RED.

Chapter 12: Games

A simple dinner, with a friend and his family. Stuff myself with huge plates of food, and maybe dance or some laughs. That's all I wanted.

Now here I sat, locking eyes with Oscar. A small smirk covered his lips, and he took a seat near Jasmine.

"Hey cousin O, why were you late?" Jasmine asked with her mouth stuffed with food.

"Jasmine sweetie don't talk with your mouth full." Her mother chimed in.

"Sorry mommy."

"Had some business to handle." I watched as he and Chresanto exchanged smiles and a handshake. "She yours?"

Chresanto looked over at me, as my eyes never left Oscar. "Not yet at least, her name is-"

"We're acquainted." I said cutting him off. Everyone stopped and looked at the three of us. Oscar let out a dry chuckle and reached to grab the bowl of mashed potatoes.

"I feel for you Chres, she's a piece of work."

Before I could throw some heartless words to him I felt Chresanto's hand cover my thigh and give it a light squeeze. He leaned to my ear and whispered, "Go gather yourself, restroom is straight down the hall and to the right. You're explaining this later."

I bit my tongue and listened to Chresanto. Once I secured the door, I leaned against the bathroom counter gathering my thoughts.

No matter how bad I wanted to smack a wine bottle against Oscar's skull, I had to respect this household. It would be completely disrespectful for me to do otherwise. After regaining my composure, I opened the door and collided with a hard chest.

"Keeping it in the family?" Oscar laughed out.

"Nah, you must be married in. No way they're related to a fraud ass nigga like you."

"Fraud?"

"Rich ass boy, coming from humble beginnings but still trying to claim the slums."

"You don't know-"

"I know you're a liar, but for what? You come from shit, that people from the hood wish for or grind for." I said pushing past him. "Don't glorify the slums for your personal gain."

"You fucking my cousin ain't gon' clear what you owe."

"What did you just say?" I said turning around. "Chresanto doesn't have anything to do with this, so dead that shit."

"So wassup with this? Y'all together or you just fucking for some dollars Zay?" Oscar said approaching me.

I could only laugh at his accusations and shake my head. "I don't need your cousins money, unlike you I didn't have a support system with funds whatever I needed I worked for and will continue to. What's wrong Oscar you mad because I'm not fucking you, that's it? Get the fuck out of my face."

I walked away from him and took my seat at the table again. Chresanto looked at me as he chewed his food and gave him a genuine smile as I wiped his mouth with a napkin.

"Azalea, Chresanto told me you balled." Chresanto's father, Chris, said to me.

"Oh yes sir, our actually season hasn't started but we still do some games." I said taking a bite of my greens.

"That's great. You plan on playing in college?"

"Yes sir."

"That's great, if I don't catch any of your games this year I'll come see you in college."