October 5th, Virginia Beach General

"It kind of sucks not having you talking to me." She spoke staring at Dajon as he stared at her.

This was the second day of him having his eyes open, he couldn't speak or move much but he could move his eyes.

"How am I supposed to know if I'm doing right by you if you can't tell me?" She asked wiping her eyes then took his hand into hers.

"I'm sorry for leaving the way I did... I should've asked if you were ok with it."

Smiling faintly, she reached in her pocket and pulled out their childhood photo that she managed to save.

"Remember this?" She asked then laughed softly.

"We wanted that cake so bad and got caught with it all over us." She laughed looking at the picture.

"You had icing all over yourself and still smiled for the camera."

Dropping her head, she tried to stop herself from breaking down.

"I would give anything to see that smile again DJ." She cried placing the picture by his head.

Wiping her face, she forced a smile and stared at him seeing his eyes grow watery.

"I hope you aren't angry with me... I never meant to close you out. I just needed to find myself." She spoke softly then took a deep breath.

"I love you DJ... you're my best friend."

Standing, she stepped out the room.

King stood in the corner with shades on as he tried to keep himself together.

Things weren't looking too good for Dajon and they all knew it.

Bryson had to step out, leaving Tamia, King and Mama Karen in the room.

Keenan stayed home too messed up in the head about everything.

And Egypt was too damn high to care or show up.

Karen rubbed Tamia's back trying to soothe her and keep her own self together.

"Why don't you go check on Renae?" Karen suggested but King shook his head.

Walking over towards Dajon, he leaned down and whispered something to him before bumping his fist.

Fixing his shades, he made his way out the room just as Bryson walked back in.

"What do you want to do?" Karen asked him.

"I just want to be here for him and pray that he pulls through fully." He answered sitting in the chair Renae was sitting in.

"He's been holding on this long, I'm sure he'll come out on top." Karen spoke.

"I sure hope so."

**

3 days later

"Wait! You cheated!" Renae beamed as she took the red token from Dajon.

They were playing connect 4 and he kept putting 2 in.

Today was one of his good days, he was talking and joking around a bit.

He gave enough information King and Keenan needed so they could begin the hunt.

Renae has been coming to the hospital everyday and making sure she left only when he went to sleep.

"I ain't cheat, quick lying." He replied as he dropped his next piece in.

"Yes you did, but I'm watching you now." Renae said as she took her turn.

Smiling, Dajon picked up his red token and debated on where to drop it at.

"Remind me again of why I can't be red?" She asked and he chuckled.

"Because it's my color lil nigga."

Laughing, Renae took her turn then cheered when she won.

"You cheated." He laughed and she giggled dumping the stuff out.

"I did not, you're just mad a ha." She teased sorting through the pieces.

"I see how you do." He replied then started coughing uncontrollably.

Frightened, Renae jumped off the bed and helped him lean forward as she patted his back.

Seeing him coughing up blood, Renae grabbed the rag and handed it to him as she backed away.

"What you scared for?" He asked wiping his mouth and she smiled nervously.

"I'm not... don't pay me any mind." She replied sitting back on the bed.

He stared at her briefly then helped her sort the pieces.

"How's New Orleans?" He asked wanting to change the subject.

"I like it... I rode a kayak in the swamp for the first time." She announced and he smiled hearing the excitement in her voice.

"You see any Alligators?"

"No, I wanted to though. It was kind of scary but at the same time fun." She admitted as she took her turn.

"Been to any of their neighborhood festivals?" He asked.

"Not yet, I kind of wanna go to their Caribbean fest, but I don't know if they have it there."

"Caribbean fest?" He asked raising a brow and she nodded.

"I forgot you think you're Jamaican."'

"I feel like I was in my past life." She replied and they both laughed.

"You're happy with King?" He asked and she smiled nodding.

"What do you like about him?"

"He brings me peace." She spoke then smiled looking down.

"He brings out a side of me that I've tried to hide... it's the small things he do that keeps me falling in love with him."

"I feel like he's my soulmate, you're my best friend but he's also my best friend. We have a different kind of connection and he reads my vibes well without having to ask me if something's wrong." She added and Dajon smiled.

"Do you think y'all will get married?" He asked and she shrugged unsure.

"I used to dream about that... I would love for marriage to come into play for us eventually. I just hope he doesn't grow tired of my breakdowns." She admitted.

"You can't help it though Nae... I honestly think and forgive me saying this. But I believe mom may have been using while pregnant with you."

"What that's supposed to mean? I'm crazy?" She asked and he laughed softly.

"No... but it would really explain a lot. Your constant dark moments, the constant suicidal thoughts and behaviors. You walking out in the middle of traffic... come on Nae that's not just depression, I think it's time you start asking questions." He told her and she stared down at her nails.

"I'll give it some thought." She mumbled focusing back on the game.

"What's your plans for your life? He asked dropping his piece in.

"Real Estate, I wanna learn how to invest, how to flip houses, I also wanna buy condos and stuff and rent them out to specifically black people." She half told the truth.

"How are you gonna achieve that?"

"Hard work and studying." She answered in a duh manner and he chuckled.

"Glad you have a plan."

**

May 1995

"This is the plan?" Egypt asked staring at Ahmed funny.

