Please excuse ANY grammatical errors.

December 9, 1997

~Tia's P.O.V~

I just got back from my hotel room and before that I was out working doing film stuff. I'm now on my to Tupac's luxurious apartment. It's so beautiful and Tupac has always had tastes in where he lives. He has a view of the city to die for! He has stopped all that nonsense he was doing with talking about people's children and whatnot.

Tupac even came out with a public apology because his fans also didn't like the fact that he brought people's kids into grown people's beef. Although, I don't necessarily think he and B.I.G are back cool. He hasn't went to therapy but that's his business. It's up to him and I can't force nobody to don't anything they don't want to.

Why am I on my way to his house? Well, I'm trying to save a little money by not having a hotel with a kitchen. Listen, Los Angeles is expensive for no reason but I can afford it, I just choose to be a little frugal. I HAVE been in L.A for about four months in a hotel. Tupac and I made a deal. The deal was that if I was able to cook at his house, then he was able to have some of what I made.

"Boys, knees pointy as hell! Look like the spaceship Louie Armstrong took to the moon!" Redd said about Donald. "Up UP and away head ass."

"You know what? You gon' get off my guy, De. Another thing is that-"

"NEIL Armstrong was the one who traveled to the moon!" Jax and I said in sync laughing.

"You dumb bitch!" Jax said to Redd. "Like she said, you gon' leave my boy De alone because he ain't even her to defend himself."

"It ain't like I haven't told his ass this before." Redd said laughing. "Y'all right, it was Louis Armstrong. I give y'all that I got it mixed up bec-"

"We knew that, man. We just were hoping you did too!" Jax cut Redd off.

"I got it mixed up because he told me I SOUNDED like Louis Armstrong with a cold."

"You do! Oh, SHITTT!" Jax said cracking the heck up while paying attention to the road.

"Hecky, nahhh." I said out of breath from laughing. "Did he lie though?" I asked him.

"Hell Nahh!" Jax spoke up for Redd.

"Imma tell him you said that too," I said to Redd still laughing. "I'll also add that I DID laugh at it too. I don't do people talking smack about my folks behind their backs."

"I don't care what you tell him. He knows how I feel." Redd shrugged. "I told him anyway but if I didn't I still don't care. I'm not scared of that nigga."

"Okay..." Jax shook his head.

Redd doesn't like Donald for some reason. I believe it's from what happened when Donald and I fell out that time and Donald was tackled to the floor. I say that because before that they were cool and got along with each other. I'm not positive if that's the EXACT reason but I just have a hunch that's what it is.

Donald on the other hand doesn't dislike Redd, he just returns the shots Redd throw at him. It's not that serious at least from what I've witnessed. They've never fought or anything, it's just words they throw at each other that some may view as just jokes but they aren't. We still have a good laugh though. Both do have strong personalities though.

"How did we even get on him anyways?" I questioned.

"Ion even know..." Jax spoke lowly.

"It's whatever." I shrugged.

"That Chris Tucker is funny as hell though," Jax said laughing.

"Yeah, he is funny. His jokes kept me energetic even when I was tired as hell." Redd told him.

"He did that to everybody. He's a funny guy and I KNOW Jax thought he was funny because while recording you kept laughing at him. We had to send your behind further away." I told him with a chuckle.

"Hey... What can I say?" Jax chuckled.

We were let through the entrance gates of the apartments. The security here is great here because these apartments hold nothing but wealthy people who want to KNOW and FEEL like they're safe. I feel safe when I'm here and it's pretty quiet. All the carts that you use to bring groceries upstairs are nowhere in sight so I'll assume that some people forgot to return them where they belong or went shopping as I did. It's whatever though. I walked in alone with a few bags but not the heavy ones. They also aren't light. I left those for the guys to carry and there are a bunch of bags.

"Hello," I said to the old guy at the front desk.

