Let Down

?How much pain do you have to go through before giving up is okay??

---Beyonce

Aanvi Zenobia Henderson

Today's a new day, I thought as I went through my clothes deciding what to wear. I didn't have much to decide from but I wanted to look my best anyway.

Sighing in frustration, I sat in the pile of clothes now annoyed I couldn't find anything to wear. Grabbing my phone I went to the messenger app clicking on my sister name.

Can't find anything to wear, have fun without me.

I sent the message and leaned back feeling my mood go down. Not even thirty seconds passed before I heard the Facebook call come through. I sighed already knowing who it was.

"Yes?" I answered preparing myself.

"What do you mean you have nothing to wear? Just throw on anything, who are you trying to impress?" Cailee asked.

"Nobody but I still at least want to look presentable."

"Nobi, you'll be perfect if you came with some sweats and a shirt."

I did a closed mouth smile at her compliment and rolled my eyes. I just knew she wasn't going to let this go, I sighed letting her talk me into going out.

I hung up the call trying to pick a outfit out, once again. I barely had clothes or shoes but I only noticed it when it was time to go somewhere. I threw my head back in frustration deciding to go through my mom closet for some jeans.

I picked an all black shirt, with the jeans and high top black and white converses. I looked out hoping my mother wasn't there, after seeing she wasn't I made a beeline for the door.

I started walking to the bus stop looking around clutching the bottom of my shirt. I sat down at the bench where an lady along with her child sat talking to each other. I smiled listening to their conversation, I couldn't wait to have kids of my own.

The bus shortly came as I got on showing the bus driver my bus pass and walking towards the middle looking out the window. I watched as everything passed me getting into deep thought.

I stopped once I saw my stop coming up, I pressed the button still sitting until the bus stopped moving. I said excuse me not wanting anyone to get smart with me today.

I knocked on Lee door seeing her come to the door smiling, I laughed rolling my eyes. It was impossible to be in a bad mood around her, she wouldn't let you even if you tried.

"See look at you, beautiful without even trying sis." She smiled pulling me into a hug.

"Where are we going again?" I asked sitting on the chair in her room.

"Going to the drive in, their playing fifty shades darker then maybe the buffet." She squealed making me sigh.

"How much is the buffet?"

"I think like twelve dollars, why?"

"I only have five and I need two fifty to get home afterwards." I put my head down.

"When have I ever ate without you eating? If I have it then you will always have it. You're my sister and you should never feel any other way."

"Thanks." I smiled still having my head down.

"Alright, our lyft is on the way. How I look? Change my lip color or no?"

Cailee had on a denim button up shirt with ripped jeans, a black and grey fur vest and suede knee high boots. She let the pins go in her hair as the curly weave she had installed went down her back with light pink lip gloss.

"No, you look perfect." I smiled looking at her.

"So do you babe, put this on." She handed me a black and white PINK windbreaker. "You'll get cold later."

"What about you?" I asked putting on the hoodie.

"Hoes don't get cold sis." She winked at me as we busted out in laughter.

She gathered her stuff, putting everything in a MK bag. She turned off her light walking behind me as her heels clacked on the wood. The lyft was waiting outside just as she locked the door, I walked towards the car getting in.

"How you doing ladies?" The lyft man asked looking in the mirror at us.

"We're fine." We said in unison smiling.

"That's good." He returned our smile pulling off. He turned on the radio letting the ads play as I looked out the window seeing the scenery past.

"Fool me one time, shame on you. Fool me two times, can't put the blame on you. Fool me three times, fuck the peace signs, load the choppers, let rain on you." I rapped to myself.

"Sis." I looked at Lee calling me to see she was recording as I smiled.

"Fool me one time, shame on you. Fool me two times, can't put the blame on you. Fool me three times, fuck the peace signs, load the choppers, let it rain on you." I shot the camera as she gassed me.

"Let me see." I laughed looking at the snap. "I look cute."

"That you do, I'm posting this." She smiled as the song switched and we automatically looked at each other.

"I don't know how to talk to you, I don't know how to ask if you're okay." We both sung with smiles reaching to our ears.

"And last night, I think I lost my patience. Last night, I got high as expectation." I smiled dancing in my seat.

The car stopped and we thanked the man heading to the drive in. It was semi packed with cars and some people who had blankets on the grass or beach chairs.

"Want snacks?" Lee asked as we looked for a good spot to sit.

"Not yet." I took the blanket putting it down next to a couple who was laughing their butts off.

"They gon annoy me." Lee rolled her eyes sitting down.

"Let people be great." I smirked as she did a dry chuckle.

We grew quiet watching the people set up the screen, once the movie started everything grew silent. I was thankful because I been dying to watch this movie.

"I'm going to get something to eat, you want something?" Lee whispered in the middle of the movie.

"Rotel and some twizzlers." I went in my pocket handing her my five dollars.

"Keep it, what you want to drink?"

"Arizona, don't matter which one." I shrugged.

"Alright."

I bit my lip and smirked watching their sex scene, feeling myself getting worked up. I leaned back never taking my eyes off the screen, I felt Lee sit next to me as she handed my drink and food.

"Thank you." I mumbled pushing it off to the side.

"You welcome." A deep voice said making me jump and quickly sit up looking over.

"Who the hell are you?" I asked looking around for Lee with my heart pounding against my chest.

"Calm down, Lee talking to my brother but she didn't want to have you starving and I ain't wanna third wheel so I offered."

"I'm going to curse her out." I rolled my eyes. "What's your name?"

"They call me Mitch." He held out his hand as I furrowed my eyebrows.

"I don't do nicknames." I stated shaking his hand noticing the tattoo of the clock inside a rose with dark shading. I was still looking at the tattoo, in love with the artwork. I held his hand then let it go after a few minutes, noticing I was holding it too long.

I looked in his face smirking at how good he looked, the moon reflected off his perfect dark skin as I noticed his blemish free face, he was glowing. His waves were making me sea sick the longer I looked, his teeth showed that he never missed his six month checkup. He kept his self up well and everything about him just screamed stay away. He was the type of handsome to make a stranger stop and stare

"Zephyr." He looked directly in my eyes making me shiver. "What's your name?"

"Nobi."

"So I can't tell you my nickname but you could tell me yours?" He raised a eyebrow.

"We two different people." I moved my finger between us.

"That's how you coming?" He asked with amusement in his eyes making me do a quick chuckle.

"Yeah." I nodded looking at my shoes noticing him wearing the latest Jordan's. "I like your shoes, how tall are you?"

"6'5." He told me making me look up at him quickly.

Something has too be wrong, he's too perfect, I thought as I sat there with my mouth ajar.

He chuckled, licking his lips "What? Why you staring?"

"Nothing." I shook my head looking at the screen as Christian was opening his gift.

Throughout the rest of the movie, I felt Zephyr looking at me but every time I looked at him he would be on his phone. Once the movie went off, I gathered my trash waiting until he got up so I could fold the blanket up.

"Do you know where my sister and your brother are?" I asked folding the blanket under my arm.

"I texted him, he said to meet them by the car." I nodded throwing my trash in the garbage can. "Lemme get that for you."

He grabbed the blanket from under my arm before I could say anything, I let him do him beginning to follow him. I ate my twizzlers in silence watching the people around me, which was a habit of mine that I couldn't break.

"So how old are you?" I asked making conversation.

"20, you?"

"17."

"You still in high school?"

"Yeah, this is my last year. When's your birthday?"

"February 14th." He said making me look up at him. "Yeah yeah I know, I've heard it all before-"

"It's not that, February 14th is my birthday."

"You lying, yo that's crazy." He shook his head as we approached an all white Mercedes-Benz. I gawked at the car in admiration not even noticing Lee talking to me.

"Helllo? Earth to Nobi?" She waved in my face as I noticed all eyes on me.

I slapped her hand out my face not liking that. "My bad, what?"

"Sef was speaking to you." Lee laughed.

"Wassup Nobi?" He spoke giving me a hug.

"My bad, my head was just everywhere. Hey Seffy." I smiled knowing he hate that name then looked towards Lee. "We leaving?"

"Yusef wanted to eat at this restaurant but if you tired and wanna go home then we can." She shrugged.

"I could eat." I said obviously not wanting to cockblock.

"Aight, it's lit then." Yusef smiled.

Zephyr opened my door making me thank him as I slid in the passenger seat with Lee behind me. He made sure I was in my seatbelt before he pulled off quickly as I side eyed him.

"You got any preferences?" He asked after a few minutes of silence.

"Huh?"

"In music?"

"Oh I listen to anything, from pop to rap. All I do is listen to music so I'll know any song." I shrugged.

"So if I play this song, you gon know it?" He challenged.

"Most likely." I smirked challenging back.

