Attractions: Book 2

4

Ja trudged into his house after a long workout, seeing Brooklyn seated on his couch.

Nothing was said as he stared at one of his best friends and she stared back. Her arms were crossed and the gentle remnants of a smile decorated her features. She looked the exact same, Ja thought.

When she stood up, Ja smirked realizing that it was real. Brooklyn, whom he hadn't seen in over half a year, was in his house. He'd missed her so much that he wouldn't bother asking her how she'd remembered the code to get into the front door.

"Why the hell did I see pictures of you in a bar with D-Tap online?"

The point guard chuckled. "Why the hell is you in my damn house?"

Brooklyn shook her head, wrapping her arms around his neck. Irregardless of how everything happened, she loved Ja and Malia to death and needed to make sure they were okay.

"Fuck, man." Ja mumbled, feeling like a sister had returned from the dead. "I missed you, Harlem. You dipped."

She grew emotional, giving him a light squeeze. "I'm sorry."

"Don't be sorry, nigga. Be present." He told her, resting his chin on her head. "What bring you back?"

"Well..." Brooklyn pulled back, keeping her hands rested on his shoulders. "I had a weird dream. About Malia. Then, I saw the pictures of you online in a bar. Then, since Malia put me down as an emergency contact, I got a call from the school saying that they hoped she'd be able to return soon. So... I figured that all those things... did not mean anything good."

Brooklyn's dream about Malia has her spooked enough but she felt like it was just her being paranoid. Then, the very next morning she got online only to see pictures of Ja in a bar. The man hardly drank anymore so then she considered booking a flight. While looking at flights, Brooklyn got a call from the high school Malia worked at.

So she took a red eye to Memphis to figure things out.

"Ja, you'on keep food in here no more?" He heard a familiar voice say. "Don't tell me you ain't eating like you used to."

Desmond rounded the corner with a cup of Kaari's yogurt in hand. Ja chuckled, slowly releasing Brooklyn. She rubbed the guards back with a smile as the two former teammates greeted one another.

"Damn, Des." Ja said, dapping him up. "What's good, baby?"

Desmond shrugged. "Nothin'. Brook was worried and I knew shit wasn't good."

"How you knew?" Ja asked.

"Cause of me." Trip walked into the room. "You need food in this house. Ain't shit to eat in here except yogurt and a frozen bag of chicken nuggets."

Ja took a seat on the couch. "All yall muh' fucka's in my house talkin' shit. What's wit' the reunion?"

"Where's Malia?" Brook asked. "I don't know where her new apartment is."

"Malia ain't doin' good." Ja explained. "You know them antidepressants they had her on?"

Brooklyn ran her fingers through her hair in angst, not wanting to hear the rest. She felt bad knowing that Malia was headed down a path she never intended to go on. And here Brook was in Milwaukee, trying to start on her life.

Everyone carried demons from that fire.

Desmond pushed the door open to Malia's father's door, dodging ashes and fire and shielding Brooklyn from it as well.

"Where you at, Dave?" Desmond mumbled, dry coughs from Brooklyn urging him along. "Dave!"

Desmond could tell this is where the fire started seeing as the walls were blackened and the thick black smoke was thicker in here. The entirety of the room was on fire but Desmond had to try. Something important to Malia was something important to him.