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CHAPTER NINETEEN
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    Amoura walked out of the building with her bag on her. It was the end of the day and she was going straight home. She didn't have to work today and Ace didn't have school today so she would get to see him. Her grandma had settled her ongoing retirement issue and finally was out of work earlier than usual since she was only fifty five.

"What you doing wit allat ass lemme touch it." Emani came up smacking her butt

"You so gay." Amoura laughed

"Just a little. You going straight home?"

"Yes ma'am I'm hungry as hell."

"Here." She dug in her bag and handed Amoura the bag of Cheetos puffs

"Bitch I really love you." Amoura cooed

"I love you more fat ass."

Amoura laughed as she opened the chips "I didn't eat breakfast or lunch."

"How you like Lakief? He cool? Y'all friends? Tell me wassup."

"We just friends and yeah he's cool. I'm just so glad we didn't have sex that would've made things more awkward between us. I mean it already is somewhat considering we almost got to that point." She shrugged "But other than that he's actually cool and he didn't judge me off everything that Nari girl was saying."

"Yeah, Lakief is cool I knew y'all would get along."

"Girl bye." She chuckled "Hopefully we remain as just friends cause I don't need another Dre friendship." She did her fingers in quotation

"Yeeeah, y'all relationship something else. Y'all toxic and bipolar as hell."

"Fuck him. I don't even wanna think of him right now."

"Alright okay. My bad." Emani said "You walking home?"

"If you staying after school I can. It don't matter to me."

"Imma take you. I'll just come back."

"Emani you don't have to omg."

"I don't caaaare I want to."

"I already know you not gonna take no for an answer."

"Damn sure not. You right up the street."

They got to her car and got in. She dropped Amoura off home and Amoura went inside. Ace had a lollipop in his mouth as his eyes were glued to the screen until he heard her.

"Mommy" he said standing

"Hey acey." She gave him a kiss "Ew your face is sticky. Come on lemme wipe your face."

She went upstairs with Ace following behind her. When they got to the bathroom she wet a rag and wiped around his mouth.

"No more sticky mouth." She said making him laugh

"No more sticky mouth." he repeated

"That's right. Where's grammy?"

"She in the kitchen." He said

Amoura went to the kitchen to see her grandma making something to eat.

"You always cooking grandma." Amoura said as she took a seat

"This is how I keep myself busy." She chuckled

"You need to teach me how to cook."

"Girl you barely be here tryna learn."

"Grandma look I'm just saying."

While her grandma talked to her she checked her phone. Dre had texted her an hour ago. She chose not to read it until now. She didn't understand why he was still hitting her up. More so wondering why she couldn't just delete his number or block him.

Dre
I wanna talk to you when you get outta school
1:20 PM

Dre
Not on no bullshit
1:33 PM PM

You already know how this is about to go. I'm kinda tired of being repeatedly disrespected. Especially her bringing my child up and you just sat there and let her. So you can deadass forget about us "talking"
3:30 PM

Amoura was surprised to see him responding as quick.

Dre
That's why I wanna talk to you to explain myself at the time it was too much going on for me to and you was already mad wit me
3:32 PM

Dre whag don't you understand about no??? I'm not about to keep playing with you tf
3:35 PM

I tried to explain my feelings and you didn't have any. I go to a party and you show up with another girl. I get confronted by this girl and you didn't even defend my ass
3:35 PM

Dre
Ion wanna text. I wanna see you face to face and tell you in person
3:38 PM

Yeah I bet you do... you really think you slick leave me alone
3:39 PM

Dre
I'm not tryna fuck damn
3:39 PM

So your twitter post was about another girl? lol and you think I'm about to come talk to you like we about to be buddy buddy after
3:39 PM

"Mommy look" Ace showed the block he built with his Legos

"This is nice Ace. You got skills baby." She admired it "Show grandma."

He went over to Mara and showed her. Amoura went back on her phone.

Dre
What twitter post
3:41 PM

She took a screenshot of the post just in case he'd try to delete it and sent it to him.

