Part 2 of this story will be on that account ]

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𝗦𝗮𝗺𝗶𝗿𝗼𝗻 𝗫𝗮𝘃𝗶𝗲𝗿 𝗗𝗮𝘃𝗶𝘀 | 𝗠𝗶𝗿

𝙷𝚘𝚞𝚜𝚝𝚘𝚗 𝚃𝚇 .

❦

Shorty, can you hurry up?" I called out to Mari as I walked back into the bathroom. Ole girl kept changing her clothes as if we're not going to her own parents house. I don't know who she's trynna impress 'cause she knows that I think she looks good in whatever.

"Don't rush me, Samiron!" Mari sucked her teeth, putting her Dior Converse on. She was wearing a white bodysuit and a grey distressed jean jacket to match her shoes.

"You're taking long for no reason bro!"

"I'm done now so shut up, damn." She shoots me a glare through the bathroom mirror.

"Better watch who the fuck you're talkin' to." I mumbled, walking out of the bathroom and sitting on her bed to wait for her. She finally walked out of the bathroom, running her fingers through her long, straight hair.

"You ate today?" She asked randomly while shuffling through her room.

"Mmm, I don't think so." I shrugged, looking down at my phone. I heard her stop whatever she was doing so I looked up to see she was already staring at me.

"Samiron I told you not to take those pills on an empty stomach! You never listen to me." She muttered irritably, shaking her head.

"Chill out. I'ma just eat when we get to yo folks house ." I replied and she rolled her eyes.

"Sounding like someone momma and shit. Yeen nobody momma lil' girl !" I laughed.

"Nigga please! You talk to me like you're my daddy all the time and you ain't no ones daddy either." She scoffed, taking her phone from the nightstand.

"Tuh, when i'm nine inches deep in your gut it's a different story huh. Ironic." I stood up from the bed and stretched. I looked over at Mari who was already straight facing me.

"Fuck ever. Let's just go." She put her hand up, obviously embarrassed, which made me laugh. With the way she acts when we fuck, I would've never thought she was like this.

We finally got out of the townhouse and into her S-Class Mercedes Benz. As she backed out of the driveway I kept glancing over at her, taking in what

she was wearing. She can really make anything look good, effortlessly too.

"What's wrong?" She looked at me before looking back at the road ahead.

"Whatchu mean?"

"You keep looking over at me. Somethin' on my face?" She chuckled and I shook my head.

"Nah. You're just gorgeous as fuck."I said. She blushed and tried to hide it by quickly looking in front of her.

"You're so sweet! You got a li' soft spot for me." She cooed and I furrowed my eyebrows.

"Now you draggin' it."

"Samiron your really a sweet person under all that.." She stopped talking and waved her hand around.

"All that what?"

"All that rudeness." She finally said and I mugged her.

"You sound just like my momma dawg. She always used to tell me under all my anger issues and shit I was just her 'sweet lil' nigga', Her exact words." I chuckled staring out the window.

"She wasn't wrong." Mari laughed.

"I wish you could've met her man. I know y'all would've got along well."

"You think so?"

"Fasho. You remind me so much of her too. You have a selfless ass personality. The way you care about folks and you put other people's needs before your own was the same shit my momma was doing all her life. But look where that got her.." I shook my head.

My momma spent 2 to 3 years of her life trying to get my dad out of jail then after he was out she spent even more time trynna keep him off the streets. I always wonder, maybe if she would've took care

of herself first before worrying about my dad, she would've been able to start her treatment earlier and she wouldn't have died. But what's done is done. There's no room for anymore what if's."

"It's okay to care about other people. You're supposed look out for the people you care about, and that's what I do." Mari shrugged.

"Yea but if looking out for the people you care about is hurting you, then you needa step back and focus on yo self first." I said and she looked off.

"Yea I guess." She shrugged. The rest of the car ride was silent and I just kept thinking about my momma. I miss that lady like shit.

