Haven was still a bit slightly annoyed by Ezra, so she really didn't want to go out anymore, but she wanted really wanted to take Indigo out, so she sucked it up. It'll be a good girls' night.

"You ready?" Indigo asked, coming to Haven's room and making her look at her. 

Indigo is usually always in Sevyn's clothes, so Haven was shocked when she wore regular clothes. She wore a cropped white tank top with green and orange drawstring shorts and low orange and white dunks. On top of her bohemian knotless was Sevyn's orange fitted cap that said his name at the back.

"You look so cute, sissy." Haven smiled. It was a simple fit, but she made an effort to how she looked so she was feeling proud. 

"Thank you, you do too. I love your hair; it's showing your pretty face." 

Haven wore a black graphic tee that was cut down the middle and tied at the bottom with loose-fitting cargo. She decided she would throw on her favorite sneakers, Concord Jordans. Her hair was in a half-up spiky ponytail with the back flowing and bumped ends. Her face was bare of makeup, just lashes that she got done earlier and lipliner and gloss.

"You know Ariel kids face card don't decline." 

"And they don't!" Genesis said, passing by, making Indigo and Haven chuckle.

"What time is Ezra coming?" 

"He's not coming anymore, so we're waiting on Maicee, who should-" Her sentence got cut from Maicee texting her. "She's outside." 

"Let me go get my bag." 

Haven nodded her head, grabbing her bag and making sure she had everything in there. She turned her light off, closed the door, then walked downstairs to see her dad, Devon, Genesis, and Alana on the couch. 

"Y'all are always in the house; y'all should come bowling," Haven said.

"We're going out tomorrow to the state fair," Devon said.

"And y'all wasn't going to say anything? I'm coming!" 

"Where?" Indigo asked.

"They're going to the state fair tomorrow."

"Oh yeah, we coming." 

"Y'all look so pretty," Genesis said.

"Let me take a picture of y'all to post on Facebook," Aziel said, turning his phone to the side.

"Daddy, no." Genesis laughed, standing up. "I'll take it, and why is your camera so greasy?" 

Indigo and Haven posed for three pictures before they were done; they were tired of fake smiling.

"Maicee's outside, our location on, call us if you need us. Love y'all." Haven said before she walked out.

Maicee was in her car bobbing her head to the song, making Haven laugh as she opened the door making the song become louder. Haven through her bag on the seat the squatted down, making Maicee start yelling while Indigo recorded laughing.

"What he say? I'm in the zone; I gotta see my doctor; Scotty's calling me! Scotty, beam me up! I wanna fly, morning, noon, night!" Maicee yelled, jumping out the other side.

"I'm geeked up! Geeked up! Geeked up!" Haven yelled, smacking her legs as she twerked.

"Y'all we just stepped outside." Indigo laughed, bringing the phone back and forth to get both of them.

"Maicee knew what she was doing pulling up playing this!" Haven laughed, getting in the car.

"Cause girl's night finna be lit!" Maicee smiled. 

She had been in the house sad for a week straight, and she was over it; her life was just starting. She was tired of going out sad behind a nigga even though she know she caused this on herself. 

"Cause we out here, looking for the hoochie daddies," Haven said, making all of them laugh.

They took the fifteen-minute drive to the bowling alley; when they arrived, they got their shoes and got assigned to their lane.  Maicee pulled out the nips she snuck in as she and Haven clicked them; Indigo wanted to be sober. 

An hour into bowling, Haven and Maicee were tipsy. Maicee had won the first round of bowling, but they were having such a good time. 

Haven saw three boys walking in, and it was like the whole bowling alley stopped to look at them. Martin, Milly, and Ron walked in, conversing, not noticing all the stares as they all stopped talking to look around. Haven waved her hand a little so they could spot them, and Ron did, tapping Martin. 

They started their way over here just as Maicee turned around, she was still bragging over her win, so she bent over, touching her toes.

"Yeah, I did that. I showed my ass, literally." She continued boosting, making Indigo bust out laughing.

