"You yourself, as much as anyone in the entire universe, deserve your love and affection." 

-- Buddha

Aanvi Zenobia

"I'm greedy so Imma let her order first." Sef said making me and the waiter laugh.

"I would like the toffee apple cheesecake french toast-"

"That sound good as hell." Sef cut me off making me roll my eyes.

"Scrambled eggs, sausage links and with two hash browns."

"I'm eating for two so-"

"Boy!" I busted out laughing. 

"For real." He laughed. "I want the cupcake pancakes, the t-bone steak and eggs but I don't want them like this." He showed the man the picture. "I want them scrambled."

"You so difficult." I mugged him.

"Is that all?" The man asked eyeing me.

"Nah, I want hash browns too and some ham."

"Drinks?"

"I want a hot chocolate with whipped cream on top." I smiled.

"I'll just take a orange juice, you might as well give her one too, she'll be asking for one soon enough."

"You don't know me." I rolled my eyes handing the man our menus.

"Be right out with your drinks." He smiled as I nodded.

"That nigga ain't getting no tip, he ain't look me in my face not once but all in yours." He shook his head.

"I look better than you."

"Girl, stop lying on this Tuesday morning." He scoffed.

"I be having that effect on people, they be like "damn, who that?" Be making me feel like I'm Beyonce or some shit." I laughed.

"You tried it." He yelled making me laugh. "What if you was my girl and his disrespectful ass just keep looking? I would of beat his ass up. He lucky, I'm not Mitch."

"Niggas can't even spare a glance at me before he cursing them out, I thought I was bad but he really worst." 

Which was true, Zeph possessive ass get so mad if someone stare at me. Don't even get me started if he catch me looking back, we'll be skipping world war three, four and five going straight to six.

"Y'all equal each other out." He laughed.

"So how you and Lee?" I asked as the man bought out our drinks.

"We're..." He trailed off for a word. "Adjusting I guess? Yeah, you could say that."

"What does that mean?" 

"We not explainable, it'll hurt my head trying to get someone to understand us. We're not together but we can't do whatever we want."

"Y'all together." I rolled my eyes.

"Nah, she asked for space and I'm giving it to her. I think she feels suffocated and I don't want her to resent me or have unneeded hatred towards me so I'm giving her what she want. She don't want me texting her everyday? Cool. She hit me up for dick? Cool. She entertaining another nigga? Not cool."

"I love how selfless y'all are towards each other but stupid at the same time."

"What you mean?"

"When she hit Amour, she broke up with you so she wouldn't put you in a predicament to choose between her or your sister. Now, y'all not together because you don't want to seem like you her dad or something. Y'all don't think about y'all feelings, y'all think about each other feelings. It's stupid but selfless at the same time."

"That's because we know each other, she know me like the back of her hand and vice versa. She'll never love another nigga like me and that's stamped."

"No matter how much shit Lee talk, that girl will never leave you alone and everybody know that."

"Of course and now that she's having my child, she's going to stay in my life forever. I refuse to have multiple baby mothers so she have no choice but to get used to me." He shrugged.

"I still can't believe I'm having a baby." I smiled making him laugh.

"I don't know when you and Sin gon get it through your head but Lee not pregnant for y'all. Our daughter is not y'all daughter."

"Y'all were surrogates, it's okay." I reached over to touch his shoulder.

"Fuck outta here." He laughed as our food came out.

"Thank you." I smiled seeing how good my food looked. "Let me taste your pancakes."

"Let me taste your french toast." We traded plates then traded back. 

We sat talking until I looked at the wall seeing the time making me widen my eyes. "Oh it's about to be 12, get the check." 

"Yerdddddd!" He yelled loud as hell catching everybody attention as I hit him.

"Stupid."

"Everything okay?" Our waiter asked.

"Yeah, we need the check playboy," Sef said making me bust out in laughter.

"I can't with you today, honestly." 

The man gave us the check, Sef paid the bill while I paid the tip. As we were getting ready to walk out, the waiter stopped us, well me. "Yes?" 

