Chapter 7: Who's Next?
8:48 am
After a tiresome plane ride, Deondre pulled up to the Marriot in Atlanta. He called up DJ to let him know he was here.
"Aye D, I'm here. I'm at the Marriot." Said Deondre as he walked into the hotel lobby.
"Oh you here? Good. I'm going to come get you. Uncle Nate is with me. We're going to go to breakfast. Is that fine with you?"
"Yeah that's fine with me. I'm starving."
"Dad, you sure you don't want to stay with me? I have an extra room."
"No, no, no. I don't want to invade privacy and I don't want to be a bother. Honestly, I don't want to be around that honey bun shaped face girl right now."
"Haha okay. How was your plane ride? I know how much you hate them haha."
"Ughhhh boy it was treacherous. This dude's snores sounded like 10 million jets. I thought our plane was getting attacked. He was sitting behind me. I tried covering my ears with my boppy pillow, I tried listening to music and watching a movie, it was not working. THEN, on top of that, big boy beside me crunching on peanuts and pretzels like he a damn squirrel. I'm soo glad I'm on the ground now."
"Haha dad you might as well get used to it because you gotta fly back haha."
"Ohhhh shit. I completely forgot. Well look, it bet not be the same squad of people because I can't deal with that loud ass preschool class."
"Oh my gosh haha. We're coming to get you. We're right around the corner."
"Okay and wait! How are you?"
"I am literally hanging in there."
"Thanks for being honest."
"Oh like you are?"
"Oh please, I am honest with you."
"Yeah because every time you tell me you're okay, you're reallyyy okay. Sure."
"I say what I mean and I mean what I say."
"Alright whatever you say. Hey. We're here. Is that you with the black Adidas jacket?"
'Yeah that's me. I see you."
(Flash back)
19 years ago…
L.A Warehouse
11:01 pm
Deondre walked to the front of the building to clock out when his boss approached him.
"Hey Dre! Before you clock out, can you do me a favor? Please?" said Johnathan.
"What is it J?"
"I have a family emergency so I won't be able to close the warehouse. Can you please stay til 11:30 and close it up?"
"Man I don't know. I gotta get home or my wife is going to start worrying."
"Dre please? I'm asking you because I know I can trust you with this. I will pay you full over time for these thirty minutes." Deondre thought. Him and his family did need the money.
"Okay J. I'll do it."
"Man thank you! I'll give you your check when you come in tomorrow."
45 minutes later…
Deondre walked into his house and closed the door behind him. Every light was off except the kitchen light. He took off his jacket and his shoes and walked in the kitchen to see Vivian leaning against the counter with water boiling and a tea cup in hand. When he walked in, she quickly stood up straight and smiled.
"Where have you been?" said Vivian.
"I'm so sorry I'm late. My boss asked me to do overtime because he had a family emergency. He's going to pay me for it tomorrow."
"Oh really? When have you ever did over time?"
"Today. He had a family emergency…geez Viv."
"Are you seeing someone? Is that it?"
"No! Hell no!"
"I betchu it's that bitch who work at the front desk. Was she there today?"
Yes! But I'm not sleeping with her! What are you talking about?" Deondre put his hands on his head.
"You know exactly what I'm talking about! That explains why we don't even sleep together anymore."
"Whoaaa okay NO. We don't sleep together for a number of other reasons! Just because we're not sleeping together does NOT mean that I'm sleeping with someone else! And plus, look at how you treat me?!"
"How I treat you?! How you treat me! You're never home and then when you are, you argue with me or do shit that pisses me off! You're not tolerable!"
"Really? I do everything for you and the kids! I make sure you and the kids are good even when I'm not! Ya'll always come first to me! Always! Look. You just lost your job because of your fucking attitude so I'm the only one working now so YES. I took the over time."
"OH don't try to use my job as an excuse! I ran into your boss last week and he said you haven't mentioned me in over a YEAR! You haven't mentioned me in so long, that he thought we divorced! EXPLAIN THAT." Deondre let out a heavy sigh.
"What so you can't talk now? I said explain that! Oh wait…you can't because it's true. And I'm tripping?"
"I don't mention you. At all. He's right. There's nothing to say about you, anything good at that. You make my life a living hell for absolutely no reason. If it wasn't for the kids, I would've been left you Vivian. There's sooo many times where I felt like never coming back here but I did it for them not you. I don't want them living in this toxicity we have between us."
While Deondre and Vivian fight, DJ heard the arguing all the way from his room.
