Huey's POV

"Smash! Smash! Smash!"

I stared at what now used to be my phone, in utter shock. Granddad had smashed it with a hammer. Dammnit, now what am I gonna escape reality to, besides books?

"Huey! I'm sick and tired of this bullshit! You're too damn depressed! You don't even wanna spend time with the damn family! You know what, take yo' narrow ass upstairs and don't come out that room till I tell you to! Damn, got me up in here yelling, raising my damn blood pressure. C'mon Riley, let's go out for some of that chicken!"

I lowered my eyes to keep Granddad from seeing that they were tearing up. They were tearing up because it was true. I am depressed and I can't help it. I'm not happy. I'm never happy. Only thing I get happy about is when we talkin' bout Black History in Social Studies class. I'm not good at anything, well except school. I can't draw, or sing, or swim. I can't do anything in the athletic field. And Riley makes fun of me all the time because of that, and it makes me sad even though I tell him to shut the fuck up and then go back to reading my book. He calls me names that I don't show my feelings towards on the outside. But on the inside, they make me feel even more depressed. I just wish people would understand how I feel. Oh, and in case you were wondering, Granddad got mad at me because I was sitting at the table, not saying anything to him. I was feeling down at the table and now he's mad.

I went upstairs and slammed my room door, ignoring Granddad hollering at me for slamming doors in the house. I sat on my bed in the dark and allowed my tears to fall. I'm so ashamed of myself. I hate my life. I don't have a mom, cuz she's dead, and my dad's in jail. Why? All because of me. I wasn't good enough for anything. They tried to get me to play ball, but I failed miserably at that. One day, when I came home from school, I found a note on the counter. It was from my mom. It had said:

'Look, Huey, I'm sorry but…Mommy has to go. I need to leave. I just can't do it Huey….I'm sorry.'

I began to shake and cry even harder at the memory. And then, three days later, she was found dead by some night club place. After the news got around, my dad came home really drunk and beat the shit out of me. He said I was a worthless piece of shit and that even Riley was better than me. Ever since that day, we were left on the steps of Granddad's house and I've been depressed, guilty and sad. Now, even Granddad hates me. I was about to lay down because my head hurt when I heard soft knocking on the door. Who was it? No one knocks on my bedroom door. They all just yell at me to open the door or pick lock it open. This time, someone actually knocked. I got really nervous.

"W-who is it?" I stuttered out. Damn, why did I have to stutter? I'm not a baby!

"It's Riley." Riley? What the fuck is going on with him? He's never ever mindful of people's privacy.

"Go away. I don't wanna talk to you…" I hated that my voice sounded so fucking weak. Now he probably knows that I'm crying.

"No, Huey just…open the damn door, I need to talk to you. Please…just open the door." I felt more tears come to my eyes, almost blinding my sight. Not that I could really see anyway. It's really dark in here.

"N-no. Just go with Granddad. He seems to enjoy your company anyway." I laid down and closed my eyes, the tears streaming out. I was in so much pain. No one gives a damn about me. They all complain about how I'm so depressed and how I need to get a haircut cuz I got too much of an afro.

"Huey…I'm coming in." I didn't even try to tell him no. I knew he was going to pick lock the door anyway. The door opened and closed. I felt the corner of my bed dip, indicating that Riley sat down.

"Huey… you okay nigga?" He asked me. I pulled the pillow over my face, to hide my tears.

"Huey….I know you crying. Look, I'm sorry. About everything. Granddad shouldn't have yelled at you downstairs. He shouldn't have told you that yo' ass depressed. That ain't right. I know that bought up some bad things, cuz I felt them when you tried to hide yo' tears and shit. And I'm sorry. For calling you names, picking on you, and not being a good brother, especially at times when you need me. Like this." Man, who knew Riley could actually be…sensitive? I felt him remove the pillow from my face. I didn't bother to fight him. I was too weak to fight him. He pulled me up into his lap and rubbed my back.

"It's okay Huey…let it out. Let it all out." I did just that. I shook violently as I sobbed into his shoulder.

"I-I h-hate m-my l-life. I hate it! N-no one c-cares about me! They all c-complain about h-how depressed I am! They don't see that I'm h-hurt and in p-pain! Mom didn't care. She fucking hated me and Dad was worse. He beat the shit out of me when she died. He told me I was a worthless piece of shit and that I didn't deserve anything! I just wanna d-dieee!" I sobbed even more. I was remembering pain from when I was little up to now. Riley just held me tight.

