Carson Addams

My phone blowing up woke me up out of my after practice nap. Ayanna stirred awake at the sound of my phone buzzing against my nightstand.

"Check your phone." Her voice was groggy as she turned towards me. I let out a huff of annoyance as I turned over to see my phone being blown up with instagram and text message notifications.

"What the fuck?" I sat up as I checked my tags. Ayanna sat up next to me and threw her legs into my lap. "What's wrong?" She questions as I position the phone to show her my tags.

"Someone was taking pictures of us at the club the other night."I showed her my tags as I scrolled through every tag and mention. I clicked on a post from Hollywood Unlocked.

Their comments weren't nearly as toxic as the Shade rooms comments.

"Why am I even on these blogs radars?" I questioned as she laid her head on my shoulder.

"You're a prospect for the NBA draft, Carson, whatever tea they get they'll post." She clarifies as I scroll through the comments of the post.

Usually I don't pay any mind to the keyboard warriors in the comments but this is my girlfriend we're talking about— I won't hesitate to put somebody in their rightful place today.

Ayanna started laughing as I slowed down on a comment. "She just set us back one hundred years." Ayanna cackled as she read a comment and grabbed her phone.

"Wow, they hate to see a black girl happy."

I scrolled through the comments finding more positive than negative comments which I was grateful for. I then headed to my other tags and clicked the shade room post.

"There's a lot of Bitter Bettys in these comments tahday."I raised a brow as I stared at a profile picture of someone who had no room to be speaking on Ayanna's looks.

The further I scrolled the higher my blood pressure went up. The same men that were putting down black women to uplift another race are the same ones bashing Ayanna in this very comment section for being with a white man.

It was giving hypocrisy...

Just as I was about to start commenting ,my door burst open. The boys all piled in with their phones in hand and the girls filed in behind them.

"Damn, does anybody knock?" I questioned.

Elizabeth's hands were flying fast across her keyboard as she bumped into Kyler's back. He turned around and peeked at her screen. His eyes widened as he chocked on a lighter.

"Abel get your girl," he tapped Abel who took Elizabeth's phone and read what she was typing.

"Some of y'all five dollar bitches have no room to be speaking on anybody's looks." He stifled a laughter as he went on.

"Instead of being keyboard warriors, ask yourselves why you don't have a man."

Ayanna threw her head back in laughter as Elizabeth took her phone back. "The red heart is little outdated, huh." She said as she clicked back space.

"How about a colon and parentheses smiley face." She clicked post and locked her phone.

"Haze!" Ayanna shouted as she held her phone to her chest while she shook with laughter. She sat up and snuggled close up under me as she showed me the comment.

The comment that Haze replied under stated: This should be illegal.

Haze's reply stated: That wig installation should be illegal.

What the hell did he know about a wig installation?

"I have five sisters." Haze shrugged as he plopped down in my desk chair."You'd be surprised about how much girly foo foo shit I know. That wig installation was not it."

"He's not wrong though." Skylar commented as she stared at what I assumed was the person's profile picture."It be the bummiest bitches with the most to say."

"Ok ma'am,"Dominic took Rhegan's phone out of her hand as she pouted and reached for it. He read it over and nodded along before handing it back to her.

"What does it say?" Ayanna questioned warily as Rhegan sat down with a smile.

"The bitter bitches in the comments need to pipe down. Stop making everything about race and let two people who are attracted towards each other be. Bitterness is a disease just like jealousy, and this comment section is full of it."

My eyes scanned through the comments of people calling her a gold digger, saying that she was a "lost sister." All resolve was lost as I started typing my comment.

The jealousy in these comments is disgusting. Just because you're bitter and in a miserable relationship (or single and have nothing better to do other then hate) doesn't give you the right to speak on mine. It's 2021 and y'all are still stuck on a black woman dating a white man, but half of y'all men in these comments are steady putting down black women to uplift another race... make it make sense. If your comment is not saying that Ayanna is beautiful or hyping us up as a couple then keep it to yourself... we don't want it.

"Yes, Mr. snowman." Sade nudged my shoulder as Ayanna placed a kiss to my cheek. I snuggled into her hold as she wrapped her arms around my waist. "You didn't have to do that."

"Yes the fuck I did." I was quick to say."Just because people hate to see others thrive doesn't mean they get to spew their negativity and unhappiness on to us." I kissed her forehead as she laid her head on my chest.

"It's just funny how they will say this behind a screen but would be he-he'ing and haw-haw'ing in front of Yaya's face as if they've been best friends for years." Jora stated as she sat on Skylar's lap.

"Family dollar store wig, Jora, really?" Skylar threw her head back in laughter as Jora paused and reread her comment. "You're right... it should say 99 cent store."

I existed out of the the app and focused on Ayanna instead of those toxic ass tea blogs.

"Are you ok, angel?" I mumble as I wrap my arms around her shoulders. She nods her head slowly as everyone else quiets down.