"Ain't ever before missed some pussy this much" who it's about ?
3:43 PM

Dre
You of course tf
3:45 PM

Dre
I mean shit I do miss it I'm not about to cap that don't mean I'm tryna fuck... I fr wanna talk to you ion like the way our relationship been
3:45 PM

Don't come by here unexpected but I'll tell you when you can.
3:48 PM

Dre
Bet
3:49 PM

Dre
How about I just take you out to eat somewhere and we talk? you can bring Ace
3:50 PM

I really don't wanna talk about all that stuff around him
3:52 PM

Dre
It's up to you
3:52 PM

Come past in a half hour
3:53 PM

Dre
I gotchu
3:55 PM

Amoura locked her phone .

"Grandma are you leaving at all today?"

"Yeah past the cleaners for Leon. Why who you tryna sneak over?"

"Now grandma you know I'm not doing that."

"I'm just messing with you." She chuckled "But I am why?"

"Because my friend is coming to get me and I'm not taking Ace only because I have to have a serious talk with him. And I just don't need him around that."

"The friend you told me about last time?"

Amoura nodded slowly "Yes."

"I wanna meet this friend. Y'all seem to be very close. I need to step in at the right time just to make sure you are making the right decisions."

"Mawmaw it's not like that."

"It wasn't like that last time and you had hickeys on your neck."

"Grandma we have a complicated relationship."

She was actually tired of lying to her grandma about Dre. She wanted to tell her everything so she could be getting advice by now.

"Complicated how?"

"Well basically. I liked him. Liked as in past tense, because I don't really feel the same way anymore. Although, the feeling might come back—but I like him and he's the first guy I've ever really had this confusing relationship with and it's different. It gives me different emotions and I just..." she bit her nail "I don't know I just need to know if I'm being dumb or if I'm headed in the right direction..."

"You ain't tell me all this what the hell." She stared at Amoura surprised "All you were really telling me was this was your friend. Which made no damn sense cause it seems to be more than that."

"I didn't wanna tell you because I know how you feel about boys and me still being in school."

"But don't hide it from me Amoura." She focused her attention solely on Amoura "Do I gotta put you on birth control?"

"I mean." She paused "No."

"You're lying and I can tell. You had to think about it."

"Grandma I don't wanna talk about this."

"Oh no we talking about this. I don't think you should hide that from me. I know you're getting older and your hormones are raging. You teens these days." She chuckled "You gotta tell me stuff like this so I can make sure you don't get pregnant or catch any type of disease."

"He gets checked he doesn't have anything."

"Well imma still schedule an appointment just to make sure you're all good and I have to get you on birth control."

"I don't wanna be on it cause I'm not trying to get chubby."

"Well what you gonna do? Are y'all using protection? Even that isn't all the time guaranteed trust me. I worked with girls your age who ended up pregnant because they thought a condom was enough."

"Yeah we've used protection."

"I'm not saying you can't be a teen but that definitely could've waited. Just make sure you keep your main focus on school and graduating. Like I say all the time boys will always be there Amoura."

She nodded "I know."

"The last thing we need is you pregnant your senior year especially with it barely in the middle of the school year."

"I know I'm not doing that anymore though. We stopped."

"Imma gone head and schedule this appointment."

"Okay grandma."

Amoura went upstairs and finished up some work for next few minute until she knew Dre was coming. Her grandma had left with Ace some minutes ago and she knew her papa was gonna be in here a minute. As she grabbed her purse and headed downstairs she felt like a clown. She kept saying she was done fooling with him yet she was on her way to hear him out. Deep down she did still have a liking for him.

She locked the door behind her and proceeded to his car. She got in and immediately smelled his cologne.

"Why you only got a sweater on it's cold." She said to him

"Why you got this little ass jacket on and think you warm?"

"Least I got something on and not just a sweater."

He sighed "Where you tryna eat at?"

"It doesn't matter to me. Ouu actually red lobster."

"You must got red lobster money." Amoura stared at him until he laughed a little "You know I'm just fuckin wit' you."