"Huey…you didn't deserve that. I still care about you, even though you piss me off. You my brother. And I-I love you Huey. I love you more than you can imagine, feel me? I was just too damn stupid to admit it, but I do love you. I care about you. When Dad beat the shit out of you, I was hurt just because you were. I was even angrier because I ain't, and still ain't, do anything about it. I couldn't stop it. I knew I should've helped yo' ass during those times, but I was just too...I don't even know… I'm so sorry Huey. For everything. I love you." Riley buried his face into my hair and breathed in heavily, before letting it out. I was still crying but I was more in shock at what he just told me. He l-loved me? He l-loves…me? He's guilty for what has happened to me? Just then, I felt his shoulders shaking. He was crying too. I wrapped my hands around his neck and l buried my face in the crook of his neck.

"Riley?" I asked, my voice weak from crying.

"Hm?" He asked, his voice choked up with emotion. I held him tighter.

"I thought you said real niggas don't cry." I heard him laugh. Well, try to laugh, cuz you know, he was crying.

"Yeah well, in a situation like this, real niggas do cry." He answered.

"O-okay." I felt his hands rub soothing circles on my back and he softly rocked me from side to side. I felt my eyes get droopy, so I closed them. I cherished this moment, cuz I knew there wasn't gonna be another moment like this. Just as I was about to fall asleep, Granddad's annoying voice pierced through the calm atmosphere.

"Riley! Boy hurry up! I thought you said you was only gonna get your Jordans. Leave that boy alone! He needs time by himself! C'mon now I'm hungry!" I felt my stomach drop. I began to get nervous. I heard Riley growl low in his throat.

"R-Riley?" I asked nervously.

"Shh, it's okay Huey. Listen, I'll be right back. Don't move, aiight? I'mma just go tell Granddad that I don't feel good." I held him tighter to me.

"No! I don't want you to go. Please don't go." I began crying again.

"Huey, man, calm down. It's okay. Everything gon' be okay." I sniffled.

"Promise?"

"I promise. I'll be right back." Then the unthinkable happened. Riley kissed my forehead and smiled at me. I grinned back softly. He rubbed his thumb on my cheek before peeling me off of him.

"Just give me five, aiight?" Riley asked with a smile. I nodded, grinning. Riley opened the door and left. I laid down and thought about what just transpired in the last 15 minutes. What made me giggle a little was the fact that Riley said he loved me and cared about me. I enjoyed the feeling of having someone care about me. Suddenly, I was ripped away from my thoughts when I heard a bunch of yelling from downstairs.

"What the hell did I tell you about going up there to mess with that nigga? He's depressed goddamnit! He needs to stay his ass up there by himself and think! Riley, don't make me whoop yo' ass! Now get in that damn car, so we can go get this damn chicken!" Granddad yelled. I hopped out of bed to go listen to what was being said.

"No Granddad, I don't wanna go get no chicken! I'm staying right here wit ma brotha. He need me, Granddad, since yo' old ass can't seem to take care of him." Riley said, heated.

"Boy, don't make me slap you across your mouth, now go get in that damn car!"

"No! I don't wanna go! And plus, I don't really feel good. Go get that bitch ass nigga Tom to go with ya. Ya'll supposed to be best friends." I can sense that Riley had crossed his arms.

"Yeah, you right, maybe I'll go with Tom. Now you take yo' narrow ass upstairs too, and make sure that boy doesn't come out of his room!" He yelled. It made me feel sad that he referred to me as "that boy" instead of "Huey".

"'That boy also happens to be yo' grandson, Granddad. Why you hate him so much?" Riley was getting angry. I pinched my arm to keep from crying again.

"Because he gets on my damn nerve! He's so damn depressed. All he does is sits up there and reads that stupid ass book, or not talk to anybody at the damn table, nor does his ass eat anything but fruits and vegetables, talkin' bout soul food gon' kill us, and he talk too damn much about Black History. Smart nigga."

"Well maybe if yo' old ass paid more attention to him, and showed him some affection, he wouldn't be so sad and down. Look man, I'm tired of arguin' with you. I'm goin' upstairs. Ma brotha need me right now."

"Man that short ass nigga is 13. He can handle himself. You twelve. 13 year olds shouldn't be with 12 year olds. That will lead to underage sex." I cringed. Really? And do you have to make fun of my height? Yes, I'm 5 ft tall. It's pathetic. Riley is 5'4.

"Nigga, come on! Ain't nobody gon' have sex up in here! You so damn aggravatin' sometimes, Granddad!"

"Boy watch yo' mouth. Now get yo' black ass out my sight. I got some chicken to go eat." I heard Riley sigh before footsteps made their way up the stairs and to my bedroom. Before I can even make it to my bed Riley opened the door, and looked down at me. Man, now I feel small. I held my hands behind my back and looked down, tears filling my maroon colored eyes again.