"I'm good." She huffs out." I'm not going to give my attention on people who would talk shit behind my back but act like they love me to my face like Jora said. As long as we're happy, then i'm happy." She stated as Elizabeth smiled.

"That's so cute." She cooed as Abel massaged her shoulder." But us five have time to put bum bitches in their place so you don't have too. " She smiled sweetly as she went back to her phone.

"Ok, let's just put that down and relax."Abel interrupted Elizabeth's typing as he took her phone away. He held up in the air as she tried to stand in her tip-toes and reach it.

"Fuck you." She pouted as she sat down and crossed her arms. Abel sat down next to her, trying to wrap his arms around her but she wasn't having it.

"Phone and then you get your hug."

"Promise you won't go back on the blogs today?" He handed her the phone but still kept his grip on it. "Scouts honor."Elizabeth told him with a sweet smile.

I laughed quietly to myself when I noticed her fingers crossed behind her back.

Abel gave Elizabeth the phone back but you could just tell that she was itching to go back and comment.

"I just know they wouldn't say that shit to Ayanna's face." Skylar twirled a piece of Jora's hair around her finger.

"Especially while we're around." Rhegan chimed in."If anyone says some disrespectful shit and they're in arms length," She waved her hand for emphasis."Anybody can get slapped."

"That's enough bad girls club for you, Rhe." Sade spoke over the girls choking on they're laughter. Rhegan shrugged her shoulders and leaned back against the wall.

"Meghan is my spirit animal." She sighed as Haze jumped up out of his seat.

"Oh my god!" He ran over and sat in Rhegan's lap."Mine too bestie." Rhegan scrunched her nose up as Haze threw his arms around her neck.

"Get off." She tried to push him off but he was staying out."You know you love me." He laid his head in her shoulder as she stopped fidgeting.

"Whatever." Rhegan rolled her eyes as she patted his head like he was an annoying little puppy that she was warming up to.

They all stayed in my room as we binged watched all five twilight movies.

"Nah, Jacob you're weird for that." Marcus commented when we got to the scene where Jacob imprinted on the baby. "I hope Edward beats his ass for that."

"Good job baby," Skylar grabbed his cheeks and planted a kiss on his lips. Marcus smiles as she lays her head down back into his chest.

"Pass the meat lovers please." Sade kicked Xander's foot. He came into the room halfway through the second movie and sat down.

Eventually we got hungry and ordered sox boxes of pizza, wings, and garlic knots. We would definitely be paying for this at practice tomorrow.

Our nutritionist would be on our ass but it would be worth it.

"I was team Edward all the way," I said as licked my fingers of garlic butter." Jacob didn't know how to take a damn hint."

"But you can't lie and say that Bella wasn't leading his ass on." Kyler retorted as I shrugged my shoulders. "She knew all along that she would be picking Edward in the end."

"Talking about Jacob," He paused to mimic Bella's awkward hand movements and breathing."kiss me."

"You're sick a clown." Dominic threw a pillow at him as we all laughed at the accuracy of Kyler's performance. "That deserved and Oscar." Xander clapped as Kyler took a dramatic bow.

"Sit your ass down, you're blocking the view." Jora grunted as she smacked his calves.

"Baby I am the view." Kyler winked at her as she cringed at his words.

It was kind of bad.

"I knew that I should've eaten you while in the womb." Sky mumbled as she shook her head at his cringey attempt at flirting with Jora. "This is embarrassing to watch." She mumbled as Marcus opened his arms for her.

"Do better Kyler." Marcus joked as he patted Skylar's back. Kyler flipped him off before sitting back down... this time a little closer to a certain brunette.

Her focus stayed on the screen but no one missed them playing footsies with each other.

I turned my head to see Ayanna cuddled into my side sound asleep.I pressed kisses on her forehead and down to her chin. She turned slightly but stayed asleep as I pulled the blanket over her.

"Did you tell her yet?" Dominic asked as he turned his attention from the t.v screen to us. I lifted my brows in confusion,"I thought you guys were telling her."

It would make more sense for them to tell her rather then me... I think.

"Telling her what?" Sade asked as she chewed up her food."Christmas is being spent in New York this year and I thought Dominic's dad and her mom would be telling her."

"I want to go to New York." Rhegan sighs as she pops some chocolate into her mouth." Dad wants to go to Paris for Christmas but he's going to leave right after and I don't want to be alone for two weeks." She huffs as she chews the chocolate in her mouth.

"Why don't you just join us in New York after." Dominic blurted out soon after. Rhegan tilted her head as she observed him carefully. "Sure." Her lips curved up into a small that said she was up to no good what so ever.

Dominic returned her smile with one of his own. I knew that smile, that smile practically screamed trouble.That whole trip was going to be a fuck fest for the both of them.

"You should all come." I played with Ayanna's curls as I spoke to them."After Christmas of course. We could all spend New Years together at my dad's hotel."

