August 22nd, 2023 | Tuesday

        Josiah blew out a loud breath moving the loose hair that fell in her face, while sitting in the middle of the living room floor in a criss-cross position. She was growing stressed trying to map out exactly how she wanted to go about the project assigned to her.

Her phone was propped up on the coffee table set out in front of her and she had one AirPod placed in her ear. "You such a hard working woman, I love it." She heard Sariyah through her AirPod, leading her to smile.

"Sariyah, you're eighteen and you have a job at a law firm — over paying you at that." Josiah recalled what she had learned about her friend since the moment they met. Josiah adored everything about Sariyah and she was the cutest.

Sariyah smacked her teeth. "Girl, that's only because of my nanny and my TT Jazz. And I'm only an assistant." She waved it off as if it were nothing, but to be her age she was already set up for life, putting her in a nice position. "Anyway, so did you find an idea of what will be your inspiration." She inquired.

"No not yet, I'm about to get on Pinterest to find something." Josiah replied, slouching her shoulders feeling tired. She had three classes, so she wasn't very in the mood but she also hated procrastination, and instead rather her things be done in the most quickest amount of time possible for her. "Why, you got an idea?" She quizzed.

"Yeah, me!" Sariyah joked bringing a chuckle from Josiah before she focused back on the all white 22 by 28 heavyweight poster board. "Hey, are you sure you been good since last week? You never  did tell us where you went, I can't lie I got scared as fuck." Sariyah sounded concerned over the club incident.

She felt an immense amount of guilt because of the fact that she was the one who suggested to bring Josiah along on their adventure. She figured after that life threatening event, she would definitely be slowing down on all the partying. The summer was over now anyway and that meant she had to focus on work.

"It turns out my brother was there, watching me from afar, being the overprotective nagging little thing that he is—" Josiah paused, reaching for her pink and white tumblr holding it by its handle while she took a sip of the cold water. "So when we got separated um...one of his friends got ahold of me and took me through a different exit." She finished off.

After that she didn't disclose anything else because she had a bad habit of saying too much before she could properly catch her words. "Awe, okay. Girl, we just gonna stick to the daily brunches and trying new things. No parties for the next five years." She joked, laughing along with Josiah.

"Five years is super crazy girl." Josiah responded, her eyes glued to her MacBook as she scrolled down her home page of Pinterest in an attempt to get her creative juices flowing. Just then, she got an idea. "Omg, I got it!" She exclaimed feeling excited. She wondered why it took her so long to think of it, but it would now be a piece of cake.

Josiah was a perfectionist but she could get this done in the next week if not shorter with the right cooperation. "Really, what are you thinking?" Sariyah questioned curiously as she plopped a grape into her mouth. She was currently sitting comfortably on her expensive couch, lounging around out of boredom.

Dayvoni was working and here Josiah was working on stuff for school. Realistically
Sariyah had a lot to worry about for work but she was the queen of procrastination and coming through in the end regardless so she never stressed it as much as she truly needed to.

"No girl, I'm not telling you until it's finished and you can see the grand reveal." Josiah shook her head, and that's how she always worked. Kept everything a secret so that once it was being ready to get shown or presented said person was sitting at the edge of their seats

Sariyah frowned and dramatically threw her head back. Since she had Josiah propped on FaceTime on her iPad, Josiah saw her do it and it didn't move her. "Girl you are so extra but imma see it through. You better impress me so badly, seriously." Sariyah joked softly. "If it's real good, imma put it on my spam."

Josiah let the shadow of a smile appear on her face as she switched over to the notes on her Macbook, getting ready to brainstorm how her presentation would be set up. "What's your spam?" Josiah asked because she only had her main account and vice versa.

"It's Kiesha from Belly with no spaces." Sariyah said evenly, and then bursted out in giggles from how funny she thought that sounded. "You never seen Belly?" She quizzed her friend since it was obvious that Josiah hadn't got the reference.

Josiah shook her head in response. "Oh you gotta watch it, but basically the way he introduces her he like she bad, darkskin, tall, and got a nice body in simple words. Baby thats me all day I don't give a fuck." Her words bubbled laughter through Josiah. "Oop, call you right back my auntie and uncle Makk are calling me." Sariyah sat up getting ready to hang up to answer the incoming call.

