Art is a kind of confession, more or less oblique. All artists, if they are to survive, are forced, at last, to tell the whole story; to vomit the anguish up. – James Baldwin
4 am...
India...
I enter the house, closing the door behind me quietly while putting my drenched umbrella in the holder. After classes yesterday, I went out to just clear my mind on the situation with Kane. It's starting to bother me the way we have to sneak around, and I hate lying to my parents.
Also, I'm jealous that Imer and Imani can parade around in public with their significant others, and I have to pretend to be single. Kane keeps begging me to not tell them, but I don't think I can do this any more. At least not after tonight.
I walk through the house to the elevator, boarding it pressing lower level. The doors open and the lightening brightens up the dark hall. I skim the rooms looking for Kane's, trying to make sure I go in the right room. The thunder roars causing me to jump from the shadow behind me.
"Fuck you doing down here?" Bully's deep voice startles. I hold my chest, and breathe heavily.
"Bully you scared me."
"And Ima ask again, fuck is your fast ass doing down here?" Bully raises his brows and I frown, fiddling with my fingers.
"I'm looking for Kane." I mumble. Bully looks at me suspiciously.
"For what?"
"I need to talk to him. I need a ride to my afternoon classes tomorrow, well today." I lie, I don't have classes tomorrow.
"Oh, well his room is the third door on the right. I don't think he's up though." Bully confirms, walking around me.
"Ok. I'll catch him in the morning then." I mumble, walking off toward the steps. I peek around the wall, seeing Bully walk to the door of the hall to his room closing the door. I tip toe over to Kane's room, twisting the door revealing it's locked.
I take a bobby pin out my ballerina bun, picking the lock. The door opens and I enter, closing the door quietly so I wouldn't wake him. I sit my bag on the dresser while stripping off my rain coat. I kick off my sneaks, taking off my shirt and jeans leaving on my bra and panties.
I pull the covers up from the foot of the bed, crawling to head of the bed with Kane. I lay on top of him, laying my head in the crook of his neck feeling him pull the covers up and wrap his arms around me.
"You not suppose to be down here India." I sit up, watching his eyes flutter open. He licks his lips, flexing his jaw as I lean in kissing him. I put my hand on his neck, sighing as we kissed deeply.
"I just want you body against mine Kane, please." I whisper pulling back. I know I'm not suppose to be down here, but I don't care anymore. It is what it is.
°°₩°°
10am...
Bricks...
I rise from the mattress, laughing as Zee rolls over and sighs in aggravation. She was comfortable laying hugged up, but I gotta get ready for work. I position myself to my feet, slapping her ass as she groaned cursing me out.
"Stop asshole." She grumbles.
"I wasn't an asshole a few hours ago now was I?" I chuckle, holding myself while looking back at her with a smirk. She smacks her lips, rolling her eyes and turning over.
"I'll be glad when ya ass get old and we can't fuck anymore." She mumbles. I burst into laughter, turning on the shower.
"Ima still be beating the kitty up at like ninety something."
"Shiiiiiid you gone be beating ya meat nigga cuz look, ain't nothing popping, squatting or bending over round here when I'm ninety. Hell I might be in a wheelchair." We both laugh as I get in the shower.
"I doubt it, ya pops is eighty and he still walking around like he's twenty-five. Body built and all, shit I'm trynna get like him."
"That man really doesn't age at all." Zee laughs, joining me in the bathroom. I laugh, shaking my head and getting in the shower while cranking some tunes. After a thirty minute shower, I hop out and get dressed in my clothes I pressed last night. After fixing my tie, Zee and I leave out the room down the steps.
"I'll meet you downstairs, Ima go see if India is in her room." I nod, jogging down the steps to the first floor and enter the kitchen. I grab my protein shake, turning towards Zee who has tears in her eyes.
"What's wrong with you?" I question.
"India is not in her room, and she won't answer her phone." She's sighs. That's not like India to leave for 18 hours almost 24 hours, and not say a thing. And when she doesn't answer phone, she at least text back to let us know she's aight. So where the hell is she?
"Yo. Y'all see India?" I question the guards. The majority of them shake their heads no.
"Yea boss, she came in around four in the morning at the lower of the house. Said she was looking for Kane. After that I ain't see her." Bully shrugs. I furrow my eyebrows, moving around Zee. The guards sleep at the lower level and I know damn well my daughter better not be doing what I think she doing.
I jog down the steps, going to Kane's door putting my ear up to it. I don't hear anything and with these thick ass doors I wouldn't be able to hear shit. I twist the knob, opening the door to India and Kane hugged up in the bed. I sigh heavily, about to walk in and murk this little nigga but Ima relax. Then again...
"Jefe Antonio Gomez." Zee calls from behind me. I smack my lips, mocking her call my name and close the door back.
"What?" I question, turning toward her in a glare.
"Whatever you thinking, you better stop. That boy just lost his mother yesterday." Zee reminds, pointing her finger in my face. I swat her hand out my face, sighing.
"What does that have to do with my little girl Zee?" I question saddened.
