February 1st

"Look what the damn wind blew in." Amara quipped as soon as I walked through the door.

"Don't even start, I've been here every single day." I sighed, tossing my keys on the table.

"You sure don't be in my bed at night time."

"Who's fault is that? You got my ex wife and my kids sleeping in a truck because you don't want them in the house."

Her mouth dropped as she blinked a few times, "Last time I checked you had one kid and sadly you don't even treat my son like your kid!"

"Excuse me?" I frowned, walking towards the kitchen.

"Zuri is just as much as my kid as Dajon is! Don't ever disrespect her like that. I let you get away with a lot of shit but don't you dare fix your lips to speak on what you know nothing about. You're so clouded by jealousy you can't even see that Egypt actually likes your rude ass."

"I'm rude yet you're involved with me." She countered.

Undoing my jacket, I gave her one last look then laughed, "And I'm wondering for how much longer."

***

Same day

"We fucking wit tha' carnival dis year or nah?" I asked picking up the ps4 controller.

"We do every year round here," Malik answered snacking on some Doritos.

"Wit tha' niggas y'all got beef with?" I asked and they nodded.

"We just fight if shit pops off, they ain't try nothing last year, so let's see if they'll try anything this year." Keenan said.

I rose a brow, "Why fight at tha' carnival though? All tha' families gonna be there with their kids and shit." That shit did not make any sense to me.

"One thing that you're gonna learn about the beach in general, ma'fuckers don't care about where they shoot at or fight at. When we say on sight, that's exactly what we mean." He explained and I stared at him funny.

"I understand allat, but I'm saying, y'all can just start setting up places to box dat shit out instead of shooting and fighting at a damn carnival, at tha' movies or tha' Oceanfront. That's taking tha' fun out of stuff from everyone else dat don't have anything to do with petty beef." I told him.

"I guess you're gonna hate hanging with us then because if we out tryna have fun and some goofy pop shit that's deadball. We scrapping on sight."

I just shook my head. "What's going on with you and Braelin?" I asked Malik.

"Nothing, she's been fighting the flu for a few days now. Lil mama been so down."

"Flu? And yo ass over here? Hell no goodbye with yo contaminated ass!" Keenan dramatic ass said and I busted out laughing.

"Dawg, I ain't been to her house since she got sick, fuck outta' here," Malik frowned, starting the game.

I chuckled at the mug Keenan had on his face. "So what's tha' moves for today?" I asked.

"Shit not much, it's raining outside can't do shit," Keenan answered.

"You act like we ain't got cars."

"Few, I'm not tryna be out in the rain, I just got my hair braided," he grumbled and I sucked my teeth.

"His ass sound like a damn shorty, who did yo shit anyway?" I queried.

"Zuri's lil quiet ass," Malik smirked.

I stared at him for a moment then quirked a brow, "I'm getting tired of y'all talking bout dis damn girl but have yet to show me a damn picture." I stressed.

Malik reached for his phone but Keenan snatched it right out his hand. "Fuck you think you doing?"

"I think I was about to show a picture off of my phone." He reached for his phone but Keenan slid it in his pocket.

Ain't no way that could've been me. "I'm starting to think shortie ugly," I decided to say.

Malik busted out laughing when Keenan glared at me.

"Pretend she ugly and stop asking about her then," He said and I chuckled.

"Maybe I will."

***

Holiday Inn down the Ocean Front

"I thought you said you had an apartment for us?" I stared at Bryson dubiously once we got inside our hotel room.

"They couldn't hold it for me, someone offered a better deal." He whispered and I huffed.

Of course.

"How long are we staying here?" Dajon asked putting his book bag on the bed.

"Until I can find us some place to stay," Mom answered as she checked the sheets and pillow cases.

"I'm gonna go down stairs and see if they can give us some extra sheets and towels." Bryson announced, nodding, he stuck his hand out and I smiled doing our secret handshake.

"I'm hungry." I mumbled plopping down in the chair. The room wasn't big but it wasn't small it was better than the truck.

"Order a pizza," Mom said putting her bag on the bed and I sighed.

"I don't want pizza." Dajon grumbled.

"Me either," I sighed.

"Then y'all ain't hungry." She shrugged.

"Yes we are, just tired of eating pizza." I told her as Dajon tossed the phonebook.

"Then order Chinese food, Renae damn, order subs, just order something." She spoke a little too aggressively.

Dajon and I stared at one another then looked at her.

"What in the world did I do?"

Shaking her head, she grabbed her checkbook and cellphone and headed towards the bathroom.

"Did I say something wrong?" I asked Dajon.