"Nice to see you back." He said moving the pad closer to me so I can sign my name. So many safety precautions! I get it though.

"Same to you," I responded while signing my name. "Have a nice day." I grabbed the bags then I turned around. "Nobodies up there, right?" I asked him because I don't want to interrupt anything Tupac has going on of you know what I mean.

"No." He shook his head at me.

"Good," I mumbled.

Another thing is that Tupac does contribute to the grocery funds so that's good. I only have a key to his place until I leave L. A because sometimes he isn't here when I want to cook. He's a busy guy as well. I called him a couple of times to tell him I'm here because it's just a respectable thing to do but didn't answer.

I made it to his door then knocked. I waited but nobody came to the door. I put my ear close to the door and heard music playing, I recognize the song as Blackberry Molasses by Mister. I sighed then put the bags down on the floor to grab the key from my mini backpack purse. I turned the key, pushed the door open, grabbed these bags that I'm now tired of carrying, and walked inside.

"Pac!!" I yelled through the apartment then dropped the bags. I walked forward once the bags hit the floor. My back hurts so bad right now. "Pac?" I called again but this time lower. "Maybe you could hear me if you turned the music down." I laughed.

Then I saw him on the balcony with the door wide open. He was sitting on the ledge drinking liquor.

"Tupac, what are you doing on a ledge drinking liquor?" I asked. "You know you could fall?"

He turned to me with a chuckle. "I'm highly aware of that." He turned back to face the city.

"Then why are you doing it?" I frowned with my hand on my hip. "Can you please get down?" I asked softly.

He chuckled deeply then took a drag from his blunt that I'm now noticing he has. He exhaled it with his head back. He didn't respond immediately. "What is life?"

Then it hit me and my heart stopped for a split second when those words left his mouth. I tensed up because he has been talking about suicide lately in his music. We've all asked him why but he replied that it's just music. The discussion went a little left but now is not the time for this. We're on the twelfth floor!

"Life is what you make it..." I trailed off nervously. "Get down from there, please. You're making me nervous with you talking like this." I walked closer but I didn't step foot on the balcony.

"You not supposed to be here right now." He said completely disregarding what I said. "You know, I been here all night just thinking about life and what I made it to be. I said a lot of fucked up shit, lost a lot of fans, friends, and family. Those same people I called friends killed my cousin." He stood up then turned around. He's a wobbly mess right now.

"Get down," I said with my heart racing but I said it as calmly as possible because I didn't want to startle him and him to fall. "I'm still your friend and we're like brother and sister. I'm here for you and you know that. Come on..."
I sighed trying to calm myself down.

"How do I know that?" He chuckled.

"I tell you about yourself when you're wrong, I'm not always physically available but you know I'm just a phone call away. You're scraping me. Please get down from there." I said with an unintended high-pitched voice. My nerves are showing through my voice and my slight shaking.

"How do I know that? What's life when people you thought were genuine kill you on purpose? You question EVERY mothafucka after that you around! I got people after me and shit. He was like my brother and they was supposed to be my homies! I wasn't there for him when he needed me most! But I wasn't. I was out here living the life I THOUGHT I wanted." He hit his chest throughout the last sentence between every word. His eyes now tearing up. "Out here fucking these broads while he was down there dying!" He took another drag from his blunt.

"He knew you cared about him and wouldn't have hesitated to help him. You are always there for the people you love. He knew you loved him and he loved you." I cautiously walked forward but still not on the balcony.

Tupac laughed again, threw his head back again to take another gulp of his liquor. In the process, he stepped forward but stumbled back off the ledge and I ran so fast onto the balcony out of instinct. It was only quick enough for him to grab my backpack purse. It fell up to my back and over my head as I jumped onto the stone ledge to help him up. My whole torso is hanging off the stone ledge. My feet aren't exactly secure and suddenly my life flashed before my eyes.

"Help me!" He gasped out sounding sober now. My bag began to slip.

