𝐓𝐡𝐞 𝐍𝐞𝐰𝐬

𝟏𝟓

"Ready when you ready," Dreezy's voice played smoothly through the speakers as Iruo and Tahj sat across from each other painting candles with more candle wax.

"You the only person who get me like this, shit crazy. I'm sitting here painting flowers," Taz laughed to himself, the only thing he'd said the whole time.

Iruo smiled a bit herself, "They swear you're crazy Tahj but you're not. You're so sweet and calm. I really don't understand your nickname." Tahj was the literal ideal good boy in her eyes. Besides the weed selling he really didn't do anything, but that's all she seen.

Tahj looked up at her and made a face, "What?"

"I'm not even finna cap I be wildin. Wouldn't call myself no saint but I'm not finna cap like what people say bout me be wrong." Iruo made a face this time, tilting her head in confusion.

"You gangbang or sum?"

"Nah Ion bang, but I'm deep into the streets. Not to the point where anywhere I go Ima have to look over my shoulder every two seconds but to the point I go everywhere with ma shit. That's another reason I don't really tell people bout you cus somebody prolly take they hate on for me on you." Iruo bit her bottom lip and nodded.

"Say sum. Please." Not liking the look on her face but it was the truth. Tahj didn't want her to think he did no wrong because that was bullshit.

"I have nothing to say."

Giving her a blank stare Tahj nodded, going back to what he was doing. Uncomfortable silence filling the room.

Tahj got tired of pretending and stopped again,staring at her, "What?"

"Talk."

"I don't like you in the streets but it's your life and I can't tell you anything but be safe. I get you don't tell people about me for a reason but it'll be nice if people did know. It could be private not a secret." Knowing exactly what she was talking bout.

Last week at school some girls kept talking to Tahj and instead of dismissing them he just didn't say anything. "You still on that? I told you I told them I gotta girl how many times I gotta say that." Not understanding why she was still stuck on that.

"When they asked who you couldn't even say my name that. Imagine how that makes me feel," growing a bit annoyed when it all replayed in her head. She was behind them the whole time, Tahj was making it seem like she was overreacting when he had hurt her feelings.

"Why do me not sayin yo name bother you? You want butches comin up to you bein messy everyday or sum? You kno what we got goin bruh," reminding himself not to get irritated because he could tell it really bothered her. It just didn't bother him.

"Ok."

"Fuck you mean ok."

"Ok means ok. Conversation over good talk." She gave him a blank smile and got up making him suck his teeth.