Lost.

7.

KIM.

I threw my mittens down as my doorbell constantly went off.

"I'm comin, I'm comin." I said as I jogged to my front door. It was Meq.

I smiled as he embraced me. I missed him just as much as he missed me, if not more. I know it hasn't been that long but it feels like we've been apart for weeks. In reality, it's only been two days since we were last in each other's presence.

"You got it smellin fantastic in this mufucka. I'on know what's huggin my nose better—yo cocoa butter and brown sugar scent or the food you in here bussin' down." Meq said as we both pulled away from the hug.

"Thank you, baby." I said proudly.

Meq went around the kitchen gathering everything we'd need to eat, as I made our plates. When I finished, I took the plates into the living room as he followed behind me with the drinks.

I pulled the table closer to the couch and sat down, leaning my body against Meq's. I picked the remote up and turned the tv to Netflix.

"What you tryna watch?" He asked me.

"I don't know. Some new shit dat just came out or something old?" I asked, flicking through the movies.

"You know I like dat Poetic Justice flick."

I nodded slowly, going to press play. I swear Meq and I probably sat down and watched Poetic Justice over 50 times together and I'll never get tired of sitting next to or laying on him as we watch it.

"Come here, let me whisper something in yo ear." I said a little above a whisper.

Meq looked over at me as we both bussed out laughing.

"Get the fuck outta here." He said smiling big.

——
It was now a little past midnight and Meq was lying on my stomach sleeping. He's such a baby. I thought to myself as the doorbell rung, waking him right up.

"I got it, baby." I said, getting up before he had to.

"Nah, it's late. I got it." Meq got up behind me, stretching. I smiled to myself thinking about how sexy his sleepy voice sounded. I don't care what anybody says, a nigga's sleepy voice is just so damn soothing.

"Alright. You got it." I said as I walked into the kitchen to grab me something to drink.

I heard the door open, immediately followed by the sound of my brother's deep voice. I looked up at the ceiling, frowning to myself. It wasn't long before Meq walked into the kitchen with Von right behind him. I smiled at the two of them but my smiled dropped when Bryson walked in behind Von.

——
BRYSON.

I pulled up in front of Kimberly's flat and got out the car. A strong ass smell of food hit me as I rubbed my hands together and smirked. Everybody in dis whole city know how Kim ass be throwin' down.

"Yo ass always just poppin' up at somebody's shit." I said to Von as we approached his sister's house.

"Pro's of havin a nigga like me in yo life. The fuck is dat parked in her driveway doe?" Von responded.

I looked to my side, seein a truck parked in the driveway. I shook my head. I know ain't no female drivin around in a whip this fat. This only mean one thing.

"Kimberly." Von called out as soon as her nigga opened the door for us.

"Yes?" She responded as we all walked in the kitchen. I turned my nose up at what she had on. A long beater wit nothin' else.

"Go put some clothes on for da one time. Matter fact, let me holla at you." Von said.

Kim walked out the kitchen, eyein me as she did. I shook my head at her. Von followed her upstairs. She ain't protestin or nothing today—fuck going on.

"I'ma only spit this shit to you one time, my G. It would be wise to keep yo hands off dat one." I said, still lookin down at my phone.

"That sound like a threat." The nigga chuckled as Kim nem walked back into the kitchen.

As a youngin, dukes always made sure I treated every broad wit respect. It didn't matter if a woman got disrespectful or whatever—it was respect or get my ass beat.

A nigga start doin wrong to females on my own once I grew up and saw how grimey they be. Regardless of all dat, I still never raised my hand to no broad. I'a leave before I hit you and that's all dat is to it.

"We fina' slide." Von nodded towards me.

"Text me when you get home." Kim yelled out.

I looked over at her one last time and shook my head as I walked out the door.

If ma dukes wasn't on me bout respect, she was on me bout how you can't help somebody dat don't wanna be helped. Dis the same nigga blackin' Kim's eyes and she here coolin wit him like he ain't did shit.

Like I said, a nigga don't respect what da' fuck she got goin on but I respect her. I can only offer her da advice she need when it's needed, at dis point. Just know I'm on go from da first incident doe.

So let something else happen to her lil ass, shorty gone have to live wit dat hurt cus she know how i'm comin, off top.

"You been quiet all day. You straight?" Von asked me as we got back into the car. I nodded my head.

My phone vibrated in my pocket, indicating I had an incomin call. I answered it before Von ass really got to questionin' a nigga to see what was runnin through my mind.

"Aye. I got a situation, slide." Duke said. I shook my head. Dis nigga.

"I'm wit Von right now. Wus good?" I asked.

"I'm at da' crib. Niggas know Von can slide too." Duke said.

"Reroute. Duke flat. Nigga got himself in some dumb shit, I'm already knowin." I told Von before hangin up on Duke.

"We right around the corner. He good?" Von asked as I dragged my hand down my face.

Like I said before, I feel like Duke is my responsibility because he was only tryna look up to me as a youngin. I led him down the wrong path and now it's on me to make sure don't shit happen to him. I wouldn't 'een be able to look his mama in her eyes and tell her.

Von pulled up in front of one of Duke's cribs and I got out the car as Duke was gettin out of his. I looked behind him, seein a broad in his passenger seat.

"You ridin around wit bitches now? Aw, shit. Lil Duke done finally grew up?" I asked.

"Nigga, I know dat is not India." Von said, starin' at the nigga wit a blank face.

I turned around, lockin eyes wit shorty in the car and sure enough, Duke's ignorant ass had India wit him.