𝐏𝐈𝐂𝐓𝐔𝐑𝐄 𝐏𝐄𝐑𝐅𝐄𝐂𝐓 ( 𝐚𝐥𝐥 𝐚𝐦𝐞𝐫𝐢𝐜𝐚𝐧 )

𝐓𝐖𝐄𝐋𝐕𝐄

A FEW DAYS LATER, Emberly drove to Crenshaw to attend Shawn's funeral service. She went to pay her respects and be there for Spencer. Dealing with grief is difficult, and she wanted to make sure he knew she was there to support him.

"Quinten Dennis. Marcus Heard. Tyson Glover. Jamerrill Maxwell. Shawn Scott. I'm tired, y'all. This list just keep growing. How many more names do I need to read in here? I've known Shawn Scott since before he could walk. He should be sitting here, next to his beautiful mother. Instead we're saying good-bye to him On Tuesday. We have children leaving our neighborhoods just to stay alive. Y'all ain't tired? This endless cycle of violence. Whose name am I gonna read in here next? Yours? Yours? How about yours? Am I gonna read your name in here next?" Pastor asks.

Emberly glanced at Spencer as she took his hand, intertwining their fingers, which prompted him to give her a faint smile before they both refocused their attention on Pastor.

After the service concluded, Emberly and Spencer approached Coop to check on her well-being, understanding that the day must have been difficult for her. Coop assured them that she was fine, and then she and Patience departed.

After making sure Coop was okay, the pair strolled away from the church towards where she had parked her car.

"How do you think everybody is doing? You think their gonna be okay?" Emberly asks.

"Coop's hurting real bad. Shawn's mom's a strong women. It's ain't fair, man. I can't imagine burying two sons." Spencer says.

"Me either. But like you said she's strong. She's gonna be alright, just gonna take a little time." Emberly tells her.

"Thank you for being here today." Spencer replies, causing Emberly to smile as she looks at him.

"Your welcome. I did come to pay my respects. But I also really wanted to be here for you. We also haven't defined this um-" Emberly scowled a little as she searched for the right word to say.

"What relationship?" Spencer asks speaking the word she wouldn't say.

"So it is a relationship. Good to know." Spencer burst out laughing as she smiled. "Well, I wasn't sure. I mean I obviously want to be in relationship with you but we haven't had like the 'hey, do you wanna be my boyfriend, girlfriend?' talk so I-"

"Yeah, I know." Spencer stops her from talking further by leaning in and placing his lips to hers.

Grinning, Emberly accepted the kiss. She was still getting used to it, but it felt amazing. She was happy and she felt comfrotable. Something she never felt when she was with Jordan.

"Good talk." Emberly speaks when they pulled away from the kiss.

***

THE NEXT DAY, EVELYN FOUND HERSELF at a crossroad outside the restroom, pondering whether or not to enter. Her internal debate was fueled by the presence of Emberly inside, who was busy fixing her hair in front of the mirror for school.

The two still hadn’t talk since the night of the Homecoming dance. Evelyn hadn’t been forcing herself on Emberly. She knew she needed space and that’s what she wanted to give but she missed the presence of her sister. Just as they were fixing their relationship, Asher threw this bombshell on them and slapped them back to square one.

Evelyn didn't know how she would solve this problem or if there was even a solution. There was no set time limit for how long someone could be upset at their sister and boyfriend sleeping together. There wasn't no manual to guide her through this. She would have to figure this out by herself.