What screws us up in life is the picture in our head of how it's suppose to be.

-- Y.C

Aanvi Zenobia

"Izzy stoooop!" I whined as he kept biting and sucking on my neck.

"You keep acting like it's not mine."

"It's not, we're only friends." I smiled at his face.

"Exactly, you're my friend and this my best friend." He touched my vagina making me move his hand.

"Yeah whatever, I'm leaving now."

"So you going to just leave after we had sex?"

"When do I ever stay? We have sex then I leave and we don't talk until one of us need sex again. That's how this works Izzy." I spoke honestly.

He looked taken aback but I was just being honest, before we even started having sex I told him that's just what this is sex. I didn't want a relationship and I still don't, relationships just came with too much shit. If he couldn't understand that then he could get cut off.

"Why does it sounds like you're trying to play me?"

"Why does it sounds like you caught feelings for me?"

"Maybe I did."

"Maybe you shouldn't because the feelings are not mutual, take a few days to yourself so this crush can past by." I told him putting on my shoes.

"So you could be around here riding ride with drug dealers and shit but won't give me a chance?" He asked making me laugh.

"What drug dealers do I be around Izzy?"

"Fuck you think your little boyfriend Mitch does?"

"Alright, well that's his business, and what was your point of telling me that? When he was ready to tell me that, he would of. Nothing you can say will make me give you a chance, I just don't see you like that Izzy."

"But your hoe ass could come over here and fuck me?"

"Make them days into some weeks, don't even speak to me in school."

"Nobi." He smacked his teeth standing to his feet and grabbing my arm. "Aanvi, come on I'm sorry."

"No, every time something doesn't go your way you always act like a little girl and get disrespectful and I always take it because you're my best friend but that's about to fly dead ass."

"Alright, I'm sorry. I'll work on it." He put his hands on my waist and started kissing my cheek.

"Okay, I'm really leaving. I have to go to Lee's house."

"Lemme walk you then."

"Alright."

Since Lee's house was literally down the street, I accepted. I mainly accepted because it's this old pervert man that be watching me when I walk by myself.

I kept quiet as we took the five-minute walk when I got in front of Lee's house, Izzy gave me a hug as I smiled watching him walk away and then rung Lee's doorbell. She opened the door and squinted her eyes.

"What you doing here?" She asked.

"You look like you are about to leave, I came at the wrong time?"

"Actually you came at the perfect time, Sef is about to come to get me and you're coming."

"Nooo." I whined. "I don't wanna third wheel."

"It's a basketball game, Zeph playing." She smirked.

"You said that like that's just going to automatically make me go." I rolled my eyes but smiled nonetheless.

"Yeah whatever, I be knowing."

"I have time to shower or no? I just left from Izzy house."

"You don't have time but we gon make time. Go."

I quickly grabbed my towel and rag from her room and got in, I wanted to take my time but we had somewhere to be and we weren't on my time. I was just starting to enjoy my time in the shower when Lee knocked on the door.

"Sef outside, take your time but hurry up bitch!" She yelled then walked away.

I spent like five more minutes in the shower then got out seeing she set out a different outfit along with undergarments that I kept here. I put on the grey tank top with the regular ripped jeans that I cuffed at the bottom. I put on the croc slides making sure I put on lotion.

Walking out of the house, I saw Sef and Lee sitting in the car laughing. I smiled seeing my sister so happy, I opened the back door seeing a baby next to me. I instantly grabbed her hand and started smiling in face. She smiled back then held her face in her hand trying to hide from me, I took her hand and blew a kiss on it making her erupt in laughter.

"She usually doesn't like people," Sef said.

"She damn sure didn't like me this quick," Lee said making me laugh.

"Babies love me, she yours?"

"Who? Hell no." Sef laughed. "That's my little sister, that's Zeph's child if anything."

"Nova right?"

"Yes." She smiled showing me her teeth with two missing in the front.

"I'm in love with you, omg." I squealed. "Can I have you?"

"Yes but you have to give me back." She spoke making us laugh.

"Come on." Sef spoke making me look up to see a recreational center.

"I didn't even know you started driving, what the hell?"

"What the hell?" Nova copied making my eyes widen as Lee and Sef laughed.

"No, that's a bad word. Don't say that." I shook my head.

