Inglewood, CA
Thursday — 2/17/23
Ko'tavia Morris

WHERE YO MONEY AT by Nipsey Hussle blasted from her hometown house. One thing about Tavia's dad was that he loved Nipsey. Only person he ever listened to now a days.

"Oh shit Tavi! Wassup, didn't even hear you come in" Derryl shouted from the kitchen.

"Hey poppy, I've missed you! Where's mami?" Tavia smiled and brought her father into a big hug. Ever since she moved out at 17, she's been at her parents house almost every week.

"Oh she's at work, y'know how she is over that new position" her dad scoffed. Slightly throwing shade.

She lightly hit his shoulder with a mug. "Don't be dissin on my mami nie' Mr. Derryl."

"Aye watch it, don't call me no Derryl lil kid."

Ko'tavia sighed and looked around the kitchen. It was only now that she noticed her dad was actually cooking up a bunch of food.

"Ouu pops what chu' makin?? And can I have some..!?" She smiled excitedly and picked a fork into the coleslaw.

Tavia never understood why people hated it so much, it's literally like salad but better, and more filling.

"Aht aht, get cho' big ass out my kitchen! This for the Saturday cookouts, and look at you eating every last bit."

"Pops you over exaggerating, I had one scoop" she said, munching on the food that was still in her mouth.

"Ima pop yo' hand, let you dig in my coleslaw again. Done told yo ass this for Saturday!"

"Pops shut up, you sound like mami right now" she sighed and threw her fork in the trash.

"Yeah yeah whatever, you gone be here Saturday right?"

Every other Saturday, her parents hosted dinner cookouts for family and close friends. It was a time for everyone to keep in contact and forget about whatever jobs they had.

It was just a breather for everyone, to be around the people they love. Tavia and her family were definitely very family oriented.

"Yea of course, I'll bring Nori too. I know that's ya favorite."

"Ouu yes please! Bring my bestie"

Tavia side eyed him in confusion, "we gotta get you off tiktok.."

"You got you any lil' man friends??" Her dad asked being nosey, and completely ignoring her comment from before.

"Pops, mind yours. Ion need me no man friends! Im coo' wit' what I got."

"Ugh fuck that, I need me some grand babies." He scoffed, draining the macaroni as Tavia stared at him like he was crazy.

"Well that's definitely something you won't be getting any time soon, I'm only twenty dad." She sighed, and pulled out her phone.

"Oh damn, I forgot you was so young.. got me thinking you around 30 like yo brother."

She just sat there and gave him the blankest stare. Because really?

"Bye dad, I'm not even finna play wit' you on this good Thursday!"

"Girl sit yo ass back down, what you come over hea' for anyways?"

She actually didn't even know.. she just likes to occasionally annoy her parents here and there. Only reason she hasn't left yet is because her mom was still at work.

"Y'know I just be wanting to annoy y'all. Ima stay til' Mami gets home. I haven't seen her in a while"

Derryl nodded and became silent due to him being fully focused on his cooking.

She plopped onto the couch and decided to watch tv. Her mom wouldn't be off until 6 and it was only 4.. so why not watch some tv?

Grabbing the remote, she put on one of her favorite movies and books. 'Girl Interrupted'. They finally put it on Netflix and she couldn't stop rewatching it.

The movie was pretty long so at least it was something to get her mind off of the time.

—

"Mamiii" she smiled and brought her mother into a big hug. It's been a while since Tavia's actually seen her mom face to face. Due to her mothers busy work schedule.

"Aww hi my baby, how's art school?" Her mother softly asked and embraced her daughter.

"It's good! I'm top in my class surprisingly, I'm trying to graduate earlier though" she explained, pulling out her phone to show her mom some new art pieces she created.

"Listen to me bubs, don't rush your education. Stay there for as long as you need to gain as much knowledge as you can. Rushing it can be critical, so you don't wanna do that. You already graduated high school early, so just give it some time.. "

Her mom was a business woman all the way around. So whenever she had problems with work or school, she always went to her mom. And every time she always got the best advice.

"I guess you right, I just feel like 3 years is a lottt." She dragged out and started helping her mom put away groceries.

