Consequences

9.

Hazel

Today is August thirtieth, which means I'm goin to New Orleans with August. The family cookout isn't until tomorrow afternoon, but since there aren't any early flights heading down there tomorrow morning, we're just gonna fly out there today to avoid being late. I'm lowkey happy because I've never been to New Orleans before and everyone always talks about how fun it is, but I'm also nervous at the same time because I'm meeting August's family. I don't meant to be one of those girls but... what if they don't like me?

"You ready baybeh?" August asks, his heavy accent flooding the perimeter of the house.

"Yeah."

"You still wanna stop by Juan and Javier first?"

"Mhm." I hum, grabbing my purse from the counter.

"Aight c'mon. You sure you got everything?"

I nod my head and follow him out of my apartment building and to the parking garage. I get in the car and after putting our bags in the trunk, August gets in as well. He puts the car into drive, avoiding the seatbelt part like he always does, before leaving my apartment complex and driving to Juan's house so that I could tell him bye. It takes all of fifteen minutes to make it to Juan's house, and after the house comes into view, I notice another car. Good, Javier is here too so we don't have to make two stops.

Getting out of the car, I close the door behind me and lead the way up the small path to the front door. I knock on the door, making a beat as I usually do, until I hear the locks unlocking. Dropping my hands at my side, I smile as I see Juan appear from behind the door.

"Why you always gotta knock like that?" He asks with the shake of his head.

"Well hello to you too brother, but I don't know. I got a bad habit of doin it now." I give him a small hug before walking in. "Hello other brother."

"Wassup." Javier says, glancing up from his phone before returning to it not too long after.

Going over to him, I sit on the arm rest of the sofa and dramatically fall back across his lap to make him put his phone down and pay attention to me. Noticing what I'm doing, he smacks his teeth before using his strength to push me off of him. I get up from the floor and nudge his head before sitting next to him on the sofa and crossing my left leg over the other.

"Y'all bout to go?" Juan asks returning to his spot on the sofa.

"Yea." August replies.

"Listen bruh, let my sister come back and tell me y-" Juan starts before I cut him out.

"Juan, come on now. Is that really necessary?"

"What?"

"Calm down. Nothings gonna happen." I assure him.

"I'm calm I'm just lettin him know that if you come back and tell me he hurt you or somethin happened out there it's gon be me and him." He continues, shrugging his shoulders.

"And me." Javier butts in from beyond his phone screen.

I roll my eyes and get up walking around the sofa to go towards the stairs. I hate when they go into over protective mode, it's annoying and makes me want to instantly go into hiding. They overreact to the things they don't even need to overreact for. If they already accepted him, why they still doin all that as if it's gonna scare him away? Just say a simple keep her safe and keep it pushin.

"My niece upstairs?" I ask, looking over at Juan.

"Yeah she in her room."

Needing to get away from them and see my baby, I walk up the stairs and down the hall to get to Karter's room. I peep in, since her door is fully opened, to see her lying against her giant teddy bear and scrolling on her iPad. Her doll, which rests on the side of her, is stripped of its clothes. Fully naked. I pat the end of her bed a few times to get her attention, and soon enough, she looks up at me.