▃▃▃▃▃▃▃▃▃▃▃▃▃▃▃▃▃▃▃

"Is that nigga over there now." asked Tamari on the other end of the phone. He was jittery and he was trying to stay out of Kasiyah way so he didn't bump into him.

"Yes the man is here." she said as she packed all the kids packed lunch.

"Ok cool. Imma hit you up later." he said ending the call.

Kasiyah tried to stay silent as she got the kids ready for school. Tremani lay sound asleep as the commotion occurred, Kamiyah and Pablo ate their cereal quietly while Sekani went into the bathroom to wash his face.

Their daily routine was as follows, luckily Kasiyah successfully adopted them or at least still was in the process but in the mean time they stayed with her. Kamiyah and Sekani's parents didn't take it lightly at all.

Their dad came to the conclusion that she had planned this all along which she partially did but she did everything she could to make his environment the best for them but it just wasn't. After telling him that they could still visit and that she knew about him running a drug business, he broke down into tears which was very rare for him and decided to let them go with Kasiyah.

Of course court letters had been sent to the kids parents but Kasiyah never heard from Pablo's mom which was surprising for her because Asia practically threatened to tell her mom. But she didn't really care anyway. They were yet to run into Pablo's family, they didn't care about him. Sekani and Kamiyah's dad made the effort to plead to still see them but that was different for Pablo's parents.

"Hello." Kasiyah said.

"Hey best frann, is the hubby over there?." she asked.

"No the man is here not the hubby."

"Tell me when I can come round to see him, I'll see you when we go out later." she said.

"Ok I'm getting ready to go work now so I'll see you." she said ending the call.

"Kasiyah I'm ready." said Pablo.

"Ok we are about to leave in ten minutes, go over your books on the table." she said and he nodded. Kasiyah was better than she thought. She made sure all the kids did well in school, they were all A and B students. They spent an hour everyday after school going over their work then had fun for the rest of night before they went to bed at 8pm.

"Why are yall up so early." groaned Tremani.

"We have to go to school dummy." said Kamiyah rolling her eyes.

"Kasiyah, collect your child." said Tremani shifting in the bed putting the pillows over his head.

"Yall woke him up, I told you all not to wake him up, go wait at the door since your all ready." she huffed.

"Where you going."

"To work, this nice house doesn't pay for itself." she said mugging him.

"Kasiyah don't get smart with me...so your just gonna leave me here by myself."

"No there's a ghost in the cupboard and a dead body in my room go play with them." she said.

"Kasiyah stop playing Im not laughing." he said with a straight face.

"Bye Tremani, I'll be back soon. You have no phone so I'll call with the house phone it's right there." she said pointing towards the corner of the living room.

Tremani looked over at it and the door slammed and they were gone. He sighed and went over to the phone pulling out a piece of paper that had Herb's number. The phone rang and on the last ring he picked up.

"My nigga, Murda." said Herb.

"Mahn Herb how you doin?", he asked.

"Tremani, you the one out in the real world how are you doing."

"I'm in Kasiyah's house she just went to work, it's cool, might buy myself a house, I just wanted to check up on you."

"So you finally partnered with the helper."

"No I'm having a sleepover it ends today."

"So why you aint sleepover at your girl's house?"

"I haven't got a girl."

"Who was that lil sneaky link you talked about?"

"Herb go count the stars or some shit damn man."

"You be prepared for my ass because imma be out real soon." he said.

"Aight Ill see you real soon." he replied and ended the call.

Tremani lay on the sofa bored out of his mind. To get his day started he went upstairs to take a shower and completed his hygiene, he draped himself in a white polo t-shirt and black jeans. His two chain sat around his neck as his watch glistened on his wrist.

He had to decide what would be his next move, he couldn't stay at Kasiyah's place for long so he got onto Zillow to look for a little apartment.

On the site there was a three bedroom house he really liked so he scheduled to go see it. It was best for him to ask if Kasiyah would go with him but with the kids and his job he thought it wouldn't be possible.