"Okay, call me back whenever, probably still gonna be in the exact same spot." Josiah sighed, her fingers moving a mile per minute typing as quickly as she could in hopes that she wouldn't forget the many ideas circulating in her mind.

Sariyah told her bye before hanging the phone up. Josiah was left in silence, but it didn't last for long before she heard the door to the back room opening. She could hear someone arriving, but she didn't look up as she retrieved her brand new camera.

"Mmmm," Tre mumbled on purpose as he walked past the living room where she was currently residing. He paused, and then looked at her, sizing her up and down. "Trynna act all studious." He remarked, and she tried to hide her smirk while dropping her head pretending to focus on her project.

Treyvon had the worst attitude Josiah had ever witnessed all because of the simple fact that she'd overslept while napping with Paris, and arrived home after twelve in the morning.  It was one of the best naps she had ever taken. She never knew how efficient cuddling could be, up until doing it with him. She didn't even know there was a proper way to do so, She had just always done what was natural for her.

The way he held her made her feel so warm inside and safe. She would 10 out of 10 recommend, and would definitely do it again. It was the aftermath that she was annoyed with, because she accidentally put her brother on her trail.

"I am studious Tre, you're the one who didn't think to check my location." On the inside she was jumping with joy that he hadn't. She would've been doomed, and Jordan wasn't a good airtight alibi because he was with a girl in his room.

He waved her off as if he didn't believe her. "Bullshit, you was wit that nigga from the club that gave you them damn hickies all over you." He retorted, and she only stifled a laugh. Tre thought he had it all figured out and he hadn't even begun to figure out the half of it.

"I was not! What are you talking about?" She placed her palm on her chest, feigning ignorance as she carefully tilted her head to an angle with an offended face. "I was with my friend Sariyah, airtight alibi." She lied. She had never had to be in the position to lie to her brother about her sneaky whereabouts but it felt exhilarating to her for some reason.

She had missed out on these types of opportunities all her life, but now she was having fun with it. "You wasn't with that damn girl" He claimed, even though he wasn't even sure with himself.

"I was to, and unless you can prove that I wasn't with cold hard evidence and not circumstantial information, based upon allegations conjured in your twisted mind—you can't tell me otherwise Treyvon." She smirked evilly. One thing she appreciated about her education was her expanded knowledge. The vocabulary was simple, but her point made his eyes squint.

"Man, whatever the fuck that mean." He waved her off, he knew what she said but the way she worded it confused him for a slight second.

"It means you have no proof and only allegations, stupid!" She called out to his back that was turned towards her as he opened the door to the pantry. Rolling her eyes, she was about to continue so that she could ask him about her idea for her project, but her phone lit up.

"I know what the fuck it mean I been to jail, damn!" He called over his shoulder.

Catching her attention, her eyes flew to the phone and her heart dropped at the number being displayed. Quickly reaching for the phone, and answering, her smile grew broad at the automated voice recording.

Accepting the charges, she patiently waited until she heard Olivia's voice. "Hello?" Her voice sounded smooth and calm, blessing her ears.

"Hello? Because you sound perfectly fine when that can't be true since I was supposed to get a call from you almost a month ago." Olivia could hear the concern in her daughter's voice, but that didn't deter her nor make her regret waiting to call her.

Josiah heard her sigh lowly, and it was like she could practically see her shaking her head. "I only told you that so you could relax. I never intended on calling you that early on, I waited until I knew you were settled in and had started school so you would have things to catch me up on." Olivia admitted she never could hold the truth from her daughter that long.

"So why did you lie to me then..." Josiah was stumped at her mothers reasoning, but nobody knew her like Olivia did, meaning she knew what she was doing when she lied to her. "I was waiting for you, and I thought something was wrong." She was trying to guilt trip her mother into an apology.

Olivia was too headstrong. Things she did had purpose, and was most of the time calculated, which was why the position they were in never failed to shock her. "I just told you. In order to see you somewhat fine with our last departure, I had to make sure you didn't seem too sad under our circumstances. It would've been harder for me to walk away, Jojo." Olivia preached. "How is school going, love?" She purposely redirected the conversation.

