Author's Note

Before I start this chapter, I just really want to thank each and everyone of you guys that takes their time out of their busy lives to read my work. Words truly can't express how it makes me feel, writing is something I love doing, and I literally get excited to update just to see you guys reactions to what's going on.

I write for myself but I also write for you all as well. I like when you guys say things like "This is me," or "I can relate to this." I live for those comments, I want to write about situations people can relate too and each time I see that comment I feel one step closer to my goal.

I'm so humbled and moved by the amount of love this book has recieved and I know I say I don't be liking my work but thats the honest truth, but you guys do motivate me to keep pushing out these updates!

But I will start showing my love and support back, right now all I have time to do is work, write and attend school .. I've read a few of you guys books but for the ones I haven't yet, please drop the name of the book in my comments and I will add it my library and reading list to be sure to check it out when I have time. You can ask one of my personal friends SantanaBihh she will tell you how I loveee showing love to others because I know how it feels.

You want your work noticed, you want your work to get out there one day so every vote, every view and every comment is important and if you have a goal .. I'll be glad to help as much as I can.

I don't want this support to be one sided, you guys show me love its only right I give it back!

Again thanks for everything, I love you all so much ❤ and if you read all of this thank you, this really came from the heart.

Now onto the chapter..

Chris in MM

C H A P T E R
T W E N T Y - O N E

Carrying a small box she got from her hall closet, Cali sat it on the floor as she got down with Chris wanting to show him the box of memories she kept for this exact moment.

After they shared their moment at the door, she immediately showed him to the room she had ready for him, let him get situated and shower and now they planned to catch up all night.

Seeing him at her door damn near made her faint, cause she didn't know he was returning so soon. She had so many questions to asked but she knew she had than enough time to get those questions out.

As he sipped on a cup of apple-cranberry juice she rummaged through the box looking for the photo album she created. When she found out, she lifted it up handing it to him.

"What is this?" He asked sitting his cup down.

Criss crossing her legs, she clapsed her hands together. "It's a photo album from when you were younger up until you were sixteen."

Opening the book, he flipped the pages looking at all the throwbacks of him, he laughed at a few of them they bad together. When he got to one picture he shook his head laughing.

"This don't even look like me." He laughed showing her.

"That looks exactly like you big head ass. You were cute then, what happened?"

"You stay tryna clown on a nigga, knowing back then I had all the ladies on my jock."

"Sure you did," She mumbled laughing.

Pushing her shoulder he flipped the page going to the next picture. "I was kinda ugly as a kid, I got better looking as the years went by." He explained.

"It's a new term for that now, its called glo'd up." Cali explained.

"Sounds dumb, just like that music you had me listen too .. I like how times have changed but music wise, I ain't feeling it."

"Oh whatever, I need to put you onto some Kendrick, PnB Rock, um August Alsina, its actually some good artists out but anyways keep looking through the book."

Busting out laughing, he covered his mouth so he wouldn't wake up Marquette. "Why you still got this shit man? I fucking sucked at baseball and mama forced me to play knowing that I did, had everyone laughing when I went up to base."

Cali was in tears by now, "You got an A+ for participation at the banquet, funniest shit ever I swear. You didn't even get a trophy, you got that fat daddy participation certificate." She laughed wiping her eyes, pinching his cheeks.

Swatting her hands away, he continued flipping through pages, laughing at a few. "That wasn't even cool, I had heart. Hardest working player out there."

"Yeah heart and dedication, but no skills."

"And who are you to talk?" He asked cocking his head. "Last I checked you had no skills either, remember those cheerleading tryouts?"

Flipping her hair she laughed, "Oh I got skills boo, ask about me." She smirked being nasty.

Shaking his head, he just laughed. "Wasn't nobody even tryna be nasty .. move man."

When he got up to stand, she laughed pulling him down hugging him tightly. "Stop! Sit down, I was just playing."

Rolling his eyes, he picked the book back up continued his search through it. When it got to his high school days, he sighed knowing this was around the time when his life went down hill.

Stopping at one photo he chuckled. "This was when I got fine, you couldn't tell me shit .. I had those diamond studs, had money, the nice ass clothes and shoes..I felt like I was the man." Shaking his head, he chuckled thinking back.

