(excuse all mistakes.)

Compton, California 📍

Vadah Avani Parker | Buddha

"Niggas lie so much! I'm starting to think Adam bit the apple and blamed it on Eve." Zaza plopped on the couch.

"Hell yeah! That's why the Adams apple stuck in they throat!" Nay laughed.

"That actually makes sense." I laughed thinking about it.

It was Thursday and we stayed home from school. Zyir came back over here yesterday and just started talking to us. That's how majority of our fights were resolved. No one ever apologized, we just found a way to talk to each other again.

"Imma stomp Arondae ears together." Zaza had her face scrunched up looking down at her phone.

"What he do?"

"He just a fucking liar. He always fucking lying with his lying ass."

"And I- oop."

"And what be killing me is he continue to lie when I already know. Like the fuck is you steady lying for?! You caught!"

"Girl fuck himmmm! Summer round the corner we finna be doing baldhead ho shit." Nay clapped.

"City girl season." I danced.

"PERIOD!" Nay did the hand gesture.

"Y'all can be city girls. Im sitting this summer out."

"You been sitting every summer out since you been 15." Nay shook her head. "You 19 now. Better let that nigga go."

"Girl everybody don't wanna be pimping niggas like you." She waved her off.

"Long as you know I'm a pimp." She popped her imaginary collar.

"I'm so mad I got another year of school. I'm ready to graduate already." I pouted.

"Damn I forgot I'm leaving you this year." Nay looked at me.

"Imma scream so loud out your graduation." I smiled.

"Shit y'all better. 12 years a slave, I'm finally free."

"That was my senior quote." Zaza laughed.

"Foreal? Mine was "I only came because y'all kept calling my daddy"."

"I don't know what mine is gonna be. Probably something inspirational." I stood up and put my empty fruit bowl in the garbage.

"You know you could've graduated this year right?" Nay asked me.

"Yeah, but I wanted to graduate with my class." I shrugged.

"Tuh! You better than me! I would've been outta dea!"

"Auntie." Milly cut the corner, rubbing her eyes.

"Why the hell you keep calling her auntie? She not yo auntie she yo cousin." Zaza scrunched her face up.

"Leave her alone. What's wrong mama?"

"I can't sleep."

"Okay. I'm coming now." She nodded and walked away, not before sticking her tongue out at Zaza.

"Bi- girl! Get up with me!" She followed behind her.

"Something wrong with that damn girl." I shook my head grabbing a bottle of water and two Welch's fruit snacks.

"That's your sister." Nay laughed and put her empty bowl of cereal in the fridge.

"Yours too." I laughed and yawned.

"You finna go back to sleep?"

"Yeah after I lay Milly down." It was like 9:00 in the morning. We only woke up because Zaza was making so much noise.

"I'm finna go find something to do with my life. Daja might come over here."

"Don't be making too much noise. Y'all know how Milly is."

Milly was my little cousin. Chauncey's daughter. Since she knew how to talk, she'd always call me auntie. I never knew why she did that and we would always try and correct her but she had her mind set on calling me auntie.

I was babysitting for Chauncey since he went out of town. My Daddy told Nay and I we could take the day off since we didn't have any school tomorrow.

I walked in my room and seen Milly and Zaza sprawled out on my bed watching Paw Patrol.

Shaking my head, I cut out my light and pushed Zaza's leg lightly. "Go over."

Bussing open my pack of Welch's I picked up my phone seeing a text from my Daddy and Chauncey but nothing from who I was expecting one from.

KB called me last night and we fell asleep on FaceTime. He actually fell asleep first and when I hung up, he called back asking me why I hung up. Like boy, don't you know you wake up with feelings doing that type of shit?

I sent him a simple gm text this morning when I woke up. I wasn't really pressed about it cause it was pretty damn early.

Locking my phone and putting back on the charger, I got under my covers and put my attention on the TV.

♛

"Milly brush your damn teeth!"

"No Auntie! I don't want it!" She kept pushing the toothbrush away.

"Milly please brush your teeth. You wanna walk around with a stank mouth?" I grew frustrated with her. Chocolate was gonna come pick Zaza up and she told us we should come over there with her.

