KATHRYN

The mess around me made me cringe. I started to sweep up the glass as I heard the carpet being ripped up. It's been a whole week, and the house still looked a hot ass mess.

I walked to the window and saw Andre directing the men. I giggled, and waved at him. He winked at me. He continued to shout at the men for doing their job wrong. I rolled my eyes. Andre was really good at handiwork but never amazing.

Ever since reading Darnell's letter yesterday, I've returned to my previous self. His letter put me at ease. Andre didn't know about the letter, but he wasn't complaining about the change.

"Baybeh, I ordered tha black carpet. Ya know we can't keep tha white carpet clean."

I cut my eyes at him, "I told you beige Andre."

"I'm kidding," He chuckled. "They gon put it in lata on this afternoon. I still think we shoulda gotten hard wood."

"Look at our dining room. The floor is scuffed up. I refuse to let our living room look like that."

He raised an eyebrow, "I know ya ain't talking. The first week we moved in ya spilled red wine on ma floo'."

"That was Marah,"I lied.

"Ah ah! Don't blame stuff on ma baybeh."

I giggled. Truth is I told Amarah I would buy her a doll house if she said she did it. Needless to say she did, and now she has a three piece Barbie dream house, that has a pool. It was an arm and leg, but it was worth it. I loved seeing her happy.

"Phrey bringin ha ova' hea lata. He bringin Alayah ta'. He want ha ta meet ya befo' ya lil fundraisa ta'night."

"How is she holding up?"

He grabbed the milk out the fridge, "Not ta good. She'on speak a lot."

I swept the glass into the dustpan. I loved Phrey and PJ, but I know they didn't think she would get accustomed to a new home within a week. Foster care fucks up most children.

Zamia was in foster care when she was young. Then she got adopted, and it still took her forever to get used to everything. My dad did everything in his power to keep her, but he couldn't support a family of four. Her parents eventually broke down and let her go to our school. She had so many opportunities to go to a private school.

Zamia was teased everyday for having white parents when she was as dark as me. Her parents loved her though. They gave her any and everything she could imagine. They even gave me things when my father couldn't provide. I still think of them as my second pair of parents.

"Well maybe us girls might paint our toes," I looked down at my toes. "I need some color."

"Ya need some new toes baybeh. Them thangs look like anotha species."

I slid my Nike slide off my foot. I lifted my leg and placed my feet on his shoulder.

"Kathryn, get ya feet off me. I'm tryna eat ma cereal."

I walked closer to him. I lifted my leg back over his shoulder. My hips were in line with his hips. A small smirk grew over his lips.

"What?"

"I'an kna ya was this flexible,"He held my leg and gently thrusted his hips.

I blushed, "Andre stop."

"Andre stawwwppp..."he mocked.

I rolled my eyes and put my leg down. He was such a ass. I grabbed a spoon out of the drawer. I dipped it into his bowl of cereal and grabbed a few Cinnamon Toast Crunch.

"I kna ya ain't just..."

I brought it too my mouth, but it was quickly knocked down. I whined as the milk and soggy cereal dropped down my shirt.

"Andre!"

"Don't eat ma cereal then."

I slid my shirt over my head. He watched as I digged the cereal out of my bra.

"Damn,"I heard him mumble.

I know why Andre was amazed at my body. He's never seen anything above my neck, maybe a little cleavage. We haven't touched either. We just kiss, but we've never made second or third base.

I don't mind it though. I like the suspense of waiting. We literally feign over each other, but we don't touch. I know when we do touch it'll be magical.

"Ya kna Phrey and 'em ain't gon be hea' fa anotha hou'..."

"Yeah, that means we gotta finish cleaning up this kitchen."

I grabbed the pots off of the counter and put them in the cabinets. I heard Andre smack his lips and continue to eat his cereal. Once I finished cleaning the kitchen, I headed down the hall so I could get dressed.

I pulled out my dark blue jeans. Fashion nova had a sale and everyone knows my cart was full. I dressed it up with my beige crop top, and brown bear jacket. I decided to go with long straight hair today. Usually I have Marah here to help me make my hair decisions, but my stylist was playing with her friend.

My Beats pill speaker blasted Kehlani's song RPG. Kehlani was my favorite artist, because like her, I've been through many struggles. Some aren't as bad as hers, but when you go through a struggle it's either to sympathize with others. 6LACK's verse filled my ears as I filled my eyebrows in.

"Then I fell for you, fell in life,"I rapped along.

Once I finished my makeup, I put on my clothes. I decided to dress it up with my beige booties. I took a few mirror pictures, just so I could post them.

People were very fond of me. I've gotten a huge fan base over the past few months. I've been asked to sponsor hella products, but I could never see myself doing that. I just know that I needed to worry about this Gun Control fundraiser tonight.

The fundraiser was originally supposed to be last week, but since everything was going terribly wrong I decided to post pone it. I had so many acts booked, only two were being paid, but I still needed to keep the show running.

I walked out of my room and immediately ran into Andre's cologne. He sprayed it like it was Febreeze. I hated it. I always tell him to keep it down. He already has mild asthma and it's not good for him. He just doesn't listen very well.

"Look at ma baybeh!"He shouted as I walked into the kitchen.

I did a slight twirl. He chuckled and grabbed my hands. His speaker was playing 'I Like'  by Guy. He spun me around as he sung the words to me.

"The things ya do ta me,"He sung.

He held my waist as me dipped me to the floor. I giggled. He pulled me back up, but my wig didn't want to cooperate. It felt to floor. He busted out laughing as I blushed.

"Andre!"I giggled.

"Stop wea'in them ugly ass wigs then. Ya hair is beautiful."

