CHAPTER ELEVEN

Sakyja's Sweetening

Houston, TX.

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10:34 am.

Ky had just woken up. She could hear the birds chirping and she could see the morning sun shining through the window, well a little.

Tae had black out curtains so you only got a little bit of natural light. Anything else would have to be done by flicking on the handy dandy.

Ky looked to her side seeing Tae laid out next to her in a deep sleep. They were at the top of the bed where all the pillows were and she couldn't even remember moving up there.

As she got up out the bed to freshen up, she made sure to not wake him. She should have made as much noise as possible though being that he broke her phone.

Ky walked to his bathroom and looked up his sink for extra toothbrushes. Finding a pack, she pulled one out and wet it, beginning to brush her teeth.

After brushing, she gargled with sone mouth wash and ran some floss through her teeth. She washed her face and moisturized it using his vaseline that sat on his sink.

Ky shut the light off before walking back out in to the room. As she walked back out, her eyes fell on the phone box that sat on one of his night stands.

"Please be for me. Please be for me." Ky pleaded and prayed as she reached for the box.

She opened the box seeing a black IPhone, and she tapped the screen seeing a picture of her on the lock screen . She didn't know what number it was but it looked better than her old one. She was so happy and grateful. He was an asshole for breaking it but at least he replaced it.

Ky sat the phone back into the box and closed it then sat it back on the dresser. She would fool with it later, she wanted to lay back down with Tae.

She had never shared the bed with anyone other than her mommy and bestie, so no man at all. To lay under Tae, and feel his body warmth was a feeling. It was a rather new feeling but it felt good.

Ky climbed back into bed, snuggling under Tae feeling him instantly wrap his arms around her tightly. She let out a sigh that she didn't even know she was holding before smiling and snuggling even closer.

"You see your new phone? I put your old SIM card in it so everything should be on there." Tae grumbled out.

"Yes. Thank you and thank you again." Ky said. "You got you a new one too?"

"Yea, the same one as you." He answered.

"Twinsies. Sorry for chunking your phone out though." Ky apologized.

Tae didn't respond but instead just drifted off back to sleep before waking up again to tell Ky something else about her phone.

"I put it on do not disturb since you were sleeping , you may want to take it off since you up now." Tae said causing Ky to reach for the phone and doing what he said.

Ky put the phone back down and snuggled back into Tae. They both drifted off to sleep, Ky holding onto Tae's body as he snored into her neck.

—————

2:37 pm .

"We don't even have each other's number." Ky laughed at how they had gotten so close but couldn't even text each other if they needed to.

"Man it all happened so fast. Here." Tae said sharing a laugh with her as he put his number in to her phone.

Ky smiled at her phone as she typed in a contact name for him. She didn't do alot of emojis so she was trying to make it cute some other way how. She failed to find a cute name that wasn't corny so she just plain jane'd it.

Tae

"What's my name in your phone?" Ky asked, trying to make sure she wasn't doing too less.

"Mama." Tae answered making her blush. She had to find a cute nickname for him as well but she wasn't good at it.

"Im going to take you back home tonight. Ok?" Tae said looking into his phone.

"Okay. Let me tell my mom." Ky answered, clicking into her phone app from her Home Screen.

She typed in her mother's number seeing her contact pop up and the phone start ringing.

"Sakyja Senai Carter." Sakina's voice boomed through the speaker on the phone.

"Ma'am? What I do? I cleaned before I left." Ky said as her heart raced and she began twiddling her fingers.

Ky knew her mom was upset about something being that she called out her full name like that.

She just didn't know what she was mad about and that had her even more nervous and anxious.

"Why have you been gone out this house for 2 days and haven't picked up your phone to call or even answered my calls?" Sakina asked, bass being heard deep in her voice.

"Mommy I was enjoying my self and then I went to sleep and then I broke my phone on accident and it was just a lot going on." Ky rambled and stumbled over her words.

"Oh really? Because I talked to Jaliy to see if you were with her and she said she couldn't reach you either and you were with some lil' nigga!" Sakina yelled over the phone making Ky sigh.

Jaliy talk too freaking much.

"I think I'm a pretty nice size." Tae said shrugging, making Ky reach over and pinch him as hard as she could.

"Nigga, I'll beat yo ass nigga!" Sakina said before shuffling around.

Tae chuckled before going to sit on the couch and giving Ky her privacy to talk to her mom.

"Ma, I'm coming home today. Can you yell at me then?" Ky pleaded with her mom earning a sigh.

"Yes. Be ready for your whooping too." Her mom said in all seriousness.

"Ma I'm too old for whoopings now." Ky said laughing.

"Think that if you want to." Her mom said before giving her the three beeps.

"She do so much." Ky said laughing before walking towards the couch where Tae was sitting.

