😗sorry for any mistakes

2 years later

Houston, Tx

December 6th

Friday

"Coco! You're up"

She nodded and finished putting the lipgloss on her lips in the vanity mirror. She rubbed it in before picking her up and looking at her lock screen. She smiled at the little 5-year-old as her lock screen, the person she works so hard for every day.

She put her phone down, getting up from her spot in front of the vanity. Her heels clicked on the floor as she quickly walked in her 4-inch heels to her locker. Opening it, she put her bag and phone up at the top, making sure she isn't missing anything before closing it.

She looked in the full body mirror that way on the side. She fixed the top to her two-piece, thin thong outfit that hugged her curves just right. Her small but perking breast sat up just right and her smooth darkskin was glowing.

"You better go make this money" She coached herself before leaving the room. She walked onto the stage and waited for the DJ to announce her in. She could hear the men cheering for her to come on.

She already knew she was about to take people's Friday checks tonight.

"You kno' her! You go crazy ova' ha'! Most of you niggas 'bout ta' spend yo' life savin' on ha'. Mannneee Coco come shut these cryin' ass niggas up" The DJ announced, she tried not to laugh. She knew the men that usually come to see her every Friday performance were probably harassing him.

Life of the party by The Weekend started to blast through the speakers. The black silky curtains drew back and Coco started to walk out slowly while running her hands down her dark chocolate, silky skin.

Money was already being thrown in the air, she did a quick glance around.

She saw a few new faces but a lot of old and she already knew what type of night it was going to be. She walked in front of the pole before whining her hips down to the ground.

She made eye contact with one of her old heads, trying to calm her nerves. She couldn't stand being around a lot of people but looking at one person made her feel like everyone else wasn't around.

It made being a stripper, a lot more easier on her.

🎶Take that step, you're the life of the party

Know that step, you're the life of the party (oh, oh, oh, oh)🎶

Coco pulled herself up all the way up the pole. Keeping a tight grip on the pole with both of her hands, she spread her legs and started to spin around flawlessly.

She hooked her leg around the pole and slid down the pole effortlessly while her fresh twisted locs flooded off her body. Coco did a few of my tricks as the money flowed in the air and people hyped her up.

She climbed all the way to the top of the pole and waited for the beat to drop on the song. Then she slid down the pole into a split, causing the crowd to get even more excited and she made her ass cheeks move.

She looked around for the guy she made eye contact with earlier. Seeing that he was at the front of the stage, she smirked to herself and she slowly crawled on stage to him. She was glad he was someone she had seen before and conversed with before or she wouldn't be doing this.

She gave him private dances a few times and actually talked to him about his personal life. He was cool people.

He looked a bit nervous the more she approached him. She gave a sweet smile and winked before placing her hands on his shoulders. She could feel his body shaking when she did such. She slightly looked back, over her shoulder at her ass while biting her lip and rolling her hips and men threw more and more money.

"You so beautiful Coco," The guy whispered into her ear, she slightly turned her head back to him, "Thank you, baby," She said seductively and he slipped a crispy blue face $100 in her top.

"You deserve it shorty" He bit his lip while looking over and seeing her ass jiggling still like a wave.

She faked giggling before moving and continuing her set of the night.

_________________

After Caydence tipped everyone for the night, she went up to see her boss since he wanted to talk to her before she left for home. She knocked on the office door and she heard a faint 'Come in' before walking inside.

She blankly looked at her boss as he typed away at his computer. He looked up and mugged her "You too damn pretty ta' be so mean" He raised his eyebrow.

She continued to blankly look at him, she just wanted him to speak so she could go home and get some rest before going to get her baby sister from Pri's boyfriend's house later.

People often called her mean because of how nonchalant she was and looked. The only time you saw her smile was when she was getting money on stage. Even though her smile was fake, she just wanted more money.

She honestly didn't care but it drove the other girls crazy. They felt like she acted like she was better than everyone with her nonchalant attitude.

She didn't understand why people tried to check her for it. Men were nonchalant all the time but since she is, she thinks she's better than everyone or she has an ugly personality. It didn't make sense to her but she learned not to care.

"You'n care?" He chuckled and she just shrugged. "That's all you wanted to see me fa?" She asked slightly annoyed, her feet were killing her and she was beyond tired.

She needed a foot massage badly.

"Nah, how you feel 'bout doin' Friday and Sunday shows?" He asked, leaning back in his rolling chair.

She furrowed her eyebrows "No. I don't work on Sundays, "she stated.

"C'mon Coco. Do you kno' how much money we can bring in wit' you on da' stage more than 1 night a week" He sighed lightly.

"Trey we talked 'bout this. Sunday and Wednesday are off limits." She stated, not seeing why he was trying to go back on their deal now. She works Mondays, Friday, and Saturdays already but she told him when she started that Sunday and Wednesday were off. She couldn't do those days.

She visits her dad every Wednesday and Sundays are days she dictates to Kory. It's their sister's day together and she refused to go back on a promise just to work a night she doesn't want to.

