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Chapter Nine: Half Alive

KAKUYA POV

It's been two months since I was assaulted. And for once, the school decides to take sexual assault seriously. Lazarus was not only charged with felony assault, sexual assault, and making criminal threats, but was stripped from Mensa and expelled altogether. He still professed his love for me, but it's over. He was originally sentenced to a year in jail for it, but was sentenced to 15 years in prison for vehicular homicide. He got drunk, drove a suspended licence and got into a car accident which killed a single mother, her two children, and the baby growing inside her. 

I'm sad for that situation, but glad that asshole is out of my life. I'm back on track in school but still scared to tell DeVante about what happened. Spring Break is here and I'm going to Miami for some me time, ya know! I booked a hotel room for one week and plan to have FUN. Just to...put my mind at ease. 

IN MIAMI....

I was swimming in the pool, when I heard an alarm blaring. Some young dude with shades came to the pool with a bullhorn in his right hand.

Puffy: Hey everyone! Um, as much as I hate to do this to all of you beautiful people....we have to ask you all to leave the pool because we're going to be shooting a video tonight. 

An array of "Awws" were heard. I whipped my hair back and forth as I got out of the pool. An employee handed me a towel and I dried my body. I heard Dalvin yelling for me.

Dalvin: K.O.!!! AY! OVER HERE, BABY!!!

I looked and walked over to him. 

Me: What video are ya'll shooting?

Dalvin: A remix of "Come & Talk to Me." You wanna be in it?

Me: I'm a lady, not a video girl. 

Dalvin: I heard what happened, and DeVante did too.

My eyes went wide and I gasped loudly. What?

Me: Who told you? 

Dalvin: Your girl, Sienna. He's fuming mad at the situation, but even more mad that you didn't pick up the phone and tell him. Or me. Why would you hide something like that? We're practically family, baby.

Me: I did it to protect you guys. 

Dalvin: Look, I know you had to be scared, but you---

He was cut off by DeVante walking up to us. I looked at him in embarrassment.

Dalvin: Look sis, I gotta go get some rest, ya'll talk about this alone. Holla back.

I couldn't even get any words out.

DeVante: You wanna tell me what's going on?

I swallowed hard.  He sighed.

DeVante: Let's take a walk.

Me: No, I'm good right here.

He sighed and took my hand. I tried to pull away, but his grip was too strong.

Me: I'mma tell you just like I told Dalvin, I didn't tell you because what would happen if I did? You'd do something COMPLETELY stupid! Then what would become of Jodeci?

DeVante: You know I would kill for you! Hell, I'd die for you! That shit killed me  knowing I failed you and I couldn't do nothin' to protect my best friend. It makes me crazy knowing that my best friend is being mistreated by some bottom shelf ass mofo. I'm getting tired of having to play Captain Save a Victim for you from these lame ass niggas. I'm also tired of you underestimating my loyalty to you. 

I looked back in disbelief. 

Me: What? I've NEVER, EVER questioned your loyalty to me. I know what it is. This is why I'm uncomfortable telling you shit because you fly off the handle ALL THE TIME!!! It's fucking embarrassing. 

DeVante: You're mad at me for being loyal?

Me: I'm mad because you aren't seeing things from my point of view. I'm trying to put that behind me and by you bringing this up it defeats the purpose! And when in the fuck did I ask you to save me from any relationships? Are you smoking angel dust in Hollywood? 

DeVante: Look, all I'm saying is that I feel for your situation, I would have liked for you to have told me. You know what, it seems like we've grown apart ever since you went away to college. 

Me: Ya think? If anything, we're growing apart because of this new persona of yours! I don't know what happened to Donald, but this DeVante is a real asshole who needs to be knocked off his high horse. I don't know DeVante Swing, don't wanna hear about DeVante Swing, and I really don't want to be given the third degree by a motherfucker who's forgotten his roots. 

DeVante: You better dial it the fuck back talking to me like that! You know who the fuck I am?

Me: I know who you were. 

He smacked his lips and hissed at me. 

DeVante: If anybody's forgotten their roots, it's your jungle fever having ass!!! You so busy being down with the swirl that your damaged ass wouldn't know a real nigga if he was in front of you! 

I was hurt. How dare he try to flip this back on me. I wasn't about to let him get the better of me.

Me: I'm not about to go back and forth with you on this, so you know what? DeVante Swing, you better forget about me. When DeVante Swing is done being an ass, then Donald DeGrate can talk to me when he's serious. 

He pulled me back forcefully and it made me scared.

Me: Damnit...you're hurting me! Let go!

DeVante: Don't you ever fucking talk to me like that again! I don't care how long we go back, I'll break every fucking bone in your body.

Me: I never want to see you again!

DeVante: I don't give a fuck, I don't need ya bottom shelf ass either, bitch!!! You remember that.

By this time, Puffy, K-Ci, JoJo, Dalvin, and the rest of the Uptown artists had seen what went down and came to break up the beef.

K-Ci: D, Let go of her man...you gon' get us in trouble. 

I walked back to my hotel room and didn't look back. I just lost my best friend over a petty argument....maybe it's for the best.  I refuse to be disrespected by ANYONE. I don't care if that person is famous. I'm not about to be mistreated by people who think because they got lucky they can treat me like shit. If this is DeVante's definition of friendship, I don't want it. If you don't want to be a respectful friend to me, then don't be my friend at all.