"Waddup momma!" I smiled, walking into my momma's hospital room. She turned her attention away from the tv and smiled when she saw me, her dimples just as deep and prominent as mine.

"Hey baby." She reached her arms out and I hugged her.

We did the lil' greeting we always do— I kiss her cheek, she kisses my cheek, then I kiss her forehead and she kisses my forehead. We've been doing that lil gesture since I was a kid. I don't care if it makes me soft. As long as it brings a smile to my momma's face i'm never gonna stop doing it.

"Okay back up li' nigga! You a lil' too sweaty." She stank faced me and I laughed.

"I just came back from practice ma! Why you think I ain come earlier with the rest of yo failed abortions ?" I set my backpack down on the floor and her jaw dropped.

"I know you ain't call my children no failed abortions!"

"Sholl did." I shrugged, sitting on the edge of her bed.

"Anyways boy, how was practice?" She

asked and I smiled. "It was good ma. Coach said he called a few more college scouts to come watch me during the next game."

"I know that's right! I'm so proud of you, baby boy."

"Thanks momma." I smiled before yawning and stretching my strained shoulder out.

"Now Miron, you know if you're tired you could go home. You don't have to come every single day." My momma sighed but I shook my head.

"I'm not tired, I promise." I told her and she nodded.

In reality I was tired as hell and sore as fuck after practice. But I still came to the hospital every single day. Zion, the twins, and my dad would come during the day while I was at practice to keep my momma company. After practice I would take 3 buses from the school to come to the hospital, it was about 35 minutes there and back. It was stressful and running from bus to bus was annoying but I didn't mind. As long as I got chill with my momma

I was good.

On the weekends if I didn't feel like selling or kickin' it with Rell and the other boys, I would hoop for a few hours and spend the rest of the afternoon in the hospital with my momma. We would watch Netflix, talk shit, do whatever. She was really my best friend.

Sometimes during the week I found myself waking up in the hospital bed next to her. We would get carried away talking or watching our shows the night before and I would fall asleep on her shoulder. In the morning I would have to rush home and change clothes, but i'd still end up being late for school.

But still I didn't mind all the trouble I had to go through. As long as I got to kick it with my momma everday and hear her laugh and see her bright smile, I was good.

"You betta not fall asleep in here like you did on Monday. Them nurses stay complaining!" My momma rolled her eyes and I laughed.

"Momma excuse my language but fuck them nurses. How the gon' get mad cause i'm chilling with my momma?" I said and she looked at me blankly before laughing.

"And plus, it's not like I got anyone I could talk to foreal other than you." I told her truthfully and she frowned.

"What about yo friends ? Eli, Rell, Duck, all of 'em? Why do you feel like you can't talk to them?"

"I mean yea, they're my brothers fasho. But still, ion

really talk to them about how i'm feeling and shi- stuff. They got a lot to deal with themselves." I shrugged staring out the window and hearing my momma sigh from beside me.

She nudged my back with her knee. I stopped staring out the window and turned around to see her scooting over and patting the empty space on her bed.

"Lay down baby, I know you're tired after all that running." She said and I chuckled before walking to the other side of the bed.

I got into the bed, being super careful not to fuck up the wires or anything. "Miron it's okay, you can scoot over." She chuckled and I did as she said.

I sunk down in the bed a lil' bit and laid my head on her shoulder. She wrapped her arm around my head and started running her fingers through my hair. I always relaxed every time she did it.

"You seem distracted today. Tell me what's on your mind Miron." She cuddled me into her body and I instantly relaxed. My momma could read me like a book.

"I've just been thinking 'bout college a lot recently ma. Coach been calling the scouts in a lot lately and I know I should be excited for it, but I can't help but worry about not being able to afford the shit."

"I don't wanna be that one nigga on the team that passes up opportunities simply because he can't afford it and I've already been doing that ever since I started school. I already missed out on so many chances to get noticed or recognized. But it's hard to live where we do and even consider going to college let alone paying for it. It's just too much money." I explained and she sighed.

