Kamryn,

   "Yooo, what's good fam?" The man asked August as he approached the booth on the other side of the diner. They clasped hands as a formal handshake as if they're beginning a business meeting. I can't really make out the conversation, but I can see the man's face. He looks oddly familiar and it's giving me the chills. I find him very attractive and the tattoos from his neck all the way to his hands only fascinated me more. I'm so focused on daydreaming about this man that I haven't even noticed that he began walking towards me 6 seconds ago. Now, he's sitting in my booth and Damn, it. I lost August.

   Okay Kamryn, be cool. You only got caught staring, you didn't hear anything. Oh god, why'd I have to be so damn nosey. I know August knows something about Cara's death. What if this is the man that killed her. What the hell did I get myself into?!

   "Why the fuck are you following me?" He growled as he leaned forward. I'm so damn scared right now, I don't even wanna speak. I might say something wrong. I just got caught watching this man and he might be some sort of killer!

   "I- I wasn't following you.. I w-was following August." I answered truthfully and he licked his lips before smirking. Lord, his pink lips and long blonde dreads treat him well. How on earth will I ever see a man this perfect in my life again? His hazel eyes.. just shifted. Oh shit, his they just turned black or really dark!

   "If I find out you getting into shit you not supposed to, You gone be visiting that kid of yours on a one way trip." He threatened. I swallowed just to take in everything he just said and nodded quickly in fear. I thought I'd never be so scared in my life. Wait, did he-? How does he know about my baby?

   "How do you know about my baby?" I asked. I fought away tears that fought back to ruin the wall I built to keep them away. I sighed and blew out my emotions, avoiding everything I'm starting to feel.

   "I know a lot of shit you don't know, so stop now while you still can. Believe it or not, I'm trying to help ya nosey ass." He replied and stood up. He threw a fifty dollar bill on the table and disappeared out the diner in one swift move. I don't think I ever been so shook in my life. Today is full of surprises for me. That man right there, he was most of them.

   "Are you ready to order now?" The waitress asked, approaching my table. I'm so curious about this Mystery man that I done lost my appetite. But, everything happens for a reason. Following August all this week lead me to this only lead and I got caught just to know that he knows me. I don't even know him. It's about time we become acquainted.

   "uhh, yes. Can I get buttermilk waffles, a side of grits and scrabbled eggs. Oh, and an apple juice. Make that to go, please. And I have one last question.." I said. I leaned for to indicate this was a private question, as she did the same.

   "Yeah, sure." She accepted.

   "The man with the dreads that just left, who is he?" I asked hoping for something sort of luck.

   "Oh, Legacy?" She asked. I nodded as if I knew and she continued as if I asked. Hey, if people know, people talk. "Girl, He one of the finest rappers in Cali. You better actually you know."

   "Oh, really?" I responded with a nod. "Thank you, I was just wondering. You know how guys are nowadays.."

   "You're dating him or something?" She asked. Why do people ask further questions after you just asked them a question AS IF you have any answers for them?! Keep calm, keep cool Kamryn. We do not want your anxiety to be acting up any more.

   "Yeah, something like that." I shrugged. Shit, that slipped out. Why did I lie?! Why couldn't I just told the truth? Why Kamryn?

   "Damn, I should've went to shoot my shot when I had the chance. I ain't know he was gone crack that easily." She joked. I didn't find it funny, now I'm confused. What does she mean by that?

   "I'm sorry?" I questioned. She laughed and shook her head after a slight pause of surprise.

   "Oh, You ain't know?" She laughed. "I'm sorry girl but you betta check the Hoe Facts on a nigga before you decide to date anyone that look as good as him in California."

   "I don't understand.." I said puzzled.

   "Girl, You don't watch the news? You don't listen to music? It never crossed your mind ever ask him about his relationship status? Wow.. um, I'm gonna go put in your order and I'll be right back." She said before walking away. Damn, this just got deeper than I thought.

   As I wait on my food to be cook, I slide to the bathroom. The walk into public restrooms always bring back horrible memories. I take that familiar walk to the last stall, which always happens to be the biggest one.
   After I enter the stall I hear someone walk into the restroom, right after I squat and pee I hear another person walk in. Only this time, it feels more like school.

   "Hey MiMi Pooh!!" A woman greeted another. Her voice sounded familiar until I realized it was my waitress.

   "Hey boo, how are you?" She greeted her in return.

   "The same ole, same ole but the lord be coming through for me at times." She replied.