"Thank you for reminding me to clip my wig in,"I responded as I put it back on my head.

I would have to lay my edges back down, but it's nothing a little toothbrush can't handle. Andre rolled his eyes as I snapped it back in place.

"Ima buy me a wig. It's gon be blon-"

There was a loud knock on the door. I rolled my eyes. Andre was so annoying, but he was my little annoying baby. He got up to answer the door. I placed the cookies and juice out on the table for the girls.

ANDRE

"Can ya stop beating on ma fuckin door man?"I said as I answered the door.

Phrey had both of the girls in his hands. They were sleeping.

"Aye Phrey!"I shouted.

He motioned for me to be quiet, "They sleep man."

"What ya say?"I shouted again.

"Nigga Ima hurt ya if ya scream again."

"I can't hea' ya!"I screamed a little louder.

"Where's my baby?"Kat asked from the kitchen.

Amarah jumped out of Phrey's hold. Alayah did the same on instinct. They ran into the house. I busted out laughing as Phrey smacked his lips.

"I told ya ass ta be quiet man."

"Nah ya do that shit all tha time."

"When I do it?"

"Ma' nigga!" Phrey loud ass said as he walked out the house.

I motioned fa' him ta' be quiet. Marah was sleep and I didn't want ha' ta' wake up. It took ha fa'eva ta' get ta' sleep. PJ would never be able ta take ca'e of ha if she was awake.

"What?"He shouted even louder.

"Nigga! Shut up! Marah sleep!"I whispered.

"I can't hea' ya black ass from ova hea'."

"Ima slap 'em I swea',"I mumbled.

I picked Marah up. I grabbed all ha bags and started to walk ta'wards the house. Phrey was ova thea screamin and shit. I threw one of ha toys at him. He jumped back once it hit him.

"I told yo ass she sleep nigga. Shut up,"I whispered.

"Why tha hell you hit me with tha Barbie though? That shit hurt Dre,"He cried out.

That's what his ass get fa being loud. I told him ta shut up, but what he do, he kept screaming. Stupid ass got what he deserved.

"I don't remember that."

"Humphrey? How you been?"Kathryn asked.

He gave her a look. She smiled and gave him a hug. He pushed her off of him. Alayah and Amarah were in the kitchen eating cookies. I grabbed one off the plate and they both shot me a look.

"Put. It. Back."They said at the same time.

I slowly placed it back on the plate. If it was just Amarah I would've beat her ass. I can't take on two children at the same time though. I know Alayah is a fighter. I wasn't trying to prove myself wrong though.

"Andre are you ready to go?" Kathryn shouted as she walked into the kitchen. "It's almost 6, and I was supposed to be there at 4:30."

I nodded, "Let me holla at Phrey real quick baybeh."

She stepped aside so I could move around her. PJ was outside with Phrey. Phrey was helping him with his crutches.

The first few days PJ had a wheelchair. He was so tired of not being able to move on his own, that he dealt with the pain of crutches. Of course both of his legs were injured but he used both. I hated it for him. It was terrible watching him suffer through the pain, but he didn't show it to much.

"I told you I can go up the stairs baby. Just leave me be,"PJ whispered.

"I'm just tryna help ya. Why ya always in a bad mood?"

"Can you stop? You keep riding my dick about everything. Déjame solo!"PJ shouted as he helped hismself into the house.

I stepped aside so he could get in. He didn't say anything to me. He rolled his eyes. I looked at Phrey. He had a tired look on his face.

"What's goin on?"I asked as I shut the door to the house.

Phrey sat down in the rocking chair. I sat next to him. I pulled the blunt out of my pocket and slid it his way. He needed it more than I did.

"He just acting right na'. I'm not een gon entertain him."

"Ya betta stop fa he leave ya ugly ass."

He lit the blunt, "Nah he ain't leavin na'. We gotta whole kid. What's up with ya though?"

"I think Ima do it ta'day. I just got a instinct."

"Ahh shit. My brotha growin up," He passed me the blunt.

I put it between my lips and took a drag, "A whole yea' ago I thought I would be dead. Hea' I am actually livin. I feel jumpin off tha roof." He gave me a look, "Ta soon?"

"Hell yea'! Ya ass done tried ta kill ya'self 3 times already. It's always gon be ta soon fa that lil joke,"He mumbled. "Real shit I'm proud of ya. If Unc was hea' he would be real fuckin proud."

I chuckled, "If Pops was hea' none of this shit would've happened. He woulda killed ma ass."

"I miss Unc hella. That nigga made our childhood a fuckin movie."

"Pops was crazy man. Ya know he would always say, 'I ain't become a fath-'"

"'or ya uncle,'"

"'Ta watch ya plan with action figu'as.'"

"Then he would add, 'Now get ya ass in tha ca'e and let's go find something ta eat.' Man I miss that nigga."

"Ya kna we neva went ta tha same restaurant twice? He took mama and I ta e'ery restaurant in Nola."

The door swung open. Kathryn stepped outside with her purse in her hand. I looked up at her and smiled. She was so fucking beautiful. I grabbed my phone and held it up to her face. The camera clicked and she gave me a look.

"That was terrible. At least take a good one baby,"She giggled.

She did a little pose and I took her picture. She placed her hand by her ear and popped her knee. I smiled at the picture. I really scored the baddest in the game.

"Ya so fuckin' beautiful baybeh."

"And you're...decent. Okay we gotta go! We're already late."

I smacked my lips. Phrey said his goodbyes to us and headed inside the house. I heard PJ's mouth already. I chuckled and helped Kat into the car. She set her phone up on the dash as a GPS.

"Hurry up, we're already a hour late."

"That's yo fault ma'am."