*Copyright © _jasthewriter aka xjasrenae 2019 This is a work of fiction, the events that take place are fictional and came straight from my thoughts. I do not own the rights to any of the music that I use and the photos that I use are not mine but are available on public platforms. You may not copy or use my work and claim it as your own in any way*

If you are new to this series, welcome! But I am currently in the process of editing this series in between free time. If you are a re-reader and noticed things have changed, that is why, lol. But happy reading, excuse any errors and anything that may make you cringed from secondhand embarrassment, I was young when I wrote this series. 🥲

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Virginia Beach, New Year's Eve

Sometimes we've had tears in our eyes when we joined together to sing it, but we still decided to sing it. We Shall Overcome!

Lord before this victory is won, some will have to get thrown in jail some more, but We Shall Overcome!

Don't worry about us, before the victory is won some of us will lose jobs, but We Shall Overcome! Before the victory is won, even some will have to face physical death, but if physical death is the price that some must pay, to free their children from permanent psychological death, then nothing shall be more redemptive, We Shall Overcome!

Martin Luther King's We Shall Overcome played lowly in Renae's ears as she stared out into the night as the rain battered against the car window. Another cold, rainy night, another night without a place to lay their head.

In all her 19 years of living, she never thought she'd see the day when she'd have to live inside a car or jump from house to house. Once her mom lost her job, she had a hard time keeping up with the bills. Afraid to ask her sister Tamia for money, she went to the only person she knew wouldn't mind; Bryson, her ex-husband.

Before the victory is won, some will be misunderstood and called bad names and dismissed as rebel-rousers and agitators, but We Shall Overcome!

And I'll tell you why

"Why?" Renae queried like she always did. It was New Year's Eve and here she was sleeping in her stepdad's car, yet again.

"Don't you ever get tired of that speech?" Her little brother, Dajon asked as he placed the thin blanket over her, seeing that she was shaking.

"I'm gonna listen to it until I can say we've overcome something." She mumbled writing her name on the foggy mirror.

"You know you don't have to sleep out here with us right?" Egypt, their mom asked looking over at her ex-husband.

Unlike them, he had a place to stay, but he lived with his girlfriend Amara and she and Egypt couldn't get along. Amara was jealous of the bond Bryson had with not only Egypt but with what some people called a 'bonus kid'

She felt as if he treated Renae and Dajon better than he did her son.

Dajon was his biological son, Renae was his stepdaughter but he loved her like she were his own. Amara needed any reason to hate them though.

"You're still cold back there Zuri?" Bryson asked calling Renae by her middle name. If it were up to him, Zuri would've been her first name, but he was only the Step Father.

"A little." She replied rubbing her arms and Dajon pulled her into him. He always acted as if he were the big brother when it came to Renae.

Maybe it was because they were the only two and were almost close in age. Renae's father was a hardcore drug addict and Egypt couldn't put up with him anymore, so she kicked him to the curb.

That's when she fell for Bryson, she and Bryson were always good friends, but after she left Ahmed, she and Bryson began to get closer. Ahmed was in and out of Renae's life like toilet paper. But toilet paper was a bit more consistent than he was. He was barely around but Bryson was, and often stepped up to the plate.

"I can turn the heat up some more if you want?" He told her but she declined.

She didn't want to make everyone else suffer just because she was cold. Her body temperature was always different from everyone else's. If she were cold, they were hot, if she were hot they were cold. Anemic is what they called it, but to Renae, it was just another form of bad luck.

Removing her earphones, she turned her iPod off to save the battery and grabbed the pillow, and lay in her brother's lap.

"Happy New Year," Bryson smiled once the clock struck 12.

"Happy New Year." They replied in sync.

Never did they think their life would come to this, it was what they've only imagined on tv.

But here they were living proof of what some called being poor.

Things are simply better if you just close your eyes and let your mind free. What's better than a nightmare? A dream.

**

January 2nd

"I told you before E y'all can stay here." Aunt Tamia stressed as she folded the clothes.

"You live in an apartment building Tam with nosy ass neighbors that tell about anything you do, we're good." Mom replied before she walked towards the bathroom.

I sat down at the table and stared at my cousin Keenan.

He thought I didn't know about his 'Streetlife' but I was all up on game.

Some people would describe him as a Romeo look-alike from The Steve Harvey Show, I guess you could say that. I say he favored Tupac with a little bit of Nas. I often lied and told people he was my brother. I always wanted an older brother and in a way, he was the closest thing I had to it.

"No college?" He asked glancing up from his phone.

"Can't afford it... as you can see." I half-joked, but he didn't find it funny.

Nothing about my living situation was funny to him even if I tried to make light of it, he always felt a way. But I always tried to find humor in the darkest moments, it was most likely a coping mechanism.

"Don't they give y'all financial aid or something?" He asked frowning his face up and I laughed.

"I waited too late to apply for it," I mumbled and he gave me a look, looking just like Aunt Tamia.

"Excuses, don't be out here like me lil nigga or we gon fight." He eyed me as he stood I laughed softly.

"Nae you know you can help yourself to some food right?" Aunt Tamia queried.

Nodding, I began messing with her flowers,"Pops got Dajon and I some iHop before we got here."

She nodded looking at the tv just as the Wendy Williams theme song came on.

"What's your New Year resolution girly? You're young and can still get into college." She smiled and I shrugged getting up and joined her inside the living room.

