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Pic in mm is just something to think about.

Enjoy.

Reggie POV

I don't remember much after we watched Friday. I remember laughing at the part where they yell "Damn, you got knocked the fuck out!" And I looked over at Zo to see him knocked out, head on my shoulder and all. I smiled at that and then I dozed off I guess. Now it was morning and we were cuddled up, spooning in bed, a tangled mess of limbs, my hand around his waist holding him close.

I smiled at that, I felt comfortable like this, us together in the comfort of each other, but another thought plagued my mind.

I had to tell him.

Eventually I would have to tell him about my world, about what I do. But for now, I'd keep him from that, protect him more so, so that he didn't have to experience the troubles I go through. Anyway, who knew if he'd accept me?

"You're staring, that's creepy." Zo announces, looking up from in front of me smiling.

"Sorry I was thinking."

"About?"

I shook my head at his question, flipping the cover and getting up out of bed. The breeze of cool air hits both of us. "It's cold." He pouts reaching for the cover to pull back over his self.

I searched for my phone in the pants from yesterday to check the time and when I find it I see it's 12:00 o'clock on the dot. "Do you have a toothbrush I can borrow?"

"Yeah follow me." He says jumping from the bed and heading towards the door.

We walk to the bathroom next door and he closes the door behind me. I stop in my tracks when he bends down in front of me to look under the counter. After some time he resurfaces with a toothbrush.

"Here's the toothpaste."

I walk over to the sink on the right side and turn on the water to begin brushing my teeth. After we finish our morning routines we lay on bed, contemplating on what we should do today.

"So what we doing today?" I ask Zo who's prepping to make the bed. I get up and help him by fixing the sheets and the cover.

"I don't know, what do you do on Mondays."

Sell drugs.

I work non-stop, weekdays and weekends selling drugs on the streets, day to night. But trying to please my mama, I'm attempting to get out the game and stop. But one mind kept lingering in my head.

As if, it's not that easy.

I knew it wasn't that easy, but I decided to think otherwise. My head was plagued with what ifs and maybes.

Maybe it would be that easy.

What if I could just get out, and be with Alonzo?

Maybe selling drugs wasn't a forever thing, it was something for now. What if instead of selling drugs to pay the bills I could focus on my music?

"We could do whatever, my parents are having this dinner and honestly I'd rather not be in the house tonight."

"What kind of dinner?

"Some fancy dinner for snobs where people compare their riches and what prestigious college their over privileged children got accepted to." Zo mocks wearing an annoyed face.

"Damn, tell them how you really feel." I joke, smirking at him while fluffing the pillow.

I don't know why it appeared he hated his life or didn't like being here, I mean, what wasn't there to like?

"Well there's the snobbish attitudes, the constant bragging and people thinking they're better than you. And yes you said half of that out loud."

I guess now I know why he didn't like it, but what was the difference between him and them?

"Why aren't you like them then?" I asked, voicing my opinions aloud.

"I don't know," he responded rubbing the back of his head. "I guess it just doesn't appeal to me. Half of the time people sit around like statues, unlike over at your house where everyone's laughing, smiling, talking and enjoying each other's company."

I frowned at that, he didn't know the half of it. Sure he'd seen the good parts but he didn't know about the bad parts. He didn't see the violence that occurred at least once a week which we had somehow become accustomed to. He didn't hear the gunshots that came from the smallest of disagreements. I found myself getting angry at that for some reason. How could he dislike what he was so easily given? It'd take a lifetime to get anywhere close to this for me and yet he seemed to take it for granted. He seemed to prefer the struggle when he didn't even know how bad it truly got.

But I couldn't be mad at him cause simply, he just didn't know.

"Where'd your mind go just then?" Zo asks from the other side of the bed. "You blanked out for a while."

"I was just thinking, you know how you don't like this?" I began gesturing around his room. "Well some people would die for this so just, you know, be grateful maybe?" I told him but ended it on a question. By the way he frowned I could tell it came out harsher than I wanted.

He didn't allow the pout to stay on his face for too long before covering it with a smile. "We should go to the beach!" He pipes up cheerfully. Beach? On a Monday?

"I don't care really, as long as I go out with you." I agreed, smiling up at him. "By the way you got a brush? I needa brush my hair."

"Lemme see," he whispers walking out the room and after at least a minute or two, he comes back in with a barbie brush. "It's Char's." He elaborates and I nod before walking over to the mirror and brushing my waves down. I smile tilting my head down to catch a glimpse of the waves.

"What are you doing?" Zo inquired, popping up in the mirror behind me.

"Making sure my waves good. Why you worried bout me?!"

