Please excuse ANY grammatical errors.

May 31, 1997

~Tia's P.O.V~

"I'm going to make this speech very brief due to how many graduates we have and as well as the time limit I'm given by the dean." One of the teachers announced.

Bullcrap! Everytime teachers say that, ten times out of nine, they'll be up there all day speaking. Speeches hardly ever go as planned. It even happens during class, especially with this particular teacher. He can talk you to your grave. Then our graduation is outside and not in the COOL air that the building holds. At least it isn't TOO hot today.

I can't believe that I'm finally here. This day has FINALLY come. I'm graduating and ACTUALLY walking across the stage! Your girl is finally about to become a college graduate! No, I'm not the first in my family to do so, and hopefully, I won't be the last. Many people say that you don't need a degree in this field of study, but when you have nobody to teach you the one and outs about business, you NEED it.

Yes, taking risks is something business people do, but taking risks when you know NOTHING about business or business people isn't the brightest idea. The last semester of having an actual college experience felt good, except having to work beside Aldis all the time...

Aldis still tried to get with me a few more times after that little situation occurred but then he got angry then called me ugly and said I was too independent. 😂 He wanted this ugly and independent girl and probably still does, so I can't be that ugly. Even if I am to him, so the heck what! I think I'm beautiful and so do the people I hang with. That's fine though, I just wanted him to leave me alone. He would try to pry too much into my personal life like some kind of weirdo.

I bought another lot where a building and two houses are already being built. I designed it and now my drawing is coming to life, just like my clothing designs. I'm too proud of myself. I can't believe I'm doing everything that I've been doing. I'm going to turn the lot to a safe house for the abused and provide therapy for them. It will be split into different sections. The two houses will be for people to live in. One for the men and the other for women.

Each house will be on opposite sides of my property. Within those houses will be tiny apartments. I've mentioned before that many women have been abused in my family by other members but I haven't mentioned that most of the ones that were abused later on got abused in their relationships. Some men as well. Then hearing stories at the therapy circle I was recommended inspired me to do this. I never was too comfortable telling people my story and didn't reveal my story to the circle but I did listen.

Everyone has their own story, but I pray that people get out of abusive relationships before it's too late. I began to tune in as all the graduates were signaled to stand. I stood up from my seat. I'm going to be one of the first people called because I'm an Andrews. We walked to the side of the stage and waited for our names to be called. I'm nervous for some reason.

"Tia~Nakia Andrews!" I chirped up when my name was called.

I walked on the stage, grabbed my certificate, and busted out in a dance move as I heard my folks in the crowd screaming my name. My family stood up and called my name as well as other things proud and cheerful family would yell. My friends who are graduating with me cheered loud too. I guess my nervousness subsided with a quickness because my non-dancing behind is killing it on this stage.

Tearing the place down. Do you hear me? Down! I glanced into the crowd and guess who I saw? Taimak! I stopped dancing as my heart dropped as we made eye contact. Then I walked back to my seat and stood until it was time to take a seat. After a while, everyone had been called on and cheered for.

"I now announce the class of 1997!" The Dean announced.

We all cheered and threw our hats up into the air. It was easy to find because we all had our own design on it with our names embroidered on the inside. Yes, my friends and I are bougie like that!

"Ahhh!" Courtney, Elijah, Thamar, Melissa, Megan, and myself screamed out once we met up.

"They said a bitch wasn't gon' make it and look at me!" Megan twirled around then did a little twerk and we joined in.

Megan isn't in our main group of friends but I'm still proud that she graduated. She was struggling trying to balance out making money and school. It's hard to juggle working and trying to keep up good grades, especially with me traveling. Thamar and Megan don't get along, because Megan slept with Thamar's now EX boyfriend. This is old beef that happened years ago but the story is still fresh to me.

"I'm proud of us!" Elijah exclaimed then pulled us into a group hug.

Our families began to make their way to us. "Mommy! Daddy!" I hugged them sounding like a little girl.

"I finally get to see my daughter walk across the stage!" My mother said excitedly.

"My daughter did it!" My father, Daryl said to me.

"And please don't do that thing you did on stage again!" Donald told me.

"I dance better than you." I stuck my tongue out at him and he laughed. "Thanks for showing." I gave him a hug. "Hi Jojo, Dalvin, and K-Ci. Thank y'all for coming." I hugged Dalvin, JoJo, then K-Ci. K-Ci fell to the ground in dramatics and we all just looked at him crazy.

