Coulda been

Devon

Friday nights were my favourite,even though it was only my bedroom where I was going.
My momma had been staring thoughtfully at me all day,even going as far as inspecting the scrapes and bruises from scratching myself too hard and mumbling a few things to herself before going to stand by the window,looking at the driveway.
"Mel?" My baby sister tugged at my shirt,looking up at me sadly and I tried giving her one of my best smiles,"Savannah,quit looking at me like that. I'm fine okay?nothing's wrong with me." I lied, hiking her up my hip and heading over to the couch with her.
"Can we watch Encanto?" I just nodded,searching for the movie on Disney+
While we sat there,I got a text from Devon,a pretty cool guy I'd just met in January this year.
Von: Mel.
Are you up?
Not even my granma sleeps at this time Devon.
Von: you've just been sleeping a lot lately,I'd swear you were on drugs if I didn't know you.
Pshh,stfu. So wassup?
Von:I'm finna go hangout with the homies- and I want you to come.
I'd come, but y'all are finna be drinking and you know Ion do that
Von:okay get dressed,I'm coming to get you.

I stared wide eyed at my phone,who the hell did this nigga think he was demanding shit like that?
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"Sav?Sav baby get up,the movie is over" I shook her lightly and she rolled over,"baby get up I gotta go." She mumbled then made grabby-hands and I happily complied,carrying her up to her bedroom and tucking her in. I reached for the switch by the door,and what Savannah said next almost had me falling on my knees,"Mel- I need you. Daddy can't tuck me in like you do,and he doesn't kiss me goodnight...so don't die."
My heart was floating in my stomach as I got dressed,pulling the hoodie over my head and wiping the tears from my eyes, I'm okay, Savannah's fine- no one's dying.
"Mama! I need to see the doctor tomorrow...but don't come in here,I cut my skin again."
She gave a hum of approval and a minute later a plate of pizza was shoved under my door,"I added hot sauce...don't forget to apply that balm I bought you to your cuts" she reminded,rustling about and finally,silence.
My phone buzzed and I heard a knock on my window. I pulled them wide open and Devon stood there in flesh.
"Come on, hurry."
I rushed to get my money and my phone,then stepped out on the window seal and reached for Devon's hand. He held me steady while I stuffed a tissue between the door and the lock so I wouldn't be locked out,then we descended the wall. When we finally got to the floor,I got on my knees with my eyes closed to calm the storm inside me.
He stood patiently beside me and when I was finally fine,he draped his arm over my shoulder and we walked in the dark,all the way to the street behind my house to find a red Range Rover parked there playing loud music.
"The Vooooooonn! This the shawty?" I nodded,bringing my hand out for a handshake and I was surprised when the guys all stepped up to hug me,each one of them respecting boundaries with their hands remaining only around my waist then letting go.
"Tehe-ha hi? I'm Mel" I waved awkwardly,getting excited waves back.
Frost was the tall guy with blue hair,Tangerine the one with orange hair and Mist was also a little about 6ft,with markings all over his skin which I later found out to be virtiligo.
Everest was about my height,which was uncomfortably short when you were surrounded by so many tall people and unsurprisingly,he had green hair. They were probably called the rainbow gang.
Two lavender heads popped up outta the shadows and I knew my nerves were shot when I felt my blood leave my body,and I stepped behind Devon,clutching his jacket in my hand.
"I'm shadow,and this is midnight." The one with tattoos crawling up his neck introduced,reaching out to shake my hand and Frost smacked the back of his head and he groaned.
"I thought we told you stop doing that. It's uncomfortable enough being the only girl here,now you're just poppin out of the shadows?"
"Sorry Melanie" the twins both hissed in unison and turned accusing stares to Frost.
"It's okay...so where are we going?"
                   

The place was pretty neat, just a cafe in the city where these kids were somehow allowed to smoke weed and drink lean without any accusations.
"Here,rinse your cup out so I can pour you some soda," Midnight had been pretty nice all night,going as far as making me rinse my cup out if I'd been looking away from it for more than a second.
"It's okay,I trust yall." He grinned at that,throwing peace signs at me before he went back to dancing.
"Want some?" Everest being the short one,was also bound to be the mischievous one and it'd taken less than 30 minutes into the drive before he started offering me weed and all kinds of other drugs they were taking.
"No thanks...I'm good. Where's Devon?" I tried to move away from him and I think he noticed because he started packing his shit up,hurriedly stuffing it in his pockets and looking around to see if Frost saw him- I think he was the eldest,and most responsible one.
"Come on I'll take you to him" Tangerine piped in,waiting for me to take his hand before he led me over to the stage where I found Devon typing something onto the screen on the top left corner of our booth." Your baby's been looking for you"he announced before grinning and walking away.
"Are you having fun?" That was the first thing he asked me and when I grinned and nodded,he let out an "oh hells jeah!"
"Everest's been tryna offer me some of that white stuff"I mumbled and his posture changed,his muscles were stiff as he scanned all their faces,and hardened his stare when his eyes met Everest's.

"Wanna do a song wimme?" He said after a while of pressing up on the screens and handing a mic to me.
Shawty a lil baddie
"Aww ye ye ye this our jam!!!"
"I don't -i can't..."
"Aww C'mon Mel live a little"
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I laughed as we powered through atleast 5 songs together,and I was left a laughing mess at the end.
I followed Devon out to the back and sat there texting Kyrie while he hit his last blunt for the night.
"Damn,I ain't known you could sing like that!why ain't you told me?" He asked and I giggled,looking at my phone before grinning up at him,"you didn't ask tehe."
"Wanna finish this off?it's pure indica I swear" I didn't even know what indica was,but since I'd already pushed so many limits tonight,what was one more rule broken?
My lungs burned as I inhaled,and I struggled to keep my coughing to a minimum.
I took about 3 looong puffs before I gave up and handed it back to him.
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I was beyond exhausted when I got home that day,and when Devon left,he'd made sure to spray perfume around my room,and take the clothes I'd been wearing over to his house to wash them.
"Don't get out of your room if you wake up tomorrow and still feel hazy okay? Goodnight Mel" he whispered,leaving my window cracked open for the smell to air out.
I hadn't slept that well in years.