"Oh, God!" I cried out scared because we're both now in danger. I began to scoot myself, scraping myself trying to get a grip with my foot. "HELP ME!" I screamed at the top of my lungs. "HELP!" I screamed more hoping someone would hear us.

Tupac is heavy compared to myself and I'm supporting both of our weights. I moved my arms that are hanging off because I'm trying to grab ahold of the ledge to pull back enough to not slip. The bag began to slip due to my arm's positioning. I scooted myself, scraping myself trying to get a grip with my foot.

"I think I gotta let go or we both gon' fall!" Pac yelled up at me over the city noises. Then found my footing but Tupac is still too heavy for me to pull up alone.

"NO! HELP! HELP! HELP!" I screamed out repeatedly praying that someone would hear but these walls are damn near soundproof.

"Oh, shit!" I heard someone yelled but my mind couldn't process who it is that is yelling.

"HELP!" I cried out.

I was suddenly grabbed by my waist and was slightly pulled back. Then I felt another pair of arms one me then I saw another pair help Tupac up. Then there was another pair. We were both pulled until we were no longer hanging. I fell to the floor out of breath, with my eyes closed, in shock once I was helped down. I can't believe this! I'm shaking.

"Should we call the police or somebody?" A lady asked.

I opened my eyes and saw a couple who I've run into a couple of times. My heart was still beating fast as I struggled to breathe. Jax and Redd looked at me.

"Go get some water," Redd told Jax and Jax walked off. "Aye, just breath, girl." Redd bent down coaching me to breathe.

After a while, I got my breath steady then was handed a bottle of water. Jax lifted my head up just trying to help but I think I'm fully capable of that now. I lifted my head just enough to lean then against the wall of the balcony. I saw Tupac sitting across from me with his elbows resting on his knees.

"Do we need to call the police or something?" Redd asked and I shook my head.

"You good?" Jax asked me and again I nodded.

They turned to Tupac waiting for an answer. He gave them a low no. Tupac then looked up at me. "I'm sorry." He told me.

I inhale then exhale slowly. "What were you doin' up there?" I asked as calmly as possible.

"I promise I wasn't going to jump. I slipped."

"I told you to get down more than once. Why were you up there drunk and high in the first place? You shouldn't have been on the ledge like that." I asked.

"I know. I shouldn't have been up there. I'm sorry for putting you through that." He apologized once more.

I got up, walked off the balcony then out the door. Maybe I'm just still in shock, maybe I'm just mad as hell, maybe I'm just trying not to spaz out, maybe it's something else and none of the above but I took a cab back to my hotel. I made it home safely but when I did make it home, I cried because I have never felt that feeling as intense as I did today. That feeling could've also been from fear of heights but it was intense. I thought we both were going to die. That moment made me realize so much. I sat there on the floor in tears with my elbows resting on my knees and hands on my head.

Tupac probably would have been dead if I didn't get there when I did. I think he was considering jumping until everything happened the way it did. I saw him about to step back on the balcony so I'm positive that's what it was. Oh, GOSH! I didn't even say thank you to everyone who helped us up. My phone rang, I grabbed it and answered it.

"Lemme tell you what happened tonight!" Donald said like he was going to spill something major.

"What?" I croaked out with a chuckle.

"Damn, you sound horrible. Before I get into it, what's up with you?" Donald questioned me with deep concern. "You okay?"

"Just talk to me," I told him.

"Ummm... Yeah... Okay... So..." He cleared his throat. "So umm... Jojo ass is sleep so I'm going to tell you since I know you up and because I said I would. I went on that date with that girl and that shit was- Tia, you okay?" He sighed.

"I'm good right now. Thank God." I chuckled.

"What happened?" He asked.

"Just talk to me," I repeated.

