"How is your client pleading?" Judge Pensky asked.

"My client will be pleading guilty." Mac's attorney spoke. 

"Thank you; I'll discuss the proper sentencing on the next court date." 

Mac stood up along with her mother, Gina, making her shake her head.

Her mother hasn't had a real conversation with her since she found out Haven pressed charges. She missed her mom, but she missed Maicee more than anything.

She knew Maicee was done with her when she watched Flaire beat her up. 

"Your father is coming to town."

"Why?"

"I don't know, but he wants to see all his kids."

"Are you coming?"

"Am I his kid Mackenzie?"

"I don't want to go without you."

"Mhm."

She walked off, leaving me as Mac saw Sapphire. She looked at her as Mac gave her a small smile; Sapphire ignored her, running after her mom getting in the car.

"When can I go back to school?"

"I don't know; I have to call the school to see. You probably can't even go to school since you have a damn restraining order on you."

"It's not my fault."

"Mac do not start with me before I hurt your feelings."

Mac shut up going on TikTok. The first person to pop up on her for you page was Haven making her roll as eyes as she watched the video with her and Ezra. She looked back up seeing they were pulling into the driveway.

"What's the verdict?" Her big brother Mitchell asked.

"Have to see tomorrow; that's her sentencing date."

"You better pray they only give you a warning."

"I wouldn't have pled guilty if they didn't find a video of everything." She rolled her eyes making her mother turn.

"You wouldn't have been in this damn situation if you would've minded your fucking business and tried to be a damn follower."

"Amen," Mai said, coming down the stairs.

"And where the fuck you been?"

"Tyke house, I told you that multiple times."

"She did ma." Mitchell cosigned, making Mac roll her eyes.

"I don't know what you rolling your eyes for, that's how people get punched in their face." 

"Cut it out, Maicee."

"I'm just saying; she needs to not start with me."

"Girl, bye." Mac waved her off. "You always got something to say to me and think Imma keep letting it slide."

"Mackenzie, let's just act as if we care about anything you saying." Maicee chuckled, pouring her cereal. "I hope they bury your ass under the jail."

"Cut it out, Maicee." My mom repeated.

"I'm just saying." Maicee chuckled. "She can barely fight, and without a crowd, you let people say what they want to you, so imagine what you gon be like in jail is funny. Don't drop the soap darling."

"Maicee," Mitchell said.

"That was the last thing I'm saying." She chuckled as she walked upstairs.

Mackenzie tilted her lips to the side trying to hold in her tears, she felt every word. Usually, Maicee would just walk right past her not saying anything but this time she hurt her feelings. She would rather Mai not say anything to her rather than say what she has to.

"You made your bed, lie in it," Mitchell said, looking at Mac. "You knew what you were doing when you decided to follow a bunch of bitches rather than stick with your twin. Hold your chin up and take responsibility, you want your twin to stop being mad at you then stop doing stupid shit."

Mac rolled her eyes going upstairs, she grabbed her phone dialing Sevyn's number but she wasn't getting an answer making her sigh. 

Ever since Indigo and Sevyn broke up Maicee has been fucking him. She wanted leverage over Indigo just in case they were to get into it again but she actually caught feelings. 

She went to his Instagram seeing he didn't post anything making her sigh again, she clicked a picture seeing over 500 comments. She furrowed her eyebrows wondering why he got so many comments, her heart dropped as she saw so many people sending condolences and prayers.

She covered her mouth in shock feeling like crying, she couldn't even vent to the one person she wanted to.

~

"Your mugshot is so damn pretty, BFF," Flaire said with Brat's phone in her hand.

"That's not something to be proud about, you have- okayy cause you giving face sisterrrr," Haven said looking at the picture.

"Let me see," Genesis said. "This the prettiest mugshot I've ever seen."

"My sisters just boosting my head."

"That better be the only one you ever have." Leval pointed making her hold her hand out in defense.

"I'm still upset I ruined you guys' vacation."

"We should've been around family anyway," Brat's mom said, making Leval nod.

"I won't see my BFF until summer." Brat hugged Flaire's neck as both of them got sad.

"You guys will be okay," Genesis said.

"That's why we're going to the same college and becoming roommates." Brat smiled.

"Gon be running the campus." Flaire smiled.

"Where's my sweet baby Indigo?" 

"She's at the hospital; she's waiting for Sevyn to wake up with his parents."

"I'll get it," Devon said, walking towards the door. "Nigga."

"What?" Blaire said as Devon closed the door, walking down the hallway.

"I said beat his ass not kill him or his damn brother." 

