Ch15: let it play out

<sean b. flowers jr., sean j.>

Sunday
June 18
10:47 AM

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𝕴𝖙 was almost as if nothing had ever happened. Lonnie awoke the following day in his bed at his brother's house where he stayed after being picked up from the precinct.

The room was quiet and he was alone. He dressed in black joggers with white stripes that cascaded down the entirety of the leg. A white wife beater was thrown over his torso and laid neatly atop the band of his bottoms. The top drawer of his dresser was opened and from it he grabbed a matching pair of stark white socks. Around the ankles were two lines; one blue and one red. The detail was visible as it laid taught to his tawny skin filling the space left uncovered by the pants short length unable to cover the long legs of the six foot man.

Lonnie sat on the edge of the bed, leaning down to tighten the strings of the white air forces fresh out of the box. MacArthur left them for him after his shopping trip the day before. Brushing his hair in the mirror, he decided to put in his diamond grills he hadn't touched in a year. They were a birthday gift from his cousin Carti his second year down south with them. After clipping them in, he licked his teeth cheesing to himself in the glass's reflection.

On the counter before him where he stood in the bathroom along with the conglomerate of hygiene products rested a gun. It was black, matte, and practically unidentifiable except by the registration. He took the gun, tucking it discreetly into the back of his waist band.

Back in his room he donned a black adidas dad hat with an inscribed 'd' on it— repping his city. He grabbed the open pack of cigarettes from the night stand tucking a single one behind his ear and the box in his pocket along with the transparent red lighter. From the bed he grabbed his burner phone and his keys which were tucked away underneath his pillow.

Once he was all done, he went to the front of the one story home finding nobody in the living room, dining room, or the kitchen. He looked out the window and confirmed that he was the only one in the house. His car was missing which he assumed makaveli must've taken. Not having any alternative, he left the house on foot. He had a plan for his morning and he was determined.

It wasn't the sunniest of days, but the summer heat was still relentless in it's peak hours. It was eleven or so in the morning. By the time he would arrive to where he was planning to go, all involved parties should be well awake. It was very considerate of him, he thought, to think of the hour and what folks may be doing. The dry heat was encapsulating. His tatted arms were glistening with a cooling sheet of sweat but it wasn't enough to cool him off in the ninety degree environment . So, he stopped into the gas station. The mart was cold inside. It was almost cold enough to make him miss the heat. He took his time, cooling in the central air. He browsed the snack aisles, stopping to pick up a donut, simply glazed, and a slim Jim. He walked over to the edge of the mart right in front of the window, making himself a slushee.

While filling his plastic cup, he watched the outdoors through the window behind the slushee machine. He had only made it a few blocks from the house. So, when he saw the white Ford Taurus at pump five, he wasn't surprised, but he was relieved. His brother, light skinned and freckled, with his fine curly hair blended seamlessly into a fade, wore a pair of Off White sun glasses that looked brand new. Lonnie went to the register to pay for his refreshments and passed right by his brother walking in as he walked out. Makaveli didn't even notice him. Lonnie thought he'd make this a lesson about watching his surroundings.

Makaveli stood in line. There was only one person before him and they were quick. He stepped forward after they left."Fifty on five please." He handed the cashier two twenties and a ten and walked back to the car. He pumped the gas and replaced the nozzle.  Getting into the drivers seat, it was customary for him to pull down the visor and check himself out. He noticed a black shopping bag on the backseat, but wrote it off as something Lonnie must've left in the car.

He turned up the radio, bopping to some of the new music that was playing on the radio. He'd already learned the words to most of the newer popular tracks because of how often they were played. He turned out of the gas station and into traffic being stopped at a red light.

The light turned green and he pulled off, turning onto a high trafficked main street when he glanced up at his rearview causing him to jump, swerving into the lanes on either side of him. "Well don't crash my shit nigga!" Lonnie yelled, holding on to the back of the passenger seat. 

Makaveli's heart thumped against this chest at the sudden sight of his brother in the backseat.

"Black! what the fuck?!" he yelled, turning down the radio. He kept looking behind him self to make sure he wasn't tripping. "Why?" he asked, still looking back periodically. "How the hell you get in here? Nigga where the Fuck you come from?"

"Keep yo eyes on the road, big shot." Lonnie went through his grocery bag, choosing his donut to eat with his red slushee."Who said you could take my car?" He asked his younger brother.

"I was just filling it up for when you woke up." Makaveli said quickly, watching Black through the mirror. He was nervous. He was actually just getting back home from his long night with Thurgood.

"Well i'm up now and since you ain't got nothing else to do, you can take me where I gotta go. I'm tryna be there by 12:30."

Mak nodded, not wanting to oppose him. The stories Jah had been telling him all day yesterday had struck him. There was nothing stopping Black from snapping on him at any moment and he had already experienced it once. He didn't want to encounter that side of his brother ever again. They arrived at Jah's house a few minutes later. Maki went in to grab something and Lonnie moved from the back to the front passenger seat.