"That date went horrible as fuck!" He said changing the subject. "The lady just talked about herself ALL day. I mean yes, you do talk about yourself on a date but not to this extent and she wouldn't shut the fuck up. She did ask me a COUPLe of questions and I DO mean only two. It was about who I've met and if Jodeci is still a group. Dassit! And when I would explain it to her, I kept getting cut off! I just sat there quietly eating and vibing to the music. At one point I stopped listening because I stopped giving a fuck." He laughed.

"Wow, that's rude!" I chuckled.

"It was but she was even ruder. I wouldn't have thought she would be this way. I mean, when I first met her she SEEMED quiet until we went out on a damn date. I paid then left but before I did she said we should do this again because she had a good ass time. It seemed like she was more interested in who I know than who I am. This dating shit ain't what it's chopped up to be. Imma calm down for a little while because this is ridiculous." He laughed. "What was you doin' before I called?"

"I was actually with Tupac and-" I exhaled deeply then told him EVERYTHING that happened today and ended with, "I don't know how to feel about it all. It's like I'm grateful that we're both alright, but I'm also pissed! I don't even know."

"Damn, that's a lot to take in for me so I know it's a lot on your side being that you experienced it and shit. I'm glad y'all both are okay. That's a blessing that somebody heard y'all. If it wasn't for you dropping those bags when you got in the door, y'all probably would've both been gone. I told him about that drinking shit and I thought he calmed down some. It seemed like it for a little while but I guess not." He sighed. "That's crazy..." He trailed off in disbelief.

"Yeah..." I said as the only response I could come up with.

"Hey, I love you. I know we say that all the time but you never know when the last time you'd speak to somebody. I'm glad y'all are both okay. Shit, I'm still processing that." He mumbled the last sentence.

"I love you," I replied as I heard a knock at the door.

I walked to the door with my cell phone to my ear. When I opened the door the person on the other side was revealed to be Redd. "Hi."

"Hey, you okay?" Jax asked me.

"I'm okay," I replied.

"You just left without another word." Jax frowned. "I thought you went to the car but by the time I made it down there myself you were gone."

"Yeah, I know. I left because I don't know exactly what was going through his mind and I was angry so ain't no telling what I would've said. Words are powerful and whatever came out of my mouth could've pushed him to do something else. So, I did what I thought was best and left." I explained.

"Jax stayed back to make sure Pac was good. You don't mind do you?" Red asked me.

"I don't mind." I shook my head.

"Who is that? Redd?" Donald asked me from the phone.

"Yeah, Redd is here." I nodded as if he could see me.

"DeVanté?" Redd asked me and I nodded at him.

"Oh, lemme tell you what happened before all of that on our way to Tupac's house..." I trailed off in amusement.

"What?" Donald asked me.

"Redd had us cracking the heck up talking about your knees. He said they look like the spaceship Neil Armstrong took to space. Me and Jax both stood up for you but we still laughed because that junk is hilarious." I told him laughing.

"Jokes..." Donald said sarcastically. "A'ight I give him that one." He chuckled.

"Well, I'm going to go," Redd said laughing at both me and Donald.

"See ye," I told him as he walked out. He closed the door behind himself and I locked it.

"Your uncle been tripping since he got some hits but it's not as bad as it used to be but still... It's like people get money and don't know how to act."

We talked for a while like we do. We don't talk to each other every day because we're both busy but we talk a lot. They're ALWAYS enjoyable nonetheless. He's not the only one I talk to over the phone though. I mostly speak to Donald, Ashari, Courtney, and Elijah. Most times when Courtney is on the phone, Elijah is too and it's a three-way. The only time it isn't on three-way is if it's about business.

February 27, 1998

~DeVanté's P.O.V~

"You did good, man." I dapped up unc when I saw him again.

We're at the after-party of the Billboard Awards. I came late but it was just in time to see my artist perform. I only had a few of my artists perform but they did great. Some of my people are mingling with others. While some are a little shyer and stayed near me. Unc tore up the stage with both his performance and energy. He can't dance that well but he did put on a show. Everybody loved him.