"Brah, I beat his ass. His damn brother fired the first shot; you know how that shit goes."

"Indigo, heartbroken as hell, then the nigga survived. He gon ID your ass when he wakes up."

"He not going to have the chance; if he wakes up it's handled." 

"Just fall back some brah, you on their radar. The charges were dropped but don't think they off you, don't ride dirty or nothing."

"I got this, D. It's my ass on the line anyway, I'm good and so is everybody around me." 

Devon nodded his head as they walked into the house. He prayed that the fallout didn't come to Blaire; he was too much of a hothead while being trigger happy, but he could be more prominent in life if he wanted to.

"Hey, baby!" Brat smiled hugging Blaire as he side hugged her kissing her on the forehead.

"Wassup? Wassup y'all?" He smiled, sitting down. 

"I showed everybody my mugshot, they think I'm fine."

"You have been knew that." He wrapped his arm around her waist kissing her cheek.

"Flaire baby, did you decide on what you want to major in?" Tomika asked.

"After going through so many decisions, I'm going to major in science and minor in fashion." 

"Yes, BFF, finally." 

"So both of y'all wanna do science?"

"She wants to do life science, I want to do environmental science." 

"I can see that, Flaire fell off with getting into science clubs but when y'all was in middle school y'all stayed in science club," Devon said.

"Science is the best subject," Flaire said, making Brat again. 

"What about you, Haven?" Leval asked.

"I want to become a vet surgeon so that's what I'll be studying." Haven smiled petting her cat who was attached to Haven. "I also want to start my own dance studio so I'll be doing a minor in business or dancing."

"I love this college talk." Tomika smiled.

"My pockets don't," Devon said, making them laugh. 

"You guys didn't do any scholarships?" Leval asked.

"I'm entering this fashion scholarship, and I won a scholarship for five thousand dollars for doing a video diary," Flaire added. 

"I'm thinking of doing community first, so it wouldn't be that much; if I don't get a full-ride scholarship, then that's what I'll be doing," Haven concluded.

"Are your grades good?" 

"I'm a top student; I can basically graduate now if I wanted." 

"Then it shouldn't be hard at all for you to get a scholarship."

"It won't be."

"Dinners ready." Genesis stated.

They all stood up reading to get ready to eat; Leval blessed the food then they began eating. 

"So, my babies, are you in a relationship?" Tomika asked.

"Mommy, I told you Flaire back with Keygan and Hay with Ezra."

"Oh right, how is it going?" 

"Very well for Haven," Brat mumbled making her kick her under the table.

"Shut up," Haven mumbled, making Brat and Flaire laugh. "Ezra is my first boyfriend, so I'm trying to take everything slowly but everything still seems to move fast."

"That's that new love," Devon said kissing Genesis hand. "I still feel it every day."

"Same on that," Leval spoke, looking at Tomika.

"Your turn." Brat glared at Blaire making them laugh.

"Don't do that." Blaire looked at her not liking to be put on the spot. 

"Hi, family!" Indigo smiled, walking in the room.

"Sevyn woke up?"

"Not yet, but he's making progress." 

"Let's toast to that." Tomika said.

~

"E?" Regina called out, knocking on his door. He looked up from his phone to look at her.

She put on so much weight now she was living with Ezra. Her dark skin that was covered in bruises and scars were now glowing and full of life. Her hair started growing back and she was feeling more like herself.

"Wassup Reg?" He asked as she came to sit on his bed.

"I just wanted to come talk to you, we haven't really been talking."

"Yeah, you been doing everything lately, you forgot who your best friend was." He joked making her smile. 

"I can never forget you. How's everything been going?"

"Relationship good as fuck, perfect."

"You love her?"

"Reg, I think- Nah, I'm in love with her yo." Ezra smiled, making her smile.

"I'm so happy for you E." She grabbed his hand. "After everything I've put you through the pass two years dealing with me, Haven was everything you needed."

"Reg, I'm sensing something." He spoke sitting up. "You still fucking with that nigga in medical school?"

"Don? We've decided to take a step back."

"We or you?"

"Ezra, I'm not-"

"Gine, did you give it your all?" He asked, making her not answer as she started tearing up. "Gine,  you truly my friend?"

"Of course." 

"So be honest with me."

"I'm-"

"Hold on." He stopped her from talking as his phone started ringing. "Hey baby, let me call you back."

"Are you okay? You look weird."

"I'm good, I'm-"

"Enjoy your conversation, I'mma-"

"Nah, Haven, I'll call you right back."

"Okay." She tilted her head, hanging up. 

"Be real with me, Gine."