"No, you know how she be, taking her frustration out on us for what her job done to her."

"All I said was that we ain't want pizza." I shook my head and he laughed.

"That's mom for ya, but what did you find?" He asked walking over towards me.

"Nothing really, I only have two hundred dollars saved I only want to spend twenty dollars at the most."

"I think dad was actually gonna pay for the food." He admitted.

"Oh..." I pursed my lips, "I'll ask when he gets back. Do you wanna roam the floors with me?" I asked putting the phonebook down.

"Yeah, this boujie hotel, there's no telling what they have."

Laughing, I grabbed our spare key card and knocked on the bathroom door.

"You find a place to eat from?" Mom queried once she opened the door.

"No, we were gonna take a tour. You can order for us, it doesn't matter anymore." I told her and she nodded hanging her phone up.

"Why do you look stressed?" I asked noticing the look on her face.

"Don't worry about that, y'all go ahead and tour and if you see Bryson tell him to hurry back." She mumbled.

Nodding, we headed towards the door.

"So... you got any little girls I need to come beat up?" I asked Dajon once we got outside our room.

"No, I don't want to think about girls when we barely got a roof over our head and clothes on our backs." He frowned sliding his hands in his pockets.

I hated that he had to go through this, it wasn't a big deal to me, I mean yeah, it was sad but I don't like the fact that my little brother had to experience what consider being poor

"What about you? Any lil dudes I gotta beat up or get Keenan to beat up?"

Laughing, I shook my head, "N— no." I sort of lied thinking back to my stalker, well Stone.

"I sense some deception." He grinned, wiggling his brows and I busted out laughing.

"Boy bye, I'm grown worry about those lil fast girls I'm gonna beat up if they try anything with you." I countered as I pulled him into me and he laughed.

"You ain't gotta worry about me twin, I got it." He assured and I smiled.

"Long as you know I got you."

"Make sure you know I got you." He nudged me.

"I never doubted you lil bro."

"Wanna play ding dong ditch?" He asked with excitement in his voice and I laughed looking around.

"I don't see cameras, so I guess so." I shrugged and he smirked.

"You better put that track training to use," He said as he started stretching and I laughed shaking my head.

"Gladly."

***

February 2nd

"How you like work?" I asked Renae as we set up the monopoly game.

"It's ok... I guess since I like reading it's sort of fun." She shrugged, not sounding so excited about it.

"You had any thoughts about college?" I decided to pry as I counted the money just as Dajon walked in with the snacks and drinks.

"Can't think about that right now... we barely got a roof over our head." She mumbled.

If I had a way I'd send her off to a good school far away from here. "I don't want you to feel like I'm trying to pressure you or nag you, I just want you to be better than me. Be better than us." I told her honestly.

"Hard to try to make it out here cuzzo, you know that."

"A reason why I want you to Z, it's time for you to be selfish." I said.

"You know she can't do that, her heart too big." Dajon cut in.

That was true.

"Being selfish ain't the same as putting you first. You gotta learn to put yourself first over anybody else sometimes. Your mom won't be mad if you go off to college. She'd be happy."

"I know... I just I g—" Before she could finish her sentence the doorbell rang.

"I bet it's Malik." Dajon sighed.

I chuckled. "Knowing him, you probably right." I said as I checked the peephole.

Frowning, I looked back at them before I opened the door.

It was Renae's dad, Ahmed.

"What it do nephew?" He smiled and I just stared at him.

"What are you doing here?" I closed the door some.

"It's my birthday, I wanted to see Nae."

"Who's at the d— oh," Renae stared at him awkwardly.

Stepping back, I let her walk up. "What are you doing here?" She asked folding her arms.

"It's my birthday... I called your mom and asked for you... can we talk?" He stared at her eagerly.

She looked down for a moment.

Swear I hate his ass, but I disliked him for the fact that he chose crack over his own kid.

"Not for long, I'm playing monopoly." She finally answered as she reached over and grabbed her coat.

"Call me if you need me." I told her right in front of him.

"I will..." she flashed a mid-smile before walking out, I closed the door and headed back into the living room.

"He don't even care about her, he prolly gon ask her for some money for some crack." Dajon stressed.

"I don't know why my mama told him where we would be at."

"Legally, that's still his kid so he has a right... but I wouldn't have told him. Fuck his birthday, nigga ain't never show up for hers or her graduation." I shook my head as I picked up my phone.

"If he hurt her, I'ma whoop his ass."

Laughing at him cursing, I stared at him for a moment seeing that he was deadass. "Leave that to me."

