Jungle 3

Chapter 1

July 31st, 2018

In the camera of her iPhone 7 Plus, Ebony applied more black lip liner to her glossy lips. Once she was satisfied with the outcome of her late mother's signature look, she rubbed her lips together and locked her phone. Ebony sighed and tapped her long, thick, money print designed nails on the counter while leaning on it. She had just completed a shift at the beauty supply a few blocks from her aunts home and now she was waiting on her younger brother to pick her up.

"Excuse me. Where the blue braiding hair?" A woman snapped her fingers at Ebony.

"I'm not on the clock." Ebony rolled her eyes while standing up straight.

"You can't point it out?" The woman scoffed.

"Did she not hear me?" Ebony looked over at the owner, flipping her blonde weave.

"That's why I never come here. Y'all attitudes bad as fuck." The woman said.

"Blue hair is out of stock 'til next week. Ebony, if you're done working for the day don't stand behind the counter." The owner told her.

"I'll stand in the heat then." She snatched her charger and walked from behind the counter.

The Arab owner shook his head and waved goodbye to Ebony. If it wasn't for her love and knowledge about fashion and hair, she would've been fired a long time ago. Her attitude was almost always nasty and if customers didn't talk to her correctly she was never afraid to snap on them. Standing 5'3, one hundred twenty pounds, Ebony would clown with anybody no matter the size or gender.

Wearing her jean skirt, white platform sandals, and her black tube top, Ebony headed outside into the heat. With her arms crossed and eyes squinted, the sun kissed her brown skin. For about two minutes, she stood on the side of the building until her brother Demetrius pulled up. She approached the all black 2018 Ford Mustang with the loud music blasting from it. Her twenty year old brother just got the car two weeks ago and he was enjoying riding all over town in it.

"You always late picking me up, man." She flopped down in the seat.

"I was with my girl, chill out." He turned the radio down a bit.

"That hoe ain't more important than me. I almost had to smack this bitch in there for snapping her finger at me." Ebony looked at herself in the mirror to see if her edges were still swooped.

"One of these days you gone get into it with some women in there and they gone crowd you. You know how y'all get over making sure y'all heads done." Dee drove to his aunts place.

"Then I'm a call Keem and Shad to help me. Hell, the owner got a couple pistols under the counter and I know he down. We gone shoot them bitches up."

"What about me and Zay?" Demetrius laughed.

"You not a fighter and Xavier think he too grown to do anything besides lecture us." Ebony showed a small smile.

"But you know if y'all fight I gotta get my licks in too. You my only sister so for a fact I got you."

"Boy, I'm not ya' only sister." Her smile disappeared.

"You know what I meant, son." He smacked his lips.

For the remainder of the ride, the talking ceased. Five minutes later, Demetrius arrived at his aunt Sharon's home. Ebony thanked him for picking her up and the both of them stepped out of the car. Demetrius spoke to his aunt and uncle and Ebony went straight into her bedroom without mouthing a word. She shut and locked her door before kicking off her sandals and getting into her bed.