No Way Out

Trey- Triple Trouble

Trey had always considered himself untouchable. With charm so slick it could talk a teacher into giving him an extension and swagger that turned heads on every block, he was confident he had everything under control. He didn't see his lifestyle as disrespectful—more like strategic. Life was about options, right? And Trey had his options lined up like a well-rehearsed play. Three girls, three different corners of the hood, and none of them knew about the others.

Jasmine was his comfort zone, always soft and sweet. She worked at the local corner store, and Trey had a special place in his heart for the way she'd slip him extra change when he bought Gatorade. Jasmine made him feel safe, adored, and needed. Shayla was wild, the one who'd roll up to a fight in hoop earrings and perfectly applied lip gloss, ready to throw down or make out—depending on her mood. She kept Trey's adrenaline pumping, challenging him in a way the others didn't. And then there was Tiana. New on the block, she had that quiet, mysterious vibe, with secrets hiding behind her eyes. She was the one Trey felt he had to chase, and that chase kept him coming back.

Three girls, three different flavors. And Trey? He thought he could have it all, juggling them like an expert, so long as he kept them separate. The golden rule: Never let them meet.

It was a Friday night, and the streets were buzzing with energy. A block party was happening, the kind where the music rattled windows and the smell of barbecue lingered in the air. Trey had plans—big plans. First, he'd show up with Tiana, make her feel like she was the only one in his world. After a couple of hours, he'd slip out to Jasmine's place, give her that "I missed you" routine. Then later, Shayla would be waiting for him at the after-party, all heat and fireworks. It was foolproof.

Or so he thought.

As Trey smoothed his shirt in Malik's doorway, the smell of grilled wings wafting through the neighborhood, Malik leaned against the wall, giving him that look. Malik, still recovering from his own disastrous attempt at stardom, raised an eyebrow.

"Yo, you coming through tonight?" Malik asked, shaking his head like he already knew the answer.

Trey grinned, running a hand through his waves. "You know it. I'm pulling up with Tiana. But, you know, I'll dip after a bit. Gotta keep things movin'."

Malik chuckled, giving him a side-eye. "Man, I don't know how you do it. You're juggling all these girls, but one day? You're gonna slip up, and it's gonna be ugly."

Trey flashed that cocky smile of his. "Nah, bro. I got this. Been doing this for months." He gave Malik a wink and headed out, confidence dripping from every step.

The block party was popping. Music thumped through the streets, people danced like nobody was watching, and the whole place smelled like a mix of barbecue and possibilities. Trey arrived with Tiana, his arm firmly wrapped around her waist, making her feel like she was the center of the universe. She laughed, her eyes shining, and Trey played the part perfectly—charming, attentive, and smooth.

But as the night wore on, something caught Trey's eye that made his heart stop. Jasmine had just walked in.

She spotted him almost instantly, her face lighting up as she waved and started making her way through the crowd. Trey's stomach flipped.

"Hell no," Trey muttered under his breath. His mind raced, but he forced a smile at Tiana. "Uh, babe, I'm gonna grab us some drinks. Be right back, okay?"

Tiana smiled, oblivious. "Sure, don't be long."

Trey bolted. He darted through the crowd, ducking behind people and trying to put as much distance between him and Jasmine as possible. But in his panic, he slammed into someone—hard.

"Watch it!" a familiar voice snapped.

Trey spun around and his heart sank further. Shayla. Of course, she was here, too.

"Damn," he whispered under his breath, wiping sweat from his forehead. All three girls. In the same place.

Shayla's eyes narrowed. "Why you lookin' all jumpy, Trey? What's going on?"

Trey stammered, his usual smoothness slipping. "N-nothing, just... you know, got a lot going on."

Before Shayla could press him further, Jasmine found him. She came up behind him, her arms sliding around his waist.

"There you are! I've been looking all over for you," Jasmine said, nuzzling her cheek against his back.

Trey froze. This was bad. Really bad.

Then, as if on cue, Tiana turned around from the drink stand, her eyes narrowing as they locked onto Trey and Jasmine. Her smile vanished, replaced by confusion and hurt.

"Trey, what the hell is this?" Tiana's voice cut through the noise like a knife.

Jasmine, realizing something was wrong, pulled away from Trey and looked between him and Tiana. Her face darkened. "Who is she?"

Trey's throat went dry. He opened his mouth, but no words came out. He was paralyzed, caught between them like a deer in headlights.

Before he could stammer out an explanation, Shayla stormed over, her arms crossed and her glare deadly. "Oh, so this is what you've been up to? Messing around with these two? You really think you're that slick, huh?"

Trey was drowning. He held up his hands in a desperate attempt to calm the situation, but his usual charm had officially left the building.

"Listen, listen, it's not what it looks like—" he started, but no one was buying it.

Tiana stepped forward, her eyes blazing with anger. "Oh, really? Then explain it, Trey. What is it?"

The crowd around them had started to gather, drawn to the unfolding drama like moths to a flame. People whispered, some even laughing at the spectacle. Trey could feel his reputation crumbling right before his eyes. He had gone from king of the block to a public joke in minutes.

Shayla scoffed, her voice full of venom. "You're done, Trey." Without another word, she spun on her heel and stormed off, leaving Trey standing there, helpless.

Tiana turned to Jasmine, her disbelief palpable. "You with him, too?"

Jasmine nodded, her voice trembling with anger. "Yeah... I thought he was my boyfriend."

"Well, guess what? He's been seeing me, too," Tiana snapped, turning back to Trey with disgust. "You're pathetic."

Both girls stormed off, leaving Trey standing alone in the middle of the block party. His world had just imploded, his image shattered, and his confidence stripped bare.

As Trey trudged home that night, his phone buzzed with angry texts from all three girls. He didn't even bother looking. He had messed up—big time—and there was no talking his way out of this one.

Malik had warned him. Hell, everyone had warned him. But Trey, in his arrogance, thought he could juggle forever. Now, as he stared at his phone lighting up with the consequences of his actions, one thing was clear.

This was only the beginning of Trey's problems.