"Girl I did almost 10 years, trust me when I say 3 years is nothin'! It fly's by faster than you could imagine."

A comfortable silence fell over the two of them. Tavia made out mental notes in her head of what her mom was saying. Maybe she should just do the 3 years and take some extra courses on the side.

If art didn't work out for her, she would do animation. She loved creating characters and giving them a backstory. Her career field choice was pretty childish but she wouldn't change it for anything..

"You and Nori still sharing an apartment?" Her mom questioned and Tavia internally sighed.

"Yes mami, still sharing an apartment wit' her."

Lolana didn't like the fact that her daughter didn't have stuff of her own. She wanted her baby to have a huge house and never have to share with anyone.

She loved Nori though, even looked at her as a daughter. But she wanted Tavia to actually experience living on her own, so that when it actually happened she could be adjusted to it.

At the age of 12, Tavia was diagnosed with severe separation anxiety. The only reason she left her parents was to live closer to her school, and even then she had Nori move in with her.

She hated being alone, it reminded her too much of her childhood.

"I know you're tired of hearin' this from me, but you need to plan to move out. The doctors even told you that surrounding yourself with the same person everyday is only gonna make your disorder worse."

"Mami I know okay! Just give me the benefit of the doubt, I'll plan to do it soon."

Everything was getting so overwhelming, her mom could be so tiring sometimes. Tavia knew she only wanted the best for her daughter, but sometimes she just didn't even try to understand.

But Tavia would never go against her mother. So she never spoke up about the way her mom made her feel sometimes.

"I really do love you Ko'tavia, I know I'm probably doing a lot. But I really do want the best for you."

It was almost like she could read Tavia's face, because after this her mood was brought up.

"Thanks mami, and yeah I know. I love you too, I'll find my own place soon, so don't even worry about dat."

The two gave each other another embracing hug. She loved her mom.

—

"Beezyyyy" Nori dragged out, Ko'tavia following behind her with Raising Cane's.

"Ugh, who the fuck let y'all in!?"

"Bitch quit acting like you ain't miss us!!" Tavia scoffed, and waved the food in his face.

"And jus' for dat' rude ass comment, youn get no damn food." Nori smiled while taking the food that would've been Beezy's, and stuffed it in her mouth.

"Stop bein a pig bruh! Tavi make her gimmie my food yo?" He squealed and kept trying to snatch his food back.

"I'm not makin' her give you shit, starve ho!"

The three were friends from way back in elementary school. The bond they was unbreakable even though it's had some ups and downs..

"Beez where ya lil' friends at? Tavi swear one of em is her soulmate" Nori asked, stuffing the chicken tenders into her mouth.

"Oh you lil shit! Yeen even have to tell him all dat'.. now what if he go snitch?"

Beezy rolled his eyes and tried to ignore the fact that he actually felt some type of way about Tavia having some typa feelings towards his homeboy.

"He don't even get 'round like dat'. I'm jus tellin you now" he lied and shrugged his shoulders. Beezy knew that San was actually a good man despite his work career..

He just wasn't willing to see his childhood crush have anything to do with his best friend.

"I wasn't even looking to do nun wit' him.. Nori just don't know how ta' keep her mouth shut!" Ko'tavia scoffed and mugged Nori.

"Girl she is lying. Knowing she wanna get a taste of that lil thang thang."

"Thang thang? Kiss my ass Nor."

Beezy just looked at the two in disgust, "Maybe don't talk about dic' around me cuh? That's some gay shi."

"You like dick in dat lil pink ass, don't lie" Ko'tavia joked, Nori cackling loudly and jogging off.

"Mane don't even joke like dat da' fuck! Shit is not even coo'."

"Yo Beez, why you act like youn' see a nigga calling you?" Montey shouted, San and Devo following behind him.

Ko'tavia felt her body get stiff as San stared her down while walking in. He didn't even try to hide it, causing Beezy to scoff.

"Ight cuh' my bad, fuck you niggas want right nie'?"

"We got a lil problem in the system, we missing our latest drug supply.. Dealer done went MIA."

Beezy kissed his teeth and picked up his phone to make a call.