DJ sat up in his bed and rubbed his eyes. He overheard the yelling between his parents. Suddenly he heard a huge crash of glass hit the ground. DJ jumped and his heart started beating really fast. He looked to the left and saw Duron climbing into his bed.
"DJ, I'm scared…mom is angry again." DJ hugged Duron.
"It's going to be okay, I promise."
Meanwhile in the kitchen…
"Stop yelling…you're going to wake up the kids…please." Deondre whispered.
"Oh please! Now you care? Cuz you can't handle the heat? Man up! Grow some balls!"
"I am done! I am done with you!" said Deondre as he walked out the kitchen towards the bedroom. Vivian stood in the kitchen stunned with fury. She stood there contemplating what she should do. Deondre walked into his bedroom and started to undress. He took his shirt off and was only able to take one leg of of his pants before Vivian busted through the door with a pot of boiling water. Before Deondre could say anything, she threw the water on him, burning his left hip and thigh.
"MHHMMM!" Deondre fell back on his bed, grunted and yelled without opening his mouth. He cringed and put his head in the pillow to muffle his screams. Vivian stood stunned as she snapped back into reality.
"Oh! You make me so mad! I can't do this! I'm sorry!" Vivian stormed out of the house. Deondre looked down at his leg to see his skin peeling up from 2nd degree burns. He groaned and fought his way to stand up and limp his way to the bathroom. Once he got to the bathroom, he leaned back on the wall and slowly slid down holding his leg. Tears began to form and they almost began to fall until he heard a small voice by his shoulder. It was DJ standing by his shoulder.
"What are you doing out of bed?" Deondre's voice shook as the knot in his throat grew bigger and bigger.
"I heard you and mom arguing so I woke up…Duron is up too."
"Look. Listen to me. You have to go back to bed okay? Everything is fine."
"Dad, your leg! What happened to it?! Mommy did this?"
"Look, no, no, no she didn't. It was an accident. Daddy is going to be fine. You know what I need you to do? I need you to go back to bed with your brother and get some rest. Okay?"
"But dad, we have to call the ambulance! Your leg is hurt really bad!"
"NO, I'm fine baby, I need you to-"
"I don't want you to die!" DJ started to cry. Deondre fought back tears and grabbed him by the shoulders.
"I'm not going anywhere okay? I'm not leaving you. I'm okay. I need you to go back to bed. Promise me?"
"Okay dad. I love you."
"I love you too." DJ walked out and he closed the door. As soon as the door closed, his tears began to fall but little did he know, DJ was still on the other side of the door.
The next day…
Hospital-Emergency Room
8:40 am
"Hi, I'm Dr. Rapola." Said the doctor as he shook Deondre's hand.
"Hi, I'm Deondre Williams."
"What brings you in this morning?"
"Well, I burned my hip and thigh pretty badly last night."
"Can I take a look?"
"Sure." He pulled up the leg of his shorts and revealed part of his burn.
"Wow, can you tell me what happened?"
"I was in the kitchen boiling water for tea and I had the handle of the pot out towards me. My arm hit the handle which made the pot turn over, spilling the hot water on my left side."
"Sir these are second degree burns…why did you wait until the morning?"
"Well I have two boys who are too young to stay home themselves. My wife was at work so there was no one to watch them."
"You should have took them with you. We could have had nurses' watch-"
"UH uh. I don't trust nobody watching my kids. At all. Nobody."
"Okay welp, at least you're here now."
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Location: The Waffle House
"Is this place good? I'm sorry to sound like Linguini but I got a good palette and I don't wanna taste bullshit." Said Deondre and he sweetened his coffee.
"Ha you always being a critic. That's why I hate taking actual chefs to restaurants because ya'll know. It's hard as hell to please ya'll." Said DJ as he sipped his orange juice.
"Well look, I'm not complaining. Good is good and bad is bad. I ain't no chef but I know that." Uncle Nate folded his hands.
"Hmmm I don't think you really know the difference between good or bad because if you did….youuuuuuu wouldn't be wearing that jacket right now. Wearing that bonanza, western film jacket. This town ain't big enough for the both of us!" Said Deondre in his country accent. DJ died of laughter.
"Hahaha ohhh boy I know ya'll not about to start this roast session again?" said DJ.
"Oh yes we are. Tell ya dad to be quiet. Nose looking like a long ass clarinet." Deondre almost spit out his coffee.
"I knoooow you not talking pelican! How many fish you swallow today?"
"Alrighttt. Get on outta here Tarzan, you don't want this."