"You heard that Sef?" He asked with amusement in his voice.

"Yeah, let's see if she all talk." They laughed.

Zeph waited until we were at a red light to plug his phone in the aux cord, he was typing but looked up and smirked then went back to typing making me laugh and raise a eyebrow. I heard the beat and laughed knowing the song.

"I thought you were about to play some gangster trap type music." I laughed.

"Nah, you said anything."

"I'm hurting baby, I'm broken down. I need your loving, I need it now. When I'm without you, I'm something weak. You got me begging, I'm on my knees." I sung to him as he glanced at me then at the road with a wide smile.

"Sugar, your sweet. Will you come and put it down on me? I'm right here-"

"Stopp!" Lee and I laughed cutting him off as she recorded him.

"Both of y'all sound bad." Yusef remarked laughing just as Zephyr pulled into a parking lot.

The restaurant was lined up with cars, letting me know this was a popular place. As we walked in, I looked around seeing the nice decor. The restaurant gave off chill vibes as everyone ate and listened to the r&b music that played lowly.

"I like this, y'all come here often?" I asked still looking around.

"We've been coming here for years." Yusef answered shrugging as a white girl walked over to us.

"Hey Sef and Zeph." She smiled giving them hugs then putting her attention on us. "Hi ladies."

Her name tag read, Hailey, she was pretty. She had blonde box braids and a touch of makeup on, I liked the box braids on her. I unintentionally looked her up and down making Lee nudge my shoulder.

"Don't take it personal, it's a rude ass habit of hers." Lee told her.

"It's okay." She shrugged walking us to a booth.

Lee waited until I slid in the booth to slide in next me, Zeph sat across from me as Yusef resided next to him. I looked at the menu looking it over seeing so many choices.

"What's good here?" I asked looking at Zephyr as he stared at some female.

Unintentionally, I looked over seeing the beautiful ass girl he was staring at. Her boobs were damn near spilling out her shirt and her body was to die for. Just looking at her made my insecurities ride out, I put my head down rolling my eyes.

"What you say?" Zephyr asked looking towards me.

"Nothing." I rolled my eyes looking through the menu.

"You know what you gon order?" Lee asked as I shook my head indecisive.

"Everything looks so good."

"You should try the lamb, it's real good." Yusef spoke.

"Ew." Lee and I said in unison. "If it didn't come from a pig, chicken or cow, I don't want it."

"I'll make you change your mind on that if I take you to this popping ass Jamaican spot, they curry goat something different." Zephyr stated.

"I'll pass." I smiled putting my menu down finally deciding what I wanted. Zeph furrowed his eyebrows and opened his mouth to speak but a woman cut him off instead.

"Zephyr, Yusef y'all finally decide to come visit y'all favorite auntie." She smiled putting her hand on Yusef shoulder.

"You know we couldn't stay away for too long." Yusef stood up to hug her smiling from ear to ear.

"Wassup beautiful?" Zephyr had an identical smile but his was actually reaching his ears making me almost smile.

"Who are these beauties?" She asked looking at us with the smile still on her face.

"Zenobia." I smiled reaching to shake her hand.

"Cailee." She shook her hand.

"I'm these knuckleheads aunt, Yvonne. I run this so your meal free." She smiled at us with her country ass accent before looking at her nephews. "Y'all come see me in my office before y'all leave. Nice meeting y'all."

"You too." Lee and I smiled in unison.

A few minutes later, an employee came to take our order. I watched Lee and Yusef talk off a storm before drifting into my own thoughts. Zephyr excused his self from the table and two minutes later the girl with the big boobs went in the same direction. I shook my head putting two and two together instantly putting myself down, why did I think I even had a chance?

I sighed asking Lee can I see her phone, she passed it to me as I logged onto my Snapchat watching my own videos. I smiled at my own snaps as if they were someone elses.

Just as the food came, Zephyr came back to the table rubbing his hands together. I looked at him in disgust eating my baked macaroni, I put a picture on Snapchat then finished eating.

"Taste this." Zephyr offered making me look over to him.

"What is that?"

"Baked lamb chops."

"I don't want it."

"Just try it and if you don't like it then I apologize."

I shrugged my shoulders seeing no harm in it, he held out his fork so I can take a piece but I cut a piece with my fork instead. I didn't know where his mouth been, so I wasn't eating off of him.

"So how is it?" Yusef asked with a smile as I slowly chewed it.

"It's actually not that bad, not bad at all." I laughed taking another piece.

"This why I ordered extra." Zephyr laughed putting a lamb chop on my plate.

"Thank you." I mumbled cutting a piece with my hands.

"You don't like meeting new people." Zephyr looked at me.

"Is that a statement or question?" I asked confused.

"A little bit of both I guess."

"Well no I don't. Lee is the more talkative one out of us, I don't like attention or people at all."

"I noticed, you like people to walk before you and you like staying quiet or let people answer for you."

"Nice observant skills, should be a detective." I sarcastically remarked drinking my pink lemonade.

"I also know when someone starts acting funny towards me, what I do this fast?"

I stared at him squinting my eyes, this young man swore he was psychic. He licked his lips and leaned forward matching my stare.

"You did nothing to me." I shrugged.

"So then why-"

"Wassup Zeph and Sef?" The girl Zeph snuck off with and two of her friends stood in front of us giggling like airheads.

"Siss-"

"Shut up Lee." I cracked a smile knowing she couldn't hold her tongue for long.

"Wassgood Ashlyn, Cassie and Redd?" Sef spoke returning their smiles. "What y'all on?"

"Nothing y'all know we love some Yvonne's, had to stop by before we went to the club." The girl Ashlyn spoke.

As they went into conversation I started recording myself for Snapchat. "Sis." I called out making Lee look up as she posed and stuck her tongue out for the video. I laughed posting it then texting some people back.

"So what is this? A double date?" The girl Redd asked looking exactly at Zeph.

"Why is it your business?" Lee asked making me shake my head, I knew it couldn't be long before she said anything.

Sef looked at her shaking his head as I looked at the girl Cassie rolling her eyes. I did a slight chuckle then continued replying back to people until Redd said something to me.

"You're pretty, isn't she Zeph?"

"Nah, she beautiful." Zeph looked over at me making me put my head down hiding my flushed face.

"Look you got her blushing, she a little younger than you usually go for but-"

"Stop what you doing." Zeph cut her off staring at her blankly.

"I'm just being friendly." She smiled rubbing his arm up and down. "We're going to be late, bye Sef and company. Zeph, I'll see you later on."

I did a little chuckle continuing to eat the baked mac and cheese, that I'm falling in love with. Once my plate was almost clear Sef and Lee excused themselves from the table, leaving Zeph and I.

"Redd is-"

"You don't owe me an explanation, I don't know you to be all in your business."

He stood up taking Lee seat putting his arm over my chair, staring directly into my eyes as I put my attention elsewhere. I hated eye contact.

"You liked your food?" I asked the first thing that slipped since he was still staring.

"Yeah, I always enjoy my food here. What about you?"

"I loved it, especially this baked mac and cheese."

"I'll tell Von to give you some to take home, you should try their strawberry chocolate brownies."

"That sound so good." I damn near drooled.

"Or the peach cobbler or apple pie."

"Stop naming stuff." I laughed. "I want everything but-"

"I could make that happen." He cut me off flagging down an waitress.

After ordering a to-go macaroni and plenty of desserts, we made conversation. I liked his mentality and how he thought, most of his responses would have my heart beating fast or have me stuck. I liked him but I wasn't going to get too serious in my feelings.

"You good? You ready to go?" Lee asked coming back interrupting our conversation, I was going to say no but something was off about her.

"Yeah, come on." I squinted my eyes noticing Sef didn't come back with her.

"Where my brother?" Zeph asked just as confused as I am.

"I don't know and don't care, I'm bout to order our Lyft sis."

"That nigga took my car keys?" Zeph asked feeling on his self then sucking his teeth.

"Yeah."

"Aight, well y'all don't have to get no Lyft I'll take y'all. Wait for me outside."

He got up going towards the kitchen as I tried to catch up with Lee. She looked pissed off like she wanted to beat someone ass. I wasn't going to say anything unless I had to.

We waited a whole ten minutes until Zeph came out with keys in his hand. He guided us to a red Toyota Corolla opening the passenger seat for me and the back seat for Lee.

"Thank you." We said in unison.

"Who's car?" I asked.

"Von's, I just gotta come back to pick her up."

I nodded as he turned on the radio and let it play lowly following the directions to Lee house. Since she was upset she didn't make conversation and stayed out of ours.

"I apologize for anything my idiot of a brother did to you." Zeph spoke as he pulled in front of her house.

"Fuck him." She rolled her eyes. "Thank you for the ride though, you didn't have to do that."

"No problem Lee."

