The Coldest One

Prolouge

"No, no, no remember that time Tara overdosed?" Travis yelled, smacking his hand against the arm of the chair. The room erupted in laughter, all expect Tara and her date Zyir. Zyir looked over at Tara with his eyes wide wondering what the hell was going on. Tara just dropped her head in embarrassment, leaving him even more confused. Shorty was cool and all, but a drug problem is some information she should've been shared. He stared at her as her butterscotch skin tone grew two shades redder. Fidgeting under his piercing stare she tucked her long, curly black hair behind her ears. Shaking her head, Tara couldn't believe her best friend's husband would bring that up.

"Overdosed?" Zyir questioned looking at everyone in the room. Travis couldn't contain his laughter long enough to explain the story to him. Thankfully Tara's best friend Layla jumped in. Smacking her husband in the back of his head, she rolled her eyes at his childish antics.

"It's not what you think Zy. Me and Tara stole a blunt out of my brother's room and smoked it. We were like thirteen and it was the first time either of us had smoke. Tara was complaining about a headache and I told her to grab some asprin out of my mama cabinet. I guess it wasn't working and she kept taking them. All of a sudden she wakes me up screaming and freaking out when she realized she took the whole bottle. Silly bitch started sticking her finger throwing up then went running thru the neighborhood screaming." Layla explained trying her best to contain her laughter. The crew however had no sympathy. The shots of Jose had long ago taken over and they fell out laughing.

"Noooooooooooooooooo mama I'm sorry!" Travis screamed mimicking how Tara sounded. Jumping up from his seat he started running around the living room swinging his arms.

"I didn't mean it. I didn't mean it! " Kyan laughed, barely getting his words out. The flashback of sitting on his porch and watching her come flying out the house combined with the alcohol had him rolling.

"I'm too young to die. I'm going to die a virgin!" Layla and Tara's other best friend Miloh chimed in. Zyir looked around at Tara's friends in amusement. Tara on the hand was beat red from embarrassment. She had long ago repressed certain memories in which she had embarrassed herself in front of the whole hood. This wasn't the only the memory but it was definitely the most embarrassing one.

"But guess what my nigga?" Travis questioned taking the story back over as he poured everyone else a shot. Zyir turned in his direction, waiting to be filled in.

"What?"

"While little Ms. Tara is passed out in the middle of the street. Ms. Cathy pulls up at home, I guess one of the neighbors had called her. She had tears rolling down her face. She asked her what did she take? So, Tara takes her in Lay house to show her and the next thing we know she's screaming bloody mary. Me and the boys run over there and Ms.Cathy whooping her ass."Travis does a drumbeat on the table. "It was Tic Tacs! How the hell you confuse a Tic Tac bottle and an Aspirin bottle? Man Ms. Cathy was so fucking mad she beat the high right out of Tara ass. In front of everybody!"

Zyir looked at Tara and bust out laughing himself. "Baby what the fuck?" he questioned holding his stomach. "Who the hell does that? What was in that blunt girl?"

Tara's face balled up, as she scooted her chair away from his. "I was high Zy. It isn't like I did it on purpose. Fuck all of y'all!" Layla poured her best friend a shot as she smacked her husband in the back.

"Leave my friend alone." She snapped. Travis threw his hands up in surrender mode. Tara just rolled her eyes waiting for the next subject to take the light off her. She hadn't thought about that in almost ten years and wanted to go back to not thinking about it. She looked over at Zyir and smiled taking in his appearance as he mingled with her friends. He was hands down the sexiest man she had ever met. He had a smooth mocha complexion, neatly trimmed beard, hazel brown eyes and soft full lips she loved to suck on. His body showed just how much he worked bulging in all the right places, even his style of clothing was sexy. She had worked herself up so much staring at him she was just about to tell him she wanted to leave when Miloh started talking.

"Wait! Y'all remember when Travis tried to rob Oldman Fred with a BB gun?" and just like that the focus had moved on. The five friends sat their drinking and reminiscing on stories that molded their childhood, catching Zyir up to speed.

RATTA TAT TAT TAT TAT

Bullets invaded the walls, doors and windows at lightning speed. Travis jumped to cover Layla at the same time Zyir pushed Tara behind him. The bullets pierced Kyan's body leaving him on fire. Right before his eyes closed the gunshots stopped and he seen the dark figures enter the room.

"Zyir. I've been looking for you." Was all Kyan heard before he passed out. All he could do was pray his friends made it out.