"I know I scared you." He started as soon as his brother came back.

Mak shook his head slightly. "Nah, you good."

"I'm not talking about today." Black looked at his brother face to face. "I haven't apologized to you only because it seems stupid. How can I apologize for threatening to shoot my own brother?"

"I would accept your apology if you did."

"I know. But, you shouldn't. You shouldn't excuse someone who can betray you like that. Niggas get only one chance. You hear me?"

"You ain't just niggas. You my brother. I still see you as a king, Black. No matter."

Lonnie shook his head. "Are you scared of me now?" Not getting a response, he ground his back teeth, making his jaw and temples move in sync. "I uh," he huffed, "it's just you been all cordial and shit to me like I make you uncomfortable."

Makaveli turned up the music and pulled off leaving the two of them silenced as he followed the gps to the location Lonnie programmed it for. This is practically the first time they've spoken since that day. They still shared a room and still hung out, but it's been regular as opposed to their close-nit bond they've always shared. A lot of things been clicking for Maki the pass few days but for Lonnie, he was becoming more and more confused and angry. Getting set up by his own friend made things worse.

When they pulled up to the house, Maki turned the radio down and looked at his surroundings.

"Remember what I said, bro. Niggas get one chance." He said, unbuckling himself and leaning over to step out of the car. That's when Makaveli noticed the gun sticking out of the back of his pants. He looked at his brother suspiciously, instincts kicking in. But, he didn't say anything; Lonnie opened the trunk of the car getting out a zip-up hoodie that matched his joggers and was followed by his brother up the path to the house.

"This Sean J mom house?" Makaveli asked, slowly recognizing the place as the house he'd chill with Black and his friends back in the day. Lonnie nodded, knocking on the door.

The first person to come to the door was a kid. He was only as tall as Black's knee and had wild curly hair and deep brown skin. His eyes were big and a greyish brown. He resembled Sean J and his siblings, but their family has strong genes. "What up, Sean here?" He asked the little boy. The little boy, no older than three years said clearly, "He upstairs. Why?"

Lonnie asked him to tell Sean J he was here to see him. The little boy pushed the door leaving it cracked a little bit. They could hear the boy yelling up the stairs, "Dadday! Some man here at the do'!"

The boy opened the door back up, standing there looking up at the two men, "I told him." He said, walking away with the door wide open.

[lonnie pov]

I looked over at Maki and he seemed to be thinking what I was. I walked in slowly and he followed me. Closing the door behind us, I stood in the entry way with my hands in my pockets. I just want to talk—honest to God. I'm trying to figure out how literal hours after he said something about the cops and Cobe's case, I get arrested in a whole other city. I need answers. And if I don't get any...

"Sean." I called, going towards the steps because he was talking too long. I still didn't hear him coming, I began taking one step at a time, up the stairs. Maki stayed where he was but I was getting impatient. His door was open, first one at the top of the stairs; nothing had changed in the house since I was last here it seemed. Knocking on the open door, I walked in. "Yo." I said softly, not seeing him. I looked around the room then exited, moving to the next room.

I heard the toilet flush and went towards the bathroom. I almost knocked but the door opened and I was face to chest with a shirtless Sean. I looked down seeing him in only some loose fitted boxers that hung low. I stared at his print for a second but in my defense its been a almost a year since I've done anything with anyone. Shit, I ain't even seen a nigga this naked in a minute. I looked up slowly, catching a glimpse of his toned abdomen and chest. When I finally looked him in the face, he was smirking down at me. He said "Hey." and walked past me back to his room. I composed myself and followed him. I sat on his bed while he looked like he was finding clothes to put on but he wasn't moving fast at all and he kept looking back at me.

"When you have a kid?" I asked him, still admiring his body which was still not very clothed. I licked my lips unconsciously as he walked towards me. He stopped right in front of me and leaned over to grab something that was behind me. I looked back and saw he was reaching for a pile of cloth I was sitting on. "Oh, my bad." I stood up a little bit so he could grab it.

"I don't really know if he mine." Sean admitted, pulling up the pajama pants over his legs which I paid no mind to having seen the uncanny resemblance. "But he's my ex kid. She got locked up and probably won't ever see him again outside. She ain't have no family that she trust, courts let me keep him."

"That's crazy." I shook my head avoiding looking at his body anymore. "Why you ain't just get a test?"

"Don't really care. I made a promise. That's all that matters."

"You know dude got ya whole face right? Spitting image."

"Nah, he just look like a little mixed nigga. That's all." He laughed. But Lonnie didn't laugh with him. He stared at him. Unnervingly.

"So, why you tell your uncle where I live?"

He jerked his face back slightly. He was sitting in a chair not too far from me, leaned back with his legs spread.

"You think I set you up?"

"Did you not bro?"

"Nigga you're the one who jumped out the car after I came to get'cho ass." He was leaned forward now, resting his arms on his knees, staring straight at me. "Either I was taking you to them or taking you from them, Nigga."

