the chair on other side next to her.

"What's going on son, you said Raina was in the hospital for an overdose?" My dad asked concerned.

"Yeah, but she's going to be alright."

I took a breath. They looked at me confused.

"I need to tell y'all something." They waited on me to proceed.

"Raina and I have been talking to each other for a few months now."

"What?" They said in unison.

"Yeah and she means everything to me, I've always had a thing for her. I love her —and I mean that with everything in me." I expressed wholeheartedly staring at them filled with nervous energy.

"Adrian what the hell are you doing, —and let me guess Mike found out?" My dad questioned.

I sighed. "Yes, he did. He saw our text messages on Raina's phone.

"Dri Dri?" My mom whined.

"I know ma, I tried to fight it— and I did for years. I love her and she loves me too." I meekly explained, I paused. "I just want to see her, I need to look in her eyes to see that she's alright. I feel like I'm losing my mind, sitting here."

"I'm not understanding, she tried to commit suicide?" My mom questioned.

"Yeah, before Mike and Raina came to Atlanta they had been through some hard stuff. Some stuff I'm not even comfortable with repeating. Apparently Raina has been dealing with it still.— She overdosed on her antidepressants. That's all I can say, it's Raina's business."

"Wow." My mom stated in disbelief shaking her head.

Mike returned to the hospital, he walked over and stood directly in front of us.

"Did y'all know about this too? Your sicko sons trying to get with my sister." He yelled.

"Mike there is no need for name calling here, how's Raina and no we did not know. We just had a conversation with our son." My mama stated standing up in front of Mike.

"Oh, —she's doing better. Her blood pressure's a lot better." He backed up, speaking in a much more suitable tone.

"Is there any chance I can possibly see her?"

"You can but your son can't." Mike stated.

"Ok, Dri I'm going to go back there to see her ok." She peered down at me and I nodded.

I sat back in the chair quietly. While her and Mike went back to Raina's room.

"So this is the mystery girl you were talking about? How in the hell did this happen Jr, you know that girls too young?"

"I don't know pops, it's like when I'm with her or talk to her none of that shit matters to me. —I don't want to lose her."

"You and I have been pretty open and non judge mental towards each other. That's the way I taught you to be. I'm more concerned about your well-being in this. How far have you gone with her and please be honest? Do I need to call our lawyer?"

"I've never done anything with her, I kissed her but that's it. I've never lied to you about who I've been with. You ask me and I tell you straight up." I looked my father in his eyes.

"I believe you, but you can't continue this son. One wrong move and you're done."

I paused shaking my head. "I'm not trying to hear that. She'll be eighteen in July, it's now January that's in six more months. I won't cross the line with her. I don't want to be with anybody else."

"Yeah, well what about your best friend? You'll just throw that away? You know how Mike is about her. Why would you even start talking to her in the first place? Better yet, why would you disrespect him by going against the one thing that means the most to him, trust?"

I took a moment to think about this whole entire situation. Of course I value my friendship with Mike that's my brother. We've been through everything together, from high school to college and now as grown men. Out of everybody in the squad Mike and I have known each other the longest. So I knew what it meant getting involved with his sister.

My mama came out in tears.

"Dri go and see her, Michael said it was ok. He's in there waiting."

I hopped up, hugged my mama and rushed to her room.

I was nervous the whole way. I stood in the doorway, and the first thing I saw was her arms in restraints. I looked over at Mike, he was still pissed. He gestured for me to come in.

Her hair was curly and all over the place, her skin looked a tad bit dull. Her eyes were red and puffy. Even with all that she was still the most beautiful girl in the world. I'm so grateful things didn't the other way. I could've lost her.

"Hey." I said nervously to Rai, she smiled.

"Hey, come here." She faintly spoke.

I instinctively looked at Mike again then walked closer to her. I stood quietly, she continued to smile.

She looked over at Mike.

"I'm not leaving Rai, I told you I wasn't. So you can just say whatever you're going to say now." He made himself clear.

She looked back at me."I'm ok, —I'm going to get some help. I'll be fine. So don't worry —and I'm sorry."

My breathing started getting heavy. She mouthed she loved me.

"I'm— I'm not hiding anymore Munch, I— I love you too." I stammered as a tear came down.

Mike watched our interaction, he was stunned.

"I'm sorry Mike, but she means everything to me. This shit right here broke me man. I know how I've been in the past but I promise you this right here is not that." I pointed to Raina. She started crying, I bent down to wipe her face.

He looked at both of us like he was battling with his thoughts and mumbled. "Ima' give y'all some privacy."

I nodded. "Thanks man."

"Don't thank me, I still need to have a conversation with you later. —So yeah don't thank me."

I nodded again.

Mike left and as soon as the door shut I hugged her and kissed all over her face. I leaned my head down on her forehead then we closed our eyes. We needed this. Feeling her breathing so close to my face, was the best feeling in the world right now. She's still here.

She sighed. "There is so much I need to tell you, but it's just so much."

"You don't have to say anything right now Rai, just get some rest and focus on getting better." I sat down in a chair next to her.

She smiled, I leaned in and kissed her again. This time more passionately as I caressed her face gently.

"Just don't do that shit again, you hear me?" I said into her lips, my forehead pressed against hers. My words were laced with so much pain.

"I know, it was stupid."

"No don't say that either, you're not well right now, and you're dealing with a lot. You're going to get some help and I'll be there with you, ok?" I sat back in the chair.

"Ok." She gave me that blush smile I love so much.

"I love you Raina with all my heart and I don't want to lose you." I grabbed her hand even though she had the restraints. I leaned my forehead against it.

"I love you too and I don't want to lose you either." She spoke soothingly.

I stayed in there for another thirty minutes until she fell asleep. I walked back out to the waiting room with my parents. I didn't want to leave her but I know I needed to let someone else get a chance to see her.

"Hey Dri, you ok?" My mama asked.

"Yeah, I'll be fine. Thank you ma."

"No thanks needed. Did you eat anything, are you hungry?"

"I'm not hungry." I answered quickly.

She stared at me concerned. She sighed and sat back knowing she wouldn't win that battle.

We all continued to wait quietly, some making small talk amongst themselves, two hours passed and I was ready to go back in with Rai.

At this point I really don't give a fuck what nobody think.

Raina's counselor came in Dr. Mills was her name. She headed over straight to Mike, they walked back to Raina's room.

Less than five minutes later Mike came back out and told me to go in there with them, per Raina's request. I hugged my parents goodbye and we walked back.

{Song: "Officially Missing You" By Tamia}

{I hope I didn't stress you guys out too bad, 😬}

{Raina's ok! She survived phewww!!!}

{I guess it's Mike vs. Adrian.}

{Raina's POV coming up next}

{Vote, Comment and Share folks}

✌🏾☮️