𝙳𝚘𝚕𝚕𝚑𝚘𝚞𝚜𝚎| 𝙼𝚒𝚌𝚑𝚊𝚎𝚕 𝙹𝚊𝚌𝚔𝚜𝚘𝚗 𝙵𝚊𝚗𝚏𝚒𝚌𝚝𝚒𝚘𝚗

𝙲𝚑𝚊𝚙𝚝𝚎𝚛 𝟺

"Places places get in your places, throw on your dress and put on your doll faces."

***

Michael

I practically dragged Zuri out of her house so she didn't go back and beat her mom up some more. When he were a good distance away I let her a lightly slapped her hand.

"Girl are you stupid?" I scolded her like a parent would.

"Shut up talking to me Michael."

"I'm serious Zuri!" I yelled. "What if you actually hurt her? Like that's your mother for goodness sake!"

"I said shut up!" She yelled back. "You don't know what happened therefore you have no space to fucking talk."

"I'm just say-." I started but she cut me off.

"I don't care. Can we change the subject? I don't wanna talk about that anymore." She said while walking foreword.

I rolled my eyes and followed her. "Fine."

We walked for a while in a comfortable silence until we got to a playground. We walked up to it and sat on one of the swings, still not talking.

"I'm sorry." Zuri said, breaking the silence. "For snapping at you."

I looked down and continued swinging. "It's okay. I should've stayed out of your business."

"No it's okay. It shows that you care." She smiled lightly. "Not many people actually care about me."

I grabbed her hand and intertwined our fingers together. "Of course I care about you, we're best friends."

***

We talked at the park for a while before eventually I had to go home before Joseph would get mad.

"I hope we don't fight again." Zuri said shyly.

I smiled. "We won't."

We said our goodbyes and went our separate ways. When I got to my house, I was instantly greeted by my parents' yelling.

"What are they fighting about?" I whispered to my younger brother, Randy.

He shrugged, eyes staring at nothing in particular. "I don't know. Mother just started yelling at Joseph for no reason."

"Why you out here entertaining other women, huh?" Mother yelled. "Despite the fact that your ass is married."

"Katherine please, I'm sorry." Joseph pleaded which made Mother laugh cynically.

"You're sorry? You're sorry?" She asked but it wasn't really a question. "You're only saying that cause your ass got caught! You don't mean that shit!"

"Katherine I won't do it again-"

"You said that last time but look where we are." She said. "Matter a fact? I'm tired, pack your stuff and get out."

"Excuse me?" Joseph asked.

"You heard me. Get the fuck out my house."