Part 2 of this story will be on that account ]

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𝙷𝚘𝚞𝚜𝚝𝚘𝚗𝚃𝚇

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I rolled around in my bed in an attempt to get some actual sleep. I glanced at my phone to see it was about 4am at this point. I've been in and out of sleep the whole night. A majority of my dreams have been

about Bri'on recently and every single time i'd wake up crying.

If Samiron was sleeping with me and I woke up crying, I'd be able to wipe my eyes and go back to sleep with him normally. If I was sleeping alone tho, I'd stay up for hours trying to get the image of Bri'on's lifeless body out of my head. There was no going to sleep after that.

After squirming around in bed for a few more minutes I felt Samiron snake his arm around my waist, roughly pulling me towards him to where my back was on his chest.

"Calm the fuck down, close yo eyeballs and go the fuck to sleep, Mari." He demanded lowly. I took a deep breath and closed my eyes, slowly but surely falling back asleep.

"Mari, you be pissin me off with the shit you be wearin yo." Bri 'on rolled his eyes, standing in the doorway of Mari's room.

"It's not even that short, B so shut up!" She waved him off, fixing her shorts in the mirror. They were on their way to Eli's momma's cook out, or Auntie J as Bri 'on and Mari called her.

"Whatever just hurry up cause we're not taking the car, we're walking. " He walked out of her room and she huffed. She hated walking, especially in their neighborhood because walking would always turn into running as soon as you heard those gunshots— and that happened way too often.

She fixed her hair in the mirror and grabbed her phone to meet Bri'on downstairs. She glanced out the window and saw her dad's car in the driveway indicating he was home, which didn't happen often.

"Dad's here ..?" Mari asked and Bri'on nodded hesitantly. Their dad hadn't been home in about 2 months.

He was staying in Louisiana with his homeboy to help move product and he ended up getting arrested for assault. The charges were dropped so they let him go but they were only dropped because his homeboy threatened the man's family and forced him to drop the charges. But the police obviously didn't know that.

But after he got released he still stayed in Louisiana. During that time he missed Mari's 18th birthday, which he had promised for months that he would be there for. But just like a majority of her life, her dad got her hopes up for nothing. Mari actually thought he was gonna pull through for her 18th but she was wrong.

Just as the two were walking out the front door, they were met with their dad who was going up the porch.

"Waddam, kids." Travis said to Bri and Mari. He might as well have been just talking to Bri'on because Mari didn't acknowledge his existence at all.

"Waddup pops. " Bri'on dapped his dad up. Mari stood to the side watching the two interact, she didn't really care for her dad or what he had to say.

"Hey Mari." Travis scratched the back of his neck awkwardly. He knew Mari was upset because he heard it from her momma the day he got back from Louisiana.

"You ready to go Bri'on?" Mari ignored her dad's presence.

Bri'on nodded awkwardly and Mari walked passed her dad while Bri'on said bye to him. "You ain needa do that Mari." Bri'on mumbled as they started walking to Eli's house which was around the corner.

"Yes I did Bri. Stop trying to excuse his actions. You'd be mad too if yo dad was selling drugs instead of spending your 18th birthday with you." Mari scoffed.

She hated the fact that Bri'on always made excuses for her dad. But she was also aware that Bri'on only excused the stuff their dad did because he was selling himself too. She didn't like the fact that Bri'on sold but she was glad that he wasn't as deep in the drug game as her dad was— or so she thought.

Mari's family wasn't tight on money at all, so it wasn't like her dad sold because he had to. He did it cause he wanted to. Mari's momma worked a good job and brought in good money. They were in financially stable enough to leave the hood and move to a better neighborhood but their dad was holding them back and that pissed Mari off.

Mari didn't excuse her dad's actions over the years because at the end of the day, he was a grown ass man with three kids; he knows that he has priorities, he just doesn't tend to them.

