After walking around for 20 mins, I found some familiar area. I haven't been to Dayton a lot. Enough to know where the hell I need to go though.

Finally I found a greyhound station. As I walked up, I realized I have no money.

I figured I could pic pocket someone to get a ticket to somewhere at least relevantly close to Columbus.

I walked up to the desk. There was a fat man with a nasty beard. "Hello, how may I help you.

Deciding to finally use my body for some manipulation, I push them up just a little. I smiled real bright. Now before you call me a whore, being raised in the projects, you learn a few things.

Such as manipulation, pic pocketing, shop lifting, and things such as that.

"Can you tell me the next Greyhound for Columbus Ohio?" He looked down at my chest and raised his brow.

"Ma'am? Can you not do that? Thanks." His voice was gruff and nasty. My face went red and I stopped.

"The next ones in 45 minutes. But there are no more tickets." Pretending to be upset, I nodded before walking away, not without a quick thank you.

I walked around and looked at some peoples tickets. The one to catch my eye was the ticket in the back of someones pocket. He was probably just a bit older than me. Maybe two or three years older.

He was in baggy jeans and a beater. His hair was in dreads.

I walked past him and quickly grabbed it before hiding it behind my hand and sticking my hands in the back of my jeans.

Pretending to be confused, I looked back as if I was looking for someone. He didn't seem to notice that i took it, so i walked off swiftly.

When I felt as if I was far enough away, I looked at it. It was leaving in 30 minutes. I found a bench that was closest to where I was going to be picked up and say down. I little girl, about eight, ran up next to me. She smiled at me.

I made sure i still had my ticket on me as I smiled back.

"Hi." She said in a sweet sing song voice. A women came up to us just as I responded with a hi.

"I am so sorry. She just loves running off." She picks her up and puts her on her hip. The lady looked to old to be having kids. I smiled softly and tiredly.

"It alright. Not a big deal. She's absolutely adorable." She smiled at me.

"Thank you." She walked off and I made sure that I still had my ticket. Parents always use kids to swipe things and I was not about to be a victim.

After what felt like forever, the Greyhound finally arrived, everyone got on bored.

The driver said this would be a 3 hour drive and I was about to scream. Swear, I should've just stole a car and sped there.

I ended up having to sit next to a large fat guy who was very very sweaty. I was utterly disgusted. Not by the weight but by the amount of sweat someone can produce.

We had a bathroom break at the half way point and when we got back on, I tried to find someone else to sit by. I sat in the back and someone sat next to me. He was a taller person in jeans, a tee shirt, Jordans, and his hair was kinda like an affro. His nose was wider, hazel eyes, and there was dirt under his fingernails so he must work. Good to see some black man out here who aint trappin in the ghetto.

"Aye, you mind if I sit here?" he asked.

"Nah, pop a squat." I smiled and he smiled back, sitting down.

"Whats your name shawty?" I laughed a little.

"Tru. What bout you?" I asked.

"Antwan." He responded simply, smiling. "Where you from? Not to be nosey. You just dont seem to be from 'round here."

"Actually, I'm from Columbus. Moved to New York but came back for a short while."

"Fo real?" He seemed shocked. "West side, bottoms, hilltop? What?"

"West side hilltops till i was about 8ish then moved to the bottoms. What bout you?" I responded.

"West sideeeeee." He threw up the sign and I just laughed.

"That's whats up, ya feel." We laughed.

"Who you related to? Anyone I know?"

"Hm. Micheal Hauber the first? Lise Cravener? Joseph Mane?" I inquired.

He laughed. "Who don't know em!? They legends. Lets be serious though." I raised my bro.

"Joseph is my dad, Lise is my mom, and Mike is my brother and sisters dad." He just looked at me.

"Okay, quit frottin."

"You cant say I dont look exactly like my biological father." I raise my brow.

"Who is...?" He played dumb, and I found it rather abnoxious.

"Joseph." We continued to debate before we just considered it to be a tie and to carry on to talk about less ignorant topics. Such as footbal and why the Browns recent season has been straight shit.

Soon after, the bus stops and the driver calls for everyone to get off. I was the last with Antwan in front of me.

I said thank you before exiting the bus. We were at a Burger King and I knew exactly how to get to my sisters house.

"Hey, come here." Antwan said and walked in front of me. Skeptically, I followed him. We didn't walk very far until we walked up next to a car with two guys standing next to it. "Guys, this is a chick I met on the bus. Tru. Tru, this is two of my bestfriends. Ct and Pop." I smiled a lil and they smiled back, looking me up and down.

"Nice meeting you guys. Look me up on Facebook and hmu, yea?" I ask Antwan.

"For sure."

"Ight. See ya." I walk off. Where I was, was right the busy part of Columbus. I went 2 blocks over and a block down to see UDF and walked down that road.

Walking down the road, I seen a skateboard by a tree. Quickly, i swiped it before I set it down and started riding down the cracked sidewalks as I swerved by people and dogs. Many of the people yelled out to me.