"Ezra, I was in love with you and you knew that. Nobody in my life has ever loved me like you and I always wanted that feeling, I never wanted that feeling to go away." She stated wiping her eyes. "I felt like you found your shiny new toy and dumped your old worn-out toy away like I was disposable."

"I never wanted you to feel that way." He furrowed his eyebrows. "Before Haven you know we wasn't even like that. I was messing with other bitches and fuckin em'. I always came back to you so I see why you feel that way but let's be honest with each other Gine, you know we haven't been in a relationship for like a year."

"I felt like you were always going to be my person and be there for me so-"

"I am your person, and I am always going to be there for you." Ezra corrected. "Just as a friend, and a best friend when Flaire not around to hear me say it." 

Regina chuckled, adjusting herself on the bed as her eyes watered. "I wanted to be completely over you so bad and I thought I was but when I say I'm happy for your relationship I one hundred percent mean that. I will never interfere with your happiness because you deserve it."

"You deserve happiness too." He moved up on the bed holding his arms out. "Come here."

He held his arms out, holding her tight as she enjoyed being in his arms, he always gave the best hugs, and he always knew when she needed one. 

"Gine, you're beautiful inside and out. You've made some decisions because of the circumstances but you're working to become better everyday and I'm proud of that. You'll never be a worn-out toy, stop making it so hard on yourself. Go call that boy up and tell him you're still interested."

"Thank you, Ezra." She smiled, pulling back. "I needed this closure; I love you."

"I love you too, knucklehead." He mushed her head as she walked out.

He sat there for a minute thinking about everything, that was just a lot, but it was needed. He needed to know where Regina's head was at.

He picked up his phone FaceTiming Haven, it rung about three times before Haven answered. She had her bonnet on her head and pajamas on, he saw Echo next to her making him chuckle, they never left each other side.

"You are so beautiful." He looked at her as she blushed, but she didn't smile like she usually did. "What's wrong pretty girl?"

"Why'd you have to hang up on me?"

"I was talking to Gine."

"Okay, but why'd you have to hang up?"

"It wasn't a regular conversation; I don't think she would've been comfortable talking with you on the phone. She was expressing herself, and that's not easy for her, so-"

"I'm just not understanding, and maybe I'm overreacting, but why are you caring to make her comfortable?" 

Ezra furrowed his eyebrows in confusion. 

"What do you mean?"

"I mean exactly what I'm saying, Ezra." Haven matched his face. "I'm uncomfortable with the way you're making sure she's comfortable."

"Haven, Gine has been through shit worse than anything I've ever heard. If there's a time when she wants to talk, and I'm available and free, I'm going to talk to her."

"We've all been through things; hell I lost my mom-"

"And she lost her dad due to you losing your mom."

"Wow." She furrowed, her eyebrows taken back by the tone and words. "Wow."

"I didn't mean for it to come out like that but come on Hay, just because you lost your mom don't mean you have to disregard other people shit."

"I think emotions are too high right now and I'm just going to go to sleep before it gets to a place we've never been. I love you, goodnight."

"I love-" He didn't get to finish his sentence due to her hanging up. 

He looked at the phone in disbelief; he couldn't believe their first argument was about this bullshit. He shook his head, deciding to get on the game until he was sleepy.

~

Mac, her mom, their lawyer, and the judge were in judge's chambers as she announced the sentencing. Mac just wanted to be done with the whole thing so she could move on with her life.

"Good morning, everyone." Judge Pensky spoke as everyone greeted her back. "Let's get right to it. Mackenzie on November 29th at approximately 7:45 P.M there was a fight involving six females and one male. Is that correct?"

"Yes," Mac answered.

"You assaulted both the male and the female?"

"Yes," Mac admitted.

"After watching the video, hearing all sides of the assault, and looking at all the evidence, it has been proven you were the aggressor in the fight. Therefore two new were added charges-"

"What?" Mac asked wide-eyed.

"State versus Anderson, case number CR04318 with multiple accounts of the charge of assault and battery, assault leading to bodily injury, solicitation to commit a crime, and premeditated assault, you have been found guilty all of all charges."

"What? Solicitation? I haven't-" Mac stopped talking becoming hysterical. 

"Wait, how did the other two charges come up?" Mac mom asked looking between her lawyer and the judge.

"Let her finish." He spoke as the judge continued speaking.

"All four girls has shown screenshots and videos of Mackenzie planning and threatening Haven before and after the fight. The four girls stated they only jumped into the fight because Mackenzie decided to blackmail them using-"

"It was everybody else idea! They still wanted to jump Haven in the school bathroom, I told them it wasn't worth it." Mac cried. "Please don't send me to jail, please."

