Please excuse ANY grammatical errors.

February 16, 1995

~Tia's P.O.V~

Today is my 23rd birthday and my  brother, mother, and dad took me out earlier to a couple of places. Everything was nice, but now my friends and associates from school decided they wanted to take me out somewhere. There are eight of us including myself. There's Elijah (best friend), Courtney (Ari Lennox; friend), Woody (Woody McClain; CLOSE associate), Jacob (Jacob Latimore; school friend), Algee (Algee Smith; associate), Jane (Chika; associate), and Melissa (Lizzo; associate).

Yes, I now have a friend that's a woman. For so long I've let what happened to me as a child effect my relationship with women. I would look at all women like they'd betray me in some way because in many cases that was my experience. Courtney is very cool, and have like-minded humor. A woman having a female friend is needed because there are just some things you don't want to speak about with a male friend no matter their sexuality.

"All in all Y'ALL ALL was some horny ass people on Valentine's Day!" Algee yelled out to us laughing.

"You might as well been alone too, because yo ass was with the school hoe. Everyday of the week it's a different nigga!" Jacob said to Algee. Algee and Jacob are brothers, fraternal twins to be exact. Algee's two year's older than Jacob but acts like he's thirteen years younger than Jacob. They're both twenty-six.

"Right, I can't believe you fell for the trap." Woody pointed at Algee laughing.

"I can't stand that bitch." Elijah said to them.

"Who Lark?" Woody asked Elijah.

"Yes! She be on that slick shit." He rolled his eyes.

"I'm right with you bruhh." Woody agreed with him.

"She just all around a horrible person and got the nerve to be sleeping around." Jacob told us.

"But didn't you sleep with her too?" Woody raised his eyebrows at Jacob. That caused Algee and Jacob to eye each other.

"Hell yeah nigga! That shut was good too!" Jacob said loudly and dapped up his brother.

"Y'all nasty as fuck!" Chika said disgusted.

"I hate when a nigga call a woman a hoe when they hoes themselves." Courtney shook her head. "Don't get me wrong, she is one and I don't like her ass but y'all probably got more bodies than her." She said to Jacob and Algee. Woody nodded in agreement.

"Woody, you're the same way. You just a undercover hoe." Lizzo said to Woody.

"Look, a REAL man don't brag about who he has or hasn't slept with. I'm that real man, and that shit ain't in me to say something about. Second of all, I ain't no hoe." Woody explained with his hands.

"Woody just mad because he ain't have her." Algee said elbowing his brother while laughing.

"I don't want that shit. She tried me but I declined. I don't want no pussy if it's being offered to me. Then and there, you know what type of person that woman is." Woody explained. "Y'all like to out all y'all shit in the open like high schooler's."

"Amen." I said nodding. "That's not a good look on anybody." I shrugged.

"Pshh, y'all want a piece of this Smith-Latimore blood too." Algee told us.

"We don't want what everybody had. I think I'm speaking for all of us." I told him truthfully.

"Jacob there want some of my girl Courtney here. What comes out of y'all's mouths is not going to lure her to you." Chika told Jacob. Why does it seems as if most innocent conversations with dudes always lead to a conversation about sex? This conversation did a whole 360.

"Amen!" Courtney agreed with her while laughing.

"You're speaking for us all." Melissa gave me a look.

"New topic, because y'all niggas some straight up hoes..." Elijah shot out.

"Y'all? Motherfucka'- them!" Woody pointed at the twins.

"He acting as if he not a man." Jacob said aloud.

"I never claimed I wasn't one. I'm a man and stand in that shit. Even if I wasn't, that shit wouldn't be nobody's business but mines and the person I'm with
on the other hand, y'all two on the other hand act like boys. Woody is the only HALF decent one out of the three of you." Elijah shrugged putting emphasis on half.

"Y'all are loud as hell." Chika told them.

"Right, chill the fuck out. This is a classy place and y'all over here being stereotyped." Melissa told the boys.

"Anyways..." I said attempting to cut the slight tension. Jacob was about to say something else.

"Like she said, anyways... It's her birthday and we not tryna her both of y'all go back and forth. Not today we not." Woody chimed in. "A'ight?"

"A'ight, I fuck wit' it." Jacob said and his brother nodded in agreement. Jacob dapped Woody up, following up with Algee.

