"Any luck? Jamie comes from the kitchen, sitting a cup on the table in front of me.

"Girl no. When I first started working at the bank there were so many jobs in the paper it was ridiculous." I roll my eyes.

It seems like now that I need a new job there are none available. "Well maybe you can hold out for a little longer, besides, you've never been there when they were robbed." She shrugs, sipping from her cup.

"There's only a matter of time before I am though."

"I guess your right." She adds, turning on the TV.

"So since your over here so late, I'm gonna take a wild guess and say that you and Braden had an argument this morning." I say, making her suck her teeth.

"You know us too well. B accused me of cheating." She says.

"Well, are you? I chuckle.

"Yes and no. It was a one time thing." She laughs, making me shake my head. "Braden is a good man Jamie, you gotta stop treating him like that. He told me he wants to marry you."

"Marriage isn't my thing."

"Bu-"

"Ooh look, they're talking about your bank." She turns up the TV before I can say anything.

"We think we have a suspect but there's not enough evidence for us to arrest him-"

"That's a damn shame, they probably aren't even trying. Them niggas den robbed y'all like four times now. It's getting rediculous." Jamie says.

"Jamie?

"What?

"How do you know they're black? I chuckle.

"Huh?

"You said niggas. How do you know they're black?

"Bitch you know damn well they black, ain't no white boys out here robbing banks four and five times." She laughs, before changing the channel.

"You never know.."

~Friday~

"Goodmorning Ricky." I say, as I come into work.

I feel his eyes on my butt as I walk past. Ricky is fine supa fine. He's one of the security guards here and he's had a crush on me for a while.

But with the amount of women I see coming out of his apartment across from mine, I would never give him the time of day.

"Ooooh its a good morning indeed." He says, making me chuckle.

I head towards the back to clock in for the day when the entire building falls silent.

"Y'all know the routine, get y'all asses on the ground!

Shit.

I turn around and there's four men in black approaching the tellers. One of them looks at me and I suddenly realize I'm the only one still standing up.

"Bitch I said get yo ass on the ground! One of the men starts walking towards me with a gun. He's taller than me, but shorter than the rest of the men with him.

The mask they all have on only show their eyes. His eyes are brown, and kind of pretty, and his eyelashes are thick like a girl.

I slowly lower myself to the ground while he watches.

He keeps his gun pointed at my head.

As I scan the room of fear stricken faces my eyes land on Ricky, He's drawing his gun. I furrow my eyebrows, slowly shaking my head at him.

Meanwhile the other three men are filling bags with money in the back. Ricky raises his gun and points it at the man with his gun on me. My eyes get wide making the man turn around.

He shoots Ricky, not once, but three times.

Screams sound off all over the bank.

"Shut the hell up! He says, before waving his gun around the room at numerous people, making them fall silent again.

My heart sinks as I watch Ricky bleed out on the floor.

"You didn't have to do that." I say, my voice shaky, making him turn his gun on me again.

"What? I was supposed to let that pussy nigga shoot me? Bitch shut up." He laughs. "Y'all hurry the fuck up back there, we ain't got all damn day! He yells, making the three men come from the back with three garbage bags full of money.

Just by looking at the bags I can tell that's the most they've ever taken.

"Let's go."

The men leave quietly, one of them keeping their gun on us until they're completely out of the building.

I get up quickly, walking around the room, asking people if they're alright or if they've been hurt. The police arrive about five minutes later. I can't believe they shot Ricky...

I watch as the coroner and police surround his body, they begin asking people to "Please leave" as they rope the bank off with yellow tape.

"Oh my goodness Adrienne." One of my coworkers approaches me and hugs me. "Are you okay? I saw him pointing the gun at you." She says.

I don't even know her name.

"Yea I'm fine. Thanks."

"Poor Ricky, he tried to be a hero. Even if he had shot him they still would've gotten away with that money."

I don't comment. Its clear that she isn't genuinely concerned, just looking for someone to talk about it with.