"Call me when you in the house sissy, take care of my sister Zeph." She pointed at him then kissed me on my cheek.

He waited until she was fully in the house to pull off, once he stopped at a red light he turned to look at me then at his phone. I watched him send a message to someone then turn back to me.

"How far you live from her?"

"Maybe ten to fifteen minutes." I shrugged.

"Oh alright, you had fun tonight?" He asked after a minute or two passed.

"I mean I had better days." I laughed making him laugh. "Just kidding, I did enjoy myself tonight."

"We could do this again?" He glanced, catching me off guard. "You said it yourself, you enjoyed tonight so it should be no reason you say no, right?"

I looked down in my lap contemplating on biting my tongue or not, my mouth betraying my thoughts quickly spoke saying exactly what I was thinking.

"So you can fuck another girl not even thirty minutes in again?" I spoke shaking my head at myself, I was so outspoken.

"What?" He scrunched his face up looking at me not focusing on the road.

"I didn't mumble nor stutter."

"Okay but I'm confused, you said again, when did I fuck the first girl?"

"I hate when people play stupid, that annoy me more than lying?. You know what you did." I rolled my eyes feeling myself getting aggravated.

"No I'm real life not playing, I don't know what you talking about."

"So tonight when we first walked in you didn't basically eye fuck that girl with the big titties then meet her in the bathroom?"

He was still squinting his eyes making me roll mine, I know he knew what I was talking about. I grew aggravated at the fact that he couldn't just man up to it.

"I mean it doesn't matter anyway, it's not like we were going to magically fall in love. I have no right questioning you as you have every right to do what you want."

"Nobi, you have everything all wrong."

"As I said no hard feelings, right?" I smiled getting out the car as he parked grabbing my food. "Thank you for the ride."

He was going to say something but I closed the door instead, I walked up the stairs and rung the doorbell waiting for my mom to open the door. Once she did I waved at him watching him pull off.

"Who's that?" My mom asked once we were in.

"A Lyft." I lied.

"Okay, I'm going to sleep I suggest you do the same, you have school in the morning."

"Alright, night." I mumbled walking to my room.

I took off my clothes and got into bed feeling exhausted. I had a long day and all I want to do is sleep until I was forced to get back up.

?Time doesn't heal anything, it just teaches us how to deal with pain.?

- Francine S.

Aanvi Zenobia

I sat in deep thought laying on my back looking at the ceiling, this was always my problem. I always thought myself into a bad mood, maybe I was the problem. Maybe I was the one thing holding me back from being happy.

Actually it wasn't a maybe to that, I am the reason I'm not happy. I over think everything. I can never give myself the benefit of the doubt, I'm my own worse critic and now I understood the meaning of the saying. I sighed rolling my eyes, getting frustrated with myself.

"Nobi, you heard us?" Lee asked making me snap back into reality.

"What did you say?" I asked looking at her friend slickly roll her eyes.

"You wanna go to the court down the street? We tired of sitting in the house." Lee stated.

"Right, I didn't get this cute and waste a outfit just for y'all to see." Her friend, Alea, stated. (Ah-Lay-Ah)

"Seriously, I'm fine as hell." Malone agreed.

"Yeah, we can go." I shrugged not really caring, I needed some fresh air anyway.

I hopped off the bed pulling my jeans up and tying my royal blue air Jordan 1's. I walked ahead of them since they started fixing their hair and doing extra shit, if anything I know where the court at.

"Hey ma." I spoke to Lee mom as she came through the door just getting off work.

"Hey daughter, where y'all bout to go?"

"The court down the street, you cooking tonight?"

"Maybe, I don't know I'm tired shit." She shrugged making me laugh. "Where Lee?"

"Upstairs with the diddy bops." I stated making her laugh.

Mrs.Kelly didn't like Alea or Malone, just like me, she said they were ditsy ass followers who couldn't think for their self, which was true. They also had an opinion about everything, always making us exchange words since I also was very mouthy.

"Here come the dummies now." She mumbled making me laugh as they all walked down the stairs.

"Hey ma, when you get here?" Lee spoke giving her a hug.

"Just now."

"Hey Ms.Kelly." They spoke in unison while she put on a fake smile and waved.

"Don't think you coming in this house at 12 something, it's a school night."

"Okay." Lee spoke giving her a hug again and walking out.

I walked out first after saying I'll see her later, I didn't even look back to see if they were walking. The court was literally down the street, so it took only three minutes to get there. When I got there it was a few girls and a lot of boys here.

The weather was breaking so I didn't expect anything less.

As soon as we walked through the gate I heard yelling before I saw fist being thrown, Lee and them ran over to see who was fighting along with the crowd. I took my time getting over there as some boys recorded gassing up everything.

I noticed it was these two girls from my school, most likely fighting over their baby daddy, as usual. I shook my head watching them continue yelling and fighting. Zaire broke up the fight between both of his baby mothers then yelling at them in their face, making me laugh. I shook my head going to sit on the bleachers by myself away from some people so they wouldn't come speak to me.

I watched the boys play basketball, they looked serious as hell playing like their life depended on this game. I paid more attention rolling my eyes at Zephyr, he clapped his hands yelling for the ball as Sef passed it to him. He crossed somebody then passed the ball to another boy and ran down the court receiving the ball and shot a three.

I was watching it for a while until Zeph took off his shirt throwing it to the side, I had to wipe the side of my mouth making sure there wasn't any drool. His body was the definition of perfect, abs were looking perfect and the sun wasn't making it any better as it shun on his toned stomach.

"He so damn fine, chocolate ass." Alea stated making me look over since I didn't even know they came to sit next to me.

"And I know y'all see that print." Malone added on making my attention go down there.

"That's Nobi man, y'all better chill." Lee spoke putting her arm over my shoulder smirking.

"What Nobi? She can't handle all of that." Malone spoke.

"Seriously, he need some grown ass woman, not no little ass girl that's still young minded." Alea stated.

"And you think that's you airhead?" I laughed getting off the bleacher.

I saw some little boys playing with the basketball on the other side and I walked to them making their attention go towards me. The tallest boy looked at me smirking, I smiled at him and stood in front of them.

"Can I play?" I asked.

"You a girl, girls don't play basketball. They stand to the side being the cheerleader." One boy stated making me raise a eyebrow.

"Oh yeah?"

"Yeah, you were meant to cheer me on not be on my team." Another one said.

"I mean, I'm a girl but I bet you if I get one on one with any of y'all I'll win." I stated looking at the group of five boys.

"Well, you a girl so we not playing with you anyway." The first boy said.

"Why not? Scared this girl going to beat you?" I raised a eyebrow.

"Of course not, I just can't be your shoulder to cry on once you lose." The tall one spoke for the first time.

"Well ya team uneven anyway so let's get this three on three going, y'all three versus us three since y'all talking the most shit- oh wait y'all still young, the most stuff." I pettily corrected.

"Alright, your call." They shrugged.

They checked the ball and I caught it passing it to the boy on my team as he passed it back and I shot a three laughing at their faces.

"Oh you just got shot on by a girl!" My team member bragged to the tall boy.

"Shut up! I got this!" He glared at me crossing me over doing a layup.

I laughed to myself, these little ass boys don't even know I'm bout to kick their ass.

Score was up to thirty and surprisingly the other team kept up but we won by five points. I laughed at their faces, I should of bet on this game since these little niggas had so much to say.

"Oh so you a baller?" The deep voice behind me said making the back of my neck hairs stand up.

"I do a lil sumn sumn." I smiled tuning around looking up to Zeph.

"Hey Mitch!" "Look it's Mitch." "Wassup Mitch?" These little groupie ass boys said making our attention go on to them.

"Wassup y'all?" He smiled giving them all daps. "One of these ya little brothers?"

"No, I just wanted to play with them."

"Why you ain't come play with the big boys then? Sad manipulating these young ass boys." He shook his head making me laugh.

"Hey man, they talk like they big they could get they ass whooped like they big." We laughed together.

"Why I never saw you round here?"

"I told you, I don't come outside. I'm a house body."

"So come be a house body with me." He smirked as I playfully rolled my eyes.

"Aye Mitch, this my woman." The tall boy said before I could speak making me laugh.

"Oh for real?"

"Yeah, she all mine."

"And how you pull her? I been trying to since last week, shorty ain't been checking for me though."

"It's all about ya mouth piece, you gotta talk to her with confidence. Watch this, say baby what's ya favorite color?"

"Purple." I laughed.

"Mine too, see look already compatible." He stated making all of us roar in laughter.

"Yeah my man, I see ya game. I gotta try it." Zeph laughed holding his shirt in his hand.

"I'll see y'all later." I ruffled the tall boy hair and kissed his cheek going to sit on the bleachers.

