Part 2 of this story will be on that account ]

𝙷𝚘𝚞𝚜𝚝𝚘𝚗𝚃𝚇

❦

I woke up out of my nap to the sound of my phone vibrating on my nightstand. I reached over and grabbed the phone and read the caller ID making me

suck my teeth. Nun I hate more than bein waken up out my sleep for some dumb shit.

"What the fuck do you want Elijah?" I answered the phone irritably.

"Damn nigga what side of the bed you wake up on?"

"The floor." I heard Duck say in the back.

""Man shut up." I laughed, sitting up in the bed.

"Anyways, you comin today right?"

"Fashoo, gimme like a hour."

"Ight say less." Eli said and hung up. I got myself up and hopped in the shower. After about 20 minutes in the shower I got out and brushed my teeth again and walked into my closet. I put on some distressed Amiri jeans, a black muscle tee, and some 5's before going over to my dresser and tucking my .40 in my pants. I grabbed my keys off the dresser, walked downstairs and made my way out of the house since I was already late.

Today is Bri 'on's birthday and we're all going to Duck and Eli's house for this gathering. I only met Bri'on once or twice before he died but he was a cool ass nigga and I respected the way he carried himself. Him and Mari only lived a few streets down from me so I always heard about him from people around me and he wasn't messy. From what i'd heard about him, he kept his head in the books and sold on the side.

I know Duck and Eli were real close to him so i'ma be there for them since they're my brothers. Obviously Mari is gonna be there too and shit been kinda awkward ever since we talked at Eli momma house but I don't really know. She still acts stand-offish at times but i'm not stressing it. I'm not really thinking 'bout the whole interaction at all. I've been dropped the shit.

30 minutes later I pulled in front of Duck and Eli's house. A bunch of cars lined both sides of the street and the driveway. After a few minutes of driving up and down the street I parked in front of the neighbors house and got out. The front door was cracked open so I walked into the house and there

were people spread out everywhere.

I recognized Eli's momma talkin to a 5'5" woman that I assumed was Mari's momma cause they looked exactly alike. She had the same lips, eyes, and face shape as Mari. Only difference was she was a lil' bit taller and Mari was on the shorter side— compared to her momma at least. Regardless, she looked young and I can't say she isn't beautiful as hell. If I didn't know any better, I would've thought that was her sister.

I looked around the crowded living area and my eyes landed on Mari. She was sitting at the dining table with her elbows on the table in front of her as she stared blankly at the wall. She looked deep in

thought so I didn't wanna bother her, or say some shit that she might take the wrong way so I just left her alone.

"Waddam Mir." Duck said as I dapped him and Eli up.

"Yall straight?" I asked them, looking in between the two.

"Fashoo." They both nodded reassuringly. We stood there talking for a li' bit and my eyes trailed back to Mari who was still sitting at the dining table with an

unreadable expression on her face.

"Don't worry 'bout her, she likes to stay to herself on days like this." Duck said, noticing that I was looking at Mari.

"Yea, ian worried." I shrugged making him nod.

"D!" A lil' girl said, running through the front door and jumping on Duck.

He laughed and picked her up, "'Wassup li' mama."

Duck said as he held her on his hip.

"Who you?" The lil' girl squinted at me with a goofy grin on her face.

"I'm Mir lil' mama, who you is?"

"Layva." She smiled at me. "How old you is?"

"Seven." She replied and I nodded.

"That's wassup."

"So you ain' gon say nun to me LayLay?" Eli frowned. Layva sucked her teeth and waved at him before focusing her attention elsewhere. Me and Eli bussed out laughing at her lil' attitude while Duck

shook his head at her. We know where she gets her attitude from.

"Who you came here wit'?" Eli asked Layva as she wiggled out of Duck's hold.

"My daddy, he's outside talkin' to some people." Layva shrugged, "He talks a lot." She rolled her eyes, making all three of us muffle our laughs.

"Where's Mari?" LayLay asked. Eli pointed over to the dining table where Mari was seated by herself. Layva ran over to Mari who's face instantly lit up when she saw her.

