Damn. You gotta get it together, Brian. What the fuck are you doing to yourself?

Waking up, my eyelids peaked open and I looked around my surroundings. Had to deeply sigh while placing my hand on my head. Living room floor. Be grateful you didn't end up at a girl's place with two females again.

Did a party happen at my place or something? My place looked like shit with beer bottles, underwear, other clothing, paper, red solo cups, and whatever else all over the floor. My eyes looked up on the couch, finding Gina sleeping on the couch with barely anything covered up.

Damn, what did we do last night? Sitting up against the couch, thoughts of Tiarria swarmed through my mind and I flipped the hell out.

Shit, don't stand up that fast again, Brian. You're gonna fall out again. That's what you get for drinking that much.

Worried about my child, I walked upstairs to see if she was even in the house and hoping she was not here when all of this went down.

Her room door was cracked open so I pushed the door open and saw that she wasn't in here. Thank goodness. Clothes were all over the floor and it made me wonder where the hell she went. Please tell me she didn't run away. My child would never do that.

Oh yeah...that's what happened. Gina scared her off. She told T to wash the dishes and clean the kitchen but Tiarria told her it was her job. Gina hollered at her and T went off to call Rena. Rena rushed over here so fast and scooped her up. That probably lead to a random ass party in which Gina coordinated at the last minute with all of her friends.

Don't say it. I'm trying my best with Gina.

Walking into my room, I saw that it was four in the afternoon and decided to clean myself up from whatever happened last night. I've really got to stop getting fucked up and doing stupid shit while drunk.

And there goes that severe headache I was looking for.

Leaning over the bathroom sink, thoughts of Rena swirled in my mind. Speaking of her, let's talk about Rena for a second because things have been strange with us lately.

She had stopped talking to me for about two weeks now. The only thing she'd do is pick up Tiarria and drop her off. She'd sit in her car and wait for T to come to her car just to leave. Never came into the house, never called me, didn't even look at me when I came out to see her.

Nothing.

Not even a quick glance and that's it. There's just something about a woman that doesn't text or call you back but let a female text you 'emergencies only' and knows when a real emergency is going on. That's even worse, I swear. That means you're in a huge amount of trouble.

I tried the whole 'T's aching and I don't know what to do about it' bit but Rena just sent a picture of her medicine that the doctor prescribed to T with instructions and the whereabouts of it. Pain meds I didn't even know T had!

The thought alone made me realize that I needed to spend more time with T instead of being worried about Gina. Once the realization hit, T was too busy hanging out with Rena. Couldn't help but feel a bit hurt but knew I deserved that.

"Hey, what are you up to?" Gina slapped me upside the head as I threw water over my face to wake myself up.

Damn, she ain't gonna like what I'm about to ask her. Remembering what tonight was supposed to be, I stood up straight and realized that she needed to start coming with me to these events.

"Gina, we got couples' night tonight. Cleaning myself up for that. You should too." I turned to her as she switched her face, looking at me as if I knew better. Couldn't let up on this one. She does this every time. She always plans something on these nights or makes up excuses.

"You aren't serious, right? Brian, I have things to do tonight-"

"Well, those things can wait. They can't be as important as our time together. If we're gonna get married, we gotta spend some time together and become more of a couple. I feel we've been distancing ourselves from each other."

She gave me the biggest scowl and turned on her heal with her dark caramel hair flipping with her. She wasn't happy about going to couples' night but Trent wanted us there, despite his hate for Gina. He tolerated her like everyone else.

Anyway, Trent plans a night for all of us to hang out while the kids hang out at Rena's place. T and Troy watch the other kids while we hang out at his place and play games. Well, not just play games because we've had some nights where breakthroughs happened, secrets were exposed, and some nasty shit happened. People got back together, resolved arguments, and more.

Hours went by and eight o'clock hit with Gina not finding someone to save her from the night. When we got there, everyone that was there groaned at the fact Gina was there. None of my friends really like her besides one of my friends and she's on a thin line with him.

Gina complained the whole car ride here but rolled her eyes and groaned back. She never wanted to participate in any group things we did so Rena would always be my partners in games and such. Since Rena was not speaking to me, maybe it was a good thing Gina came.

