Please excuse ANY grammatical errors.

January 17, 1993

~DeVanté's P.O.V~

"I'm just SO ready to leave from this place. I HATE hospitals, too many people died here, and it's depressing." Tia mumbled to me.

"Yeah, I thought I saw some' the other night." I chuckled.

"Are you for real?" She looked at me with a frightened expression.

"I'm messin' with you." I laughed.

"Ahh, don't do that. I don't play about that supernatural junk." She playfully shoved my shoulder.

"I got an idea." I smirked. "Wait, are you sure that you're feeling better?" I furrowed my eyebrows.

"I am. I'm alive, I'm getting used to the pain, and I can walk a bit without a being TOO much out of breath. Why?" She asked me.

"Wanna bust outta here?" I smirked.

"But, what if something happens? What if someone comes looking for me?" She asked me.

"We're fine, I got two of my bodyguards and we can get one of yours. I'll carry you out, so yo won't tire out, and we'll be back before sunrise. You need a little air. Nobody will be coming anytime soon, it's night time. What do you say?"

"What about the machine?" She asked looking at it then at me.

"It's obvious, we'll just unplug it... OR take it with us." I shrugged.

"What if when you unplug it, and it resets? How will we get past everyone with this thing lugging around? What-"

"You know sometimes you a wild sleeper, we will just say that you slept to hard and it came out." I chuckled. "Stop being so scared. Break the rules for once in yo life, Miss Goody Two Shoes." I held up air quotes at the nickname.

"Okay, just let me get dressed." She scooted all the way off the bed, and unplugged the machine.

"That gown got yo ass ALL out. It's like BLAH BLAMM! Even in those granny panties." I laughed and turned around opposite of her.

"Yeah, that's right, turned right around." She said then I heard a door close. I knew had she went into the bathroom.

While she was in there getting dressed, I called up my guards. I wanted her to feel as safe as possible. After I did that, I opened the door and told Jax we'd need him, then went back into the room and sat down. I haven't been in Atlanta all this time, I had to go back to NYC to take care of business. I mean, I do have artists to manage and other shit to take cate of. As much as I would have loved to stay all this time, I couldn't.

Yasir ain't here, nobody but me and Tia. He had to go back to work. Her moms is back home, she needed her rest. She's been here many days, night and day, according to Tia. Her step-pops be here too, but he has a job as well that needs him. That's about the only family that I've seen of hers. Ten years later she came out of the bathroom fully dressed. She had on men's sweats, a long sleeved shirt, and her hair in a puffball on top of her head.

"Took you long enough." I chuckled.

"I was having pains. You try getting dressed fast or any other activity with fractured ribs." She laughed out then held her chest. She sat on the bed. "Hey, can you grab my shoes and coat from the closet there?" She asked.

"Yes ma'am." I said in a hillbilly accent.

"You are so silly." She nodded her head at me in amusement. "Oh, and my gloves and stuff is in my coat somewhere. I don't know where that man placed them, but it's in there somewhere. So, please hold it right."

I went into the closet and grabbed her coat and boots. "Here ya go." I handed it to her.

"Thank you." She grabbed them from my hands. After she put it on she slowly stood up amd walked to the door. "Come."

"Dalvin is right, you really should reword what you say. Besides," I picked her up from underneath, making sure to support her back."I said I would carry you."

She let out a squeal. "Donald, I wasn't ready!" She chuckled.

"Shhhh, you too loud. Expect the unexpected. You need to eat more. You lighter than you was before." I frowned.

"Being in this hospital has ruined my mood and appetite. You know that." She looked up at me.

"Yeah, but I ain't know it was like this. We gon' have to be quiet when I open up this door. We are sneakin' out." I gave her a look and she nodded in understanding.

I opened the door and nodded at Jax, telling him that we were ready. He got the hint and walked with us. I made sure to close the door behind me. We all ducked and dodged the few nurses who where there. Well, me and Jax did, while Tia's body bobbed up and down in my arms. The only noises that where heard on this floor was the typing of computers, loud gum smacks, and shuffling. We made it downstairs and outside safely. My guards were waiting on us outside the doors.

