Him and I

Chapter 2

Tyrene POV

I lay in my designated bed, holding myself. The school and state don't know what to do with me. The funeral was a week ago. I've went back to school. My mom real life dead. Shit crazy. As I'm thinking Mr. McAdams comes in the room. "Tyrene, get up." I ignore him. "Little girl, get up." I groaned. I did not want to get up. He took a deep breath. "Look, my moma said I need to make you get up and do something. I don't want to have to put my hands on you, but I will." He waits for me to move. I don't. "Ok Ty, you asked for this." Before I could comprehend anything anything, the covers had been snatched, and his hand was under my leg. He had lifted me and I was over his shoulder. My butt was in the air and my face was in his back. I fought and kicked to no avail. He finally put me down in front of the bathroom. "Shower." He was so demanding. He left no room for argument as he walked away. I sighed. I turned the warm water on and just let it hit my skin. I tried to relax. All my stresses went away for a little. I start to actually wash and wander what we were doing today. I step out, grab a towel, and go to 'my' room. After I'm done changing I head downstairs and see Mr. McAdams sitting at the table, on his phone. "Ready?" I nod. He gets up, grabs his keys, and we head to the car. The first few minutes are quiet until he says something. "So what kind of music do you listen to?" I didn't expect him to ask me that. "Huh?" He smirked. "What type of sounds do you partake in on your free time." I laughed. He held up the aux cord. Taking it from his hand, I searched for something to play. I skipped every song in fear of him thinking my music was ass. As if he read my mind, at the red light he took my phone out my hand, and clicked shuffle. Some folk song played. I got nervous. He seemed to know the song. He and I sang, whaled the song and the next 6 until we got to this plaza. He parked in front a nail salon and got out. "What are we doing here?" He looked at me like I was stupid. "Well I don't have any money so..." He cut me off. "Girl please. C'mon." We walked into the nail shop and he got 2 chairs. "You getting your nails done too?" He laughed. "Yea, only my feet though." I laughed. This dude funny. We sat down next to each other and talked. He told me about how he grew up in the hood. I remember those days. He told me about how he looks nothing like his brothers. He also loves his moma. He told me I could meet her one day.

He ended up painting his nails clear. I got some long-ish acrylics. He told me he didn't approve, but let it slide. This time. We leave the nail shop and get back in the car. We play some more of my music and drive to another place. It's a house. "Cmon." I look around as I get out the car. The house looks old. He pulls out his keys and holds the door open for me. The smell of the house is familiar. It smells like cooking food, stale washing detergent, flowers, old perfume, and old house. A heavy set dark skin women comes out from the back. Where are we? Mr. McAdams walks around me and gives the women a kiss. "Tyrene, this is my moma." I smiled. "I ran toward her and gave her a hug. She hugged me back. I felt like I've known her for forever. "Well hello to you to baby. I hope you have enjoyed your day." I nodded. "Yes ma'am, I did." I showed her my nails. "Girl those shole are long." I nodded again. "I know." Mr. McAdams grunted in disapproval. "I told her I didn't like them but she insisted so I let it go." He mom shrugged. "Your brothers are on the way. Would you mind going to the store and getting some last things." Mr. McAdams nodded. "Not at all." She gave him the list. "Tyrene stay here." I nodded even though I didn't really want to stay. I wanted to go with him. "Okay." He walked out the door and sat down in the living room. Not long after his mom called me. "Tyrene come here." I stood, not wanting to be disrespectful. I walk in to the kitchen and see her standing there. "Can you cook?" I thought for second. "Kinda, not really." She laughed. "Time you start learning." I motioned for me to come closer in the kitchen. She started listing ingredients and procedures to me. I tried my hardest to keep up. She assisted me through the really hard stuff. Everything seemed a little harder because of my nails. His moma made it very clear that that was the reason they shouldn't have been that long. The door opened and I thought it was Mr. McAdams but it wasn't. 2 older looking guys walked in. "Trez in the house!" He scared me. The other guy looked at him with irritation. "Do you ever shut up, damn." Mr. McAdams's mom spoke. "Trez be quiet and Anthony watch your mouth." They both responded. "Yes ma'am." Anthony came in the kitchen and gave Mrs. McAdams a hug and kiss. "Hay moma." His eyes went to me. "Are you Tyrene?" I got a little scared. "Yes, I am." He looked over at his other brother, I'm assuming. ""Trez, this the girl Dre was telling us about." Antrez walked in the room and looked at me. He smiled. "You gotta tell me all the details about my brother. What does he do in his spare time?" I laughed. "Well today we got our nails done." Antrez and Anthony erupted in laughter. "Oh hell nawl." Mrs. McAdams shook her head. Mr. McAdams came in the house shortly after. "Tyrene go get those groceries out the car." I stood up and walked towards the door. Anthony stopped me. "I got it." He walked past Mr. McAdams and went to that car. They hugged on his way out the door. Antrez was still laughing. When both came back in, Antrez looked Mr. McAdams up and down. "Ya bruh let me see your hand." Mr. McAdams looked confused, but complied. Antrez examined his hand closely, finger by finger. Anthony laughed. Mr. McAdams was the only one who ain't get the joke. Antrez dropped his hand and turned away from him. He laughed somemore. He turned back around. "Boy you get your nails done now?" Mr. McAdams face fell. He looked at me and squinted. "I'm sorry Mr. McAdams." He laughed.

We sat down and played spades until the food was ready. I learned a lot about all 3 of them. Antrez is funny asf. Anthony is the youngest. Mr. McAdams is his Mama's favorite, but she won't admit it. We later on ate dinner and talked. They shared memories and laughs. Mrs. McAdams can cook. I just sat there and listened to it all. They talked about their dad. He passed away a few years ago. Apparently he didn't play though. All 3 boys gave vivid description of them getting in trouble. After dinner had ended, it was late and Mr. McAdams told them I had school in the morning. Lame. The guys started taking the trash out and I stayed in the house, helping Mrs. McAdams clean up. She told me about how she always wanted a grandchild and how she was happy to have me in the family. Her words hit different. Like something about it kinda put me in my feelings, but in a good way. I don't know what came over me, but I hugged her, tight. She hugged me back and smile. "And another thing. After today I don't want you calling me Mrs. McAdams. You're family now. Okay?" It took me a while to process and accept her words. "Uh okay. What do you wanna be called?" She snickered. "Anything but Mrs. McAdams." I smiled. "Tyrene, we gotta go." Mr. McAdams yelled for me from the front door. I looked at his mom one more time. "Thank you...Nana." She smiled and hugged me one more time. I loved it. I always told myself if I ever had a grandma I would want to call her nana. So I did. I said bye to Antrez and Anthony and then went to the car. Mr. McAdams stood outside and talked with his brother for a little while longer before getting in the car. He looked at me before we drove off. "You know, I kinda like you." I smiled because I kinda like him too.