ALL MINE 2

nineteen

[enjoy beautiful people! 🩷]

Diane observed Solana, who was sitting adjacent to her. She wore a calm expression but was fidgeting with her manicured fingers. Judging from her exercise attire, she'd just finished working out.

"I'm not here to heckle you. All I want is to have a nice conversation with you." Diane raised her hands and added, "That's all. Are you okay with that?"

Solana only nodded. She knew Diane would want to discuss her alleged involvement with Izaak and his brothers. Instead of pleading her case, she just sat there quietly, waiting for Diane to make the next move.

"You're here to talk to me about the Baptiste brothers? Obie...Izaak...the rest?"

"I sure am," Diane answered with a nod. She adjusted her glasses before crossing her legs. "You know, Solana. This is a lot to digest."

"I don't know those men," Solana stated with an unreadable expression.

Diane spread her hands out, wanting to understand Solana. "But there is evidence."

"That evidence is faulty," Solana stated sternly, yet her tone showed some respect. She took a deep breath before adding, "I know that Dominick probably showed you a video of me running out of a building with one of the brothers—Izaak."

"He did." Diane nodded with curiosity while observing the young woman. "I want you to tell me everything. This is your time and your opportunity to be transparent with me."

This is what Solana wanted. She wanted the opportunity to explain her side of the story. Grant allowed her to do so, but Dominick felt she was lying and didn't need to explain anything. In his mind, she was guilty. He was too difficult to deal with.

"I met Izaak at a restaurant he owns with his brothers. It's a soul food restaurant nearby—it's close to the school." Solana began as she glanced at the ceiling, trying to remember everything. "And then...we met at the coffee shop—here at Winston. We exchanged numbers—no, I was told to save my number in his phone. I did, and he mentioned a party.  I found out it was Lucas's party—he's a senior. Fast-forward to the party, A line of men march inside the dormitory—they're Izaak and his brothers. Seeing grown men there was a little weird, but I waved it off. So, the party continued, and Izaak noticed my friend Trinity and me. We were making drinks. He wanted to talk outside because of the music, so I went outside with him for a while. We talked...got acquainted. As soon as we tried walking into the dormitory, we heard the shots, and I didn't get a chance to process what was happening because he snatched me away from the door frame."

Diane didn't speak because she was too busy thinking with her hand underneath her chin. Solana had her testimony put together and there weren't many holes in it. However, Diane wanted to know more about Solana's relationship with Izaak. She also wanted to know her whereabouts during the time Grant was shot.

"That's it...that's all." Solana continued with a shrug.

"Did you continue to see Izaak after the shooting?"

Solana looked off as soon as the question slipped past Diane's lips. She sighed silently but didn't try to lie. The young woman nodded hesitantly as she crossed her legs.

"We hung out...once." Solana made sure she emphasized the word once. She wanted Diane to understand that her relationship with Izaak was fuzzy. There was really nothing to tell. "I vowed to leave him alone and never hang with him again—"

"Wait...why?" Diane asked nosily with her interjection. "What did he do?"

"He tried to sleep with me and then...when I turned him down." Solana stated as she fidgeted with her fingers. "He grew upset. I knew I didn't want to deal with anyone like him, so I ghosted him, and he started texting me nonstop."