"How much did you hear?" Riley asked.

"Everything." I replied.

"Look, Huey don't worry about it, aiight? I'm gon' make sure everything right between all of us again." Riley lifted my chin and gave me a kiss on the head.

"Are you gon' let me in now? I don't want you to sleep alone." He said to me softly. I nodded before moving aside to let him in. I closed the door and crawled into bed. Riley crawled in next to me and pulled me closer to him. I held his hand in mine. I smiled up at him.

"Yo I ain't know you have dimples, Huey. Maybe you should smile more often. That'll lift yo' spirits." Riley remarked. I felt a blush creeping onto my cheeks so I hid my face with my free hand, hoping that he wouldn't see it.

"No, don't look at them! They're really weird!" I was giggling, again. Wow, I didn't know Riley could make me so happy! Now that I think about it, I think I'm starting to like having a little brother. Well not physically little but…well you get what I mean.

"Aye!" Riley exclaimed a bit too loudly.

"What?" I asked, frightened a bit.

"You laughed! I ain't ever heard you laugh before! Well, except for that time when Granddad dumbass fell down the stairs when he was tryna whoop my ass and I heard you let out a lil' snicker." I smiled softly at the memory.

"Yeah, I know. Don't get to do that much often." I looked away from him sadly. I'm always afraid to smile at people, cuz I'm afraid that one day people will use my newfound happiness as an advantage to tear me down and I don't want that again. Not after…you know…the shit with my parents.

"Aye man, c'mon. Don't get all sad. It's iight to laugh every once in a while. Man, I can't believe you showing so much happy shit around me. I'm gettin' all happy now." Riley said chuckling. I smiled again. Then I abruptly sat up. Riley suddenly looked concerned.

"What? What's wrong? What happened?" He asked me.

"Can we play a game?" I asked. I really wanna play a game. You know, to get my mind off things.

"Yeah, sure. What you wanna play?" He asked me.

"Well….uh….can we um…play uh…" I looked away from him blushing. Damn, why am I blushing so much? This is really weird.

"Aye, don't you got the piano tiles game on yo' phone?" Riley suddenly asked. I gulped. Granddad smashed it in my face when he was yelling at me about being depressed. That was the IPhone 6. The only thing I had really to being happy. Well, besides my IPad, but he took that away too. Said he needed a Christmas present for Tom since he didn't feel like going out to get one.

"Oh uh…I did but um….Granddad, he uh…smashed it in my face when you know…he was yelling at me about being depressed." I started playing with my fingers nervously. I was really afraid that Riley was gonna get all mad and never talk to me again, cuz I was too shocked and nervous to say something about it and try to stop him. I know that sounds silly but it's true. I don't want him to leave me here all alone again, and start calling me a "gay ass nigga"…again.

"What?! What the fuck is wrong with that nigga?!" Riley exclaimed. He was really angry. I got really scared and I started to get all teary eyed again. Riley saw my frightened expression and immediately he calm down and looked apologetic.

"Aye, Huey, look I'm sorry, I shouldn't have yelled. But it makes me mad that he done destroyed everything you love and put yo' ass down. I just think it's wrong and unnecessary. Please don't cry, Huey. I'm sorry." Riley held both my cheeks. As the tears escaped my eyes, he used the pads of his thumbs to rub them away.

"Wow, you got some soft cheeks. Has anybody told you that?" He asked me. I blushed a little. No one complements me on anything really.

"No. I don't let people touch me because I'm paranoid that they will you know…do bad things." Man that was childish.

"Nah, they won't. And besides even if they tried, you just gon' karate chop them niggas to pieces anyway."

"Haha, yeah I guess." I said, scratching my head. Riley touched my hair. I let him, because he was being really gentle about it.

"And you got soft ass hair too. What you use in this? Nah, you ain't gotta tell me. Lemme guess, you put in some straight organic shit, like some straight gorilla oil and some leaf oil and some shea butter and some baboon shit and-" I cut him off. Like…da fuck?

"Nigga, what? You know damn well I don't use no damn baboon shit and gorilla oil. Where the fuck do you even buy that shit? I don't even think gorilla oil exists! I usually put shampoo and conditioner. It's like shea butter stuff. And yes, it's organic." I answered him, scrunching my face up in confusion before relaxing and closing my eyes at his gentle strokes in my hair. Isn't this classified as some gay nigga shit anyway in his book? Oh well, I'll ask him tomorrow. I don't wanna ruin the moment.