"Y'all can just follow us in y'all car." I told them and headed to my rental. I unlocked the door and sat her down. "Buckle up." I told her and slammed the door shut.

It's cold as hell out here, but the snow seems to be melting. Now, I have to worry about black ice. I went over to the drivers side, got in rubbing my hands together. I turned on the car to warm it up.

I turned to her, "You hungry, I ain't seen you eat at all today. We going to a restaurant first."

"Nope, I'm good." She nodded and smiled.

"I wasn't asking, I'm telling." I said with a raised eyebrow. "You getting a lil frail. I can't have my friend doing stuff on a empty stomach."

"...Oh..." She looked at me with a blank expression, then out the windshield.

"Don't feel bad, I ain't mean no harm. Just need you back to your usual self. Look at me, I'm a skinny nigga myself. I could gain a few, and get a gym membership." I shrugged. She smiled shaking her head bashfully.

"There ya go. 'Sara Smile' ain't that yo favorite Hall & Oates song?" I asked.

"Yes, I love it. Beautiful song." Her smile got even wider.

"Like you, I ain't said it in a while, but you beautiful." I was being truthful. She turned her head towards the window. She is so bashful. "Come on, don't start that. Take that compliment like a champ, allum people throw out at you. Drink that shit and swallow it whole." I tapped her arm.

"Thanks..." She finally turned to me.

"You welcome. You all strapped in?" I asked turning the key.

"Mm-hmph." She nodded.

"A'ight, cool. Lemme strap myself in while I'm asking you." I grabbed my seatbelt and strapped in. I drove off. "Where is yo real pops? I ain't seen him once while I was here."

"A deadbeat. He won't be coming, that nig- that dude don't care nothing about me or my brother." She said looking straight ahead.

"Whens the last time y'all seen him?" I asked.

"The last time I seen him, he was at my grandma and grandpa's, his mother and stepfather house. It was the first time I met my sister on his side, and the third time seeing the other sister. Never met the oldest one."

"How long ago was that? What age was you?"

"Twelve, I remember the date and what I wore. October 21th, 1984. I wore a pink 'PEACE' shirt and blue jeans. He said nothing to me and I did the same. I looked his way once or twice, but that's all. I didn't expect him to show up anyways. I was in the hospital once before and my brother has been in there on multiple occasions for seizures."

"When was the last time y'all spoke?" I glanced at her then back at the road.

"I was a eight. He picked me and my brother up once and brought us to his house. His girlfriend has multiple kids, mostly boys. My brother went to play basketball, while I played outside, climbing trees. He had to take his girlfriend to work, and I didn't feel comfortable being left with all those grown looking me. So I asked him to take me. He called me a tomboy and that was it. That was the ONLY time he EVER picked us up." She chuckled.

"Damn, you got a good ass memory. I know if I did something, you 'a remember it step by step." I laughed out.

"I do, but sometimes I wish I didn't. Ye know? Some memories aren't so good to remember detail by detail. Being able to replay things over and over isn't so fun." She said to me. I glanced over to her and her expression was similar to to one we had in September.

"My bad, I'm sorry for making you travel to whatever place you didn't want to. Those weren't my intentions." I reasoned.

"Don't worry, it wasn't your fault. You're just being curious. You're fine." She chuckled. "Ha, it's so crazy how you, JoJo, Dalvin, and K-Ci can fly all the way here to see me but he can't. I've known you guys for about a year. It's hilarious!" She threw her head back laughing. "How're things in New York going? Your label?" There it goes again, her whole demeanor changes. It's like she's running away from here emotions or something. Maybe I'm wrong...

"Hey, why do you do that?" I frowned.

"Do what?" She looked at me confused.