"Thanks, nigga! Thanks for believing in me too! I gave up on that music stuff due to my age but man I did this!" He said hyped all up. "Damn, it hasn't even been a year yet, and look at me." He held his arms out.

"You do your job and I do mines. You did great man!" I nodded. "I'm proud of you, congratulations!" I told him truthfully.

More people came over near me to tell how unc how good he did as a conversation starter. They asked me questions too and I responded of course. I stood there for a while just nodding my head and shit to pretend like I was tuned in. All the performances I was there to witness were nice.

Most were new artists or new artists with well-known artists. I drunk some of my water as I looked around the room. People came in wearing different genres of clothing. Some had on house-looking clothes on, some had on club gear, some looked like they were going on a job interview, some to a wedding, some to a cookout, some are wearing street clothes, while others were dressed up to the nines. Now I get it when me and the fellas showed up to the Billboard Awards show some years back. This shit looks ridiculous!
Me? I had on something in between.

"Man, you good?" Jojo asked me. Yeah, K-Ci and Jojo performed too.

"I'm good." I nodded with a squint.

"You look bored." Jojo laughed at me and I joined in on his laughter because he ain't lying.

"I am," I responded in a low tone still scanning the room. "Ready to go home, but now is the time to network."

"It's having fun!" Jojo held up a glass of some liquor.

I laughed shaking my head at him. "Don't have too much fun, man."

K-Ci and Jojo performed on stage as well but I didn't get there in time to see them. I'm a bit angry with myself because I wasn't managing my time as I should but at least I made it. They performed All My Life. This year's award show went well. I don't see anybody acting a complete fool. This is the kind of shit that shouldn't surprise people but sadly it does.

I elbowed JoJo. "Who's that?" I nodded my head in the direction I was looking.

"Who's who? Nigga, I can't see where that big ass head is pointing to." Jojo said irritated.

"Plunged, red dress, with the puffy sleeves and wine glass. She over there with them Dru Hill niggas and other women." I said still looking in the direction.

"OH!" JoJo said loudly. "I don't know..." He squinted. "Why?" I looked at him for a second to see him smirking at me. "You ready to get off that short ass hiatus of yours and date again?" He chuckled.

"Maybe..." I said still looking in the direction.

"Then get yo ass over there and find out who she is. Don't make no moves though because she could be one of they girls or something. Shit, I'm comin' wit' you. I wanna see this. I haven't seen you do this in a while. I wanna see will you pull her or not." He laughed.

"I'm DeVanté Swing, nigga. I can pull anybody I want. I just hope she's not annoying like the ones I was approaching last year. They were fine but annoying as fuck." I told him.

"Nigga, don't get ahead of yourself. You don't look THAT good." Jojo patted my shoulder.

K-Ci wasn't paying us any mind because he was talking with the rest of the people who joined us and turned it into a talking circle. Dalvin didn't come because he has business to take care of. I began to make my way to where I was staring with JoJo tailing me.

"What's up Jazz!" I said shaking him up.

"What up, De!" Jazz said returning the energy.

"James! Nok, and Mark short ass." I said laughing at that last part. "Damn, I gotta bend down to greet you," I told Mark laughing.

"Sup, De." Mark (Sisqo) shook his head in amusement by my joke.

I slowly slid my way into their little circle and I noticed Jojo's mouth slightly agape. When JoJo noticed I was looking at him awkwardly, his expression changed to an amused one. I slid between Jazz and the girl in the red dress.

"You can't even greet your own friend. Alright, got you!"

I looked down to my right and saw that it was Tia. "Oh, shit! I-I ain't even know it was you." I said surprised.

Tia has on a fitted red dress with puffy sleeves, ombre red lipstick, silver glitter eye makeup with a few specks of red in it. She has the red and silver pumps on, with a glittery silver clutch, and her hair. Her long hair is in finger waves and it is pulled to the backside of her head. The hairstyle looks straight from the 1940s. Then she has the wine glass in her hand. I thought she didn't drink?