"Could never get a fuckin' break."

As Beezy left out to a different room with Montey and Devo, San was left alone with Nori and Tavia.

The awkward silence took over and the aura was very uncomfortable. Ko'tavia for sure wasn't gonna speak up, and neither was San.

Nori picked up on that, and internally rolled her eyes. 'These niggas know they wanna talk'.

"So we just gone sit here.. orrrr?" Nori spoke up, and Ko'tavia kept a blank stare on her face.

"I mean, what is dere' to really say? Ion know y'all like that" San shrugged and took a seat on the couch next to Ko'tavia.

"Oh so this bitch is rude as fuck! Got me fucked up" Nori scoffed.

San lowly chuckled and focused on Tavia and her uncomfortable form.

"Why she so quiet? She can't talk assum??"

"Shush I can talk, just don't be talkin' to new people like dat" she spoke so softly, it was cute.

"So you shy? Das' cute" he chuckled and leaned back on the couch. Long conversations weren't really his thing, so he didn't have much to say. It was now back to the awkward silence.

"My nigga outside pooh, so ima see you" Nori smiled, getting up and hugging Tavia goodbye.

"Take me with you, please girl I cannot do dis" Tavia whispered, Nori cackling loudly.

"Hell no! Get out of this lil shy phase, make a damn friend."

As Nori left out the door, a clear mug was plastered all over Tavia's face. Because how dare she leave her here??

"What chu' mugging fo'? Youn wanna be here wimmie assum" he joked and grabbed the blunt from behind his ear.

"That's not even it nigga so fuck up, I'm just an awkward person so ion know what you want me ta' do" she shrugged and started fiddling with her rings.

"You wanna smoke to loosen up?? Maybe you can tell me 'bout yo' self too"

"About me? Tell you what about me.."

"Well for one, yo name. What you like doin'. Mane y'know what da' fuck I mean" he kissed his teeth and Tavia chuckled.

"Yea I know what you mean now, better share that fat ass blunt tho." She muttered and side eyed him. He gave her the same face back and covered the blunt with his hand.

"I was finna share, but nie' youn get shit"

"Stop playin!" She smiled and he felt like he was in a daze. Her smile was so pretty, her teeth was so perfect and clean too.

"You staring hard as hell" she teased and he scoffed. "Yea, staring at them yellow ass teeth."

"Boy don't play! My shit white as hell." Tavia mugged and scooted away from him.

"What you movin' for mane?" He complained and shook his head.

"Cuz yeen even have to make a comment. Mean as fuck and you delusional.."

"How I'm delusional?"

"Saying my teeth yellow!! Ya ass must be seein' shit."

"Whatever mane, is you gone tell me about yo self tho?"

"Is you gone past that blunt?"

San rolled his eyes and passed his blunt to the girl. The way her lips wrapped around it was so attractive. He almost couldn't stop staring but he was able to catch his self.

'Making a nigga slip up mane'

"What you wanna know? Ask me some questions" she said after letting the smoke flow from her plump lips.

"What's yo name to start off?"

"It's Ko'tavia.. pronounced co- tah- via"

"Mane I know how to sound it out, quit playin."

She cackled and passed the blunt back to him. "Guess I can ask you somethin' now, what's ya name..?"

"It's San."

"Hell nah! What's yo actual name.. I'm not calling you by no damn code name."

"Shut yo ass up," he chuckled and shook his head. "My name Sancere, cuh. You happy now?"

"Aww ya Name so cute" she teased and he tried to lowkey hold back his blush.

"Mane shut up! Anyways, what you do fa' work?"

"Well.. I'm in college right now. I'm an artist, so for right now I just do murals and paintings for people aside from school. It's pretty fun."

He noticed the glint in her eye while she was talking about her art. It must've been something really important to her.

"Shit for real? That's cool as hell, can I see some of yo art?" He asked curiously and she almost couldn't believe it. No one's ever willingly asked to see art. Besides her mom and dad of course.

"Uhm yeah! I think I have some I did over the weekend right here" she said excitedly and pulled out her phone.

San found it cute how excited she got over just flexing her art. He could get used to being around her more.