"That's your boyfriend?" 

Laughing, I answered. "No, this my brother."

"Okay, so can I shoot my shot?" He asked smiling as I smiled.

He wasn't ugly at all, I don't like light skin boys but he was one of the finest niggas I've seen in a while. He had a head full of hair that sat in a bun, he was tall and skinny as hell. His eyebrows were bushy as hell and his eyes were hazel. He had a beard growing in making him look more mature. The boy was a snack.

"Airball!" Sef said making me tuck in my lips. "She go with my brother and the nigga crazy. You watch the news? He recently just beat somebody son to death, I don't want you to fall victim."

"Sef!" I punched him making him laugh.

"Where's the lie?"

"I do have a boyfriend though." I smiled at the boy.

"Had to try even if I failed." He shrugged. "Have a nice day beautiful."

"You too." I smiled pulling Sef. "He was so cute."

"Hoe." He coughed making me laugh. "Where I'm dropping you off at again?" 

"Imma put the address in the GPS." I said entering it seeing we were thirty minutes away.

"You nervous? Ready? How you feeling?" 

Today was my first day I began my social work internship. "I'm kinda nervous but I'm ready, this just getting me closer to my career."

"That girl got goals."

"Of course." I smiled. "You think I look okay? The lady said dress comfortably but professionally, you think this okay?" 

I had on a white button up shirt that was tucked into my black high waist bell bottom pants. I was going to wear flats but Zeph surprised me with a pair of black feline suede beaded Jimmy Choo heels so I put them on with a YSL blazer to top it off.

"Nah, you look professional, ain't nothing wrong with you."

"Okay because first impressions are everything."

"You good, relax." He laughed. "You done being mad at Jace?"

"I wouldn't say I was ever mad at him, I was at the situation."

"You was mad at him or you wouldn't have stopped fucking with him."

"I still fuck with Jace but now I know he'll have me looking stupid if Zeph was to ever cheat on me but what could I expect?" I checked my face in the mirror. "This why you not supposed to get close with your boyfriend brothers."

"That's not true." Sef shook his head.

"What's not true?" 

"Not all his friends gon let him cheat."

"I don't believe it."

"I wouldn't let him cheat on you and if he did, you know I'm definitely snitching."

"I know that, that's why I've never questioned you." I shrugged. "You don't even count, I said friends."

"Jace not a friend."

"He his brother but as far as me? Ehh. I mean I can trust Jace, I could call him right now and tell him to beat somebody ass and he'll do it no questions asked and it's vice versa but I can't trust him with my relationship."

"Jace, not me."

"What do you mean?"

"You met Jace through Zeph, so of course Zeph get his loyalty. Without Zeph, you and Jace would be strangers but it's different with me because I've known you for a while. We met through Lee and instantly clicked, I had time to build a bond with you so even if you and Zeph broke up, our bond will still be there because I knew you before y'all relationship. That's my brother but you're my sister too."

"I get what you saying." I nodded.

"So don't just stop fucking with him 'cause be honest, if he ask you about Sin and a nigga, you'll lie for her."

"I wouldn't need to lie, Sin don't cheat." I laughed.

"I really hope you don't snitch when he kill her, maybe you could speak at her funeral though." He shrugged.

"I'll make sure she slaying these hoes even on her death bed." I smiled.

"Get out, I had enough of you." He said double parking. 

"Shut up." I laughed.

"But for real, you got this and even if you don't get it at first, remember nothing is supposed to come so easily. You were one out of a thousand, they chose you so they see everything we see in ya sis. You got this."

"I really needed to hear that." I leaned over giving him a hug. "Thanks brother, I'll call on break."

"Bet."

I got out the car straightening my pants out, I walked into the building seeing kids, pregnant women, men and women. I walked to the desk telling them my name as I got told to go down a hallway, I opened the door seeing desks blocked off by walls as people sat at the computer or phone. It was a few glass offices and people just seemed so..busy.