"Cause ion seen no waves." He teased, squinting his eyes to make his point.

"It's not that hard, just look at em."

"O..k let's go before the day passes us by." He urged basically pushing me out the door.

"But I ain't change. And who clothes are these anyway?" I mumbled in confusion.

A unknown look crosses his face. One with a mixture of pain and anger. "We'll drive to your house so you can get some of your own." He offered walking out the door with me following behind. I don't know what I said but I felt bad looking at his pout and less than happy disposition.

"Hey for whatever I said, I'm sorry." I apologize gaining his attention. I think asking about the owner of the clothes I was borrowing bothered him. It appeared both of us had our secrets.

---

"Ain't nothing like a country boy, dirty slang, wanna take you home, teach you some things, don't want no pretty guy, that ain't my type I want a downtown boy like youuu." Zo sings as we pull up to the parking lot of the studio. We had to pick up his car, drive to my house so I could get clothes then drive to wherever we were going.

"I like that, what song is that?" I pondered, my voice barely above a whisper.

"It's something I'm working on, just a little something." He teases, not giving out enough info.

"Well when can I hear?"

He scratches his chin as if he's thinking about it." I don't know, it's missing something."

"Maybe I need to spit some hot fire bars on it."

"Yea maybe," he smiles. "I'll follow your car to your house so you can get a change of clothes."

"Aight meet you there." I say rubbing my hand under his chin teasingly. I smirk as he leaves my car looking flustered as hell.

Alonzo POV

The feel of his rough hands under my chin made my face heat up. I hate the way he teases me but for sure I'd get him back for that.

---

I got a text from Perry saying he wanted to meet up so I told him to get everyone else together and we'd go out. Looks like Ray was going to meet my friends.

💅 Pear-bear💅(Perry): What beach do you want me to tell everyone we're going to?

I couldn't reply cause I was driving and I'm responsible like that, so I waited till he noticed I read his message and called me.

"So you just gon leave me on read!?" Perry screams from his side of the phone. One thing for sure is he didn't like being ignored so this was him grabbing my attention.

"I'm driving I couldn't text."

"Oh I forgot you responsible and shit." He replies, I could sense the eye roll he was doing without even seeing him.

"Let's go to the same beach from last time, I forgot the name."

"Ok hoe, is yo man coming? Bout time I meet the one occupying your time instead of me."

"Yes Ray is coming and sorry about disappearing on you, how have you been?" I knew Perry was probably struggling with this weird crush thing going on with him and Shawn.

"I've been...ok." He answers vaguely. I could tell by the hesitation that he was lying but I knew he'd probably want to speak on it in person. I just wished I could be there for him, I wish I could be there for everyone really, but things were becoming....distracting.

"I'll call you back girl Shawn is calling me!" He yells hanging up before I could say goodbye. I knew this thing with Shawn was complicated but that wasn't even the word to explain it. I'd use the word dangerous, cause no matter what Shawn did, Perry always forgave him or made excuses for him. I hated Shawn had him wrapped around him like that. But all I could do was let him know I'd be here when he came back.

---

"Hey Reggie's mom." I greeted, waving shyly. I didn't know what to call her because she never told me her name so Reggie's mom it was.

"Oh you can call me Ms. Douglas or Me-Me. What are y'all doing today?" She asks from her position on the couch.

"We're going to the beach with a few friends."

"Oh well I'm glad you're getting him out the house, he usually only leaves to go to the studio or to go sell dr-."

"Thanks mom and see you when I get home!" He interrupts. Kissing her on the cheek he walks over to me and guides me out the house, hand on waist and all.

I blush as I notice what he's wearing and can't help to smile at his appearance. He's not wearing a shirt but he's wearing some gym shorts that are sagged slightly. I licked my lips and averted my eyes before he noticed.

"We're taking my car, and a few friends are coming, if you don't mind." I ask, hoping he'd be ok with meeting and having my friends around.

"I don't mind, but I'd prefer if it was just you and me." He winks, walking over to the driver side. Umm what you doing? I hope he don't think he driving my car, nobody drives my car.

The confused face is replaced with a smile when I see him opening the door and gesturing for me to get in.

I watch as he walks over to the passenger side and hops in. This boy is going to drive me crazy.

We arrived to to the beach after we went to a store for some beach stuff and I popped the trunk open to get it out. Ray beats me to the trunk and carries the bag for me. "I can carry this, you ain't gotta do nothing when you with me." He winks and we walk over to my friends who are already here waiting for us.

Kai, Antonio and Vic were the only ones that aren't here so we'd have to catch up some other time.

