Moving Forward

Seventeen

Ray

"Hey Ray," Prince nodded. He looked off, and I prayed he wouldn't blow this. I clenched my jaw, eyeing him closely as Aaliyah went on about how they didn't see each other anymore.

"Wait, I'm confused. How do you two know each other?" Aaliyah asked, and I immediately focused my attention back on her.

"We met at the hospital," Prince offered, and I nodded in agreement. Liyah smiled accepting our little lie, but I couldn't tell her that we really used to go out on drug deals together. Not when I was trying to win her back.

I opened the door for her, and she waved to Prince, then got in the car. I hesitated before I opened my own door. I eyed Prince, who still had a nervous expression on his face.

"Don't punk out Prince," I growled, making sure to keep my voice low enough that Liyah couldn't hear. "Or else."

I raised my hand up as if I had a gun in my hand pointing it right at Prince. "Pop," I mouthed, then I began laughing. He looked like a deer caught in headlights, but he knew I wasn't playing.

Aaliyah

"Roc, he's amazing," I said when I finished going over the details of our date. I couldn't stop smiling. Roc groaned burying his head in my pillow.

"I don't want to hear this," He muttered, and I hit him.

"He's was the perfect gentleman," I went on, a smile crossing my face when I thought about how he always remembered to pull out my chair and open the door for me.

Roc sat up making a face like he was going to be sick, but I hit him with my pillow. "You jerk," I laughed.

"I didn't ask for you to tell me about this," He reminded me.

"He's just changed soo much," I sighed, running my fingers over my lips. It was almost as if we were kissing all over again.

"No one really changes," Roc muttered, then he got up to leave.

I rolled my eyes at him, then collapsed in my bed. I let my mind wander. Ray was amazing tonight. He showed me that he really has changed. And I think I'm falling for him all over again.

Prodigy

I swallowed hard preparing myself to enter my dad's office. I glanced at my dad's name written in gold in front of his new office. "Craig Crippen, CEO of Interscope Records," I read aloud.

I took a deep breath and pushed open the glass doors. He was working at his desk. "So this is your new office," I noted, admiring the fancy corner office.

"Yeah, but it still feels like Tasha's," He muttered, not even looking up from his work. It was like he didn't even know I was there. I sat down in front of him, placing my feet on his desk. When he finally looked up, I knew I had pissed him off.

"Take your feet off my desk," He growled, eyeing them distastefully.

"Glad you finally noticed me," I smiled bitterly. I obeyed his wishes sliding my feet off his desk. "I mean it is the first time since Mom left. I'm surprised you still know my name."

"Of course I remember your name," He replied, and a look of hurt spread across his face. "But seeking my attention through vandalism. Craig, really."

My heart dropped. He was referring to my recent arrest for 'vandalism', but it wasn't the first. I'm surprised he has even heard about this one. "Attention seeking. That's really what you think this is?" I questioned, standing up. I was furious. The fact that he assumed this was about him was infuriating.

He shook his head, clicking his tongue in shame. "I thought I raised you better," He said, dismissing my comment.

"Yeah well not everything is about you dad," I muttered, then I stormed out to of the office. I didn't care where I was going, but I knew I had to get out of there. I was so blinded by rage, I walked right into some woman knocking her over.

"I'm sorry," I mumbled, softening when I saw her lying on the ground. I reached down to help her up.

"Prodigy?"