"Girl, this is only game one." Indigo rolled her eyes.

"And it's going to be- damn." Maicee stopped her sentence looking at the three friends, but her eyes were stuck on Ron. 

His skin looked like it was dipped in honey gold as his warm brown skin was shining under the bowling lights. His full bulbous nose sat on his face perfectly with his small lips that looked like they'll melt into your skin. He had a low taper fade with a clean-up mustache. His muscular body hugged the black tee he was sporting, along with some black jeans that were ripped at the knees. He sported earrings in both ears and a simple gold chain. 

Maicee hadn't seen a fine-ass man that had her thinking about love at first sight in a long time. 

"Y'all got room for three more?" Martin asked, making Indigo turn around from the voice.

"What y'all doing here?" Indigo asked.

"I invited them." Haven smiled. "They miss you, sissy." 

"You know you're our favorite girl," Milly added.

"You have been ignoring us for too long," Martin told her. "You ain't even been watching the TikToks I have been sending; that probably hurt most." 

Indigo cracked a smile but kept her hard demeanor up. 

"How about we take-" Haven stopped because she didn't know Ron's name.

"Oh, this our brudda Ron." Milly introduced. "This Haven and Maicee." 

"How y'all doing?" Ron spoke.

"Hey," Maicee said quietly, getting shy, making Haven and Indigo glance at each other. 

"How about we take Ron to add y'all to our game and bring y'all shoes while y'all talk," Haven said. "What's y'all shoe size?" 

"11," Martin said.

"12." Milly called out.

"Big ass feet." Maicee chuckled.

"Well, you know what they say," Milly smirked.

"And that's our cue." 

Ron stepped to the side to allow both women to walk ahead of him; they waited in line as he glanced at his phone. Maicee sneakily kept glancing at him, but Haven caught her every time.

"Hey, so you're a firefighter as well?" Haven asked.

"Oh nah, I'm a cop." 

"Really, how old are you?" 

"Twenty."

"Are you single?" She asked, making him chuckle.

"You ask a lot of questions, Ms.Haven. I am single, and for yo next question, I don't have any kids, I live by myself, and I drive my own shit. Want my social too?" 

"No, Mr.Smart ass, I'll rather see your police credentials to see if you be fucking with random people." 

He laughed about to respond, but the girl asked for their shoe sizes instead of making them walk up to her. While Haven and Maicee waited for the shoes, he took the time to admire both of them. He could tell they were very close because their actions resembled one another, he found both of them attractive, but something about Maicee was drawing him in.  

Just like Haven, Maicee had on a white graphic tee that was cut down the middle and tied at the bottom, she had on high-waisted ripped jeans, but they hugged her thighs like they were in a relationship. Her hair was in a black bob reaching her shoulders, and coincidentally, bobs were his favorite hairstyle on a woman.

"He checking me out, right?" Maicee mumbled to Haven.

"Yes ma'am, go get 'em, tiger." Haven smiled like a mom.  

On the other hand, Milly, Martin, and Indigo sat on the chairs, looking at each other. Martin stood back up, hugging her. Besides Milly, Indigo was the only person he spoke to daily, so the two weeks they haven't been talking were taking a toll on him. 

"I get why you not talking to us; we failed to protect you when you were at your weakest. What Gina did was the corniest shit I ever saw, and I can't tell you how mad I was."

"Nah, Indigo, he almost killed that girl."

"What?" 

"After Flaire and em came to get you, they were arguing, and she hit him with a rock, and he damn near made her head roll off her shoulders. I ain't never seen him like that for real." 

"You know I don't believe in putting my hands on a woman, but Baby Blue, shit like that will never happen with you again, and I put that on my mother."

"Dead ass, we apologize." 

"I accept it; I miss y'all so much." She pouted. "I have so much to tell y'all." 

"Shit, the same shit for us," Martin said.

"We all back friends?" Ron asked.

"Yes." Indigo smiled, hugging Ron, then looked at Maicee. "My sister is single."

