Innocence

❤️Mixed Feelings

M•O•A•N•I

I pushed the trashcan to the side of my house and climbed on top of it. I had to watch my step so no one could hear me. I held on tightly to the roof and pulled myself up before rolling to my side. I crawled like a cat to my window and pulled it up from the inside. My room was pitch black, which gave me benefit of the doubt. Maybe my mom was still at the police station waiting for a call. I slid in feet first and landed like a feather.

The light switch clicked and my room lit up, "So, you thought I wouldn't notice you pull that trashcan in front of my house?" My mom asked.

"Damn..." I mumbled as I slowly turned around. "Hey, mama." I forced a smile.

"Don't hey mama me! Where the fuck you been? You think you can sneak in and out my mother fucking house like you pay bills!"

The door creaked open, "Mama... Oo." Hakeem said as he backed out.

She snapped her neck, "No, you get in here cause you finna hear this shit too!" Hakeem walked inside and closed the door behind him. "Cause both of y'all sneaking 'round thinking y'all slick." She walked towards me with her hand held out. "Give me your phone."

"But mama I—"

She gritted her teeth, "Say one more thing, and you getting popped." I took my phone out of my pocket and handed it to her, "You ain't getting this shit back til you pay your own bill, and from now on, both of y'all coming straight home after school, Jessica and Zelda included."

Hakeem stood up straight, "But mama, basketball tryouts is coming up!"

"I don't give a fuck! You should've thought about that before you went to Chris's little party and came home late, 'bout drunk as a skunk." She scoffed, "Mhm, y'all thought I wasn't gonna find out? Grown folks talk." She handed Hakeem money, "Now go get me an iced mocha from Starbucks." She put her hand on her head. "Done ran me hot."

He counted the money, "This ain't enou-"

She put her hand up, "Go, you got thirty minutes."

He walked behind her and left, "Now, I ain't done with you. I know you weren't at Dynasty house so tell the truth."

Z•E•L•D•A

I wrapped my locs in a bun and walked out of the bathroom. I stopped in my tracks as a toy car zoomed across my feet. "Ouch!" I rubbed my pinkie toe.

Jessica looked at me with a poker face, "Really? It's just a toy car."

"No, that really hurt I stubbed my toe earlier." I walked further into the room. "Isn't he supposed to be sleep or something?" I plopped onto my bed.

"Aries, it's bath-time!" She walked into the bathroom and Aries pouted.

He shook his head, "No, I want play time!" He shouted, and I chuckled.

"Is that my favorite nephew I hear!?" Hakeem said while holding his hands out.

Aries jumped up, "Uncle!" He ran towards Hakeem and he swooped him up.

Jessica peered in, "Ugh, Hakeem please put him down it's time for his bath."

"My mommy never made me take baths!" He yelped and buried his face in the crook of Hakeems neck.

Hakeems lip flared, "Oh! Is that what I'm smelling?" He sniffed Aries armpit. "You stinky."

Aries giggled, "No I not! Your breath stinky." He pinched his nose and Hakeem tickled him.

I couldn't stand kids, but watching Hakeem interact with Aries was too cute. I couldn't help myself, I was grinning away. I looked at Jessica, who was unphased by the entire situation. She stood with her arms crossed and tapped her foot impatiently. Somebody must have peed in her cereal this morning.

Hakeem looked at Jessica and his smile faded, "Alright little man." He put Aries down. "You gotta hop in that tub."

Aries shook his head and sat on the floor in protest, "No."

"No?" Hakeem looked at the ceiling and knelt down, "How about this, if you take a bath afterwards you can have some McDonalds."

Aries eyes lit up as he bounced to his feet, "Okay!" He shouted before running pass Jessica to the bathroom.

She huffed, "You're not supposed to bribe kids into doing what you want..."

He rolled his eyes, "Okay, Mom." He left the room.

H•A•K•E•E•M

I walked into Starbucks and stood in line. I looked at my timer seeing I only had 10 minutes left, but I was gonna use getting Aries McDonalds as an excuse. I moved up in line and saw Ariel standing at a register. I ain't never seen a girl look so good in green, a green apron at that. There was a Starbucks by the crib, but of course I picked the only one that was 19 minutes away, just to see her. I'm not a stalker though, I swear. The man in front of me collected his items and moved out the way. I approached the register and leaned on the counter.

Ariel chuckled, "Man, you work at the farthest place from the school and still see people you know." She shook her head. "How can I help you, Hakeem?"

I licked my lips, "By sliding that number over. No pressure."

She sucked her teeth, "Hakeem, I'm at work."

I wagged my finger, "Where's that sign at?" I searched the room. "There it is!" I pointed. "We shall never deny a costumer even the most ridiculous request." I read aloud and cheesed.

She rolled her eyes, "I will forever hate that sign. You're not even a costumer." She shrugged.

I crinkled my brows, "Says who?"

"Says the ghetto boys don't drink at Starbucks rule."

I shook my head and tsked, "You and me both know that's a stereotype and I'm a grown ass man."

"Tuh, grown?" She laughed.

"If you want, I can show you something, so you can see how grown I really am." I pulled on my Gucci belt buckle.

She put her hand on her chest, "Um! Your order, please."

I chuckled, "Exactly what I thought." I put my hand on chin and looked at the menu. "Uhm get me two medium iced mochas both with 1% milk and a hot chocolate with regular whole milk."

Shy tapped on the screen, "Who's the hot chocolate for?"

"Aries."

She looked up from the computer screen, "Is that all for you?"

"Naw, when do you get off work? Let me take you somewhere."

She rolled her eyes, "No time soon." She turned on her heel.

"Come on, Ariel. You always playing hard to get." I took out my card. "You acting like we ain't almost kiss."

She stopped walking and turned to me, "Hakeem, you ain't nothing but a boy who plays girls like a deck of cards. I can guarantee you that kiss wouldn't have meant anything to you." She walked away.

"You ain't even tell me the cost!" I put my hands out.

Quickly, a white-haired girl took her spot, "Your total is $22.50." She cheesed.

I put my chip in the pin pad, as they announced my name. Grabbing my crate full drinks I exited, hearing the door ring behind me. I hopped inside my car, and swerved out my parking spot, making the crate collapse on the floor. I slammed on my brakes and quickly picked everything up, luckily nothing spilled. I squinted my eye picking up a cookie bag.

"I ain't order this though..." I whispered, flipping it over where a note was written, "My number, so I can call you when I need a ride."

I smirked, I knew she wanted me.