Lyric had finsihed talking to Ember. She sat on the couch awkwardly. Her palms grew sweaty and all that was on her mind was Ace Williams.

How he barely showed emotion seeing her...as if he never knew her.

After everything...

Lyric takes a cigarette in her mouth and she walks outside onto the porch, she slips the cigarette into her mouth and takes the lighter. She opens her mouth, releasing a cloud of smoke from her mouth.

Why would he remember you? You're a pessimist.

All those times he saved your pathetic ass...you failed to make a move.

Slut.

Monster.

I'm honestly surprised that Remi didn't press charges against you for assault.

You do realize that you'll never escape this life? Might as well end it now.

Who would want to be around you?

Stupid whore.

Your mom should've aborted you.

Lyric wanted to scream, but she knows it won't help at all. She stares at the sunrise.

"You okay?"

Lyric turns around to see Gabe walking next to her.

"You don't get tired?"

"I'm a night owl."

"I'm just gonna say it, you can do so much better than being a stripper."

"No one would hire me, since I have a record for beating a girl up when I was still in school."

"I'm pretty sure she deserved it." Gabe says.

"How would you know?"

"You're one of the nicest people here."

"You just met me."

"True..."

Lyric grins. "You're so sweet."

"When I want to be." Gabe says.

"I see you've met Ace." Gabe assumed.

"Yeah." Lyric says, taking a draw of her cigarette.

"He's pretty distant so you won't see him much."

"Yeah..." Lyric says.

"Except for tonight, Kage is putting him on lockdown."

Lyric puts her cigarette out in the ashtray.

"Well...thanks for keeping me company Gabe." Lyric says, smiling.

"Ay, no problem!" Gabe waves.

Lyric walks back inside, she curls up on the couch, watching tv.

Kage walks out of the bedroom. "Gabe, can I see you for a minute?"

"Sure."

They both leave, Lyric looks up in curiosity.

"Busy guys." She mutters.

The door opens, Ace walks past the tv silently.

"Who are you?" Ace asks emotionlessly.

"Just a friend." Lyric lies, hoping that he would recognize her.

Ace ignores her, grabbing a soda can and opening it. Lyric curls her knees to her chest, resting her cheek on top of her knees.

Ace starts texting on his phone. Lyric focused on the tv.

A few minutes later, Ace walks out.

Lyric stands up. Kage walks in.

"Hey Lyric, I'll drive you home."

"Thank you so much." Lyric says.

Kage walks her to his car.

--

Lyric walks inside the apartment, Ember runs towards her.

"You're okay!" Ember says.

"I was bout to pop open a bottle of champagne and cry my eyes out without you!" Ember says.

"Because of those damn gangsters, of I see them in the streets it pop pop!"

"Relax." Lyric says.

"Ayanna asked about you." Ember says.

"I thought I was scary." Lyric says.

"She thinks you are...but she seems to  like you."

"Lyric, you can't avoid that little girl forever, it's okay to be tough, but you can't be distant."

Lyric nods then she walks into her bedroom do see Ayanna looking out the window.

"Something on your mind?"

Ayanna turns around, she stays quiet as Lyric walks towards the bed, sitting next to her.

"I know I may seem tough and scary."

"But I couldn't hurt a damn fly if I tried." Lyric says, looking up at the ceiling.

Ayanna starts silently crying, Lyric awkwardly sits next to her, Ayanna immediately grabs her shirt, pulling herself closer to Lyric.

"I miss mommy."

"I know you do." Lyric says. She hesitantly placed her hand on the girl's small back and stroked her frizzy hair.

"Can you help me find her?"

Lyric didn't want to make promises she couldn't keep but words just rolled off her tongue.

"Yeah, we'll find her."

The little girl starts hugging Lyric tighter. Lyric starts to relax, absentmindedly running her nimble fingers through her hair.

"Can you promise me something?"

"What?" Lyric asks, expressionless.

"You won't hurt me....right?" The little girl asks.

"I couldn't hurt a fly."

Lies.

"I'm a gentle person."

Lies.

Lyric stands up, the little girl stands up, stumbling. She hops off the bed and she groans, Lyric kneels down to come face to face with her half sister.

"Hungry?" Lyric asks.

"Yeah."

"I got you." Lyric reassures her.

"How come you don't smile?" Ayanna asks.

Lyric hesitates for a moment.

I don't know.

"I just think a lot."

"You'd look prettier if you smiled." Ayanna says, making Lyric blush.

"My mommy would always tell me that."

"She isn't wrong."

Lyric turns around then squats. The girl had no energy...she was small, not even skinny, Lyric could see her ribs through the girl's shirt.

"Get on my back." Lyric says.

The girl climbs on Lyric's back, then she carries her out the room.

Ember was on the phone, she walks out.

"Well then, Lyric does have a softer side."

Lyric rolls her eyes.

"Smile." Both Ember and Ayanna say at the same time.

"Me and you are gonna get along kiddo."

Lyric walks over to the couch, placing Ayanna down.

"Stay put."

Lyric walks into the kitchen and pulls out several ingredients. Ember leans against the wall.

"What happened Lyric?" Ember asks.

"What are you talking about?"

"Who saved you?"

Lyric turns around as the had the chicken frying.

"This man...I would've been shot if it weren't for him."

"Thank God..." Ember says, hugging Lyric.

"I can't lose you."

Lyric hugs back gently.

"Especially when you still owe me a trip to the mall."

"Basically I do the most wildest things huh?"

"I didn't realize you were actually going to French kiss that mannequin."

"There are a lot of things you don't know."

Lyric starts making macaroni and cheese since it was Ayanna's favorite.

"That little girl is something else." Ember says.

"She is."

"We have to do something." Lyric says.

"Her mother can still be out there, and we could reunite them."

"But we don't know her mother." Ember says.

"Maybe Omar knows something."

"He may be the dad but that doesn't mean he's going to answer to you."

"You're right, but right now, we need to keep an eye out."

Lyric looks up to see Ayanna fast asleep on the couch.

"We don't know what could happen."