The Hood Don't Love You

Chapter 25

Nicole Thompson|Turtle

It's been a few weeks since KJ has first been put in the hospital and may I say, it has been a tough week. With the death of Jaylen and Jhalani's mother, I have been allowing them to stay with me. JJ and BJ have been working nonstop on a plan to get rid of Mr.Banks and the others. Alayah found a new job, up under new management for her own personal safety and Jamerica has been very low key lately, which BJ has not been helping considering he is always gone with JJ.

Everything is hectic, but aside from all of this, the good news is that KJ gets released from the hospital today. Jamerica and I plan on going to pick him up soon, but right now, I'm sitting down with Jhalani, helping him with multiplying.

"So, if you do three times two, you have three groups. If you put two dots in each group, how many dots does it equal?", I asked him. He drew out a diagram of three big circles and drew two smaller circles in each, counting them up.

"Um, six!", he called out. I nodded and clapped, smiling at him for how quick he caught on.

"Good job.", I stated. He smiled back at me and continued to do the rest of his homework.

"Aye, I'm out Nicole.", Jaylen called from the living room. I got up from the bar stool and walked into the living room.

"Where, you going?", I questioned him. He seems to just up and leave whenever he feels like it, and I know that's not safe, especially with him working in the streets.

"I told Marie I was goin' to hang with her today and I have work later on tonight.", he stated. I shook my head.

"Be careful Jaylen." He nodded.

"Awe, you worried about your little bro?", he asked while making a puppy dog face. I did a sarcastic laugh and then went into a straight face. He laughed it off and then pulled me into a hug.

"Don't worry, I'll be safe Nicole.", he said. I nodded and hugged him a little tighter before letting him go.

Most people in my position would have tried to put restrictions and limitations on what he do, but Jaylen is sixteen. After living one lifestyle for so long, you can't just up and say fuck it just because your surroundings change. I can't tell him what to do because I am not his mother and since he works for BJ, I know he's in good hands for the most part.

"I finished Nikky.", Jhalani called out. I walked back over to the bar counter and checked his answers, which he got every single one right.

"Great Lani. High five.", I stated while giving him a high five.

"I have to go get King, and then you want to take him for ice cream since he'll be just getting out the hospital?", I asked him. He nodded.

"Go get dressed and then we can go", He quickly ran down the hall to his room to get dressed. JJ had brought all of their things here after we got situated from the incident, so they have everything they need here.

I was already fairly dressed in a cream colored sweater, some light blue jeans, and a gold rolex sittng on my wrist. I headed upstairs and decided on my maroon Pumas, snapping my gold anklet around my right ankle. I brushed my new sew-in from the ponytail it was sitting in and applied some maroon lipstick. Grabbing my black MK purse from the nightstand and my phone, I headed downstairs where Lani was waiting.

He had put on some jeans, which he had rolled a little at the bottom, his vibrant orange Crazy 8 Adidas and a bright orange polo shirt. He placed a Gators snapback on his head, backwards, like his brother always does. I laughed a little and had him walk in front of me as we walked out the house. He got in the car and placed his seatbelt over his body, while I hopped in the driver seat.