New character ALERT in MM
(Name will be revealed within' the chapter)

C H A P T E R
T H R E E

          As the sun started to rise fighting against the rain clouds that tried to block the sun's path, sprinkles of rain fell onto the ground making the roads slick. Waking up to the sound of thunder mixed with the sound of glass breaking and the voices of his parents arguing, Malcolm groaned in annoyance not sure as to which commotion was louder than the other.

Trying to tone out the noises around to catch a few more minutes of sleep, it seemed as if nothing work. Laying flat on his back he stared up at his popcorn covered ceiling and wooden fan that only had one blade. Releasing a deep sigh he briefly closed his eyes just simply tried of the constant back and forth between his parents here lately.

Flipping his covers back, he quickly got out of his bed and grabbed a pair of his sweats off the floor along with a hoodie then walked over to his window looking out.

It was slightly dark and the only thing that could be seen was the sihlouette of the trees and houses along with the street light that was posted up at the end of the block. The run down roads where wet from the rain and a few puddles where scattered around filling up the pot holes that should have been fixed years ago.

Glancing across where a struggling playground stood, Malcolm shook his head so ready to escape this place. Nothing good came from it besides senseless killings, gang violence and proverty.

He wanted more and at this rate he was willing to do whatever to find that sense of peace for once in his life.

Turning his head slightly when he heard the sound of someone being slapped, then the yelling of his fathers voice towards his mother Malcolm blood begin to boil. Apart of him wanted to go out there to end it all for the sake of saving his mama, but he knew doing that would get him nothing but a black eye and a beating he didn't even deserve and she would still stay.

No matter how many times his dad laid hands on her and him she always forgave him and would act like a lot of shit wasn't happening and Malcolm was becoming fed up with it.

Taking a seat on his bed he sat in silence listening to them argue and yell until the sun came up, eventually the arguing stopped once his dad passed out on the couch from being so drunk and the silence was like music to his ears.

Raising up from his bed Malcolm walked out of his room and down the hall being sure not to step on any pieces of glass into the kitchen where it looked as if a tornado just came through and destroyed everything in its path.

Noticing his mama sitting at the dining table smoking a cigarette quietly to herself as her hands and legs shook uncontrollably, he walked over and took a seat beside her.

They sat in silence for a while and the longer Malcolm sat there and looked at the damage they caused in their house he just couldn't wait to be able to leave this hell hole.

Glancing over at his mama he just hated the woman she has become all behind the hands and words of his father, when he was younger his mama was so full of life, she had beautiful flawless skin and hair, but now her hair was turning grey, she was bruised up with huge bags under her eyes and constantly looked drained and tired of life.

He never thought he'd be the one to say that life was better when his father walked out on them a few years back to pursue his dream as a music producer. When his dad left he was heart broken and prayed for his return every night, but Malcolm now regrets ever missing him.

The moment he returned flat broke on his ass their lives changed instantly, he became a monster and due to how much his mama loved him she couldn't let him go.

"I know you probably look at me as some weak woman, but its so much that you just don't understand." She blurted out breaking the silence between them.

"Help me understand then, because I just don't see how you can withstand getting beat on and constantly arguing with this nigga. You deserve better than this, hell we deserve better and I'm tired of dealing with all of this. Help me understand how this life we got now is better than a life with peace without him? We can leave right now and start over ma'." He expressed starting to become frustrated.

Shaking her head as tears fell from her eyes, she took a puff from the cigarette before glancing up at him. "It's not that simple baby, I've been with your father since I was fifteen and he's just mentally going through somethings that you wouldn't understand. He loves us and wants to do better, he just gets so angry and can't control his anger at times." She tried to explain, but Malcolm just waved her off not wanting to hear that.

"Don't make excuses for him mama, he ain't shit and never will be shit! Wake up and smell the flowers mama, he's killing you and I will not let him do the same to me and as a mother you should want a better life for yourself and your child, but I guess not." He mumbled and before he could even blink or utter out another word a slap across the face made him jump up from his seat shocked at his mother's actions.

"Don't you ever question my parenting, I do the best I can to keep you safe." Pointing her finger at him, he stared down at her trying to control his emotions but all failed when tears fell from his eyes and instant regret hit his mother like a truck.

She went to wipe his tears but he flinched and stepped away from her, covering her mouth while tears fell from her eyes she watched him quickly leave out of the kitchen knowing she fucked up big time.

When she slapped him it was just a irrational decision made due to him throwing a shot at her parenting, she couldn't count the amount of times she has taken beatings for him just so his father wouldn't hurt him so his comment hit a nerve.

In his room Malcolm grabbed a bag tossing a few things he knew he would need inside such as shoes, clothes and the money he had saved up which wasn't much, but for now it was enough. After gathering up as much stuff as he could he walked back to the window he was previously at, then carefully lifted it up and hopped out being sure to not dirty up his sweats.

After securely shutting his window back, he adjusted the straps on the backpack then glanced back at the place he once called home feeling a wave of sadness come over him.

Throwing his hoodie over his head he began walking with no set destination or place to go but he knew any place would better than being here and he couldn't stay here trying to save his mama who didn't want to be helped. He had his own life to focus on and a path of destruction wasn't the road he wanted to go down, he wanted better and he was going to get just that for himself.

Across town on the northside of Houston in Cypress where the roads were cleaner, neighborhoods were prettier and the grass was greener laid Nolan in bed without a care in the world. Tossing a balled up piece of paper in the air and catching it, he stared up at the ceiling jamming to Key Glock's latest song through his headphones.

Rapping along to the words, completely unaware of his mama coming into his room with a basket of clothes. Alisha looked around his room that was filthy making her shake her head in disappointment.

