THUG LOVE

Chapter 8

At school during class Imani was doing her vocabulary while listening to music. Markel sat by her and said, "Moni?" Imani turned up her music being petty, and Markel grabbed her phone. She got upset and said, "Dude give me my phone." He said, "Imani I have to tell you something and this is important."

She was annoyed, and asked, "What?" Michael cleared his throat, and said, "Your nigga killed your father." Imani looked at him confusedly and said, "What!?" He said, "Jayden was on the phone talking about your dad, either he killed your dad, was apart of it, or he knows who-" Imani cut him off and said, "Jayden didn't kill my dad, you're lying."

Markel said, "Imani, I swear to God." Imani stood up and was confused and mad at the same time. She said, "You know what?! It's like every time something good going on with me or with my life you always have to come and ruin it! Why can't just let me be!" A tear fell from her eye and Markel said, "I'm sor-" She cut him off and said, "Just leave me alone."

The bell rung, and Imani grabbed her stuff and left. Jayden saw Imani walking in the hallway to her locker. He followed her and said her name. Imani ignored him and put her stuff in her locker. He said, "Hey baby."

Imani closed her locker, and he asked, "What's wrong?" She said, "You will be truthful to me at all times right?" Jayden said, "Yeah. Why?" Imani told him that they will talk at home. He said, "No let's talk now." She told him that she has to go to class or she was gone be late. He said, "Okay." She walked away still feeling confused and sad.

Later at the house, Jayden was playing on the game. Imani walked into the living room and asked him to pause the game. Jayden asked, "Are you ready to talk?" Imani nods her head and said, "I want you to be a hundred with me when I ask you this question." He looked at her and said, "Okay."

She asked, "Did you kill my father?" Jayden thought to himself, "Oh shit!" He said, "No! What!?" Imani asked, "Who killed my father?" Jayden walked up to her and sighed, "Baby he didn't know that was your father. Your father owed money, and you know we don't play bout our money."

Imani raised an eyebrow and asked calmly, "Who... killed... my... father?" Brandon walked into the house and yelled, "Yo!?" Imani's heart started to beat quickly. She stared at Jayden's eyes with water in them and asked, "Tell me he didn't kill my dad?" Jayden looked away and said, "I'm sorry."

Imani slapped him and ran out of the living room and attack Brandon. Tears were falling down her cheeks. She yelled, "Why did you kill my father Brandon!?" Brandon was blocking her hits and said, "Moni I'm sorry! Aye, Jay come get her!" Jayden held Imani back and told her to calm down.

Imani cried harder and said, "That was my only dad! Why did you have to kill him!? That was my on-only dad!" She got out of Jayden's hold and fell on her knees. She covered her face and broke down crying. Brandon said, "I'm sorry Imani." Jayden tried to hold Imani, but she pushed him away.

She said, "I trusted you and you lied to me! This whole time you knew didn't you!?" Jayden sighed and said, "Yes." Imani looked at Brandon with anger, and said, "Over money?" Brandon said, "I'm sorry I didn't know he was your dad." Imani ran in the bathroom and lock the door.

She sat on the floor and broke down crying. She mumbled to herself, "Daddy why did this have to happen to you?" Brandon was mad and push Jayden. They got into it because Brandon thought Jayden told Imani. Jayden said, "I didn't tell her! She came to me and asked me. When you walked in she just attacked you. I guess she got the clue it was you."

Brandon smacked his lips and said, "I'm just gone leave. I can't be here right now." He left out of the house and Jayden walked to the bathroom door. He knocked on it and said, "Imani?" Imani was sniffing and wiping her tears. She said, "Go away."

He said, "Baby please." "Go away! Get away from the door Jayden!" she yelled. Jayden sighed and walked away while Imani went back to crying.

Later that night, Imani put a letter she wrote on Jayden nightstand. She grabbed her bag and walked out of the room. She left out the house leaving Jayden in the bed alone to sleep. She took a taxi to Markel's house. She knocked on the door and he was in the living room sleep on the couch.

Imani knocked on the door harder, and Markel fell off the couch. He was half sleep and said, "It's 54!" Imani pressed the doorbell and Markel woke up. He rubbed his face and got up to open the door. He was confused and said, "Moni? What are you doing here?"

Imani had water in her eyes and said, "He didn't kill him. His friend did and they kept it away from. I had to leave. I don't want to go home." She cried and Markel brought her into a hug. He rubbed her back and said, "Shh! It's okay." She hugged him back while sobbing.