Check out my other book The Coins Gamble, it's another August Alsina story so you'll like it.
Enjoy.
——— January 17th, 2024. Unedited.
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Miami, Florida.
"And... that's a bad thing?" Ares and Jabari asked in unison, tilting their heads at Phoenix who was rummaging through her locker.
"Yes! An 89? She could've just rounded that up and given me my A, I could've gotten that last 100 on my report card but noooo." Phe scoffed, sucking her teeth as she slammed her locker shut, tightening her ponytail before adjusting her leggings. "Onyx is gonna flip."
The kids were heading to their last period before lunch, gym. They all had the same teacher and was in the same group as well.
"You cryin' over an 89 when I got a whole 6 in U.S. History." Ares muttered shaking his head. "Amon gon' whoop my ass."
"At least you back in school." Jabari said, "You could've stayed out and decided to do nothing with your life."
"It just takes some time, that's all. Baby steps." Phe added.
"Yeah, baby steps." Bari agreed.
They both nodded at him, giving him closed mouths smiles which made him crack one. "Shut up, man." He chuckled and shook his head, all of them starting to walk down the hallway. "But yeah, I agree. I get impatient and overreact when shit doesn't happen right that second or overnight."
Phoenix raised her eyebrows and looked at Jabari who matched her facial expression, they looked back at Ares, staring at the side of his face.
"That's my biggest problem and then I have the nerve to get angry when it's either not that deep or it's just the consequences of my actions, so." He shrugged, poking his cheek with his tongue. "Mo gon' tweak off this report card but it's my own fault."
"Look at you maturing." Phe giggled, trying to lighten the mood.
"Shit, thank Jabari for allat, if it wasn't for him I wouldn't have become as laid back as I am now." Reese snickered.
The more time they spent together, the more Jabari showed Ares how to get through life without being mad at the world 24/7. Once Ares realized that being angry all the time drained him, he knew it was time to make a change.
He still didn't fuck with the idea of talking to a therapist or anyone in his business. So, a few days out of the week, he did different exercises with one of the people he trusted the most, Jabari.
Sometimes Phoenix would join their sessions to help out but Jabari noticed how emotionally attached Ares was to her. His emotions would heighten and become slightly unstable.