"Mackenzie, you're sentenced to ninety days in the Union County Correctional Facility and three years of probation."

"Please don't do this." Mac cried begging as Judge Pensky put down her paper to look in her eyes. "If I can take it back I would, please."

"Mackenzie, I haven't seen you show any emotion towards this case until now. You weren't sorry then and you aren't sorry now. I watch people everyday come through these doors and cry their way out of a sentence and land right back into my court room. I know many people don't consider it but fighting is a crime. You committed a crime and it's time to pay for it. Your life isn't over because you have a record, you can still go to college and get a good job. Three to five years from now you can get your record expunged but right now you must take responsibility for your actions."

"Can we appeal this?" Mac mom asked looking at their lawyer.

"Yes, we can." The lawyer spoke.

"Well can you start being damn useful?" She asked aggravated. 

"I will grant you three days for closure with family and friends but if you don't turn yourself in there will be a warrant for your arrest and you will get a longer sentence."

Mac and her mom stood up as Mac continued crying, she cried all the way home not sparing a glance at her brothers and sister as she rushed up the stairs. 

"What happened?" Mitchell asked.

"Them damn girls put all the blame onto her, she got hit with two extra charges. They told the damn judge Mackenzie planned all of this out and pressured them to jump Haven. She has to do 90 days in jail then three years probation."

"What?" Maicee scrunched her face up.

"That's some bullshit." Tyke said. "Excuse my language." 

"We appealing that, right? Why the fuck didn't the lawyer tell you about the new charges?"

"I told y'all that nigga was ditsy as fuck, we should've got another one." Marcus shook his head.

"Can you go talk to her? I think she really need you." Gina asked as they all looked at Maicee.

"No." She shrugged. "I told Mackenzie multiple times to choose her side and she did. I feel bad but she made her bed and now she has to lie in it. It's only three months, she'll survive."

"Maicee." Tyke looked at her.

"Y'all aren't going to force me to talk to her, I don't want to so I'm not. I told y'all I don't want to talk to her ever again why did y'all think her going to jail make me wanna talk?"

With that Maicee walked into the kitchen trying to find something to eat but really she was tearing up. It broke her heart hearing Mac had to go to jail, she knew that would ruin a lot of things in the future. She wanted to kill Sapphire.

~

"Man, I missed school low-key," Keygan spoke, standing by his locker with his arm under Flaire as she ate her Popcorner chips. 

"I didn't; I'm ready to graduate already."

"Aye pussy, where Lil Hay?" Tyke asked, looking at Ezra.

"Word, y'all always under each other ass," Key said as all attention went to them.

"She told me not to pick her up today." He shrugged. 

"Why?" Flaire asked. "What you do to her?"

"I didn't do shit." He said. "Yesterday Reg and I was having a serious talk and she called in the middle of it. I told her I'll call her as soon as she done and once I called her she expressed that she wasn't comfortable with me hanging up on her while talking to Reg but it wasn't her business."

"I see where is she coming from cause why are you having conversations with your ex that I can't hear?" Flaire spoke.

"If it was a regular conversation where Reg and I was catching up I wouldn't give a fuck but when we're talking deeply about her family life and shit that's not nobody business. Roles reversed if I was to put somebody in y'all family business it would be something." 

"Facts." Tyke agreed. "I told one bitch something about Maicee and my baby stopped talking to me for a week."

"You told the bitch Maicee father left them, why the fuck wouldn't she stop talking to you?" Keygan looked at him. 

"Why would you even repeat that?" Flaire laughed.

"I was arguing with her and the bitch was there and I needed to vent. I just- mind y'all damn business. I know where I went wrong, I ain't gotta explain shit to y'all." 

"Tyke!" Flaire laughed as they all laughed.

"So fucking stupid." Keygan shook his head. 

"You ever thought about asking Gine could you yaknow tell Haven some shit?" Tyke asked.

"That's not my story to tell, Haven and Gine not even friends why would I ask that stupid shit?"

"Y'all know how he feel about that anyway." Flaire said. "He haven't even told me."

"Exactly, y'all know I never been with telling people business. That shit feminine as hell. If Key tell me some shit, I'm not gon run to you or Flaire about it. I mind my business no matter who you are and that's why I'm living a peaceful ass life."

"Not right now." Keygan joked.

"When your girl mad at you, you might as well go lay your ass in a ditch til she done with the attitude." Tyke chuckled. "Be miserable as hell going to catch up with ya family who you ain't talk to in days."

"You're so fucking stupid." Flaire laughed as they all chuckled.

"But he ain't wrong." Keygan chuckled.