"Damn, I remember this photo like I took it yesterday." He mumbled with a small smile on his face. "Crazy how fast life goes, one minute I'm out with my boys, chilling then boom eleven years in jail and each nigga I helped giving them bread was gon', no where to be found." He mumbled.

Cali touched his shoulder. "All that matters now is that you're home and moving forward. You're still young, you got time to make it right and turn your life around."

Nodding his head he sat the book down, "I know I don't say it much, but I appreciate you like deadass. I know as a sister you suppose to be there for your sibling but you really out did yourself. I knew if I had no one else on my team, I had you and that was enough for me to keep pushing."

"I owe it to you Chris .. when mama was out doing her thing, you were all I had .. you played that fatherly role to me always made sure I was good, had money in my pockets .. you were the best big brother any girl could ask for, I hate you had to be the one to go out and make money cause mama couldn't but if it weren't for you I wouldn't be the woman I am today .. you raised me to be respectful of myself, to love myself, to never settle for less and to aim high and that's what I did so now that I finally have the chance to take care of you, I'm honoring it cause you deserve it."

Grabbing her hand, he smiled kissing the back of it. "And I appreciate it,"

Leaning back into the couch, Cali sighed. "So does mama know you're out?"

He shrugged, "I don't care if she does or not, I'm not going to see her."

Frowning, she looked over at him. "Why not?"

"Look, you can fuck with mama if you want too but I'm good, she didn't give a damn about us once daddy left. Only thing on her mind was dick and money for herself. She out there selling her body for money but wasn't spending the money on us, she buying shoes, outfits and shit just to lure the next nigga in. Fourteen years old, I had to put my life on hold and grow up faster cause we had to eat. Then I get locked up for eleven years and she never wrote or visited me and I'm suppose to jump for joy and go see her once I'm out .. she's part of the reason I was even in the predictament I was in to get arrested and she couldn't even stop to see her only son, so nah fuck her and don't bring her around me either Cali, I know you."

Sighing, Cali rubbed her forehead. "She has changed Chris .. she isn't the same woman she was before. She knows how wrong she was."

He shrugged. "I don't care Cal, I really don't .. I'm good with not having no parents hell most of our lives we didn't so mama can kick rocks and shove those bitches up her ass if she wants." He state bitterly.

Cali knew about the hatred he had towards their mom, but she didn't know it was this deep. But respecting her brothers wishes she decided to just drop it and let him do what he wants.

Chris just felt as a mother she really failed him. He thought when he got locked up she would at least stop by and see him but not once did she ever, the time he really needed her to step up and be that parent she didn't so he was done.

But Cali already knows once her mom hears that he's back and didn't make any attempts to see her, she's gonna fly over to Cali's and cause a scene.

"Okay, I'm sorry." She mumbled.

Looking over at her, he sighed. "Nah, I'm sorry .. I'm just still angry but if it makes you feel better, one of these days I'll stop by and see moms and have a heart to heart with her but it ain't gon' be no time soon, I at least want to get my shit together first."

Smiling, she nodded. "Sounds like a plan,"

"Yeah but alright catch me up its been eleven years .. what you been up too besides raising my nephew? Hope you ain't housing one of these cluck ass niggas and settling for less out here."

Rolling her eyes, playfully she instantly thought of Ahmad. "I am seeing someone, and no he isn't one of these cluck ass niggas. He's a real good dude forreal, and I love him, Marquette loves him and he treats me good .. you'd like him."

"Yeah yeah, I'll be the judge on how good he is the day I meet him.. where he at now?"

Biting her lip, she debated on telling him because she knew he'd instantly think he was a bad news and she knew Ahmad wasn't and didn't want anybody misjudging him. "He's out of town on business, he'll be back though."

"What does he do?"

"He owns his own business, and he's tryna branch out so yeah that's why he's out of town."

She didn't technically lie, because Ahmad actually was trying to do that just not at this moment. Nodding his head, he yawned. "I'll question you more about this nigga tomorrow, I'm tired."

Standing to his feet, he helped her up as she fixed the shorts she was wearing. Giving each other one last hug, he made his way upstairs to the room he'd be staying in, while she cleaned up their mess.

