~Los Angeles,

•09/28 {Sunday, 5:03 P.M}

~*~ Docia ~*~

"What I'm getting if I win ? " Dorian asked as we were getting out of the car.

Yes, we were hanging out outside of the therapy sessions and anger management classes with Dorian. And it didn't even feel weird to be here with him. Well, it's not like we were only the two of us anyways. After our special session on Thursday, we actually went to lunch together and while we were having a random conversation, I actually and randomly invited him to spend some quality time with Yemi, Ryver and myself. We planned to enjoy the rest of our Sunday with a paintball and we needed one more player to have equal teams.

I laughed shaking my head at him, "First of all, you won't win. And second, you won't win." I answered while we were making our way to the paintball field, that looked like a military exercices field with old metal barrels on it. 

Two men were already waiting for us, "Hi guys ! I'm Larry and here is my coworker Harry." The tallest one greeted us with a huge and genuine smile. 

"Larry and Harry ? " Yemi asked to be make sure that she heard him well as he nodded his head, "Nice to meet you. We are Ryver, Dorian, Docia and Yemi." She introduced all of us to the two men. 

"Great day to play paintball today, right ? We're happy that you chose to do it here and we hope you'll enjoy it. Plus, we have a very good weather, so everything should go smoothly. Is it all your first time ? " Harry asked looking at us as we shook our head yes, except Dorian. 

"I already did play twice when I was in high school." 

"Alright, we're going to equip you, then show you the field and then tell you the rules." He continued as we nodded to let him know that we understood.

"And finally you'll be able to play and have fun. I guess the teams are two against two or is it everyone for themselves ? " Larry added.

"Everyone for themselves ! And the winner can choose where we're going to eat after ! " Ryver said excitedly. It was his first time and he couldn't wait to play as you can see. He'd been waiting to do this activity since forever. 

"I don't want to hear you cry at the end when mama'll win." Yemi said squeezing his cheeks. 

"You're gonna be the first one out of the game, what are you talking about ? "

"Instead of talking for hours, leggo." Dorian suggested and we followed the instructors inside to change.

It's going to be interesting. 

∫

∫

∫

"This is not funny, I could die ! " 

"But you're still alive, so let us laugh. It was one of the most hilarious moments of my life ! And Larry recorded everything, he's the man. I can't wait to get that video." Ryver managed to say before to burst out laughing once again along with Dorian and myself. 

We were at Popeyes for twenty minutes now and since our car ride we were crying laughing at Yemi for the spectacular fall of the year she did earlier during the paintball game. We were all running to hide, when we suddenly heard a big scream and next thing you know she was sprawling on the dirty ground, on her back. The way she fell was the funniest, mainly because of her face expressions. The scene even happened in slow motion. Well, it seemed like it. 

We were worried at first. Scared that she broke something, but once we were sure she was okay we couldn't stop making fun of her. And cherry on the cake, Larry --who nicely accepted to record the game for a souvenir-- got absolutely everything.

"Plus, you won the game. That was a smart strategy, by the way. I'll use that fall in the future." Dorian said while he was wiping his tears away. 

"True, you're a genius Ye." I added laughing more.

"You three are the worst people of the world. I could end my day in a hospital." 

"But you didn't ! " We talked in unison and got back to the laughter. At this point, we were crying fountains and our stomachs were hurting so bad. It wasn't helping that we were starving in addition. And we were tired, so we were completely out of control while Yemi was sitting there with her arms folded and a pout resting on her pretty face. I loved my sister with all my heart, but I couldn't help it, it was stronger than me, I couldn't stop laughing. 

"I hope they're going to poison your food." 

Dorian regained his breath, "Then you'll really be ending your day in the hospital and that's not what we want. No, no, no."

"I'm done with this day. Please, I want to eat, I'm starving ! " She yelled to get a waiter to come to our table, what perfectly worked. 

"Thanks again for letting me spend the day with y'all." 

I fanned him off, "Oh ! It's nothing, we had fun." 

Ryver nodded grinning, "Yes, we should do things like that more often. It's cool to not be the only man for once." 

"A man ? Who are you talking about, boy ? " Yemi asked causing her son to give her the straight face. 

"Me, mom. I'm the man of the house, remember our talk ? " 

She chuckled, "Oh yes ! Sorry, Sir." 

