😗sorry for any mistakes

Saturday

🎶 What you niggas know about the Dirty South?

What you niggas know about the Dirty South?🎶

Semaj chuckled to himself once he heard Dirty South by Goodie Mob playing throughout the house when he walked out of this room. He knew his father—Terrence must be getting on the grill today.

He jogged down the carpet stairs, walking down the short hallway before he walked into the kitchen. He knew he was right seeing his bald dad in his grilling clothes and apron while a whole bunch of seasoning was on the counter.

"Wassup pops" He nodded his head at him, going into the white refrigerator to get something to drink. Terrence turned around and scrunched his face up at his son "When da' hell yo' black ass get hea'?" He questioned.

Semaj sucked his teeth then mugged him "You ain' kno' I was hea' this whole time?" He squinted his eyes at him, seeing that it was impossible when he had just come out of his room this morning.

Terrence mugged his back "Nah nigga I wouldn't be askin' if I did" He bucked his eyes at him making Semaj chuckle as he looked back at his twin. He looked exactly like his father except without the bald head and full beard.

"I ain' got nothin' ta' do and I'm tired from work yesterday" He huffed, closing the refrigerator after he grabbed his bottle of water. From doing 5 am morning workouts, and 7 am 3-mile runs along with working at his dad's dealership, he was always worn out.

That's been his consistent schedule this whole summer.

"Mm. I need you ta' pick up Leelee from da' airport in 2 hours for me" Terrence said, going back to seasoning the chicken he had in the white bowl.

Semaj slightly scrunched up his face at the mention of his cousin Carmen who lived in Birmingham, Alabama. He wouldn't be as surprised if school wasn't about to start on Tuesday. "Airport? Why is she comin' and school is about to start?" He asked, taking a seat at the dining table.

Terrence scoffed "She called me cryin' last night 'bout my no-good sister kicking her out so she comin' ta' stay wit' us for her senior year." He explained, shaking his head in disappointment. "Anythin' could have happened ta' her but she wanna be on some petty shit but it's good, I got her" Terrence nodded slowly.

"We got her," Semaj corrected him. Carmen has always been like a little sister to him and they always maintain a close relationship even though they were states away from each other.

He couldn't even say he was surprised about his aunt's actions. His aunt was narcissistic and very controlling of others. She didn't care about anybody but herself and she always showed it. Nobody understood why she acted that way, especially toward Carmen.

She always gave off vibes of her being jealous of Carmen and controlling everything she does. She didn't let her do anything, she would never let her get her hair done, only she could do it and she always put her hair in little ugly braids. She put in kiddy pigtails like Carmen was in elementary school.

She never got Carmen cute clothes, she always got her ugly ones while she had the flashy and designer clothing, and her hair was always done.

Carmen never saw it, not even after everyone would tell her. She never wanted to believe it, she always thought her mother had her best interest at heart. As she got older, she saw that wasn't the case and saw the controlling and narcissistic behavior.

Her seeing that made her take up for herself more when it came to her mother. She stopped letting her mom walk all over her and tried to defend herself in the most respectful way she could even though her mom was never respectful to her.

His dad started getting more calls from his sister about Carmen being disrespectful over the past few years but it was never disrespectful.

It was just she didn't like Carmen defending herself. She didn't like that Carmen stop letting her control every little thing she did.

"But when you pick her up, don't take my car. Take this" Terrence said after washing his hands clean and reaching into his pocket to pull out the car keys.

Semaj started laughing "Stop playin' bruh, you deadass?!" He jumped up from his seat with a smile while Terrence smirked at his son.

"I mean, if you don't want it, I can take it back" He shrugged. Semaj almost immediately snatched the keys out of his hand and then hugged him.

Terrence couldn't help but laugh while patting his back "I told you, I also gotchu man" He teared up a little. It wasn't even about the car, it was about how proud he was of himself.

The two have been through a lot these past years.

Being a single father wasn't easy. Especially when he didn't have anything. His plan wasn't to be a single father but he always made sure he was a damn good one, especially after Maj's mother—Kelsey walked out on them for a man with money.