She chuckled at me. "I know. I missed you." She said pulling me into a longing hug.

"I missed you too!" I said wrapping my arms around her waist, hugging her. I lifted her up a bit in the process which made her let out a small squeal as she danged between my legs.

"You save me from boredom," Tia whispered in my ear then chuckled. She exhaled. "Alright. Alright, now let me down. I don't want to spill this drink on you." I put her down after a while then pulled away.

"Damn... That was... One lonnnng ass hug." JoJo told us.

"Hi, Jo." She gave him a quick and friendly hug. "You and K-Ci did great onstage."

"Thanks, but how come you ain't hug me like you did him? You always do that and I get the shabby end of the stick." Jojo said sounding like he was truly hurt.

"Come on now, Jo. Both hugs were equivalent." Tia replied.

"The hell it was!" He laughed out loud. "But you know I'm just fuckin' with you, right?" Jojo asked Tia.

"I know." She nodded.

"I will say that if you have friends like these then-"

I cut JoJo off. "Damn, you look beautiful." I complimented Tia.

She chuckled. "Thank you, but I think- I THINK you said that already. You look nice too. I like this!" She told me. "It really fits you."

"Right- I did. Thanks." I told her, scratching my head.

She frowned at me. "Are you okay? You're acting a little unusual." She said concerned.

"I'm good. Thanks for the compliment though." I responded cooly.

I think I'm attracted to my friend... For the second time! She's ALWAYS been an attractive woman. However, it's not just attraction on my part. I think time away just made me miss her even more and- I'm just realizing a lot more in these few seconds.

"Are you sure you're alright? You keep repeating yourself..." She eyed me.

"I'm good. What are you doing here?" I asked her. "At a music awards show. I didn't even know you were back in L.A. You didn't mention it when we spoke a couple of days ago."

"Don- DeVanté, music, and film go hand in hand. My uncle also performed and he insisted that I be here to see him do something so big. AND Jazz asked if I would be his date for tonight so I had to come..." Tia shrugged her shoulders.

"That's right, nigga. MY date!" Jazz told me aggressively but also in a joking manner.

I put my hands in my pocket with a chuckle. "Chill, man this ain't even no real date. Is it?" I asked.

Tia gave me that code look as of saying 'GET REAL!' "Hehh, no." She answered quickly with a fake ass smile.

Jojo busted out laughing. "Well, DAMN!" He laughed even more.

"What?" Tia asked confused.

"You!" He said through laughter. "Nevermind." Jojo shook his head.

"How do you even know Dru Hill?" I asked Tia.

"I worked with them on my last film. Their song is featured in the movie." Tia replied.

"Oh, okay! That's dope." I nodded. "I thought you didn't drink?" I said eyeing the wine glass in her hand.

"I don't... It's for esthetic. Do you see my lipstick on this glass? No..." She told me.

"So basically you just holdin' it?" I raised my eyebrows.

"Pretty much." She nodded.

"You're dressed like you just walked out of the early twentieth century. I like it though." I nodded. "I've never seen you like this." I stepped back to scan her lol fully once again.

"Me either with you. You look like a guy from the sixties. I like it." She scanned my appearance.

"Damn, that's crazy." I shook my head because I can't even form the right words.

It just doesn't make sense. Okay, well it does but that's not the point. I'm taken aback! I think I'm feeling like I used to feel except my feeling have become much deeper than they were back then. Back then it was more of lustful then, then I started to like her. This time I'm just... I think- I KNOW that I've been feeling this all along. When she we went back to how we were and that was a more than a year ago.