"What the hell?" She repeated.

"Zeph is going to fuck you up." Sef laughed getting out of the car.

I flipped him off getting Nova and then got out of the car. I put her down to walk but she had other plans so I had to pick her up to stop her from getting hit in this parking lot. We walked in seeing both teams stretching and the crowd sitting down or getting snacks.

"Boobie! Boobie!" Nova yelled loudly making me furrow my eyebrows.

"She calling for Zeph," Sef answered my confusion.

"What can't she eat?" I asked wanting a slushie but not wanting to get anything she was allergic to.

"Anything, she not allergic to nothing."

"Okay." I walked away standing in the line.

I looked around seeing Zeph's ex-girlfriend and three other girls with her. One girl stood out to me as she was the prettiest of them all, I was just staring at her basically eye fucking her. I saw them walk towards Lee and Sef, Lee had the straightest face on while Sef was rubbing her trying to get her to change her facial expression.

"Boobie!" Nova yelled again making my attention go to Zeph as he stood in front of me.

"She let you hold her?" He asked taking her from my arms.

"Babies love me." I shrugged ordering a large blue raspberry slushie and getting two straws.

"You here with Sef and Lee?"

"Yeah, third-wheeling as usual." I laughed taking a sip.

"Why you ain't reply to me earlier?"

"I was busy."

"Gimme some."

"No, I don't know where your mouth has been."

He leaned down and kissed my lips catching me off guard. "On you." Smirking he grabbed the straw I was using and got some.

"You not cute," I spoke blushing with a slight eye roll.

"Always." He winked at me making both of us laugh.

"Nofia." Nova called my name as I smiled.

"Yes baby?"

"You hold me?" She asked making me take her from Zeph hands as he mugged me.

"Don't be getting my baby attached to you."

"Shut up." I smiled as he did the same.

"I see why you ain't reply to me now." He straight-faced me as I frowned seeing his playful mood go away.

Just as I was about to open my mouth to say something Redd and the three other girls came over to stand in front of us. His attention was still on me while I glanced at them then back at him wondering what I could have possibly done that fast.

"Hey, big brother." The one I was staring at spoke hugging him.

"Wassup Mor, you ain't say you were coming."

"Redd mentioned it and we ain't have shit else to do so why not come support my big brother?" She smiled making him look at her blankly.

"So if Redd didn't say come then you wouldn't of?" He asked making her smile drop and roll her eyes.

"Don't start Mitch."

"Hey Zeph, you don't see me?" Redd asked as he turned his attention to her.

"How could I not?"

"Can I have a hug?" She batted her eyelashes and smiled.

"Yeah." He hugged her as I saw her friend taking a picture while they all awwed.

I stood there awkwardly, I was about to walk away when Zeph's sister Amour tried to take Nova out of my hands but she didn't wanna go. I laughed at Nova's face and shook my head as she slurped from her straw holding on to my shirt.

"Who you?" His sister rudely asked making me push my head back.

"What the hell?" Nova asked taking the words out of my mouth.

"I'm Nobi," I said dryly.

"How do you know my brother? What she your girlfriend?"

"You know that's not my girlfriend," Zeph stated before I can say anything as Redd obnoxiously laughed.

"It was never that funny." I looked at her giving her a look of disgust.

"Aw, Zeph I think you hurt lil baby's feelings, apologize for making her think she had a chance when we always bounce back." She smiled on his face.

"What the hell?" Nova repeated as he glared at her.

"Nova, stop saying that."

"You think I'm tripping over him? It's the other way around mama." I chuckled and walked away going to sit with Lee and Sef.

"Why your face like that?" Sef asked noticing me first.

"Fuck your brother, his plastic ass bitch, and your sister."

"She said something to you?" Lee asked looking at them.

"All of them tried to be funny even Zeph so I'm not sweating it."

"I thought you and Zeph were alright."

"I thought we were too, he just kissed me not even five minutes ago and then wanna act funny once they walk up like that's childish but I don't care."

"That's from him?" Sef asked making me furrow my eyebrows.

"What you talking about?"

"That hickey? It's from Zeph?"

"I have a hickey?" I gasped stupidly turning around thinking I was going to see my neck.

"Oh shit, you do sis. How the fuck didn't I see that?" Lee spoke. "I would have never told you to put on a tank top."