As we sat down, someone else was coming in behind us and I looked up to see Rena strutting in with this piece of man candy by her side. Tall, Caucasian male that looked like he earned some good money.

Basically, a Trent but with dark brown hair and almond brown eyes just studying Rena as if he's known her all his life. Just watching her with hopeful eyes and thinking of getting her in bed. Not on my watch, sir.

"Hey, everyone! This is-"

"Grayson?! Track Star Grayson?! What the hell are you doing here? How'd you find my girl?"

Wasn't surprised that Trent knew this random man Rena was about to introduce. It also didn't surprise me that this guy was a popular sports star somehow. This random white man that took the woman I wanted. The woman I probably wasn't meant to be with but still had feelings for. They wouldn't leave me alone.

"We met up on campus, actually. Rena was in the EDU and we talked about her coming back to the university. We became good friends along her journey and she invited me to come over. But what's going on with you, Mr. Married Man? I thought you'd never settle down."

'wE mEt Up oN cAmPuS' posh head ass. Figures. That doesn't surprise me at all. Rena attracts those type of men. The guys that say that they're dating a black woman like those 'oh, I'm not racist! I have black friends' white people. This whole 'friendship' pissed me off.

Rena was just looking at him and smiling at him while he conversed with Trent. Like he's her dream man. Then again, maybe he was. That smile looked pretty genuine. Let her flock over to him even though we had something. Practically gave her away to him. It's as if I just let him sweep her off her feet. Clean up man. Janitor.

A familiar cough and clearing of the throat stopped me from eyeing my dream partner and the rich track star. Looking over, Gina's eyebrow was raised and her arms crossed. "Can we get started please? I have somewhere to be."

Gina continued giving me this evil glare as she complained. Her look sunk into my soul and scared the hell out of me. How the hell do women do that? They don't even have to say anything, just look at you like they'll kill you and you'll do what they say.

"Gina, you don't have to stay. If you got a hoe appointment, just say that." Trent straightened his face as he picked up the drink from the table and walked back over towards Carmon.

As Carmon reassured him that she's got him and sent an evil scowl to Gina, the educated rich guy introduced himself to everyone else. Once he got around to us, he held his hand out with a big smile on his face. Like I was really about to shake this fool's hand.

"Brian. That's-"

"Gina. Very nice to meet a handsome man like yourself. Why don't you sit by me so we can talk a bit more?"

This female was about to get slapped against the back of her head like she did to me this morning if she continued this flirty tone with Rena's date. It bothered me a bit until Rena came around and I stood up to talk to her but she brushed me off. She asked her man candy to sit on the other side of the living room table...with that same genuine smile on her face.

What in the entire fuck? She never blows me off like that. As if I wasn't even there...

What the hell this preppy boy do to my girl?

"Girl, don't you have a dick party to go to soon? Leave that man alone and sit down somewhere," Jessica added while making herself comfortable with a drink in her hand. Her and this guy Mario were huddled up together.

She can't be talking about my girl and she up here close with this random dude. She bet not be fucking around with him or Jana gonna fuck her up when she comes to. Right now, she's on tour and shit but let her come back and see this shit. She's still married to Jana. Does she not see that?

Here's what I don't understand. How the hell do they call me out on my shit when they do the same damn things I do and don't get shit for it? They can't talk to me about shit if they can't handle their shit.

Gina rolled her eyes and sat down by me as Trent discussed the games we were playing that evening. One of the games was Spoons and Gina didn't even want to play so she sat back on her phone.

The rest of us were getting into the game, me winning the first round and Tiffany winning the second. Luckily for her, she was able to get a victory kiss from her man. Gina wasn't paying any kind of attention.

My focus went straight to Rena after my win anyhow and her little nerdy friend as they passed the cards around the table like a merry-go-round. Nerdy boy smiling at Rena and her smiling back at him as they played along.

Just to get her attention, my arm wrapped around Gina and attempted to kiss her. She caught me trying and put her hand in my face while typing on her phone still. Everyone looked over at us while Jess announced her victory but Jess eventually looked at us after that. They obviously saw her connected to something else because...