"Sure, i'm pretty sure that i'm not going out of the country again."Haze shrugged his shoulders in agreement.

"We'll go,"Skylar and Kyler quickly agreed.

"Anything to get us away from our crazy ass grandparents sooner."

"I'm down for that trip." Elizabeth nodded her head as she turned to Abel." What about you, babe?" She asked as her gaze flicked over his face.

" I get New Years to myself so yeah." Elizabeth smiles excitedly as she turns towards Jora.

"I have nothing better to do anyways." Jora announced as she flipped her head over and threw her hair into a bun. "Lord knows i'm not trying to be around those pesky children all night anyways."

So that's a yes from Jora.

We all turned to see Xander knocked out with drool coming out of his mouth. He mumbled incoherently as he wiped at his mouth.

"Want to go to New York for New Years?" Haze asked leaning over Xander's face. He got some more incoherent words. Haze nods his head as he leans back and turns towards us.

"He said he's down."

I'm not even going to question it.

Ayanna Heart

I parked my car in front of my mom's house. A black mercedes was parked in my spot in the driveway causing me to park on the street.

I got out and noticed Dominic's car parked across the street. He got out of his car and looked both ways before jogging across the street.

"Expecting company today?" He asked as we greeted each other in a side hug.

"This isn't your dad's car?" I asked pointing towards it. He looked at the car and then the license plate. "No, he said he was five minutes away."

"Then who the fuck is this?" I asked as the sound of glass shattering was heard inside of the house. Our eyes widened as we looked towards each other and ran inside.

"You would come to my house fucking drunk?" My mother scoffed as she bent down and cleaned up the glass."And unannounced at that." We rounded the corner to see my dad sifted at the island.

"You can't do this shit to us anymore." My mom's voice cracked as she slammed the dust pan on the ground."You can't come into our lives and ruin it like you always do. I'm happy and she's happy without you."

"I just wanted my family back." I decided to make my presence known at his drunken confession.

"We have never been a family." I scolded as I walked towards him."Carla or whoever the fuck you left us for is your family." I spat out as I poked him in his chest.

"You have no right coming back and throwing that word around when you don't even know the meaning of it." The front door opened and closed indicating that Jax was here.

"You don't leave your family to go screw other women." I poked his chest again as he avoided my gaze. I gripped his chin tightly giving him no choice but to look me in my eyes." Family doesn't come in and out of your life like a fucking tornado and ruin everything it touches."

"Ayanna." "Shut the hell up Xion."

"Mom is happy." I stress to make sure he understands."She's moved on and you need to respect that."

"Don't come here with your wanting to be a family again bullshit when it's too fucking late and you know that." I released his chin as I slapped my purse into the granite countertop.

"I'll call you an uber." I announced pulling out my phone and opening the app. "I can drive." He retorts as he stands up.

"Like hell you are." I could smell the whiskey dripping out of his pores. I snatched up his keys and threw them into a drawer.

I turned around to see Dominic and my mom watching silently across the room. Had was stooped low as he swept some of the glass from the vase Xion broke into a plastic bag.

Five minutes later Xion stumbled out of the house and got into the car with the help of Dominic. I let out a sigh as I plopped against the couch.

Dominic came over and lifted my legs before sitting down in the now occupied space.

"How's life kid?" He questioned as I kicked my legs back into his lap. "Shitty." I respond as I pick up my phone and message Carson.

"What about you?" I mumble out as me and his best friend respond back and fourth through text.

"Shitty."

I locked out of my phone as I turned my attention towards him. "What's wrong ?" I question moving my legs from his lap and tucking them under me. Dominic shrugs his shoulders as he turns on the t.v.

"The usual," he sighs."Class, practice, game, repeat. Chasing after a girl who clearly only wants a sexual relationship. I mean don't get me wrong I love the sex..."

I did not need to know that.

"But I also want more with her, I want a relationship and she obviously isn't ready for that." I let out a sigh as I move my hair out of my face.

"Dominic," He turns towards me with a hint of sadness in his expression."Rhegan does like you a lot but you have to give her time. She can be complicated—"

"That's an understatement." He chuckles out.

"Yeah, but she is the way she is for a reason. It takes a while for her to let people in. Hell, I've known her since middle school and it took us five years to get close... not that it's going to take her that long to open up to you." I quickly reassure him noticing his eyes widened a little.

"You just need to give her some time is all. She really likes you even though she acts like she can't stand your ass sometimes."

"Yeah but the problem is that she isn't telling me this. I need her to communicate what she wants to me." Dominic stresses as he leans his head back on to the couch.

"How is the whole social media thing going?" He changes the subject as some random cartoon comes on.

"I could really care less about a strangers opinion on me." I say as he closes his eyes and nods along. "As long as me and Carson are good then that's all the matters. I refuse to let some internet trolls input on my relationship or happiness ruin it before it even begins."