Tremani admired the way Kasiyah was independent she bought her owns house and all she owned came from her own money. He liked women that stood their ground and never felt the need for a man to thrive and stay on their toes.

The phone ringed so he picked it up and was greeted with a male voice.

"Ayo Kasiyah why you not picking up the phone." said Tamari.

"It's not Kasiyah she isn't here."

The voice would've spoke again but realised it was Murda so ended the call. Tamari realised how close he was to getting caught, he made a vow to himself to never call that phone again.

The phone rang again and this time it was Kasiyah. "Hey are you good?"

"Yeah you need to come get me out of here it's no fun."

"You can go out with Sincere."

It then hit Tremani that he had the number of the girl from the mall, so he said he'd hit her up to go out.

"Hello?"

"Waddup it's the guy from the mall." he said looking in the fridge.

"Oh Tremani right? How you doin?"

"I'm good, you?"

"I'm fine, I'm just hella bored do you want to meet at the same mall?"

"Yeah Imma be there soon give me ten." he said and needed the call.

Thirty minutes later they met at the same mall and exchanged greetings. Neveah was a nice girl she had manners she was polite and was very beautiful, she owned her own business where she baked cakes and treats. It was going well for her.

"So how come i've never seen you around?"

"I've been in jail."

"What for?"

"For breathing, like they think my oxygen is a waste, but if anything I provide for those who are lacking on that shit."

"Boy if you don't tell me what happened."

"Police are ass, my previous homie is a piece of shit, long story short."

"I wish the story would be longer but it's cool."

For the rest of the time they spent the day hopping and talking. Eventually, Tremani told her about why he went to prison. Their day came to an end and she agreed to drop Tremani off at Kasiyah's house.

Meanwhile at work, Kasiyah was occupied with a few last minute documents she had to complete. she usually had all day but she wanted to spend the rest of the day with Tremani.

"Hi Denise."

"Hi Kasiyah, I just had Asia come into the office she seems very adamant about the adoption."

"It's just not going to happen, can't you see she doesn't even care about him."

"Oh Kasiyah I know it won't happen, but it doesn't hurt to try."

"Ok Denise."

"And because she's trying you need to meet up with her to sort out whatever you two have going on because if Pablo sees his own sister and his guardian having issues he'll be upset."

Kasiyah did not want to see Asia, she was frustrating she was just too self centred for her and she never liked people like that.

"It doesn't have to be in your home."

Of course she wouldn't let her in her house, she never let just anybody go in her house she always made it clear to Sincere and Tamari that she didn't want any of there friends in her house unless she knew them.

For one she had kids that didn't need to be around people they or their guardian didn't know and two her house is her home, it's her comfort and peace anybody could destroy that by just coming into her house with negativity.

"She can come, but we will be outside in my garden."

Kasiyah had a nice garden. It had grass all over with a stoned pavement that was like a little pathway, on the grass she had tables and chairs that were a light brown with a fire stand at each corner of her garden.

"Ok I'll let her know your address have a good day."

Truth be told Kasiyah would have preferred her to be blindfolded the whole way to and from her house, she didn't want her to know so much as the colour of her front door, never did she want her to be a frequent visitor.

"I've been waiting for your ass all day." said Tremani opening the door only to feel Sekani giving him a hug.

"Sorry I had to pick the kids up, they are going to stay with my mom so we can go out and you can meet my friends." she smiled.

"Ok because I've just about had enough of being in the house."

"You smell like peaches and roses." said Pablo.

"Kasiyah Tremani's seeing a girl." cooed Kamiyah.

"They aren't lying." added Kasiyah.

"I went out with some girl earlier that I met when me and Sincere were in the mall." replied Tremani.

"As you should, getting to know the people I see." said Kasiyah.

"Kasiyah it's never that, she's just a friend, a status you will never have."

"Why? Because her status is going to be your wife?" added Kamiyah.

"You are so out of pocket, all of you go change into some clothes." sighed Kasiyah.