"Yo D! Call over the waiter and ask him if he can bring us a can opener so we can open up Nate's fancy feast. Siamese cat looking ass."
"I know you not talking with that snake skin bookbag. Don't wear your friends man!"
"Jake from state farm, Imma need you to take off those sharp ass Khaki pants and return them to your nearest back to school sales rack. Do not do it."
"If you don't take that belt off. It's squeezing allll ya fat. Looking like a squeezed bottle of Crest toothpaste."
"Man shut up! You shaped just like that lady's Belgium waffle. Short, thick, and square."
"Oh please, you shaped like a damn slice of pizza. Big at the top, small at the bottom."
"Of course, you would know, Papa John."
"That's why your car look like a bobby pin, skinny, black, and dented up."
"YEAH RIGHT. You can see the street from the floor of ya car. What you got? A ford Flintstone? Shit, where's bam bam and pebbles?"
"Ya shoes shaped like a royal Caribbean cruise ship."
"Like the back of ya neck?"
"Look at ya tiny tim crew neck shirt."
"Look at ya plastic ass spy kids watch. Take that shit off Juni Cortez."
"ALRIGHT! Ya'll gotta chill hahahaha! Oh my gosh!" DJ fell over in laughter.
"Good game. Good game haha." Uncle Nate fist pounded Deondre.
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After breakfast, DJ and Deondre dropped Uncle Nate off. Then they headed back to DJ's place. As they pulled up to his house, a black man stood at the door with April. It was Dr. Palmer.
"Oh hell nah. Why the hell is this nigga on my porch?" DJ squinted out his car window.
"Who?" Deondre leaned over to look out DJ's window.
"April's dad is here. Ew."
"Uh uh forreal?"
"Yeah!"
"No like forreal? That's him? That's the nigga who sent you that weak ass voicemail?"
"Yes that's her father!" Deondre unzipped his bag and pulled out a 9 millimeter glock.
"I'll be back." Before DJ could stop the car, Deondre already had one foot out of the car. Once DJ realized he had a gun, He squealed on the breaks and literally laid on the front seats to grab him before he walked away. DJ yanked his shirt and pulled him back.
"Dad! No, you can't hurt him. He's off limits. As much as I can't stand him, you can't bust a cap in his ass dad. Not today." Deondre thought about it.
"Okay. Fine. I won't. I just wanna talk. Let me go." Deondre walked around the car and crossed the street walking up the pathway to DJ's house. DJ followed. April froze with fear and Dr. Palmer turned around looking confused.
"Soo lemme get this straight…you the nigga who left that voicemail on my son's phone? The one whose been calling him outta his name, making his life a living hell since he got here?" Deondre stepped to Dr. Palmer. April tried to step in between the two but Deondre and Dr. Palmer nudged her away.
"This is not the time or the place! DJ, come get your dad!" April yelled.
"Can somebody get this girl a muzzle so she can stop barking in my face? Somebody? Anybody? I mean…damn! You always saying something like shut the FUCK UP. Shit!" Deondre side eyed her. DJ had to turn around because he was about bust out laughing.
"Don't you ever talk to my daughter like that you cheap negro!"
"Yeah just like ya corner store, cereal box prize suit. And how daaaare you talk about how someone's taking to your daughter when you talk to my son like he's dirt!"
"Your son?"
"Yeah, who you thought I was?" Dr. Palmer got quiet. "So I heard that voicemail and you mentioned something about how you would kill him? You wanna clarify that for me?"
"What voicemail? I don't recall."
"Oh don't play that Helen Keller bullshit with me Sir. I don't have the time nor the day to play with you. I've been WAITING to see you in the flesh so I could bust a whole in ya chest. The only reason I'm not going to do that is because of my son's ties with your daughter. And because of HIS ties, I won't hurt you but lemme tell you something brotha. If and when my son tells me the ties are gone and the limitations are no longer, TRUST and BELIEVE that I will be waiting to fuck you up. You need to thank him because he's the ONLY reason I haven't ripped you apart yet. So just for future references, if you got a problem, COME. SEE. ME." Deondre's jaws clenched.
"You don't matter."
"Oh I'm gonna matter soon. I'll screw your mom just to be your step dad JUST so I can get on your nerves. Keep pushing me. I'm your daddy now. Don't make me get my belt out."
"I think you need to be institutionalized quickly, Mr. Williams."
"Yeah you better address me by my name. Where's all that tough talk you was poppin to him? Huh? You not gonna insult him like you usually do? Threaten him? Demean him?" Dr. Palmer continued to walk away and get in his car. DJ walked him inside the house for a drink while April said goodbye to her dad.