"So Imma assume they are not from him and that's why he acting funny." Sef shrugged.

"Okay but he's not my boyfriend and I stated that from the beginning, we can do what we want and he agreed."

"When Zeph messing with one person, it's just that one person. He expects the same shit in return so now he going to act like he doesn't care and fall back. If you are not ready to just talk to him and him only, you might as well just drop my brother now. I know my little brother and he would never be okay with you talking to other niggas."

I didn't reply as I looked towards Zeph seeing Redd kiss him on his cheek, I rolled my eyes extra hard and started playing with Nova. She kept me entertained throughout the whole game and before I knew it the game was over. I stood up wanting to go straight into the house, I was tired as shit.

"Sissy, I'm tired and wanna go in the house. I'm just going to catch the bus home." I stood up watching everybody leave.

"I'm not letting you do that, I'll take you. Just give me like five minutes." Sef spoke making me nod and sit back down as he walked away.

"I can't wait until you get pregnant," Lee spoke catching me off guard as I rocked a sleeping Nova.

"Me either, I'm going to be the best mom ever." I smiled.

"I'll be their second mom. You'll be the strict one, that's always saying no and I'll be the fun one that's always going behind ya back." She spoke, making me laugh.

"I don't like Zeph's sister."

"Me either, she a follower, and I'll beat her ass but because Sef is my boyfriend I put up with her ditsy ass."

"I don't have to put up with it." I shrugged.

"You cutting Zeph off?"

"Obviously, I'm not ready for what he wants and he still loves her. Why bother trying something that's just going to end badly?"

"I think you could do it, I mean I'm the ho out of us two and I haven't cheated or looked at another nigga the way I do with Sef. If I could do it then you can."

"Maybe I can but I just don't want to, nothing last forever sissy."

"Wrong because this friendship will last forever, you're not my sister by blood but you might as well be. You're just scared to get heartbroken but maybe you need to take this chance." She shrugged as I really listened.

"Maybe you're right but I'm going to beat Izzy the fuck up. He never put hickies on me but now Zeph's in the picture he's trying to be petty. He basically told me he have feelings."

"Do you?"

"Not at all, I only see him as something to do when it's nothing to do. Why couldn't he just leave it at sex?"

"I think you were meant to be a boy, you really have no feelings."

"I don't and I really don't care."

"I love ittt." She loudly said making me laugh as some people looked at us. "Whaaat?"

"Stop Lee." I laughed. "Mean ass."

Sef and Zeph walked our way making me roll my eyes, Sef always thinks he slick. He smirked at me and I already knew what he was thinking. Lee stood up and dusted her pants off making me laugh because she knew what she was doing too.

"Excuse me?" A boy said making me look over at him.

"Yes?"

"Your daughter is beautiful and so are you."

"She's not mine but thank you." I smiled.

"I just wanted to say that, I saw you earlier but I had to play so I couldn't say anything then."

"I wasn't even paying attention to this game, you were playing?"

"Yeah, number 15." He showed me his jersey smiling.

"Well good game then." I smiled.

"What's your name?"

"Zenobia."

"I'm Lamar, nice meeting you." He held his hand out as I shook it.

"Nice meeting you too."

"Well it's getting empty, you got a phone?"

I was about to say no but Lee slickly put her phone in my back pocket making me laugh and pull it out. Before I could ask for his number Sef and Zeph stood in front of us, Sef snatched the phone out of my hand and Zeph was just looking.

"Wassup Mitch?" Lamar spoke dabbing him up meanwhile Zeph's attention was only on me.

"Wassup, Nobi you ready?" He asked.

"This you?" Lamar asked.

"Of course not, I'm single," I spoke cutting him off before he could say anything.

"No she not, they just going through something." Sef spoke making Lee hit him as I glared at him.

"Oh aight, my bad then." Lamar walked away as I rolled my eyes.

"Can we leave?" I asked.

"Since Zeph is going that way, he could-"

"No, I'll catch the bus." I handed Nova to Sef and picked my trash up walking away.

"Lemme talk to you," Zeph said walking behind me.

"Nah, I'm gooood."

"It wasn't a question."

"Okay." I continued walking until he roughly grabbed my arm.

"I said lemme talk to you."

"And I said no."

"Zenobia."