Elijah is the sociable one while Courtney and myself are more to ourselves. Her and I are goofy as heck, but many wouldn't know unless they get to know us. Most people think we're women who are ALWAYS serious and about our business. Everyone that's here with us aren't going to school in the same field, but we do have one or a few classes together. These are my go to partners when we have group assignments. Sure, they may say some ignorant things but they get their work done as far as I know.

Jacob follows Courtney around like a sad puppy trying to get her attention. Courtney on the other hand has NO interest in Jacob but they're friends. Out if the twins, Jacob is the cooler one. He has somewhat of a filter and Algee has NO filter whatsoever. Woody has his head on straight but is friends with Algee and Melissa. Chika and Elijah are close. I already spoke about Courtney and everyone knows about Elijah. This is how we all came about forming this small group.

The seating arrangement from left to right is Algee, Jacob, Lizzo, and Woody on one side. Then on my side from left to right there's Chika sitting across from Lizzo but next to Courtney. Elijah across from Algee but next to me. Me across from Woody, but me next to Courtney. Then there's Courtney across from Jacob but next to me.

"Thank you." I nodded at Woody.

Our waitress came to the table with a few plates. "We have spinach dip."

"That's us." Woody told her referring to me and himself.

"Artichoke dip." The waitress said.

"That's me and Elijah." Lizzo told her.

"Nah, girl I had veggie soup." Elijah told her.

"I have to go back to get the soup. Motzerella sticks."

"That's mines." Algee raised his hands.

"The salad is mines.." Jacob told her.

"I also had a order of motzerella sticks." Chika spoke up.

"I'm sorry, I'll be right back with the rest of the orders." The waitress said putting our apitizers down in the table.

"Thank you." We all told the waitress before she walked off.

"How is it working with Pac?" Algee asked me from across the table.

"You are obsessed. Tupac is... Tupac." I told him with a chuckle.

They're cool and everything but discussing my friends to my associates is not my thing. I don't know if they're going to tell the press whatever it is I decide to tell them. Another thing is that I don't think Tupac or anyone else would appreciate that so I keep answers simple. I know I wouldn't like people telling others my business.

"Man, you always say that." Algee waved his hand at me.

"Then why do you continue to ask? Also, I done told you about calling me that. I'm a woman not a man. Call me by my name just as I do you." I told him.

"My bad." He laughed. "That's like my favorite rapper though."

"Understandable." I nodded just as I noticed a a group of dudes at a nearby table.

"You see that?" Courtney whispered to me.

"Mhm." I mumbled.

"They been over there staring for a while now. How long have you noticed?" Courtney asked me

"Just now." I told her. Then I saw two stand up. "They notice us notice them. You think they're coming to us?" I asked her.

"Duhhh, girl..." She chuckled.

"What for though?" I asked.

I recognized two of the guys in the group and only one of them that stood up. The one still sitting is Michael Jai White and one of the ones walking this way is Taimak. Both are good looking men and actors. Taimak played on a movie I used to watch ALL the time as a kid. Why did I watch it so much? Well, it's one of those things where you watch the movie just to

Courtney smacked her lips at me. "Girl, what do you think?" She said in a rhetorical tone. "Mmm, they are fine as hell."

"The hell y'all whisperin' 'bout?" Algee asked.

"You KNOW they talkin' 'bout the kid." Jacob motioned to himself.

"Excuse me?" Taimak said politely looking our way.

"Back up." Jax stood up before he and his friend got any closer. Courtney and I gave each other a knowing look.

"Wasn't he at the premiere AND the hair show in L.A?" Elijah whispered to me and I nodded. "I hope he likes men because he fine as hell. I'm tired of these college fuckboys."

"Nahh, he's fine Jax." I told Jax. Yeah, REAL fine!

Jax sized him down then moved over. "A'ight."

"Hello." I said politely.

"Hi, how may we help you?" Courtney asked the two males with a smile.

"Um," Taimak cleared his throat. "Hello," he greeted everyone then looked at me. "Tia right?" He asked then I gave him a slight nod. "I'm Taimak, I'm not sure if you remember me." He held out his hand for me to shake. I shook it and he kissed it. Flattering but I'm not flattered. Why? Because I'm about to eat. I don't like shaking hands and definitely not a kiss. Then again, it could be a cultural thing. He continued, "My cousin and I-"

"I'm Alessandro, and this here is my cousin Taimak." The other one spoke up.

