Till Death (Quadrilogy)

Chapter 18

SIMONE P.O.V.

I opened up Aliyah's door as she raced out of the car and into my mom's house. I grabbed the two bowls of potato salad I made and hit the locks. I made my way up the porch steps, and walked inside the house. "Hey mom." She smiled at me and pulled me into a hug.

"You got here just in time?" I smirked. "Kelsey and Craig, just got here and so did Ronald's mom." I nodded my head. "Oh, okay...where do you want me to put this?" I said holding up the two bowls. "I'll take them, you can go out back with everyone." I sighed. "....You alright?" She looked me up and down, trying to figure out what was wrong with me. "...Yeah...Im fine."

"You sure?" I nodded my head, even though I was lying. "Yeah mom, Im fine." She paused. "Where's August? I thought he was off today." I nodded. "Uh yeah, he is...he had some business to handle, so I don't know if he's gunna make it." She sighed. "Alright...Im going to put this in the kitchen." She smiled at me before disappearing into the kitchen.

I hated lying to her, but I didn't want everybody up in our business. I hardly know what's going on with August and I, and I didn't want everyone's input. And after our fight recently, I never got a chance to tell him about the barbecue today, so I knew he wasn't going to show up.

I took a deep breath and began my walk out towards the backyard. I stepped outside and looked around. "Simone, Im glad you made it." I looked to my right to see Ronald at the grill, making burgers. "Yeah, here I am." I walked over to him and gave him a hug. "It's good to see you." I smiled. "You too." He flipped a burger on the grill and looked at me. "How do you like your burgers?"

"Well done." He nodded. "Alright, I made Aliyah some hot dogs, since I heard they're her favorite." I smiled. "Thanks, Ronald." He fanned me off. "No problem." I smiled at him one more time before walking off towards the chairs. I took a seat in one of the empty chairs, trying not to be seen. Before I could even get comfortable, Kelsey took a seat beside me as well as Craig. "Hey sis." I let out a fake smile. "Hey."

"Wassup bestie?" I looked over at Craig and gave him the same smile. "Hey, how you been? I haven't seen you in awhile." He shrugged. " I've been coolin, trying to deal with your big headed ass sister." Kelsey slapped him in the back of his head and rolled her eyes.

"Shut up, your so damn annoying." He chuckled. "Anyways, where my nigga Aug at? I thought y'all was gone come together." I cleared my throat. "Oh, Im not sure if he's coming, he's handiling business." Craig frowned. "Oh forreal? Cause I texted him this morning asking if he was coming today, and he said yeah."

"...Oh, well I guess he is." I slightly smiled, trying to make the situation less awkward."Why didn't he come with you?" Kelsey asked me. "...Like I said, he was handiling business." She nodded slowly. "And, you didn't even know that he was coming today?" I opened my mouth to speak, but the sound of my mom's voice stopped me. "Simone, Kelsey." We both looked up to see her standing over us.

"All the ladies are getting together in the kitchen to start making dessert, so we need you." I nodded and stood up from my seat, and so did Kelsey. We followed my mom back into the house and into the kitchen.

"Alright, who wants to start on the pineapple upside down cake?" "Simone and I will." Kelsey said with a smile. She grabbed the cake mix and a bowl, as I started to pick out the other ingredients around the kitchen. "So do oyu know if August is going to make it or not?" My mom asked, opening up one of the cabinets.

"Yeah, um he should be here soon." She frowned. "Soon? You don't have a specific time?" She chuckled and faced me. "No,but im sure he'll be here sooner than you think." She sighed. "Alright, I hope he hurries." I sighed and dumped the two boxes of cake mix in a bowl.