"Zephyr."

He sighed and let me go. "Please Nobi."

I rolled my eyes going towards the car, he got the car seat out of Sef's car and placed it in his car then strapped Nova up. I hugged Lee and stuck my middle finger at Sef and got in the car. Zeph looked over at me and then started the car.

"Lemme take her home first then I guess we could ride around and talk."

I didn't reply as I just sat back and looked out the window. He was typing on his phone and driving at the same time making me glare at him, he looked up at me and put his phone down putting his hands up in surrender. He turned the radio on plugging his phone to the aux then handed me his phone, I picked the first song that came to my head seeing him bob his head in approval.

"She see money all around me, I look like I'm the man but I was down and out like last week. Tell me where you been? You came out of hiding girl, don't act like I'm your man." I sung lowly to the music.

Around five minutes later he pulled up to a beautiful ass house, I was stuck. Not even hearing him call my name I continued looking in fascination, their houses was just amazing. I needed to be living how they are.

"Come on No." He spoke opening my door already having Nova and her car seat in his hands.

"Lemme have her," I spoke as she sleepily reached for me.

"You making my little sister fall in love with you."

"I'm in love with her back." I smiled as she wrapped her around my neck.

"But you won't give me a chance? Wow." He playfully scoffed making me roll my eyes.

He opened the door as I heard laughter and music loudly playing. We walked down the hall seeing a whole bunch of people, I involuntarily sighed. I didn't want to meet anybody, I should have just stayed in the car.

"My baby!" A woman said making attention go to us as I tried to hide behind Zeph.

"Hey, ma." He put the car seat down and kissed her cheek.

"Who this holding my other baby?"

"Hi, I'm Nobi."

"You are just adorable, I'm Zeph's mom Amori, how are you doing?"

"I'm fine."

"Nephew this your new girlfriend?" A man asked towering over both of us making me look up in shock.

"Nah Unc, she won't give me a chance." He spoke making me glare at him.

"That's that boy shut up look, you know how many times your mother do that to me?" A man spoke taking Nova out of my hands as I laughed.

"Nobi, right?" A lady I recognized as Sef's aunt spoke pulling me into a hug.

"Yes, Yvonne right?" I asked to make sure.

"Yes." She smiled. "Y'all, I met Nobi a few weeks ago at the restaurant and Zeph lover boy ass came in the back like auntie I think I'm ready to start dating again. I like her auntie, a lot auntie." She babbled as Zeph just looked at her shaking his head.

"Stop embarrassing my baby." His mother laughed making us laugh.

"Nephew you gotta show her you mean the shit you saying, give her the world if you can." His other uncle said.

"She knows you got money?" The first uncle asked making all of us laugh.

"No, that's only how you get your girls. Any bitch gon go after you know you got money cause you ugly as hell." Yvonne said making them laugh.

"Nigga all six of us look alike, we all ugly then." He said as I covered my mouth laughing harder.

"Nobi lemme introduce you to all of them. This is my uncle Algee, aunt Joelle, uncles Jamie and Ivo, you know my mom and Yvonne and my pops Niko. Y'all this Zenobia but she likes to be called Nobi."

"Nobi, you gon give my nephew a chance?" Joelle asked making me stuck.

"Uh-"

"Don't put her in the hot seat like that." A girl spoke coming from the kitchen.

"Word, let the girl breathe." Zeph's father spoke shaking his head.

"Hey girl, you pretty as hell. You wanna be my girlfriend?" She spoke giving me a hug as I laughed.

"I mean-"

"I'll beat both of y'all the fuck up," Zeph spoke making us laugh. "Nobi, this my gay ass sister Mazori. Amour twin."

"Hey," I spoke.

"Nobi, come with us in the kitchen." His mom said making my heart start going crazy as I looked at Zeph.

"Actually I was just dropping her off home so-"

"We not going to torture her Mitch, calm down." His aunt Joelle said laughing as they walked into the kitchen. I sighed following them sitting on the island as they moved around.

"So Zenobia how old are you?" His mom asked.

"17," I said making them all stop and look at me.

"You know he's 20 right?"

"Yeah, I turn 18 on February 14th."

"Aw, that's Zeph's birthday too. That's cute." His sister spoke.

"Do you like him?" His aunt Yvonne asked.

