Undercover

2. JAMILA

Sunday 5:28 AM
Final Day in Cali

I closed the zipper on my last suitcase and took a deep breath satisfied as I looked at my progress. Though I felt like utter hell,  I managed to pack my room, the laundry room, the living room, and the kitchen all in a week.

Luckily we've already shipped most of the house stuff to Atlanta. At this point I was overly exhausted and ready to leave so I could get some rest on the plane.

I grabbed my luggage and took it to the front door, piling the bags against the wall nearest to my other ones.

"Honey, are you sure you don't wanna drive there?" My mom asked my dad as they came into the room.

"I'm positive. Going by plane is the quickest way to get there. This isn't our first rodeo."

"I know but it's been a while since the kids have been and-"

"Dakota! Come on, we're about to leave." Daddy hollered, interrupting my mother.

My brother strolled into the empty living room with his infamous laptop glued to his bruised hand. Between the busted lip and the few scratches on his face, it wasn't a mystery why he looked the way he did.

Jayden passed through the neighborhood without his friends last night while Dakota was sweeping out the garage and yeah. It didn't end well for him.

"Why didn't you pack that computer up boy?" Dad asked upset.

"Because this is the only thing that's keeping me from knocking everybody out right now."

"You wanna repeat that?"

The two men stood a few feet apart but the eye contact they shared told another story.

"I'm not finna argue with you today man. Can we go?"

I could see the pain in Dakota's eyes which he's been wearing for the last few days.

Just the other day he found out his scholarship can't be transferred to Georgia State. He's been crying in his room ever since and it's heartbreaking to see him like this.

I'm surprised he isn't crying now.

"Boy watch your mouth before you get punched in it."

"Please do, put me out of my misery why don't you." He looked daddy up and down walking to the door. "Rather that then go to Atlanta."

He bumped dad's shoulder on his way out the door and I held my breath, waiting for him to make a remark but he never did.

The rest of us left the house silently and double checked our stuff before walking down the small steps.

I got in the car, quietly observing my brother who was wiping the few tears that fell from his swollen eyes. I laid my head on his shoulder and immediately felt him cry harder.

".....Nothing's gonna be the same after this."

Somehow I knew he wasn't lying, even I could feel that this was gonna be the start of a new life.

...

11:06 AM
Atlanta, GA

I got out of the van and looked at the house that stood in front of me. I gasped as I looked at the big house.

"Woah."

"Beautiful, right? And it's all ours." My daddy said rubbing my shoulders. "Ready to see the inside guys?"

I nodded and started walking, but stopped looking back at Dakota who was moving sluggishly.

"You like the house?"