I woke Milly up and of course she started crying. I don't understand why kids have to wake up crying. What the hell you crying for? Why you can't just wake up?

"That's nasty! No!" She shoved the toothpaste away again and gagged. She sounded like she was about to throw up.

"A'millyion what the fuck?!"

"What the hell wrong with her?" Zaza asked over her loud sobs.

"She won't brush her fucking teeth. And now she's gagging and I don't know what's wrong" I whined feeling myself about to cry.

"Girl just call Chauncey. Milly come here."

I picked my phone up off the bathroom counter and quickly went to Chauncey's contact and called him.

"Wassup ug- what the fuck? Who crying? That's Milly?" He answered on the third ring.

"Yes." I cried. "She won't brush her teeth."

"Put her on the phone."

I handed her the phone and wiped my eyes.

"Hello?... It's nasty!... The toothpaste! I don't want it Daddy." She pouted. I couldn't really hear what Chauncey was saying.

"Okay." She began wiping her eyes. "I love you too. Here."

"Hello."

"Yo- why the hell you crying?"

"I'm frustrated." I laughed and sniffled.

"You a damn crybaby. I forgot to tell you she don't like mint. Anything mint, she'll throw up. In that small polkadot bag, it's some flavored toothpaste. It should be Minnie Mouse."

"Wow. The one thing you supposed to tell me." I rolled my eyes. "Alright Chauncey."

"Aye my bad." He laughed. "Everything else good? She giving you a hard time?"

"No she's been good besides right now. We were about to go out so I'll keep you updated."

"Alright niece. Be safe, I love y'all."

"We love you too."

"Ion love you!" Zaza laughed.

"Zyir girl fuck yo baldhead ass!" He shouted.

"Bye Chauncey." We laughed as I hung up the phone.

"See? Your hair all pretty now."

"Why you bumped the ends?" She scrunched up her face making me bust out laughing.

"Stop playing in her hair Zaza." I walked out of my bathroom and picked up the polkadot bag Chauncey said the toothpaste was in.

"I don't know how I didn't see this. Here Milly."

"You like my hair Auntie?"

"Yeah, it's pretty girl. Zaza did yo lil edges." I smiled at her.

"You gotta take my pictures okay?"

"Okay mama." I nodded. I was already dressed in my white and black Kappa shirt, black biker shorts and my all white slip on Vans.

I took off my bonnet and unwrapped my hair. I combed through my straightened hair with my fingers and did my own edges.

"Oou' Auntie you look pretty." Milly spit out some toothpaste.

"Thank youuu." I cheesed. "You done? Come on."

She followed me to my room and slipped off the clothes she already had on. Her outfit was layed on the couch in the corner of my room. I made up my bed and cleaned up around my room.

"Which shoes?" She held up two pair of shoes.

"Those." I pointed to the Yeezy's she held up. Milly was six and smart as hell for her age.

I sprayed on some perfume catching Milly's attention. I sprayed her already knowing she wanted some.

"Alright you ready?" She was rolling lipgloss over her lips.

"Yes. I just need my pocket book."

she be hanging round grandma too much.

I grabbed my phone, my house keys, and my wallet. Then walked over to my nightstand and unplugged one of my old iPhones I had always brought out when Milly came over here. It was basically hers. "Here Mil."

"Oh, thanks." She dropped that in her purse along with her lipgloss and looked up at me.

I bust out laughing and cut out my light. "You just as grown as you wanna be. Come on."

am i missing something?

"Pictures Auntie." She snapped and sat her purse down on the table once we made it downstairs.

"Oou' period." I snapped pictures of her. "Give em face Milly.

I bust out laughing when she turned her back to me and turned her head to look at the camera.

"I love you girl." I chuckled. "Damn I feel like I'm missing something."

"Y'all ready?! Chocolate outside!" Zaza yelled.

"Yeah!" I grabbed Milly's hand and cut off the kitchen light.

"Y'all got y'all keys?" Nay came rushing down the stairs. "Cause I can't find mine for shit."

I jingled mine the same time Zaza opened the door. "Good. Lock up."

Shaking my head, I locked the door and grabbed Milly's hand, leading her to the backseat.