"Coco, they love you man. Do it fa' da' Pnyk" He threw his hands up in frustration.

She looked at him "No" She said plainly before walking out. Just as much as she needed this job, Trey needed her too. She was the money roller especially on Friday so he would never fire her.

He just had to suck it up.

She walked down the stairs whining to herself in pain before going to the exit door "Bye Coco!" She heard, she turned around and saw the bartender waving at her. She waved back before continuing to walk out the exit.

"Bitch wassup?!" Cinnamon spat at some girl while security held them back. Caydence just shook her head. Cinnamon could never come to work and do her job without trying to fight someone at the end of the night.

In Caydence's opinion, it was unnecessary and dumb. It wasn't like she fought over someone taking her money, she fought over dumb things like someone accidentally bumping her.

She was like a big bully. She always tried to fight people that were shy or looked like they couldn't fight. She knew never to try it with Caydence because she simply walked away before Cinnamon could talk her shit.

She doesn't entertain bullshit until you touch her.

Caydence knew how she was when you pissed her off and Cinnamon wasn't anybody worth getting to that point.

"Coco! What I tell you 'bout walking to your car alone?" She heard Trey yell as she was walking to her car. She shook her head, standing still while hearing him jogging behind her. "So damn hard-headed. Now, what if crackhead robbed yo' ass? Den what?" He mugged her as he walked her to her car.

She chuckled as they approached her blacked-out 2021 Honda Civic. Trey was actually a good boss and she could see herself actually being cool with him but she knew wouldn't let herself.

He was maybe only 3 years older than her and just opened the club. She came to him for a job when the other club wasn't working for her anymore. But she had this thing of never getting close to anyone besides Pri and Pri's Boyfriend. She hated getting close to people just for them to cross her in the long run.

Caydence was the type of person that learned from others' mistakes. She saw all around people just get crossed by people they called their friends. So she kept hers to a minimum of 2 people.

She always had to think about Kory when it came to being friends with other people. Kory was a major part of her life and had to be extra careful who to bring around.

"Thank you," She said once he opened the door for her. He nodded "Dumb ass hoes always fightin' knowin' dey can't fight" He grumbled, hearing screaming and yelling. She chuckled when he closed the door.

_________________

Houston, Tx

December 7th

Saturday

"Wassup Cay" Demetrius— Kapri's boyfriend of 4 years, hugged her after opening the door. "Hey" She mumbled and walked inside the large home.

"They are in the kitchen. When you see yo' cousin tell ha' ta' do my hair" He frowned, closed the door, and locked it.

She looked at his hair and chuckled "You have a lot of hair Dee." She said, looking at his old two french braids. The problem wasn't him having a lot of hair but more so of him having a lot of hair and being very tender-headed. Nobody wanted to do it because he whined too much.

"Says da' shorty who got hair like Raquel" He joked as they walked towards the living room and she heard other people talking. She already knew people were over since she saw all the cars outside.

"Mine ain' ta' the floor fool" She chuckled and waved him off. Her locs were to her ass but she would never let them get past that length.

I'll be too much for her to handle.

They walked into the living room and she saw a group of people sitting on the couch. She only recognized one person. Trey.

She didn't even know Demetrius knew Trey. But then again, she minded her business all the time.

She just walked towards the kitchen, she didn't know them and she was the type of person that will only speak when spoken to.

She wasn't trying to be rude but that's how she always was growing up.

She walked into the Kitchen, instantly smiling when she saw Kory eating at the table with her Ipad sitting in front of her. "Sissy!" She squealed when she glanced up and saw her.

"Hey bookie, I missed you" She cooed, kissing her cheeks.

"I missed you too. Ouuu we twinnsss" Kory gushed making her laugh. "You want one? I can share" Kory asked, trying to give her one of her chicken nuggets.

Caydence smiled and shook her head no "You eat pooh. I'm good" She assured her.

Kory just blankly looked at her then back at her food then back at her. "Sissy eat. Pleaseeeee" She started whining. Cay took a chicken nugget and ate it so she would stop. She thought Kory would pick up on what Cay does, which is always watching out for her.

Kory does the same and always makes sure Cay is eating. Mainly because Caydence be too focused on everything else and forgets.

"Thank you" Kory cheesed, going back to eating and Cay sat down at the table, waiting for Kapri to come from wherever she was.

"Hey girl" Kapri smiled, walking into the kitchen while a short dark-skinned female behind her. She was the only girl Cay saw when she looked at the people in the living room.

"Hey.." Cay furrowed her eyebrows at the shopping bag Pri had in her hand. "What's this? Come on Pri, I thought we weren't gonna go buy her hella stuff when Christmas was right around the corner" She fussed when she saw the kid's footlocker bag and just knew all that stuff was for Kory.

"It wasn't me! I swear. We were at the mall to get food only. Demetrius and those boys in thea' saw us and ended up stayin'. They all bought her this and Mya bought her some stuff outta Claire's" She giggled putting the bags down.

"And before you ask, no I don't have them around her all the time when we are here. They called her adorable and just started splurging" Pri said as if she was already reading her cousin's mind. Cay didn't mind other people around Kory she just wanted to be asked first.