"Sorry Mar. You know I didn't mean it like that. " He threw his arm around his sister's shoulder as they continued walking up the street to Eli's house.

Bri'on always tried to get their dad on Mari's good side, but their dad always ended up fuckin up. Whether it was not being there physically and emotionally, or popping up at the house after a month, it was always something with him. It was like he didn't know how to be a good fatheranymore.

As soon as they turned the corner they saw everyone in Eli's front yard and the music was echoing through the narrow street. The two walked up to Eli's porch and greeted some people.

"My nigga, Bb!" Eli yelledx walking out the house. "Waddam, bitch boy. " Bri'on chuckled, dapping Eli up.

"If it isn't miss nasty ass attitude." Eli put his hand on his hip, looking at Mari. Mari looked up from her phone and flipped him off.

Mari found Duck and Eli to be the most annoying out of all of Bri'on's homeboys since they alwoys messed with her. But Mari had known Duck and Eli for years so they kinda grew on her but she still found them irritating as fuck.

"Still on yo bullshit today too huh?" Eli laughed and Mari rolled her eyes before walking off the porch.

Mari left Eli and Bri to talk while she walked up to Messiah who was accompanied by two of his homeboys. She didn't know why he was here because she knew Eli didn't fuck with him like that. But if she had to guess she could predict that Auntie J invited the whole block.

"Oh shit, I didn't even see you. Wassup, baby."Messiah smiled and walked up to Mari, bringing her in for a hug then kissing her cheek a few times.

"Hey Siah." She giggled, trying to get out of Messiah's hold knowing damn well Bri 'on was 5 feet away on the porch.

She wasn't scared of Bri'on but she knew he was very blunt. Bri' on wasn't the type of nigga to hold back, if he didnt like something he would let that shit be known. And Bri'on had already let it be known countless times that he didn't fuck with Siah and he definitely didn't like the idea of Mari and Siah bein together. But Mari waved him off and thought he was being over protective for no reason since he could never give her a solid reason.

"Boyy don't be all up on me! You know my folks around and shit !" She laughed, pulling away from Siah and pecking his lips.

"Man fuck them folks. " He mumbled into her ear and she laughed. "You look good as fuck." He muttered, snaking his arm around her lower back as he pecked her neck, making her blush.

Meanwhile, Duck and Reece had joined Eli and Bri on the porch. They were smoking and talking while everyone was else just eating and minding their business either in the front yard or inside the house

"Say, tell me why Chanel tried to suck me up for an eighth yesterday." Eli said and the boys bussed out laughing.

"An eighthh??"

"Sweaaa!" Bri'on laughed while choing on smoke.

"I'm being deadass! She must be out of her god damn mind." Eli mumbled, putting the blunt to his lips again.

"Speaking of weed, I talked to this nigga I know, Rell, he said he got 25 g's waitin for you whenever you wanna pick up Bri." Duck said as Eli passed him the blunt.

"God damn 25?" He furrowed his eyebrows and Duck nodded.

"You gon' smoke 25 grams by yo self Bri 'on? Are you suicidal?" Eli asked and he looked at him like he was dumb.

"I'm obviously selling, not smoking it dumbass nigga." Bri'on shook his head. He was used to Eli's dumb comments at this point. They were all convinced Eli was dropped on the head as a baby.

"Hollup who the fuck is Rell anyways? How I know he didn't lace my shit ?" Bri'on furrowed his eyebrows.

"I been coo with him for years. He stay a few streets down. He's not on that shit, trust me. He been supplying me for a while now so I would know. "Duck shrugged.

"Ohh that's the nigga that be with that darkskin boy?" Reece asked, referring to Soovy, and Duck nodded .

"Ight ight, tell em ima come get it Friday night." Bri'on said and Duck nodded, pulling his phone out.

"Ima hav-"

"Say Bri! Why is that nigga still on yo sister ?" Reece cut Bri off as he leaned on the railing of the porch. Reece had seen Messiah whispering in Mari's ear with his hand on her lower back.

