Moving Forward

Finale

Chresanto

I kicked open Ray's door, watching as he leaped up from his spot on the sofa. He smiled at me, chuckling.

"Damn," he whistled lowly. "You could've just knocked."

Remaining silent, I stalked towards him. Rage clouded my vision, washing over me. I could already feel my body getting ready for a fight, and I swung at him, catching him in the jaw.

Ray stumbled backward, his head smacking against the wall. When he began to recover from the hit, I pinned him to the wall by his shoulder then punched him again, this time hitting him in the stomach. He doubled over in pain, but I forced him back up, hitting him in the eye.

"You thought it was OK to put your fucking hands on my sister?" I screamed. I punched Ray again, smiling when his lip began to bleed. "You better think again nigga."

Ray smirked, spitting out a mouthful of blood onto the floor. "Roc, my man, I think you need to calm down," he laughed loudly, sending small droplets of blood everywhere. Ray pulled a gun out of the waistband of his jeans, pressing the cool metal against my temple.

Swallowing nervously, I released Ray from my grip. His eyes locked with mine, and I could tell that any rational thought in his head was gone.

"Sit your ass down," he commanded gesturing to his sofa with the gun. When I remained in the same spot, he repeated the command, but this time cocking the gun.

Not wanting to have a bullet lodged in my head, I complied. The second my ass made contact with his expensive sofa, he smiled.

"You know your sister deserved what she got?" He stated coldly. "She's lucky I let her off easy 'cause I love her. In fact, she's lucky a guy like me could even be attracted to a hoe like her."

My fists clenched when he called my sister a hoe, and it took all of my self-control to not punch him again.

"Besides," he said tauntingly, "you two owe me anyways."

"For what?" I asked, raising an eyebrow. "Knocking my sister up?"

Ray laughed, taking a seat on a small chair across from me. "Nah, nigga. I'm the one who got y'all that fancy little penthouse. After all, I killed your mom."

Shock washed over my body, making it impossible for me to move. My mind couldn't process the information, and I felt myself shut down. The longer I stared down the barrel of that damn gun, the more I felt my shock turn into anger. My mother, who finally took me back, died because of this prick. Feeling a surge of energy, I stood up slowly, pulling my tape recorder out of my pocket.

"What is that shit?" Ray asked, frowning.

Smiling I held it up. "Before I came here, I took my sister to the police station so she could give a statement. Turns out, you're wanted for a lot of drug dealing shit. The cops sent me here, hoping I would get some information out of you, and you're dumb, black ass just confessed to murder."

Ray stared at the tape in shock. I could practically see the thoughts running through his mind.

"Don't even try to destroy it," I smirked, opening my shirt to reveal a wire. "The cops parked outside your crib already got you on audio, and they're probably sending it back to the station as we speak."

There was a flash of fear in Ray's eyes, and I took the opportunity to tackle him, my fingers trying to pry the gun out of his hands. When I successfully grabbed the gun, I turned it back on Ray.

"Now, who's lucky?" I smirked, enjoying the fear in Ray's eyes.

I signaled the police officers outside, and they immediately arrested Ray. I nodded in satisfaction when I finally saw him in the squad car where he belonged.

Aaliyah

I traced small circles in the dirt. It's funny how I always end up at central park. Roc had told me that Ray was arrested, but that didn't make me feel any better. I felt something warm trickle down my face, and I realized I was crying. I wiped my tears with the end of my sweatshirt.

I thought everything with Ray was going so well, at least until last night. It seems that no matter how hard I try nothing seems to go right. I let out a deep sigh, digging my nails into the park bench. I guess some things weren't meant to be.

I scanned the park around me to take my mind off things when I noticed a jogger. When he saw me, he back tracked. It was only when he got closer that I realized who he was.

"Why so sad beautiful?" I heard, and instantly I knew it was Prodigy. "Don't cry. You are too beautiful to be crying."

I blushed. After all these months Prodigy still remembered how we met. He sat down next to me. "I know this really great pizza place," He offered, making me laugh. "It's right up the block."

I smiled, lacing my fingers with his. "So yes to pizza?" He asked, pulling me up from the bench.

"Yeah, Prodigy," I replied, letting him whisk me off. "Yes to pizza."