"Those two bowling balls she calls chest pushed me back!" K-Ci exclaimed. I popped my lips at him, then chuckled.

My mother busted out laughing. "If hers TRULY did that, then I know what mines would do!" She laughed out. We all looked at each other with a knowing look.

"Oh my gosh, there are two of you!?" K-Ci looked from my mother to me. "She got it from her mama." He sang in vibrato.

"Wife, please..." Daryl said embarrassed while shaking his head.

"You's a dummy," DeVanté said laughing.

"Play too much!" I laughed as he stood back up. "Oh, mommy, daddy this is JoJo, K-Ci, and Dalvin." I introduced. "K-Ci, Dalvin, and Jojo, these are my parents. I know you all haven't met.." I told them.

"Yeah, but I know who they are." My mother nodded. "Your father here tries so hard to keep up with the new generation of music." My mother rolled her eyes.

"Trying?" He shot my mother a look. "Pshh, I AM the new generation!" He pointed to himself proudly.

"The new generation maybe thirty to forty years ago," I said thinking out loud. "Oh, did I say that out loud?" I asked no one in particular.

"Yes!" Daryl emphasized. "What you talkin' 'bout? I may be OLDER but I'm damn sure not an old man. I feel eighteen." He said proudly.

"You can FEEL ANYTHING old man, but being is completely different." Yasir came and patted him on the shoulder and Daryl shrugged his hand off his shoulder.

"What took y'all so long to walk over here?" My mother asked Yasir and Ashari.

"We were waiting on the both of you," Ashari responded.

"Yeah, we were waiting on you and looked dip and y'all was gone," Yasir told them.

"Yeah, now call me old again. Well, these old people walk too fast for you to even see us leave." Daryl smiled.

"These old people? You the only old one here." My mother said laughing. "This was about YOU, not ME." My mother said with emphasis which had us all laughing.

"Cousin!" I heard a familiar voice behind me.

I turned around. "Tupac!" I hugged him. "Nice to see the second baldy!" I chuckled.

"In the flesh. What you talkin' about 'The SECOND bald one'? I'm ALWAYS number one." He chuckled and I pointed to Joel who's currently wearing a white sox hat. Tupac waved his hand as a dismissal to JoJo. "Forget Jojo, he copied off me anyways." He laughed.

"The magician called and said they want they magic crystal ball back," Donald said with a serious face while pointing behind himself.

"The head twins," K-Ci said referring to Jojo and Tupac.

"To be fair, Pac's head is WAYYYY bigger than Jojo's," Donald added.

"You're the one to talk about heads?" Tupac asked Donald.

"I KNOW mines is big but your big-headed self is oblivious." Donald laughed. "You rest your head on a girl and she gon' fall back like the domino effect."

"Step by step. Heart to heart. Left, right, left. We all fall down. Like toy soldiers." I sang.

"Hah, you got jokes I see." Tupac chuckled. "Congratulations. I thought you was too dumb to pass." He laughed.

"Screw you!" I laughed at him. "Give me my baby," I said in a baby voice and grabbed Masir.

"He looks just like you. You sure you and De didn't get you pregnant and y'all didn't have no secret kids?" Jojo side-eyed us.

"Man, I keep telling y'all that we never even did anything to have kids." De reminded them.

"It was just an April Fool's joke," I told them.

"Maybe I AM missing something. Y'all sure y'all are ain't just pin a kid on me?" Yasir joked with earned him a hit on his arm my Ashari.

Donald chuckled. "Nahh, man..." He trailed off, we glanced at each other as he spoke.

"It was an April Fool's joke. Y'all are irritating." I shook my head then I noticed we are being surrounded. People are used to me but not seeing the others so that's who they're here for. They began to point and had out their cameras.

"We gotta go." Our guards whispered to us.

We began to walk away to the parking lot with them all around us. "We'll meet y'all there!" I told Woody and the rest of them while walking. I got in my truck and saw flowers with a note attached, as well as a box.

"Oh, yeah... You had a little visitor." Redd chuckled nervously.

"Tai?" I asked and he nodded at me. I opened the letter.

"He means well," Redd added.