"How you kissing other niggas in my face? Wow, thought we were getting somewhere this time." He held his heart standing above me as I sat down.

"Who lied to you?" I laughed.

"Why you keep playing this cat and mouse game?"

"It's not a game, I'm just not feeling it or you."

"You not feeling me? Tell that to the smile on your face." I touched my face instantly frowning.

"Doesn't count, I'm goofy. I laugh and smile at things."

"Alright, well why aren't you feeling me?"

"How can you forget that you fucked somebody while you were with me?"

"No you misjudged, I didn't fuck Redd."

"So what you go sit in the bathroom to tell her she looks nice?" I raised a eyebrow making him do a quick chuckle.

"Hey brotherrr." Lee smiled as he turned his attention on her giving her a smile.

"Wassup sis? I should of known you was close since Sef over there."

"Ain't nobody checking for Sef."

"So why you got on that smile? See y'all females stay lying like we can't see it in y'all faces."

"I'm goofy, that don't count." Lee frowned making Zeph and I laugh. "What's funny?"

"I literally just said that shit to him, he swear he the girl reader."

"I am."

"Oh word? Tell me what I'm thinking." Lee leaned on me as we looked at him.

"Damn I wish Sef would come over here so I could act like I don't give a fuck about him." He mocked her voice as we laughed.

"This not a act, I really don't give a fuck about him."

"You always lying." A voice said behind us making both Lee and I eyes widen in shock.

"Hello Yusef." Lee turned around rolling her eyes.

"I'mma ignore that, wassup No?" He gave me a hug making me instantly pull back.

"Ew, you sweaty."

"Lee love when I'm like this." He smirked.

"Stop lying on my name." She glared at him.

"You still mad? Damn it been like seven days already."

"So a week?" I asked laughing.

"Yo, y'all messing up my game. How y'all expect her to give me a chance if y'all acting like this? This is basically saying y'all our future." Zeph spoke making me laugh.

"My bad, Lee bring ya ass here." He yoked her up as they argued making me laugh.

"We finally could talk-"

"Nobi, your boyfriend said to call him. Oh hey Mitch, I seen you out there." Alea said as I raised a eyebrow.

"Boyfriend?" I asked.

"Izzy." She stated making me nod.

"Wassup?" He looked at her then back at me. "You got a boyfriend? That's why you not entertaining me?"

"If I had a boyfriend, you wouldn't even be in my face."

"Mitch, come get ya ass kicked in dice." Some boy yelled.

"You a busy man." I stated as he looked at me smirking.

"Nah, I'm good today." He yelled back. "Can we chill?"

"Chilling leads to children."

"I'm not on that for real, Lee and ya friends could even come."

"Where you see friends at? I know you see the way both of them looking at you."

He looked behind him seeing they were all in our faces and laughed. "Good thing I ain't really want them to come then."

"I can't just leave Lee."

"She'll most likely be going home with Sef anyway but let's go ask."

I rolled my eyes at his demanding ass then walked over to the picnic table Sef and Lee were arguing at. They both looked up at the same time looking aggravated.

"She coming with me, that's cool?" Zeph said making me look at him.

"That's not what we came over here for." I smacked his chest. "You cool with me going or you wanna go back home?"

"Yeah go head, she was coming home with me anyway." Sef spoke up as she looked at him scrunching her face up.

"Who the fuck says I was?" She asked as I tucked my lips in to keep from laughing. "Zo lemme talk to you for a minute."

"Yeah?" I asked once she pulled me to away from them.

"I don't care if you go, get that dick sisss."

"Bitch, I'm not fucking him." I laughed.

"You will eventually, might as well cut the holy act now. Unleash the hoeness."

"Who said I wanted to fuck with him?"

"Bitch he got a car and he get money and he older and I know you see his print, I think the fuck yes."

"Leee." I dragged out making me laugh.

"I'm serious as hell, if you don't want a relationship out of him at least finesse his fine self."

"It's sad how bad of an influence you are."

"Everybody need that hoe friend." She smiled as I rolled my eyes.

"You are definitely that friend."

"Sef and Zeph live together, we'll see each other again." She laughed as we walked back towards them.

"Y'all done having a power talk? Y'all gonna see each other again, we live in the same damn house." Sef said as soon as we got in front of them.

"Do you see why we always arguing? He talks when he don't even have to." She rolled her eyes looking at Zeph and I.

"I'm fucking tired of y'all arguing, come on No."

"Oh wait, Izzy said hit him back." Lee told me as I nodded my head.

"She won't." Zeph held his hand out for me to take it but I walked ahead going to the parking lot. He laughed opening my side of the door making me say thank you.

He pressed a button on the car making the car start as I looked in admiration, he laughed at my face about to say something but music loudly started playing. Keyshia Cole x Take me Away blasted making me laugh as he turned it down.

"You listen to Keyshia? Who broke ya heart?"

"Ha ha." He sarcastically said taking the CD out. "Actually-"

"And you got the CD? I have to tell Lee this." I laughed some more as he stopped and looked at me.

"I'm bout to drop you off home." He stated since he kept trying to explain his self but I was laughing harder.

"I'm sorry, explain yourself."

"This is my mom CD, every Sunday I take her and my sisters out."

"I don't believe you, it's okay you listen to Keyshia. I should have cheated." I sung laughing, he tried to keep a straight face but busted out laughing with me.

"You not even funny yo." He laughed shaking his head.

"I can't tell with you laughing like that." I mocked him.

"I'm goofy, this don't count." He said trying to mock me as I stopped laughing to glare at him.

"I don't sound like that."

"Yeah whatever, you hungry? What you wanna eat?"

"I'm good."

"Don't do that bullshit." He glanced at me then back at the road.

"What you mean?"

"You say you not hungry then I actually don't buy you food and you try to eat mine. I'm telling you now, I will not share with you. I don't play with my food." He said pulling into Taco Bell.

"Alright I want that new burrito taco, two of them." I told him making him laugh.

"You something else." He ordered our food getting us a lemonade. "Lemme ask a question."

"Shoot ya shot."

"So who Izzy?"

"He's something like my best friend." I told him.

"Best friend with benefits or strictly friends?"

"I guess you can say with benefits."

"You gon have to stop that shit."

"I don't do relationships, I don't believe in love and I don't want to."

"The fuck you mean? How don't you believe in love? You don't love ya mom? Lee?"

"Of course I love Lee but I'm talking about being in love, nothing last forever so what's the point in trying?"

"That's like saying everybody dies so what's the point of living." He looked at me blankly. "Who said something about a relationship anyway? We could just chill and vibe."

"Why you and Sef come in different cars if y'all going to the same place?" I ignored him.

"I told you I took my mom and sisters out."

"Sisters with a s? How many?"

"I have four."

"So you, Sef and four of your sisters?"

"No, another two boys."

"That's a big ass family, who the oldest?"

"It's my sister Zariah, my brother Zurich, Yusef, Me, my sisters Amour, Mazori, brother Royal and lastly Nova."

"All of y'all names are really beautiful as hell, ya mom gotta name my future kids."

"Our." He corrected making me laugh.

"How old are all of y'all?"

"Zariah and Zurich are twins they 25, Sef 21, I'm 20, Amour and Mazori are twins too they 19, Royal 16 and my heart Nova is 3."

"Twins common in ya family?"

"My mom and the aunt you met at the restaurant are sextuplets." He said making my eyes go wide.

"Sextuplets? As in six babies at the same damn time? That's possible?"

"Yeah, its my uncle Algee, my mom Amori, Yvonne, Joelle, lastly my uncle's Ivo and Jamie."

"I'm so shocked."

"Yeah, they almost killed my grandma from all the complications she had during her pregnancy. And my youngest uncle Jamie almost died because he was getting squashed during the whole ten months. They were told to pull the plug on him but my pop said he was going to pull through and he did."

"That's amazing for real." I said not even noticing we were sitting in his driveway making me look over the house.

It was a binge and burgundy one story house with two garage doors. It looked liked a house a celebrity will have, I watched him enter a code to close the gates.

"It's like every time I think you can't amaze me some more, something like this happens." I spoke getting out the car.

He did a cute chuckle opening the front door. "What you mean? Little shit like this fascinate you?"

"Your house, car and interesting ass family is what you consider little stuff?" I asked making him shrug.

I walked down the long hallway as we heard laughing, we entered the living room to see Lee, Sef and some boy. I looked around the living room seeing the nice decorated room filled with pictures.

"The hell took y'all so long to get here? We left after y'all and got here before y'all." Sef spoke.

"Nigga and? Who said I had to come straight home?"

"I did bitch."

"Yeah whatever, remember uncle Jamie I was just telling you about? That's his son, our cousin, Roddy, Roddy this Nobi."

"Hi." I said looking at him.