(Taimak is above and Alessandro is below.)

"I can speak for myself." Taimak chuckled at his friend. "I'm Taimak and we've met a couple of times. Do you remember me?"

I smiled. "Not that I can recall."

Elijah laughed "Girl, yes you do, rememb-" I kicked his leg with a look. "I mean yeah..." He agreed with me.

"Can you refresh my memory?" I smiled sweetly while internally laughing.

"Okay." Taimak responded.

"Mind if we take a seat?" Alessandro asked us.

"Wait a minute- hol' up now. How you know they ain't with us?" Jacob spoke up.

"Yeah!" Algee backed Jacob up.

"Well judging from what was coming out of your mouths, I'd like to think otherwise. Am I correct?" Taimak raised his eyebrows at the twins but they stayed silent.

"Boy, please..." Courtney rolled her eyes at Jacob and Algee. "Yes, you may take a seat." She said to Alessandro and Taimak.

"Wait, why would you want to sit down with a bunch of strangers, stranger?" I asked halting them.

"I know-"

"Everyone knows of her but don't know her personally." Woody cut off Taimak. Including him. Woody doesn't know me like he think he does.

"Listen, I don't think I was speaking to you. I was talking to the lady." Taimak told Woody. That was... Let me keep my thoughts to myself.

"Pull up a chair, have a seat." I said a little too quick.

"To refresh you memory, we breifly spoke at the Malcolm X premiere a few years back and we sat next to each other at the hair show last month. We actually talked then as well." Taimak explained to me.

"What was you doin' at a hair show?" Woody squinted at him.

"Again, I believe I was talking to the lady." Taimak turned to Woody in a polite manner.

"Well you came over here interrupting our meal and conversation. We have the right to know." Jacob told him.

"Jacob and Woody, I don't think that's any of your business." I told them both. I already knew that his mother was in the hair show. She rocked a blonde afro and it was bomb. "I already know."

"Oh, so you do remember me?" Taimak raised his eyebrows.

I nodded. "Briefly." I lied. I want a man to tell me who he is not me tell him who he is. Your perception of someone can always be wrong.

"I was hesitant about coming over here- in front of everyone and all, but-" Taimak told me but was once again cut off by someone.

"Well you should've listened to your hesitancy." Woody told him.

"Oh my God! Woody, could you PLEASE shut the fuck up!?" Elijah raised his voice. "All of y'all who keep buttin' in! Damn..."

"Oop." Lizzo added the icing on the cake.

"Okay..." I trailed off.

"Um, can we speak another time?" Taimak asked me.

I frowned. "Excuse me? You came over here."

Taimak held his hands up in defense. "No- no, I don't mean it like that. I just mean... How can I put this?"

"He means that we keep getting interrupted everytime we even attempt to speak." Alessandro finished. He has a nice Italian accent. "Jesus Guarrillo, stop beating around the bush." He patted Taimak's shoulder.

"Yes, that's exactly what I mean. I just didn't want to come off as rude with my wording." Taimak explained.

"Ahh, okay." I nodded. "How will we contact each other?" I raised my eyebrow.

"About that, I have your business card but there seems to be a problem with the number?" Taimak said in a questionable tone.

"Oh, shit..." Elijah mumbled to himself.

"I'm sorry, my assistant here-" I motioned towards Elijah, "is in charge of that. Did you leave a message?"

"Yes." He responded and I looked at Eej. Eej just shrugged his shoulders innocently.

"Was it business related?" I asked turning back to face Taimak.

"Well..." He trailer off.

"If not, then you should've asked for my personal number." I batted my eyelashes, waiting.

"May I have your personal number?" Taimak asked me.

"Girl, just give it to him." Courtney whispered to me. She had just gave hers to Alessandro.

"What are you intentions?" I asked him, ignoring Courtney.

"To get to know you better, if that's fine?" He quickly spoke towards the end.

"That's fine. In what aspect though?" I asked another question. You can't be easy with these dudes. Asks questions and see where they stumble or stutter. Pay attention...

"Right now as friends." Taimak replied. "After that, we'll see what happens."

"This isn't some type of bet is it?" I asked with my eyes squinted because I hear about it happening all the time. Men make a bet on women and approach them due to the bet.