Josiah sighed , her stomach poking out as she slouched. She momentarily looked around her in the predicament that she was in preparing to answer. "Not bad, design class is the best. Core classes could be better, and I already have a project in my photography class, but I've just come up with an idea so I should be finished in no time." Her words made her mother smile. "I also love my world religion class, didn't think I would."

Her words were the best news Olivia had heard since she was sentenced. To know her daughter had been sprouting out in the real world brought her peace. "That's so amazing, what is the project? What did you decide on doing for it as well?"

Josiah had tricked herself into thinking that this was a regular phone call, and her mother was back in Chicago at home doing her daily check up while she was away at college. "Well I have to take a variety of photos focused on one topic and create a nice constructed collage." She explained. "I've just decided that my topic will be the art of creating music."

Olivia smiled brightly, and Josiah continued. "I just have to get my brother and his friends on board. They are the perfect muses for me, they can just be a little complicating." She added, rolling her eyes thinking of Tre, Jordan, and Paris.

"How do you get along with your brother? Well I hope." Olivia sounded anxious. She hoped her daughter and her new living arrangements allowed her to feel free and comfortable. She rarely communicated with Norman, leaving that up to Josiah, and she'd never personally spoken to his son.

Placing her phone down she connected the call to her airpod and began fiddling with her camera again. "Super well, we are basically best friends." She indulged, catching her mother up on everything. Her relationship with her father, her two new friends, step-brother and sister, and even Natalia.

"Mmmm" Olivia hummed, sounding as if she were in disdain. "Well she doesn't sound bad but she better not start being rude to you or anything like that. I know people I can have handle her while I'm behind these bars." She disclosed, and Josiah stifled a laugh, not realizing her mother was very serious.

"You can't be threatening people on a prison call, momma." Josiah attempted to scold her mother but it of course fell upon deaf ears as always.

"I'm the parent, hush." She playfully dismissed Josiah, waving her off as if she could really see. "And girl, are you trying to get me fat?" She continued, while a large smile broke out on her face. She knew her mother was referring to putting so much money on her books, but she felt it was the least she could do.

"Oh girl, you could gain a little weight." Josiah egged it on since everyone knew Olivia was on the skinner side. "Love you my skinny queen." She added. She didn't get her shape from her mother at all, that was another thing her paternity genetics probably altered.

"Josiah, fuck you girl." Olivia chortled. "How long have we been on this phone here, girl."

Josiah took a look at her phone, looking at the ongoing time clock. "Twenty-six minutes." She responded hearing her mom huff, letting her know that she was most likely about to end their ongoing phone call. It sucked because they had, had a great talk. Josiah really had forgotten she was in jail. "You trying to hang up on me huh."

Olivia pursed her lips before clicking her tongue. "Yeah, we're about to hit my limit for the time being, baby. But I love you, and I will start calling you every other day. So have some juicy stuff to tell me. I'm living through you now." She tried to lighten the mood.

"Alright mommy," She reluctantly gave in knowing she really didn't have a choice on her behalf. "I love you, and you better call me in two days like you promised me. I'm serious. Thursday." She reminded her the day she was supposed to be calling.

Olivia chucked. "I remember baby, thursday. I love you, sweetie." She reminded her daughter of the love that she harbored for her, hoping she would never forget that, or even her.

Olivia hung the phone up, and Josiah decided she was done with working for the rest of the day. She just wanted to relax now, not in the mood to do anything else. Closing the lid to her laptop she efficiently began cleaning her things up.

The front door opened, and in came Justice with Natalia following behind him, carrying designer shopping bags in her hands. She gasped, "My living room!" Her voice screeched, and Josiah visibly winced, since she had been hoping Natalia didn't arrive home just yet.

"I'm so sorry, I was just cleaning it up." She rushed out so that Natlia wouldn't have enough time to think too much or grow too angry. "I had a project and I just quickly lost track of time, you know." Her words mellowed Natalia out once she realized it was school related.

"Oh," She sighed, feeling much better while Justice only snickered.