She sat down beside him and not long after, he got up. She looked up at him, her eyes glued to him as he walked off.

That was weird.

"Tae." Ky called out, getting up and walking right behind him. "Did I do something wrong?"

"Naw. I'm about to take you home in like an hour tho. I'll get you some to eat on the way." He spoke out, head in his phone, as he furiously typed.

"What's wrong?" Ky said grabbing his arm only for him to jerk back.

"Fuck back." He spat out, before hiking his pants up and walking away.

Ky was left standing there with a confused look on her face but she wasn't necessarily upset. This was just how Tae acted so she knew now to take it personal. She was just confused on what changed in his demeanor that fast.

"I can't worry." Ky shrugged, sitting back on the couch before she heard yelling from Tae.

She stood back up and tip toed to his closed door and put her ear up to it, her nosiness taking over her body.

"What the fuck I'm paying you for then?" Tae said aggressively.

"Bullshit. It's been 2 years nigga. I must need a new lawyer?" Tae said again sounding even angrier than at first, if that was even possible.

"Fuck off my phone before I be needing a lawyer next." Tae laughed out and hanging up the phone.

Ky knew he hung up so she tip toe ran back to the couch and sat down. She was busy trying to catch her breath as she was both nervous and scared. She was hoping he didn't hear her.

"C'mon. I'm gon' go head take you." Tae said, grabbing his keys and walking out the door. He stood on the porch as he waited on Ky to come out.

"Come the fuck on bra." Tae said walking back into the house two minutes later after Ky didn't come out.

"I'm sorry, I had to peepee." Ky yelled from the restroom as she hurried and wiped.

"Just lock the bottom lock when you come out." Tae said, sighing and walking out to the car.

Tae unlocked the doors and got in before huffing loudly. He was so stressed but he had to stay strong and figure shit out.

Ky came strolling out the door and Tae watched her turn and lock the door before skipping to the car.

"This nigga always happy." Tae said letting out a small laugh as he watched her come closer to the door.

"Whew. It's hot out here, ain't it?" Ky asked, dramatically fanning herself.

Tae just crunk up the car and drove off, ignoring her question. It was hot. It was too hot to be talking as well.

The two sat in the car in comfortable silence, well mostly silence. Ky would squeal in excitement every now and then or groan in disappointment when she won or lost her Candy Crush game.

"What you want to eat?" Tae asked as he continued to drive and text on his phone.

"Can I get seafood? I got my own money if it's too expensive." Ky asked looking over at the side of his face.

Tae didn't respond but instead just drove to the seafood place. Ky smiled noticing the way he was going, indicating that the answer was yes.

"Why you never just answer me?" Ky asked.

"Cause ion be wanting to." Tae shrugged.

"You need to work on that then."

"Ion need to work on shit. How bout you work on shutting the fuck up?" Tae snapped off on her. He was already stressed and irritated and Ky just always knew how to get under his skin.

Ky just giggled and went back to her game. She usually would have something smart to say back or even just a look but she didn't. She had gotten used to Tae and his easily irritable personality.

Tae pulled up to the restaurant and slammed cash onto Ky's thigh basically telling her to go get her food. She happily picked up the money and jetted out the car.

"Annoying ass lil brat." Tae mumbled, watching her skip towards the restaurant.

While in the car waiting for Ky to come back, Tae decided to call Saun and tell him about the news he got earlier.

He dialed his number and pressed call before putting the phone on speaker and dropping it in to his cup holder.

"Wassup bih?" Saun answered.

"Man not shit. Whatchu on?" Tae responded.

"Mane not shit. I'm on the way to Day house." Saun chuckled.

"I thought y'all done and in your words you wasn't never fucking with that gnat ass hoe no more?" Tae laughed, shaking his head.

Saun and Dayla had been together since the two were younger. They started off as the childish best friends but as time went on their bond grew deeper and deeper.

They were each others first time, first love, first heartbreak, and more. They couldn't leave each other alone even after they disrespected each other so much and did their own thing.

"You know I love that girl bra." Saun said sighing before laughing. "You still got lil sis with you?"

"Yea I got that bad ass kid with me. She so nosey. She all pressed up against the door while I was on the phone with Jaybo lawyer." Tae laughed before shaking his head and rubbing his hands down his face.

"What Jaybo lawyer tamnbout?" Saun said, his voice cracking and lightening up. Tae couldn't see him but he had a smile painted across his face, praying for good news.

"Man bullshit. He tamnbout Jaybo gone have to serve at least 20 before he can even get a real court date."

"Nigga what? Fuck is he tamnbout?" Saun spat out, the smile dropping off his face.