A promise is a promise. I said I would be here for this day and I just want you to know that I DID attend. It's been a journey and I know because I was there during a portion of that journey. Congratulations and I hope you enjoy your day and your gift. ❤️❤️❤️

~ Love, Taimak

Okay... I grabbed my gift just as my phone began to ring. "Hello," I spoke once I answered it.

"What's the place again? You told me the other day, but I ain't write it down." Donald asked me.

I gave home the address to where we were going. I wanted to do a yacht celebration today but my parents wanted to spend time with me and they also didn't want to be the only older ones there with a bunch of youngins. We're doing a yacht party on Tuesday where Cole would be able to attend as well. He couldn't come because he's out of town doing things for work.

"A'ight, then see you," Donald responded then hung up the phone.

I sat back and sighed then I started my car up and left.

~DeVanté's P.O.V~

"I hope yo big ass head start the car before these people come!" K-Ci smacked the back of my head making my head pushed forward.

"I'll beat yo ass!" I lifted up and turned around with my fist balled up.

"And get knocked out like your pops used to?" K-Ci asked.

"Chill!" Jojo told us.

"He told you off," Dalvin said laughing.

"That's yo daddy too!" I told him, sat back down, and pulled off.

"I know but still." Dalvin shrugged.

I turned on my music and after a while, Dalvin turned down my music. "Guess what?" Dalvin asked me like the annoying little brother he is.

"Nigga, what the fuck you want?" I asked annoyed.

"I peeped that little glance between the two of you." Dalvin teased in a whisper.

"Between who?" I asked him.

"You and Tia..." He trailed off.

"Why are you so close to me? Especially when I'm driving!" I told him.

"What happened now? What is y'all talkin' about?" K-Ci asked and leaned forward.

"About your disrespectful ass!" I told him.

"Me? Disrespectful?" K-Ci sounded surprised.

"Yes!" I told him. "You don't say the shit you said to Tia's mama or any woman. Talking about some there's two of them. Then got the nerve to sing. We see where she got it from but you could've kept that shit to yourself." I finished.

"I was going to say that!" Jojo agreed with me. "You ain't got no filter." He said to K-Ci.

"What? I do, I ain't let out no curse words." K-Ci defended himself. "She ain't say nothing about it. She was joking too."

"It doesn't matter K-Ci," Dalvin spoke.

"Exactly," I added my two cents.

"Shit, my bad," K-Ci said nonchalantly.

"Don't apologize to me, now turn my shit back up. What I tell you about touching my shit, Dalvin?" I asked him.

"Fight me then!" Dalvin yelled.

"I will, as soon as we get to our destination," I told him but he, sure enough, turned my radio back up.

After a while, we made it to our destination and I got out of the car. I stood in the parking lot with my fist balled up. "You was talkin' all that shit, come on!" I told Dalvin.

Dalvin came around to my side with balled-up fists. We stood there for a while in this same position.

"Look at these fools!" I heard Daryl's voice from a distance.

My head fell forward as I busted out into laughter and so did Dalvin. I walked to him and put my arm around his neck. "You stupid as hell."

"Y'all are both some idiots," Yasir told us.

"You're the one to speak?" I told him.

"Ahhh..." Yasir waved me off then walked off.

"Hi, my baby!" Tia said walking at a fast pace.

"Wassup!" K-Ci joked meeting her halfway.

Tia held up her hand. "Pshh, boy bye!" She grabbed Masir from Ashari. "I missed you."

"TT!" Masir said excitedly.

The rest of everybody passed us because we were walking slowly as hell being that we were all engaged in a conversation.

"Damn... You see that?" Dalvin asked me.

"What?" I asked him.

"Her, she bad!" He pointed to Megan.

"Oh, Megan. Yeah, she's a nice-looking woman. You want her?" I smirked.

"I just wanna smash, I'm back with Tionne, remember?" Dalvin said to me.

"Well, you cheat so much that I forgot, Dalvin," I told him.

"She bad." (Haha, no pun intended.😂) Dalvin said still eyeing her.

"You said that in so many words already and I agreed," I told him. "I think you should leave her alone though."

Dalvin hurried to open the door for her. "Wassup." I guess she ain't hear him and kept walking.

"Thanks, Dal," Tia said walking through the door. She was in front of us with the baby, walking and playing around with him.