All four of the boys looked off the porch and saw the two and sighed, knowing Bri was about to have a fit.

"Just blew my fuckin' high. " Bri mumbled, taking the blunt from his lips and standing up.

"Say Bri don't do nothing crazy. You know this still Auntie J house and she's not with all the violent shit." Duck tried to warn him as Bri'on squeezed through people and walked off the porch.

Bri'on had told Messiah to stay away from his sister countless times but he never listened, neither did Mari. They always ended up fooling around. Bri'on had caught Messiah stealing from his own friend, Tray. Bri'on knew Tray because he bagged weed at the trap that Bri worked at. Messiah was stealing thousands of dollars from Tray and Bri knew that once Tray found out, he would come for Messiah and everyone around him. But Siah was completely unaware that Bri'on had caught him so he was still stealing loads.

Bri 'on didn't want Mari to get caught in the middle of Siah's mess. And Bri also knew that if Messiah could snake and steal from his own friend, he could snake Mari and he wasn't gonna go for that.

Mari didn't even know that Messiah was as deep in the streets as he was which is why she was always naive to everything Bri would tell her about him. Bri'on tried to convince her to leave Siah without bringing up the whole ordeal with Siah stealing from Tray, but Mari was hard headed and never listened.

Bri'on hopped off the porch and went right over to Messiah and Mari. Once Mari saw Bri coming towards them she mentally rolled her eyes. She felt like Bri'on was being too overprotective of her.

"Mari why- actually I'm not even boutta do this with you right now. Just go in Auntie J's house." Bri'on glared at Mari and Messiah with his jaw clenched.

Mari sighed and looked back at Siah who was about to protest, "It's coo, ima hit you up later. " He gave her a fake reassuring smile and she walked passed everyone and into the house.

Bri'on waved Messiah over and they walked around the fence of the house where there weren't as many people cause Bri knew he was gonna end up beating Siah's ass.

"Didn't I tell yo pussass to stay away from my sister?" Bri'on scrunched his face up Messiah was also to blame for always being on Mari's tail. He wouldn't leave her alone, especially after she lost her virginity to him. They got attached to each other even more.

"I told you she's my GIRL Whether you like that shit or not, Bri. I already talked to yo momma bout it, so deal with it." Messiah sized Bri'on up. Mari's momma was very fond of Messiah so she approved of their relationship which didn't help Bri'on's case at all.

"I don't give a fuck. I told you to stop fuckin with her and you just don't wanna listen." Bri'on raised his voice.

"Or what ? Whatchu gon' do, nigga?" Messiah stepped up to Bri'on. Bri'on looked off and chuckled before punching Siah dead in his eye. Siah stumbled backwards before catching his balance and started swinging on Bri'on again while still covering his now injured eye

Bri 'on used this opportunity to take his anger out on Messiah. He's told him time and time again to stop associating withMari but he never listened.

With Siah only being able to see out of one eye, Bri had the advantage. He kept punching and kicking Messiah till he was bleeding out of his mouth and nose. Messiah couldn't keep his balance and fell to the ground backwards.

"You think I don't know about you stealing from Tray too?" Bri'on stood over Messiah who raised his eyebrows, confused on how Bri'on knew he was stealing. He thought he was being lowkey about it but he wasn't.

"Ima tell you this Messiah, and this the last

time ima speak to you bout it; stay away from my sister or ima make sure Tray finds out you're stealing from him, and you know Tray don't play 'bout his money." Bri'on looked down at Messiah who was fuming. He didn't know if he was more mad at Bri'on or about the fact that he knew he was stealing from Tray.

"That nigga would kill yo momma and yo auntie about his money." Bri'on chuckled, standing up from Messiah. Deep down Messiah knew that Bri'on was right, Tray showed no mercy no matter how close you were to him. If you snaked him, he would make sure you suffered at all costs.