He chuckled, nodding his head; he was only looking but hearing that confirmation, he was going to shoot his shot a little later. 

"Let's get to it 'cause I'm finna whoop some more ass," Maicee said as they put their name on the board. 

"You talking, but I'm finna go crazy," Milly said.

"Oh, what y'all saying, boys versus girls?" Indigo asked.

"Y'all don't want these problems, for real." Martin chuckled.

"We finna smoke y'all." Haven dragged out laughing. "Especially if I take this nip to the head."

"Losers buy dinner." Ron shrugged.

"Bet!" Maicee chuckled as they got serious. 

~

"Where the niggas? I'm looking for the hoes!" Flaire yelled, standing on the table drunk. Brat looked up at her, yelling as she jumped down; she put her hands on the floor, throwing it in a circle. 

"Damnnnn, all this ass," Brat said, putting her face to Flaire's ass.

"Too many bitches; where the niggas at? I'm trying to get my coochie scratched!" Flaire yelled, laughing.

"YEAH!" Brat yelled.

"She so drunk." Blaire shook his head as Ant laughed.

Flaire and Brat have been turning up the whole party; they were going to have to carry them out. 

Ezra, Tyke, and Keygan were outside, ready to go. Keygan's high was gone, so he was in a bad mood, Ezra was always nonchalant, and Tyke was just drunk and acting stupid. Flaire and Brat stumbled outside, needing air; she stopped, almost falling into Keygan.

"Why y'all out here?" Brat slurred. 

"Just talking; I'm really finna have a baby," Tyke said before he threw back his drink. "Man, my mother finna skin me alive."

"I can't wait to teetee baby the baby to death." 

"Damn, y'all still mad at me?" Tyke asked, looking between Flaire and Keygan. "Y'all know I love y'all, bro; I was just tripping."

"I'm not mad at anybody; I'm just living life." Flaire laughed, leaning over the banister because she felt she was going to throw up. "I don't give a fuck bout nothing right now."

"Bro, I'm trying to apologize. Don't take my kindness for weakness for real."

"Tyke, I don't give a fuck about shit you talking about." Flaire chuckled.

"You gave some fuck if you single now." 

"Boy, you think I'm single because of you? A nigga who- nah, we drunk, we ain't finna argue." Flaire chuckled. "Go bout your way, dawg." 

"Word up, just leave her alone, Ty," Ezra said, not beat. "Matter of fact, we finna leave, let me go get Blaire and em." 

"You and Keygan acting like straight bitches; I apologized."

"Okay, and I don't have to accept the shit the fuck? You were tripping, and I didn't air your ass out, so leave me alone before I come crazy 'cause you testing the fuck out of me." 

"Now you got me fucked up, fuck you talm bout? Come crazy the fuck? You and Keygan couldn't fucking last 'cause y'all too fucking scared, and that's not my fucking fault."

Flaire ignored him since she didn't wanna keep going back and forth with Tyke; he knew she was just drunk. 

"Stop mentioning my name, bro," Keygan mumbled, pulling his hat over his eyes. 

"All y'all just shut the fuck up, damn," Brat said. "Blowing my fucking high." 

"Cause twin, why they acting like that? This is the shit I was talking about. They acting like they are so much better than me." 

"And I do. I think I'm better than anybody."

"This why your ass not gon meet my kid, don't think about it. My kid ain't gon never know your bitch ass."

"Boy, I don't give a fuck. Fuck your kid." 

"Flaire!" Brat laughed as Tyke stood up.

"What?" He asked, walking towards her.

Flaire immediately started swinging once he came into her space; she doesn't play shit like that. If you argue with her and you come in her face, it triggers her fight or flight, and she'll always be the first to swing.

"Woah, woah," Brat said, barely being able to stand.

"Chill the fuck out!" Keygan pushed Tyke since they were fighting.

"Bitch don't touch me!" Tyke drunk ass yelled, pushing Keygan, and he tripped over the step, making him fall onto the porch.

