SURVIVING AMERICA/ BLM LOVE STORY

TWO

I rolled out of bed then groaned as my alarm obnoxiously screamed for me to wake up. "Fuck off" I mumbled frustratedly as I searched the bed for my phone then found it on my nightstand to the right of me.

The sun shone through the sheer curtains of my window and the birds chirped happily, yet I was in the worst mood. I pulled myself out of bed slowly and stretched my body like I did every morning, before grabbing my toothbrush from off of my mini fridge and headed to the bathroom.

When I stepped out my room, I stumbled over a pair of heels that occupied the middle of the hallway, then kicked them over in front of Sky's door, not knowing who's they were in the first place and sighed in frustration at the realization that someone was in the bathroom.

From where I was standing, I spotted Quentin, Justina's boyfriend, sitting at a bar stool that sat at the island, stifling a laugh while watching me. I scrunched my face and lifted my middle finger at him in anger and headed to the kitchen where he was, eating a bowl of cereal that looked oddly familiar.

"Are those my fuckin honey smacks? And my vanilla almond milk," I questioned, even though I could clearly see them both still sitting out in front of him. "Jadah, you don't even eat cereal as much as a normal human does, don't be selfish, plus, auntie Jas told you to share with me."

Ahh yes, the classsic cousin card. He always somehow managed to get me with that one, even when it came to him crushing on Justina and him trying to get me to put them together back in middle school.

"Come on, I'm your cousin" he said back then. He always managed to throw that in my face, but I loved him for it. Mental note: curse mama out for telling Q that it's okay to steal from me. We both broke as hell and starving as hell, him and Caleb shouldn't smoke so much then maybe they wouldn't be so damn hungry all the time.

I grabbed a bowl and shook the remaining droplets of water from it as a knock sounded at the door, "wakey wakey" the voice said then let out a small chuckle. I rolled my eyes, knowing exactly who it was.

"My mama said I can't have company today so you have to go home Z" I spoke jokingly like a 12 year old, heading over to the door. "I'm not company, I'm your husband, let me the hell in" he spoke. I could just imagine the smirk on his face, the dimple in his cheek.

"Chill out before you really be sitting outside the door awaiting entry" Quintin spoke in his normal overprotective tone of voice when it came to me. I rolled my eyes with a small smile on my face as I opened the door to reveal the dread-head, red eyed, pot-head, light skin who's been best friends with my cousin since 8th grade.

"Good morning world and all who inhabits it" he spoke throwing his arms in the air with a cheeky grin on his face, his eyes low and red due to his morning routine of waking and baking. He spun me around twice by my forearms and kissed my cheek then made himself at home, as always, opening the living room curtains.

"It's so dark and gloomy in here. Where's everyone else?" he asked, taking my bowl from my hands and making himself a bowl of my cereal as I ignored his actions and annoying good mood. "Well the officers who killed Kaelin Harvey still haven't been arrested, so I'm allowed to be gloomy" I spoke, beginning to load the dishwasher.

"Well," he began, making his way to me and placing an arm around my shoulder. His arm was quickly removed by my cousin who I hadn't even noticed was now behind me, adding his dishes to the dishwasher. "Today is a new day, who knows, maybe it'll be the day that they all get arrested" he spoke optimistically.

Sometimes, I hated his Zen, yet chirpy, optimistic attitude. Then again, sometimes, I loved it. On the days where I needed it, he provided it. Hell, he even provided it when I didn't need or want it; nevertheless, I appreciated it and loved him like another cousin, even though he's liked me since I was 10 and he was 12.