"Oou, newbie." A lady smiled, extending her hand out. "You're, excuse me if I pronounce it wrong, Avy?"

"It's Aun-Vee but you can just call me Zenobia or Nobi, that's what I go by."

"Okay, I'm Eve. I'm a social worker, duh but I've been assigned to show you around and to just get you started. I am here to answer any questions or to help if you don't get something."

"Okay." I nodded.

"This way is your office-"

"Office?" I cut her off.

"Yes." She laughed. "People think an intern is an assistant but they're wrong, you will have your own task. I mean you'll still have to answer to some people but here you are your own boss."

"Wow." I said amazed.

"Right, it's amazing and it helps you really understand everything social workers do."

"You said I'll have my own case so that means I'll actually work with kids on cases?" 

"Yes." She smiled. "I will of course be looking out for you but this will be your case, think of me as an extra eye."

We stopped in front of an office that had my name on the door, I smiled, looking at it as she was already in the office. I walked in expecting an office with just a desk and computer but there was a flat screen t.v, a futon, bean bag chair, a little area with some toys, a glasstop desk with a apple laptop and iPad on it. There was a printer, scanner and shredder by the desk.

"This whole office is mine?" I asked in astonishment. 

She opened the door, tapping my name. "Seems that way."

"I'm just really- wow."

"This was my first office when I got started so I know the feeling." She chuckled. "Okay, I have a meeting so let me tell you the basics. This is your username and password, you will need this to log onto the laptop and iPad. Once you log in, they will give you an option to change your password, you can only change it once so make it something you will remember."

"Okay, easy."

"You will have five cases to look over, choose the three you want to work on."

"I could only choose three? What if all of them are appealing?" 

"You can choose all but you're still a beginner so I advise three. Once you pick the three, I need you to look over the cases. When I say look over, I mean look at everything, don't miss any detail. Once you review the three cases, grab the iPad and log in using the username and new password. They will give you instructions on what to do with the cases and how to go about everything."

"Okay, seems simple." I nodded.

"If you have any questions, press this button, and one of the workers in the cubbies will come help you. They're basically assistants who help with all areas and nine times out of ten they would know the answer but if not you can wait until I come back."

"Okay, thank you, Eve." I smiled.

"No problem, sweets." She walked out with her iPad in hand. 

I logged in to the laptop and began everything she said; I prayed everything go right.

~

"Ms.Henderson?" One of the assistants, Leah, asked. "I mean Nobi, I'm going on a run to get food. Would you like anything?"

"Where are you going?" 

"This Mexican place down the street."

"I could really go for some steak tacos with some guac and chips."

"Be right back." She smiled.

I had finished my task on both cases and was finishing the third one, but this specific case was making some unwanted feelings and memories appear. This 13-year-old girl was put into the system at three months due to drugs in her system, she was beaten and raped just at three months then as she grew up, she was moved around where she was getting molested, abused, or just treated wrong. I related to this girl, and I haven't even met her.

"Hey girly." I heard just as I finished the task.

"Hey." I smiled.

"Are those tears in your eyes? What happened?" She asked, concerned. 

"I was just finishing up the third case, but the kid's background was just like mine, we've been through similar things, and it bought up unwanted memories and feelings."

"As I child, I came out the womb unwanted. I've never met my parents and I've never had anyone give a damn about me. My social worker didn't care who she paired me with, my birth family obviously didn't care, I had no one who cared for me. When I started, I broke down reading so many cases but that gives you a reason on why you are here. Your past is a part of you and the things that happened to you are happening to many others, that's why it's our job to try to stop it."

"Yeah, that's why I want to be a social worker. I would never wish the things I've seen or been through on anyone, I have a voice and I'm going to use it."

"I like you." She nodded smiling. "Have you met the boss lady yet?" 

"No, her name Ms.Gregory right?"

"Yeah, she always expects perfection, you have to stay on your Ps or Qs, or she will find another intern. That lady can scare anybody; I once saw her make a man cry for not doing his job right. When she comes around, I shut the hell up until she leaves again." She laughed, making me laugh.