"She's not a little girl anymore Bricks, you keep failing to realize that. A lot of us do actually, that's why she doesn't like telling us anything." I sigh heavily, shaking my head just thinking how fast all my kids grew up. Especially my baby girl, I couldn't go nowhere without her and now she's straying away just like the twins.
"How long you think this been going on?" I question, pointing at the door. Zee shrugs, screw face.
"I don't know Jefe. Does it matter?" She questions. I lean on the door, running my hands down my face.
"Yes it does. She hid this shit from us Zee, you're not upset?" I question in irritation.
"No, I hid that she had a twin Bricks. We both did so in a way, she has a right to hide it from us. She'll tell us when she's ready Bricks." She assures, turning on on her heel and making her way up the steps. I sigh heavily, opening the door just to see India snuggle her head up against Kane's bare chest. I guess I gotta face reality, she's not my little princess anymore. She's a full grown woman.
"Bricks, come on baby before you're late to work." I close the door back, traveling up the steps in deep sighs. I just don't want India to get hurt, physically or emotionally. I've known Kane since he was a kid, but I know how his father Brannon was. Nigga was a playa, don't care if you was married or not. He was funny as hell, but he had to be put in his place countless times. I'll just have to have a talk with him. Man to man. This is my baby girl we talking about.
°°₩°°
Somewhere in Santa Fe, Mexico...
Octavius...
"O! O!" Kareem calls, shaking me. I roll over, and groan.
"O get the fuck up! Somebody is at the door for you." She snaps. I sit up screw face.
"Who the fuck you talking too like that!"
"You nigga! Get the fuck up and go to the door!" She exclaims. I slap the piss out of her, knocking her to the floor as she crawls up in sobs. I don't know who the fuck she think she is, but she needs to check herself.
"Fucking bitch, clean this shit up before I give your ass something else to cry about!" I order, placing my feet on the floor. I've been up for weeks now, and of course I lost memory. The homies had brung me to my pops get away mansion in Mexico while I was still in my coma. They explained to me what's been going on and in an instant my memory came right back. But I gotta lay low, at least until I think of another plan.
"Who at the door Ra?" I question Ramir. He shrugs, biting into a sandwich.
"Some bum bitch." He says with a mouth full, we both laugh.
"Some bum bitch that'll whoop your scrawny little ass." The woman proclaims, entering the living room. I look at her up and down, knitting my brows.
"I know you ain't just walk into my shit?" I rhetorically state with raised brows. She laughs, sitting her bag down on the antique table.
"But I did. You kids now a days have no type of hospitality, manners or morals. This nigga, what the fuck is your name?" She points.
"Ramir." He dryly replied.
"Yea well Ramir, seen me hot, sweating and dehydrated yet didn't have the fucking common decency to let me in. And don't get me started on how his block headed ass answered the door. 'What', pshtt. You couldn't work my for my ass, I'd shoot your ass blank in the head." The woman scoffs, taking a seat. I nod my head toward the kitchen to Dustin, and he goes to fetch a glass of water.
The woman does look weary and weak. Her rags are torn as if she walked miles, not to mention the sweat that descends from her flushed flesh. She looks to be around her early thirty's, her body is crazy but I'm confused as to who she is. I never seen her before. Dustin hands her a glass of water, she fans herself taking it.
"Thank you." She guzzles down the refreshment, sighing in satisfaction. She drenches her face with the condensation from the cold glass, sitting it down after.
"It ain't nothing like some cold water." She laughs.
"Do any of you boys have a cigarette?" She questions, looking at all three of us. Ramir takes a pack of Newport's out his pocket, taking out one for her. She toasts it between her lips that holds red lipstick, Dustin lights it for her. With her index finger and thumb she holds the butt of the cigarette, puffing in large sums. She takes it from her lips, inhaling for a few minutes then exhales the heavy smog.
"Ok, you got your water and a smoke. Do you wanna explain why you're here?" I question, taking a seat. She flicks the dead ashes in her cup of half drunken water, nodding.
"I'm here to help you with your problem." She says, sitting back in her chair with a smirk as she crosses her legs.
"And how do you plan on doing this?" I question, she laughs and takes another puff. She blows the smoke out her nose, squinting her eyes.
"I'm really close to the Gomez family. And the one who doesn't obey by the rules is the little one." She informs. I jolt my head back with a screw face.
"Little one?"
"You're bout as stupid as your father. Yes the little one, India. The babygirl." She says with attitude.
"And how do you know this?" I questions unprovoked.
"I have ears in that house Octavius."
"I never told you my name yo, who the fuck are you?" I question standing to my feet. The homies and I all clock guns around her head, watching her unbothered attitude. She stands to her feet, throwing the cigarette on the hard wood floor, putting it out with the ball of her foot.
"I knew your father and mother, how do you think you got the news about your father?" She smirks. I furrow my eye brows in confusion as she laughs. I don't know what to say at this point, I just wanted revenge but didn't really know how to move in silence. Maybe she can help and I can learn some shit.
"Kareem! Come get this woman a towel, rag and some clothes." I order. The woman smiles, holding her hand out. I'm hesitant, but I shake her hand in return. Why do I feel like I just sold my soul to the Devil himself?
°°₩°°
Later That Night...
India...