"Please stop; I have to pee!" Brat yelled as tears were coming out of her eyes from how hard she was laughing. "Key-Keygan, get up! Keygan! I can't breathe." 

Keygan stood up and punched Tyke in the shoulder since he didn't wanna punch him in the face. Tyke swung back on him, actually hitting him in the face and making Keygan get mad, so they started fighting for real. 

"Brat, call Ezra or something 'cause I'm finna jump in," Flaire said before she started hitting Tyke.

Before Brat could do anything, Blaire, Ant, and Ezra walked out. They immediately started pulling them apart; Ezra was so annoyed.

"Y'all not serious, brah! Making fucking scenes, y'all so fucking stupid the fuck!"  

"And you just laughing." Ant looked at Brat, who had tears down her eyes.

"Y'all didn't see Keygan fall up the stairs! That shit happened in slow motion! I have to pee!" Brat yelled while laughing.

"Brah, let's just go. Y'all blowing my shit for real." 

"These niggas jumped me," Tyke said, spitting out blood. "Bitch ass niggas." 

"You real mad." Flaire smiled.

"Y'all could team up to jump me but can't work together to make ya relationship work." 

"He ate that one little thing." Brat instigated.

"I don't know what was biting me, but I know I'm ate up!" Flaire laughed out loud with Brat.

She couldn't even be mad cause that was a good-ass comeback; he just cleaned the fuck out of her plate.

"I swear to God, none of y'all better call me for the next four days. Make that shit a week." Ezra said as everybody around him started laughing.

Ezra was beyond annoyed; he should've just gone out with Haven. 

~

Milly, Martin, Haven, Maicee, Ron, and Indigo sat inside Chilis laughing. Due to Haven being drunk, the girls got their asses whooped. They went to Chilis because Haven and Maicee saw they had strong drinks. 

"Wait, let's do it over." Haven laughed as she got another drink. 

"I like to drink with Haven 'cause Haven is our mate; I like to drink with Haven 'cause she gets it down in 8." They began counting as she tried to drink it hurriedly. 

"YEAHHH!" Haven yelled, standing up and flexing, making other people look at them.

"Fuck outta here; I got that shit on the first round!" Milly yelled.

"Y'all so loud, chill the fuck out." Martin laughed.

"I know this, Chilis, but nigga we're still out," Ron added, laughing.

"They gon cut y'all asses off." Maicee laughed.

"Can you come outside, wimme?" Indigo asked Martin getting Haven's attention.

"You okay, sissy?" 

"Yeah, I just need some air." 

Martin and Indigo got up, leaving Ron, Maicee, Milly, and Haven. Haven sat back down, grabbing her chicken tenders, she wasn't drunk as hell, but she was maybe two drinks away. 

"Why your name Haven?" Milly asked.

"My mom had me when my older sister was six months; she wasn't even aware she was pregnant with me until she was in labor. My lungs weren't even developed, so they had to leave me in the hospital. One day my mother bought my sisters to see me, and our house was robbed, and a mailman was killed. The man who did it had previously killed two families, so if it weren't for me, my mom and sisters would've been killed, so my parents said I was their safe Haven."

"You have never told me that before." Maicee furrowed her eyebrows.

"I think he's the only one ever to ask." Haven shrugged. 

"You smoke?" Ron asked Maicee.

"A police officer smoking? You undercover?" She joked, making him laugh as he stood. "Haven, I'll be back."

"We bad company or something?" Milly asked.

"That's exactly what I was thinking; maybe we embarrassed them." She laughed.

"They just mad they can't out-drink me." 

"So, tell me something about you." 

"Like what?" 

"Like-" Haven stopped to think. "Why firefighting?" 

"My grandfather was a firefighter. He'll always take us with him to the house or let us ride in the trucks; his life was firefighting, so as soon as I turned eighteen, I went to the academy." 

"Them twenty-four-hour shifts don't be dragging it?" 

"Hell yeah, I be knocked the fuck out. Before a fire, driving to the fire, after the fire, thinking about a fire happening. What are you thinking about doing?" 