"Sis dont even worry 'bout her, she be having our whole house looking worse than this when she got work assignments." His words made Josiah calm down. Justice always helped explain Natalia better, which was a blessing, but it was also very sad at the same time as well.

Josiah laughed, brushing her hair out of her face once again. "What do you do again?" She quizzed standing to her feet stacking all her papers together. Justice began walking towards his room in desperate need of an after school nap.

"Im a party planner, I keep up with all the dates, making the calls, everything like that." She explained, and Josiah realized this was their first real conversation. "I wish True had the work ethic you do. I sent her up to Clark for better education like she requested, but all she does is flunk and party. They're so close to expulsion with her." Natalia stressed, shocking Josiah.

That had to have sucked for True, but it definitely reminded her the same could happen to her and she had to remain on her A-game. "Im sure it will all work out in the end." Josiah tried to make her feel better but Natalia just flopped on the couch, looking stressed. It radiated off of her body.

"It wont, and I know it won't. She just wants to spend all my money and hang with those darn instagram models. If she didn't actually plan on doing work she could've moved up there and got a job. Not use college to disguise it where I'm funding tuition, an apartment, books, meal plans, and all that for nothing." Natalia ranted as Josiah continued to clean her mess.

Natalia wasn't trying to say it out loud, but she just wished her daughter was more like Jojo instead of dumbing herself down to fit in with no lifes, living paycheck to paycheck. True didn't see it that way, and she was far too stubborn to."Well I don't have any advice for the True situation, but if you ever need some creative ideas to help with your party planning I'm always open." Her words brought a smile on Natlias face.

Maybe she wasn't stuck up and rude, maybe her intentions were just very misunderstood. "Thank you, love. It really is wonderful to have you here in case I hadn't said it before. I know I can be super busy, but my career is my life."

Natalia grew up poor, and was a teen mom. She worked hard to get where she was, and she was always paranoid, swearing to herself she wouldn't let herself get back to that point. It was the reason behind her being a workaholic.

"Totally understood, no bad feelings I promise." Josiah playfully mocked a surrender.

After talking to her mother and even having a nice conversation with her step-mother, she felt like the rest of the day was bound to be a good one. She would've felt better if she could talk to Micah, but she refused to call him out of guilt. He probably wouldn't even stay on the phone for more than two minutes anyway, because that was the new norm.

She'd felt like she had been living in Florida and doing him super wrong. She'd kissed another man, let him touch her intimately, and now they had even graduated to taking naps and cuddling. The morals she had was pushing her to break it off with him, but the feeling in her gut was telling her he had been doing something too—long before her.

She didn't know what to do. "Mm, yo sneaky ass finna go do some more sneaky shit." Tre remarked walking past her just to get on her nerves. Josiah had quickly grown to become his best friend and he felt slighted.

She smiled rolling her eyes. With her going through everything that she was, she was very happy that she had people around her that made her smile daily. Her brothers and her father especially, maybe even Natalia in the future. That was to be determined. "Mind you, you have my location you just didn't think to check it." Thank goodness.

Pushing the door to the back room open Tre followed her as she looked towards Dice who was resting in the black swivel chair. It seemed like he was always the one at the sound board. "Dice, tell your friend he's doing too much." His ears perked at her voice and pleas.

He looked at her, and he smirked. He knew she was calling him his nickname so that she wouldn't give herself away. Knowing his name was something no one knew besides Tre, and Paris' family. "You trippin' leave my dawg alone." He played right into it, knowing that he was with her.

It was crazy that his desire for her had now overpowered the feeling of betrayal. It was no longer lust with him, he knew what was beneath her looks and he still liked her. He just didn't know how to admit he had actual feelings for her , to her. It was slowly but surely happening.

"She the one who was being sneaky. Like why you got home at one in the morning." Tre continued to complain, watching Josiah take a seat on the couch and he followed after her. "But imma give it a rest, you got it." He surrendered, deciding to finally let it go.

He wouldn't be a big brother if he didn't give her hell about it for at least a little bit. "Thank you, Tre." She laughed , dropping her head to lay on his shoulder for a few seconds to show her love. Touching was her love language.