"Nahh what? This shit hard Ko'tavia, I fuck wit it" he lazily smiled and scrolled through her art page.

It was multiple murals and sculptures, some graffiti and tagging as well.

"This one my fav fo' sho'." He pointed at the mural of Nipsey Hussle that she painted for Lauren London herself.

Her mom and Lauren went way back, so when Lauren found out about Ko'tavia's talent, she just had to put in a order.

"You fuck wit' Nip? That's wassup!" She geeked, starting to feel herself get more comfortable around him. He was actually nice to talk too..

"Wait but enough about me, what do you do?"

All he did was look at her like she was stupid. And in return she gave him a mean mug. "Ion know why you lookin' at me like im dumb.. if yeen wanna answer youn' got to.."

"It's not even that, it's just you should know what I do righ'? Why you think I'm around Beez n' nem so much. All I am is a hitman, nun interesting about dat'."

Yeah, he didn't do a "normal" type job. But Ko'tavia didn't really care. It was none of her business and she was never one to judge.

"Shit welp, at least you gettin paid!" She shrugged.

San felt his body relax, he was relieved that she wasn't like other girls and only wanted to talk to him because he was dangerous or a "hood nigga".

He didn't know what to say or how to reply so the awkward silence took over again. This time, Ko'tavia was the first to break it.

"My family has this lil' cookout on Saturday's, uhh would you wanna go?"

He could tell she felt hesitant on asking him, he didn't know why.

"Hell yea, ima slide thru. Beez n nem' gone be dere'?"

She shrugged and shut her phone off, "yeah ion see why not. We consider den' close family so they'll be dere'."

"Shit, guess ima come thru' when they pull up den. Hea lemme see yo' phone."

Ko'tavia passed him her phone and he typed in his number.

"So you can send me the time and lo'." San lied.

He just wanted an excuse to put his number in her phone. He could've just asked Beezy for the location and time.

"What y'all in here talking about?" Beezy asked with a clear attitude. He just finished taking care of business on the phone.

"Just gettin ta' know each other.. It was getting awkward sittin' here in silence." Tavia sighed.

Beezy mugged how close the two of them were. They was sitting a lil' too close..

"Yo, why y'all gotta' sit so close? Shits weird."

San couldn't stop the low chuckle that fell from his lips. He just now started to understand why Beezy always felt away about Tavia talking to dudes.

It was clear Beezy had feelings for her, it was just too bad that San didn't give a damn.

"What we can't be friends assum? Fuck you talm' bout." San spat.

"Yeah.. why is you actin' so weird Beez? Don't you say I need to open up more and be less closed off 'round new people..?"

Ko'tavia was just confused. She didn't understand why he was being so bitchy all of a sudden.

"Mane whatever. You gone have to go Tavi, me and San gotta' talk 'bout business."

"You talk about business around me any other time.. why I gotta leave nie' all of a sudden?"

"Cuz I said bro. Just go."

Tavia gave him the blankest stare. Cause what the fuck? Now he was putting her out for no reason at all..

"Mkay, ion got no ride tho. So I'll be waiting here til' I get an Uber ta' come get me." She answered plainly.

Beez could tell she felt some type a way but he didn't care. Just like she ain't care when she was in here chatting it up with other niggas.

San was sitting there quiet the whole time. He didn't have the energy to get in between whatever the two had going on.

But he wasn't about to sit here and let her take a Uber this late at night. It was 11:29 pm.

San got up and grabbed his keys. Beez gave him a questionable look and furrowed his brows.

"Fuck you gettin' yo' keys fo'? I just said we gotta talk bout business."

San completely ignored him and held his hand out to Tavi, trying to signal her to get up.

"Cmon Ta ima take you home. Not finna let chu' get in no Uber this late at night."

Ko'tavia gave him a small smile and grabbed his hand to help herself up. 'He must want his dick sucked bad.'

"Tch, y'all on sum' weird shi that ion got time fo'." Beez complained and stormed off to his room.

The two ignored his outburst and walked out the front door hand in hand.

This was only the start of their dangerous love story.

author note.
will be updating this a lot bc
im in love w it.