"I wanna be a vet."

"Just a general vet or a surgeon?" 

"A surgeon. Vet bills be so expensive for no reason, so I want to start a low-cost treatment practice and, obviously, a no-kill shelter. I already have everything planned out; I just wish I can speed up the school part." 

"I think that's another reason why I became a firefighter, school drags the fuck on, and that shit gets depressing after a while." 

"Yeah, you definitely have to be cut out for school to make it work. I hope I never talk myself into quitting. Indigo, the smart daughter, I just make okay grades." 

"Indigo is smart as fuck; she be hitting me with some big words thinking she T.I. and shit." He remarked, making Haven laugh.

"I see why Indi be around y'all so much, y'all such a vibe." 

"Don't you got ya own little group?" 

"I did, but then they jumped me." Haven chuckled, shrugging.

"Type shit is that?" 

"I'm still confused about it, so I couldn't even give an explanation." 

"I thought you be with your sister and em? They, not your friend group?"

"That's Flaire friend group; it is awkward sometimes when I'm with them because they'll be having inside jokes or they'll just be forgetting me. I mean, it's understood because before I started going with Ezra, it was just them five."

"Shit, we'll adopt you."

"Let's sign the papers." 

"Bet, I'll let them know wassup." He smiled.

"So, why are you single?" 

"I have just been cooling, ain't find a girl that piques my interest, and if she does, she gotta man so I be laying low." He smirked, looking directly at her, making Haven get butterflies.

Haven didn't understand why anybody besides her boyfriend was giving her butterflies, but she couldn't help it. Milly was so fine, and he kept smiling in her face; he made her a bit nervous.

"Y'all need the bill?" The waiter asked, coming up and making Haven sigh in relief.

"Yeah, you could bring that Playboy," Milly said, pulling out his credit card.

"What are you doing? We supposed to pay."

"We were never gon let y'all pay." Milly chuckled, handing the man the card.

"You not gon look at the bill?" 

"It's Chili's, shit like a Mexican Applebees. Bill probably like a hundred dollars." 

"Okay, Balla. Heard ju." 

"What is this tattoo?" He asked, grabbing her hand and rubbing his hand over the four hearts, but the third one colored on her wrist.

Haven felt a wave of electricity; she almost jumped in confusion. She furrowed her eyes, wondering what the hell was going on with her today. She didn't like how she was feeling; it felt like cheating. 

"I-I'm the third daughter." 

"Oh, my bad. I'm all touching you and shit." He looked at her licking his lips but didn't let her go. "I have been meaning to tell you; you look good and shit today. I mean, you always look good."

"Thank you, you look good as well. I like your dreads this way." Milly smiled, showing his whole thirty-two making Haven tilt her head, losing herself in his eyes.

"Locs baby."

"Huh?" 

"Dreads were named that because they found them dreadful and ghetto, like we were beneath them because of a hairstyle."

"I didn't know that; well, your locs looks very good like this."

"Thank you babygirl." He touched her chin and then looked to the waiter, that was walking back to him. 

"Here you go; thank you so much, and enjoy the rest of y'all night." He smiled. 

Haven pulled out two twenty's for the tip since she didn't have to pay for dinner; Milly waited for her to stand before he did. He led her out, holding the small of her back. Martin, Indigo, Maicee, and Ron were standing outside laughing.

"Well, our invitation to the party must've got lost, right Milly?" 

"Definitely, I told you we musta been bad company." 

"Y'all are clowns, that's why," Maicee said.

"And Haven, I would've never expected it from you," Martin said.

"Wow, you got people out here avoiding me." Haven shook her head, looking at Milly.

"Nigga, we were equally acting a damn fool." He said, making them all laugh.

"I'm tired." Indigo yawned.

"Word, niggas gotta twenty-hour shift in a few." Milly yawned too.

"Why, when somebody yawns, you gotta yawn too?" Maicee asked after yawning.

