In Front of the Mic

Chapter Eleven: We Are A Family

Chris POV

I woke up to a knock on the door. Who the hell is that? I peeked over at the clock with my eyes barely open.

"1:47pm... Damn, how did I get home again?"

I has a little hungover trying to recollect my thoughts. I remember going to the studio and meeting Kid Ink at some club afterwards... I can't really remember much else. I got up and walked over to the hamper, but it was just easier to go in my pajama pants.  It's probably Mijo or one of my friends anyway. I staggered my way to the door and opened it...

"Tiffani? I thought you had work."

"Em took Hailey to Paris for a few weeks."

I look next to her to find a kid next to her. He was like 5'9" or 5'10", I'm not really sure my vision is still a little fucked up. He had dreads that were pulled back in a ponytail. He was wearing a black Trukfit tank top and beige cargos, white Nike socks and Nike slides.

"Em thinking about signing him?"

"No... um... Chris, this is my lil brother Shaheem. Shaheem, this is Chris."

"You're Chris Brown.... like, 'Look At Me Now' Chris Brown? Oh man, this is dope?"

I just smiled and gave him some dap and a side hug... no homo. We walked in and sat on the couch.

"Aye, you got Madden 25?"

"Yeah lil man, you can play it if you want to."

He changed the channel on the TV and got the game started. I saw Tiffani make her way to the kitchen so I followed her.

"You sure that's your lil brother? He bout my height."

"Boy shut up, I can't help it. I get my height from my momma."

"Well you need to ask her for some more... yo short ass. So, what's his story? I didn't see him at ya momma's place."

She reached in her purse and handed me a letter.... damn.

"Oh shit, what you gone do?"

"I'm just gonna let him live with me. My dad made him pack all his personal information and gave him my mom's address... lucky for him she still lived there. I'm gonna get him enrolled in to one of the high-schools here and I'll deal with the rest as it comes."

"How do you feel about the situation... I mean... where is your dad."

"Shaheem said that he was dealing with cancer for the past five years, he died about three days ago. How am I supposed to feel Chris? I'm hurt, angry, sad, and a little scared. I don't know how to raise a kid."

"Well, if there's anything you need. You know I gotcha ma."

"Really?"

"Yeah. I care about you, Tiff. I'm not gone let you go through this alone."

"Thanks Chris, that means a lot to me."

She gave me a hug and walked back out to the living room. We sat on the couch and watched as Shaheem played the game. Tiffani was laying on my chest and I was running my fingers through her hair. For a second, it kinda felt like we were a normal family.

"Hey, Chris have you heard from Tyga lately? I tried to call him this morning, but he didn't answer."

"I talked to him when we came back from mama V's, but he got all aggy and started threatening me... I ain't talked to him since then."

She sat up and looked at me like she had seen a ghost.

"He threatened you?"

She said through clenched teeth, she got up and headed for the door. I went after her and caught her by her shoulder.