"Wassup?" He smiled at me then directed his attention on Zeph. "Bitch why you talking bout my father?"

"Y'all both dick eating and making me mad, bye. Come on No."

"You know we can't play with that bitch, he always in his duffle." Sef said as we walked towards the back.

"They annoying as hell." He closed his room door locking it.

His room was all black with hints of white and grey. He had a California king bed in the middle with a mirror on the ceiling, a 65 inch t.v hung on the wall, a grey futon in the corner along with a walk in closet and a bathroom. His room was probably the size of my kitchen and living room put together.

"What the hell do you do? And are they hiring?" I asked making him laugh.

"Imma take a shower real quick, you could watch t.v, go talk to Sef and them, play Pandora on this, play the game or whatever you wanna do."

"Are these Versace sheets? I'm not sitting on these, I have on outside clothes, on my God." I said as he looked back.

"You want some shorts or something then?"

"You sleep with fucking Versace sheets? You know I get my sheets from family dollar or Walmart?"

"Nobi." He laughed.

"I'm sorry but wow, I'll sit on the couch. Can't afford to mess up ya sheets, literally."

"You really annoying." He laughed putting his phone on the charger. "If you gon go through my shit, wait til I get out so I could explain anything."

"Maybe you are a mind reader." I laughed.

He winked going into the bathroom connected in his room, he left the bathroom slightly open. I reached over to the iPad going to Pandora, I added the new station called 90s r&b.

After ten minutes, the water cut off then he walked out the bathroom. He dropped his towel then smirked knowing I was watching his every move, he put on some grey sweats staying shirtless. I rolled my eyes at him.

"You're childish." I laughed but he just ignored me singing to the song.

"Wait this my shit, hold up." He turned the volume up as New Edition x If This Isn't Love came on.

I started laughing as he did the dance from the video, he was on point though. I got up doing it with him but he grabbed my waist and pulled me closer once they started singing.

"I don't love her, I tried to tell myself but you can see it in my eyes." He sung spinning me around. "So don't deny, I can't fool no one else. The truth is in the tears I cry."

"If this isn't love, why do I feel this way? Why does he stay on my mind?" I sung with a big ass koolaid smile kissing his chest tattoo.

"Clown." He laughed. "Our food probably cold as hell now."

"I forgot all about that, come on."

He led me to the kitchen and we sat at the island as they stopped talking. I looked at them weird while Zeph ignored them going to the microwave.

"Well we ain't wanna know what y'all was talking about anyway." I grabbed my burrito from him immediately eating.

"Here sis." Lee handed me her phone as a unknown number was shown.

"Hello?" I answered confused on who could be calling for me.

"Fuck you at? You was supposed to be here a hour ago, if you gon stunt tell me so I won't be sitting here like a dummy." Izzy barked out as I scrunched my face up.

"Who the hell are you talking to?" I put my garbage in the trash and walked away from the table going to Zeph room. "I forgot about coming to see you so calm down."

"What you so busy doing?"

"Why? Do I question you? That's not what we do so don't start now."

"Imma just assume you at some nigga house."

"Assume then, I don't give a fuck Izzy." I stated watching Zeph walk towards me after closing the door.

"Who you talking to?" He asked childishly knowing he just heard me say his name.

"Nobody."

"Well tell nobody bye then bring ya ass to bed." He smirked making me laugh at his attempt to be petty.

"Hello?"

"So you ain't come see me because you got a new nigga? I hope your dirty ass using protection before hopping on his dick too."

Before I could say anything, he hung up. I was still staring at the phone then decided to call back. He didn't answer so I logged onto my messenger seeing he was blowing my messages up.

"Come here."

"I told you, I'm not getting on ya bed with my outside clothes on that's dirty."

"Look in my closet and get something then, I want you next to me."

I threw the phone on the bed deciding to raid his closet. I walked in amazed at his closet size, I ran my fingers through all the clothes on the hanger. I also seen a few girl clothes making me scrunch my face up, grabbing some black basketball shorts I walked out the closet.

"These cool?" I asked making him look up.

"Those gon be big as hell on you cause they big on me."

"Okay." I went back in the closet getting another pair. "These?"

"Yeah." I nodded taking off my pants while low-key pulling out my wedgie. "You do have an ass."

"Yeah, it's like an element of surprise once these jeans come off."

"You funny as hell." He laughed as I crawled towards him.

"Your bed so soft, I would never get up again."

"I don't be wanting to but it's money to be made."

"What you do?"

"I flip houses."

"What the hell is that?"

"Basically I buy houses, fix it up a little then sell the house again."

"That's legal?"

"Yeah."

"That's dope as hell, I never heard of anything like this. How long you been doing this? You your own boss or work under somebody?"

"I've been doing this since high school, my uncle Ivo introduced me to it and I fell in love. I'm my own boss now."

"So you any good?"

"You tell me." He looked around.

"You did ya own house? Wow." I looked around in admiration.

"I didn't even show you around so you could see it, this house big ass hell. It just don't look like it is."

"You really amaze me, something has to be wrong with you, you're too perfect."

"No where near, we all have our skeletons and you'll find out eventually, well that's if you decide to fuck with me after today."

"Why me? Out of every girl you can have, you decide me? Why?"

"You seem worth it." He shrugged.

"You don't even know me though."

"I'm trying to if your mean ass ever give me a chance."

"I'm still childish, petty and I'm not the kiss ass type. I'll have a full blown out attitude over the littlest stuff, I don't take anything serious enough, I'll make big deals out of nothing, I have a nasty attitude, and I'm disrespectful as fuck. You still want this chance?"

"You thought listing shit was going to make me give up?" He laughed. "Really?"

"Yeah, I'm trying to warn you so when this fail I could say I told you so and we could go on with our lives."

"Why do you just think it's going to fail?"

"I told you I don't do relationships, I could have sex with you right now and I promise I'll walk past you next time I see you like I didn't take your soul before. It's just that easy to me."

"I'm guessing you speaking from experience?"

"Yeah, I am."

"Thanks for keeping it a hundred with me but nothing you just told me made me change my mind, I still want a chance to prove this can work."

"It's girl clothes in the closet, who's is it?"

"It's a mixture of clothes between my sisters, mom and Redd."

"The girl you had sex with in the bathroom?" I raised my eyebrow.

"How many times I gotta tell you I didn't fuck that girl while I was with you?"

Before I could speak somebody knocked on the door then opened it once Zeph said come in. Sef walked in scratching his head looking at us.

"Ain't this cute?" He smirked as Zeph sucked his teeth.

"What brah?"

"Lemme get a condom."

"No, I barely have any left because of you. How the fuck you use my condoms more than me?" Zeph asked leaning over digging in his nightstand.

"Every time I ask you give me the same damn speech, I hope you finally got the chance to use them. You always in ya Louie." He snatched the condoms from him.

"Bitch snatch from me again."

"Y'all act like kids." I stated.

"That's him." They said in unison then sucked their teeth.

"Bye, get out and lock my door behind you."

"No bitch, Nobi Lee said you done with her phone?"

"Forgot I even had it, it's right there." I pointed to the end of the bed.

"Alright." He grabbed the phone then locked the door leaving.

"Every time we talk about the girl you fucked in the bathroom, it get interrupted."

"You making me mad that it's not even funny no more, I didn't fuck her in the bathroom."

"So when we first get there, I turn my attention to talk to you and you ignored me so I see what you looking at, you basically eye fucking her. Thirty minutes later you go to the bathroom and two minutes later she go towards the bathroom. Lastly y'all come back at the same damn time, let's not forget her clothes in your closet."

"I feel like we skipped everything you just said and we in a relationship already, the way you giving me this much attitude."

"Because you keep lying, I really don't care if you did I just want you to be honest about it and you're making me mad by doing the opposite."

"Redd and I were in relationship for three years on and off, we permanently broke up around five months ago."

"Why?"

"She used to be insecure about herself, so once she got money she wasted no time working on herself. She got her boobs, nose, and ass done along with some lypo and other shit. I didn't understand why she went through all of that shit when she was perfect the way she was before."

"Being insecure can make you fix what isn't broken."

"I know and that's why I always tried my hardest to boost her ego, not only telling her she was perfect the way she was but showing her too."

"So the surgery was a no go for you?"

"It wasn't even the surgery, you can be the baddest female alive with a nasty ass personality. Personality is always the first thing I notice, looks just add on. That's why first impressions are everything to me."

"I could dig it."

"Yeah so after the surgery, she started getting more attention and started feeling herself more. She just changed, she wasn't the girl I fell in love with so I finally broke up with her. It ended badly and we haven't talked since, two weeks ago she popped back up talking the bullshit like we should get back together."

"So she wants you back now?"