"Of course not. I've been meaning to do the the next time I was to see you regardless. I just didn't think the next timed I'd see you would be today." Taimak responded.

I reached into my purse and pulled out a pen and my business card. It was the only paper I had in purse. I wrote my number down. "Here you go." I handed it to him.

"Thank you." He wrote something down on a piece of paper he got from Alessandro. I'll assume it's his phone number. "Here you are. Just so neither of us will be waiting by the phone. You have mine and I have yours."

"How considerate." I chuckled. "Thank you." I'm not calling a dude if it ain't about business. If he want to get to know me bad enough, he'll call. If he doesn't then so be it. His loss.

"You're welcome. Happy birthday by the way." Taimak told me then walked away and his cousin followed.

"How'd you know that?" I asked with a raised brow.

He smiled. "People talk." He gestured to Jacob and the rest of them. "And loud." He chuckled then turned back around.

"Damn, you grill niggas hard." Jacob told me once they were away.

"Do I?" I chuckled.

"Hell yeah. All he asked for was you number and you askin' him hella questions." Algee laughed.

"As she should. He could be a killer or somethin'." Woody frowned. "I can't believe you have that clown your number." Woody shook his head at me.

"Right, I don't even have your number CouRtnEY." Jacob told her putting emphasis on her name.

I stood up. "Well, I'm going to go wash my hands before the food comes." I pushed my chair in.

"And I'm going with her." Courtney stood up.

"Me too." Lizzo stood up.

"Be right back." Chika announced following us. Girls always go to the restroom in packs. Jax followed us while Redd stayed back. Of course he didn't go inside, he waited outside the door.

March 8, 1995

~Tupac's P.O.V~

"Face forward Shakur!" I guard yelled at me. "NO SMILING!" This nigga... I rolled my eyes and slightly smirked. They snapped my mugshot. Does this supposed to scare me?

(He looks GOODT in this mugshot, doesn't he? About the best one I've ever came across.)

He jerked me away from where I was standing. "Don't be a smart ass inmate. Wipe that slick smirk off your face before I do."

I kept my same expression but put my tongue in my cheek to try to cover it somewhat. Shit don't faze me. Honestly nothing fazes me anymore. This is the only thing that got me smiling in months. Shit ain't been pretty for me in a while. Them niggas shooting at me at the premiere is fucked up. The officers treat inmates like shit. You think it's bad how they treat people outside in the streets? Come to prison and see what happens.

The only thing I look forward to are letters. I don't want people to see me in here like this. I don't belong here nor do I feel like myself. I already feel like I'm losing my shit. The officer pulled out his baton and hit me with it. He hit me in the same place a bullet hit me months ago. I dropped my expression and kept walking with the officers right along with the other inmates.

I am the last one in line and there are two officers, one all the way at the front and the one grabbing me. Who knows when my mama, sister, or anybody will be able to visit? When they do, I don't want them to see me battered and bruised all up. I was just transferred today from the small prison to the main prison, which is why I had to take another mugshot. I had to stay in the other place for eight days and I was just getting used to the people there.

You heard what they called me? Inmate, and now that we got our numbers, we're about to be called by our numbers. Names? You might as well forget your birth name and YOU better learn your number by heart. If you don't know yo shit, then you in will get hit or a shot/ point. Adding points to your name gives you a higher chance of staying longer. Officers do not give a fuck about you in or out of jail. In jail it's just harder to fight the system since you're under their jurisdiction and they call the shots LITERALLY.

"Speed it up inmate!" The officer said with a tight hold on me walking faster.

"I would if my legs wasn't chained together like a slave." I told him trying to keep up with his walking pace. That caused him to grab me tighter.

"You're bin prison not out in the streets. Keep those smart ass comments to yourself inmate or you'll see what's coming to you." He whispered the last part. I slightly shook my head and sped walk with him.

"Tupac!"

"Pac!"

"Aye Tupac!"

"My man Pac!"

"Tupac Shakur!"

"I respect you Pac!"

"Assalamualaikum my brotha." Another said as I walked passed him.

The other inmates yelled out to me in a welcoming tone. Some of them held up a black power fist. This wasn't surprising because the people in the previous prison gave me nothing but respect. It was relieving to say the least. Here I didn't expect as much praised as I did in the small prison simply because there are more people. To be frank, I still don't. I know there will be some people who I will have problems with. Hell many of these people probably got problems with themselves. When that happens people project that onto those around them.