"Change the subject. You go from something so deep, then to something that's just... ion know. Ummm... Irrelevant? I guess you can call it that."

"What? I do not do that. Is your label irrelevant?" She frowned.

"No, that was the wrong word, but you know what I mean."

"I really don't." She furrowed her eyebrows with a grin.

"You afraid you gon' reveal too much or something?"

"Nope. Like I said before, I don't know what you're talking about. How's the label going?" She asked again.

I'll just drop it for now... "It's goin good as hell. I have them all sit at this long ass table and play me some tracks, and if that shit whack, I'm turning it off. It's embarrassing for them, but it works. It makes them work harder, and think harder on giving me some bullshit to play." I chuckled, pressing my thumb into the steering wheel.

"Wow, that is embarrassing. I couldn't imagine." She expressed with her hands in front of her face.

"Like I said, that shit works."

"Hecky, yeah. I know it works. Don't nobody want to be embarrassed in front of the whole room." She laughed.

I pulled up to Old Lady's Southern Cuisine. This is my go to place here in Atlanta. Everytime I came here, I got some food from here. I turned off the car and called my guards. I want to make sure the coast is clear. They have to check before we enter. I don't feel like being hounded, and Tia don't need nothing extra. I saw him go in and exit, signaling that it was okay to enter. I placed my hand on the handle, and I heard movement on her side. I looked over and she was about to open the door.

"Aht- aht. Don't touch that door, and yo feet bet' not touch the ground." I told her and she looked at me confused. "Yeah, you heard me. I'm carrying you, remember?"

"Ahhh, yeahhh." She dragged on.

I got out the car and was about to jogged over to her side. Then I remembered the melting of the snow, and possible black ice. So I treaded carefully. I made it to her side and opened up the door, slightly squatted and picked her up.

"Drop me and-"

"Yeah, I know. You gon' bite me." I rolled my eyes.

"Ennnttt! No, you're going down with me." She smiled wrapping her arms around my shoulders.

"You gon' do me like that? C'mon Tia. I thought we were here." I squinted my eyes, since I couldn't point to them.

"We are, and that's why you know." She smiled.

"I know, I know." I said walking towards the door. "Thanks man." I said to my guard. I don't feel right having another man hold the door open for me. The other guards were right behind us.

"No problem." He responded.

"You can take a seat right here Mr. Swing and Ms. Andrews." The lady, whose name is Cherry motioned toward a table near the corner.

"Thank you." Tia smiled.

"Yeah, thanks." I said and walked over to the table.

I pulled her chair out, and placed her down on the chair. I pushed hers in and took a seat myself across from her. Cherry handed us a menu. I always order something different, just about everything I've tried is good. The guards were at the tables next to us, each facing a different direction.

"I'll be back shortly." Cherry said then walked off.

"So, what're you getting?" Tia asked looking through the menu pages.

"Ion know yet. You?" I looked up.

"Same, I'm undecided. I just know I want some water." She shrugged.

"I'm getting a Sprite."

"Pop is so dang on strong. I have to water it down before I even put it against my lips." She chuckled.

"Rewording Tia." I held up my finger.

"What'd I say?"

"Wetting it before putting it against your lips." I recited.

She gasped, "I did not say that."

"Mmhm, that's what I heard." I said as Cherry walked over to us.

"What will you both be drinking today?" Cherry asked. I waited for Tia to order before me.

"Water."

"Sprite. Aye, y'all want something?" I asked our guards and they all shook their heads no. "Y'all sho' it's on me."

Right after I said that, they all answered with yeses. Me and Tia looked at each other and bursted out with laughter. She winced, holding her chest. Our laughter caused some attention from thw few others that were here.

"Black folks don't turn down no free food, unless the people making it are filthy." Tia threw out.

"You damn right." Jax laughed.

"Hey, I'm ol' school. No eating unless they offer to pay. This place food looks good but out of my bracket." Apollo said to us. Apollo is like forty years old.

"That's OLD, old school, old buck." I joked.

