The feeling of something crawling on Brielle woke her up, making her slap the side of her face to kill whatever it was.

When she pulled her hand away, she frowned in disgust at the squashed baby roach.

It'd been a week since she watched Kyser be killed in front of her, and it wasn't getting any easier to accept.

Brielle had grown used to her being by her side during basically everything. They never went more than a couple of hours without seeing each other.

She also felt she was partially to blame for what happened since she asked Kyser to come to the house with her in the first place.

Yes, Kyser made the decision to steal from the guy on her own but had she not been there in the first place, it wouldn't have happened.

Sighing, Brielle stood up from the carpet on which she was sleeping, and walked to the back door to slip outside.

They were having Kyser's funeral today and she planned on stopping by. Hopefully sneaking in the back, and staying away from the family.

It was still early so it gave her time to go find food, and maybe take a shower before the funeral began.

She began her walk to the other side of town, ignoring the light drizzle that had begun.

• • •

"You be looking for a reason to be mad!" Josiah yelled into his phone, "I said I love you and you wanna tell me 'bout what another bitch said."

Hakeem silently put the blunt to his lips, listening to him argue with his on-again-off-again girlfriend.

Listening might have been an exaggeration since he was actually thinking about Bri.

Again.

He'd been thinking about her since he found out her friend was dead. Hakeem thought it was fucked up that Mario would kill the girl, but at the same time understood that he had to replace the shit she stole, leaving him outta some money.

It couldn't have been more than some pocket change, but he ain't know what his situation was.

Josiah finally hung up the phone, shaking his head, "I can't believe this. She gon' call my girl and tell her I pulled up on her the other night."

"Did you?" Hakeem asked.

"Hell yeah." Josiah laughed, "But what she tell her for? I hate these bitches."

Hakeem joined his laughter, "I can't do allat arguing shit. If I'ma fuck with a lotta hoes I'ma just be single."

"Man Kyra be cooking and that shit be good as hell. Ian finna go nowhere."

"Well bitch stop cheating."

"I can't. I be finna go home to my girl and then my dick shoot me a text like 'Aye you might as well gone slide to ya' other bitch house'." Josiah shrugged, "Next thing I know the car done drove me over there."

They continued to sit outside and talk about nothing in particular until Grace texted him, telling him practice was over.

"When they started having practice on Saturdays?" Josiah asked as he got in the front seat.

"Ion know. Like a month ago? I just want her to get a license 'cause this shit ain't it."

As they were driving to the school, Josiah noticed a girl walking in the rain, her head down to avoid getting water in her face.

He shook his head, happy that he didn't have a sister to worry about with all the shit that happens in the world.

Music played loudly throughout the car as they stopped in the front and watched Grace walk down the steps to climb in the backseat, "Took you long enough."

"Where everybody else at?" Hakeem asked, noticing she was the only one standing outside.

"They're gone. I'm the only one with a brother who can't be on time."

"Shut up. You just texted me."

Before they could pull out of the parking lot, Josiah pointed out the girl he'd seen walking on thier way here, "Ole girl walking fast as hell."

Hakeem followed his line of sight and saw that it was Bri, drenched in rain.

"I'll be in a rush too if it was raining." Grace pointed out, Leaning to look as well, "I know that girl."

"From where?"

"She went to school with me at the beginning of the year. We took mini-block together but she just randomly stopped showing up."

So Hakeem was right in his assumption that she was around his sister's age.

"I'm finna give her a ride." He decided, exiting the parking lot, "What grade she was in?"

"I think a senior. She always wore jackets so I couldn't see the color of her shirt."

He just couldn't understand what'll have a 17 or 18-year-old girl hitting the bag and having sex with random people. Hakeem knew everybody had a story, but hers had to be a different kinda fucked up.

Brielle was trying to ignore the rain when a car pulled alongside her, rolling down the window, "Get in."

"Damn why you make it sound like a kidnapping?" Josiah asked with a laugh.

She stared at the familair face, wondering if she'd rather walk in the rain, or possibly listen to him ask if she was a crackhead again.

At least I'll be dry, She thought while reaching for the door handle.

Hakeem turned on the heater, pulling back into traffic and looking into the backseat at Bri, "Where you going?"

"Hey Brielle." Grace greeted politely, having known her name from when the teacher took roll.

Before Brielle could respond, Hakeem said, "I thought your name was Bri."

"What you think Bri is short for?"

"There you go with that fucking attitude bro. Ian did shit but try to give you a ride and you acting like you wanna beat my ass."

"Because I asked a question?" Brielle asked, "Nigga get out your feelings,"

Josiah snickered, "Get out yo' feelings nigga."

Hakeem shook his head, "Well Bri, Brielle, whatever the fuck you wanna be called, where you going?"

"To my house."

"You got a house?" He asked, again looking at her in the rearview mirror.

"No, I just fell from the sky and into the street."

Taking a deep breath, he waited for her to give him the directions to her house.

Here he was tryna be nice, letting his seats get wet all that, and she wanna be rude. It didn't hurt his feelings, but damn where was the appreciation?

Grace looked at Brielle, wanting to know why she stopped coming to school, "Did you drop out?"

"The whole damn family nosy." She replied, looking at the girl who bared a striking resemblance to her brother, "I didn't drop out. I just stopped going."

"What's the difference?"

Brielle sighed, and looked towards the window, wishing she would've just kept walking.

______

it's a slow build so no she's not gonna be pregnant & engaged by chapter fucking 10. leave me alone.

thanks for reading 💕