Breezey groaned as the shelter's lights flickered on and pushed her out of her sleep. Like clockwork, 6a rolled around and it was time for her to get to her scheduled programming.
It had been a week since she'd been there. Deciding it was the best option once her egg donor sided with her disgusting brother. It honestly didn't surprise B that she did. Her mother never believed anything she said since she was able to talk. Parading a rainbow of men around her became like a game. B would guess who would come into their home next and predict the outcome. Who would stay longer than a week? Who would abuse her mother? Who would try to abuse her?
It had been the same with her uncle. He'd moved in about a year ago because he'd lost his job. He couldn't stay sober long enough to clock in anywhere else. Their family made it a habit to support the man child and it seemed to be his big sister's turn. He tried to hustle but was horrible at it. B used to laugh at his antics until it wasn't funny anymore. The night he'd come into the bathroom and locked her inside had awakened a beast within her. He'd only done it once because B made sure to inflict as much pain onto him as possible. His failed attempt at penetration wasn't any less traumatizing. B waited months to even mention it to her mother and somehow that ended with her running away to the shelter.
It was why B connected to Yani that day in the store. She'd seen her lift some things before, but that day she got caught, B's instinct to protect her kicked in. She didn't know how she knew that Yani had possibly been molested, she just felt connected to her. It wasn't until she and Cash became friends and she questioned why Cash was entertaining Angel's bed that Cash told her they had nowhere else to go. That she had to keep Yani safe.
Cash's ability to forgo her own safety to protect her sister was enough for B to pledge her loyalty. It was something she wished her own mother did. To see Cash do it for her sister was admirable. And not for nothing, since they'd been friends they both looked out for each other. It felt good for B that someone had her back and only expected that in return. In just a few months of them being friends, B could tell it was a forever thing.
And then there was Davon.
One advantage that B learned from her mother was how to hustle men. B perfected her game on boys her age before moving up to those who possessed more resources. Davon was literally the first guy who hadn't fallen for her bullshit and for reasons unbeknownst to her...B loved it. She loved his confidence. His cool demeanor when everyone else around them was hype. She loved how he didn't talk too much but observed everything. He had a short temper but hardly acted on his emotions. It was amazing to watch his facial expressions as he fought to challenge anything around him or remain cool. B basically loved everything about him except the fact that he acted so nonchalant with her.
She would almost think he wasn't interested if she hadn't learned him so well. B just had to wait on him to make his move.
Once she gathered herself and headed over to Cash's for the day, the object of her quiet obsession answered the door.
"You always here," she said, pushing past him.
"I'm working," he said, closing the door. "What's your excuse?"
B smirked. "I don't need one."
Davon chuckled. "Make yourself useful then."
"How?"
"That spaghetti you made last week was decent."
"Just decent?"
Davon shrugged and B rolled her eyes. She eyed the blunt in his hand and went to reach for it. Davon snatched his arm away before she could get it. B whined.
"All the whining gonna get you caught up, little girl."
B blushed at his tone. "Boy, I'm grown."
"Can't be if you don't recognize a grown man when you see one," he said, smoothly, lightly wrapping his hand around her throat. B licked her lips.
"Okay, man...you're right."
"I know I'm right, woman," he said. B laughed but was quickly cut off by Davon pushing his lips against hers.
"You always want the last word," he said, biting her bottom lip. "I'ma fix that."
"You can fix whatever you want."
They both had to laugh because that was so unlike her to give up control that way. B knew the moment she saw Davon with Chris that she was a goner. He'd stood up to her when no other guy had but he wasn't disrespectful. He was aggressive and took care of himself. She liked that.
"It bother you that I'm 16?" she asked, wrapping her arms around his waist. Seeing this moment as him finally making his move, B wanted to be sure he understood what type of time she was on. She wanted to claim him.
"I just turned 18. You straight, woman."
B smiled, deciding she liked him calling her that. "Good."
"No, that's bad!"
They both looked at Cash coming into the kitchen. B giggled as she let go of his waist, but Davon told Cash to shut up.
"I thought you were coming over here to see me?" she whined. B playfully pouted before jumping into Cash's arms.
"You know you're my favorite."
"You a hater," Davon said. Cash threw a wad of money at him and stuck her tongue out.
"Chris told me to give that to you."
"He not here?"