"I don't scare easily, but we shouldn't have no problems because I didn't come here to mess up; I came to learn more about the career I want to pursue. Ain't nobody damn sure making me cry." I laughed. 

"Keep that same energy." She said as we laughed. "So, what case are you on?"

"I'm finished, I'm a fast reader, and I type super fast."

"That's impressive, but this is only day one, girl, tomorrow won't be this easy."

"I'm up for the challenge." I shrugged. "Can I ask how old are you?" 

"I am thirty-two." She said, making me furrow my eyebrows.

"I really thought you were nineteen or at least in your early twenties; oh wow." 

"Oop, don't hype me chile." She smiled.

"Are you single?" 

"Yes, but I am straighter than a line."

"Wait, I wasn't asking for me." I laughed, holding my hand out. "I have a boyfriend; I'm straight too."

"Oh, okay." She laughed. "I am single, just having fun."

"I have a brother named Roddy, I think you'll like him."

"Got a picture?"

"Yes." I laughed, pulling out my phone for the first time seeing a few missed calls and texted messages, I ignored them going to Roddy Instagram passing her my phone. "This boy so fine looking like a young Idris Elba, how old is he?"

"Roddy is twenty-nine."

"I think you might have just did something." She said making me laugh.

"This my boyfriend cousin, the whole family is blessed, especially my boyfriend's sister husband. Urban is the finest man, I have ever seen in my life." I shook my head and closed my eyes. 

Leah walked back in with a brown bag. "Sorry, it was traffic. Is this green tea alright?" 

"Yes, thank you." I smiled. 

"Good afternoon, Ms.Gregory." Leah stood in front of her with her hands folded behind her back making me furrow my eyebrows.

"Good afternoon Leah." She smiled.

"You're Ms.Gregory?" I asked, shocked.

"Eve Gregory, nice to meet you."

"So I just been cursing, crying and playing matchmaker like this blackpeoplemeet with my boss and it's my first day? Wow." I shook my head making her laugh.

"I'm all for the games when your work is completed, and you're focused. As I said, no matter how cool I am, there is money to be made and kids to be saved. You don't waste my time; I don't play with your money."

"Money? I get paid for this too?"

"Who did you talk to?" She scrunched up her face. "They need to be fired."

"Some lady named Vira."

"Of course." She rolled her eyes. "But you get paid fourteen dollars an hour, and since you're still in school, you make your own schedule. You do not always have to come to the office in heels; I do allow casual days, you can take your iPad and laptop home to work on cases, and sometimes I allow my employee to bring their friends or family members to work. I think that basically covers everything."

"I think I love you." I started making her laugh. "No, for real, I'm so used to everything going wrong, but recently, I've been getting great things coming my way. I don't know if it was you specifically who hired me, but I wanna thank whoever for giving me this chance."

"I handpicked you because I believed in you; as I said today was easy because it was your first day but the days get more harder as they pass but continue proving to me why I chose you and I'll help you achieve everything you want to."

"Thank you." I nodded shaking her hand as she turned to walk out but I called her. "Wait, are you really thirty-two orr?"

"Yes, girl, and yes, I need you to put that word in." She said, making me laugh.

"Okay, I got you." I laughed.

"Oh, Zenobia? You can go since you finish." I nodded just as I checked Zeph's messages. "Your key to the office is here, don't lose this."

"I won't; see you tomorrow." I smiled, gathering my stuff.

"See you tomorrow." 

I grabbed my bag and phone, I put the iPad and the laptop on the charger turning them both off then locked my office door. I said bye to Leah as I walked down; there wasn't anyone in the waiting room no more, as I assumed since I came in at 12 and left at 5. I walked to Zeph's BMW and got in, kissing him.

"I can't wait to tell you about my day." I smiled.

"New Edition and chill?" He offered making my smile widen. 

"Most definitely."
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A filler chapter but ehhh.

Lightly edited, excuse any mistakes.