King & Kylie

Under the Influence

Kylie. Oh my god, what, what is this?

King. I know how upset you were about them tearing down the gym at your school, I been at this for weeks turning the garage into a girly gym for you!

The gym was so nice and cute. It was pink and red everywhere, pink wallpaper, red dumbbells even the treadmill was wrapped in a glittery pink paper.

He walked over to the duffle bag I seen the other day sitting in the corner and he opened it, a squat rack, a few squat racks were inside.

King. I was going to show you this yesterday after dinner

Kylie. King... I...

King. No it's fine, I'm just a drug dealer, I'm a murderer, a control freak, a horrible person, I'm everything but a good brother and that's all I was trying to be.

I felt a tear roll down my cheek; what have I done?

Kylie. I'm sorry

King. I see now, no matter what I do you'll always think the worst of me

Kylie. No

King. Please go to your party, I don't even want to look at you

He disappeared back into the house and slammed his bedroom door. Now I know I messed up...

I went to the party just because of the awkward tension in the house. It was bad. I called Jasmine and she picked me up. It was all the way on the other side of town.

Jasmine. So he actually let you out for the party! That's exciting

Kylie. No we got into another fight and he said he didn't care, I think I really messed up Jas

Jasmine. Oh that man loves you Kylie, yall just going through a rough patch, that's your brother he wouldn't abandon you like that

Kylie. After what I said tonight I don't know what to think...

Jasmine. Well I'll tell you what, once yall make up he not going to let you out the house no more so let's enjoy tonight and tomorrow we will figure it out

Kylie. You right

I turned the music up and enjoyed the rest of the ride to the block party. When we pulled up it was unlike anything I'd had ever seen. The whole community together, there was lights and food, and people dancing, I didn't even know our community threw things like this since I'm never out of the house. Just makes me wonder sometimes all of the things I've probably missed out on. Jasmine was right we should have fun tonight.

We got out the car and walked around for a bit, stopping a different food trucks to get tacos and drinks. Then we headed into the circle in the middle of the party and started dancing. I wasn't drunk but I could feel the alcohol kicking in a bit. It just felt good.

While I was dancing I felt someone put their hand on my waist. I turned around to tell the person off but I realized who it was.. it was Dashawn again.

Dashawn. Calm down it's just me

Kylie. What are you doing here?
I asked rolling my eyes.

Dashawn. What to the party I put together?

Kylie. You put this together?

Dashawn. Yeah, pretty dope right?

He said laughing.

Dashawn. I ain't mean to get you in no trouble yesterday

Kylie. What am I 12? I don't get into trouble

Dashawn. It just got pretty heated that's all I meant

Kylie. It's fine don't even worry about it

Dashawn. You want to dance?

Jasmine. She's dancing with me actually
She said butting in and putting her hand on me.

Kylie. It's okay Jas, just one dance

Jasmine. Okay

Just then Dashawn called another guy over to us.

Dashawn. This is Jasmine, Jasmine this is my brother Darius why don't y'all chop it up?

Jasmine. Hi Darius

Darius. You wanna dance?

Jasmine. Yeah sure
She said yelling over the music.

She shot me a glance and I nodded at her and she nodded back at me. Dashawn seemed harmless, and so did Darius so I think we'll be fine.

I danced with Dashawn for a while he bought me more drinks and after a while I was way past the point of being tipsy.

I almost fell into him at some point.

Dashawn. Hey you okay?

Kylie. Mmh
I mumbled.

Dashawn. You want to relax for a bit?

I just nodded. I noticed he was leading me out of the party and back to the parking lot. He opened the passengers side door and I didn't hesitate to get in. The car was spinning and my feet were killing me.

He closed the door and he got in on the drivers side. He started smoking again with the windows down and we just sat there for a while.

Dashawn. You okay?

Kylie. Yeah ...
I didn't want to talk to much I might start slurring my words.

Dashawn. You want to hit this ?

The same question he asked me yesterday except this time King wasn't here to stop me.

I've never smoked before, so when I took it out of his hands I just looked at it for a second.

Dashawn. Put it up to your lips

I did what he said.

Dashawn. Now inhale

I could feel my lungs filling with smoke. The sensation was something I couldn't even describe, that happy feeling, I smiled then I started coughing.

Dashawn. There you go
He said laughing at me and patting my back.

Dashawn. Like a real G

The car started spinning and my head felt heavy I just had to lay back for a minute. I put my head back up on the seat and closed my eyes for what felt like a second.

When I opened my eyes again I was in bed... not my bed.. sat up and looked around, my eyes low and my head still heavy.

This is not my room.