"Stop Imer! Move!" I whine, pushing him out my way. My mom made dinner and usually when she cooks a big feast, that means we're about to have a deep discussion. Everyone had to say at least something positive or negative. Just so we can keep up with the family. We don't hang out 24/7 like we use to growing up. Our parents have gotten older, us kids are now adults trying to get ourselves together with school and work, we're just busy.
"No! I was here first." He argues.
"No you wasn't! You bust in front of me!" I whine.
"What are we in kindergarten?" He chuckles.
"Mommy tell him to move!"
"Girl will you quit that damn whining. Giving me a headache." MomMom Lisa groans, shoving a plate in my hands. I smile, turning around and frown when Yoko sticks her finger in my yams.
"My germs." She laughs sneaky like, taking the plate from me. I should of threw that plate right in her face.
"Mo-"
"Here girl damn. Now out my kitchen." My mom flags, pushing me out the threshold. I frown at the lightweight plate, smacking my lips as I sat down next to Yoko who's devouring her food.
"You know we're suppose to say-" My MomMom Sidney cuts me off.
"Yoko, fork down. You gotta say grace first."
"But I'm so hungry." She groans.
"You just ate like an hour ago." PopPop chuckles.
"Y'all just let her eat in peace please." Zues laughs, sitting beside her. I look down at her stomach noticing the weight gain in her hips and thighs gasping. She covers my mouth in laughter, furrowing her brows for me to chill out. Awww, they done spoke their little play around into existence.
After a while, the whole family sat down to eat. We said grace, then began eating. All you could hear was the silverware hitting the plates, not one soul opened their mouth to speak.
"Pass the gravy." Yoko whispers. I laugh, handing her the bowl.
"Wait wait, the hot sauce too." She laughs and whispers.
"Why are you whispering?" I question lowly, passing her the bottle of hot sauce.
"Because it's quiet. Now, pass the bowl of corn." I laugh uncontrollably, shaking my head as I hand her the bowl of corn.
"Damn, we still on our first serving. Who pigging out?" My dad laughs. Yoko pushes her plate away in embarrassment, looking down in her lap. Zeus chuckles, pushing it back towards her.
"It's Yoko, and she's expecting." He says. I clap all in excitement as everyone awws and congratulates her and Zeus.
"It's about damn time. He was talking about planting that seed in the soil for years." Ramel chuckles, feeding Raine her food. We all laugh because it is true.
"Aww baby, we're going to be grandparents." MomMom Sidney laughs.
"Shiiiiid I'm already three times over my limit. Congratulations on your first grand baby though." PopPop laughs, cutting a piece of steak. MomMom Sidney smacks her lips, laughing as she nudges his arm.
"How far along are you?" My mom questions.
"Three weeks. And I can't wait for like our fifth month check up. Shit I've been excited since the--" Zeus clears his throat, shaking his head with closed eyes.
"Oh I can't say that?" She giggles.
"No baby, much too much." Zeus laughs, rubbing her non existent tummy. I smile, as I picked over my food. I wasn't really hungry after all that whining I did earlier. I guess it was just to ignore the fact that I had this vomiting reaction.
"Well that's good news to start dinner with, more positive notions." My mom laughs.
"Yea because your girl graduates in two weeks." Imani excites, doing a little dance.
"Damn already?" My father chuckles.
"Yep. I bought my cap an-"
"I've been dating Kane secretly for a month in a half." I blurt out, cutting Imani's gloat. My PopPop coughs, hitting his chest as MomMom Sidney pats his back in confusion. By now the whole table was just staring at me, I couldn't hold it in anymore. I lock eyes with Kane as he shakes his head, turning on his heel to the door and my heart sunk. Was he really doing this? Right here and now when I need him the most.
I push my seat back from the table, taking the napkin from my lap. I throw it on the table, running to the door to stop him.
"Kane!" I call as the tears brew. I look around the front yard, hearing tires screech and a car speed down the street. I furrow my brows as my tears blur the vision causing a heavy heart.
"Kane!" I call.
"Just let him go." I hear my father say from behind me. I turn towards him as he stood at the door, just watching my heart break in two. The only reason I told is because I'm really starting to love Kane, but if he would of stayed long enough to hear me say it, he would then understand my reasoning.
"I love him daddy. I love him." I sob as he walks towards me. I burry my head in my father's chest, hugging him tight as he kissed my forehead.
"I know you love him baby girl, but you gotta give him time and space. It won't be easy, but you have to be willing to have the patience. Lord knows I went through the same shit with your mother, but in the end she finally came around. I know how you feel." He says to me.
I after shock, sniffing as I wiped my tears. I guess my father is right, maybe I should just let Kane be. I mean, he was the one that wanted to keep it a secret, but I wanted the whole world to know. Why won't Kane let me in?
Awwww, poor India. A hard lover just like her father. Y'all catch how India and Kane are the roles switch of Bricks and Zee? Hmm? No...ok. ☹️
Zee talking sense to Bricks crazy ass. 😂😂
Octavius and this mysterious woman. Thoughts? 👀
Zeus and Yoko expecting, but y'all knew that. 😂👏🏽❤️
Thoughts on chapter?