"Can you put on a damn shirt? God damn."

"Hell nah, nigga this my house. You walk up in here strapped like you big shit as if I don't know your crazy ass. I didn't tell nobody shit. I'm from the block just like you is. We was raised in the same shit. Dawg, why would you assume I'm involved?"

"So either way, you knew what was up. Which mean you told your uncle i'm in town. I ain't seen nobody else since I been back."

Sean smacked his teeth.

"You came outta nowhere Sean. Next thing I know you asking about Mo and then you tell me about Cobe case the next day and I get arrested out the blue, what the hell else would I think?"

"If you don't trust me then why we still talking?" He looked me in the eye when he said it because he knows he's right. And he knows I know. He knows that if I was sure there would be no words. The only person that 'one chance' rule didn't apply to was Cobe. And I guess Mohammed for complicated reasons. But, I eventually still showed that nigga.

He left the room. I sat there on the bed for a few moments. It was like on the movies where there's the angel and the devil on either sides of my shoulders. One side was telling me to trust him because of our history.  He's my best friend from childhood and we ran tough together back in the day. The other side was telling me that it's been hella years and I don't actually know this nigga. And, he purposefully distracted me with his body.

But, then the other side wanted to know how he would know that I would be so turned on by just his chest and ashy ass legs. I shrugged, "He definitely tried to seduce me." I told it.

"Black!" I heard Makaveli call me from down stairs. I hurriedly left the room and went to the main floor where Maki was giving me a look; he definitely knows me. I shook my head, finding Sean in the kitchen, still shirtless. This was a failed mission but I had to leave with something. So, I opened the frigerator and saw that somebody had my favorite juice— mango lemonade. I took the glass jar out and poured myself a cup feeling like I was being watched so I turned my head and looked up, scraping my bottom lip with my teeth.

"Damn." He stared right at my lips, making me feel a way, "Them bitches icy." He said, putting his finger under my chin, lifting my head up, "lemme see?"

I smiled, licking my gold plated grill , observing his face while he had mine resting in his big ass hand. I can't even lie... I don't even gotta say it though , do I?

His thumb grazed my cheek, close to my mouth as he was letting go. I gulped looking away. I was about to put the juice back when I saw the little kid looking up at me. He was just standing there. I looked back at Sean who had gone back to doing whatever he was doing before I came in. Feeling like I was definitely already leaving with something better than the cup of juice, I handed it to the kid and left the kitchen, walking towards the front door jerking my neck towards the door so Mak would quietly follow me, closing the door behind himself.

"You think he involved?" I asked my brother while he drove us away. He nodded reluctantly.
"What would you do?" I followed up.

"Let that shit play out." He said, glancing at me. I licked my grill again, taking a sip from my slushee. "That grill is cold though." He said, admiring the gold in my mouth. Damn, he saw that? My stomach turned, slightly embarrassed. He kept talking though. "I gotta get me some. Gotta be ice though. Ion think I want gold." He nodded, one hand on the wheel. He handle a car same as our dad, real smooth, real cat daddy, pimp type shit. Same way they handle life, just chill with it. It's really contradictory to their personalities though; they both hot in the head and not chill at all.

I sniffed, wiping the tip of my nose with my hand.

"You disappointed?" He asked me, not looking at me. I didn't respond because I wasn't sure how I felt about it seriously. I couldn't actually think about the situation properly because my brain was clouded. He knew exactly what the fuck he was doing. That shit kinda pissing me off the more I think about it. Terrible that I actually like it, being pissed off at a nigga for being fucking fine. I rolled my eyes, looking out the window of the car. I wondered what would happen if I approached him for real for real. Would he actually be open to that type shit. But every time that thought came to me, it was crossed over with him snitching. Because that's what he is. A snitch.

We had been driving for a long time. I recognized the area the closer we got; we were going to the beach house where our cousins were staying. I can't even call them bougie because this is nothing compared to their house in Alabama. It definitely don't got nothing on their house in random ass but beautiful ass Maine. They only go there in the summer time because any other time it's cold as shit. So not bougie— just rich.

We drove up the hill to the driveway which looped under the house which stood on pillars. "Pop said Uncle Cliff and Uncle Maverik wanted y'all to get together today over here. It was supposed to be a surprise but I forgot it was until I just told you so, act surprised."

"Trust me. I'm surprised. I haven't heard from them niggas in so long. I mean, i'm cool with Mav, I guess. But Dame ain't even speak or nothing since I been here."

"For real?"

I nodded, "Except for that one time he snuck me at Cole's house. Fuckin' pussy.", still salty about his actions or lack thereof. I'm sure it's Jah's fault. He probably told him the same shit he telling Makaveli to make me look evil. But I aint evil and my own brother should know that.

tbc
p.12.08.2022
R/p:07.29.2024
e/rp:09.14.2024
R/p:11.12.24