Shannon
Sitting at the pool with Alana, we were chilling at Travis house with him and Elijah. They were sitting on the balcony talking and smoking weed. The other girls didn't want to chill with us because of the guys age range and didn't feel comfortable being here. They were really started to piss me off with that mainly Maya.
"I really needed this," Alana said sighing putting her head back. I nodded my head because with all the shit I was going through I felt her pain. Before coming over her, I moved all my stuff out of my sister's apartment so now I really had to find me a place to stay. Of course, Elijah was letting me stay with him but I didn't like living off a man."So he letting you stay with him?"
"Yeah and you know how I am about depending on a man," I said covering my eyes to block the sun from my face.
"He's a good guy, though. I like him for you, Shannon. I don't think he's that type of guy either," she said nudging me. I didn't respond to her and decided that I would get into the pool. I got up from the pool chair and walked over to the pool. I jumped into the pool taking a lap it and stopped when I felt arms wrap around me. Elijah wrapped my legs around his waist and carried me to the edge of the pool. I've noticed that we both couldn't keep our hands off of each other lately.
"You having a good time," he said putting his head on my shoulder. I nodded wrapping my arms around his neck and then kissed his cheek. "Travis just invited some more people, so it should start getting packed. The guys gone put some meat on the grill too."
"I wish I could get some different type of meat but you being stingy," I mumbled in his ear. He smirked at me causing me to roll my eyes. He bit my bottom lip then sucked on it.
"You wildin," he said laughing into my neck. Hearing my name being called, I looked up seeing Maya and Layla with a mug on their face. I rolled my eyes not even acknowledging their presence. They said that they wasn't gone come now their here. They needed to make up their damn mind. "You have problems with your friends?"
"They got the fucking problems acting like they the one fucking with you. Bitches being mad disrespectful then gone come smiling in your face," I said getting mad just thinking about them.
"What's the problem with me?"
"Your age. They think you to old for me but they act like I can't take care of myself. Shit, I been doing it."
"Don't worry about them as long as we good that's all that matters." I nodded my head totally agreeing with him. He held onto me as we got out the pool. I was dripping wet and he just acted like he didn't notice as we made our way inside the house. We both were wetting up Travis floors. Taking us to the room where we put our stuff at, he took us inside the bathroom sitting me on the counter. He turned the shower head on and started taking off his clothes. "Get naked, Shannon."
I watched him get inside the shower and then started taking off my bathing suit and head wrap. I opened the shower door and got in then closed it back. Elijah handed me a rag and the bottle of body wash. Bathing myself quickly, I moved in front of Elijah letting the water run down my body. I felt Elijah kiss my neck and his hand go between my legs rubbing other set of his lips which caused me my head to fall back on his chest.
"Elijah," I moaned putting my hand on top of his to stop him from going faster. He smacked my hand out the way continuing his torture making me scream out loud. "Baby, i'm bout to cum."
"Cum for me then," he said into my ear making me cum right then and there. Deciding to bathe myself once again, I did just that and then we both got out the shower. Elijah wrapped the towel around my body and then his. "I can't wait to put my dick inside you," he said pressing his bottom half on my ass. I moved from in front of him quickly and made my way inside the bedroom. I grabbed my bag and pulled out my lotion and clothes. I put the lotion on my body and then put on my clothes and sneakers.
********
Sitting in Elijah's lap, I drunk from my cup and bobbed my head to the music. Since I couldn't eat the food that they made, Elijah went and bought me some vegan burgers and put them on the grill. He was so sweet because I was definitely hungry as fuck. Feeling eyes on me, I seen Maya looking at me with a mug on her face. I rolled my eyes at her. Me and Maya was only cool because she was Layla cousin and Layla started bringing her around us. Alana didn't too much fuck with her since Maya had fucked her boyfriend when they was together. Me and Alana just really tolerated for the sake of Layla. At this point, I was starting to think that she was mad because Elijah didn't want her.
