Streets Not Safe

3

     One thing about Manuel is he did not lie, there he was banging on Apollos bedroom door at 7 am sharp. Apollo had a time the night before. Hickeys left up his neck he had yet to see from one of his old sneaky links. He didn't even knew the extent of his hang over yet but it was gonna be a bad one. Seriaha was sleep right next to Apollo in his room- not that they did anything but more the fact they came in at 4 am after stopping at a corner store to get some chicken and some candy because Apollo always craved something sweet when he was drunk. A half smoked blunt was on his nightstand as they didn't even get to finish it before the blunt started smoking them and put them right to sleep. "Wake that ass up! It's 7:01" Manuel shouted.

  "I'm trying to fucking  sleep cuz" Syrain mumbled under his breath as he came out from his room. He was trying to catch the last amount of sleep he could get before Seriaha's dad called him, he was Syrians ride to his counselor job and if one thing everyone knew about Mr.May was he did not like to be late.

"I don't give a fuck cuz" Manuel mocked and looked at his little cousin. "Ain't you pose to be up anyway, also if I catch your scrawny ass coming near the trap me and you gonna fight. No slap boxing neither fist. I'm tired of repeating myself you hear me?" Manuel asked and Syrain just exhaled loudly wishing he stayed in my room. "I asked your ass a question"

"Yea I hear you damn" he bucked back and if Manuel wasn't busy today he would've started yoking that little boy up right there. With the last knock Apollo stumbled out of bed and opened the door.

  "I hate you" he seethed as his head was pounding and his mouth was dry.

  "Yea yea, get ready" he only responded as he walked in the room. About a 15 minute hot shower and sitting in the bathroom for 15 more minutes he was finally dressed and ready, throwing on a simple graphic tee and some shorts to match then a cap over his head. When he came back to his room sariaha was up hitting Manuel's blunt.

"It's okay cause my new man don't play bout me"

"Ian even tripping cause you finna go to a funeral for him, you always did look good in black" Manuel started back and she huffed handing him back his blunt. Apollo almost went back into his bed but as soon as Manuel seen him he got up and grabbed his keys. The two argued a few more times and Apollo used this time to smoke a blunt in Manuel's car. He didn't know if he was excited to see Osyris but he did wish that his father was here to see him get out. His father talked about Osyris like he talked about his older brother, they were definitely his favorites.  Sometimes he  thought about getting into the gang business just so he could get revenge, he hated the fact the people who killed his dad and brother both walked around- well the ones who shot at his brother were definitely in a wheel chair but that wasn't enough.  Although he did act calm  he held a lot of hate in his heart, the same hate he tried to  avoid for his siblings.

     He felt like anger was something everyone in the streets carried. Even being a byproduct of the streets, he was angry. It took so much and gave so little; what was so entertaining about maybe it all for a few people dapping you up and some respect? You either gotta kill or be killed to earn that and neither are worth it to Casmir. He didn't see what was so worth it to his brother either. He was so young and had so much potential, no kids- he could leave this town as soon as he turned 18 and never looked back.

The ride up was long, if it wasn't for his banging headache he would've asked to listen to some music, instead he kept turning it down Everytime Manuel played something. The water and Tylenol was his best friend even though they both were just mild fixes he would take what he could get. The silence allowed him to start drifting apart, that's what he really needed sleep.

"Who Seriaha new man?" Manuel asked breaking the silence. Casmir just opened his eyes and cut them over to his cousin who looked back waiting for him to tell him. He didn't have time for a insecure Manuel right now. He didn't understand why they didn't just make it official again so they didn't have to worry about this petty back and forth shit.