"Miron I understand that it's hard for you but baby you can't compare yourself to the other boys on yo team. I can guarantee you that there are other boys struggling too. But they're figuring out a way to make it work. Whether that's getting a job, or working extra hard to get a full scholarship. And you're right, it is hard being from this ghetto and trynna make something of yourself. But it's not impossible so please don't convince yourself that it is."

She turned to look me in the eyes and cupped my cheek, "When you wanna do something you stop at nothing to get it done. Nothing. You understand?" I nodded and she hugged me into her again.

"You wanna go to college? You make sure that every time you step out on that court you're doing your best, and you work yo ass off for that full scholarship. You hear me?"

"I hear you, momma." She kissed my forehead.

"Now, you got the video of yo game last week?" She asked and I instantly smiled, taking my phone out of my pocket.

Every time I had a game I would make sure that Zy, or Rell or anyone else recorded it so me and my momma could watch it together afterwards.

I went to my camera roll and just as I was about to click on the video Zion Facetimed me.

"What do you want?" I asked irritably and he furrowed his eyebrows in the camera.

"Damn nigga calm yo lil' ugly ass down! I called cause Kai said he wanted to ask momma something." He mugged the phone and handed it to Kai. I rolled my eyes and handed the phone to my momma who was chuckling.

"Hey KaiKai!" My momma smiled seeing Kai in the camera.

"Hi mama! I have a serious question." He said and looked off the camera. I could hear Nia in the back going off on him and using every single cuss word in the book.

"Before you ask yo question, tell Nu I said she better watch her damn mouth before I hop off this hospital bed and whoop her lil' ass into next week."

"She ain't grown. I don't know who you think you are Nu, and I know you can hear me so stop acting like you're hard of hearing." My momma snapped and I couldn't hold in my laugh. Nia instantly got quiet and tried to act like she wasn't in the room. Dumbass.

"Now what's yo question Kai?"

"Dang I forgot! Uh hollup lemme think.." Kai pondered. My momma looked over at me shaking her head. "My kids are dense." She mouthed and I bussed out laughing.

"Oh yea I remember now! What's a period?" He asked and my momma's mouth dropped open.

"Boy get off the phone with those questions. Go ask yo bald ass daddy." My momma shook her head and handed me back the phone.

"But dadd-"

Before Kai could finish his sentence I hung up in

his face.

"You're so rude!" My momma laughed. I shrugged

and found the recording of my game.

I leaned my head back onto my momma's shoulder and she threw her arm back around my head again. I handed her the phone to hold as we watched my game. Seeing her smile every time the commentator said my name gave me the encouragement I needed. Everything I do in life will be for this lady.

"Can't wait till you get out this hospital so you can watch my games in person." I muttered as we watched the video.

"Me too baby. I can't wait either. I'm gonna be the

loudest one there." She said, making me smile.

I was snapped out of my thoughts by the sound of gunshots down the street. I looked through the rear view mirror and saw people running down the sidewalk like roaches.

I glanced over at Mari who looked out the window and shook her head before focusing back on her phone. As I was about to say something to her the car behind us started honking.

"Nig- the light just turned green witcho slow ass! Fuck you want her to do? Fly over the other cars?" I said out the window and Mari started laughing.

"Mane fuck you! Bitch ass nigga!" I heard him yell back. He's real bold for arguing with me but driving a car that's older than my dad.

I sucked my teeth and pulled my gun outof my waist and waved it out the window. The nigga instantly swerved around us and sped off.

"You need help!" Mari laughed.

"Let 'em keep playing with me. Next time i'ma shoot two of his tires out. Stupid ass finna be stuck in the middle of the hood trying to hitchhike." I looked out the window.

"So violent." I heard her mutter.