"Mhm hm. You be being mean to me."

"Cute ass."

"Yeah I'm not happy actually because no. You really had me arguing with that bitch yesterday..."

"Oh you wanna get the argument started early I see."

"I'm not tryna argue Dre. I'm just saying. I don't want to get in here and act all nice and like we cool right now cause we not. You brought another girl to the party... embarrassing. I know we not together blah blah blah but still... after what I told you that's not right."

"I can admit it was fucked up on my part. I ain't expect you to be there." He said "So tell me are you mad about me bringing another female cause you feel like you look stupid since we be kicking it or are you really just mad because I brought another girl? Which one. Cause you already told me you like me."

"Okay yeah I like you but I didn't go as far as trying to fight her or mess up what y'all had going on, whether it made me mad or not. I had just told you I like you so that was a little hurtful. So I'm lost as to why you try to fight Lakief just cause I was with him."

"Nigga cause you really tried to make me jealous."

"Was I about to sit there and look dumb while you brought a whole ass 'nother girl to the party and it's already known that me and you had been seeing each other..."

"That nigga lucky I ain't feel like going to jail that night."

"Mhm. Did you and the girl have sex after y'all left?"

"Why that's even a concern? You and him have sex after y'all left?"

"Nope, we sure didn't. I stayed a little longer had fun and went home with Emani and Jaliyah."

"Ight that's good for you."

"Okay so answer my fucking question."

"You difficult as hell Amoura."

"Okay so y'all did. You tryna dodge the question answers my question. Thanks."

"What you tryna gain? You was kissing and dry humping the nigga in his car."

"And guess who pulled me out cause they was salty? You."

"Ma nigga you was drunk."

"I knew what was going on even though I was. I was just extra horny."

"Well I saved you from some regret."

"No. Just admit you ain't want me being with anybody else. You get to be with everybody and they mama but me exploring my options is where you draw the line. Crazy huh?"

He pulled into a spot at red lobster "You still did what you did regardless so don't question me about shit."

"Sir... his dick did not go inside me... it was never what you and her probably did..."

"Ight Amoura. Me admitting the shit just gone piss you off."

"Honestly wanna know what's so hard about giving your dick to one person?"

"It's not. I'm not in a relationship though."

"I told my grandma about you and us. She said she's scheduling me an appointment to get checked just in case."

"She scheduling that shit for no reason. And if you do got something then I know you done fucked somebody else."

"Nah it'll be from you cause I haven't had sex with anybody else."

"Come on." He said as he opened the door and Amoura went in

She flipped her long inches behind her back and sighed "Thanks."

The place was nice and it wasn't as packed as Amoura expected. After talking to the lady they had got seated in a booth by a window.

"Lemme get a kiss." He said staring at her

"Boy remember you're not in no relationship and neither am I."

"Here you go with this shit."

"Yup here I go." She looked over the menu "And you probably was kissing that girl or eating her pussy.. I'm for sure good."

"I ain't kiss her or eat her out. I put it on my mans I didn't. Ion kiss just anybody in they mouth nor just eat anybody pussy."

"Funny cause you treat me like I'm just anybody."

"How?"

"Don't ask me that dumb ass shit."

"Cause I still got hoes?"

"You didn't even say anything to her when she said I was gonna be a single mom again if I got pregnant."

"I did say something to her. When we left I did."

"And then you made it up to her with some makeup sex hm? She felt special again."

"Man I cant win with you."

Amoura shrugged "That's fucked up. In the end you still gave her exactly what she wanted."

"You gone keep bringing that up?"

"No. I was just saying. You had sex with her after supposedly checking her for the shit she was saying to me. I didn't even address her ass on no hating shit but she wanted to take it there."

"Let's just forget the shit all together. Me and her and you and him damn near fucking. That's a bet?"

"Bye Dre it's not the same."

"You would've been still holding that shit against me if that's all me and her did. You know you would so don't even start capping,"

"Whatever. I guess I'll just let the shit go even though that's mad fucki- know what never mind imma just shut my damn mouth. I could really go on forever."

