Faith

12

India (later that night)

I laid on the couch slowly eating the day old popcorn that was in the bowl. I watched the same movie that's been replaying for about four days now. The front door unlocked and I heard Michael in the kitchen.

"Baby?" He called out.

I ignored him, I was so lazy to speak.

"Babe?" He called out again.

I rolled my eyes and ate another piece of popcorn.

He came into the living room, when he saw me he immediately caught a attitude.

"Indie really?" He semi yelled.

"Really what." I croaked.

"You've been sitting in the damn spot for almost a week now!" He shouted. "Your starting to stink."

I looked at him and shrugged.

He sighed deeply and sat next to me. "Your obviously hiding something from me. What is it?"

I began to think of years back and then the text messages. I bust out in tears and laid my head on Michael's lap.

He began to pat my back. "Baby it's okay." He comforted. "Just tell me everything."

I haven't mentioned anything about my past to Michael. So I'm kinda scared of his reaction if I tell him about me killing Zonnique.

"So your gonna keep quiet?" He asked.

I looked at him. "Baby it's about my past." I cried. "You know how I feel about talking about old things."

"Baby listen to me." He started. "If your past is reflecting really bad on your future I wanna know wassup."

I ignored him and wiped my tears. He stood up.

"Keeping secrets?"

I looked at him. "It isn't technically a secret." I groaned.

He shook his head. "I can't believe you India."

I scrunched my eyebrow. "Why? Because I don't feel like explaining s**t to you?"

"No because we've been together for 7 years and your not ready for the real world!" He barked back.

I stood up to. "Let me guess, this is still about getting married and having a child?"

He sighed deeply. "India I'm sorry but I'm ready." He admitted. "And I don't know how long I have to wait."

"Until I'm ready." I replied quickly.

"Oh yeah and when is that?"

"Why are you pressuring me?" I asked. "I'm obviously not ready so stop trying to force it on me or something."

"I need to get to working." He said looking at the time. "We'll talk about this in the morning."

He walked upstairs, he's so confusing and I can't read minds so he's really stressing me out. I just need someone to talk to.

I walked upstairs and saw that Michael was in his office. I quickly grabbed some sweats and a white tee then took a quick shower and put on the clothes. I put my nappy hair in a big sloppy bun and left the house.

Rayan

I was playing 2K14 on my new Playstation 4. The game was dope, I loved being home alone to. I can do whatever I want, whenever I want and nobody can stop me.

Knock Knock!

I groaned loudly and paused the game, I went to the door and looked inside the peephole. India was standing there, I answered the door.

"Indie? What are you doing here?" I asked.

"Can I come in?" She whimpered.

I nodded. We went inside and sat on the couch.

She looked at the tv. "I'm sorry were you busy?"

I grabbed the controller. "Yeah." I joked unpausing the game. "I was practicing my skills."

She looked around. "Is Jac-"

"Jacole here?" I said cutting her off. "Nope she hasn't been here everysince I kicked her out."

"Oh." She whispered.

I paused the game once more. "Something wrong?"

"I feel like I can come to you when I need advice." She blurted out. "Is that okay?"

"Uh yeah." I said looking at her. "Wassup?"

She began twiddling her fingers. "Remember when I killed Zonnique over you?"

"Still can't believe you did that." I scoffed.

"I need your advice." She pouted.

I stared at her bottom lip that poked out her mouth. She was so beautiful when she pouted. "O-Oh yeah." I stuttered. "Go on."

"Well everyone practically forgot about it." She explained. "But I started getting strange messages lately."

I raised my eyebrow. "What do you mean strange messages?"

She took out her phone and showed me the messages. I couldn't believe it, somebody was basically trying to get Indie paranoid.

"I'm scared." She said lowly.

"I would be to." I said truthfully.

"Help me? Please."

I looked at her and I realized that she actually is frightened. I could tell, I grabbed her phone and texted the number.

"Whoever this is, I wanna meet you."

The message sent and I sat the phone down. "Maybe you should head home." I suggested.

She shook her head. "Me and Michael are kinda in a huge fight. Can I stay the night?"

I widen my eyes, she wants to stay the night? "Uh. Sure." I said. "There's about 15 guest rooms, just pick any one." I said.

Before she could reply her phone buzzed. We both looked at it and the person texted back.

"Good. Because I wanna meet you. There's a jazz club downtown. Be there tonight. I'll be wearing all black."

I looked at Indie. "Were gonna meet this son of a bitch." I grinned.

Bahja

When Shania got off of work, she told me to meet her at her apartment. I rang her doorbell and she buzzed me up. When I got to her apartment door she had on some pajamas and her hair was in a sloppy ponytail. It seemed as if she was crying because her mascara was running.

"Uh are you okay?" I asked. "I guess this is a bad time I could-"

"No it's fine." She said cutting me off. "Come in."

I nodded and walked inside. She had a nice, small apartment that was colorful.

"I like your place." I complimented.

She rolled her eyes. "Oh please. This is a box under a bridge compared to your 6 story mansion."

"True." I laughed. "But it's still pretty cool." I sat on her dark blue love seat and she sat next to me.

"I'm sorry." She pouted.

"Sorry for what?" I smirked. "Sleeping with my boyfriend or-"

"Everything." She said. "About Craig and the way I disrespected you the day we first met. The way I handled you not having aids and-"

"It's okay." I smiled. "I forgive you."

She blew a raspberry. "Good. Anyway, have you talked to Craig?"

I nodded. "He's suppose to be coming home. He said he wanted me back, he wants us to work. He also said he was gonna stop sleeping around with you."

She scoffed. "I was gonna be done with him when you told me you could make my death look like a accident." She laughed. "Trust me, I'm all sorts of done with Craig."

I nodded. "Good. I don't know if I want us to work though."

She gasped. "What?! Why not! Bahja if it has something to do with me I am truly sorry I didn't-"

"It's not because you." I laughed. I thought for a moment. "Well kinda because of you. But your not the main reason."

"Well what is?" She asked sounding confused.

"He has aids." I whined. "I have nothing against them but we can't make love if he has a disease."

She nodded. "I totally agree."

"I think we should just see other people." I explained more. "We could still be good friends, right? I mean am I wrong for feeling that way?"

"Bahja I get it. You don't want a disease, I understand." She laughed. "I would've said the same thing."

Shania was very nice and honest. She may be my boyfriend's side chick but she could be a good friend. She listens and understands.

"Shania I know this might be crazy." I giggled. "But how would you like to hang out sometime?" I asked.

She smiled lightly. "I would love to."