"Hey y'all! This is Reggie, Reggie this is Perry, Shawn, and Leo is out surfing somewhere." I announce pointing at each of them as I say their name.

Reggie reaches out his hand and both Perry and Shawn reach to shake it at the same time making their hands touch, only for Perry to snatch his back.

Ok so something was wrong. I'd have to ask him later on.

"Nice to meet you." Perry waves in his direction instead of attempting to shake his hand, probably in attempts to not get in contact with Shawn. You could tell something was wrong by how far they were standing from each other, like they didn't want to be anywhere near each other.

We walked over to where they set up and a while later Leo walked over and was able to loosen up the tension hovering above all of us.

"Perry walk with me?" I ask so we could go and have our talk.

Reggie POV

Zo walked off to talk to his friend Perry and left me and the other two boys to chill or whatever. I don't know why but the tension was real thick after we had that weird greeting/exchange and I'm not sure but I have a good idea why. I mean I am good at peeping game.

I grab a soda out the cooler and sip on it while looking around towards my surroundings.

I could spot Zo in the distance, walking and talking side by side with his friend. I take it upon myself to get to meet his friends and get to know some stuff about him.

"How long have you known Zo?" I ask the both of them.

"Zo?" The one who shook my hand earlier, questions. "That's cute, and I met him through Perry, Perry and I were friends before and I guess included Alonzo to the circle."

I don't know why but I was sensing hostility and fuck nigga vibes so I was gon distance myself from this nigga.

"How about you?" I ask pointing at Leo.

"His dad and my dad were business partners and we met at the office. Then I got added to the circle." He chuckles, taking a sip out of his cup.

___

After a few minutes of minor conversation, Zo comes back from his conversation and reaches his hand for me to grab. "Walk with me?"

I grab his hand, standing up and we walk down the beach until we get to our own little spot. Our hands didn't separate either, which was the greatest part.

"So what happened with you and your friend?" I ask noticing the change in his behavior despite him attempting to hide it.

"We just had to catch up, he's been going through something."

"Oh well I hope whatever it is gets better." I reply hopefully.

"You don't even know him though." He responds, squinting his eyes to block the sun out the way.

"But you do, and I can see what goes on with your friends matter to you. So no, I don't know him, but yea I hope he gets better, for you."

Alonzo POV

I'm about to hop on his lap and grind for dear life like God how did I find him?

I was tempted to just kiss him right then and there, but the coward in me made sure I didn't.

"Why do you care so much?" He asks suddenly, ruining the moment to be honest.

"I mean, like I can tell what happens to the people around you weigh heavily on you, I was just wondering why." He elaborates further and I put into thought what he was saying.

"I don't really know honestly, I feel like I should be the glue holding everything together, like I should carry the weight so no one else does."

"You shouldn't feel like that, it's ok to not always worry about other people, sometimes it's ok to worry about or care for yourself. You know?"

I'd never thought like that, I had it so deeply ingrained in my head that I had to be the man, that I had to carry the load for everybody, all thanks to my father. Why didn't I have seen it though? I should've noticed that despite my greatest efforts, his reign as dictator of my life was not yet over. I was going to give up so much because it was him who told me to, whether it was yesterday or last year, his grip on my life was ever so prevalent.

"That's why you ignored me, isn't it?" He questions, a serious tone taking over his voice.

The truth was, yea, I did ignore him because I had other things to deal with. I was willing to sacrifice my happiness for everyone else's, and a part of me was ok with that.

"Resisted you at first but you told me that you would wait for me." He sings looking deep on thought. "That songs about me, isn't it?"

I could feel the heat rushing to my face and heating up my face almost instantaneously. The smirk on his face allows me to know he knows for sure it was.

"Why?" Is all he asks after I get the temperature of my face under control.

"I don't kn-"

"Don't say you don't know, you know."

"I feel selfish worrying about me when I have so much going on around me, my parents are getting a divorce, my best friend is going through a crisis I'm not even sure I can help him with and my dad, don't get me started on my da-" I rant only to he interrupted by a pair of lips collapsing onto mine.

He was kissing me? I tensed up for a second before moving my lips along his. People lie when they say it feels like fireworks, it felt like a pair of the softest lips were moving against mine, perfectly against each other's in sync. And I loved every second of it.

"It's not selfish to love yourself, to take care of yourself and to make your happiness a priority. It's necessary."

"But-"

"Don't argue with me, I'm always right."

"But what if- STOPP!!"

I couldn't finish my question because he started tickling me like he usually does and I fall down on my back with him crawling on top of me and continuing.

"You're. Right!!" I scream knowing he's going to want me to confess my wrongs to make him stop.

"I know, now give me a kiss."

And so I did.

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