Maybe what I've been yearning from in a woman has been coming from THIS woman all along. I mean, sure sometimes she can be annoying but who can't? It's nothing that I get too irritated about. I annoy her A LOT, I'm sure. We always just end up laughing about it just like everything else. Besides my mother, she's the only other woman that I confide in. The only other woman I'm close to. We've grown together and we've grown apart but most importantly we've grown! Both mentally and financially, so it's not just puppy love. We've always said we love each other but...

"De?" Jojo whispered to me like I was the only one who could hear him.

"Jo, you know I can hear you, right?" Tia turned to him.

"Yeah, BUT De-" He cut himself off by jerking his head to the right.

I caught on to his gesture and looked in the direction he jerked his head. My ex, Lady is standing next to Nokio. She was staring at me intently.

"What about her?" Tia whispered.

"It's his ex," JoJo whispered. "The idiot."

"Oh... I do remember her. I knew I knew that "logic" from somewhere." Tia told us. "That's Nokio's girlfriend," Tia told us.

"But she staring over here like that's not who she wanna be with," JoJo told us.

"That's cool." I shrugged because I don't care.

I waved at her as a joke and she scowled at me, rolling her eyes. I see she doesn't care about restraining orders. Yes, you heard that shit right. After I broke up with her, she started harassing me and shit. Doing crazy stuff. It was ridiculous. One day she showed up at my doorstep with a damn wedding dress expecting us to elope.

"Every other city we go, every other video. No matter where I go, I see that same-" I sang but was cut off by her.

"Hey, DeVanté! Long time, no see." Lady smiled. "How's it been?"

"You know him, baby?" Nokio asked Lady.

"Yeah, from the past." Lady nodded.

"How?" He asked her.

"If you ask me, I think she wants DeVanté," James told Nokio, laughing. "I saw her staring at him, it's like she wanted to grab his attention."

"That could be the case because we did use to date." I shrugged. "Crazy ass wouldn't leave me alone. That's why there's a damn restraining order now... With that being said, now I gotta go and relieve myself." I said walking away and JoJo followed me.

"I gotta piss too but so much for being DeVanté mothafuckin' Swing. Your ass was out there stuttering and acting weird and shit like Tia said." He patted my shoulder. "You know what popped up in my head when I saw y'all like that?"

I laughed because I know he's about to say some bullshit. "What?"

"The Closer I Get to You." He took his hand off my shoulder then started singing the song while snapping his finger. "The closer you get to her. The more she makes you see. By giving her all you got. Jer love has captured you over and over again. Y'all try to tell yourselves that y'all could never be more than JUST friends and all the while inside I knew it was real..." He finished singing. "Shit, we all knew that shit was real!" JoJo added laughing.

"Shut yo ass up!" I said laughing.

"Nah, but for real!" He said laughing. "You were right." He nodded with a straight face.

I gave him the look of confusion. "About what?"

"You said you hope the girl wasn't annoying. Well, she isn't BUT she can be. We all can get annoying sometimes. She's fine and cool. You gon' make your move AGAIN?" He emphasized.

"Man, I can't even answer that," I told him pushing open the door to the bathroom.

"Well, you should. Think about it..." Jojo said walking to one of the urinals.

I went to the stall and closed the door behind me to do my business. I don't want no weird shit to happen again. It's too much shit I don't witness at urinals. From motherfuckers playing with themselves to checking you out. I don't like that shit and I don't feel like having to fight somebody today.

"What's it to you?" I asked him.

"It's not. I'm just saying. Do you feel something for her again? Did that feeling ever leave you? Or is it just coming back?" Jojo asked.

"Again, what's it to you?" I chuckled.

"A'ight, nigga! Don't keep getting smart with me or I might have to beat yo ass!" JoJo told me.

I laughed then zipped up my pants. I walked out of the stall and to the sink. I began washing my hands. Jojo washed his next to me. There were a few people who just walked out.

"These some nasty mothafuckas. Money changes people but don't change they nasty ass habits. That's why Tia don't like touching people hands." I laughed.