"Excuse me ma'am. I'm detective Marla Sanders, I'm looking to speak with you for a minute." A woman approaches me, extending a hand out for me to shake.

"Adrienne Walker." I shake her hand.

"I'm going to ask you a few questions."

"If you don't mind me asking, why me? Are you asking everyone questions or just me? I ask.

"Do you have any idea why one of the men decided to point the gun at you and no one else? She asks, ignoring my question.

"Because I was still standing when he told everyone to get down." I say, squinting my eyes at her.

"Why is that?

"I was in shock. I've never been working on the day of a robbery." I fold my arms, confused as to what she's getting at.

"Did they tell you not to come on those days?

"Did who- excuse me are you accusing me of something? I ask, making the detective smirk.

"I'm just doing my job."

I don't respond, making her continue her interrogation. "Were you the last one to get down because you weren't afraid of those men? Because you knew them?

"Bi-" I take a deep breath. "I'm going to go now." I say, before walking away from her. Who the hell does she think she is and why in the damn world would I have anything to do with this?

I leave the building and get into my car.

I need a drink.

~4:27 pm~

I pull into the parking lot of a bar I've never been to.

Black Cotton Bar&Grill

As I walk in I notice that it isn't like other bars. Everyone in here seems familiar with each other. Almost all of the men have on red, and not one of them are without a woman on their arm, or their lap.

I sit at the bar and pick up a menu.

"What can I get you to drink? The bartender asks, cleaning a glass before placing it in front of me.

"Scotch, no ice." I say.

After pouring my drink he asks if I'm ready to order, I tell him to give me a few minutes.

"Ain't never seen you in here before." A man sits in the chair next to me. I don't say anything, I just continue looking at the menu. The foresty smell of his cologne cuts through the smell of alcohol and weed.

"Andre lemme get the shrimp and grits." The man says to the bartender before he writes it down and goes to the back.

"You know its rude not to speak to a nigga when he speakin to you."

I finally turn towards the man, but he isn't looking at me, He's staring down at his drink. He has on a bright red jacket that screams arrogance, I turn away from him again.

The bartender comes back and I wave him over.

"I want the chicken alfredo but can you add shrimp to it? I ask, he nods as he writes it down. "Okay that's all. Thanks."

A girl walks up to the man and whispers something in his ear.

"Oh word? Igh lemme eat first girl." He chuckles, before tapping her ass as she walks away. He notices me observing and I quickly look away, sipping from my drink.

I hear him chuckle slightly making me roll my eyes.

About ten minutes pass before my food comes out, his does too but he tells the bartender to make it Togo.

Not long after he gets his food and meets that girl from earlier at the door and leaves.

I stare down at my food, I'm suddenly not even hungry anymore. I keep thinking about Ricky, I saw him get shot. He shot him three times, once in the head, twice in the chest.

What kind of ruthless people are they?

I feel like its my fault.

If I hadn't looked at Ricky the way I did when he drew his gun, maybe he would still be alive and one of those thugs would be dead.

Ricky didn't deserve that.

I eat a few bites of my food before asking for a Togo box. I drain the rest of my drink.

"Here you go." The bartender hands me my ticket and I pay in cash before getting up from the bar and heading back to the parking lot.

Just as I open my car door someone clears their throat.

"You damn fine lil mama."

I turn around and its the man who was sitting next to me at the bar. "I'm sorry, did you need something? I ask.

He blows cigarette smoke in my face and I cough a little.

"I'm Tupac." He says, licking his lips as he looks me up and down.

"Don't you got a broad to meet up with or something? I ask, making him chuckle. "Its good that you pay attention." He says.

There's a moment of silence between us. I realize that he's waiting for me to answer him.

"Adrienne."

"Adrienne." He repeats. "I like that." He drops the cigarette at his feet and steps on it before walking away.

Weirdo.

•••• end of chapter

Hey guys! Sorry there wasn't much action in this first chapter but I can assure you it will get more interesting. Lmk what you think in the comments ! ~ Zayla💋