"Fuck do this bitch keep staring at you for," Alana said hitting my thigh. I looked up to see the bitch still looking at me.
"I don't know. She might be gay," I said which caused all of us to laugh. Alana was sitting in Travis lap which suprised the hell out of me and Elijah but I was all for them being together. Travis was a good guy and he had became my brother over the past few months. I knew what type of guy he was already and Alana deserved to be happy also. They didn't have a title yet but they both knew they was only fucking with each other and nobody else. Me and Elijah was kinda in the same boat with our relationship. We really hadn't made anything official we just knew what it was. "Nah, but I feel like the bitch is just jealous. But if she knew what was good for her, she'll fix her fucking face. I'm tired of her ass."
"You already know I don't fuck with that bitch so i'll fight her my damn self. I been respecting her ass because she was Layla cousin but fuck that shit now. Hell, Layla just as messy as Maya ass." I nodded my head because that shit was true as hell. Layla followed Maya ass around like she was a lost puppy which I didn't understand.
"Aye sis, your burgers ready," Jaxon said putting the burgers on a plate. I got up from Elijah's lap and went over to the table where all the food was at. I grabbed a burger bun and then the tonsils putting the burger on the bun and plate. I then grabbed a bag of the lays Classic chips from the variety bag and made my way back over to the group.
"I deadass don't see how you be eating that shit, sis," Alana said with a look of disgust on her face. I took a huge bite out of the burger and then swallowed.
"This shit really be getting hard at times but it's for the better. It's not even that bad," I said shrugging my shoulders. "Yall stay worrying about what i'm eating like yall got to eat it."
"Yeah stop worrying about her and that nasty ass food," Elijah said laughing. I smacked him on the shoulder.
********
The Next Day
"Wake up," I heard Elijah say making me put the pillow over my face. We didn't get home until real late and I was tired. Feeling him pull my shirt up and kiss my stomach, I moaned softly. "We gone be late for work messing around with you."
"Do I really gotta go to work," I mumbled laying on my stomach and putting my face into the pillow. Elijah smacked me on my ass hard making me jump fast.
"Yes. Now get your ass up." He walked away from the bed leaving out the room. I kicked my feet in the air eventually getting up and doing my daily hygiene.
30 minutes later
Biting into my apple, I followed behind the guys as we made our way inside the barbershop. I yawned sitting at the receptionist desk and took off my jacket. I tossed my apple into the small trash can beside me and opened the draw. I grabbed the list with all the appointments for today. Everybody had a fair share of customers for today which was good. They wouldn't be focused on cutting heads and not bothering me.
Hearing a ding from the door, I looked up seeing Derek walking inside. It had been over a month since I last saw him and it was always good to see him. Getting up out the chair, I walked around the desk pulling him in for a hug. His shoulders hoved up and down making me notice that he was crying.
"What's wrong, D," I whispered into his ear continuing to hug him. He pulled away from me wiping the tears from his face. He grabbed my hand pulling to one of the chairs by the door. Derek put his hands over his face not saying anything. Looking up, I noticed we had an audience but I decided not to say something and focus on my friend. I scooted closer to him putting my hand on his back rubbing circles. "Take your time. I'm here for you."
"Ma dukes passed away yesterday and it's my fault. Somebody shot the crib up while she was there. My mama gone, man," he said sobbing into my lap. I felt warm tears trickle down my face clouding my vision. Derek mother was somebody I seen as a mother, hell the whole neighborhood did she was a good woman. She took care of me and mostly everybody else. She never discriminated against the kids at all. "I gotta get out of town, Shan. The streets not safe for me right now."
"Ok," I managed to get out. Derek grabbed my face wiping my tears and kissing my cheek.
"You can't tell anyone you seen me. I got some family in California flying out and i'm going back with them after the funeral next week." I just nodded my head.
"Derek, you promise me that i'll see you before you leave. You know I got your back regardless and the only thing I want is for you to be safe and come back to me alive," I said standing up with the help of Derek. He hugged me tightly never letting me go.
