Going Under

Chapter 5

3 years later... (at graduation)

"Fix ya cap." Danna adjusted Mahogany's cap.

"Graduation is over." Mahogany smirked still holding on to her high school Diploma.

This was a bittersweet moment for Mahogany. The man that she had grew so acquainted with wasn't there to witness such a joyous occasion. In her heart she knew that her uncle Kent was there spiritually. He was the closest thing to a father that Danna and Mahogany ever knew. Most men aren't good with raising females but it came naturally to Kent.

The police never caught his killer. Most of the hood speculated that it was the man who was hitting on Mahogany and got did in by uncle Kent. There was little to no evidence that he did it.

"I'm tryna get some more pictures." Danna stepped back and held up her phone to snap a picture.

"Let me get a few more." Aunty Ann held up her camera too. "Gegee go stand beside Mahogany."

Gegee smiled eagerly and handed her bag of chips to Danna.

"I'm putting these on Facebook." Gegee cheesed next to her big cousin. "I'm ready to graduate now."

"You a long way from that, Gegee." Danna stuffed her phone in her pocket.

"It will be here before you know it." Aunty Ann assured Gegee, who was now eleven.

"It ain't coming fast enough." Gegee grabbed her chips from her sister.

Danna wasn't graduating with her class. She wasn't graduating at all. She had given up on school. Right after her step dad died she got worse. Aunty Ann did everything in her power to keep her out of trouble but it was useless. Danna spent majority of her time in youth detention centers or girl group homes.

Mahogany didn't know why she did the things she did, well some of them. Somethings Danna just did for fun. The other things on the count of her mother needing financial help. She tried the job hunting thing but Danna just wasn't a people's person.

Mahogany looked off into the distance and noticed Nachelle nearing them with her son on her hip.

Like always Nachelle was drenched in designer and so was her baby, Quinton. Unlike any other time she looked stressed and tired.

"Hey y'all." Nachelle shifted her baby. She was wearing a grey tank top dress with thug life in black letters. Her long Brazilian weave flowed down her back.

"Hey, Nachelle." Aunty Ann reached out for 8 month old Quinton who was smiling and drooling.

"Hey Aunty." Nachelle said dryly.

"What in hell is yo problem?" Danna looked Nachelle over.

"Leave me the fuck alone ni. I ain't got time for you today." Nachelle snapped.

They never really could stand each other. Over the years they had gotten worse. Nachelle didn't graduate because of her pregnancy situation. After Aunt Regina found out she was pregnant she put her out and to make things worse she found out who her daughter was pregnant by. She threatened to press charges but by the time everything hit the fan it was too late. Nachelle was eighteen.

She was back and forth from Puncho to Aunty Ann's house.

"Bitch I was just asking you what was yo problem. Comin' here all salty and shit."

"I know Aunty Ann taught you to speak when spoken to. I didn't say shit to yo ugly ass." Nachelle smirked and crossed her arms across her chest.

Mahogany noticed a pudge in her stomach. She couldn't be pregnant again.

"Now y'all stop that mess right now. Y'all act like some of these hoes in the streets. Y'all are blood. Stop it." Aunty Ann protested still holding Quinton.

"I'm good Aunty." Nachelle took Quinton from her arms. "Congratulations Mahogany." She handed her a card and gift bag. I'm finna go. I got business to take care of."

"Thank you." Mahogany smiled and took the bag from her hand.

"Dumb broad," Danna mumbled.

"Stop!" Aunty Ann hit Danna in the chest with the back of her hand. "Alright hun, we're going to Outback when we leave. You're more than welcomed to come."

"Naw I'm good." She waved them off and proceeded to walk away.

As she walked off Taj approached them holding balloons and a gift bag.

"Sorry I'm late. I had some important business to handle." He handed Mahogany her gift. "Congratulations, Mahogany." He hugged her.

"Thank you, Taj. Better late than never." She pulled back from the hug.

They had become real close. He enjoyed having her in his presence. They were no more than friends.

"I know you right but I had to slide through to show you some love."

"Can we go yet?" Gegee asked fanning nats from her face.

"Forreal. It's hotter than two fat chicks in a van." Danna wiped sweat from her forehead.

"Shut up fool." Aunty Ann adjusted her sun dress. "Keep calm, we finna go."

"Ok you playin'. Everybody getting left." Danna jingles the keys in her hand.

"Yeah yeen crazy." aunty Ann disregarded her child's blesphamy.

"I'm about to get outta here. It is hot." Taj said moving out of the way for graduates and there family to get by them.

"We're about to go out to celebrate. You coming?" Mahogany looked up at Taj.

After Kent was killed Ann didn't have any more functions in the housing complex. She would rather just take them out to celebrate.

"Yeah I'll be there big head." He patted her shoulder and headed towards his car.

Just when Mahogany turned to walk away a clean cut man wearing a black tuxedo, holding a bouquet of white roses and a gift wrapped box, touched her shoulder.

"Here you go ma'am." He held the items out for her to take them.

"Who are these from?" Mahogany asked, taking the bouquet and gift from his hand.

"And Congratulations." He said before walking off.

"Secret admirer?" Aunty Ann furrowed her eyebrows.

"Who crushin' on you?" Gegee added.

"Grown folk business." Mahogany smirked and grabbed for the card buried in the flowers. Danna was quicker. She quickly flipped the card open.

Danna eyes widened and handed it back to Mahogany. Mahogany was on the edge. She wanted to know more than anybody who it was from.

"Secret admirer, I've been watchin' you..." Danna sung horribly.

"Shut up." She snatched the card from her hot mess cousin and flipped it open.

"Who's it from?" Aunty Ann and Gegee asked in unison.

Mahogany closed the card quicker than a lightening flash. PUNCHO was written in huge letters.

"Nobody!" Mahogany shoved the card into her bag.

She scanned the parking lot because she just knew that Puncho was around. She couldn't believe her cousin's man was sending her flowers. It was believable that he was sending flowers but not sending them to her.

Mahogany's baby fat had fallen to all of the right places. She was no longer chunky. Maybe that's why he had taken interest. He was completely off limits. For one he had a baby by her first cousin not third removed.

Another reason he was out of her age bracket. She was eighteen while he was twenty-six.

Maybe it was just a friendly gesture. She thought to herself. Looking around she spotted him leaning on his brand spankin new Porsche beside his homeboy Kut. He smiled and waved. They made their way to the car.

Mahogany sucked her teeth and smirked. He was out of his rabbit ass mind.