"I don't know what I want out of life anymore... I've been sleeping in the same outfits for the last two weeks, I don't want to get into anything until I have a permanent roof over my head man, I'm tired of this."

"You make it harder than what it should be, I told you before that I didn't mind you staying here but you gotta go to college," she reminded and I just stared at the tv.

Here we go with this mess again.

"College isn't for everyone, I graduated with honors already, what more do y'all want from me?" Defensive, I stood and made my way towards the door.

She called for me but I ignored her on my way out. I understood everyone was trying to live their life through me because I made it but I was done trying to please everyone. I wanted to do shit that made me happy for me not for them.

**

later that day (Public Library)

"Damn man, watch where you're going," I grumbled when someone bumped into me and made me drop my phone and book.

"I was, you weren't," the soft voice sassed.

Chuckling at the attitude, I glanced up to put a face to the voice. Her face held an annoyed expression, she was gorgeous as hell, no lie.

She was of a light toffee complexion, had almond-shaped eyes, with naturally curled lashes; I'm assuming. She had perfectly arched eyebrows, full lips with a slight curve at the Cupid's bow that was obviously coated with some sort of sticky stuff girls were into but it made her features pop. She was rocking a nude top paired with a black flight jacket. She had on mom jeans and a pair all-black Nike's. She was petite with a nice stature, and her hair was in some kind of twist out that was parted right down the middle.

Shortie was a good look, no lie, but that attitude had to go.

"Hello?" She called, pulling me from my observation.

She was short, it explains the attitude. I'm sure her ass had to battle the Devil on a daily.

"Here," she the items into my chest and went to walk away but I grabbed her arm. I wasn't sure why, but I just did.

"Hey, what the hell?" She frowned, taking a swing at me but I caught her hand and slowly stepped back.

"Dat shit had some power behind it, you could really hurt someone with it," I smirked but she stared blankly at me.

"That was my intentions," she rolled her eyes before turning on her heels and walked away.

I went to reach for her until I heard Autumn's ass calling me.

I just can never shake this girl man. Sighing, I reluctantly turned around.

I often wondered why I was still with her, moms ain't like her and I can't pretend not to know why when I do. She was trouble, but it kept me entertained.

"Did you hear me calling you?" She asked between pants. She ran all but 3 feet.

"Nah," I sat at a nearby table, and as expected she sat next to me.

Here we go.

"What do you need now?" I stared at her.

"Why are you always coming to this boring place?" She turned her nose up as if something foul invaded her nostrils.

It was boring here but her ass always somehow ran into me.

"I like to read," I shrugged, glancing down at my phone seeing that my homeboy Malik had texted me.

"For what? How the hell can you just sit and read pages with no pictures?" She questioned and I chuckled.

She was lucky she was fine and gave good head, Lord knows I would've been kicked her to the curb.

"Easy, I just read and enjoy," I said, noticing lil feisty ass from earlier heading down the stairs.

"I know your ass is gonna be here for a few hours, just call me when you get home." She stood.

Nodding I gathered my stuff and chucked the dueces as I rushed towards the stairs almost knocking the short librarian lady over.

"Yo!" I jogged towards the girl, she looked back at me then shook her head and disappeared around the corner.

What the hell kind of game was she playing?

Once I reached the urban fiction area, she was sitting on the carpet looking over a few books.

I glanced behind me then slid my hands in my pocket and walked over towards her.

"You know stalking is a crime right?" muttered with her face buried in the book.

"I'm stalking?" I smirked, "I didn't notice," I sat down in front of her and she huffed scooting back.

"All these years I've been coming here and this is the first time I attracted a stray... Jesus why?" She shook her head.

I couldn't even lie, that was funny. She had jokes, I fucked with that.

"I'm from a stray ma, just wanted to get your name," I casually replied, picking up the Tupac book that rested by her foot.

She looked at me as if she were ready to fight and I placed the book down and held my hands up. "Why are you so mean? I thought dis state was supposed ta be for lovers?" I quoted that damn saying I've been seeing since I first moved up here.

Rolling her eyes, she chuckled.

"Keep letting the massas fool you with that lie."

Cocking my head, I furrowed my brows and stared at her, she curses?

"Didn't take you as da one ta swear," I chuckled, leaning against the bookshelf and she squinted her eyes at me.

Staring for a moment, I took the time to study her. She seemed guarded.

"Where are you from?" She decided to close the book.

"It's dat obvious?" I tried not to smile.

She stared at me waiting a response with no excitement in her eyes. Damn, someone must have really pissed her off in her life.

"I'm from Nola, lived in Houston for a lil went back home then moved up here wit my mom after I graduated from college," I kept it brief.

She eyed me and I chuckled, "What?"

"Nothing." She replied, opening the book.

"What's your name?" I asked.

"I don't talk to strangers," she cut her eyes before standing.

The fuck?

I furrowed my brows, "You jus sat here and held a conversation wit me." I stood as well.

"We were communicating that's it," she stated,

hugging the books.

Sucking my teeth, I exhaled, "Mannn, shortie hold-" the ringing of my phone interrupted my reply.

"Answer that, could be important," was the last thing I heard before she disappeared around the corner.

Laughing to myself, I shook my head as I pulled out my phone and saw it was Malik's worrisome ass.

"Dis nigga," I mumbled before answering the call and grabbed a few books before I headed towards the stairs.

I had to run into shortie again, I just had to.

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Thoughts?

-Jas 2020