"He said OLD, old school." Creed laughed. That's my younger bodyguard. He's either thirty or about to be. Shit, ion keep up with other niggas ages.

"Respect ya elder son." He pointed out laughing. I held my hands up in defense. They ordered their drinks and Cherry walked off to get them.

"You know, this is our first date. Our first one on one friends date out." I corrected.

She moved the menu from in front of her face. "You're right." She nodded. "This is. Other times it'd be us and the others."

"Mmhm, you should try their fried chicken, potato salad, collard greens, baked macaroni, cornbread, and cobbed corn." I suggest to her.

"Cobbed corn? It's corn on the cob, and I don't eat anybody's greens. I don't know how or if they cleaned him." She obliged. "I was looking at that fried chicken though."

"Ask them." I said with my hands out.

"Excuse me?" She raised her eyebrow.

"You heard me, ask them if and how they cleaned them. Whatever it is, it's good."

"No, sir. I won't get any. I'm not even really hungry." She closed the menu.

"You said that already, but make room, because yo behind is going to eat. Yo family may not really pay attention to yo eatin' habbits, but DeVanté Swing is. So, make some room." I smiled.

"Okay..." She mumbled and folded her arms like a child.

"Cute, but that ain't gon' work this time. I'm only helping you. You'll thank me later, or sooner." I folded my arms.

Cherry came back with all of our drinks. "Two Sprites, Cola, Hi-C, and a water for you." We all thanked her. "Now, the meals. What will you all be having today?" She smiled.

I nodded at Tia, waiting for her to order first. She ordered everything I said, except for the greens and cornbread. I ordered BBQ meatloaf, mashed potatoes, green beans, biscuits, macaroni salad, sweet potato pie. A lot, I know. The guards ordered whatever it is they wanted.

"Why no cornbread?" I asked once the waited left.

"No greens..." She answered taking her mouth off of the straw.

"Since when do no greens mean no cornbread? A nigga confused."

"Just leave it alone." She chuckled.

"Don't worry, I will. I'm telling you, you gon' like they food. Shits bomb."

"I'm sure it is, but it'll help if you didn't call it doodoo." She looked at me from the corner of her eyes.

"You right, but that shit still bomb." I sat back in my chair.

~Tia's P.O.V~

Our food came and Donald dug in right away. "Ahh, shiit." He moaned out. 👀👀Okay then... "This shit is bomb. I chose right. Taste yours."

Yes, you can taste mines. "Oh!" I put the chicken to my mouth. "Mmm, delicious." I said with wide eyes. I virgin spidey sensing hormones are triggered. I need a toy.

"See, told yo lil short ass." He said taking a big bite out of the potato salad.

"Dang, why I got to be all that?" I said with my hand to my chest.

"Because you are." He pointed his fork at me.

"Sir, my backside is not short." I said and took a bite of the macaroni.

"It's alive. It's alive!" Hee said putting a hand on each of my shoulders. "It's alive! IT'S ALIVE!" He put his hands up like a villain in a movie, looking up to the sky.

https://youtu.be/QuoKNZjr8_U

"Boy, stop." I tapped him. "What's alive?" I said confused. Everyone was really looking at us. Well, the few people here. They were already looking at us because of who we are, but now they probably think Donald here is on drugs. Our guards were cracking up.

"Stop being a smart ass." He lowered his voice, and laughed.

"Hunty, I didn't know behinds can be smart. But Tia-Nakia will take that as a compliment. Thanks." I smirked.

"You're sense of humor is back. It's alive!" He held up his hand in front of his face again, looking up at the ceiling.

Oh my goodness, this boy... "Shhh." I shushed him, and tapped him again.

"Am I embarrassing you?" He smirked. I shot him a look that basically said yes. "That's good to know." He chuckled. He picked up his spoon and began to eat again.

"Next time imma stick that meat in your mouth to shut you up. You LOVE meat in your mouth." I joked.