"You said you didn't want the baby and I damn sure ain't prepared for no crack baby." He insulted and she scoffed tossing the abortion money to the side.

"She's not a crack baby." She defended and Ahmed chuckled pulling out one of his famous laced cigarettes.

"You were kept in the hospital for three weeks for snorting that shit or do you not recall?"

Rolling her eyes, she folded her arms and stared at the tv.

"Did you forget your stupid ass forced me?" She argued.

"You a grown ass woman, you wanted that shit." He replied getting up.

"That's why Tamia ugly ass put you out, she knew you wouldn't be able to stay clean. I could've saved you the trouble and took yo ass to the clinic like I suggested." He spoke before walking out the living room.

Shaking her head, Egypt looked down at her growing belly and pouted.

"I sure hope you're alright in there."

**

Present day, (2 days later)

"What you doing out here Zuri?" Malik asked sitting next to Renae on the bench.

"Just writing." She answered holding up her journal. "About what happened with lil bro?"

Nodding, she looked up at the little kids playing basketball.

"You never saw signs of him being in the streets?" She questioned.

"You know if I did, I would've shut that down."

"Ok." She spoke going back to writing.

"Why aren't you with Keenan them?" She asked. "I was, they should be heading this way soon. King wanted to check in with your aunt."

"Found any leads yet?" She asked, "Not yet." He answered seeing the neighborhood old head walking down the trail.

"I'll be back."

Nodding, Renae closed her notebook and stood up.

Placing her journal inside her tote bag, she headed down the opposite direction of the trail.

The love's real..

She spoke sliding her hands in her back pocket as she looked down at her shoes as she walked.

You met her January of the new year

Just a shy girl, a little lost strolling through the library.

It was something about her attitude that pulled you in, something about her smiled pulled you in heavy.

You approached, well more like bumped into her.

The deep frown that rested on that handsome face of yours quickly turned into an smirk of admiration...

Smiling, Renae started thinking back to how mean she was that day at the library.

You had a way with your words, she thought you were like the rest so she gave you the cold shoulder.

Couple days later went by and you ran into her again.

I guess someone should've told her..

You approached her the same way, she thought you were running game but sh— her sentence came to a pause upon being bumped in the shoulder.

Looking up, Renae furrowed her brows at the unfamiliar girl eyeing her.

"You should watch where the hell you're going." She spat and Renae chuckled.

"This my neighborhood chica, go home." Renae replied side stepping her and continued on her journey.

"Bitch you better ask these niggas who the fuck Autumn is." Stopping at the sound of the name, Renae turned around and smirked.

"Oh shit, hey Summer girl. I almost didn't recognize you from Instagram. You know that's where all the gangsters hide." She teased then snickered and Autumn cocked her head.

"What'd you just say?"

"I said have a great day beloved." Renae replied turning around and proceeded to walk.

"Listen here you low life, wannabe hood rat, dumpster bitch." Autumn spat walking up behind her.

Stopping, Renae slowly turned on her heels with her hands still in her pockets.

"What can I do for you?" She asked with a smile that didn't match her eyes.

"You can't do shit for me little girl, but your so called "boyfriend" can." Autumn spoke then smirked.

"Ok well leave a message after the beep... beep." She cracked turning back around.

Not liking the way Renae dissed her, Autumn pushed her.

"Bitch."

Shaking her head, Renae slowly dropped her bag in the grass turned around and with the quickness hit Autumn with not 1 but 2 right jabs.

Pushing her back, Renae hit her again causing her to trip over her feet.

Before she could go in for the throat hit, King picked her up while Keenan picked up a shocked Autumn.

"You're dead bitch!" Autumn screamed holding her hand over her eye.

"I'm immortal hoe! I've tried that already!" Renae yelled back before King covered her mouth and walked down the path.

Sitting Renae down on the bench, King stood a few feet back and just stared at her.

Unsure if he should be pissed off or proud of her.

Renae, sat comfortably unbothered and calm thinking of the next time she'd get Autumn.

Hearing loud talking and Keenan them yelling for King, he and Renae looked seeing Autumn making her way to them with Keenan, Malik and 2 little boys running behind her.

"You let that bitch disrespect me?!" She asked pulling her weave up into a ponytail.

"Man, car' yo ass." He stressed motioning for Renae to get up.

"She not touching me."

"Fuck you! When your bum ass ain't have no place to stay who did you call huh? Me nigga! And you let that ugly bitch come in and disrespect me?" She snapped getting in his face.

Renae rose to her feet just as Keenan them rushed over and pulled her back.

"We been done, yo ass knew dat shit. Stop fronting and watch what the fuck you say about my girl." He warned grabbing Renae's hand.

"Your girl?" She asked then laughed.

"But you came to my place and fucked me or did you forget?" She questioned and Keenan looked at King.

"Yeah bitch, yo nigga still be sliding up in this any chance he gets." She taunted looking at Renae.

"We weren't together dumb ass, you were a drunk booty call." Renae read and Malik chuckled.

"Oooo she said bootycall!" The little boys chimed in.

"Oh really? That's what he told you? Guess you are as dumb as you look." She insulted snatching away from Keenan and un did her jacket.

"I'm pregnant bitch and he's the daddy, check mate."

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*laces sneakers*

😱