𝐚𝐬𝐧𝐢𝐧𝐞

IV

Aaliyah and Angel practically cut Michael off after their dispute. He didn't want anything to do with them and they didn't really care for him. They still would hang with his family but avoid him. It had been three years since that moment. Three whole years. He was now legal at the age of 19 and if he wasn't careful he would be going to the big house and Arthur or his family wouldn't be able to help him.

"He doesn't wanna change, Ms. Jackson." Aaliyah complained to Michaels mother, while they sat in a grassy meadow under a picnic blanket and an old umbrella.

"We have to make him. I'm not one to force anybody to do anything but I don't want my baby to end up in prison. He's being doing this ever since he was twelve, Li-Li. It's hard to make people change habit. But it's been too long. Way too long. He needs his friends, he's been avoiding you guys, if that wasn't obvious enough. And since he hasn't been coming to school anymore and being homeschooled, I bet you haven't even seen him since you two got into your little argument." She exhaled, sadly. "He wouldn't admit it but he misses you two dearly. You've been keeping his head slightly together, now he acts a complete fool, if he's not careful Joe is gonna kick him out... and I wouldn't be able to do anything about it."

Aaliyah felt a sense of worry come over her.

"Where would he stay?"

"Exactly."

"I'll try to talk to him but if he pushes me away don't be surprised if I call Angel and her crew to jump him." His mother gasped. "I'm kidding... kind of."

"Okay, I'm glad you agreed because I invited him over, don't be upset but he's behind you." She quickly said while excusing herself and making her way to their car.

"Ms. Katherineeee." She drawled out, mad that she set her up, she lightly glared at her car as his mother drove off leaving the two old friends both upset in the supposed to be calm meadow. Aaliyah slowly turned around to meet an unwelcoming Michael, he stood tall, his arms crossed one over another while he glared angrily down on her. She returned the look and began observing him since he'd grown in more ways then one since she had last seen him. He currently wore a black shirt and atop that a leather jacket- it was Spring time and the most we'd get was rain and light breezes- he wore black pants with a black belt with gold decor and a black bellboy hat on his afro that smushed it down. She would never admit it but she had viewed him different since these years they've been apart. In her mind he was a terrible human, he was ugly, and hated her with a passion but looking at him. He wasn't half bad..

"Take a picture it lasts longer." He smirked. She continued staring. "are we gonna finish this so I can go home?" He asked meanly, trying to come off as aggressive even though he loved being in her presence at this very moment and a slight smile was on his face to show it.

She dropped out of her trance. "Okay, first of all, if we're going to talk you need to drop the attitude. Secondly, I got tricked into this too, so don't try talking to me sideways cause I didn't expect this either. But yeah we needa talk." She thought over what she was going to say since this was very sudden and she hadn't expected to talk to him so soon. "Boy, you need to change, Jerm was right. You're absolutely terrible. How are you going to make it? Either you die from the streets or you die from a life's sentence in prison. And not jail or the jail holding room, but prison. Life isn't all fun and games y'know. I really wish that Lae was here just so she could lecture you." She laughed lightly at her last sentence thinking about all the mean things she would say to him.

He stood there listening for the first time. And I mean he listened. He didn't throw a fit or anything. Aaliyah was impressed to say the least.

"Uhm, where was I?" She had gotten distracted by his actual yearn to hear what she had to say.

"You were talking about how Lae Lae would be upset and what she would say." He mumbled trying to make it seem like he hated being there, meanwhile he loved it, he had missed them so much and he was staring at her lips the whole time through.

"Oh yeah, but you get what I'm saying right?"

"Yeah, I do. I uhm, I'm sorry for the way I acted back then.. it was hella immature, I promise I won't start selling again." He held out his pinky and she intertwined their pinky's. "Friends?" He asked, sweetly showing off a smile.

"Yeah, whatever. Your glad that your a charmer. But just know Angel is finna go crazy on you when you ask to be friends again."

"Yeah, she finna be like, 'oh no you didn't! you tryna crawl back into our lives just cause you need usss!!'" He was now sitting next to his friend and had thrown on a ratchet voice.

"She does not sound like thattt!" She laughed loudly. Which was the sweetest sound in his ears, and even while he walked to Lae Lae's place he still found himself thinking about it.

***

"You glad I don't hold grudges." Angel said, dapping Michael up after his long convincing apology and her yelling in his face.

"But you do hold grudges." He chuckled hardly.

"Oh shut up. I accepted your apology don't make me take it back." She flicked him on his forehead. "But on the real, Mike, you done selling and participating in illegal activities?"

He looked to the side, avoiding eye contact. "Yea"

"Michael. I'm not playing witchu right now, be serious."

He looked up hesitantly, gulped, and nodded. "Aight, I trust you. Don't make me regret it."

"Oh also, don't tell anyone but uh, hypo- hy- hypothetically let's say I was running from the police..."