"Yes, I like him but I'm not into relationships. That's so much stress and drama and I'm not ready for that."

"I like you." His aunt Joelle spoke pointing at me.

"Yeah but I at least think you should give my baby a chance. My son isn't average and his mindset is way more mature than these other boys, he's worth it." His mom shrugged.

"Don't think we're trying to force you to give him a chance or anything like that," Yvonne spoke.

"We just know how much of a great person Zeph is and the effect he has in people's lives and for some reason he really wants you to be a part of that," Joelle spoke.

"I see the reason already, just looking and having this short conversation with you I could see why my son is in like." His mom spoke making me put my head down and not try to blush in front of them.

"Thank you," I said.

"And she look good, I never want to share girls with my siblings but I'm reconsidering. You ever tried girls?" Mazori asked making me laugh.

"Get out that girl's face." His mom hit her with a dish rag as I shook my head.

"We'll let you get out of here now, come to one of our cookouts so you could meet everybody else," Yvonne said as I nodded.

"Nofia!" Nova called my name walking towards me.

"She likes you?" His mom asked as all their faces scrunched up.

"Her little badass don't even like me." Joelle rolled her eyes making them laugh.

"Because you be saying shit like that." His mom said.

"Y'all done? I wanna get home and take a shower." Zeph entered the kitchen yawning.

"Yeah, your little boney ass could leave. Take this plate, you looking a little too boney." His aunt said making me laugh.

"Thanks, auntie." He rolled his eyes kissing her cheek along with hugging all of them.

"Nobi, take a plate too. I heard you like baked mac and cheese."

"Ooh I do, that's my fave." I smiled excitedly taking the plate.

I hugged all of them and we left within five minutes because Nova didn't want me to and it kept breaking my heart to see her cry for me. After her dad started playing with her, we made our escape route and now we were back in the car driving around.

"I like your family," I spoke looking out the window.

"I'm glad you do, I didn't even know all of them were there or I would have told you to stay in the car."

"It's cool."

A few minutes passed in silence as I felt him staring at me. When I glanced at him he would still be staring making me roll my eyes.

"Zeph stop." I rolled my eyes.

"What I'm doing?"

"You keep looking at me, if you wanna talk say something."

"Why would you come to my game with that big ass hickey on your neck? Like I know you told me you were still fucking with the nigga but I'm not fucking with nobody else and I want you to do the same shit. I'm trying to act like I'm okay with the shit but obviously I'm not, I can't force you to do anything though so just tell me if I'm trying too hard and I'll fall back."

"I didn't know he put a hickey on me, he never does but he knew I was going to see you so he wanted to be petty I guess. You're right it's disrespectful and if I knew I had them then I would of never come or at least tried to cover them."

"Alright, answer my question."

"You're not trying too hard, I actually like that you're fighting for me but I'm just not ready. It's not even about you hurting me anymore, it's about me hurting you. A girl already lost your trust by cheating on you and I don't wanna hurt you for the second time."

"So don't, I can make you forget about them other niggas. It'll just be us two but you have to tell me that this is what you want."

I bit my lip and sighed, I thought of the possibilities and I didn't see any harm in trying. Zeph was a wonderful person with an amazing ass heart and he was most definitely the finest nigga I met in a long while. I smiled and looked over at him seeing him look at me waiting.

"Alright." I rolled my eyes seeing the smile come on his face. "I will give this a try, I won't fuck with Izzy or any other boys. It'll be about you and just you."

"I knew you'll see it my way." He smirked making me laugh.

"And since I'm cutting off Izzy, you gotta cut off your Nicki Minaj," I spoke seriously making him laugh.

"I been cut that girl off five months ago, I just wanted to be petty. Out of every girl, you will never have to worry about her. She will never have a chance with me again, word to moms."

"Good cause I'll get Lee to beat her up because I'm a changed person."

"No need." He laughed.

"Can I ask you a question? I want you to be honest with me but if you don't want to answer me then you don't have to." I shrugged.

"Go ahead."

"Are you a drug dealer?" I asked as he stared at me.

"Why you ask that?"

"So that's a yeah?"

"It's not an answer at all."

"So why aren't you answering if you told me I could ask you anything? All you have to do is say yes, no, or mind my business. Don't beat around the bush because it makes it seem like you just lied to me about everything."