"Yeah so when I saw her at the restaurant I wasn't eye fucking her, I was wondering why the fuck she was in my aunt restaurant knowing they don't get along-"

"Why?" I cut him off as he gave me a look. "I'm sorry, I like to ask questions."

"Von and Redd don't like each other because she always said Redd wasn't for me even before the surgery. Von is literally like another mom to me, I'm closer with her than I am with my mom so she knows everything. They exchanged words and it went as far as Von and my mom about to jump Redd."

"What?" I asked wide eyed.

"My mom don't play about her little sister, Redd put her hands on Von and before Von could react my mom was already dragging her. But you wanna know what's funny about the whole situation?"

"What?"

"Even after that, my dumb ass still didn't break up with her until I caught her cheating."

"Wow."

"Aight anyways, I actually went to the bathroom to wash my hands but she came in. She was trying to suck my dick-"

"In the fucking bathroom? That's nasty as hell, she a different type of ho."

"I was actually considering doing it but that'll be disrespectful as hell with you there so I didn't. I listened to her plead her case about why we should get back together then walked out. So when I say I didn't fuck her, I mean it."

"That's another thing about me, I don't have trust for anybody. Even though your being honest, I'm still questioning it. I over think too much and it ruins everything."

"Then ask the questions you need to, we're going to eventually build our trust. I been fucked over so many times that it's hard to trust too but I'm willing to take the risk with you."

"You make it impossible to say no to you."

"Because you want to say yes, you're feeling me just like I'm feeling you."

I looked at him and smirked ignoring him. "So what movie we watching?"

_________________

What screws us up in life is the picture in our head of how it's suppose to be.

-- Y.C

Aanvi Zenobia

"Izzy stoooop!" I whined as he kept biting and sucking on my neck.

"You keep acting like it's not mine."

"It's not, we're only friends." I smiled at his face.

"Exactly, you're my friend and this my best friend." He touched my vagina making me move his hand.

"Yeah whatever, I'm leaving now."

"So you going to just leave after we had sex?"

"When do I ever stay? We have sex then I leave and we don't talk until one of us need sex again. That's how this works Izzy." I spoke honestly.

He looked taken aback but I was just being honest, before we even started having sex I told him that's just what this is, sex. I didn't want a relationship and I still don't, relationships just came with too much shit. If he couldn't understand that then he could get cut off.

"Why it sound like you're trying to play me?"

"Why it sound like you caught feelings for me?"

"Maybe I did."

"Maybe you shouldn't because the feelings not mutual, take a few days to yourself so this crush can past by." I told him putting on my shoes.

"So you could be around here riding ride with drug dealers and shit but won't give me a chance?" He asked making me laugh.

"What drug dealers do I be around Izzy?"

"Fuck you think your little boyfriend Mitch do?"

"Alright, well that's his business and what was your point of telling me that? When he was ready to tell me that, he would of. Nothing you can say will make me give you a chance, I just don't see you like that Izzy."

"But your hoe ass could come over here and fuck me?"

"Make them days into some weeks, don't even speak to me in school."

"Nobi." He smacked his teeth standing to his feet grabbing my arm. "Aanvi, come on I'm sorry."

"No, every time something doesn't go your way you always act like a little girl and get disrespectful and I always take it because you're my best friend but that's about to fly dead ass."

"Alright, I'm sorry. I'll work on it." He put his hands on my waist and started kissing my cheek.

"Okay, I'm really leaving. I have to go to Lee house."

"Lemme walk you then."

"Alright."

Since Lee house was literally down the street, I accepted. I mainly accepted because it's this old pervert man that be watching me when I walk by myself.

I kept quiet as we took the five minute walk when I got in front of Lee house, Izzy gave me a hug as I smiled watching him walk away then rung Lee doorbell. She opened the door and squinted her eyes.

"What you doing here?" She asked.

"You look like you about to leave, I came at a wrong time?"

"Actually you came at the perfect time, Sef about to come get me and you're coming."

"Nooo." I whined. "I don't wanna third wheel."

"It's a basketball game, Zeph playing." She smirked.

"You said that like that's just going to automatically make me go." I rolled my eyes but smiling nonetheless.

"Yeah whatever, I be knowing."

"I have time to shower or no? I just left from Izzy house."

"You don't have time but we gon make time. Go."

I quickly grabbed my towel and rag from her room and got in, I wanted to take my time but we had somewhere to be and we weren't on my time. I was just starting to enjoy my time in the shower when Lee knocked on the door.

"Sef outside, take your time but hurry up bitch!" She yelled then walked away.

I spent like five more minutes in the shower then got out seeing she set out a different outfit along with undergarments that I kept here. I put on the grey tank top with the regular ripped jeans that I cuffed at the bottom. I put on the gladiator sandals and made sure I put on lotion.

Walking out the house, I saw Sef and Lee sitting in the car laughing. I smiled seeing my sister so happy, I opened the back door seeing a baby next to me. I instantly grabbed her hand and started smiling in face. She smiled back then held her face in her hand trying to hide from me, I took her hand and blew a kiss on it making her erupt in laughter.

"She usually don't like people." Sef said.

"She damn sure didn't like me this quick." Lee said making me laugh.

"Babies love me, she yours?"

"Who? Hell no." Sef laughed. "That's my little sister, that's Zeph child if anything."

"Nova right?"

"Yes." She smiled showing me her teeth with two missing in the front.

"I'm in love with you, omg." I squealed. "Can I have you?"

"Yes but you have to give me back." She spoke making us laugh.

"Come on." Sef spoke making me look up to see a recreational center.

"I didn't even know you started driving, what the hell?"

"What the hell?" Nova copied making my eyes widen as Lee and Sef laughed.

"No, that's a bad word. Don't say that." I shook my head.

"What the hell?" She repeated.

"Zeph is going to fuck you up." Sef laughed getting out the car.

I flipped him off getting Nova then getting out the car. I put her down to walk but she had other plans so I had to pick her up to stop her from getting hit in this parking lot. We walked in seeing both teams stretching and the crowd sitting down or getting snacks.

"Boobie! Boobie!" Nova yelled loudly making me furrow my eyebrows.

"She calling for Zeph." Sef answered my confusion.

"What can't she eat?" I asked wanting a slushie but not wanting to get nothing she was allergic to.

"Anything, she not allergic to nothing."

"Okay." I walked away standing in the line.

I looked around seeing Zeph ex girlfriend and three other girls with her. One girl stood out to me as she was the prettiest of them all, I was just staring at her basically eye fucking her. I saw them walk towards Lee and Sef, Lee had the straightest face on while Sef was rubbing her trying to get her to change her facial expression.

"Boobie!" Nova yelled again making my attention go to Zeph as he stood in front of me.

"She let you hold her?" He asked taking her from my arms.

"Babies love me." I shrugged ordering a large blue raspberry slushie getting two straws.

"You here with Sef and Lee?"

"Yeah, third wheeling as usual." I laughed taking a sip.

"Why you ain't reply to me earlier?"

"I was busy."

"Gimme some."

"No, I don't know where your mouth been."

He leaned down and kissed my lips catching me off guard. "On you." Smirking he grabbed the straw I was using and got some.

"You not cute." I spoke blushing with a slight eye roll.

"Always." He winked at me making both of us laugh.

"Nofia." Nova called my name as I smiled.

"Yes baby?"

"You hold me?" She asked making me take her from Zeph hands as he mugged me.

"Don't be getting my baby attached to you."

"Shut up." I smiled as he did the same.

"I see why you ain't reply to me now." He straight faced me as I frowned seeing his playful mood go away.

Just as I was about to open my mouth to say something Redd and the three other girls came over to stand in front of us. His attention was still on me while I glanced at them then back at him wondering what I could have possibly done that fast.

"Hey big brother." The one I was staring at spoke hugging him.

"Wassup Mor, you ain't say you was coming."

"Redd mentioned it and we ain't have shit else to do so why not come support my big brother?" She smiled making him look at her blankly.

"So if Redd didn't say come then you wouldn't of?" He asked making her smile drop and roll her eyes.

"Don't start Mitch."

"Hey Zeph, you don't see me?" Redd asked as he turned his attention on her.

"How could I not?"

"Can I have a hug?" She batted her eyelashes and smiled.

"Yeah." He hugged her as I saw her friend taking a picture while they all awwed.

I stood there awkwardly, I was about to walk away when Zeph sister Amour tried to take Nova out my hands but she didn't wanna go. I laughed at Nova face and shook my head as she slurped from her straw holding on to my shirt.

"Who you?" His sister rudely asked making me push my head back.

"What the hell?" Nova asked taking the words out my mouth.

"I'm Zenobia." I said dryly.

"How you know my brother? What she your girlfriend?"

"You know that's not my girlfriend." Zeph stated before I can say anything as Redd obnoxiously laughed.