Dalvin disregarded Tia to chase after Meg. I sped up because I wanna see if Dalvin will make an ass out of himself today. He usually scores with the women but today just MIGHT be the day he does.

"Excuse me," I said bypassing people to catch up with Dalvin who's chasing ass.

I do feel sorry for Tionne but that's my brother. She's been knowing he been fucking around anyways so she's the idiot for getting back with his ass after finding out time after time. I WILL say that their relationship is NOWHERE near as toxic as K-CI and Mary's relationship. THANK GOD! Since he LOVES to STAY in my business, I'll bother his ass. We all got situated in the big-ass room inside the restaurant that is currently packed. I sat right in front of Dalvin just to fuck with his meddling ass.

"Hello, Megan." I smiled then looked day Dalvin.

"Hey, DeVanté." She gave me a look.

"How's it going?" I asked her.

"It's going good." She nodded.

"Are you by any chance dating anyone?" I asked her.

Dalvin has been in plenty of situations where he almost got jumped for sleeping with someone else's girl. Sometimes he KNEW that the girl had a guy or another girl. He almost got beat up by a bunch of masculine women one time.

"So... What's your type?" I asked her.

"I don't like light skins. Can't do them. Like you, I can't. I like dark skins. That's my type." Megan chuckled.

"Are you implying that you don't want me?" I asked her. "Because if that's the case, I just wanted to let you know that you aren't my type either." I shrugged. Fuck skin tone have to do with type? I'm confused and offended that she thought I wanted her.

"Ok, good. I thought that's what you were trying to do." She chuckled awkwardly.

"NO. Me asking questions nor does me being nice to you means that I want you." I plainly stated then stood up.

"She liked dark skins," Dalvin whispered to me.

"Newsflash, that ain't right no compliment is you have to be a certain skin tone for someone to like you. But that's you." I shrugged.

"The fuck I care? I'm just tryna fuck." Dalvin sat down as I walked away. That's what I get for trying to be a meddler like Dalvin, I'm not so good at it.

"You want some macaroni?" Tia asked Masir who just stared at her. "No! You don't want that, do you? You're lactose and it's gon' tear that lil stomach up." Tia chuckled then rubbed her finger against his little cheek.

"He's probably giving you that look on account of your breath," I said taking a seat.

"Well, my toothbrush, as well as this fresh minty gum, says otherwise. That's why your butt stinks after you fart." She rolled her eyes.

I laughed at her. "You sayin' simple shit. Everybody ass stank right after they fart!" She stuck her tongue out at me then continued to speak to a baby who can only say two-word sentences. "You're sort of a maniac." I eyed her. "Talking to an almost non-responsive baby."

"Oh, I bet you did this with your little brother at some point." Tia looked at me and my face told on me. I just know it. "So that means that makes two of us." She raised her eyebrows at me. "How's he doing anyway?" She asked me.

"He's... Bad. Bad as hell. Parents have a hard time chasing after his lil athletic ass. He'll be two next month on Dalvin's birthday." I chuckled at the thought of the day he was born and how Dalvin reacted.

"That's right! I forgot you told me that. How did he react?" Tia turned to me.

"Jealous. Talking about how the gifts will be reduced and divided." I laughed.

"Dalvin is something else..." Tia shook her head laughing. "You're for real?"

"Yes! That nigga was and may still have a tinge of jealousy in his body." I chuckled.

"You know that nigga was there right?" I asked her.

"Who?" She asked me.

"Your ex. He was at the back."

"Oh, yeah. I saw him. He even left me a few things." Tia mumbled.

"Few things like what?" I asked her.

"Flowers, a note, and a gift that I haven't opened yet." She said looking at the menu.

"Y'all talkin' again?" I asked her another curious question.

"Nope." She responded blandly.

"Well, what did the note say? You only said you didn't open your gift so I assume you read the note." I raised my eyebrows.

"Yes, I read it. Donald, you're always assuming. It basically said that he didn't break his promise and still showed up to my graduation." She shrugged carelessly.

"You really done with his ass, huh?" I chuckled.

"Yes," She answered without even thinking twice. "Once trust is gone, so does everything else. It's whatever." She shrugged once again.

"You're not over him." I squinted.

"What? Don't be stupid Donald. The relationship was a good one until he started losing trust in me. I do still love him but I don't necessarily want to get back to him. Trust can't be one-sided." She shook her head.