Looking over at him in his own little world, she folded her arms across her arms ready to fuck his world up. Grabbing the empty water bottle she tossed it right at his head making him jump up instantly ready to go off, but he soon relaxed when he saw it was his mama.

Removing one of the head phones, he sighed. "What's up ma'?"

"I don't know you tell me, didn't I tell you to clean your damn room yesterday?" She questioned alerting Shaun who was passing by, peeking his head inside he eventually stepped all the way in making Nolan groan in annoyance.

"I was going to but I got caught up on the game with Tyler and Santana." He explained.

"Look at me and ask me do I give a give a damn about some stupid ass game!" She stated ready to go off. "I gave you an order Nolan and you disobeyed me by not listening, I'm really getting tired of this shit. You know your daddy and I would literally do anything for you and all we ask is for you to obey our rules, respect our house, do good in school and stay out of trouble and you can't even do that for us."

Rolling his eyes, he laid back not in the mood for this conversation. "I'm really not tryna hear all of this right now man, I'm trying to do better cut me some slack." He mumbled.

Alisha went to speak, but Shaun held his arm back stopping her knowing this boy don' had to lose his mind. "Aye nigga I know you smellin' yourself right now like ya shit don't stank, but don't make me come over there and kick you dead in your chest if you disrespect yo mama like that again." He half way yelled getting him all the way together. "Now sit tha fuck up and look at us when we're talking to you and if I see one eye roll I'ma knock yo head off ya shoulders." He demanded.

Sitting back up Nolan stared at them with a blank expression, "We have the same talk everyday, I'm just tired of talking about it because I know what I gotta do and its like y'all ain't even giving me a chance to do better."

"We've given you too many chances Nolan," Walking towards his bed, Alisha took a seat beside him. "We both know no child is perfect and we don't expect you or your siblings to be, but as parents its our jobs to provide a good life to raise you guys in, to teach y'all things about life and to make sure y'all are raised to be respectful, smart and many other good traits you get from your mama." She joked making Nolan smile.

"I know and I'm sorry, I honestly don't know what's wrong with me. I do things that I know I shouldn't be doing, but its like in those moments I never sit and think of the consequences." He admitted.

"You're young and just like any other teen that's coming of age you go through that rebellion phase. I gave my folks hell for a few personal reasons and because I was smellin' myself and thinkin' I was grown so I did things I wanted to do and nobody could tell me nothing." She laughed making him do the same.

"Then why do parents be so hard on us teens when y'all been in our shoes?" He questioned glancing between both Shaun and Alisha.

"That's the thing we've been in you guys shoes and did shit that either got us in trouble or was a mistake made that could've been prevented if we had just listened to our folks. So now that we're parents we finally see and understand why our parents did what they did and to protect you and you sisters from making the same mistakes as us we inforce rules to help y'all not punish." Shaun explained.

Nolan nodded his head. "I get that."

Leaning over Alisha kissed him on his forehead and gave him a hug. "You're my first biggest baby and I love you more than words can express and I know you have it in you to make good choices and to make us proud." Tapping his nose, she looked back at Shaun waving him over as she stood to leave out.

Kissing Shaun on the lips she stepped out to give them some privacy, while she went and checked on the girls.

Closing the door behind him Shaun walked over and took a seat in the chair he had at his desk. "It's just me and you now, I know its a lot you don't like to tell your mama just out of respect for her but you know how we get down. What's really going on with you? Are you like this because of what you went through in middle school?"

Looking down at his hands, he nodded. "I ain't tryna ever be that weak again in my life pops." Licking his lips, he rubbed his hand down his face looking away. "Excuse my language, but I just want niggas to respect me and back then they didn't thats why I was bullied almost every day. They think just because of how and where I was raised that I'm just some scary ass nigga or something so they be purposely trying me and I wasn't raised to ever backdown to another man so I show them what I'm about." He shrugged.

Shaun nodded, "Okay I get that, but fuck them Nolan. How many times I don' told you that half those kids are probably just jealous and you gotta stop giving them the satisfaction of knowing they got under your skin. Sometimes the best thing you can do in a situation is to just walk away and save yourself from deeper consequences. Like yeah winning fights is cool and all but having a record and getting into it with the laws ain't."

"I know and I'ma work on my anger forreal, I promised Armoni and mama and I'm not tryna let them down."

"I got faith in you son, we're all rooting for you to do great because we know you can. You just gotta believe it for yourself."

"Thanks pops, I'm sorry forreal for everything."

Raising up from the chair, Shaun walked towards him and held his hand out. "You good, but aye I noticed here lately you have changed attitude wise and you and Armoni have gotten a lot closer and been spending a lot of time together. Have y'all——you know?"

Laughing, he shook his head. "Nah, we just been chilling."

Shaun squinted his eyes, "What's the definition of chilling to you? Because my definition is everything but that."

Feeling his cheeks warm up, he covered his face. "This is embarrassing pops, do we really gotta talk about this?"

"Issa simple yes or no son."

"No we not having sex, I don't think she's ready for that."

Shaun nodded, "But you feel like you are?"

Nolan shrugged, "I don't know, I mean sex is always on my mind and with me not being a virgin like Armoni is it does become hard to resist the urge at times and Armoni and I have don' a few things orally but I'm cool with waiting for her, she's worth it."

"Just be careful okay? This will stay between us of course, but just be smart like I always tell you."

"I will."

"Good and go ahead and get dressed I wanna take you somewhere."

"Where?"

Smirking, Shaun walked to the door. "You'll see."

-

This is a filler chapter, what y'all think of Malcolm so far?👀
And its more to Nolan that will be revealed as well.

Thanks for the love & support as always!
- Denise💋