"I promise," he said pulling away from me and grabbed my head kissing my forehead. "I'm sure Elijah will take good care of you while i'm gone." I cheesed hard punching him in the shoulder.
"Keep your hands off of me, hitting me like a damn man. I'm bout to get out of here, though. I love you."
"I love you too, Derek."
I watched him walk out the barbershop and for some reason I felt like this was the last time I was ever going to see him.
A week later
Putting on my heels, I got up from the bed and made my way outside of Eijah's room. When I made it downstairs, there stood the crew including Maya and Layla making me roll my eyes. We only decided to let them ride with us to the funeral because they also knew Derek's mama. Elijah looked at me with a sad expression and I know he noticed my bloodshot eyes. I hadn't stop crying since Derek told me she died.
"Sis, you gone be okay," Alana said meeting me at the stairs. I nodded but too be honest I really didn't know at this point.
"Let's go. The service starts at 11 and I gotta sit on the front with Derek," I mumbled. Everybody grabbed their stuff and we left the house in the rush. Elijah grabbed my hand holding it the entire way to the church. Once we got to the church, it was already packed outside. I seen Derek standing with one of his uncles crying. I hopped out the car and made my way to him quickly. "I'm here." I grabbed his hand latching it with mine.
"I just want to get this over with," he said walking in the church with me.
30 minutes later
It was Derek turn to go up there and speak about his mother. He made his way to the podium grabbing onto the sides tightly. Tears filled his eyes and it looked like he was about to pass out. I got up from my seat and went up there with him.
"You got this," I whispered into his ear. He looked over at me shaking his head no. I looked at everybody in the church pews connecting my eyes with Elijah. He nodded at me. I grabbed the mic and put it up to my mouth.
"Ms. Jackson was and always will be an amazing person. She took care of all the kids on the block including myself and many of the people in here. She was loved and her legacy will always live on and I guarantee that. Ms. Jackson left us with her son Derek and even though he may be going through a lot of things in his head thinking that he may have lost the only person that had his back. It's not true and I will always be here for him no matter what. Ms. Jackson would want to see her son doing well even while she is not here. I love her and her son with all my heart and just to let you know Ms. Jackson I got him and will keep him the right path and not lead him to destruction."
I set the mic down and grabbed Derek's hand making him follow me back to our seats. He laid his head on my shoulder and it stayed there for the remainder of the service. Once the service was over, I decided that I would ride with Derek and his family to the grave and that's what I did after I let Elijah know. Now standing at the gravesite, I listened to the preacher talk and then it was finally time to lower his mother. Derek kissed the top of the casket dropping down to his knees he almost fell down there but I grabbed him quickly. He sobbed into my arms loudly repeatedly saying that it was his fault.
"Your gonna be okay. You got me still," I said holding him tighter.
********
"You be safe, Derek and call me whenever you make it there," I said to him as we sat outside on Elijah's porch. I had my head on his shoulder and we were holding hands. His uncle had brought him over here so we could say our goodbyes to each other. I was hoping that this wasn't going to be the last time we saw each other.
"I wanna give you something to remember me by," he said taking off the necklace that his mother gave to him for his tenth birthday. He turned me to the side and put it on my neck. "I love you, babygirl." I looked at him smiling hard and then hugging him tightly.
"I love you too, lil shorty," I said causing him to laugh lightly. He pushed me softly.
"You got jokes, I see witcho ugly ass," he said still laughing.
"Now we both know i'm not ugly," I said smiling. He shook his head at me and stood up. I stood up too giving him a kiss on his cheek and he did the same. "I'll see you soon."
"Of course. This shit forever. I miss your ass already and i'm not even gone yet," he said making his way to the car. When he opened the door, I yelled to his uncle to take care of my bestfriend. He got inside the car waving at me goodbye. I stayed outside until I seen the car pull all the way out and head down the street. I sighed.
What a long day it was.
Luke James as Derek.
Excuse all the mistakes.
I will be updating this book on Mondays, Wednesdays, and Fridays.