"Aye, stop with the double-sided-ness. Only meat that goes in my mouth is cows, pig, and whatever else animals." He said with raised eyebrows. "Maybe I should shove some meat in yo mouth."

"I did not mean it that way. Why would you even think that?" I said shocked. I was lying like a mug.

"Mm, ard then." He nodded.

"How does that MEATloaf taste?" I smirked.

He squinted at me. "It's good. Wanna try some?" He put some on his fork and held it near my mouth. "Choke on this meat, girl. "

I was laughing up a storm, the pain and all. Then I felt the meat go in my mouth. I coughed and spit it out. I grabbed a napkin and wiped my tongue. "Now, why would you do that?" I said still wiping off my tongue.

"You keep playin' with me." He laughed. "Now, I know how to shut yo ass up. All I gotta do is shoved some meat in yo mouth. You 'a be quiet." He sat back and watched me. "Did you swallow any of the remains?"

I grabbed my straw, sipped some water, and swished it all around my mouth to get the remainder of the meat out of my mouth. I grabbed a bunch of napkins and spit it on it and closed it. I looked at him shaking my head while laughing.

"A whole mess." I kept nodding.

"Nahh, but you made one. It's all on yo chin." He smirked.

I grabbed another napkin and wiped my chin and mouth off. "I got it?"

"Yeah, you got it. For future references, most girls swallow or get it all over their face." He laughed.

"Well, I'm not that type of girl." I rolled my neck.

"What, you a spitter?" He head moved back.

"Donald!" I whispered loudly throwing a napkin at him.

"Oka-okay, I'm just playing. Damn, Tia." He said holding his stomach and laughing.

"Mm hmm..." I trialed off with tight lips. "This macaroni is hitting."

He leaned forward and whispered. "The back of your throat?" His eyebrows rose.

"I'm gon' get you boy." I laughed pointing my spoon at him.

"You sound like a goddamn slave owner or somethin'." He shook his head laughing. "I'm gon' get you boy!" He said in a hillbilly voice.

"Is that the only accent you can make? You always use that one."

"No, I can do this one." He spoke and I looked at him confused.

"Nothing has changed, you still sound like a hillbilly." I laughed with raised eyebrows.

"Okay, how 'bout this one?" He asked in the same voice.

"Just stop, you STILL sound the same Donald." I said in a hillbilly voice. "The Black Beverly Hoodbillies." I announced.

"What?" He let out a throaty laugh. "A'ight, imma give that to you." He nodded at me impressed.

"Whether you gave it to me or not, I still got it." I shrugged. "I gave it to myself."

"Are you talking about the vibrator I found in your drawer that one day?" He leaned forward and whispered to me.

"We said we wouldn't speak on that. We took an oath MAN. No, I wasn't even talking about nothing sexual." I pushed him away.

"Oh," he frowned. "My bad."

"Yeah, your bad." I raised my eyebrows. "This conversation went so sexual." I laughed.

"You started it." He said chewing on his food.

"What? Me? I did no such thing." I said with my jaw dropped.

"You did. You started it talking about meat and mouths." He pointed out.

"Nope, your mind just went to the gutter. If we were playing bowling, I'd win because you have a big head and a dirty mind; gutter."

"What the size of my head got to do with it?" He frowned.

"Balls." I stated. He tried his best to hold in his laugh but he failed. "See what I mean? All I said was balls. Meaning the bowling ball and your head are the same size. Childish..."

He stopped laughing. "Aye, that's not funny."

"Because the jokes on you." I snapped my fingers and pointed at him.

"I see what you did there."

"Ahhh?" I turned my head, and looked at him from the corner of my eyes in amusement.

"Yup. You should get you some pie though. It's good. Wanna try some?" He asked.

"Yeah, I'll try some." I nodded.

"Wai-," I stopped him mid word.

"I want some of yours." I pointed to his plate.

"So-som- some of mines? As in me- over here sitting across from you?" He asked with a shocked expression.