At the time Terrence was only working at a factory making $17 an hour, working long shifts to provide for Semaj and Kelsey. Kelsey wanted to be an at-home mom but that was just an excuse to sit and do nothing, barely taking care of Semaj who was only 4 at the time.

After she left and never wanted anything to do with either of them. Terrence was lost, he didn't know what it was like being a single father.

But he did it. He made sure to give Semaj things he need with what he could do and Semaj will always be grateful for all of it. Semaj honestly never cared about sleeping in his dad's truck or sometimes in the shelters that were free or sleeping on his friend's couches.

He had his dad who was working hard for him and never gave up, unlike his mother.

That's all he cared about.

Terrence of course got a better job and within 2 years ago, he was the owner of 2 car dealerships after working as a janitor for the company.

"I appreciate you man" Semaj muffled into his father's embrace. He couldn't wait to make it so he could give his father everything he deserved. He felt like he owed his father so much and he was going to repay him back for it.

"Love you, son, now go look at it" He cleared his throat and patted his back one last time before they pulled away. Semaj quickly ran to the front door to get his Nike slides before running outside.

"Oh shit!" He put his first to his mouth when he saw the all-black with already tinted windows, 2019 Chevrolet Malibu sitting pretty in their driveway next to his father's Silver Escalade.

He hit the unlock button and started doing the jerk when it unlocked. He quickly pulled his phone out to call the group chat. Both Rell and JB answered but he figured Sarai didn't answer because she is busy.

"Yooo"

"WHAT DA' FUCK?!" JB's jaw was dropped when Semaj had the camera turned around to face the car.

"Nigga come to get us bitch!" Rell fussed and he laughed going to the car to get inside.

_________________

"Leelee!" Semaj shouted, standing off his car when he looked up from his phone as he waited for his cousin and then saw Carmen walk out the doors of the airport.

Carmen turned around at the sound of her name and smiled. She held onto her duffel bag tightly since that was all she had and slightly jogged toward him. He laughed at her bumping into people but forgot to say excuse me.

"Hi, cousin!" She smiled big once she finally got to him. "I missed you" They embraced each other with a hug.

"Dang, you got big. What is Uncle T feeding you? Steroids?" She curled her lip up once they pulled away. He laughed at her, they haven't seen each other in maybe two years mainly because her mom always said she gets more 'disrespectful' when she comes back from being around Semaj.

He was about to say something but clenched his jaw when he saw the big bandaid on her left cheek and that's when he noticed the knot on her forehead. He felt his blood boiling, all this wasn't called for. "She does too fuckin' much" He grumbled, grabbing her black duffle bag from her.

Carmen sighed, getting into the passenger seat while he put her duffle in the back seat. He jogged around to get in the driver's seat before turning the car on and turning the air up. "Did you at least fight back like I told you to?" He asked, looking behind him to see if he could drive off.

"No. I jus' can't put my hands back on ha' Maj" She sighed, putting on her seatbelt and he did the same. "You mad?" She frowned, looking over at him.

He shook his head no "I jus' want you ta' defend yourself, Lee. You ain' dat lady damn punchin' bag for when she gets mad at you for not doing what she says" He shrugged, as they now got into traffic.

"I kno' but it's easy ta' say den done. She is still my mom and I still love her, you know?" She asked.

"I can't relate 'cause I'll knock da' fuck outta my mama but I see what you sayin' " He chuckled, moving up some in traffic. He just felt as if he could never let his parent treat him like a punching bag. But then again, he wouldn't know until he was in the situation so he was going to shut up

He reached to the back, grabbed an AT&T bag, and put it on her lap. "No more track phone. Pops got dat for you" He smiled a little.

She slapped his arm "You didn't have ta' bring up my track phone boy. I got all the niggas wit' that phone. Don't play" She giggled, opening up her brand new gold iPhone 12 pro max.

"Shut up" He glanced over at her mugging first then looked back at the road.

