Exiled

August 86

We were all sitting over Nazeer's house, Lucci was staying at the hospital with his dad but Slayer was with him so we knew he was good; Nazeer seemed completely calm it was almost like he was accepting something. I looked over at Jacobi who was still pissed about what had happened last night with Jerell, I wasn't worried about that nigga because I had already made my peace with the fact that the next time I saw him I was going to beat his ass. But I feel like the most pressing matter at the moment was that nigga Loyalty, so far we had a pretty good idea of what everyone's motives were; Jerell was salty about Jacobi breaking up with him, Quran was consumed with Natalie wanting to talk to him, and Lucci was preoccupied with his dad... that nigga Loyalty, we had an idea about what he wanted but we weren't 100% sure. We would figure it all out though, right now we were more concerned about the more immediate threat which was Natalie, she was in the final phases of her plan and.... Sweet Baby Jesus, sorry I lost my train of thought because Naz's dad had just walked through the door shirtless and I'm sorry but that nigga is FINE!

"Ayy do y'all mind staying here with Nazeer for a couple days?" Neji asked and everyone nodded because we all heard it in his voice that something was really bothering him, he was worried and like a disease, it quickly spread to the rest of us. "Aight well go let your parents know that y'all will be staying here, I need to talk to my son in private." He said and we all walked out of the house our somewhat good mood now somber.

"So what do y'all think is going on?" I asked as Clévon, Semaj, Jacobi, and Quran all got in my car.

"I don't know but whatever it is.... look I feel like we need to start moving in groups, at least three or four because that bitch is crazy." Quran said and I couldn't help but agree. "And I think we should also go and find that nigga Loyalty and see what the fuck he's doing because IF he's is who y'all say he is then we need to dead this shyt before it gets outta hand."

"That's fuckin stupid Quran.... why would we approach a nigga who's mom we could've possibly killed? That shyt don't make any sense whatsoever." Jacobi said.

"Nah what doesn't make any sense is letting your best friend take the rap for something you did, what doesn't make since is letting some nigga come after your best friend because you're too pussy to admit what you did.... All I'm saying is that we all go talk to that nigga and feel him out and if possible make him understand that it was an ACCIDENT didn't y'all tell me that the lady jumped in front of the car trying to kill herself?" Quran asked and everyone got quiet.

"We'll figure it out later right now we all just need to go home, grab some clothes for a couple days and get back to Naz's house, we'll meet back up over Cobi's house in three hours, that should be more than enough time for us to get everything we need." I said and they both nodded. I dropped Semaj and Clévon off and took my ass back to Atlanta, when I got to my parents house my brother Aries and Ahmad were standing out front talking. "What are y'all bums up to?" I asked.

"Recapping what happened with Aunt Sonja... man I forgot how crazy she was about Uncle James." Aries said shaking his head. "Where yo little ass been? I feel like you be gettin ghost and I hardly ever see your ass anymore."

"I be chillin with Jacobi and Semaj, since you're going back to school and Ahmad is moving to Memphis, I need other people to keep me outta trouble.... or help me get into trouble depending on my mood." I said looking at my oldest brother.

"Don't do anything too crazy because I would hate to have to pull up on you and beat your ass." Aries said and I started to say some slick shyt but I really didn't have time to be messing with these two idiots, I walked in my house and quickly packed some clothes for a few days and just as I was about to walk out the house I was stopped by my dad. "Sup dad...." I said as he stood there staring at me. "Uhh good talk...." I said trying to slide past him, because Andrew 'Sonny' Cunningham was unpredictable.

"Where you going?" He asked in his deep voice that shook the walls even when he was talking normally.

"I'm going to stay with Nazeer for a few days, that's my boy and he's going through a lot right now and he needs his team around him for support." I said looking into his eyes and waiting.

"Oh... okay, well take the trash out before you go." He said walking past me and I didn't realize that I was holding my breath until I heard his door close. My dad wasn't apart of the crazy Cunninghams, he wasn't abusive or strict but he like to play a little too much... I remember the time he chased me, my brothers, and Semaj around with a water gun because we walked through his yard.

"Wassup man?" A voice said to me when I stopped to fill up my car, I turned around and saw that nigga Loyalty sanding there wear a beater and some basketball shorts. Now I see what Quran was talking about, this nigga just screamed shady... he smiled way too much and his eyes glimmered with malice.

"I know who you are and I'm not with the mind games... so if you want smoke with my cousin over what happened to your family member then we can throw hands right here." I said looking into his cold eyes.

"She was my mom.... and I'm not with the mind games either, that lady paid for my trip down here to get revenge but I don't like being used. However... I feel like I'm owed a conversation with the nigga that killed my mom, regardless of what she was going through that nigga still killed her and I wanna know what happened that night." Loyalty said balling up his fist and fighting back tears but there was one thing that stood out to me.

"What lady?" I asked knowing before the name even left his mouth and once he said the name Natalie it just confirmed Semaj's theory that Natalie was making her move. "I can set up a meeting with the person who killed your mom... but it has to be in a public place, I don't know you like that and I don't trust you... but I feel for you so give me a few days and I can have him meet you." I said watching his eyes because if he was going to try something I wanted to be ready for it.

"Nah... we're meeting on my terms, not yours or anyone elses. I'll set up the time and place and I want that nigga to meet me there ALONE." Loyalty said in here was the predicament I was in; he was under the assumption that it was Semaj that killed his mom when the truth of it was that it was Jacobi behind the wheel... now I couldn't nor wouldn't let my dude meet up with him alone but I knew if I didn't give him what he wanted it could escalate the situation even more. I didn't get to give him an answer though because I got distracted by the sounds of a car accident behind me (it didn't look too serious) but when I turned around Loyalty was gone.

"You didn't tell him that it was me did you????" Jacobi said and I can tell he was starting to panic. "Look August, I've been through a lot this summer with Pastor Teague, Jerell, and all that other shyt the last thing I need is another crazy person on my ass about something that was an accident."

"Jacobi I didn't tell him anything but I do feel like it's time for you and Vic to own up to what y'all did, even if it was just an accident. I get that you're sca.... nervous but what about what Semaj went through? He spent eighteen months in juvie for a crime he didn't commit and he never once sold y'all out, at the very least y'all can return the favor by talking with this nigga Loyalty." I said trying to find the middle ground.

"Let me guess.... you're on his side?" Jacobi said turning to Quran who was sitting in the corner quietly.

"I'm kinda in the middle... you're my cousin, my blood and I don't want you to go in this situation if you're not feeling it. However, Semaj's my dude and August is right at some point you need to man the fuck up and take responsibility for your actions." Quran said. "But I feel like this is a conversation that you and Victor need to have with Semaj and see where he is on the matter."

When we got back to Nazeer's house everyone was already here and I told them about my run-in with Loyalty, everyone seemed on edge wondering what the next thing Natalie was going to throw at us when Naz stood up and started heading towards the door.

"Where are you going?" Tripp asked and Naz shook his head and kept walking. "Ayy somebody should go with him." He said, Clévon and Torique jump up and walked after him. Then Jacobi asked Semaj if they could before asking me, Victor, and Quran to join them. I knew this was going to be a tense conversation but it needed to be had so we could get to more important things like how we were going to deal with Natalie.............................

****** QUESTIONS ******

1) Who should get the next two chapters; Nazeer, Jacobi, or De'Vaugh?

2) What should be the next two stories I post; Anthology, Amor é Eterno, BHC3, Fraternity Row, Final Semester or HoaA3?