~*~ Dorian ~*~ 

After Popeyes and more laughter, I was finally back to RJ's crib. Him and Lani were out for a date tonight since they needed some alone time, so I wasn't surprised when I found nobody at home. 

Since we had our heart to heart conversation, RJ and I were back on good terms. It was like we never argued before. It felt like old times again, but at the same time it was a whole different vibe since we were older, but it was still a good vibe. I was extremely happy to have my cousin/brother/best friend back. And my relationship with Lani was getting better and better, she was becoming more and more a family member to me. She was like the sister I'd never had and I was the brother she was wishing for when she was younger. Also their couple were doing great. They seemed so in love, in their own world and --even if we hadn't had that conversation yet-- I knew the proposal was coming very soon. 

Things --well, socially-- were getting a little bit better since I first got out. 

I'd seen more family members like my big cousin Richard Senior, Tinashe and my other little cousins; and I also visited a cousin from my dad's side with whom I was kind of close back in high school. And I finally  met Officer Doughman or Martin's family last month. 

As I kinda promised him, I organized a meeting for him and his twin boys  with RJ. But actually, my plan didn't turn out too well at first, so RJ and I finally got invited by the Doughmans for their eleventh anniversary dinner and that's when we met RJ's biggest fans aka Martin's sons and his adorable, beautiful wife. If I felt weird in the beginning to be friends with a policeman, now it wasn't big of a problem anymore. Well, Martin and I weren't the best of friends, but we were definitely on our way to become good friends.

My social life was improving slowly but surely, except that I still had issues with my mother. Last time we talked was a bit more than three months ago and since then we didn't contact each other at all. Well, she did send me a couple of text messages, but after two weeks she stopped trying. I couldn't blame her though because if it was me I wouldn't have even attempted to talk to a person during two whole weeks. After one day, if you want to be stubborn and don't want to talk or to answer to my phone calls neither reply to my messages, then fuck you. 

But it was just me. 

Honestly, I missed her and I wanted us to be close like before. I wanted to be a mama's boy again. I missed her so much, but my pride and stubbornness were preventing me to make the first move. I wanted to work on our relationship, but it was out of the window for me to go at her place and apologize first for my stupid and petty behavior. I couldn't be mad at her for not telling me that she had found a man for the rest of my life, it was too childish. Now, I knew. And instead of being mad, I should get to know the new man and make sure if he was really the one for her. Yes, I was mad at her, but I still cared. After all, she was my mother and I loved her more than life itself. And all I'd always wanted for her was her happiness. 

"We're here ! Dorian ? " I heard Lani's voice as I was undressing to take a well needed shower. I wrapped a towel around my waist and met them in the living room. 

"Hey." I greeted waving. 

They waved back, "Hey."

"So, how was it ? Did you win ? " RJ questioned with his hands shoved in his pockets.

"It was fun. We should do this one day with everybody. I'm sure the twins and Stasia are gonna like it. But it'll be another time for Will and Tyron, they're too young now." 

"Yeah, why not ?! " He chuckled, "Rosetta won't be down for it at all though."

"That's why I didn't mention her. Well, I'm gonna take a shower and I think I won't stay up for too long after, so good night. Oh, but how was your date ? Have fun ? " Laylani smiled giving a certain look to RJ, "Oh please, don't do it tonight ! I want to sleeeeeeeeeeeeeeep ! " About three weeks ago, they traumatized me during one night and I didn't need this to happen again. I was proud of my cousin though. He was working that thing !

Of course, I wasn't being a creep and listening, but since she was yelling on the top of her lungs and I couldn't find something to cover my poor ears, I kinda had to hear everything. After that night, I definitely invested into headphones though.  

"We'll be quiet, promise." She said wrapping her arms around his waist and she then gave him a kiss on the cheek.

I gave her a stale face, "No ! No, y'all won't be quiet, mainly you mama ! You better pay me a hotel room, I'm not staying here if that thing is happening again tonight. Real talk." 

"Babe, you didn't have enough with what I gave yo-" RJ started while I scrunched up my face.

"EW ! Ew ! Ew ! Ew ! BYE ! " I went back to my room, totally done with them. 