"That's right."

"No." He flat out said. "You gotta get yo own."

"But I won't eat it all. I just want a little, tiny bite." I held up space between my fingers.

He sighed. "Okay, a little tiny bite." He cut a bit with his fork, then cut that piece in half, and that piece in half. "Here you go."

My jaw dropped. "Really? A crumb? Plus, I am not eating off your spoon."

He laughed at my facial expression. "You said a little, tiny bite. I'm just playin' come get some."

I grabbed my fork and got broke it with my fork and scooped some of the whip cream off the side. Donald has stated that he doesn't eat white stuff unless it's ice cream. I threw my head back in delight.

"Mmmm... This is... So... GOOD." I moaned out, my head still back and eyes tightly closed.

"Damn... Okay... Want some more?" He asked, his whole demeanor was different. He slowly licked his lips, that were already moist...

"Nahh, I'm fine." I declined with a nod.

"Damn that." He scooped up some more and put it in my mouth.

My eyes widened. "It's good, I haven't had any in years."

"Shit, I feel the same way..." He mumbled to himself, looking down at his lap. "What happened to your first expression? Do that again." He looked up at me. "And you got a lil cream on your mouth."

I slowly wiped my mouth off with a napkin. "The first time isn't the same. It hits different." I shrugged.

"FUCK..." He cursed looking up at the ceiling. "Shit... Damn... Okay, umm.." His hand roughly ran down his face. "What was I finna say again?" He shook his head.

"How am I supposed to know? I'm not a mind reader."

"Shit, ion know. You be actin' like it." He deeply exhaled.

"Very funny. I haven't had any in a long time."

"Any what?" He asked.

I looked at him dumbfounded. "Pie. My grandmother used to make it during the holidays. A whole bunch of them too."

"Ahh, okay... Want some more?" He asked.

I put my hand in front of my mouth to avoid him shoving more into my mouth. "Nope, I'm getting full."

"But you- okay. Damn..."

"Can I have my fork back?" I said holding out my hand. His hand was gripping my fork hard.

"Of course. Here." He handed it to me.

"Dang, you got my stuff all wet with your sweat." I laughed.

He let out an animalistic growl, balled his hand up, and hit his forehead. "That's it... I gotta use the bathroom. Imma be right back." He said and quickly got up. One of the guards followed him.

"Okay..." I watched him disappear. "He's acting a little weird."

Jax and Creed was hiding their laughs doing different things. Jax had his cup in his mouth, and Creed pretended to wipe his mouth.

"What's wrong?" I asked looking at them.

"Y'all." Creed pointed to me and the back.

"What'd we do?" I frowned.

"It's really what you did. Imma be quiet though." Jax shook his head.

He stayed in the bathroom for a little bit. We stayed at the restaurant about forty-five minutes longer. Donald paid for everybody and everything.

"You still ain't each much, but it's more than you would usually eat. Okay, PROGRESS!" He said loudly as he carried me out to the car.

"I did." I beamed.

"You did, and I told you it was gon' be good. Didn't I?" The mist from his breath blew in my face.

"Mmhm, you did. You were right."

"I know I was right." He chuckled lowly. He sat me down in the car and closed the door. He went to the other side and jumped in.

"Fuck it gotta be so cold fuh?" He said harshly rubbing his hands together.

"It warmed up from earlier."

"It feel colder." He laughed and stuck the key in the ignition and turned it to start. "Where you tyna go next?" He asked turning to me.

Author's Note: I know I said that I won't be updating but once I started, ye girl couldn't stop. Now, I'm about to focus on schoolwork. Didn't wanna leave it on a downer chapter. This one is more playful and uplifting. Don't at me, okay?💀

Word Count: 4,765

Please feel free to like and comment. Feedback gives motivation, and motivation makes me write more. I will try my best to respond to you all.

Thank you all for taking the time out of your day to read another chapter of this story.💚🖤❤💜💙💛