"Can we start on a clean slate? Just let all the fucked up shit I did go and start over? That mean you can't bring up past shit anymore cause we getting rid of all that. I can't bring up shit either."

"There wasn't anything to really bring up with me... it's been nothing but you."

"Ight smart ass."

The lady came back with their entrees of cheddar bay biscuits and butter.

"Thank you." She said to the girl

"My pleasure."

Amoura stared at Dre as she chewed her food.

"So you still not gon' give me a kiss?"

"We friends remember?"

"No nigga you my girl damn. Lemme get a fuckin kiss."

Amouras heart seemed to speed up. She tried not to show how she was feeling on the inside. She had a feeling he wasn't serious but it still made her get butterflies.

"No people around they gone be wondering why we kissing when we supposed to be eating." She laughed

"Ion give a fuck what they wondering or thinking. Gimme a damn kiss."

Amoura leaned over some and pecked him on the lips "Happy now?"

"One more."

She leaned over and gave him a couple more pecks before sitting back down.

"Got some soft ass lips." He said

"You do too." She took another bite out the biscuit

"Why were you going off on your Instagram story earlier?"

"Some niggas." He laughed "Don't worry about that."

"Don't do anything crazy." She said before taking a sip of her drink

"Why not?"

"Because why would you wanna get locked up. You still have family that cares about you. I mean I also care about you."

"You'on care about me."

"Why you say that? I do. Even though you do me soooo dirty I care about your life and freedom. Like a clown."

"Stop saying I do you dirty."

"You do. But okay I'll stop."

"That's just starting shit back up. Ion do you dirty I just do a lot of shit without thinking of yo feelings which is selfish, but the way I see it we not in no type of relationship. I should be more respectful about it though."

"Either way, I still feel how I feel I'm just not gonna speak on it again."

Dre didn't say anything just checked his phone. She could tell he was texting someone.

"Who we texting?" Amoura asked

"Our homeboy."

"Mhm"

A few minutes passed and they had finally got their food. Amoura had got the ultimate feast which came with a lobster tail, snow crab legs, garlic shrimp scampi, fried shrimp, rice, and she got her side as fries.

"That shit was thirty dollars Amoura you better eat every last bit of it."

She laughed "I am you worry bout eating yours."

"Nigga I am I ain't got a feast for two." He said making Amoura laugh harder

"You not shit." She broker the crab leg in half "But I don't want the lobster so you can have it if you want."

"Look already don't want shit."

"I have yet to even really know you. So tell me what you did in high school."

"This supposed to be an intervention or some shit without the addiction part."

"Dre be serious for once omg." She laughed a little

"Highschool I ain't like it at all." He said as he ate "The principal ain't like my ass that's why I was always in some trouble or suspended."

"Why he didn't like you."

"I wish I knew." He laughed a little "Prolly cause his wife was always checking for me who knows."

Amoura mouth dropped "What? His wife..."

"She worked at the school too but she was a guidance counselor. She wasn't my guidance counselor but she was always tryna see me about dumb shit."

"Boy how that mean she wanted you?"

"You ain't let me finish."

"Oh. Go 'head."

"Still was weird she was always tryna see me and she not even my assigned guidance counselor. So I used to roam the halls a lot. I told you I ain't like being there, I never wanted to be in class so I was most likely walking the halls fooling or tryna see a bitch to be truthful wit you. She must knew my schedule so she always was patrolling the halls like she was security and always coming where she knew I'd be."

"Okay yeah that's kinda weird."

"And when I eventually started catching onto it I started changing where I'd go and I'd still somehow run into her. That's not it though, even if I had a pass she made it her business to say something to me instead of anybody else."

"What if she actually just didn't like you."

"I had thought the same thing until it started becoming all flirtatious and the way she'd be looking at me. She wasn't doing all this in aggressive way it was more of a flirt type way. After detention when I'd be waiting to catch the late bus, she was still at the school and would see me and wanna strike up conversations. One time she had said