"And that's why I'm gonna stop." Jojo shook his head. "About Lady though... She probably was like since I can't get back with a Jodeci member, I'll get with Jodeci 2.0." He grabbed some paper towels.

"You funny as hell!" I said laughing.

"I'm for real. She said they the next best thing. But you know a restraining order can't keep no crazy mothafucka from you. Not saying that she KNEW you'd be here and I'm pretty sure she did know. Maybe she changed..." Jojo shrugged.

We looked at each other. "HELL NAHHH!" We said in sync then busted out laughing. This nigga...

"You right!" Jojo nodded as we made our way out. "She was fishin' to get your attention." He pushed open the door. "You had to be fucked up then to date her ass."

"Yeah-" I laughed as Lady walked in front of me then stopped. "What do you want?" I asked her in a monotone voice.

"To talk." She replied.

"About?" I said with the same tone. Jojo looked at me with a questionable look. "You can go," I told him and he walked away. "Speak," I told her with my hands in my pockets.

"Speak? Nigga, I'm no damn dog-"

"Aye, watch that word," I told her. "You know what, I'm finna go..." I said about to walk away but she put her hand on my chest.

"Wait!" She said to me. I hugged in irritation. "Don't ruin things for me and Nokio." She told me.

My face scrunched up. "You're so delusional. You know what, yeah, I won't. Goodbye." I said about to walk off.

"I'm not done talking to you!"

I looked at her like she was crazy. "Well, I am," I told her then began walking.

She stepped in front of me again. "I knew you and that BITCH had something going on. What's she got that I don't? Huh?"

"Let's see..." I looked up at the sky pretending to think. "Everything." I looked back down at her, nodding with a smile. "I've heard this too many times and it's true when people say a restraining order can't keep a crazy mothafucka away!. And watch the bitch word." I pointed to her.

"What you gon' do? Hit me?" She asked me.

"You know I don't hit women. Are you done talkin'?" I asked her.

"No, you can't just dump me when we had plans." She folded her arms.

"YOU had plans, not me."

"WE! I thought you only liked white girls anyways? She's black and I'm better. Why are you being like this to me? If you were going to mess around, she could've at least looked as good as me. Most black guys would fall to my feet and kill to be with a girl like me."

"I don't know what gave you that impression that I only mess with one race because it never came from my mouth. I cheated on you with different races of women." I chuckled. "So I'm not understanding. If they're falling at your feet, why don't you leave me alone and go to them, since they want you so bad?"

"Fuck you!" She spat.

"Nahh, never again after you gave me that shit," I said lowly.

"Me? How do you know it was me if you cheated on me with different RACES of women?" She folded her arms in amusement.

"See... You dirty as fuck. You had something but I'm glad I didn't catch that shit. I was only joking. Damn, that's nasty..." I said laughing.

She scoffed at me. "Fuck you and that ugly, black bitch! I'm better than both of y'all black asses. Bye!"

"See you!" I said walking away.

"No, wait!" She grabbed my arm.

"This conversation is through. Goodbye."

I jerked my arm away then walked off. I know I shouldn't play about that diseased shit but damn that was funny! I never took the condom off with her because I wasn't ready for that type of shit AND I didn't want my kids to inherit her dummy traits. I shouldn't even gave her my time. Talking to her is like talking to a brick wall. Then I saw JoJo.

"She crazy as hell," Jojo whispered to me. "She watchin' us too. Don't look back."

"It's cool. I think I need to update that restraining order. I think it's out of date now." I told JoJo.

"Yeah, there go Cole his ass low-key went M.I.A on everybody. But he was focused on working." JoJo told me. "C'mon!" He waved me over as he walked away.

Author's Note: Well, that was a lot! Do y'all think he was planning to jump or not? If you were in Tia's situation with that part, how would you feel? DeVanté says he's attracted to Tia again...👀👀

Word Count: 6,750
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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.💚🖤❤💜💙💛