She just needed to be cations with the company she has around her sister.

Cay nodded "I'm sorry, did we overstep?" The girl who she assumed was Mya spoke up with a yikes face.

"Oh no. I appreciate y'all for buyin' her this stuff out of the kindness of y'all heart. I know she loved y'all spoiling her" She chuckled, looking at Kory who was holding up a chicken nugget out for her with her eyes still looking at her Ipad. Cay shook her head and took it, not wanting to hear her fussing.

"I know they did. Especially the twins" Mya chuckled and sat at the table then a group of boys walked into the kitchen.

"What 'bout the twins?" One of them spoke up. Cay looked at all of them and couldn't see who his twin was then she remembered the other tall boy with dreads could be his fraternal twin.

Mya sucked her teeth "Ro, mind yo' business" She rolled her eyes.

"Roll em' again and I'ma give you a reason ta' roll em' " He warned, pointing his finger at her. Mya tucked her lips, not saying another word.

"I knew y'all be hunchin'! Nasty asses" Trey twisted up his face and then looked at Cay.

"Mind yo' business" Ro and Mya both said.

"Friend. You really weren't goin' ta' speak when you saw me" He squinted his eyes at Cay. She furrowed her eyes, wondering who was his friend.

"How yall kno' each other?" Demetrius pointed in between the two.

Trey looked at her first, seeing if she wanted him to tell her business but she beat him to it "I work at his club. The new one I told y'all about" She said simply.

She wasn't scared to admit that she was a stripper. All she did was dance on a pole in clothing that looked like swimwear. She did what she had to do to provide for her and her little sister.

Nobody wasn't going to knock her down for doing that.

Demetrius and Kapri both knew what she did for a living right now. They respected it and Pri even tried to be one with her but ended up doing nails.

Demetrius just became more overprotective over her and Kory. He didn't like how late she worked because he didn't trust niggas at night. Especially what he does for a living but she couldn't help that.

"I didn't kno' you had a daughter friend," Trey said, she sucked her teeth "I'm not yo' friend Trey. Stop callin' me that" She shook her head and they all laughed at the face he gave her.

"Damn. I guess you heard that huh?" Pri teased and he flicked her off with his middle finger.

"Sissy. Drink" Kory started trying to give her the cup of juice.

Cay scrunched up her face "No. You know I don't drink after you" She said. Cay would never drink after a child after she used to see Kory drink the juice and spit it back into the cup then tried to give it to people when she was 2.

She barely liked eating after her before she knew Kory used to lick stuff and put it back.

"We're sisterssss now drink it. Pleaseeeee" She started to whine and Cay shook her head "No Bookie," She said and Kory folded her arms with a frown on her face.

"Transfer that attitude to him. He tryna mess up our sister's days" Cay smirked at Trey who jerked his head back. Kory gasped "No, no. You don't do that" She pointed her little finger at him and everyone laughed.

"Lil jr, she lyin'. I would never" He put his hand on his chest and accidentally bumped into the table which caused Kory's Ipad to fall. Cay was glad she got that protective case on there.

She was about to pick it up until the twin that hadn't said a word since being in the kitchen picked it up and put it back on the table. "What do you say, bookie?" She asked.

Kory smiled up at him "Thank you kind tall sir" She gave him the thumbs up.

Everyone laughed at her and he nodded before going back onto his phone. "Sissy, he bought me ice cream today. Mhm," She nodded, turning on something different on her Ipad.

"Did you tell him thank you?" She asked. Since Kory just started kindergarten in August, Cay was trying to get her used to having manners.

"Yep. Right tall sir?" Kory looked at him. He accidentally made eye contact with Cay and quickly looked away before nodding.

"Y'all ready ta' smoke?" Ro asked the boys while holding up his red lighter.

"I wanna smoke. What's that?" Kory asked curiosity and everyone's eyes widened.

"No," Cay and Ro both said. Kory frowned "Why not? They do it" She sassied.

"That's yo' problem. Be yourself" Demetrius shrugged and the boys walked out to the back. "Ima just.." Mya said, pointing her thumb to the back before going with the boys.

A blunt was something Cay very much needed right now. And she just knew if it was what Demetrius had then it was pressure. But she was going to wait until later when Kory was asleep or something. She didn't like doing it in front of her.

"Are you spending the night here?" Cay wondered, looking at Pri. They lived together and sometimes Cay had to ask since Pri watched Kory when she was out at work.

She smirked "Yeah, me and Demetrius gotta have a chat later" She winked at her and Cay already knew that meant they were hunching later on since Pri had been complaining about not getting any.

"But she can stay here wit' us. You know Grams is on vacation right now" She reminded her, Cay nodded. "You goin' to stay until you go to work? I might cook over here later" Pri informed her.

"I don't know them Pri" She frowned.

Pri started laughing "I kno' but they're really cool. I've been around them. They've all been friends since like first grade or something like that. You know if they cool with Demetrius then they have ta' be aight to hang around" She said.