She laughed as she took the phone out of the bag, seeing it was already open "So what happened? What was her excuse this time?" He asked since his dad didn't tell him.

"We've been fighting all week honestly. Over dumb shit but on yesterday, I forgot to get the mail before she came home and she found my acceptance letter to NCAT. I got in by the way" She danced in her seat causing a big smile to come across his face. They both started doing the Bankhead bounce.

He was excited for college honestly. He, Rell, Sarai, and JB's dream since they found out about college was to all attend the same college which was NCAT (North Carolina Agricultural & Technical State University).

Semaj already has his full-ride scholarship for basketball and JB already had his acceptance and scholarship for the band. They were just waiting on Rell and Rayray to get theirs.

"But yeah, she opened it which wasn't her place, and got all mad and shit. She didn't know I applied there and was mad I was trying to go far from her. She was yelling about how she was not going to pay for me to go there and stuff and how she applied for me to go to Tuskegee. Like I understand the Tuskegee is an HBCU but I don't wanna go there" She expressed, Semaj nodded understanding.

Carmen always said how she wanted to go to an HBCU but the time she came down to North Carolina for the summer. She went to view NCAT with Semaj. Her mind has been set on going there ever since. So he understood why she didn't want to attend Tuskegee especially with it being so close to her mom.

"But she talkin' about how I ain' goin' and how she ain't paying and I let it slip that I had scholarships that will help and Uncle T since he said he would help with my college education" She explained, he just listened. He forgot his dad was doing that for her since he had a full-ride scholarship, he didn't have to pay as much, maybe food and other things but he had money from working over the summer that he was saving.

"So that really pissed her off then I told her like once I graduate, I'm done wit' her because I literally can't take it anymore. It's so draining having her in my life. So then she got so mad and broke a glass cup and threw it at me, screaming how much she hated me and calling me all types of bitches" She shook her head, turning the phone on and Semaj's eyes widened.

His aunt needed psychological help.

"She just threw shit at me while I ran out the house trying to get away from her. Then she said I needed to get the fuck out of her house since I can't respect her and listen to simple instructions and blah blah blah. Then she wanted to say I should be lucky to have her because nobody else wanted me but my thing is. She chose to be a single mom when she got Inseminated with sperm and to be a mother, I didn't ask to be here" Her voice started to crack, only hurting Semaj's heart.

That was another thing about his aunt that nobody understood. She wanted kids badly and went to the doctor to get Inseminated because she wasn't in a relationship but wanted a kid. They didn't understand why she would treat Carmen so horribly when that's what she wanted and paid to get.

"And the bad thing about it, I still love her" She sniffled, wiping her face with the back of her hands.

"Gotta love people like that from a distance. How do you get your stuff?" He asked, wondering how did she get a duffel bag filled with her things if her mom kicked her out before she could.

"She let me back in to pack but only let me take the things I brought myself. I would buy clothes and shoes with the birthday money everyone gives me" She explained while smiling at her new phone.

Semaj just shook his head "You gon' be straight tho. Fuck her" He said bluntly making her chuckle.

_________________

"Hello?" Sarai huffed over the phone after Semaj called her for the 3rd time.

"That's yo' problem, you always huffin' and puffin' like you the big bad wolf and shit. Come get this peach cobbler befo' I throw it out the window girl" He fussed, looking ahead at her house as he sat in the driveway.

He could see her led lights on from her window.

"Throw my peach cobbler out the window and watch how I drag you by dem elf ears with yo' stupid ass. Do too fuckin' much" She grumbled.

He tried not to laugh at how mad she sounded which was hilarious to him. She was such a sweet person so hearing nice people cuss with forever be funny.

"Watch yo' mouth Sarai" He warned. She barely cursed as it was so hearing her do it didn't sound right sometimes.

"Shut up and get off my phone befo' I block you again" She fussed before hanging up in his face.

He mugged the phone, he couldn't stand her most of the time. But she was his best friend and he wouldn't trade her for anyone. She was the first girl and one of the only girls he ever trusted.