"Who are you talking to, Gina? You don't want to play with the rest of us?" Bryce pointed out and pulled the card that had everybody pissed off. They all had mixed faces of disappointment and one had anger on her face. You only guess who that was.

"None of your-"

"Obviously, not the man she chose to be serious with." Tiff answered for her.

My heart raced trying to think of something to say but nothing was coming to mind. I never had to worry about something like this. Damn it, Brian. Say something.

"Says the one that has problems with the man she chose to be serious with. Why is it any of your business what I'm doing? Who I'm talking to? Don't you guys stay on your phones?"

"Not like you are. We're all spending time with each other and not looking at our phones. We're not the same, honey."

Carmon was even in a pissy mood and I was trying too hard to think of something but things were escalating too quickly. The argument picked up speed.

"You're one to talk since you've been hit from the front, back, and the sides. If anything, you should understand, right? Shut the fuck up and stop talking to me."

"Bitch, just go ahead and tell Brian you're fucking around with someone else." Jess opened up and revealed as my eyes concentrated on Rena's face.

Shocked but switching to shameful. Like she's proud that she wasn't with me or something. My eyebrows furrowed together as she watched everything go down.

"First of all, I know your bitch ass didn't call me the bitch when you're the one who shot your own wife. You're one to talk-"

"Aye, Gina! Sit down and hush! That's a low bow! You know nothing about that. You're doing too much now," Trent hollered, making Gina shut for mouth for a split second until...

"You all are a bunch of hypocrites and full of shit. Especially you, Rena. With your public persona of the perfect Christian girl. Wanting everyone to think you're so holy, sanctified and holy ghost-filled but we all know you've sucked this man dry to get in school. You couldn't have got in with your grades or anything else special because you don't do anything else. Wanna tell me how you've been messing around with my man or-"

"Bitch, I will-"

And the bomb was set off. Everything went down hill as soon as Jess stood up and threw herself over the table just to land on Gina. She sat on top of her and beat Gina's face in. I was trying to pull Jess off her but my strength was giving out that evening, especially after that long evening before this one.

Trent and Bryce came in to help me pull Jess off me as Gina screeched "THAT'S FUCKING IT, BRIAN! You see why I don't come with you to these things now?! Fucking attacking me and shit! I'm fucking OVER IT! Let's go home! Now!"

Her face was all red and shit with her body shaking from the attack. A busted lip and messy hair had her heated. She looked at me as if I were the damn matador and she was the bull. She was about to eat me alive.

"Nobody told you to insult Rena like that, Gina! You know how Jess is about her family and friends by now! Rena didn't do shit to you-"

"Can you shut the hell up, cat breath?! Nobody was talking to your rich pathetic-"

"Hold on, bitch. You're talking to the wroooong one," Carmon stepped in front of Trent and blocked him from Gina as she walked up on Trent.

Carmon was ready to bust a cap in Gina's ass. This is the first time I've seen Carmon this pissed off. It was as if smoke was coming from her nose and her face was like stone. Yeah, Carmon's sprung over Trent.

"Brian, just let her leave. You already knew we didn't want her here anyway. Just let her go-"

"Go back to phone sexing your assistant, you scary corny business rat. Brian, you're NOT staying here. You can either be smart and leave with me or we're over." Gina interrupted Trent as she turned to me and flipped her hair in Carmon's face.

She reached for her hair until Trent held her back and whispered in her ear while everyone else continued watching us. Especially Rena. Her eyes filled with disappointment and fear. She knew what was about to happen...until she didn't.

"Gina, just meet me at home. I gotta talk to the guys for a se-"

"HELL NO! You leave with me now and NEVER speak to these ass wipes again or we're through! Did you not see how that maniac just attacked me?!"

"Bitch, please. You ain't seen the maniac in me yet. That was only a scratch. Stop crying."

Mario held Jess back from attacking anyone as she took some deep breath but my eyes moved towards Nerdy Boy's arm wrapped around Rena's shoulders as they all watched everything unfold.

"Brian, at this point, you can leave with her but Gina has to leave. Right now. She can't stay a minute longer. If she stays, I'll end up throwing shit in the house and kill her. That's supposed to be Jess' job," Carmon breathed as she walked back and forth behind Trent to calm herself down.

