LUCIOUS & COOKIE: TUG OF WAR II (REMASTERED)

HEAVY IS THE HEAD

3 Days later...

Laylah

For as long as I can remember, I've been told that the greatest victory is that which requires no battle.

King Charming always tells me that I'm his greatest victory because I helped bring all the pieces of his life back together and made him want to change his ways.

I've never really fully understood what he means when he says that tho cuz he's perfect just the way he is to me. I can't imagine him any other way than he is now.

Sitting in front of Lola's vanity brushing my hair, my thoughts are honestly all over the place. I'm spending the weekend over here at Mal's because things have been really weird at home these past few days.

Mom's been out of town on business and daddy's been acting super strange, but I always love spending time at my big brother's anyway, so I didn't mind when Lo suggested I come over.

Of course, as the Princess of Empire I can get pretty much anything I want but I try not to take advantage of it. Besides, with my mama, I've never gotten away with being a spoiled brat anyway. She just ain't having it.

Twinkling from the night sky slunk through Lo's massive bedroom windows as I pressed play along my phone to bring the Bluetooth to life. We just finished dinner not too long ago, things were calm and quiet at first but now, the loud sounds of my niece and my brother in battle are echoing throughout the penthouse and ringing thru my ears.

"But dad, that's not fair. I don't ever really ask you for anything." Lola whined.

"You lying little girl. Lo, you've got more shoes, clothes, and jewelry than any damn fifteen year old I know of, but you don't ask for nothing tho." Jamal countered.

"Dad, half that stuff came from grandma and grandpa you know..." She began but was cut off mid-stream.

"I don't care what you say. Lo, you ain't having no damn unsupervised party in this house, you're too young! And don't think that I don't know bout that lil boy you've been texting either! Hot ass!" Jamal shouted, the rattling of the dishwasher door thrashing as it forcefully shut.

"You went through my phone!" She blurted.

"Hell yes, I pay the damn bill don't I!" He retorted, as Lola stomped into the room, slammed the door behind her then locked it.

A frustrated growl left her, "GOD!" She yelled, "He gets on my damn nerves!" She roared, flopping down onto the bed, her arms folding across her chest as she closed her eyes.

I slid the brush into the drawer, then flopped down beside her, the music filling the silent spaces between us.

Me personally, I kinda feel like Jamal's being unreasonable because Lola honestly doesn't really ask for much. Shoot her grades are impeccable, she doesn't get into any trouble so I don't see why she can't have a small party.

The rumbling of Mal's room door slamming drifted by, and I exhaled. Thank God he didn't try to follow her, cuz it would have really been fireworks then.

To say that I'm mature for my age would be an understatement, my parents have groomed me from birth to always carry myself a certain way. I've been modeling for a major company since I was two, and my brother's and I go to the best Prep school in the Northeast, thus, as my momager always says...exhibit nothing less than your best because you never know who's watching.

I reached over and gripped Lo's hand as she shook her head, agitated tears leaking from the corners of her eyes. These days, it seems as if Lola and my big brother just can't get along for nothing in the world, shoot I still remember the times when I was younger, and they were seemingly attached at the hip.