"Bitch! I missed you!" Deja squealed as she squeezed Mari.
"Like you been avoiding me or sumn." Mari replied sarcastically. Before sitting in the salon chair next to her.
"Girl don't play wimme." She chuckled. "Lemme see what you wanna get."
She showed her a picture of the set she wanted.
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"Aww, y'all so ugly." She cooed after seeing his initial on the set.
She got set up for her pedicure.
"How's James doing?" Mari asked.
Deja's face dropped.
"I texted him a bunch of times but he be ignoring my shit. I miss him."
"He good..." Deja said, trying to think of an excuse. "He said he 'moving in silence' right now. You know how that go."
Mari laughed, "Ight, I guess. I miss Janae though, I might stop by them when we done."
"No!" Deja interjected. "She out of town."
"Oh..." Mari whispered. "Okay."
•••
"Ouuu lemme see em." Boodah said as Mari approached him.
She flashed her nails at him. His smile took over his face when he noticed his initial.
He kissed her hand, "They beautiful, mama."
"Thank you, Boo." She smiled.
He noticed something was off with her.
"What's wrong, baby?" He pulled her onto his lap.
"What you mean?" She asked playing clueless.
"Don't do that. Talk to me."
She sighed, "I feel like James hates me or something."
The mention of his name started to upset him, but he kept his composure.
"Why you think that?"
"I been texting him and calling him and shit and he just straight up ignoring me."
"Aww." He cooed, rubbing her shoulder.
"He was one of my first friends after I moved and now he acting like I don't exist. Shit really hurting my feelings."
Boodah was glad that James wasn't speaking to her, but he hated that Mari was hurt over his absence.
"Maybe he just been busy. I haven't heard from him either."
"That's what Dej said. And I believed her until I said I was gonna visit Janae. Then she got all weird and said she went or a trip or something."
Her phone started to ring.
"Hey, Janae! How are you?" Mari sang.
"I'm good, baby. How you doing?" Janae asked.
"Ass getting fatter by the day!"
"I know das right."
"I didn't expect you to call cause Dej said you was outta town, but I'm glad you did."
"Yeah, I saw your text..." She hesitated. "I actually just got back this morning. Why don't you stop by? I made some brownies." She said with emphasis on the last word.
"Ouuu, say less. Imma head your way in a bit."
"Okay, baby but you better get here before they kick in." She laughed. "I'll see you in a little bit."
•••
"Hi Mr. Carmichael, is James here?"
"Yeah, he should be in his room. You can gone upstairs."
"Thank you."
She walked up to his door and knocked on it.
"Wassup, shawty." He greeted with a smile.
He closed the door behind her before she shoved three pregnancy tests in his hand. His smile slowly dropped.
She looked at him as tears welled in her eyes.
"I'm sorry..." she spoke.
He hugged her, "Why you apologizing?"
"I don't know." She sniffled.
"Shh, I gotchu. It's gon be okay."
"I wanna keep it." She pulled away and wiped her face. "And if that's not something you want then you need to tell me now. I know we young but I couldn't live with myself if I killed it. If you love me like you say you do..." she paused. "you'll step up and play your part.
He was stunned, he didn't know what to say.
He exhaled, "Ma-"
Somebody loudly banged on his door.
"Come downstairs nigga, my daughter here!" His dad yelled.
"Fuck." He thought.
"I aint know you had a sister." The girl said.
"I don't." He sighed. "You can wait on my bed."
As soon as James made it downstairs he locked eyes with Boodah who was glaring at him intensely. He gave James the "act right" look.
"Wassup y'all." He greeted them.
"Wassup?" Mari asked disgusted, as her smile instantly dropped.
"That's it?" Mr. Carmichael added. "Boy you better greet them right."
"Derrick..." Janae said.
"Sexy chocolate beauty..." Derrick said with the same attitude.
She rolled her eyes and smirked.
"Exactly." He replied before kissing her.
The girl in James' room came downstairs.
"Oh my gosh, hey Madison!" Mari greeted.
Her eyes went wide, "Hey, Mariposa! I didn't know you were still cool with James..."
"Yeah, me neither." She said.
James rolled his eyes.
"I have to go." Madison whispered to him.
"But we gotta talk-"
"We can talk later." She said before rushing out the door.
Mari waited for the door to close behind her, "So you got a new bitch and switched?"
"Fuck up." James spat.
Mari's eyes went wide and she scoffed.
Janae and Derrick got on his ass while Boodah rushed up to him.
"I'a beat the dog shit outta you nigga, don't you ever speak to my lady like that again." Boodah threatened.
"Ight enough!" Janae screamed. "All the kids in my room now!"
The silently stormed into the room before Mari closed the door behind them
"Sort this shit out. Now." Janae
"I ain't even know shit needed to be sorted out." She said directed at James. "I came to see my friend that I ain't seen in like a month and you cussing at me... What typa shit is that?"
"One of y'all better tell her." Janae sighed.
The boys looked at eachother then Boodah looked at Mari.