"It was never that funny." I looked at her giving her a look of disgust.

"Aw Zeph I think you hurt lil baby feelings, apologize for making her think she had a chance when we always bounce back." She smiled in his face.

"What the hell?" Nova repeated as he glared at her.

"Nova, stop saying that."

"You could have him." I laughed and walked away going to sit with Lee and Sef.

"Why your face like that?" Sef asked noticing me first.

"Fuck your brother, his plastic ass bitch and your sister."

"She said something to you?" Lee asked looking at them.

"All of them tried to be funny even Zeph so I'm not sweating it."

"I thought you and Zeph was alright."

"I thought we were too, he just kissed me not even five minutes ago and then wanna act funny once they walk up like that's childish but I don't care."

"That's from him?" Sef asked making me furrow my eyebrows.

"What you talking about?"

"That hickey? It's from Zeph?"

"I have a hickey?" I gasped stupidly turning around thinking I was going to see my neck.

"Oh shit, you do sis. How the fuck didn't I see that?" Lee spoke. "I would of never told you to put on a tank top."

"So Imma assume they not from him and that's why he acting funny." Sef shrugged.

"Okay but he's not my boyfriend and I stated that from the beginning, we can do what we want."

"When Zeph messing with one person, it's just that one person. He expect the same shit in return so now he going to act like he don't care and fall back. If you not ready to just talk to him and him only, you might as well just drop my brother now. I know my little brother and he would never be okay with you talking to other niggas."

I didn't reply as I looked towards Zeph seeing Redd kiss him on his cheek, I rolled my eyes extra hard and started playing with Nova. She kept me entertained throughout the whole game and before I knew it the game was over. I stood up wanting to go straight in the house, I was tired as shit.

"Sissy, I'm tired and wanna go in the house. I'm just going to catch the bus home." I stood up watching everybody leave.

"I'm not letting you do that, I'll take you. Just give me like five minutes." Sef spoke making me nod and sit back down as he walked away.

"I can't wait until you get pregnant." Lee spoke catching me off guard as I rocked a sleeping Nova.

"Me either, I'm going to be the best mom ever." I smiled.

"I'll be their second mom. You'll be the strict one, that's always saying no and I'll be the fun one that's always going behind ya back." She spoke making me laugh.

"I don't like Zeph sister."

"Me either, she a follower and I'll beat her ass but because Sef is my boyfriend I put up with her ditsy ass."

"I don't have to put up with it." I shrugged.

"You cutting Zeph off?"

"Obviously, I'm not ready for what he want and he still love her. Why bother trying something that's just going to end badly?"

"I think you could do it, I mean I'm the ho out of us two and I haven't cheated or looked at another nigga the way I do with Sef. If I could do it then you can."

"Maybe I can but I just don't want to, nothing last forever sissy."

"Wrong because this friendship will last forever, you're not my sister by blood but you might as well be. You just scared to get heartbroken but maybe you need to take this chance." She shrugged as I really listened.

"Maybe you're right but I'm going to beat Izzy the fuck up. He never put hickies on me but now Zeph's in the picture he's trying to be petty. He basically told me he have feelings."

"Do you?"

"Not at all, I only see him as something to do when it's nothing to do. Why couldn't he just leave it at sex?"

"I think you were meant to be a boy, you really have no feelings."

"I don't and I really don't care."

"I love ittt." She loudly said making me laugh as some people looked at us. "Whaaat?"

"Stop Lee." I laughed. "Mean ass."

Sef and Zeph walked our way making me roll my eyes, Sef always thinks he slick. He smirked at me and I already knew what he was thinking. Lee stood up and dusted her pants off making me laugh because she knew what she was doing too.

"Excuse me?" A boy said making me look over at him.

"Yes?"

"Your daughter beautiful and so are you."

"She's not mine but thank you." I smiled.

"I just wanted to say that, I saw you earlier but I had to play so I couldn't say anything then."

"I wasn't even paying attention to this game, you were playing?"

"Yeah, number 15." He showed me his jersey smiling.

"Well good game then." I smiled.

"What's your name?"

"Zenobia."

"I'm Lamar, nice meeting you." He held his hand out as I shook it.

"Nice meeting you too."

"Well it's getting empty, you got a phone?"

I was about to say no but Lee slickly put her phone in my back pocket making me laugh and pull it out. Before I could ask for his number Sef and Zeph stood in front of us, Sef snatched the phone out of my hand and Zeph was just looking.

"Wassup Mitch?" Lamar spoke dabbing him up meanwhile Zeph attention was only on me.

"Wassup, Nobi you ready?" He asked.

"This you?" Lamar asked.

"Of course not, I'm single." I spoke cutting him off before he could say anything.

"No she not, they just going through something." Sef spoke making Lee hit him as I glared at him.

"Oh aight, my bad then." Lamar walked away as I rolled my eyes.

"Cam we leave?" I asked.

"Since Zeph is going that way, he could-"

"No, I'll catch the bus." I handed Nova to Sef and picked my trash up walking away.

"Lemme talk to you." Zeph said walking behind me.

"Nah, I'm gooood."

"It wasn't a question."

"Okay." I continued walking until he roughly grabbed my arm.

"I said lemme talk to you."

"And I said no."

"Zenobia."

"Zephyr."

He sighed and let me go. "Please Nobi."

I rolled my eyes going towards the car, he got the car seat out of Sef car and placed it in his car then strapped Nova up. I hugged Lee and stuck my middle finger at Sef and got in the car. Zeph looked over at me then started the car.

"Lemme take her home first then I guess we could ride around and talk."

I didn't reply as I just sat back and looked out the window. He was typing on his phone and driving at the same time making me glare at him, he looked up at me and put his phone down putting his hands up in surrender. He turned the radio on plugging his phone to the aux then handed me his phone, I picked the first song that came to my head seeing him bob his head in approval.

"She see money all around me, I look like I'm the man but I was down and out like last week. Tell me where you been? You came out of hiding girl, don't act like I'm your man." I sung lowly to the music.

Around five minutes later he pulled up to a beautiful ass house, I was stuck. Not even hearing him call my name I continued looking in fascination, their houses was just amazing. I needed to be living how they are.

"Come on No." He spoke opening my door already having Nova and her car seat in his hands.

"Lemme have her." I spoke as she sleepily reached for me.

"You making my little sister fall in love with you."

"I'm in love with her back." I smiled as she wrapped her around my neck.

"But you won't give me a chance? Wow." He playfully scoffed making me roll my eyes.

He opened the door as I heard laughter and music loudly playing. We walked down the hall seeing a whole bunch of people, I involuntarily sighed. I didn't want to meet nobody, I should of just stayed in the car.

"My baby!" A woman said making attention go to us as I tried to hide behind Zeph.

"Hey ma." He put the car seat down and kissed her cheek.

"Who this holding my other baby?"

"Hi, I'm Nobi."

"You are just adorable, I'm Zeph mom Amori, how you doing?"

"I'm fine."

"Nephew this your new girlfriend?" A man asked towering over both of us making me look up in shock.

"Nah Unc, she won't give me a chance." He spoke making me glare at him.

"That's that boy shut up look, you know how many times your mother do that to me?" A man spoke taking Nova out my hands as I laughed.

"Nobi, right?" A lady I recognized as Sef aunt spoke pulling me into a hug.

"Yes, Yvonne right?" I asked to make sure.

"Yes." She smiled. "Y'all, I met Nobi a few weeks ago at the restaurant and Zeph lover boy ass came in the back like auntie I think I'm ready to start dating again. I like her auntie, a lot auntie." She babbled as Zeph just looked at her shaking his head.

"Stop embarrassing my baby." His mother laughed making us laugh.

"Nephew you gotta show her you mean the shit you saying, give her the world if you can." His other uncle said.

"She know you got money?" The first uncle asked making all of laugh.

"No, that's only how you get your girls. Any bitch gon go after you knowing you got money cause you ugly as hell." Yvonne said making them laugh.

"Nigga all six of us look alike, we all ugly then." He said as I covered my mouth laughing harder.

"Nobi lemme introduce you to all of them. This is my uncle Algee, aunt Joelle, uncles Jamie and Ivo, you know my mom and Yvonne and my pops Niko. Y'all this Zenobia but she like to be called Nobi."

"Nobi, you gon give my nephew a chance?" Joelle asked making me stuck.

"Uh-"

"Don't put her in the hot seat like that." A girl spoke coming from the kitchen.

"Word, let the girl breathe." Zeph father spoke shaking his head.

"Hey girl, you pretty as hell. You wanna be my girlfriend?" She spoke giving me a hug as I laughed.

"I mean-"

"I'll beat both of y'all the fuck up." Zeph spoke making us laugh. "Nobi, this my gay ass sister Mazori. Amour twin."

