I didn't know how to describe it but being here... I felt a sense of calm, like everything that I've been through in the past year was just a bad dream and something I could easily forget; don't get me wrong I missed home but I felt like I needed to be here if only for a few more weeks..... But I was torn because I really missed Julio and my dad but I just needed a break from the constant worrying and stress I was under back in Houston and I know there were some people out there saying 'you're seventeen, what kind of stress are you under?' so let me go down the list; my mom was murdered, my uncle was murdered, I had just come out the closet, my paternal and maternal cousin were feuding (Juelz and Noah) and I was somewhat caught in the middle, not to mention dealing with the hate I was getting for being in an open relationship with a dude and with my temper I would've ended up killing somebody if I didn't get away. Standing in my window looking out at the falling snow, it was like for once in my life I didn't have a care in the world.
"Ayy Nique, we're getting ready to head to the mall you wanna ride or you wanna change your panties first?" This dude named Alfonzo said walking into my room, I looked at him and smirked because since arriving here he's been the person I've bonded with the most even though he didn't know my real name. "Unless you plan on staying cooped up in here for yet another day.... you know what on second thought nah your ass is coming with us whether you want to or not, be ready in twenty minutes." He said walking off, I looked down at my phone and got slightly nervous because Julio still hadn't called back since our conversation from earlier.
"Where are y'all going?" Carter asked as the six of us made our way to the door, he was another person I had grown close with since arriving here... but that could have something to do with the fact that he was the only person who knew my true identity.
"To the mall, why are you going to tell us that we can't go?" This white dude Travis asked and I bit my tongue, because he was the only person I had an issue with in the house but then again everyone had an issue with him because he thought he was untouchable.
"I don't care what y'all do, just make sure y'all stay outta trouble and make sure y'all sign out J.... Dominique let me talk to you for a second." Carter said as everyone walked out, I walked into the office and sat down. "Look I just wanted to tell you to be careful, you know how your uncle is and I don't want to get on his bad side, it's happened once before and I'm not eager to see that again." Carter said.
"You seem to have a deep history with Uncle Devin, but you have yet to go into detail about y'alls history.... matter fact whenever we talk it's usually about me so what's your story?" I asked looking at him.
"Not so different from yours actually but we'll talk some more later... right now you should probably get going." Carter said pulling out some papers and getting to work. As me and Alonzo sat in the food court a bunch of people kept coming over to our table, mainly for me because I was the new kid in school and a lot of people were still trying to figure me out... shoutout to Uncle Cam and Uncle Sa'vion for getting me a new identity so to speak because so far no one knew anything about me, I guess that's another reason I like it here so much because I could be whoever I wanted.
"Dominique, when are you going to stop ignoring the fact that I've been trying to shoot my shot since your sexy ass arrived?" This girl named Ashanti said flirting with me for the millionth time.
"I'm not ignoring you... I told you Day One that I'm in a relationship and you continue to ignore that little fact, as far as I'm concerned the conversation ended after that." I said peering into her eyes, she got pissed and walked off mumbling under her breath while Alonzo tried his hardest not to laugh. "What's so funny?" I asked.
"She's a hoe, she's been ran through by the entirety of House Two and now she's making her way to House Three... she was in a relationship with Travis but that didn't last longer than a week and now I see why he doesn't like you." Alonzo said.
"Why cuz his ex wants some dick? That's stupid... look I could never find it in myself to be that pressed over a week-long relationship, I could see if they dated for a few months to a year but a week... that's some bitch shyt. But whatever, the rest of y'all are coo... maybe y'all can come down to Tex......" I started to say but quickly stopped because I saw Darion walking towards me. "Excuse me for a second." I said jumping up and quickly walking over to him. "What are you doing here?" I asked hoping he wasn't followed.
"I just came here to warn you that; Julio, Jayvion, Cortez, Bishop, and Adonis are on their way here to drag you back to Texas..." Darion said and I stood there looking at him. "What you should've known this was going to happen JD, I mean I get needing a break every now and then but from what I gather you said you were thinking about staying here permanently." Darion said.
"No what I said was I was thinking about staying here a little bit longer..... Look I'll deal with them but you gotta go." I said pushing him off but he didn't budge. "Come on Darion, I give me some space." I said and he shrugged before walking off but I knew he wouldn't be too far away. "Ayy I'm not feeling too good let's go find these niggas so I can get back to the house." I said walking over to Alonzo.
"Ayy wasn't that Devin's son?" He asked but I pretended not to hear him. We got back to the house and of course, Travis bitched the entire way back and I was half tempted to beat his ass but I had more important matters to deal with at the moment....
"Justice sit down...." Carter said when I walked into his office. "Aight so you wanted to know my story.... like I told you it's not so different from yours; I lost my parents before my junior year, my uncle... my dad's brother poisoned them and I was angry, I was hurt.... and then I came here, don't get wrong I went through my low points for as bad as I was junior year senior year I was hell on Earth." Carter said shaking his head. "It was pretty bad until your uncle came and put his foot in my ass.... it made me realize I could be better and I realized the people I was pushing away were my family and I turned out better in the end....."
"It's just.... it's hard not going on without my mom and my uncle." I said quietly.
"It's not going to be easy Justice, hell I can tell you that you're going to go through some really bad days but you got a good support system and if you ever want to come back here and unwind... you always got a home here and who knows, maybe one day you'll be the one running this place, you might have some competition though because I'm trying to move up the latter and end up running this whole operation I refuse to lose, especially to one of my former charges." Carter said playfully, I looked at him for a second as he glanced down at his phone and jumped up, I watched as he ran out the door damn near slipping on some ice as some baby-faced dude walked up with some food, they talked for a few minutes before Carter kissed him and walked back inside.
"That your dude?" I asked still watching the dude walk back to his car and Carter nodded. "You better be lucky I'm in a relationship because I have a tendency to attract people older than me and just like you I'm extremely competitive." I said as Carter looked at me for a second and smirked, then he walked back inside locking the door behind him while I stood out there freezing my nuts off. When I was finally allowed back in the house I had to a decision to make, but first I needed to call Julio and let them know what was going on but he didn't pick up... yeah he was really pissed.
"Nique, you got a visitor...." Alonzo said walking into my room and I jumped up and ran to the window and damn near had a heart attack as I saw Adonis's car parked out front, damn they got here faster than I thought. When I got downstairs and saw Julio standing there looking both angry and sexy at the same time I knew without thinking where my home was but I'd definitely be coming back here sooner rather than later because this place gave me something I couldn't even get back home...............................
****** QUESTIONS ******
1) Four of the last five chapters have been filled so there's still a spot open, so who should get the last slot; Julio, Mario, Cori, or Kylan?