"Of course but in other words, it seems like you still want him."

"Didn't I just say that I didn't? We're through and ain't no going back. Please just drop the subject, okay De?" She pleaded.

"Okay... Okay, I got you." I chuckled. "My bad for bringing it up. I'm sorry. Dalvin  asked me what was that exchanged glance between the two of us."

"What'd you say?" She asked with a raised eyebrow.

"The subject was changed," I responded. "This yours?" I pointed to the water sitting on the table.

"Y-"

"I'm thirsty." I grabbed it and downed most of it.

"You gettin' BOLD bold. You don't know if I drank from that or not. You don't even know if I had something." Tia rolled her eyes.

"Do you?" I asked.

"No. Of course not!" She scoffed.

"Case closed." I finished the rest of it popped my mouth. "Ahh!" I made a dramatic noise.

"You do realize that y'all ain't sitting here alone and I was listening, right?" Yasir asked us.

"It's because you're nosy," Tia told him.

"As if you not. Noseyness just became my thing. You on the other hand been that way since you were a little girl. Nosey as hell and that's where your nephew there got it from. Paying attention to everybody's conversations but don't even know what the hell they're talking about. Look at him." Yasir pointed to Masir and indeed he was intently watching us all.

"Aww me he's going to be telling people's business too, just like his daddy..." Tia trailed off and pinched Masir's chubby cheeks. "Then pretend like it never happened. Ain't that right Masir?" Masir was just laughing because that's what babies do. Laugh for nothing.

Yasir blank-faced Tia then got up. I raised my eyebrows surprised that THIS is still going on. I mean, it isn't as bad as it used to be, BUT there is still some animosity between them but more so on Tia's side this time.

"I drink all your water because I was hot and thirsty in that hot ass sun at your graduation." I chuckled hoping that I could make this little awkward situation that just occurred go away for the moment.

"It wasn't even that hot out there." Tia chuckled. "And YOU hot? Hell must've REALLY spilled over for your anemic behind to be hot." She laughed.

"Maybe it did." I shrugged.

"Maybe you just need to drink more water. Dehydration. How much water do you drink a day?" Tia questioned with a curious expression.

"Like four maybe five cups," I said really thinking.

"You mean cups as in eight ounces?" She asked me.

"I mean cups as in whatever cup is closer, I drink from." I blinked.

"Then I know what to get you for your birthday or Christmas." Tia's eyes widened. "Piss probably stay dark orange." Tia chuckled.

"Stop it." I chuckled. "You got hella family though."

"I know, and this isn't even half of us. We're not all that close but we tend to TRY to come together during big events. Whether it's a wedding, funeral, or graduation." She told me.

"That's good though. At least they do that," I responded.

"Yeah, but I wish none of what occurred in my family ever happened and my grandmother was still here. Like I told you before, she was the glue that held the family together. The matriarch. I wish we were more like your family. Close knit." She told me.

"We're close-knit but we have a lot of problems too like many other families. Y'all just need to talk about it. That's it." I gave her simple advice.

"Yeah, I'm pretty sure you guys do have family problems but not to our extent. Ours the kind to drive you insane and give you nightmares. That's why I needed a shrink because I probably wouldn't be here today, having a normal conversation with you." Tia chuckled.

"We've spoken about this but not deeply. What is going on? Or what happened? If you don't mind me asking." I asked her.

She looked around then back to me. "Another time. Not now. I'm wanna be happy on this day." She shook her head with a smile.

"On the other hand, you and Yasir seem to have gotten a LITTLE better." I smiled.

Tia raised her eyebrow at me. "Hmmphh, okay..."

"Whatever that means..." I chuckled.

"Whatever that means..." She repeated with a different tone.

"When can we eat? A nigga hungry!" I told her.

She just laughed at me. "If you MUST know, this isn't a restaurant, it's a rental. The food is up there already on that long table. I know your long behind saw it. You better get up there QUICK before the food is gone and me too. You how black folks get around FREE food." Tia got up with Masir on her hip.

"Sheeeiiittt..." I got my ass up and went to make myself a few plates. I ain't ate all day. I saw a familiar head by the food.

"Pac?" I called out.

Sure enough, the head turned around. "I ain't even know you came here."

"It's about time you made it," Tia told him. "What took you so long?" She asked him.