As she put all their belongings away Kasiyah couldn't help but think about who Tremani went to see, she couldn't lie and say she wasn't jealous she was just concerned. Whereas Tremani didn't care at all, Kasiyah's only his friend nothing more, at least that's what he thought.

"Hello household, behold she who enters with empty hands but a full heart." yelled Aniyah.

Empty hands? thought Kasiyah, she literally told Aniyah to bring a box of caprisun for the kids because she didn't have time to go to the store.

Kasiyah shook her head at her friend who entered her home in an overly dramatic way. Tremani mugged the hall way asking, "Who the hell is yelling like that."

"Me." said Aniyah with her hand on her hip. "You must be Tremani." she said holding her hand out.

"Murda to you." he said shaking her hand. Tremani rolled his eyes and went into the bathroom leaving Aniyah mouthing "Girl if you don't get with that man imma whoop your ass!"

"Is Tamari coming?"

"Yeah he's in the car on the phone he'll be here in a minute."

Tremani's ears sharpened at Tamari's name making him fully aware of his surroundings. There was kids in the house, he couldn't just shoot him, they didn't need to see that, he rushed to his bags and ticked his gun into his joggers. It then struck him that he'd text Jude to tell Tamari that he'd be at Kasiyah's place. It sounded stupid but he didn't want to risk the safety of all these people.

"Yall need to go check your friend out, cancelling plans like he's even credible to the outing." said Sincere walking in the front door.

"What do you mean?" asked Kasiyah.

"Tamari isn't coming, he speeded out of here like his mama said she made a hot meal. Ion know if she did because shit I'd be in the car with him but he left." he said scratching his head.

"It's cool I'm making a mental note to spray him with water tomorrow." said Aniyah.

Tremani walked back into the living room smiling to himself at the news he knew he'd catch him sooner rather than later.

"Hey Momma." said Kasiyah giving her mum a hug at the door.

"Where are my grandchildren we are ten minutes late to our movie, send them my way." she said in a rush.

"They are coming, why don't you come in."

"And who is he?"

"Mom this is Tremani, Tremani this is my mom."

"Oh shit it's happening." squealed Aniyah.

Tremani was taken back he didn't know he'd be seeing her mom, not that it mattered. But he wanted to at least be aware.

"Hi Ma." he said leaving his hand out.

"Boy don't give me your hand come over here." she said beckoning him for a hug. Her touch was warm and it reminded Tremani of his mother.

"So you are the man that writes to my daughter, old school I see." she said going into the fridge to get a drink.

"I had no choice, it was very forced, your daughter has no manners ma'am."

Kasiyah's mom frowned. "No manners?"

"I just felt really unwelcome, the letters were so hostile and I really just wanted to be her friend but she clearly was so rude." he sobbed.

"Don't even start Tremani." said Kasiyah through gritted teeth.

"I'm just playing ma'am."

"I was gonna beat her ass right here right now." she said sighing.

"I wouldn't mind watching." said Sincere.

"Memawww!", shouted Kamiyah.

"Awww my babies, let's save all the hugging for later let's go we have a movie to watch.", she said ushering them out of the house.

"Bye Kasiyah!" they all said before the door shut.

"Can we finally get out of here?", asked Tremani.

"I'm going to go ride with Sincere." said Aniyah eyeing Kasiyah, she knew exactly what she was doing, Kasiyah was mad.

Tremani mentally rolled his eyes, seeing her everyday was enough but he'd make it work for an extra few hours.

"Can you please put your seatbelt on."

"No." he replied slouched in his seat with his face buried in his phone.

"Tremani my car is beeping non stop, just put it on."

"Yeah no."

"Why do you have to be so difficult, and by the way I don't appreciate you lying to my mom like that."

He chuckled. "I'm not putting my seatbelt on son you best start driving."

"Why not?" she sighed.

"That shit chokes my neck and ion like it."

"Ok and? Put it on." she said leaning over his seat and putting it on for him. "See all done."

With one finger he pressed the click and his seatbelt unbuckled making Kasiyah groan in frustration. He simply smiled at her.