I know there are some crazy motherfuckers in here, especially with some of them who received LIFE in here.. The ones who get life in prison don't give a fuck about nothing. I wouldn't either so I don't blame them. Shit, I'm almost in the brink of not giving a fuck about anything. Others don't have nothing or nobody to go home to when/if they get out. Most of the times those people do ANYTHING to stay in prison. How do I know this? There were some people in the small prison who were there to go to trial. Many not them expressed what they felt while fucking somebody up.

"Settle down inmates!" The officers yelled out while hitting their batons against the table or wall.

"Just because we have new inmates doesn't change the rules! The same rule STILL apply. We don't care WHO'S here!" Eyes were on me during the last sentence.

I was then lead to my cell and introduced to my cellmate. It was some big ass nigga, but I'm not intimidated. Most people would be and I probably should but nahh. Don't judge a book by its cover. Suge a big ass nigga but only fuck you up when you get in his way.

"Have fun!" The officer said sarcastically and closed the door.

"What you in for?" I asked him.

"First-degree murder. I know what you here for. People been talking about you, hoping that you end up here at this prison with us. I respect you for all you do. Welcome brotha. Victor is the name." He held his hand out.

I dapped him up. "Yeah, I appreciate it." I told him. "So how long you got?" I asked him.

"Life." He responded to me. "The top bunk is mine by the way."

          People are more likely to see you on the top bunk than the bottom. The top is eye-level. They have to bend down to see me in my bottom bunk. So guess what? I'm fine with the bottom bunk. I'm still in shock that I have as long as I do here. This is definitely going to be a LONG ass stay...

March 14, 1995

~DeVanté's P.O.V~

I walked in my front door just to see everybody sitting on the couch talking amongst each other. "Wassup y'all? Who called a cab?" I closed and locked my door. The energy felt weird as hell the moment I stepped in the house. "What's goin' on?" I asked everybody as I turned back around to face them.

"Look- De..." Missy trailed off. The room went to complete silence.

"What is it? Spit that shit out." I squinted. Whatever it is I KNOW I ain't going to like. It stayed silent. "So y'all not gon' speak? Fuck it. It's probably bullshit anyways." I started to walk off.

"I'm gon' give it to you straight. We leavin'." Tim said stopping me on my track.

I turned around. "Leavin'? To go where?" I asked confused on why they were hesitant to say something as simple as that.

"We leavin' YOUR label." Melissa spoke again.

"We are tired of yo shit and can't put up with it any longer. We stuck with you this far hoping that we'll become something but here we are still in the same place as we started." Melvin explained to me.

"What you mean?" I asked confused.

"You slappin' us like you the pump and we some hoes! That's what!" Jimmy yelled.

"First if all, don't be yelling in my god damned house! That same mouth you usin' to tell at me with is the same mouth I been feeding for years! Don't bite the hand that feeds you. Second if all, all I did was slap y'all a couple of times and y'all mad?" I chuckled.

"NIGGA-" Tim jumped up like he was about to do something but one of the other grabbed him.

I stood there in the same position. "What you gon' do? Hit me? Do that shit and get yo ass knocked the fuck out." I said in a menacing tone.

"You and what army nigga?" He taunted.

"I'm all the army I need." I walked closer to him.

Tim backed away. "You just another Suge in a different body." He shook his head.

Charlene finally spoke. "Look, De, I appreciate everything that you've done for me and my girls. The thing is that you have gotten out of control. You ain't you no more. You letting' other people make your decisions for you."

"Suge ain't no damn God and you following and him like he is. That nigga is the FUCKING DEVIL in human form, but you gon' find that out one of these day just like we found about you!" Jimmy yelled.

"Suge is a businessman and know what the fuck he doin'. The way he do shit WORKS. I been working with y'all ungrateful asses. I told y'all that y'all needed to know the one and outs of things. How to create beats and hear mistakes. I swear, niggas don't appreciate shit that you do. I rented a house for y'all to stay in. Then when I got my own place, I moved y'all in. Y'all came from shit to a fuckin' mansion! Look around, who gon' do the shit I did for y'all?" I was beyond pissed at this point. "First you say y'all leavin', then try to fight me, and last tell me how to run my shit. This is how I learned. I'm teaching y'all the only way I know how! I been in this business since a kid. Don't y'all think by now that I KNOW how to run MY OWN shit!? Huh!?"