"My head was blocking traffic so I got a ticket for it." Pac joked

"Ahh, I just thought your head must've been reflecting the sun's rays and getting into people's eyes. You got enough grease on that head to deep fry a turkey for Thanksgiving." Tia told him.

K-Ci burst out laughing which startled Tia and make her get a bit shaken up. I didn't even know he was near me. "Damn, you loud as hell nigga. All up in our ears and conversation." I said a bit irritating.

"My bad, I was wondering where the food was and spotted it before Jojo fat ass ate it all," K-Ci said laughing.

"Nigga, I'm right here. I was looking for De big head ass. It was kind of easy because he's the only grown man with pigtails in here. Only thing he's missing is the clanks and barrettes then he'd be lost forever with these little girls in here wearing the same hairstyle." JoJo made the longest joke ever.

"It's funny, but that shit too long." Dalvin walked up with Megan beside him.

"Nahh, regardless of it being long or not, that shit was funny as hell!" Pac laughed and dapped Jojo up. "Wanna talk about my head mothafucka, when your shit looking like a little girl going to church on a Sunday."

"Yo, you still want this nigga?" K-Ci asked Tia while pointing to me. "You don't want a nigga who got more hair than you."

"Damn, K-Ci got y'all both at once," Pac said laughing.

"Don't let these braids fool ye now, my hair done grown since y'all saw it." Tia told them.

"Well?" Pac said looking in Tia's direction.

"Well, what? What yo bald-headed behind talkin' 'bout now?" Tia asked him.

"You still want his ass?" He pointed to me.

We glanced at each other once again. "We chillin'!" We said together, reading each other's minds.

"Damn, y'all nosy." I added on.

"Whatever happens, HAPPENS..." Tia shrugged then put the baby down on his two feet. "I know you hate walking but I'm sorry. Auntie has back problems." She grabbed his hand then looked snack at us. "Y'all was clowning so much that y'all basically forgot that a baby was here and kept cursing. His first word was a curse word." She told us.

"What was it?" Pac asked her with a chuckle.

"He dropped the F-bomb..." Tia trailed off. "Now if you'll excuse me, I'm going to make me and my baby some food." Then squeezed between us. "Hold onto my leg." She told Masir.

"My man." Pac shook baby Masir's hand that wasn't holding onto Tia. I'm assuming she wasn't paying attention to Pac anymore. Pac looked at his own hand in disgust after he did that. "Shit, man. Now my hand all slimy and shit. Can one of y'all make me a plate while I wash my hands?" He asked.

"Fuck I look like making a plate for an abled and grown-ass man. Do it when you come back." I told him, grabbing a plate.

"I got you." Jojo spoke up. "Don't even worry about it."

Jojo set himself up for this one. He knows they're about to be on his ass talking a bunch of shit. I wouldn't even volunteer myself for shit, especially ungrateful ass niggas.

"Yo fat ass gon' gobble it up before you walk away from just fixing the plate!" Pac joked as the others laughed.

"Nigga, I was just tryna be nice to yo ass but fuck yo funky, flat booty, bald-headed ass!" Jojo shrugged off then started making his own plate.

"I'm just playin'." Pac came to his own defense with his hands up.

"Nahh, like De, said, you got two hands. Fix that shit when you get back." Jojo continued making his plate.

"All this shit probably gon' be gone by the time I finish." Pac told him.

"Not my problem." Jojo's tone was very nonchalant. That's my nigga.

"That's what you get, nigga." I laughed at Pac. "The quicker you leave, the quicker you come back."

"That's fucked up!" Pac pointed to us while walking away.

"Imma get extra too just because his ass wanna talk shit. You see this shit almost gone, right?" Jojo told me.

"Nahh, I'm pretty sure there are some others who didn't eat yet." I told him.

The little food left in the old containers was being scraped into containers that held what looked like freshly made food.

"See, there's more. So it didn't matter. I still hope Pac ungrateful ass miss it all." Jojo told me then looked behind him.

"It looks like it just might be gone before she gets here." I looked at all the people already lined up behind us. "It goes to his head anyways."

After making my food, I sat down in the seat I was sitting in right before I got up to make my food.

"Why the hell were you looking at a menu all that time if the food was already set up?" I asked Tia once I settled.

