Young Bratz

03|Alone, Together

While we were locked up, we realized just how similar our lives were. We were all orphans in a sense. Jahsah and I's parents wanted nothing to do with us. Ski was old enough to live on his own, and Kristiana wasn't going back home. She said it didn't feel like she belonged there.

So naturally, we stuck together when we got out. At first, we had no idea where we were going to stay. But, I knew who would take us in, no questions asked.

My uncle Dante was a really good man. He came from the streets, and grew up doing the things that got us locked up in the first place. But once my mom got pregnant with me, he shaped up. Sure, he was rowdy by nature, but he had a heart of gold.

He took us in, fed us and gave us a place to sleep. There were two bedrooms in the basement, so naturally, the boys stayed in one room and the girls in the other.

The first night was all cool. I was getting ready to sleep when Jahsah called me. We met outside my room.

"I just wanted to say thanks. For everything. If it wasn't for you and your uncle, I don't even know-" I cut him off with my finger to his lips.

"Look, Jahsah. You, Ski and Kris are my best friends. I know if it were the other way around, you would do the same. I love y'all. I got us, ok?" I said, smiling. He grabbed me and pulled me into a warm hug. I was shocked, since he wasn't a fan of touching. But I hugged back.

●●●

For the next month or two, we were chilling. We did our part all around the house and got paid for it. My Uncle become a father for all four of us, and it brought us closer. Like a family.

And then out of nowhere, he died. He had a heart attack right in the kitchen, and no one knew because we were all downstairs. 

I was the one to find him. Ski called 911 while Jashah and Kristiana held me. I was heartbroken. He was the only blood relative who didn't think I was a lost cause.

The funeral was the worst. I had to face my Mother for the first time in a whole year. She just looked at me with dead eyes. The eyes we both share. She wouldn't speak to me, and had the audacity to leave when I went to give my few words about Dante.

But the very worst was the will reading. It was just my Mother and I. I didn't even know I was on the will.

"The estate will be left to miss Chyanne Winters, along with the rest of the insurance money" the Lawyer read. The room had froze. I couldn't believe it. My mother cursed up a storm, then proceeded to storm out of the office.

●●●

"I'm sorry, but what does a will have to do with Jaylen's murder?" The detective asked me. I looked at him and rolled my eyes.

"It has everything to do with it! If you would shut the fuck up and listen, maybe I would get to it faster!" I shouted. This was kind of hard talking about. I still miss my uncle to death. He was my hero in a sense. He had kept me from trouble, even if it was for a short time.

"And what about Jahsah? Dose this have to do with him?" He asked.

"Why are you so obsessed on pinning this on him? Didn't I tell you he had nothing to do with this? Is it because he had more of a criminal record then the rest of us? You pigs make me sick" I said, harshly. His face didn't fall, or crack. He sighed.

"Look, just finish the story, then I'll tell you" he looked me in the eye. I still didn't trust him.

My loyalty stands with Jahsah. With my famly. I know what I have to do.