A lot of them I knew.

A few turns later and I'm at my sisters house. Dantes car is there and so i jump off the skateboard as it just rolls down the sidewalk.

Jumping the fence, I run in. Everyone was sitting around, hella depressed. No one noticed my until my 9 year old niece yelled, "T-T," and came to hug my legs.

Out of breath and sweaty, I smile before rubbing her head.

First thing I see is Dante. He looks up at me with wide and watery eyes from the couch. He looked rough. Hair a mess, dark circles under his eyes, lips dried and eyes bloodshot. Jay, Alex, Ryan, Reggie and Cass were the first ones to hug me.

All at once.

I was sufficating but I hugged them all back even though I felt really weird touching a few of them.

"Wait... Where's Nichole?" My voice came out cracky, dry, and barley audible from lack of water.

"In my room asleep. The boys got her. She was in the cellar of his basement." Cass responded and I grimaced.

I nodded and they all had backed away. Dante was right next to me and it startled me. The warmth of his chest drew me in and I melted into him. He clung to me as if his life depended on it.

My arms snaked around his waist and I clung back even though he stunk. But I'm sure I do too.

He kissed the top of my head. Slowly, i pulled away.

"Cass, I'm using your shower." I said and went up the stairs.

As the water dripped down my body, there was a soft knock at the door.

Before I could respond, Dante clarified that it was him. He wouldn't be able to hear me if I would've said anything anyway with how much of my voice was lost.

He walked in and i could see his shiloute behind the shower curtain. He leaned his backside against the counter, his hands against holding himself up.

I poked my head outside to look at him. He looked back, eyes still bloodshot. The mirror behind him was fogged up.

His head hung low.

"A-Are you okay?" his voice was low.

"I'm f-fine." My voice was low and cracked as I tried to speak.

I turned the water off and wrapped my self in a towel. My soaked hair cascading down my back. I kepy my eyes down but I knew he was looking at me.

My hands were above my chest to hold my towel up. I kicked his feet apart gently before walking between them and melting into the warmth of his chest. One of his arms wrapped around my waist and the other tangled into my hair.

Slowly, I had a breakdown and he just held me as I shook.

Soon after, i was done and i sniffled. He kissed the top of my head and i sighed.

"Damn you make me happy," I sniffled and smiled.

"Ditto." I smiles. Soon after. We got dressed and everything, everyone was asleep. Me and Dante were sitting on the couch drinking hot coco and watching Hercules.

My legs were in his lap. I yawned and he set his cup down before grabbing mine too. I pouted and he laughed.

He pulled me to him and smiled as I layed on his chest and smiled. He covered us up and held me to him. I slowly drifted to sleep.

I wake up the next morning and we get back on the road early. I'm so happy when we finally arrived home at 4.

My baby boy ran and clung to my leg and I just laughed and picked him up, kissing his cheek.

I grabbed my baby girl too and we all sat in the living room and watched cars just like I promised I would for Matt.

Everything went back to normal as time went on. About two weeks later, Dante's entire gang was at my house as we all sat out back around a fire. My uncle and my baby's were there too.

Dante was holding my hand and he kissed it. "damn you're precious." I smiled and leaned over to kiss him.

Suddenly, he stood up and pulled me up too. He got down on one knee and looked up at me. My heart started beating insanely fast.

He pulled this little box from his pocket.

"Truce Mane," he started slowly and I covered my face smiling. "I have wanted you since the first day I seen you. I don't wanna rush anything but..." He opened the box and there was a tiny wring inside that had a turquoise stone on it. "will you marry me some day so we can spend the rest of our lives together and happy. I know all I want to do is wake up to you every morning and sleep next to you almost every night. Other nights there'll be something else." I laughed and chuckles could be heard. "so Tru, will you marry me some day?" Crying, I nodded like a maniac on crack.

He slid the ring on my finger before standing up and kissing me. Cheers were made and I just hugged him tight.

And that's just what we did. We got married on September ninth, 2019. Which was also the night my mother died and changed my life. Now, all these years later, on the same day, different year, my life was changed yet again.

~~~~~~

Hey, so that's the end of the book 😭😭😭😭 I'm crying too. It's okay.

But I'm starting the new book which will be published hella soon so be looking for that.

Follow me on snapchat. I'm going to be making a GC for everyone who adds me. So go add me RIGHT NOW @joannxp

I love you all. Thank you for all the support. The new book is going to be something along the lines of my secret internet lover. Idk. Anyone on my schedule group chat is gonna know and help so again, go add me.

Laters my lovely Smurfs!!!!

-Crazy_Red_Warrior

HEY, so I'm posting a new book, the first three chapters are up‼️‼️‼️ I'm going to be posting this again on the first chapter cuz I've posted books and deleted them at least 7 times.

So I'm really trying to stick with this one 🤠💀 so yea. Please go shack it out and follow me if you haven't ‼️❤️

Much love 😽✌🏽❤️