He didn't say anything but nodded and drove, I sighed watching the scenery outside. I felt him looking at me a few times but he didn't say anything, instead of taking me home like I insisted he took me to a nice ass neighborhood stopping in front of a building.

"Get out."

I was going to put up a fight but I did as he said watching him walk into the building, it was a lobby with a girl sitting at the front desk. She looked up from typing and smiled at both of us. He walked towards her and leaned on the counter.

"Good evening Mr.Brown, I thought today was your day off?" She spoke with a smile.

"It is but I wanted to show someone around, this is Zenobia. Zenobia this is Chelsea."

"Hi." I waved as she returned the gesture.

"I have any messages?"

"Yes, they're all in your office."

"I'm heading there now, thank you, Chelsea."

"Just doing my job sir."

He nodded his head for me to follow him, I did as so following quiet but looking around. We walked towards an elevator as I watched him click the fifth floor, the elevator was mirror-like so I saw every floor and I was truly amazed. Once we reached the floor he spoke to a few people and opened the door to the cleanest and nice office I had ever seen. This looked like something rich white people would have.

"So, this is where I work. You know flipping houses as I told you? I flipped my house, my parent's house, and Yvonne's restaurant, and I also flipped this building. This whole thing is mine along with the company so I did not lie to you."

"It was a question that you couldn't answer, so I assumed you did. I would have understood if you were one, I'm not knocking your hustle but it was just a question that you acted like you couldn't answer. You could have told me to mind my business and I would have dropped the conversation altogether."

"I used to be in the drug game when I was little, I made a name for myself but I don't own up to my name now. I'm not Mitch the drug dealer no more, I'm Zephyr the man who takes care of his responsibilities and does shit with his life making money legally."

"Alright, understood."

"Why would you ask me that? Who told you I was one?"

"Earlier, Izzy told me had feelings for me then when I denied him he tried to get me to leave you alone and he thought saying that was just going to make me give up on you."

"I know that name, he got a brother named Jace and his mother named Keisha?"

"Yeah, how you know that?" 

"His brother is like my brother, I watched that boy grow up." He said making me nod. "You better tell em to keep my name out his mouth before I knock his ass out."

"Alright."

He grabbed me by the loops of my pants and pulled me closer, I wrapped my hands around his waist while he hugged my head. We stood there like that for at least five minutes before he yawned, I looked up seeing he looked exhausted.

"Come on, you stink, and you're tired," I spoke, making him look at me quickly.

"I stink? This is called hard work and dedication." He lifted his arm up putting his musty ass underarms by my face making me laugh.

"No, it's called must and sweat."

"Oh aight, guess we bout to stink together."

"Zephyr." I squealed about to run but he caught me and started rubbing his sweaty ass all over me. "Alright, alright!"

"Say that's hard work and dedication."

"It's hard work and dedication," I repeated quickly as he let me go.

"Good, now let's go." He laughed pulling out his keys to lock his office back.

He grabbed my hand and we walked to the elevator smiling. I leaned my head on his shoulder yawning getting tired myself. We walked to the car and I don't even remember pulling off but when he shook me awake we were in front of my house. I sighed not wanting to get out of the car but I had to.

"Why your face like that?"

"I lowkey don't wanna leave you."

"Tomorrow after work, I'll come to get you and we could go somewhere."

"Can we go somewhere childish and you can bring Nova?"

"Yeah." He shook his head laughing. "My little sister really stole your heart."

"Yes, it's hers to keep."

"Yeah whatever, gimme a kiss so you could leave."

I leaned over grabbing his face and pecking his lips three times. He grabbed the back of my neck not liking me teasing him and put his tongue in my mouth. I slowly moaned into the kiss and that's when I decided to pull back.

"See you later baby girl." He kissed me one last time.

"Let me know when you are in the house please, last time you didn't and I was up all night waiting." I rolled my eyes.

"Alright, I promise. Don't forget ya food."

"Oooh, almost did. Thank you, baby."

After one last kiss, I walked into the house, I walked straight into my room not speaking or letting my mom know I was there. I put my plate of food on my dresser and lay down leaving everything on. I'll just take a shower in the morning when I have the energy.
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The next chapter is so freaking long smh

Excuse any mistakes.