"To see what I wanted and the ingredients. Duhhhh..." She responded smartly.

I chuckled at her. "I forgot that your ass is allergic to just about EVERYTHING now. The grass touches your skin and you gon' swell the hell up."

"Aye," Tia pointed to me. "And when it does start to happen, I'll call you since you spoke it into existence." She raised her eyebrows. "It just may happen. I'm literally TIRED of me all of the sudden being allergic to things I grew up eating." She shook her head.

"That right there lets you know that more stuff is being put into our food," I responded with a full mouth.

"Ewww, De. C'mon now." She chuckled. "Chew, swallow, then speak."

"Haahhh," I laughed. "I forgot your gift in the car too and I'm going to go get it after I finish eating." I said taking a bite of meatballs.

"The food is gone." Pac came and sat down at our table with a solemn expression.

"That's what yo ungrateful ass get." I laughed in his face.

"Shut up, nigga. With yo cricket body build ass." Pac joked.

"I'm not offended. I DO feel like I need to let you know that they did- not too long ago, they put out more food." I smirked.

"And I missed that too, huh?" Pac frowned.

I smiled harder while nodding my head. "Pretty much!" I said very amusedly.

"How's therapy?" Tia asked me.

"It's going well. I see and feel the progression. I feel good. I can't believe who I used to be some years ago, and who I've become today." I said proudly. "I never would've thought I would be going to therapy on a regular basis."

"That's beautiful." Tia nodded.

"I see it. Shit, you got a nigga like me thinkin' about finding a shrink." Pac told me with a chuckle.

"While you're playing, you should really consider it." Tia told him.

"Yeah." I agreed with her.

"Black people don't go to therapy." Pac shook his head.

"That's the same mentality to keep the black community from progression." I told him.

"Exactly, you have to realize that you can't handle everything on your own. You've been through a lot these past years as well and it's like you're on a path that's head to self-destruction." Tia added.

"Trust me, man, I just about self-destructed a couple of times. People say therapy doesn't help but that shit is because they refused to open up." I said seriously.

"My mama said some shit like that. Talking about how I'm given the tools to self-destruct." Pac shook his head.

"Listen to her. You have other people that you consider friends but you should really take a look from a stranger's position and see whore your real friends. Then we're in the industry so leeches attaching to us is even more of a problem. Get rid of 'yes' people and open yourself up to a good therapist." Tia finished.

"I don't know. I might consider it." Pac nodded.

"Do it. I'm urging you to because you ALWAYS talking about death all the time isn't going to do anything but dark energies attach to you. It needs to stop." Tia told him on a serious note.

"I agree. You told us that you wouldn't be around to see us release our last album. You weren't here in the manner that you stated but you weren't here nevertheless." I told him. "You said that shit yourself, words are powerful. Take your own advice before it's too late. You've been acting off since you got out." I finished as Tia nodded with me in agreement.

"I feel you." Pac nodded.

"Being depressed because I can clearly see that's what it is. You're slipping and when you're slipping you need extra help but when the right help does comes take that junk and thank that person or those people. You have to accept that help but you gotta help yourself too. Those random outbursts you do talking about doing things to people and their CHILDREN is wrong. You don't do that shit." She covered Masir's ears when she said the last sentence. "I'm sorry but if this type of mess continues, I'm cutting you off. This is coming from a TRUE friend." Tia told him straight up. "All of your REAL friends will do the same."

"She's right. When you ain't right, the real ones take flight, and you're only left with the ones you can't sit and have a real conversation with but the ones that stay too hyped. Hyping your head up." I told him. "I'm being real with you, Pac. You know me and have known me for years. I know about being in a sunken place and treating those around me- the ones who were true to me horrible. Especially in L.A where everybody there get close to people for a come up. Get help, man. Please."

"Take it into consideration. Deep clean your soul as well as who you surround yourself with." Tia added her two cents.

"Get right with God and you gotta get right with yourself." Derek added.

Yes, Derek actually showed up. Why? Because he and Tia are friends and have been in touch since they met back when I got got robbed that one night. I can't believe they kept in touch. Pac stood up and just walked out of the door without another word.

"I hope he takes our advice." I spoke to Tia and Derek, while I ate the last of the food on my plate.