"Hey." I spoke.

"Nobi, come with us in the kitchen." His mom said making my heart start going crazy as I looked at Zeph.

"Actually I was just dropping her off home so-"

"We not going to torture her Mitch, calm down." His aunt Joelle said laughing as they walked into the kitchen. I sighed following them sitting at the island as they moved around.

"So Zenobia how old are you?" His mom asked.

"17." I said making them all stop and look at me.

"You know he's 20 right?"

"Yeah, I turn 18 February 14th."

"Aw, that's Zeph birthday too. That's cute." His sister spoke.

"Do you like him?" His aunt Yvonne asked.

"Yes, I like him but I'm not into relationships. That's so much stress and drama and I'm not ready for that."

"I like you." His aunt Joelle spoke pointing at me.

"Yeah but I at least think you should give my baby a chance. My son isn't average and his mindset way mature than these other boys, he's worth it." His mom shrugged.

"Don't think we're trying to force you to give him a chance or anything like that." Yvonne spoke.

"We just know how much of a great person Zeph is and the affect he has in people life and for some reason he really wants you to be apart of that." Joelle spoke.

"I see the reason already, just looking and having this short conversation with you I could see why my son is in like." His mom spoke making me put my head down not trying to blush in front of them.

"Thank you." I said.

"And she look good, I never want to share girls with my siblings but I'm reconsidering. You ever tried girls?" Mazori asked making me laugh.

"Get out that girl face." His mom hit her with a dish rag as I shook my head.

"We'll let you get out of here now, come to one of our cookouts so you could meet everybody else." Yvonne said as I nodded.

"Nofia!" Nova called my name walking towards me.

"She like you?" His mom asked as all their faces scrunched up.

"Her little bad ass don't even like me." Joelle rolled her eyes making them laugh.

"Because you be saying shit like that." His mom said.

"Y'all done? I wanna get home and take a shower." Zeph entered the kitchen yawning.

"Yeah, your little boney ass could leave. Take this plate, you looking a little too boney." His aunt said making me laugh.

"Thanks auntie." He rolled his eyes kissing her cheek along with hugging all of them.

"Nobi, take a plate too. I heard you like baked mac and cheese."

"Ooh I do, that's my fave." I smiled excitedly taking the plate.

I hugged all of them and we left within five minutes because Nova didn't want me to and it kept breaking my heart to see her cry for me. After her dad started playing with her, we made our escape route and now we were back in the car driving around.

"I like your family." I spoke looking out the window.

"I'm glad you do, I didn't even know all of them were there or I would of told you to stay in the car."

"It's cool."

A few minutes passed in silence as I felt him starting at me. When I glanced at him he would still be staring making me roll my eyes.

"Zeph stop." I rolled my eyes.

"What I'm doing?"

"You keep looking at me, if you wanna talk say something."

"Why would you come to my game with that big ass hickey on your neck? Like I know you told me you was still fucking with the nigga but I'm not fucking with nobody else and I want you to do the same shit. I'm trying to act like I'm okay with the shit but obviously I'm not, I can't force you to do anything though so just tell me if I'm trying too hard and I'll fall back."

"I didn't know he put a hickey on me, he never do but he knew I was going to see you so he wanted to be petty I guess. You're right it's disrespectful and if I known I had them then I would of never came or at least tried to cover them."

"Alright, answer my question."

"You're not trying too hard, I actually like that you're fighting for me but I'm just not ready. It's not even about you hurting me anymore, it's about me hurting you. A girl already lost your trust by cheating on you and I don't wanna hurt you for the second time."

"So don't, I can make you forget about them other niggas. It'll just be us two but you have to tell me that this is what you want."

I bit my lip and sighed, I thought of the possibilities and I didn't see no harm in trying. Zeph was a wonderful person with a amazing ass heart and he was most definitely the finest nigga I met in a long while. I smiled and looked over at him seeing him look at me waiting.

"Alright." I rolled my eyes seeing the smile come on his face. "I will give this a try, I won't fuck with Izzy or any other boys. It'll be about you and just you."

"I knew you'll see it my way." He smirked making me laugh.

"And since I'm cutting off Izzy, you gotta cut off your Nicki Minaj." I spoke seriously making him laugh.

"I been cut that girl off five months ago, I just wanted to be petty. Out of every girl, you will never have to worry about her. She will never have a chance with me again, word to moms."

"Good cause I'll get Lee to beat her up."

"No need." He laughed.

"Can I ask you a question? I want you to be honest with me but if you don't want to answer me then you don't have to." I shrugged.

"Go head."

"Are you a drug dealer?" I asked as he stared at me.

"Why you ask that?"

"So that's a yeah?"

"It's not an answer at all."

"So you lied to me? You could have just told me that instead of making up some fake ass career. Can you take me home?"

He didn't say anything but nodded and drove, I sighed watching the scenery outside. I felt him looking at me a few times but he didn't say anything, instead of taking me home like I insisted he took me to a nice ass neighborhood stopping in front of a building.

"Get out."

I was going to put up a fight but I did as he said watching him walk into the building, it was a lobby with a girl sitting at the front desk. She looked up from typing and smiled at both of us. He walked towards her and leaned on the counter.

"Good evening Mr.Brown, I thought today was your day off?" She spoke with a smile.

"It is but I wanted to show someone around, this is Zenobia. Zenobia this is Chelsea."

"Hi." I waved as she returned the gesture.

"I have any messages?"

"Yes, they're all in your office."

"I'm heading there now, thank you Chelsea."

"Just doing my job sir."

He nodded his head for me to follow him, I did as so following quiet but looking around. We walked towards a elevator as I watched him click the fifth floor, the elevator was mirror like so I saw every floor and I was truly amazed. Once we reached the floor he spoke to a few people then opened this door to the most cleanest and nice office I ever saw. This looked like something rich white people would have.

"So, this is where I work. You know flipping houses like I told you? I flipped my house, my parents house, Yvonne restaurant and I also flipped this building. This whole thing is mine along with the company so I did not lie to you."

"It was a question that you couldn't answer, so I assumed you did. I would have understood if you were one, I'm not knocking your hustle but it was just a question that you could of just said yes or no to but you did the most instead. You could of told me to mind my business and I would of dropped the conversation all together."

"I used to be in the drug game when I was little, I made a name for myself but I don't own up to my name now. I'm not Mitch the drug dealer no more, I'm Zephyr the man who take care of his responsibilities and do shit with his life making money legally."

"Alright."

"Why would you ask me that? Who told you I was one?"

"Earlier, Izzy told me had feelings for me then when I denied him he tried to get me to leave you alone and he thought saying that was just going to make me give up on you."

"I'm tired of this dirty ass little boy, I hope you know you cutting him off forever cause that's how long I plan to be here."

"Alright."

He grabbed me by the loops of my pants and pulled me closer, I wrapped my hands around his waist while he hugged my head. We stood there like that for at least five minutes before he yawned, I looked up seeing he looked exhausted.

"Come on, you stink and you tired." I spoke making him look at me quickly.

"I stink? This called hard work and dedication." He lifted his arm up putting his musty ass underarms by my face making me laugh.

"No, it's called must and sweat."

"Oh aight, guess we bout to stink together."

"Zephyr." I squealed about to run but he caught me and started rubbing his sweaty ass all over me. "Alright, alright!"

"Say that's hard work and dedication."

"It's hard work and dedication." I repeated quickly as he let me go.

"Good, now let's go." He laughed pulling out his keys to lock his office back.

He grabbed my hand and we walked to the elevator smiling. I leaned my head on his shoulder yawning getting tired myself. We walked to the car and I don't even remember pulling off but when he shook me awake we were in front of my house. I sighed not wanting to get out the car but I had too.

"Why your face like that?"

"I lowkey don't wanna leave you."

"Tomorrow after work, I'll come get you and we could go somewhere."

"Can we go somewhere childish and you can bring Nova?"

"Yeah." He shook his head laughing. "My little sister really stole your heart."

"Yes, it's hers to keep."

"Yeah whatever, gimme kiss so you could leave."

I leaned over grabbing his face and pecking his lips three times. He grabbed the back of my neck not liking me teasing him and put his tongue in my mouth. I slowly moaned into the kiss and that's when I decided to pull back.

"See you later baby girl." He kissed me one last time.

"Let me know when you in the house please, last time you didn't and I was up all night waiting." I rolled my eyes.

"Alright, I promise. Don't forget ya food."

"Oooh, almost did. Thank you baby."

After one last kiss I walked into the house, I walked straight in my room not speaking or letting my mom know I was here. I put my plate of food on my dresser and laid down leaving everything on. I'll just take a shower in the morning when I have the energy.

_________________

The next chapter so freaking long smh

Excuse any mistakes.