   "I know that's right, what the lord do for you today girl?" She laughed.

   "He sent me some tea, some good tea too." She exaggerated.

   "Bitch, spill it." She attempted to whisper as more people walked in and out of the bathroom.

   "Wait, before I say anything. Is Legacy still dating that girl who.." she said but I could catch some of it.

   "Yeah, I mean why wouldn't he be? He love that girl a little too much just cause she the only female that can't see he's a dog." The girl said with jealousy.

   "Okay now if I tell you this I don't want you to be telling nobody else." She hesitated.

   "Who imma tell?" The Mimi girl asked defensively.

   "Ion know, Mia. I know you like to tell Eric everything and then y'all whole family a know. You know I hate being in peoples business and I don't gossip. I don't do drama, I'm too worried about making money. You know?" She contradicted herself. I love how females like to gossip and sugarcoat it like that's not what they're doing. People love being in other peoples business. But don't no one in theirs.

   "I know girl, me too. Ain't nobody stopping my bag. But you being a real by coming to me cause you my girl and shit." She gassed her head up.

   "Exactly!" My waitress said. "So, Yeah. It's this girl I'm serving who say she dating Legacy. I asked her if she knew he had a girl and she said no."

   "Ooooh, I tried to tell Shawny he wasn't shit. That nigga is a dog. But she laid down for life for that nigga? Hell nah, never will I ever." She laughed with satisfaction as if the the fake news made her feel good.

   "Come on, imma show you." She said as they both left the restroom. As they were leaving to look for me, I was sliding out the back door to reach my car. All we can do is pray that this doesn't come and bite me in my ass. I just got this ass...

Legacy (Above) ☝🏽

Chris,

   "Alright, Thank you." I say to the Boost Mobile worker as I leave with my new iPhone in hand.

   "Chris? Is that you?" A soft voice asked from a distance. I turned my head into her direction and there she stood, holding onto the door to the bank next to Boost Mobile with a small Hello Kitty back pack in her other hand.

   Kae Tran. My first love. She and I had a thing back in high school as freshmen and sophomores. We even took each other virginity, but we never spoke about it. Soon after she had cheated on me and gotten pregnant by lord knows who. She didn't say and would never tell me. So, I never spoke to her again. Looking at her now, I don't hate her anymore. She look better now than she did before.

   "In the flesh." I admit. I held out my arms to reveal myself to her. She smiled a little and looked down at the pavement before back up at me.

   "I.." She started. Glancing into the parking lot, she closed the bank door. This time, revealing a golden wedding ring on her left ring finger where it's supposed to be. "gotta go. It was nice seeing you again, Chris."

   "You too. Maybe we can catch up some time." I suggested. Her eyes lit up and a smile grew on her face. She nodded and pulled out her phone.

   "I have to take Lyric to my mother in law's house. Meet me here at six. We can pick a place to go from there?" She planned.

   "Sounds good, don't be late." I joked. She giggled and smacked her lips.

   "I won't, just remember to be here or I'll find you." She threatened playfully.

   "I got you, don't worry. When have I ever let you down?" I asked. Her smile dropped and she nodded.

   "You right.." she answered and began walking to her red Buick. "I'll see you later."

  
   For the last 3 hours, I've been struggling with what to do, what to say and what to wear. A nigga even took a shower and got a haircut. I ain't got this dressed up since last year. I can't even remember the last time I've worn cologne. Luckily, I found something decent to wear and decided to actually make it on time. But, I still don't know what to say when I see her. She's like a chapter I ripped out my book and now I feel like I'm reading those pages. Maybe I'm even gluing them back in.

   "You actually came.." she said as her voice cracked. She smiled as tears built up in her eyes, using her hands to stop them from ruining her make up. Me being raised by my mother, I can help but console her right now. I hate it when women cry. Especially for me.

   "Of course I came, why you crying?" I asked as I pulled her into a hug. An awkward hug, though. We both were trying to avoid messing up her make up.

   "So many reasons, I'm sorry." She said as she sniffled and pat her tears with a tissue out her purse. Her wedding ring, it's gone. Good thing that's none of my business.

   "No need to apologize, c'mon. Where you wanna go tonight?" I asked as I led her to my car.

   "Anywhere but home." She responded confidently.

   "What's at home?" I questioned while opening the passenger door for her.

   "Not my daughter." She went around the question.