After his mom abandoned him, as bad as it might be, he couldn't stand women. Not just because of her but also the many girlfriends his dad had growing up and how they all were just awful and all acted the same.

Some would get to know him and get him attached just to leave when things got serious with his dad.

But he doesn't disrespect women but to the point, he felt as if they couldn't be trusted. He knew it was bad holding a grudge against all women because of a few but he honestly couldn't help it.

He trusted Ms. Nicole and Rell's Auntie and JB's mom along with Sarai and Carmen. But that was it, everyone else was the same and would just leave when things get deep or just because that's what they all do.

They abandon him.

Leaves him stuck wondering why he isn't good enough for them to stay.

He heard a fainting noise and looked up to see the garage opening to Sarai's house. She had on crocs, and her natural hair was in a messy ponytail with a PSD sports bra and grey sweats. Sweatpants that looked like they belonged to him.

He now felt bad seeing her rubbing her eyes like a baby, guessing he woke her up.

She stopped in her tracks when she saw the car. He watched her jaw drop, laughing at her face as he got out of the car, making sure to grab her peach cobbler first from the passenger seat. "No way! This is all you?!" She squealed excitedly, running back into the house.

He shook his head, walking towards the garage "Mommy! Daddy! Maj GOT A CAR!" She screamed inside the house, he only shook his head even more at her when he finally made it up the long driveway.

"Stop screamin' in dis damn house Khiouri!" He heard Justice yell back.

She started laughing, running to hug Semaj "When did you get this? Why didn't you tell me" She asked after pulling away from the hug "Thank youuuu" She cheesed, taking the bag with her peach cobbler in it and then putting it on top of her car since it was in the garage.

He sucked his teeth "I called the group chat earlier but yo' ass ain' answer. You don't like us no mo' or something?" He furrowed his eyebrows. Sarai was the friend you could always depend on and will always answer so his feelings were slightly hurt.

"I wasn't feelin' good. I'm sorry" She slightly pouted, he chuckled, throwing his arm over her shoulder "What was wrong wit' you?" He asked as they walked out of the garage.

She just shrugged "You pregnant and ain' told nobody?" He joked.

She mugged him before pushing him away from her. "Always tryna be funny. How ima be pregnant if I never had sex befo' Zyair?" She squinted her eyes at him.

"How I'm supposed ta' know that?" He chuckled, knowing she never had a boyfriend in her life so it wasn't hard to believe she was a virgin. And they tell each other everything.

They always had that close bond that they could tell each other anything without judgment. Mainly because Sarai was the only one that always put up with his bullshit.

"I'm not you and have sex wit' anything wit' two legs" She rolled her eyes. He started mugging her "Stop cappin' on me. I only got 3 bodies" He scrunched up his face, wondering where she even got that from.

He was a hormonal teen, of course, he's gonna want to have sex. It's not much he can honestly control but he did have enough control to be safe and not stick his dick everywhere.

She ignored him, looking at the car "Okayyy, it's giving expensiveeeee. A Scat could neverrr" She smirked and he laughed "Nah, I still want my Scat but I'ma get it in due time. Just watch" He nodded, watching her get into the driver's side of the car.

Like any other male, his dream car was to have a Scat pack. But that was a car he wanted to purchase himself, he wanted to be able to feel accomplished in him that he bought his dream car. In the future, he will have enough money to buy two Scat packs.

He was claiming that type of energy.

"What mama Nicole doin' tomorrow?" He asked, remembering what he also came to see her for.

"Why are you, my business boy?" He heard from behind him. He turned around to see both of her parents walking up to them. "Wassup ma" He smiled and kissed her cheek before dapping up Justice.

"Damn this shit is clean" Justice smirked, nodding in approval. "Preciate it" He smiled, watching him let his wife go to look inside the car with his daughter.

"So ma, you doin' hair tomorrow?" He leaned over, putting his arm on her shoulders, looking down at her since he was taller than her 5'5 height.