Personally, I don't think Biggie set him up that time. Pac just got a bunch of people whispering in his ear telling him this mess. For all we know, those same people whispering in his ear might had something to do with it. He have a bunch of snakes in his friend group. Whether he takes my advice or leave it is strictly his decision.

"I'm about to go and grab your gifts from my car." I told Tia while rubbing the crumbs off my hands then stood up.

"Gifts? As in plural?" She asked me.

"Yeah," I responded then turned around to leave out.

I saw Pac pulling off as I walked dot my car. I popped the trunk and got everything out. What do you give a person that has everything? Something she already has, good jewelry, and/or flowers. You can't go wrong. I got it all but one is too big to bring. Oh, and candy or food too but that's not the case today, especially with HER allergens that I not she can keep up with. I got with me now a watch and a flower bouquet thing with bears attached. I don't know how they did it but they did.

I walked back inside to hear her mother r just finishing up a little speech and her father starting his.

"I want to congratulate my daughter on this big step in her life. We thought she was going to college right after high school, but as soon as high school let out, we made our way for New York for her to embark on what is now a SUCCESSFUL career. She didn't even get to go to graduation because it coincided with the dates available. This is her FIRST graduation she was able to attend. Something always happened to prevent her from one." Daryl paused then continued.

"In life, you have to take risks and that's what Tia did. All she talked about for years was becoming a writer and owning her own business. Here she is today in her position, and a humble woman might I add-" Daryl cut himself off with a chuckle. "and I'm proud to call her my daughter. I'm proud of both of my kids and proud to be your father." Daryl said holding up a glass and getting all emotional. "But today ain't about Yasir. I still love you son. Cheers!" Her parents clinked their glasses together.

"Cheers!" Everyone repeated.

"Thank you, mommy and daddy." Tia said hugging them and clanked her glass to theirs as well. "Thank you to everyone who showed on this special day.

"Here." Elijah passed me a glass that I declined. "Nigga, this is cider, not liquor." He shoved it in my hand laughing.

"Thanks." I grabbed it and drunk some and indeed it was just sparkling cider.

"So you got my friend some gifts, huh?" Elijah eyed them as the big box sat on the floor beside me.

"Yeah." I nodded.

"What's in the box?" Courtney asked me.

"Some teddy bears attached to flowers and jewelry." I shrugged.

"Ohhh?" Courtney teased.

"You stupid." I laughed at her facial expression. Tia came our way. "You got Daryl all emotional and shit." I cracked.

"My dad has always been an emotional person as tough as he seems. He's the wear his heart on his sleeve type and may come off as a tough guy to outsiders and I admire that about him." Tia nodded.

"Right. This is yours." I grabbed the box from the floor.

"This thing is huge." She grabbed the box then made her way to the table we were sitting all that time. Once we got to the table, she opened it. "This is cute. Alright, you've been listening." She laughed referring to the teddy bears attached. Stuffed animals are her thing and have been all her life.

"I be listening to you. A years ago you said you didn't like getting flowers because you'd kill them but yo ass got a whole backyard garden so I got you some." I spoke to Tia. "Can I have the box back?" I asked Courtney.

"You're asking for the box back that it came in?" Tia raised her eyebrows at me.

"Nahh, I'm talking to Courtney." I asked cracking the hell up. "That's some cheap shit you would do!" I laughed.

"HECKY no, I don't skim on gifts." Tia laughed while shaking her head.

"Here." I gave her the smaller box.

"De, what's this?" Derek asked me.

"Oh, snap. This is a nice-looking box." She said paying more attention to the box instead of opening it to see what it was.

"Girl, if you don't open that damn box!" Courtney yelled. "I didn't get to see what it was."

"Right." Derek agreed with Courtney.

"Chill, this is my gift, girl." Tia told her then FINALLY opened the box. Her eyes immediately widened. "Wow! This is beautiful!" She said staring at it. "Thank you!" She said in a high-pitched voice then hugged me.

"You're welcome, but that  voice has got to go." I laughed hugging her back. "Remember you bought me one year ago?" I asked her.

"Girl..." Courtney gave Tia a look that I can't quite comprehend.

"Yes." Tia nodded at me with a smile. "You still got it?" She asked.

"Duhh!" I told her.

Author's Note: This DEFINITELY could've been two chapters, but what the hey? 😂 Here y'all go.

Word Count: 7,150
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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.💚🖤❤💜💙💛