Picking up the box of memories, she carried it back to the hall closet sitting it on the top shelf. Closing the door she shut off all the lights downstairs except the kitchen then went up the stairs going to her room but not before checking on her son.

When she saw the picture he carried around of Ahmad on the floor, she picked it up laying it by his pillow knowing he'd have a fit if he woke up and didn't see it.

Kissing his forehead, she stepped out the room then walked into hers sighing. She pictured Ahmad being there waiting on her as he usually would.

Stripping down to her bra and panties, she climbed into bed as she grabbed the pillow with his scent all over it cuddling next to it as she closed her eyes letting the sleep take over.

-

Sitting across from Derek, he slid the bottle of pills back to him as the guard watched him take his three that he needed. Swallowing it down with some water, he sighed.

Once the guard witnessed it, he walked back over to the door. "Any word on when my trial gon' be?"

"Your lawyer is coming tomorrow I believe to discuss everything, how you holding up in there though?"

He shrugged, "I'm straight for the most part. My homeboy got released a few weeks ago so its been boring. The dreams are coming and going, one night I might dream about Cali then the next my aunt .. but um I been going to the chapel they have here .. right now they just giving me scriptures but they having bible study one of these days and I'll be able to actually learn more." He explained.

Derek nodded impressed. "Wow, that's good! What brought all this on?"

"My boy Chris the one that was just released he kinda sparked my mine with it during conversation."

"That's really good to hear man, very proud of that.. we all need Jesus in our lives."

"Yeah, I might actually stick to this .. like growing up I thought church was boring .. I was never interested, I just knew about him pretty much but now that I'm actually getting into it, shit ain't that bad. It's actually interesting, you read one scripture and you pretty much read your life that fast .. like when folks said he had all the answers, I was just like man whatever .. but he literally does."

Derek watched in amazement how much Ahmad has changed, he went from doubting God to questioning everything, to finally giving God his credit.

Derek has never seen one of his clients develop and grow as much as Ahmad has. The man before him now was not the man before him a few months ago. "Do you see yourself?" Derek asked with a slight chuckle.

"What do you mean?"

"Do you see this change? Like you've said it before .. but do you really see it?"

Sitting their quiet for a moment, he eventually nodded his head. "Yeah I see the change in myself, being in here lowkey opened my eyes that I'm not the only one suffering .. like this one guy he grew up in the foster care system, parents wanted nothing to do with him, left him in a dumpster and he was later found by a kid and while in the foster system he went from family to family getting mistreated so he had to find a way out and he sold drugs to get some quick cash and of course he got wrapped up behind it .."

"Then another guy killed his family. He was so hooked on drugs that he started cooking dinner and during the time of him cooking that want for that hit came to his mind so at that moment the only thing on his mind was getting some crack, he left but left with everything on, and he was frying chicken at the time so the grease popped and caused a grease fire and it spreaded through the house. His wife and kids were upstairs oblivious to what was going on downstairs so when he came back from getting his hit, his house was gon' and so was his family and he had to live with that guilt of his killing his kids and wife for the past thirty years of his life behind these walls."

"It just really opened my eyes to be grateful for the life I do have, like yes I had it rough but it was others who had it ten times worse than me ..I have people who support me and want only the best for me when its folks who don't have none of that, and its sad it took me so long to finally realize this."

Derek shook his head, "Nah, at least you finally realize the blessings you do have in your life. I'm really proud of you man,"

Ahmad smiled, "Yeah, I'm determined man to be happy, to be at peace just gotta get through this last hump and continue living life for myself and not letting others have so much control over me."

"Indeed that's the goal, have you ever thought about getting closure?"

"Closure from who?"

"Well Chanel for instance, did you ever want to know why she cheated? I know you want some type of explanation and this can also help as well."

Ahmad shrugged, "I don't know man, what if she says some shit I don't wanna hear?"

"I'm sure she won't, she knows she hurt you .. but you'll never know until it happens and I'll be here."

"Whatever helps, I'm down." He shrugged.

"Alright, just give me her full name and I'll set it up by finding her and having a talk with her first then we'll move on from there."

"Alright, hope this goes well."

-

Excuse Any Mistakes
- Denise 💕