"That's what the fuck I'm saying. It's been 2 years. You mean to tell me my nigga got to sit in there another 18 before he can see a judge? That's bullshit." Tae said shaking his head.

"I been told you we needed to hire somebody else. Jolsin ass be on bullshit. He don't even be working just be taking a mothafucka money." Saun said.

"I can't lie, I can't afford that shit right now. Unless I go back but I been trying to stay out the streets. Madukes be worried."

"I feel you. I been trying to stay out that shit too. I just can't let Bo sit in there though." Saun sighed out. "I got to."

"Yea. Fasho. Imma hol' atchu later tho." Tae said seeing Ky walking back to the car with her bag of food on her wrist and two drinks in her hand.

Tae reached over and pushed the door open for her before sitting back and staring foward as she got in the car talking.

"The lady was so rude. Acting like I told her to chose that job. If you don't like your job, you need to find another one. Don't play over my food." Ky ranted on as she continued to get her self situated.

"I got you a lemonade, you know if you be thirsty on your drives. Here is your change." Ky said sititng his drink in the cup holder nearest to him then pulling his money on her pocket.

"Keep it." He mumbled before driving off.

Ky just shrugged and put money back into her pocket. He was going to make her keep it anyways wasnt no need to put up a fight.

The ride to Ky's house was again mostly silent. She played with the handles of the brown bag that held her food and some time swirled the straw around in her iced tea lemonade mix.

After about 7 minutes, Tae pulled into her drive way and put the car into park.

"Um well... talk to you later maybe?" Ky said grabbing her things then looking him. He just nodded.

Ky just nodded back before getting out and closing the door, walking up to her front door and pressing the door bell.

After maybe 30 seconds, Isaiah came and opened the door, greeting her.

Once Tae seen she made it in safely, he backed out of her drive way and sped off down the street, calling Saun back.

"Aye bih you at home?" Tae asked after the call connected.

"Fasho. Juke here too." Saun answered making Tae nod and hang up.

————-

"Yea that's the bullshittiest bullshit I ever even heard." Juke laughed out trying to mask his anger and frustration.

"Shit make me wish I never did the shit" Saun said putting his head in his hands as his elbows were propped on his knees.

"Aye don't do that. You didn't have no choice. Your girl and baby was involved." Juke said shaking his head.

"Shit I should be the one feeling like shit. It was my bullet that that hit that man. Jaybo sitting in there for some shit he ain't even do. That's fucking me up." Tae said before huffing.

"I just don't know how Day got in that situation. She still won't even tell me. I had all us out there killing people for a bitch who won't tell me how she ended up there." Saun spat out, getting mad all over again about the situation.

"Saun. Saun help me. He's trying to get me." Dayla whispered over the phone.

"What? What you tamnbout? What's going on?" Saun asked hopping out the bed. He had just woken up.

"My baby. Our baby Saun." Dayla cried out making Saun's heart drop almost instantly.

"Is your location still on Dayla?" Saun asked running out the room into the living room where Juke was laid on the couch, Tae was sprawled out on the floor and Jaybo was sitting on the counter, eating a twinkie.

"Yes. Hurry. I gotta go." Dayla said before hanging up making Saun throw his phone.

"Aye bih is you straight tho?" Jaybo asked looking at him with his face frowned up.

"Mane just get that shit." Saun said frustratedly trying to wake Juke and Tae.

Jaybo just nodded before going towards the back of the house.

"Bitch touch me again watch what I do." Tae said trying to flip over and go back to sleep.

"We gotta go do that shit man get up." Saun said making Tae instantly get up, Juke following after since he heard.

Whenever they referred to something as "that shit" they knew it was something serious, too serious to be said plainly out loud.

————-

"Get the fuck down, what is you doing?" Tae whispered yelled at Jaybo who was standing straight up with no mask on, shooting.

"Making sure this pussy dead. Fuck you mean?" Jaybo spat out with his face frowned as he continued to shoot into the house from the car.

"POLICE POLICE. GO." Juke yelled at Dayla who they had driving the car. She cried as she sped off.

Tae let out a shot to one of the young niggas as they chased behind the car shooting. He aimed for the head but only being successful at a shoulder shot since Dayla turned the car swiftly to the left.

• • •

"This young man is deemed to be armed and dangerous and if you see him, it is advised to not engage. Instead it is advised to call local law enforcement and let them handle it." The news reporter said as Saun,Dayla,Tae, Juke, and Jaybo watched the tv.

A well drawn picture of Jaybo sat on the screen making everyone sigh. They couldn't catch a break.

"Told your stupid fucking ass to sit the fuck down. You just had to be a hot nigga." Tae mugged Jaybo.

"Yes I'm Bobby, the fuck." Jaybo said laughing even though he was stressed on the inside.