Uh huh, and what about it? You love it here

We got to Mari's parents' house about 5 minutes later and the driveway was already full of cars including Eli, Reece, and Rell's. Both streets were also lined with cars so we drove in circles 'till we found a spot. It's hot as fuck so it's not a surprise that the whole hood is outside today. Kids were in the street, people were on their porch or lawn, and I could see some corner boys grouped together at the end of the street.

Me and Mari got our and crossed the street to her parent's house. Eli was sitting on the porch with the

phone in his hand as he took a pull from his blunt.

"YOU LUCKY IM NOT A WOMAN BEATER!" He yelled into the phone and clicked the screen. When he saw me and Mari approaching he got up to give Mari a side hug before dapping me up.

"Why you sittin' out here ?" Mari asked.

"I just got off the phone with Calia man." He ran a hand over his face. "Ima give you 600 if you beat her ass Mari, I promise I will!" He pleased and I laughed.

"Beat her? For what?"

"Ight so look, I called her over last night 'cause a nigga was trynna get some or whatever. She came over, we did what we had to do, and I fell asleep all good and shit. I wake up this morning and she's gone. And when i'm getting dressed I realize the stack of 500 I always keep in the pocket of my jeans is gone with her ass too." He explained.

"That's yo dumbass fault for keepin' yo money out like that." I shrugged and he sucked his teeth.

"That ain't even all of it! I called to confront her and you wanna know what this hoe said? She said

she needed it to feed her kid."

"So? What if she doesn't have money to feed the child Eli. That's so fucked up of you." Mari pinched her eyebrows together.

"You don't be seeing her story? Shorty be at the club every night, dressed head to toe in Chanel. And no child is gonna be fed with MY MONEY unless I used my nut to make the lil' bastard. The fuck?" Eli snappedz

"Bye Eli you're dumb as fuck! That's your issue 'cause i'm not fighting anyone. Now where my parents at?"

"Yo momma in there lecturing Duck and Tasia about condoms and I don't know where yo pops at. Probably the backyard with your uncles."

"Cond-?" I was about to ask before Mari dragged me into the house since the front door was already open.

"MOMMA! Your favorite daughter is here." Mari yelled, closing the door behind her. Some of her family members were sitting in the living room so they saw us come in. Mari waved at them and they waved back while we waited for her momma.

"Yell in my house again I dare yo- Oh, you didn't tell me you had new company. " Mari's momma walked out of the kitchen dusting her hands off and smiling at me. Her and Mari even smile the same.

"Momma this is Samiron." Mari moved out of the way to let me shake her momma's hand.

"Nice to meet you. You can call me Cheyenne or Chy." She smiles and I smiled back awkwardly.

"Nice to meet you too." I said. She smiled at me before averting her attention to her daughter. "So

yall go together or what?" She wiggled her eyebrows and Mari sucked her teeth.

"Ma you always in someone business!"

"I carried you for 9 months and gave birth to yo wide headed ass, you are my business li' girl." Her momma said and I couldn't help but laugh.

"So y'all go together or not?" She asked again and Mari turned to look at me.

"We-"

"Yea, we together." I cut Mari off. "Well okay then!" Her momma chuckled and walked into the kitchen.

Mari sucked her teeth when her mom was out of sight. "That lady do too much." She mumbled as we walked away from the front door and into the living room where most of her family were. She led us to a group of three niggas and I recognized all of 'em instantly.

If it isn't my favorite customers..

"Hi cousinsss." She dragged, giving them a group hug. "Waddam." They all hugged her back while I stood there shaking my head to avoid laughing.

"Samiron these my cousins, Ry, Thirty, and Ju."

"That ain't Mir?!" Ry said, being over dramatic as usual.

"Yall know him?" Mari asked looking in between all of us.

"Duh, where you think I get my weed from ?" Thirty said and Ju nodded, stuffing his face with greens.

"My favorite customers." I said and they bussed out laughing.

"Oh thats how y'all know each other." Mari rolled her eyes and we all nodded.