"Questions that need answers." Haven chuckled. "I am tired; this liquor got me drowsy."

"Cause you really can't hang."

"Yeah, yeah. Whatever major loser." She threw up three, twisting it around, then threw up an L.

"No, the fuck you didn't, Haven!" Maicee busted out laughing.

"She a clown, but that's cool." Milly chuckled, licking his lips.

"I'll text y'all; I love y'all." Indigo hugged both Milly and Martin, then hugged Ron whispering. "Ask for her number." 

"Nice meeting you, Ron. We're going to have a rematch." Haven said, hugging Ron and Martin, saving Milly for last as he squeezed her, almost taking her off her feet.

Indigo squinted her eyes, seeing they were holding onto each other a little too long, and even after they stopped hugging, they were still touching each other. She twisted her lips to the side, tilting her head.

"Any time, any place." 

"Ms.Maicee, can I take you out by ourselves?" Ron asked, pulling her to the side a little.

"Yes." She smiled, taking his phone that was being held out and entering her number. "Text me, and we'll set something up."

"I could get a hug, or that's pushing it?" 

"Not at all." She hugged him as they rocked back and forth. 

Haven smiled, seeing her friend develop a crush.

"Maicee got her groove back," Haven smirked, making everybody laugh. 

"Goodnight, y'all," Indigo said as they watched them walk to the car. 

Maicee beeped her horn as she pulled out of the driveway; Haven checked her phone, seeing Ezra tell her they were on their way home. She responded, then put her phone away, turning back to look at Indigo.

"Did you have fun?" 

"Funner than I did in a long time."

"That's good; maybe we could do this again next week."

"Back outside, boys!" Maicee yelled, making them laugh.

"Can I ask a question, Haven?" 

"Go ahead."

"What are you doing?" 

"Um, what do you mean?" She furrowed her eyebrows in confusion.

"With Milly. You know you and Ezra just got back together, so why are you flirting and shit with him?" 

"I don't know." Haven shrugged, feeling bad that somebody else realized. "Milly just made me feel funny, and I knew it was wrong, but I don't know." 

"Like I told you, if you aren't okay with Ezra doing it, don't do it." Maicee shrugged.

She wasn't the type of friend to encourage cheating. 

"I know, I'm tripping." 

"You and Ezra just need a date night or something; y'all have been arguing a lot lately, so somebody flirting with you probably just feels good, but don't let it cloud your judgment, and just talk to him," Indigo said. 

"You're right." 

"Learn from me, you push a nigga too far, and he gon let a bitch baby father him." Maicee shook her head, laughing.

"Learn from me," Indigo said with sad eyes. "You push a nigga so far away they die after they take your virginity."

"What?" Haven asked as Maicee pressed hard on the breaks, making all of their bodies jerk. 

"Why you never mentioned that?" 

"That's embarrassing," Indigo said with her eyes watering. "My boyfriend died four hours after taking my virginity like I'm never going to see him again; we didn't even talk about it." 

Haven and Maicee looked at each other, not knowing what to say. This was news to them, and they were so shocked.

"Yaknow, I wished he got me pregnant so I could've had a piece of him forever, but I was so disappointed seeing negative on the pregnancy test. Imagine wanting to be a single mother to a dead person." Indigo said with tears going down her eyes.

"When I pull up in front of your house, I'm going to hug you so tight." 

"I think you should talk to Daddy about this," Haven said. "The only pain I've ever felt was mommy dying, and I still don't think I can give good enough advice." 

"Let's have a sleepover." Maicee smiled. "Brat and Flaire on their way back, and we could have a big sleepover like we used to, so you don't have to go to bed sad." 

"Okay." Indigo nodded.

Maicee made her way to her house first so she can grab some essential items, then made the six-minute drive back to Haven's house, they all took showers, and by the time Flaire and Brat pulled up, they were downstairs trying to pick a movie.

"We bought snacks!" Brat yelled, dropping everything on the floor.

Indigo smiled, thankful for her sisters; they didn't know, but they saved her a little more every day.