"See, that's that shit right there!" Melvin yelled out. "You trying to manipulate the situation! We just said we grateful for what you did in the past but now you just movin' different!"

"Movin' different?" I jerked my head back.

"Yes, DeVanté, I ain't ever been scared of you as much as I was that one night. I told you about my past and wanting to get away so I can provide for me and my mama. You still did that shit. I'm done. To too it off, you gave me- and NOBODY else credit for those Jodeci albums. Nan one of our names in the credits after all the work we put in." Missy added.

"I told you-" I was cut off.

"Nahh, nigga, all you did was tell us. I'm tired of that shit! When you gon' stop tellin' us and take some REAL action!?" Tim told me. "NEVER!"

"Nigga, all I been doin' is talkin' action. I been working my ass off right along with y'all! I loss sleep trying to help y'all out. I did that shit out the kindness of my heart and this is how y'all repay me?" I scoffed. "Y'all all can get the fuck out. Y'all better not have none of my shit either!"

"Don't worry. We left with what we came with. We don't want nothin' from you but an apology, but you not ready for that." Missy told me. "The world is too small for a tubby girl to take over it, remember?"

"It was just a joke! Damn! Get over it! That shit is old. You ain't on his ass for sayin' it. All I did was repeat and laugh." I motioned to El.

"You keep sayin' what you did for us. What about what we did for you?" Tim tilted his head. "We had to carry yo high ass up those stairs multiple times. We checked to make sure to ass wasn't dead from a fucking overdose or a mixture of that and liquor. You jot gon' mention that, huh?"

"High? I haven't even smoke weed in a while now. I smoke cigars, so I know you lyin'!" I laughed.

"Nigga, you pop a few pills for every meal. Fuck you think you look like this now? I ain't hit you a little while ago because if I huff in yo direction, up ass gon' fall back." Tim chuckled.

"Pills that I used for my headaches?" I threw my head back laughing. "You don't know how much pain I be in."

"Pain? Nigga you's a straight up junkie! You sick and need help. I'm tired of you usin' that sad ass 'headache' as an excuse to be a junkie. I'm telling you how I and everybody else view yo ass; A FUCKING JUNKIE! A controlling, angry, JUNKIE!" Melvin told me.

"Get the fuck out my crib! Ion know why I'm even explainin' shit to y'all. You wanna go? GET THE FUCK OUT!" I screamed. "ALL Y'ALL!"

"Let's go y'all. We ain't gotta be here with this JUNKIE!" Tim lead everybody out.

It's not surprising how the other ones let those four people speak for them like they're unable to. The last person to leaves slammed the door. I was tempted to snatch the door open and snatch whoever did it up but truthfully, I didn't have the energy to. My girl been tripping. I just came from the studio to finish recoding 'The Show, the After Party, the Hotel.' I started to walk up the stairs but El was still sitting there on the couch.

"Fuck is you still here fuhh? Better go before you miss yo ride because I ain't goin' nowhere!" I pointed to the door with my thumb.

"I'm stayin'. They decided to go but I'm staying here." He said he in a normal tone.

"Are you now?" I laughed. "At least somebody know what they gon' be missin' out on." I nodded in appreciation.

"Yeah, I'm stayin'. Being part of this- or whatever the hell is left of this is one of the best things that happened to me man. I appreciate all you did." El stood up and dapped me up.

"Thanks man." We bumped shoulders during our hand shake.

"Nahh, thank you boss." El said then walked away.

"I like the sound of that. BOSS." I said to myself, nodding in approval. I made my way upstairs to my room, stripped, and turned on my shower. "I'm tired of everybody tellin' me who the fuck I am. Shit gave me a fuckin' headache." I chuckled. I opened my medicine cabinet, grabbed my pills, and poured a couple in my hands. I swallowed them them got in the shower.

Author's Note: Yes, more new characters. You like them? How many of you knew of Taimak?🤔 The first time I saw The Last Dragon, I was HOOKED. Even as a LITTLE kid.

Word Count: 5,320

Please feel free to like and comment. Feedback gives motivation, and motivation urges me to continue to write.

Thank you all for taking the time out of your day to read another chapter of this story. Thank you for staying despite the slacking.💚🖤❤💜💙💛