"I feel bad for Mari son.." Eli sighed, "Ion even be knowing what to say to her.." Duck nodded in agreement and looked back at Mari who was talking to her sister.

For the most part, the rest of the afternoon was chill. I peeped a few neighbors and family members wiping a few tears every now and then, but it was more of a celebration. Eventually I broke off from everyone and started looking for a secluded place to

smoke cause being around all these people was starting to get to me.

I walked out the backdoor and to the empty backyard. My eyes landed on Mari who was sitting in a patio chair leaning forward, with her hand on her chin staring down at a gun. I furrowed my eyebrows in confusion and started to walk towards her but she didn't notice me.

"Say Mari, whatchu doin?" I asked, looking down at her.

"Nun, just thinking." She shrugged, talking unusually low.

I really wasn't gonna ask her if she wanted to talk about it cause I hate when people do that to me. But then again, I be in moods where I just want everyone to leave me the fuck alone and I don't know if Mari is like that or not. She could be the type of person that wants to spill her emotions out but then again, i'm not good at that either.

I sat down in the patio chair next to her and started rolling my blunt. We sat there in silence and she was still holding the gun in her hand just looking at it. I don't know why her holding the gun was turning me on— i'm fucked up, I know.

"Where you get that gun from?" I finally asked, putting the blunt in between my lips and lighting it.

"My dad gave it to me after Bri died, to protect myself I guess." She shrugged, leaning back in the seat letting me get a clear view of her side profile.

"You always got it with you?" I asked and she shook her head.

"I only keep it with me when my dad's around. Just in case he asks me for it to make sure I got it on me. 'Cause lord knows if I don't he's gonna go the fuck off on me." She chuckled to herself.

"You ever had to use it on someone?" I asked out of curiosity.

"Once. When I killed the nigga that off'd my brother." She said lowly.

"Oh, damn."

"Fuck, I miss Bri so much." She leaned forward resting her elbows on her knees again covering her face.

"Can you get Duck or Eli for me? Or boffum?" She turned around with glossy eyes and asked. I nodded and got up, walking back into the house.

Everyone was too engaged in their conversations to realize that we were in the backyard anyway. I saw Duck and Eli sitting on the counter in the kitchen talking to three boys so I told them that Mari was outside and she needed them. They immediately got up and followed me back to the backyard.

I stood on the deck with Eli while Duck walked over and stood in front of Mari who had put her gun in the seat next to her. Before Duck could even say anything, Mari got up and wrapped her arms around his torso. She rested her head on his chest and started sobbing. Duck wrapped his arms around her as well and let her cry into his shirt. I couldn't make out what Duck was saying but gradually she started to catch her breath and her breathing slowed down.

I looked over at Eli who was rubbing his eyes,"Before y'all say shit, I wasn't crying. Sum flew in my eyeball." Eli muttered. We all bussed out laughing, including Mari.

She wiped her eyes and looked up at Eli who had his arms open in front of her with a goofy smile plastered on his face. She chuckled and embraced him in a hug and they rocked back and forth.

Anyone could tell you that Maris real lucky to have Duck and Eli. Just by the looks of it, it seems like they keep her sane— especially at times like this.

"You good?" Eli looked down at Mari who nodded while wiping her tears.

"Good. Now come on, befo' yo pops see you cryin' and beat me and Duck ass." Eli said, making us chuckle.

Mari grabbed her gun off the chair and tucked it into her pants before following us up the steps. The four of us walked back inside and fixed our plates. Mari made her plate and went to sit outside on the front porch alone. No one really bothered to speak to her or encourage her to engage in conversations so I guess this is a normal thing for her.

Mari is always talking, laughin', or smiling whenever I see her. So seein' her quiet and deep in thought like this is definitely different for me and it makes me wonder who or what made her the way she is.

❦

- 𝚎𝚡𝚌𝚞𝚜𝚎 𝚖𝚒𝚜𝚝𝚊𝚔𝚎𝚜 -