It's Above Me Now.

8: Constructive Recruitment

"I guess you don't plan to learn." Veronica snapped.

Dylan and I looked at each other in obvious confusion. Her comment was a dig at me but I played it off like I was clueless. After Phil's departure, Dylan and I went to kick it at an old friend's house. Ruben made sure he knew my whereabouts, calling every half hour like he was Chanel 2.0. And now here goes Veronica, trying to scold me like I was a child. I was growing tired of them both.

"But yet here we are back safe and sound." I responded. "Just relax, alright?"

Veronica stared back at me, offended. During our car ride to Phil's service, Veronica mentioned how I needed to cut ties with everything and everyone in my old life. She rambled on and on about how successful I was now, and how I needed to play and do my part. And trust me, I was all on board. I was hungry for the paper and yearning for the knowledge. But if she thought I was going to drop the people who had my back in these streets and showed me unconditional loyalty just because she said so, then she was bat shit crazy.

"Can you get your housekeepers to set up Dylan's room? Let it be near mine." I said, staring right at Veronica. "Maybe you could help, seeing how good you are at decorating."

"Don't get rude and cocky. It's not a good look on you." Veronica replied.

Veronica and I stared at each other intensely, waiting for each other to crack first. I really wanted to like and respect this woman. She was after all my mother. But she was just making it so damn hard. Everything seemed to bother her.

Rustling sounds could be heard and I turned to be greeted by my father, who was unlocking the door. Veronica had us cornered like Dylan and I were some damn criminals, so we never made it fully inside. Ruben eyed the situation and sighed, flinging his hands up as if to state he wasn't going to be involved. Walking past us, he made a beeline up the stairs, descending into what looked like another possible office. Smart move, because I wasn't afraid to go against him when it came to Dylan either.

"I'm over this." Veronica announced. "Chance, you'll learn soon enough. Everything will fall into place with time."

Veronica eyed us both with disgust and titled the remaining of her wine to her head. After giving us a death stare, she pulled her evening dress and disappeared like an evil cartoon character.

"What the hell is she talking about?" Dylan asked. "Why she out here throwing subluminal messages?"

I shrugged, hoping Dylan would drop it with the questioning. I hated keeping things from him, that's not how loyalty was displayed. And I knew I couldn't keep this up. I was a terrible liar and it showed.

"She's just trying to find something out of nothing." Ruben noisily said running down the stairs. "It's in her nature. You'll appreciate it one day."

Dylan nodded, giving Ruben a dap.  "I wanna apologize for my behavior at the hospital. Chance and I might not be related, but we're brothers. No one's going to fuck him over on my watch. But I'm glad you're the real deal."

"Water under the bridge." Ruben smiled, waving it off. "You two are lucky to have each other. Loyalty is far fetched these days and it should never be taken for granted. Don't forget that."

Dylan nodded agreeably. "I'm sorry to hear about your brother man. I'd go ham to get Phil the justice he deserves if I were in your shoes."

There was a slight pause but Ruben collected himself with a smile. This sly bastard. How the fuck did he even sleep at night? I had no intention on sharing what really went down with Dylan. Phil was a father to us both, and knowing that I couldn't control Dylan's reaction to the news was the main reason he would never find out.