He wasn't scared to go to jail, he had been before. He just was worried about his mama and his family. He didn't have room to leave them but for his brothers, he would do anything.

"And it's killed or be killed. You wanted me to sit there and let them run up on the car bussin' ? Fuck on Syx." Jaybo said mugging him back, getting mad all over again.

"Y'all it's not the time to be arguing. What we gone do?" Dayla said trying to stay strong and be the mediator.

Dayla was 5 months pregnant but she had a miscarriage due to her being beaten very badly and stress. She was hurting but she was trying to stay strong for Saun who she knew was hurting even more.

"Ima turn myself in. They got my picture and everything, shit over with. Then it's clearly a rat involved, they got a drawing. Somebody described me." Jaybo said chucking before shaking his head and rubbing his hands down his face.

The room fell silent as they pondered on how to fix the situation. No one came up with anything. It just stayed silent, with an exception of Dayla's sniffling.

Tears ran down everyone's face but they had their head down trying to play it cool.

Juke was hurt because they would never be the same without Jaybo. They all grew up together. He couldn't bare the thought of him leaving them, for a long time at that.

Tae was hurt because he felt guilty. Part of him knew and his mind was telling him because he had missed that shot, that was the reason of it being any witnesses left. He felt like if he was on point a little more that he could have prevented all of this. He felt like he didn't do enough.

Saun was hurt, frustrated, angry, and just all of the above because his girl was in such a traumatic situation. He lost his baby. Now he would be losing his brother too. All in the same breath it felt like.

Then Jaybo. Jaybo didn't know how to feel. He didn't wanna leave his family out here alone but his loyalty to his brothers and what they stood for ran deep. He would do it all over again, knowing the outcome, if he had to.

"Saun."

"Saun."

"Wassup?" Saun said snapping out his thoughts.

"They said Dayla set up." Juke shrugged. He never wanted to say anything but it was all making sense to him now.

"Fuck is you on?" Saun said mugging him.

"She never told you how she got there. She never said what really happened. Let you tell it, every time you asked she tried to cry so she didn't have to talk." Juke explained.

"Naw Dayla wouldn't do no shit like that. And she was pregnant with our baby. She wouldn't get that far along and do all that just to purposely do some shit like that." Saun shook his head.

"You right. I might be wrong. It just seem a lil iffy." Juke shrugged.

"Yea it do. It's been two years though, I can't keep bringing it up." Saun said shrugging and dismissing the conversation.

"Aye Syx." Juke called out to Tae.

They would only call Tae, Syx when they were alone. It was the name he used for doing certain things, they had to keep it under wraps. They fucked up and said it around Mera one time and she had been trying to run it in the ground every since.

Tae didn't go for it though, every she said it he got on her ass. For example, that post. Tae went over there and threatened to shoot her if she didn't delete it and that bitch loved her life so she complied.

"Wassup?" Tae answered looking up from his phone.

"When you getting back in?" Juke asked making Tae instantly mug.

"Shit now. I don't have no choice." Tae answered thinking about all he had to do.

Tae had to help his mom out since she was all out on her own. He had to help his sister with Kaisen, since his dad was in jail. He had to help pay for Jaybo's lawyer, his commissary, and just phone calls when he wanted to talk.

He also wanted to do for people he cared about. Plus, he had his own bills to take care of so he was stressed beyond stressed.

"Type shit. Type shit." Juke nodded before looking over at Saun making Saun just nod.

They all looked at each other before nodding and that's when their old life began again.

————

1:47 am.

It was late at night and Tae laid in the bed thinking about his life. He had just got in an hour ago and instantly got in the shower.

He thought about the decisions he was making and how they had to be made. He felt like he had no choice. He had so much to do and it was only him.

"I miss mama." Tae spoke out to himself as he stared at the picture Ky sent him. She had snuck and took it while he was on his phone.

Tae missed her of course but he knew he would have no time to talk to her as he should so he was trying to detach himself and his feelings from her. It was hard though.

mama

wyd

nothing just looking

at drawing ideas.

wyd?

not shit.

did you need something?

yes.

for you to shut the fuck up.

bye.

Tae laughed before swiping out of the message thread. He got on Instagram watching people's stories out of boredom. He hated social media, it gave everybody false hope in his eyes.

He went to notifications and seen that Ky followed him. He followed her back and clicked on her story, watching it.

She had posted a lot of her artwork and one mirror picture in Tae's bathroom in his clothes.

"She stay with a nigga clothes on. " Tae mumbled out back tapping the story for the 10th time to stare at the picture.

Soon after he fell asleep looking at her picture. The night had exhausted him and it was like he could feel her presence just by looking at her.

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i got so much planned for this book, it's gone be good yall just bare with me.

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poohski🌟 .