Streets

28. Returning to the Beginning

Broken and confused, lost and misused. The sweet sound of a baby boy gone from a mother who yearned for his warmth in her arms. A parent should never bury their children.

Grove and Hamilton Funeral Home
10am

Nothing was more heart wrenching than seeing a baby casket. Luther was outside smoking a cigarette and taking in the last two days, mostly the whole week. Business was getting ready, money was flowing as about as much that can be expected. His girls are scared to leave the hotel, and the ones who have are scared to leave the sanctuaries they have found. Only two girls have kept working but they keep the clients in the city. Now here he is, at a child's funeral and it was Monica's son, the police wanna act oblivious to the situation but Luther knew the truth. A car pulled up and his brother stepped out in a black suit, walking up to Luther he could tell he was lacking sleep and trying to hide the fact that he was completely stressed out. "How is she?" He asked and Luther exhaled, the smoke leaving his mouth as he put out the cigarette, "About as good as a mother can be that just lost their baby boy." They both walked into the funeral home.
Lea and Tyra were keeping an eye on Monica who refused to walk away from the open casket. Both didn't know what it felt like to lose a child and they never wanted to feel that pain, "Such a small funeral." Tyra said and Lea nodded, "You know how Monica is, she doesn't want fake people with negative energy here and that's most of the people we know. But pause on that for a second, wassup with you and Benny?" Tyra sighed, "I don't even know, I mean he broke things off even after I told him I'm pregnant." Lea looked at Tyra in shock, "Girl you're pregnant?!" Tyra shushed her and pulled her in a more secluded area, "Yes okay, and I don't want people to know just yet." Lea shook her head, "Girl, if you're pregnant and sure it's Benny's then why are you cool with him dating the hottest up and coming pop star?" Tyra looked at her confused, "What are you talking about?" Lea pulled out her phone and opened up Instagram and showed Tyra pictures of Benny and Clover, most of them were selfies taken by Benny or Clover and a few were someone taking pictures of them kissing. Tyra was boiling and as much as she wanted to be there for her friend, she needed Benny to be a her come up so she stormed out and Lea watched in confusion as she left out the door and then Luther walked in with Lucious.
Luther walked in and straight to Monica who was standing looking at her son in his casket, she hadn't moved since they got there. Lucious however stood at the doorway watching from a distance and next to him was Lea, "I didn't know you knew them." He said and she crossed her arms, "Monica is my bestie, now maybe you can explain to me why you've been blowing up my phone." Lucious grabbed her arm and pulled her closer to the front door, "Why haven't you been answering my calls?" She rolled her eyes, ever since they began fooling around things have gotten complicated, "Because, despite how sexy I think you are, you're still fucking on my mom." He sighed, "Baby, what me and your mom got going on is strictly business you know that. I care about you." He caressed her face and she looked up at him, "I want you and I deserve you and if you keep doing what you doing with my mom then you gonna lose me. I ain't about to be sleeping with my step dad if that's what you had planned." He scoffed, "I ain't gonna marry your mother you must be crazy." She interjected, "Nah you must be crazy. Fix it or lose all of this." She walked away from him as he looked her up and down. He couldn't dismiss his feelings for her nor could he end the relationship he has going with her mother, although it is business, money is money in his mind.

Little Hollywood
A small area filled with casinos, day clubs and night clubs aka Rich City
12pm at Kurtlin Studios

Clover was on stage in the empty club, mostly promoters and managers were scrambling around, people who worked for the club were cleaning and decorating for the show that night. Clover was performing and Benny was her opener, it was a night that was gonna showcase Benny as a performer and really get his music out. As she was working with her choreographer Benny was backstage talking with his new potential manager when Samuel walked up, "You excited?" Benny nodded, "Hell yea, this is the start of something big. Not to mention I get to see my baby perform live." Samuel smiled, if he could get his daughter and Benny together that was more money in his pocket, "I'm glad y'all have gotten so close. She needs someone who has your ambition. I'll be watching out there tonight and I also have you set up for a manager meeting tomorrow." Benny was confused, usually Marcus was his go to for managerial situations but after the conversation they had with Darnell, Marcus decided to help the gang out for a little bit and hooked Benny up with someone trustworthy, "No need, I think I already found a manager." Samuel dismissed what he said, "The meeting is at 3pm and this manager will get you where you need to be. Trust me." Benny could clearly see there was no room for arguing so he just shook his head and agreed.
Clover finished her dry run with her practice and headed out, she needed to relax a bit before tonight's performance. She made it back to her hotel room and found her sister there, she seemed a little depressed, "You okay sis?" Clover asked and Gigi looked up and quickly came back to reality, "Yea I'm fine just, lost in thought I guess." Clover knew better, "You're thinking about Tran aren't you." Gigi couldn't help but remember the good times she shared with Tran, both of them being wild flames, "It sickens me. Why I just can't....I can't get over him or the fact that had it not been for dad I would still have him." Clover laid on the bed and let go of a breath she didn't realize she was holding. "Benny is sooooo.....unique, he really is and I enjoy being around him but I know dad is pushing us to be together and because of that it doesn't feel authentic." Gigi looked at her sister, she was so proud of her but she knew how easy it was for Clover to get swept under the chaos their father had going on. It made things worse that Clover is suppressing everything their father did to both of them, "Don't let dad be the reason you settle for someone you don't really want to be with. Even if it is good publicity. I can tell how you feel about that fellow, what's his name?" Clover blushed all over thinking about him, "Marcus. I don't know he's like my best friend, I've only known him a short while but it feels like I've known him forever." Gigi was a bit jealous, she had known that feeling before and she desperately wanted it back. However if their father continued doing business with Tran there was no way they could be together.