"Mhmm, suuure, aight. Tch, nigga you probly got some in your drawer right now. You probly be waitin' til everybody sleep before you go all Lion King and shit and turn yo' room into a jungle." I raised my eyebrow at his statement. Where the hell is he getting all of these ideas?

"Haha, whaaaaaaat?" I chuckled out, amused by his statement. Man, Riley sure is something else.

"And you still got all this baby hair. Damn, that stuff's mad soft. I can play in this all day." Riley said. I giggled when he pulled lightly at the baby hairs on my edges, twirling them in his fingers.

"And you got soft ass hands too. Huey, you just soft all over. How many pounds of lotion do you put on? Oh wait, my bad, yo' gorilla oil, I meant to say." Riley asked me, playing with my fingers now.

"For the last time, I don't have no gorilla oil! And I only use a little bit. A little bit of lotion with shea butter that is. I don't feel like rubbing that stuff in all the time." I admitted. He compared our hand sizes. My hand was a lot smaller than his…well not a whole lot but the tips of my fingers reached the top joints of his fingers. I intertwined them and looked up to his maroon eyes. They were full of love and affection as he stared into my identical maroon pools. I smiled at him softly. And then I yawned. Really loudly. My eyes watered from the yawn.

"Hehe, looks like a nigga's getting tired." Riley chuckled, poking my forehead.

"No I'm-" I was interrupted by a bigger yawn. "Okay maybe I am." I admitted, rubbing my eyes.

"C'mon, let's go to bed. We could play a game tomorrow." He offered.

"Okay." I agreed. We got under the blankets, and Riley held me close to his body, rubbing my baby hairs again. Man, he sure does like my baby hairs. I smiled a little at that thought before burying my face into the crook of his neck, getting comfortable.

"I love you, Huey." Riley whispered in my ear. I smiled real big at that. I felt special. Finally, someone loves me and appreciates me in this world. In fact, I think that was the first time anyone has told me they loved me.

"I love you too, Riley." And just like that, I fell asleep.

…..

Riley's POV

I stared at my older brother sleeping. Man, I never seen that nigga cry so much until tonight. Let alone smile AND laugh. That's the first time I ever witnessed those things. Up til tonight, I ain't realize how much I actually cared about Huey. I didn't realize that he's been through so much. Tonight, this is the saddest and happiest I seen him.

Usually, he always so sad and down. But tonight, I made a change. And I hope to keep it that way. I like this side of him. I like to see him happy and smiling. It makes me smile. And his laugh is contagious. It's light and airy. "Riley, one day Huey gon' grow up and say that you the best thing that ever happened to him." I smiled at that. Then I thought about him smiling and giggling again. Like a thirteen year old should. I held my sleeping brother tighter and drifted off myself.

….

Riley's Dream Sequence

"Riley! Can we go get ice cream? You know, the vegan stuff that I like!" A very happy Huey asked me excitedly, as he tugged on my hand. I looked up from my work and smiled at him because he was smiling. His dimples made him look mad cute.

"Yeah, sure." I got up.

"Yay!" Huey exclaimed, excitement glittering in his eyes.

"Ight, let's go." Together, we walked out the door, away from a passed out Granddad, and away from the gloomy place we call home. I held his hand as we walked down the street to the store. Then suddenly, everything went red, and things started to catch on fire.

"Riley? W-what's happening?" A frightened Huey asked me.

"I don't know man. Yo, we gotta get up out of here. This ain't safe Huey." I heard no response. I then realized that no one was holding my hand. I looked down, panicking, and I realized that he wasn't next to me anymore.

I then heard a screaming Huey, but I couldn't exactly pinpoint where. Everything was getting fuzzy. I couldn't move or do anything. All I could do was watch. Another cry for help pierced the air and that's when I finally found Huey. That fat ass nigga named Ruckus was gripping Huey. He held a blade to Huey's throat. Huey was crying, as he tried to cry out for help one more time. I couldn't move for some reason.

"Yo' black ass don't deserve to live on this Earth, Huey Freeman. You black. And you know I hate black niggas like you." I watched, hopelessly, as Huey was screaming to get out. He was crying really hard. The blade pierced the skin on his neck and then he slumped to the ground. Blood poured out of him. I was in shock. No! Huey! I tried to move again, but I couldn't. What the fuck was going on?!

I saw a big ass shadow on the ground. Then there was harsh chuckling.

"Hehehe, look at this, yo' black ass couldn't even save your own brother. That just shows how much ya'll black niggas don't mean shit in this world." I looked up, and saw that nigga with the same bloodied blade he used to kill Huey. He roughly grabbed my hair.

"You deserve to die too! This is for all the white people!" Ruckus yelled.

"NOOO!" And just like that, everything went black.