  
    "I have not had this much fun since I was a kid!" She exclaimed as she came down from her high. Short of breath, frizzy hair from sweat which also ruined most of her make up that she just washed off in the restroom, and adrenaline rushed from the laser tag win, she's still smiling from ear to ear. I can tell she hasn't done this in a while, or maybe ever. "Thank you so much, I really needed this. I feel so.. free right now. And I haven't even had a drink today." She said proudly.

   "No problem, we both needed this." I said as I took a seat at a table. "Also, I don't mean to be all up in ya business, But it's getting kinda late. I'm sure your husband wouldn't want you out too long. I would hate to get you in trouble."

   "Nah.. He wouldn't.." she mumbled and twisted her lips. She sighed and put her head in her hands. "Oh god, I'm sorry. We have to go."

   "I got you," I said as I grabbed the stuffed Babs Bunny she won at an arcade game. I followed her lead to my car, watching her go from bad to worse. She's damn near paranoid right now and keep looking over her shoulder.

   "Yo, You good?" I asked.

   "I'm fine." She blurted rudely.

   "Cool," I nodded and pulled off.

   The second I pulled up next to her car, she opened the door and hopped out. This woman was so scared she left her purse in my car. I wasn't gonna say anything until I noticed she really didn't know she left it.

   "Karrueche Tran." I said boldly, startling her out of her frantic behavior. She looked at me in my eyes and began laughing. She laughed hysterically until she cried. She cried as if she didn't care who was listening.

   "I can't do it. I can't do it no more." She cried. I reached for her hand and squeezed it tightly. I feel her, I really do.

   "I'm here now, what you need me to do?" I asked.

   "I'll be fine, I'm just tired and tonight was a breakthrough for me. I'm just so overwhelmed with so many emotions.."

   "Your wedding ring, why you take it off? I seen you wearing it earlier." I pointed out.

   "It was hurting my finger, I-"

   "When are you gonna stop lying to me?" I scolded her. She froze from the bass in my voice surprising her. "I don't get that shit. First you cheat on me, lie and say I was the baby's father, and now you fronting like you're happy when you can't even answer a simple ass question without looking over ya fucking shoulder. I may not know what you're capable of but I do know you. So how about we cut the bullshit and get right to it."

   "I never cheated on you." She responded.

   "Listen," I sucked my teeth and chuckled sarcastically. "I don't really give a fuck anymore but I know I didn't get you pregnant."

   "I was raped!" She shouted with tears rolling down her cheeks and her lips quivering.

   "By who?" I frowned.

   "I can't tell you, he said if I said anything that he'd kill me."

   "Karrueche, if you don't tell me now, I will find out myself and leave yo ass to deal with the consequences." I promised her.

   "You gone do me like that?"

   "Just like that. So, answer my fucking question." I demanded. She hesitated and took a deep breath.

   "It was Papa Smitty.. th-the man who lived in our neighborhood." She admitted.

   "Say that shit again." I blinked.

   "Papa Smitty is the man that raped me.." she repeated.

   "Why the fuck would you hide that from me? You made me hate you because I really thought you broke my fucking heart!" I yelled. Damn, I can't believe this shit.. I don't even know where to start.

   "I'm sorry, I didn't know what to do, I was only a teenager!" She whimpered.

   "Don't worry about it, Kae. I'm sorry that happened to you and I couldn't help. Look, you didn't-"

   "KARRUECHE!" A man shouted as he walked up to the car. I instantly got out and walk around to the passenger side of my car. Fear flushed Kae's face as the man approached her who clearly looks like her husband.

   "C-c-Cory, I was just sho-"

   "Shut the fuck up and get cho ass in the muh fuckin car." He growled at her. He snatched by her arm, gripping it tightly as he spoke to her and let go to throw her to the window of her car.

   "Yo, You don't need to be man handling her like that." I mugged him.

   "I know who the fuck you are and I really don't care. But, if you knew what was best for you, you mind your damn business and leave my wife the hell alone. That's facts." He threatened me. Should I fuck this nigga up or should I let it slide? He continued to stand there and stare at me, I don't have a problem standing my ground but I could feel Kae's pleading eyes begging me not to make things worst for her.

   "You got it," I surrendered. Clenching my jaw, I give Kae a nod and walk back around my car. Great, now I gotta find her if I ever want to see her again.. Well, not exactly if I follow her home. All I gotta do is make sure that husband of her leaves first. Man, she lucky I care about her.

—————————————————————

What do you guys think is gonna happen next with Chris? What about Kamryn?

What will Kami's snooping around lead her to?

What do you think about Karrueche's husband?

What questions do you have about the story so far?

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