Things started getting serious.
It was something we all knew but never wanted to speak about. Instead of kids just skipping class to skip, they skipped to get high in the bathroom. And mixing the drug life with the gang life, there were just streets I knew I had to steer clear of at all costs.
It was on the down-low, but as soon as something went left, it would be parents gossip. Then Calvin and I would once again have to sit and endure another speech about being careful and doing the right thing.
All I knew was that I was gonna get to Calvin before my parents could. That way, I could get some honest talk and not generic assurance he was gonna stay out of trouble.
And with the way Rocky was still high strung over Andre, I would either have to go to Shad or Calvin for help.
I just didn't know the day I decided to speak about all this to Calvin I would come home to the whole family. One of his friends offered me something after school, and it freaked me out so much I couldn't stay tight lipped about it.
I knew how close he was with his friends, and I felt like I'd kill him myself if I found out he was somehow involved too.
"Calvin!" I called out as I entered the house, locking the door behind me. "Calvin! I gotta talk to you!" I walked into the kitchen, instantly pausing at the sight of my mother and sister. "Oh."
"What's going on?" Calvin asked, making me turn around, seeing him with Rashad. "There a problem?"
I thought of a quick lie. "Shana likes you. Couldn't stop talking about you in my English class." I forced a smile. "What'd you do to her?" I turned around and started to greet everyone with hugs.
"Nothing."
"Well, it must've been something. 'Cause she's got a whole crush." I took a seat at the table. "You should take her out."
"She's a sophomore."
"So?"
"So, no." He smiled. "I know I be pulling honeys, but I don't need her." He then walked back to the living room with a pep in his step and a boost in his ego.
"Well damn," Shad commented with a laugh.
"I didn't know you were off from work today," I commented, looking to my mother and sister.
"I always have every other Tuesday off." Mama reminded me.
"And it's about time for Daddy to get home. It's not early, Nae." Kelly added. "Where have you been?"
"Just across the street with Nicki. I helped her make cupcakes for Kay's birthday tomorrow."
"When am I gonna get these sweet sixteen invites?" Calvin asked, making his reappearance.
"You just said you weren't messing with sophomores, yet you want an invite?" I asked, amused.
"Yes, so where's mine?"
"It got lost in the mail." I told him playfully.
That made us laugh, leading us to sit around the kitchen and catch up. It all almost distracting me from what was troubling my mind.
🖤
After dinner, I found my perfect opportunity. Slipping into Calvin's room after I was put on dish duty with Shad. It was more of a bubble war than anything, but they got done.
"We need to talk about Nico," I spoke as I saw him sitting at his desk doing homework.
He looked up at me. "Why?"
"Stay away from him."
"Don't you think I know that?"
"Well, I'm being serious. Your friends-"
"Janae."
"Calvin!" I raised my voice slightly, wanting to be taken seriously. "Your friends are doing stupid shit, and that will not be you, do you understand me?" I pointed at him sternly.
"I don't need my little sister trying to educate me."
"And I don't need my brother's friends offering me shit, but that happened." I rolled my eyes, making my exit from his room.
"What?! Janae." He called after me, and I just ignored him going into my room. "Who?" He demanded, appearing in my doorway.
I crossed my arms as I turned to him. "You're seriously gonna play like you ain't know?"
"No, I didn't. Who offered you it?"
"Oh, so now you wanna listen to me?"
"Answer my question."
"For what? You don't want me to educate you, remember?"
"Janae!"
"You either know what's up or you don't Calvin!" I argued.
"I really don't!"
"Hey! Quit all that yelling!" Daddy called out to us.
I looked to Calvin feeling deflated."Stop hanging with Henry," I informed softly. "He's with Nico's crew."
I watched as his face changed at the news. It was more than clear that he was in the dark about this one. "Come here." He spoke, motioning me towards him, and I just hugged him softly. "I'mma make the right decisions, okay?"
"You promise?"
"Promise." He held out his fists, and I fist-pounded him with a small smile.
"Y'all good?" Kelly asked as she and Shad appeared in the doorway.
Calvin and I exchanged looks before nodding softly.
"I don't like that," Rashad spoke, pointing between the two of us. "That's the type of stuff me and Kelly used to do when Ma and Pop asked us about something we weren't tryna talk about."
"We know Nico's back. That's common knowledge." Kelly spoke, as she walked further into the room, closing the door behind her. "So what's he up to?"
I just sat myself on my bed trying to mentally prepare myself for a talk that I didn't even want to have in the first place. But I knew it would happen eventually. The only reason we were so strong as siblings was because we leaned on each other, no matter how smart we thought we were, we allowed ourselves to listen. 'Cause we all wanted each other to succeed, the right way.
🖤
I ended my night by sitting on Nicki's front porch steps, talking to her about everything that was going on after Kelly and Shad left the house.
"Shad's gonna talk to Dre," I informed.
"That's good. Rocky's gonna be a lot more chill knowing that."
"And he's tryna hang around more."
"Is that good or bad?"
"Ehh."
That just made Nicki let out a laugh. "He's just tryna look out."
"I'm tryna make sure all the boys in my life don't sell drugs, and then we'll be fine. It's not that deep."
"I don't know, it gets wild out here." She warned jokingly.
I sighed, looking over at my home. "You're lucky you're an only kid."
"Girl, with friends like y'all it's like I got at least 12 siblings."
I smiled. We were all like a big crazy-ass family in the end.
"So what's up with that Nate boy?" I asked curiously, deciding to change the subject to something normal.
Boys.
A smile came on her face as she quickly looked away from me, acting shy "We're cool."
"That's it?"
Nicki looked back at me. "Yes, that's it."
A slow smirk appeared on my face after taking in her reaction. "You sure?"
"Yes, I'm sure."
"You positive?"
Seeing that I was pushing for more, she finally gave me something to work with. "He's coming to Will's game on Friday."
"Ooouuu!"
"Oh, hush." She pushed my shoulder, making me laugh.
We were gonna be alright.
Despite circumstances and crazy lives, if we could still smile and laugh.
We were fine.