"A'millyRockkkk!" Chocolate greeted her when we got in the car.

"Hey Chocolateeee." She dragged.

"Hey Buddha." She nodded. I spoke and put my seatbelt on as well as Milly's.

I checked my phone and chuckled when I seen I still hadn't gotten a text back.

now if i wouldn't have texted him back it'd be an issue.

"I already said no Arondae! Stop fucking playing with me!" Zaza hung up the phone.

"Girl what the fuck happened?"

"He keep asking me bout this damn party. Like boy I said no."

"The fuck he wanna go so bad for?" I rolled my eyes at Chocolate nosy ass.

why the fuck do it matter?

I laughed at my thoughts. Everything I wanted to say out loud, I'd say it in my head.

"All I know is if he go, he better not say nothing if we pop out to Atrium."

"Ain't that a teenage event?" Nay asked her.

"Yeah. You wanna go?"

"Hell yeah."

"Buddha I already know you don't wanna go." Zaza said dismissively.

"I actually do wanna go."

"Foreal?" Nay, Chocolate, and Zaza asked simultaneously.

"Yeah. I wanna get out the house." I shrugged. "When is it?"

"Well I'll be damned. It's tommorow."

"Okay cool." I nodded and opened my door. I grabbed Milly's hand and was about to close the door when I realized nobody else was getting out.

"Are you guys not getting out?" I raised my eyebrow.

"Girllllaaa." They finally began to pile out the car. Fucking weirdos.

"Buddha! Wassup girl!" Freaky held his arms out.

"Hey Freaky." I laughed.

"Damn Buddha, we ain't seen you in a minute, on crip." Los gave me a side hug.

"Hey guys." I waved. I really haven't seen them in a minute. Last time I was over here, I was with KB the whole time.

"Who this?" Marv pointed to Milly.

"My little cousin. Say hey Milly." She waved shyly and hid behind my leg.

"She ain't shy. Ion know why she acting like that." Zaza mushed her head. "Where y'all bitch ass homeboy at?"

"Dae ain't no bitch stop playing on my boy top." Kris mugged her.

"Yeah of course you gone vouch for yo lil butt buddy." Za waved him off making me stifle my laughter.

But of course, Nay had to laugh all dramatic and loud. Cause that's what Nay does. That's who Nay is.

"Oh my fucking gosh!" She stomped dramatically.

"Called his ass yo butt buddy." Los blew some smoke out the side of his mouth.

"I can't breathe!" Nay was punching Pj in his neck.

"It was not that damn funny." He shoved her making her quickly stop laughing.

"Pj don't play with me. I'll beat the shit out you." Zaza raised her eyebrow.

"Girl ian scaredddd." He taunted. "Get yo looney ass sister. She giving me crackhead vibes."

"Ian no fuckin crackhead!" She mugged him.

I shook my head as they engaged in their own conversation, and looked around. I haven't eaten since I woke up and I was pretty sure Milly was hungry.

"Oh shit." My eyes widened in realization. "Milly Ian get your snack bag."

"I don't need it." She waved me off, staring at Marv in awe.

"She looking at Marv." Chocolate laughed grabbing Marv's attention.

"Wassup shordy?" He smiled at her making her blush. I scrunched up my face and checked my phone yet again.

Marv was the only one who knew that KB and I were "talking" or whatever you wanted to call it. Well besides Tonio of course.

"Marv have you seen KB?" His face kind of changed before he answered.

"Oh nawl ian seen em." I raised my eyebrow before nodding. He was lying.

niggas steady lying for their homeboys.

"Hm. Well I'm going to DaeDae's house."

"No, I wanna stay out here." Milly pulled my arm.

"Girl the hell wrong with you?"

She blushed and twisted her leg. "I don't wanna go in the house. I wanna stay out here."

"Milly we coming back out here." I chuckled.

"Oh." She looked back at Marv who was smiling, and waved. "Bye."

"See you later lil mama." He smirked at her then looked at me and shook her head. "She crushinggg."

"Boy that is not cute." I laughed and guided her towards the house.

"Arondae boy FUCK YOU! All you do is lie! Im so tied of yo shi-"

"What the fuck is you talking bout?"