"Don't worry about me staying in your raggedy ass house. Let any of you bitches put your hands on me and I'm calling up my guy to fuck all you hoes up. Your husband should be worried about your mouth going abroad, bitch."

Carmon charged for Gina again until Trent and Jess held her back. Trent held her again while Jess came out with "Carmon, let me kill this racist Stacy Orrico looking round-the-way hoe! Let me do it, girl..."

This is when I finally came up with something. I finally came up with my decision on this situation. This relationship. Situationship.

Stopping Gina mid-insult, I revealed with "Gina! That's enough! Let's go home!"

"Nope, since they-"

"RIGHT NOW!" I shouted as all of my friends widened their eyes or looked like it wasn't a surprise to them. Like I made the wrong decision, surprised at my choice.

However, the only facial expression that really mattered to me was Rena's. Not surprised, the eye roll, and knowing this was typical for me. Again, disappointed.

"Thank you, Brian. Now, I see who the smart one is. Wish your friends were the same way. Don't invite me here ever again. Let's go home, boo." Gina smiled proudly as she walked with me to the door.

"Trust me, you won't be invited here ever again. He probably won't either," Trent said as he watched us with a frustrating disappointed look on his face. I didn't know what to think about that. It upset me a bit but he probably said that because he was pissed off.

Opening the door for her, my eyes studied her prideful strut as she walked past the threshold and outside. My heart had other plans that my mind didn't.

Once she walked outside towards the car, I slammed the door behind her and shed a few tears while no one was looking. My back turned towards my friends just to wipe my face. I can let the rest fall later when I get home.

Those were tears of heartbreak, tears of confusion, hurt, loneliness, regret, and guilt. This was the price I had to pay for all the mistakes I made back in the past and everyone I hurt along the way. Especially my daughter.

This was me turning the page on one of the worst chapters on my book of life. Everyone had their opinions on my life and advice on what I should do but I always followed what I thought was right. Apparently, my decisions weren't the best ones and I didn't want to do the real correct things until that moment.

Something about doing something so wrong felt so good for the moment. But every time I looked into the mirror and stuck around in that kind of relationship and lifestyle; it was like looking at someone else. It was like looking at myself as a teenager. A young teenager. That's not who I am anymore. I'm not that young anymore and I had to accept that.

I just hope I did the right thing by Tiarria...and Rena. Even if she didn't want me.

Closing my eyes and shaking my head as the door echoed the sound of Gina's fists against it, thoughts of regret flowed through my mind, forcing more tears out of my eyes. Thinking of all the time I've wasted. All that time I could've supported my child, developed something more with Rena, becoming the man that Maria wanted me to be.

All that time grinding and working hard just to get everything taken away from me. Not realizing I was hurting myself. Every woman I dated taking a piece of me with them and it felt like the real me was gone.

Well, not every woman. Excluding the one that wrapped her arms around me in a tight hug while sniffling a little. Her delicate hand touching the back of my head, pulling it into her neck as her face rested on my head.

"Brian, I'm so sorry." She whispered softly as the smell of sweet strawberries filled my senses and those words making me cry a bit harder.

Back to square one, I guess.

****
*Sobs at the fact that my little guy's growing a bit*

So, I changed Brian's plot! Lol if you don't know, Brian was supposed to start the wedding ceremony with Gina until he had a change of heart but it looks like that change of heart came early!

I'm excited to write about this little journey with Brian. Going from that young boy still living in his 28-year-old body to the 28 almost 29-year-old he's supposed to be. I hope you guys enjoy it as well.

So tell me what you think about this chapter!

Do you think that Gina went a bit too far with her words? Do you think that she should've stuck around longer?

What do you think about Carmon stepping in front of her man like that? Putting herself on the line for Trent? Did you catch that?

Do you think Jess should've wopped Gina a little more? Also, do you think it was right for Jess to be all over Mario like she was?

Will Tiffany and Bryce ever get married?

Lastly, what do you think will happen with Rena and Grayson? You know just because Rena hugged Brian doesn't mean she may not want Grayson.

Thank you for reading soooooo much! I'll see you on Thursday!