Tre accepted the silent love, and glanced over at his best friend who had his eyes glued to Josiah. "Aye, PK, watch it." Tre shook his head watching a lazy grin appear on Paris' face at the warning. "Come on man, anybody else." He kept his words short so that Josiah wouldn't easily catch on.

He loved his best friend, and even if Paris wasn't the drama , drama followed him. He had a drug habit he couldn't seem to kick, and he had kissed True before which could've made things much more complicating within their family. Not to mention his bitter ex, and her even more bitter ex-best friend. "I hear you, dude." Paris replied evenly, a slight nod following his words.

"Are you two talking about me in my face?" Josiah inquired out loud. She was younger than them, but she was nineteen and she was far from stupid.

"Nah crazy, watchu talkin 'bout?" He gaslit her and she shook her head, using her face to unlock her phone going to her message icon.

"Move," She shoved him then turned her body away from him to ensure the privacy in her phone while clicking on the contact she was going to text on the first place.

🗼
Today 5:13 pm

Y u ain't tell yo brother where u was

Don't even play

I'm playin?

Yes! First of all, you know what we
doing wasn't okay

Like why did I nap w you?

Cs I asked

Not funny Paris.

Didn't laugh Siah

Leave the room

No...

Bruh...

"Anyways guys, I came in here because for my project I decided to do the art of creating music. So one day while you guys are in here making beats and stuff can you notify me so I can take some pictures?" She quizzed dropping her phone in her lap.

She knew she was about to do what Paris asked, and he did too. Paris only nodded in response but Tre was extra. "Can I put that shit on though." He didn't even care, as long as she had the intention to make him look good he didn't have a problem.

"Well since you guys are picking the day, dress nice or don't Treyvon." She tilted her head looking at him as if he were stupid, and he only nodded accepting that answer.

"Aight." His words forced her to stand up, and leave the room going to her own room. Closing the door she took a seat on the ottoman, and pulled her knees up to her chest.

When her door opened, she looked up in time to see Paris walking in the door. "You insist putting us in positions to get caught huh." She spoke while he closed the door, and he smacked his teeth.

"It ain't fun?"

She watched him carefully as he sat his phone on her dresser, followed by a gun prompting her eyes to widen. "Omg no! You're a gangster," her jaw dropped and her facial expression made him laugh.

"Ian no gangsta, watchu talm bout? I'm a intellectual young man who like to read books, and make melodies." He used the word ' intellectual' he'd heard her use. He had heard it a few times but when she said it, it pushed him to figure out the dictionary definition. He liked to read so his vocabulary had been broad but he couldn't lie he had learned a few new words from her. "And ain't no getting caught wit me..." He told her.

She eyed him weirdly.

"If yo brother find out what it is between us, den dats what it is ma." He sat next to her, and grabbed her feet to sit them across his lap in which she let him. "You scared?" He teased.

"It's not just about that, but I have a boyfriend and I'm just trying to sort out my feelings, you know?" She sounded conflicted, and he understood.

Shaking his head slowly he went on. "I hope he showing you that same respect up there like you trynna show him."

"Nah, I've failed in the respect aspect considering ...us...this." She gestured to her feet resting on his lap.

"Niggas do way worse ma ma, but I see what you sayin, you trust yo nigga that's how it should be." He slowly started to remove her feet so that he could get up, and she quickly looked up.

"Wait, where are you going?"

"Ian plan on being in here dat long, just wanted to talk for a second 'fore I left."

"But we barely talked..." She trailed,  feeling a sense of urgency to keep him with her. She wanted to tuck him in her pocket so he could never leave her.

Paris could see he was contributing to Josiah throwing away her morals and he didn't want to be what changed her. He had taken it too far, and now it was starting to mess with her mentality.

He wanted her to want to be with him, and sort for her feelings without him being in her ear to influence her too much.

He wanted her to choose him because she wanted to, and he felt a little pathetic for that alone.

I danced so much yesterday that everything on my body is sore including my hands...

Sariyah is so cutesy idk

Olivia js want what's best for her baby😞 making moves behind bars

Natalia seems misunderstood, what we think?

Paris starting to rethink pursuing her, yall think he gonna actually cool off on her or he just felt a sliver of guilt in that moment ?

Double update was promised and delivered.

M.O.🫡