"Every time I ask you something, you fucking lie! Im sick of yo shit!" She smacked his chest.

"You ain't even ask me shit!" He whined.

"Okay so let- oh hey y'all." Zaza smiled at us.

crazy ass bitch.

"Wassup lil sis. Hey MillyRock."

"Hey DaeDae. We came in here for some snacks."

"Damn ian go grocery shopping. My food stamps ain't hit yet. Ain't shit in there but some spam, noodles, and poka beans." He frowned making me do the same.

"I hate pork and beans."

"Yo boujee ass." He shook his head. "Go to that store cross the street, here go 20 dollars."

"No that's okay, Chauncey gave me his food stamp card." I waved him off. "You guys want anything?"

"I wanna beat Arondae's ass." She mushed him.

"You gone get enough of putting yo hands on me." He grabbed her up by her neck.

"Okayyyy then. Come on Milly." I pulled her out of the house.

"We going to the store now?" She asked pulling out her lipgloss.

"Mhm. Marv! Walk with us." He jogged over to us.

"Where we going?"

"The store." Milly eased her hand from my grasp and put it in Marv's.

"Oh wow." I placed my hand over my chest. "That's how it is Mill?"

"She like me more than she like you." He smiled. They engaged in their own little conversation, walking around the store picking up different snacks. Once we got everything we wanted, I payed and walked back across the street.

"Marv! This nigga Kris took a bitch virginity."

"Brah shut the fuck up. Fat mouth ass nigga." He snapped on Los.

"Nawllll! Kris on what you out here taking bitches purity." Marv laughed.

"Nigga out here deflowering bitches." Freaky joked making them bust out laughing.

"I hate y'all." Nay did that ugly ass laugh.

"Brah I don't know what the fuck I was thinking." He shook his head. "I should've never fucked with that damn girl."

"I don't know why you did. You in too deep na." Pj said.

"You definitely is. That's a soul tie. That mf gone b attached to you for life. That's why ion fuck virgins." Marv shook his head eating the chip Milly handed him. My baby was crushing hard.

"Why? What's wrong with virgins?" I asked. I was confused and slightly offended.

They all looked at eachother and laughed.

"Listen Buddha, virgins..." Jerm trailed off. "Ion even know how to explain it. It's just something that I don't do. That's something that's important to you and the only time I'd take a girls virginity is if I was tryna be serious with her."

"Straight like that." Los co-signed. "I don't even talk to virgins. If I'm tryna dog yo ass out and I find out you a virgin, I refuse to fuck on you. I'd rather fuck a bitch with mileage."

"Nawl y'all the good ones. I just don't fuck with virgins because ian tryna have no bitch nagging me all day. Been there done that. You take a bitch virginity and she ready to kill every bitch that look at you. I'll pass." Pj waved them off.

i hope im not like that..

"Yeah I'm with Los. I'll fuck a bitch with mileage." Freaky shrugged. "Why you'on be fucking virgins Marv?"

"..." He was quiet for a minute before he answered. "You ever try to put yo foot in a shoe that don't fit?"

He asked them making all them fall out in a dramatic fit of laughter.

"This nigga a fucking joke!" They was all dead as hell.

"That's really how it be feeling." I felt the sudden urge to pee so I asked Milly if she needed to go.

"No Auntie. I wanna stay out here." She held on to Marv's hand.

"Okay but do you have to use the restroom?" She shook her head.

"She good girl, just go." Nay waved me off.

Jogging up the pavement, I walked in the house and made a beeline for the bathroom. I handled my business and washed my hands.

I was about to walk back outside when I looked towards the den and seen KB layed out in the den.

There was a couple of people in there and I was contemplating walking in there and saying something to him.

he probably wouldn't want me to...

girl fuck what he would want. he ain text you back all day.

he's also not your nigga, so you can't really trip buddha.

"Wassup witchu?" He popped up scaring the shit out of me.

"Oh hey." I smiled and waved awkwardly.

"You was just gone stare at me or you was gone come down there and say something?"

"I didn't wanna just come down there and interrupt-" I began to ramble. He made me so nervous.

"Interrupt what? Won't nobody talking bout none." He raised an eyebrow.

"Whatever. Why you ain't text me back?" I