"So what am I supposed to do?" Ezra asked.

"Just talk to her and reassure her that it's not anything more with you and Regina. Sometimes reasurance goes a long way." Keygan said making Flaire look at him. 

"You so smart, this why you in a eleven year relationship." Flaire smiled as he kissed her forehead.

"It's ten years and a few months, y'all didn't even make the full eleven together so be mindful of what you're saying." Tyke srunched his face up.

"Fucking hater." Ezra smacked him in his head as they started walking towards the cafe.

They sat at their regular tables holding convo until Tyke snapped his fingers. "Did I tell y'all Mac getting locked up?"

"What?" Keygan pushed his head back.

"Just her?" Ezra asked.

"They all switched up on her talking bout she forced them to jump Haven, she was blackmailing them or some shit like that." Tyke informed.

"That's fucked up." Flaire said. "So what about the rest of the dummies?"

"Community service and probation and Sapphire has to transfer schools."

"Oh well." Flaire shrugged. "She turned on her day one friend for a bitch and her cousins and now she got proven she shouldve stuck with my sister. I don't feel bad for no bitch who gave my sister a concussion."

"Period." Ezra agreed.

"How Mai feeling?" Keygan asked.

"She's mad as hell but she's not going to let no one see that, she never do."

One of Maicee worse traits was she never talked about her feelings, it was as if she would die if she talked about something that bothered her. 

"You asked her about it?"

"Nope. All she going to do is tell me she fine as always."

Just as she said that Maicee and Haven walked through the cafe, Maicee spotted Tyke but before she walked over to them she looked at Haven.

"We sitting by ourself or with them?" She asked to be sure.

"We can go over there." Haven shrugged.

Just because her and Ezra wasn't on speaking terms doesn't mean she was going to avoid him. They walked to the table Haven greeted everyone in general sitting between Flaire and Maicee, Ezra looked at her as she looked at Maicee.

"You wasn't going to sit right hea?" He asked looking at her.

"I didn't know if you wanted me to or not."

"Why wouldn't I Haven? Matter fact let's get a empty table." He stood up irritated with how petty she was being. "Come on."

Haven furrowed her eyebrows as she stood up following behind him. They stopped at a empty table sitting down.

"First of all, I'm not your pet so don't talk to me with that tone." Haven stood up for herself. "I understand we're a little not ourselves right now but don't act out of character."

Ezra was going to say something smart but decided against it. He told her to stick up for herself and that meant even when it was him.

"You're right and I apologize for that." 

"And I apologize for being petty. We're better than us getting into petty arguments about petty things."

"We are." Ezra nodded. "What was the main problem with yesterday?"

"I feel like your bond with her is intimidating."

"How come?"

"It's always something so secretive going on between you guys, I understand y'all have a friendship but sometimes it feels like it's something more."

"I understand that and I apologize because that's never my intention but pretty girl this isn't my story to tell, especially with the relationship you and Gine have."

"We have no relationship at all." Haven scrunched up my face. "She bullied me for months."

"And I feel like that's the real problem right there, you've had some unpleasant run ins with her so you want me to dislike her but pretty girl I can't do that. If this was anyone else I'm ten toes down with you-"

"But your not behind me when it comes to her against me."

"It's not her versus you pretty girl and I think that's where the confusion sets in. When it comes to my heart, you have it no questions asked. Can't no bitch make me look once at them now that I'm with you."

"Ezra, I-"

"Listen, Gine has not once tried anything with me since I told her you was my girlfriend. She got her closure where she asked why it wasn't her and I gave her one hundred percent honesty, Gine and I are friends. My family is the only healthy family she has known, she basically family at this point. I understand she my ex and it may seem suspicious but it's not and never will be."

"Okay." Haven stated believing him. 

"Maybe, if you up for it you can have closure with her too." He suggested. "I've heard she haven't been on that with you in a minute and she told me she auditioned to be on your dance team. Maybe you get to know the real her and vise versa."

"I'll give it a thought."

"Any time you need reassurance don't be petty, just tell me because I have no problem letting you know I'm in love with you over and over and over." He pulled her closer to him. "You my heart pretty girl and I don't see that changing, I love you."

"I love you." She kissed him as he kissed her back. "Stop being nasty."

"I can't help it." He rubbed her as she blushed.

"Stop trying to get in my panties."

"Why? You love when I'm there."

"I do." Haven mumbled making him smirk.

"I know." He kissed her forehead as they started talking about everything they could.

The one night they didn't talk felt like days, they knew they were too attatched to each other but neither minded as long as it was mutual.

And it was equally mutual.