"That's yo last warning Siah. Next time i'ma leave it up to Tray!" Bri'on yelled as he walked away, leaving Siah on the ground to think about his next move.

Bri'on wasn't even sure if he would really tell Tray bout Messiah stealing or not, but he knew that he had something to hold over Siah's head now. He hoped that was enough to keep him away from Mari.

Bri walked passed everyone and back into the house to find Mari sitting on the couch alone, on her phone. Bri'on tapped her shoulder to get her attention and signaled for her to walk with him She huffed before getting up and following Bri'on into a secluded hallway.

"Didn't I already tell you to stay away from that nigga? Didn't I tell you he wasn't good for yo-"

"Bri'on I am 18! You can't keep babying me. I actually like Messiah and if he's a mistake then it's my mistake to make!" Mari raised her voice and Bri huffed in irritation.

There was no way to get through to Mari when it came to Messiah. They wouldn't leave each other alone and Bri'on couldn't tell her bout the mess that Siah made with Tray without risking Mari finding out about what Bri'on was really doing. (which wasn't just selling weed, Bri'on had moved up and was selling heavy drugs, just like his

dad is.

Bri'on was put in a hard position;

Either tell Mari about Messiah stealing from Tray and why she should stay away from him, but she'd eventually find out that Bri'on was following in his father's footsteps.

Or not tell Mari about the mess that Messiah had made and risk her getting hurt because of it.

It was a lose lose situation in Bri's eyes. In both instances Mari would end up hurt, and he was trying really hard to avoid that.

"Mari i'm trynna protect you.. " Bri'on sighed, looking up at the ceiling.

"You literally tell me this every single day but you never tell me what you're protecting me from." Mari was growing frustrated with Bri'on. It seemed like every time Bri tried to tell her to stay away from Siah, he never had a solid reason. He would either speak in riddles or get mad and cuss her out for staying with Siah—in her eyes he seemed bitter for no reason. Mari felt happy with Messiah so she didn't understand why her brother didn't just let her be happy.

Little did she know it was wayyy deeper than that and he really was trying to protect her. From both his secrets and Messiah.

"I appreciate you lookin' out for me, I really do, but you can't baby me forever, Bri'on." Mari looked at him and walked away. She was tired of having to explain the same thing to Bri'on over and over again.

Bri'on stood in the hallway with his back against the wall. He was stuck and didn't know where to go from here. He was running out of options.

A week later Bri'on was killed.

"Answer that phone, Mari. Before I shoot that shit." Samiron mumbled with his eyes closed. He literally wakes up and chooses violence everyday.

I rolled my eyes at him and got my phone off the

nightstand.

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💕

Decline ❌ | Accept ✅

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"This better be important. Callin' me at 9 o'clock in the morning and shit." I mumbled to myself as I answered the call.

"Wha-"

"Mari! You need to come to the studio. Like right now!" Aijah yelled as soon as I picked up. Samiron heard the yelling through the phone and looked back at me confused.

"What are you talking about, Aijah ?" I sat up.

"I just pulled up to see that someone shot the fuckin' studio up."

"Shot the-"

"Who shot what up?" Samiron jerked his head back.

"I'm on my way. " I hung up quickly and got up off the bed.

"Who shot what up?" Samiron repeated, getting up as well. "Aijah said someone just shot the studio up. I don't even know how, the shit isn't even open yet!" I stormed into the bathroom.

"Shit!" Samiron cussed under his breath, thinking I didn't hear him. "Is there something you wanna tell me ?" I squinted at him.

"Um nah. I'ma just use the bathroom downstairs ." He said and walked out of my room.

Weird.

I ignored Samiron's weirdness and took the quickest shower. After I was done, I brushed my teeth before quickly getting dressed and grabbing my keys, phone and gun off of my vanity.

Samiron was already dressed and on his phone in the living room when I got downstairs. I signaled for

him to hurry up and I damn near ran out the door as I got into my car.