Conflict Reloaded

Chapter 9: Crushed

(Jahlil)

Can a male and female be 'just friends'?

If they're related I hope so! But I mean two unrelated people of the opposite sex. Can they just be friends?

Yes and no.

Yes, they can be friends. Of course they can, but I say no because one will end up catching feelings for the other. In most cases that'll happen. In this case it has happened.

Malia is amazing. She can't be compared to any other female. I love most things about her. That snore of hers isn't cute though.

Right now, she is the person that I'm the closest to. I've been close to her for a few years.

She reminds me a lot of my mom. The way she cares for me. The way she looks at me. The trust I have in her. The trust she has in me.

I would be foolish to not tell her how I feel.

"Grandma, I'm gonna go next door."

"I don't care."

"Bitch.", I mumbled as I walked out the front door.

I took a deep breath then knocked on Malia's door.

Much to my surprise, some dude came to the door. I might've seen him at school before.

"Is Malia home?"

"Yeah, I'm her boyfriend. Who's asking?"

BOYFRIEND?! What?! I built up all this damn confidence, put all my words and sentences in order, and now you mean to tell me she has a boyfriend?! Wow.

I kinda wished I.....was her boyfriend.

"Jahlil!"

Malia pushed past ol' dude with a shocked look on her face. She can't be too damn shocked. We are next door neighbors. I stop by unannounced all the time. She does the same to me.

"I umm, I had something to ask you, but I'll ask later."

I was about to walk away but she grabbed my arm.

"Come back to bed when you're done here baby."

He smacked her ass then slobbed her down before walking away.

"I'm sorry Jahlil. I was going to tell you."

"I ain't ya man. You ain't gotta tell me shit. By Mali. See you Monday."

I snatched my arm away then walked over to my grandma's driveway. I got in my car then drove off. There's gotta be something I can do to get my mind off her. I don't even have the right to be mad at her right now. She can't read my mind. She don't know how I feel.

(Malia)

"Come back to bed? Really?!" I hit Dave with a sofa pillow.

As crazy as it sounds, I feel like Jahlil just caught me cheating or something. We aren't even together, but I've wanted to be with him for a while now. Even before Kyle. I didn't think he wanted me in that way, but his actions told me that he does.

"Shawty sitcho ass down."

"You almost as short as I am bastard! Don't say shit like that. You've never even seen my bedroom before and you never will! It's over. Get out of my house!"

He stood up and started moving towards me. His hand reached out to grip my neck. I did a hard gasp.

"It ain't over until I say it's over bitch. We both know what I came for, and I won't leave until I get it."

(Lisa)

"Nephew why you over there looking like someone stole your puppy?"

I looked over to Jahlil. He was sitting in Kims chair and Kim was massaging his shoulders.

I swear Kim is like a mother to Jahlil. She has always been so fond of him, which is good.

"Just thinking."

"About a girl?", Amber asked. His head sunk lower.

"Yep it's a girl.", Gigi confirmed.

"I shouldn't feel like this. I never told her how I've felt. Now she just turnin' into somebody who I don't know. I was gonna tell her how I felt, but I was too late."

Kim giggled then shook her head.

"You wanna know who you remind me of right now?"

"Who?"

"Your step-father. Jamarcus was the same way. He always wanted to be with Janelle, but he felt like he couldn't. No matter how hard he tried. That's how another guy got her. But you see that in the end they got together. If it's meant to be it will happen. Be patient."

"Technically they ain't really together right now." They all gave me a certain look.

"Heifer that wasn't my point. Jahlil, love is hard work. True love is. You have to fight for true love. And you know when a love is true. Because that person brings out the better in you. That person knows more about you than you think, because they really pay attention to you. They know what makes you happy, they hate to see you sad. When you're ready to fight, they're right there with you ready to kick some ass." She shrugged her shoulders. "Those are just some of the characteristics."

"Yeah. I get it. Thank you ladies."

"What else is wrong?"

He shrugged.

"I need a place to stay. I can't keep living with Caroline. I don't know what's wrong with her. She hates me now. I wish I had the money for my own place."

Here I go thinking I was the only person she treated like shit. Every since daddy died, she's been acted like she hates everyone.

Jahlil doesn't have to worry about that anymore. Between Amber, Gigi, Kim, and I, he has a new home.