"Man this just made me mad, he knows Zuri has a soft spot for him, no matter how many times he let her down she always tries to give that lame the benefit of the doubt. Each time she did that he let her down and every time he let her down I saw a piece of her die," he vented then exhaled deeply.

"I'll handle that." I assured then stood to see who was knocking on the door.

"We ain't ever gon' start this game." He mumbled and I chuckled.

"We can't start until Zuri get back anyways!" I called over my shoulder as I opened the door.

"Oh lil Z here?" Malik grinned slyly.

"What yo ass want?" I asked after slapping hands with him.

"Shit, just came to kick it. Brae still sick, I've been tryna get up in that but she keep playing."

"Her ass prolly pregnant." I said, looking behind him for Kingston. "Where yo sidekick?"

"He stopped at Wendy's, I walked." He answered.

Nodding I followed him into the living room.

"Tell him to bring me a courtesy cup and a burger back." Dajon said.

"You always eating." I chuckled, picking up the bag of hot fries.

"I be hungry." He shrugged and Malik laughed.

"Damn right, niggas tryna gain weight."

***

"Good looks." I spoke to the cashier once I got the food. Smiling, she hesitated to say something and I chuckled.

"Good day luv." I said walking over and grabbed some extra napkins and straws.

Heading out the restaurant, I cursed feeling my phone vibrating.

"Always all at tha' wrong time." I mumbled walking towards my car, placing the stuff on top the roof I went and pulled out my phone.

"Mannnn." I dragged seeing that it was Autumn.

Hitting ignore, I reached for the stuff but stopped seeing library girl walking by wiping her face.

"Aye?... shit." I cursed dropping the drinks, fuck it.

Jogging over towards her, I touched her arm and she jumped cocking her arm back.

"Whoah! Hold up luh Ali." I joked holding my hands up, she stared at me for a moment then rolled her eyes.

"I'm not in the mood." She mumbled wiping her face as she started to walk off but I politely grabbed her arm.

"You look like you need a friend... come sit in my car." I told her, furrowing her brows I stepped back.

"No funny shit, I just wanna make sure you're straight ma." I assured, nodding slowly she followed behind me.

Once we got situated, I cut the heat on and offered her some fries but she declined.

"Wanna talk about it?" I asked seeing that she was trying to stop herself from crying.

"Why do you care?"

"Any time I see you, you're normally smiling until I approach you. You were walking kind of fast just now, who pissed you off? You and yo nigga just broke up?" I asked and she laughed.

"I don't have a boyfriend." She mumbled.

"Oh..."

"So what you walking in da cold crying for?" I asked.

She sat quiet for a while just staring out the window sniffling every few seconds.

I just let her be and helped myself to the food that didn't drop.

"It's my dad... well sperm donor." She finally spoke. "What about him? He dead?"

She looked at me almost cracking a smile but fought it.

"No... today's his birthday." She began then paused and wiped her face.

"He wanted us to "hang out" I guess to make up for lost time, but I should've known it was too good to be true. I set myself up every time." She spoke with a shaky voice.

"He's a crack addict... well recovering crack addict I guess."

I just sat here listening, crazy because we were actually similar in a few ways.

"Some guy that he used to buy from had bumped into us while we were trying to "rekindle" things and well... he left me."

"Come again?" I spoke turning in my seat some.

"Just what I said... he left me, right in front of Big Lots like I was a damn hooker or something." She replied then covered her face.

"Every time I think he's changed he proves me wrong, EVERY time." She cried making a fist.

"My stepdad hates him and my little brother, if you ask me, my stepdad should've been my biological father because that man back there... I don't know who he is." She went on then paused briefly.

I watched as she fumbled with her bracelet.

"You know he doesn't know my birthday?" She asked looking at me with watery eyes, I felt for her.

"He never called on Christmas, he missed my graduation, he missed my prom but guess what? He showed up for his birthday!"

Shaking her head, she wiped her face angrily.

"It's ok, It's my fault, I build my hopes up just to watch it crumble down. Can't be mad at anyone but my damn self. But that's fine, from here on out everyone's gonna feel my pain. EVERYONE!" She snapped opening the door and got out.

"Renae?!" I called getting out, "RENAE!" I shouted when she made her way towards the busy street.

Ignoring me, she didn't even wait for the cars to stop, she walked right into the road damn near giving me a heart attack.

"RENAE!" I yelled standing on the sidewalk waiting on these damn cars to stop.

The more I yelled the further she got away.

If she could walk out in front of moving traffic there's no telling what she had plans on doing.

I had to stop her.

*

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Uh oh