•09/29 {Monday, 1:03 P.M}

* ''No letting go, no holding back

Because you are my lady

When I'm with you it's all a that

Girl I, am so glad we've made it

No letting go, no holding back

No holding back no

When I'm with you it's all a that

All a that

Really appreciate you loving me 

After all that we've been thru

Really appreciate you loving me

All times, time'' *

"What are you two doing ? " RJ turned off the music as Lani and I groaned in annoyance. 

"Did you really have to kill the vibe, babe ?! That's our jam ! " 

"Your jam ? "

I rolled my eyes, "Don't worry, cuz. When we're singing the lyrics, it's not to each other, calm down. We were just jamming to the real, old, good music that we were blessed to hear when we were younger." I explained and then checked on the croissants in the oven. 

"Yes, we're still not fucking each other and it will NEVER happen. I consider Dorian like my annoying big brother." 

"You're not that special either." We made funny faces at each other like real siblings would do. 

RJ nodded, "Right." He cleared his throat, "Sorry to be like this, but I'm really really really really really really really really really really really really really really really r-"

"Aight ! We got it." I had to cut him off or we would've still been here ten years later, "We already know, you're really jealous and want her to yourself, but you have to share sometimes bro. You're like the only people I talk to and as a human being I need to bond with someone. Plus, she's family now, so we have to create something, like a real friendship." 

"I know, I know, but I can't help it..." He took her in his arms and kissed her temple, "I'm territorial." 

"Aww ! You're so cute." She coed before to kiss him passionately.

I fake threw up, "Please stop." 

"We need to find you a girlfriend." RJ said after they pulled away from each other. 

"So I can be like you two ? No, thank you. I'm fine." 

"C'mon, everybody needs love. Like the Blues Brothers said in their song, everybody needs somebody to love, a sweetheart to miss and uh, a sugar to kiss. Sometimes you don't feel sad inside ? " Lani smiled trying to convince me. 

"Are you going to do us the whole song ? Let me sit down." I sat on a chair and rolled my eyes, "I'm not the type." 

"The type ? What do you mean ? " She interrogated with a confused face expression on. 

"The type of person to fall in love. All that lovey dovey love shit isn't for me. Plus, I'm too complicated to deal with. I'll put the girl through too much, she won't be able to handle all of this." 

"And how can you be so sure about this even before to try it ? Huh ? " She asked with her hands on her hips. 

"Well...See how you were screaming the other night, the girl I'll be w-"

"I swear you're stupid ! " She hit the back of my head as RJ and I began to laugh, "You two are some idiots." 

"Yes, but we're sexy idiots and you can't even deny it. Oh yes RJ ! I'm in heaven ! " I mocked as she stormed out the kitchen. 

"Damn." RJ sighed, "I'm sure you put me in trouble now. You know you're wrong for that, right ? "

I raised my hands up in surrender, "Hey...It's your fault. You should've not been fucking around when I'm not too far away to hear y'all while you're in action. You'll regret for the rest of your lives to have traumatized me like that. Matter fact, let me find a girl, so you'll know exactly what I'm talking about."

"Don't get killed, bro. This was your first and last strike." He warned me getting out, surely to go to talk with his girlfriend. 

I was hoping she wasn't too mad at me though. We just started to get along, I didn't want to have already jeopardized it. I bit on my bottom lip as I was hesitating to go and check up on her, but I finally decided to give her some space and I made a mental note to make sure that we were still cool in a hour or two. 

I stood up and finally got the croissants out. I couldn't wait to eat them because they looked so delicious. One thing Laylani and myself loved to do together was certainly cooking. It was our best way to bond to be honest. Every time we had the occasion, we were planning cooking sessions to hang out together.

I got three plates, the cutlery and glasses, then set the table for our brunch. Lani's idea since we woke up  kind of late. RJ hadn't to work out in the morning today and Lani wasn't teaching since the kids were out for an adventure or whatever with their PE teacher for the whole day. Since it'd been a long time we hadn't had the opportunity to eat together, we decided to make up in this early afternoon.

I grabbed the orange and apple juices in the refrigerator as the two love birds joined me in the dining room, but they didn't seem too happy. Actually, they looked like they had seen a ghost. I put the juices on the table, "What's going on ? " 

"Uh..." Lani shook her head as water started to fall from her eyes. I was worried now. 

"RJ...Wh-what happened ? Everything is okay ? Answer me ? " Yes, I was slowly panicking and his quietness wasn't making the situation better. He had to tell me now. 

"It's your mother." 

_______________________

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