The next morning I wake up to the sound of something breaking, I jump up sliding on my pants rushing out of the bedroom into the living room seeing César and Oscar in the living room together. "What's going on?" I say crossing my arms and walking further into the living room surprised it's not full of other people. "Listen, Alyćia, before you get pissed off, the prophets were caught near the house a few of our men ran them off," Oscar says blowing out cigarette smoke looking at me. "You've gotta go home, being here isn't safe right now just lay low get some distance from us we can't take any heat from the prophets right now," César says turning to me and I can feel myself get flush, I look over to Oscar who looks at me knowingly.
I don't say anything instead I turn on my heel walking back into Spookys room grabbing my things stuffing them in my pockets and putting on my sweater and shoes. I feel warm tears roll down my cheeks and I roughly wipe them with my sleeve pulling myself together walking back through the house towards the front door. "It's done for, you just don't want me here you don't care about anyone but yourself," I yell trying not to get emotional walking out of the house letting the door close behind me walking off the porch hearing footsteps behind me. "Don't be like that Alycia," Spooky says walking out of the house behind me. "I don't wanna hear it," I say looking back at him glaring, seeing César standing in the doorway behind his brother.
"Lemme take you home then," he says and I ignore him walking out into the road. "I can handle myself." I say flipping him off walking down the block. Trying to ignore him yelling after me. "I told you this shit would happen." I can hear him yell while kicking his screen door before it abruptly slams and I continue walking down the block towards my house wiping the tears from my face.
I made it halfway down the block not paying much attention until I heard a car pulling up beside me. "Leave me the hell alone Spooky!" I yell turning to my side freezing where I'm standing. "What's up little sister fighting with your man." My brother says sitting in the passenger side of a prophet's car. "He's not my man and this has nothing to do with you," I say stepping back noticing the other guy in the car who has been following me.
"You finally realize they ain't shit." My brother says leaning his arm out of the car exposing the gun in his waistband. "Just let me go home Da'Vonte," I say pleading with my brother quickly muting and sliding my phone in the back of my waistband. "I don't have anything to do with him," I say crossing my arms over my chest, secretly wishing he'd come to the rescue. "After you've been so disrespectful, and I know you just left his place, alycia." He says losing all expression on his face. "Look I'm sorry I just wanna go home," I say hoping I could talk my talk him out of his anger.
"Why should I let you leave." He asks pushing open his door and stepping out in front of me. Knowing I was too far to run home or back to spooky's. "Get in," Da'Vonte says gesturing me into the car. I could feel the fear building in my chest. It's been 9 years since we were last around each other. I slowly get into the car, sandwiched between him and the driver.