"You would know that if you weren't sucking my best friend's face off."
Davon and Cash started bickering but B was so high on a cloud she tuned them out. A few months ago she had no one she could really trust. Now she had a boyfriend and a best friend. Things were looking up.
The door slammed and the three of them looked up to see Chris pulling Angel in the house. Davon went to help as Cash rushed in front of them. B stepped back, trying not to roll her eyes.
"What happened? Are you okay?" Cash asked, rubbing over his face. Angel groaned and tried to push her away.
"Move Cash, he's high," Chris said. Cash huffed before backing up, allowing them to help Angel to his room.
"It's literally 10 in the morning," Cash huffed. B reached out and gently pulled Cash towards her. When Cash looked up, B nodded towards the basement stairs. Cash silently cursed to see Yani watching, frozen in the doorway.
"Go back to your room," she said, trying not to draw attention to Yani's presence.
"What's wrong with him?" Yani said with watery eyes.
"I'll go down with her," B said. Cash shook her head.
"No, we'll both go." Cash grabbed some snacks from the cabinet. "Let's go watch a movie."
"Rock-a-Doodle?" Yani asked, not moving from her spot. B huffed and Cash giggled.
"You not tired of that movie, Young?" B asked, turning Yani around carefully. She hopped down the steps while shaking her head.
"Santiclair!" she yelled the main character's name. Cash and B both laughed as they got comfortable on Yani's bed. Yani already had the movie in her DVD player.
"Before you hit play, did you finish your homework?"
"I wish it was summer already," Yani pouted.
"Answer the question."
"Yes and Chris checked it."
Satisfied with her answer, Cash sat back against the wall since Yani didn't have a headboard and stretched her legs out in front of her. B laid across the bottom of the bed. Yani hit play before running and jumping on the bed next to Cash. She spread the snacks out in between them before Yani snuggled up to her side. Cash kissed her forehead before they settled in to watch the movie.
"Get the hell up!"
Cash jerked out of her sleep to hear Yani crying at her side and B shuffling her out of the bed. She felt her body being jerked by her arm and she quickly looked up to see Angel stumbling on his feet, trying to pull her out the bed.
"We just fell asleep," B groaned.
"Shut up!" Angel yelled. He pulled Cash again and this time she fell out of the bed into his side. "You know better."
"Cash!" Yani whined.
"It's okay, Yan," Cash tried not to groan from the pain in her arm. "Go back to sleep."
"Stay with me!" Yani whined. Angel was practically dragging her out of the room. She pushed her hand into the wall on the side of the door frame to buy her some time.
"B is going to stay with you," Cash said. "I'll be back."
"Let's go!" Angel yanked her arm again. Cash hissed at the pain that shot through her shoulder."
"Angel take it easy," B said. Cash frowned and shook her head. Angel stopped and his head snapped in B's direction.
"What?"
Cash bit her lip before placing her hand on Angel's chest. "Let's go upstairs." Yani kept crying.
"Make her shut up!" Angel said, trying to go back into the room. Yani screamed and B pushed her behind her. Cash moved in front of Angel and pushed her hand to his cheek.
"She will. B got her. Come on," Cash pleaded. Angel looked down at her for a moment and sighed. Cash could tell he was still high. She wondered what he was on for his high to have lasted this long. She couldn't worry about that now. She had to get him away from Yani. "Let's go, baby."
Angel pushed Cash in front of him but she held on to his hand to make sure he didn't turn around. She could hear B comforting Yani so she sighed in a little bit of relief. Upstairs was dark and still, but Cash could see the light on in Chris' room so she knew that Angel had woken him up as well. A shiver ran down her spine as he pulled her back to his front and began to kiss her neck.
"You know I don't like being in bed without you," he mumbled before kissing her neck. Cash stared at the wall as she made it to the bedroom door.
"I'm sorry...we fell asleep watching a movie."
"It's okay," his husky tone said as he pushed the bedroom door open. "Just don't let it happen again."
That night, as Cash lay in bed after Angel finally went back to sleep. She realized what she had to do. This wouldn't be as simple as running away or finding some place else to stay. She had limited resources and the crew was her only source of income at the moment. Everything wasn't perfect, but with Chris and the crew, B and Yani having her own room, there was only one way to play this. There was only one way to make sure that Yani stayed safe...
Angel had to die.