"Dad here." DJ handed him a drink.
"Thank you. Your ex father in law is a clown. Alllllll of that shit he was popping to you and couldn't show that same toughness to me."
"Yeah because he knows that you're actually capable of beating his ass. See, he knew I wouldn't beat his ass because I'm with his daughter but you on the other hand, you have no ties. And you knew about everything that's going on. He forgot about that voicemail haha."
"Oh he ain't forget shit. And if so, he better go lay on that therapist couch and dig deep because he not gonna play with me."
"Hey dad, I'll be right back. Excuse me for a second." DJ went outside and closed the door behind him. As April walked to her car in the drive way, DJ approached her.
"Get Kita fired and do it quickly." DJ said sternly.
"What?"
"Get Kita fired."
"Why should I listen to you? And why do you care?"
"Get. Kita. Fired….Today." DJ turned around and walked back into the house.
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Over the next hour, DJ and his dad spent it watching TV. Eventually, his dad fell asleep, body slumped over the couch arm. Suddenly DJ received a call from an unfamiliar number.
"Hello?"
"Yo is this DJ? DJ Williams?"
"Yes, this is he. Who's this?"
"It's Khalid. Khalid Moore. Brother Collard Greens. Theta 06' entry. With you, Noel, Rich, Byron…does it rang a bell?"
"Ohhh shit man how are you? Where you been?"
"I've been good brotha. I live in Michigan, married with a daughter. She's two."
"Congratulations bro! I'm happy for you man. You a dad now? That's crazy! I remember back in sophomore year, you was the main one talking about not having kids and you're like the first to have kids."
"Forreal? Rich and em don't have none?"
"Nah, niggas barely married or in a relationship at that. Including me."
"Speaking of that, I don't wanna come off nosey or nothing but that's one of the reasons I called. One of our frat brothers have you on Instagram and he said that you were being exposed. When I heard the news, I just wanted to check in and see if you were good."
"Well first of all, how many people know for it to be called news? Because if he told you, he probably told a million other people."
"Oh a lot of people know! He told me not too many people saw because no one screenshotted it and it was taken down quickly. So probably just your family and friends, no outsiders. But as far as knowing the situation…everyone and their mother knows bro. But never mind that. I just called to see if you were good."
"I am good man. I'm taking it one step at a time and I would appreciate it if people would step back and give me my privacy and let me heal from this fucked up situation."
"I'm sorry if you feel like I'm intruding or-"
"No man I'm not talking about you. I'm talking in general. You know me and you always been cool. I appreciate you calling and checking on your homie. Thank you."
"No problem. We should hang some time."
"No, I mean, not no but just not right now. I'm going through a lot and I really need some space from everyone. I'm not tryna be mean it's just I really need some space. I don't feel like being a friend right now."
"Okay. No problem."
"I hope I don't sound too harsh. You know it's no bad blood between us. It's not you. It's me."
"Like I said, no problem. I understand. Take care D."
"Yeah, you too."
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Location: April's Job
April sat nervously at her desk awaiting the chaos. April screenshotted 6 pictures from Kita's Instagram page, snuck on her computer, and emailed those provocative photos to every male worker in the office. She was contemplating on whether she should follow what DJ said. After long thought, she decided to go through with it. She had been so caught up in their break up that she forgot what was happening outside of their personal situation. Suddenly, gasps and laughs filled the office. Co-workers running to other co-workers cubicle. April's boss came speed walking to her.
"April, where is your temp?! Kita?! Where is she?"
"I'm not sure ma'am. I wasn't paying attention."
"Well when she gets back, tell her she's fired! And tell her to come to my office to see me! ASAP!" April's boss turned around and sped walked around the office in disgust.
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After a hectic day at work, April decided to go to lunch with Mya at one of the bar and grilles close to the real estate agency building.
"Girl so you got her fired?" said Mya.
"Yes, DJ told me this morning."
"You know what that means right? Haha."
"What does that mean?"
"It means he still cares boo…"
"Oh please, he barely says anything to me while we're at home. He stays to himself."
"Yeah but it's like parents. They might yell at us and punish us but they still care and love us."
"You always have good points."
"Welp we're psych majors, we better know. You should be able to read yourself and these situations."
"I know but when it comes to me, I have a way of tricking my mind into believing otherwise. It's a conflict of interest." April pulled up outside the bar and grille.
"Speaking of conflict of interest, isn't that him in the bar and grille? With that black woman?" April quickly looked in shock. DJ was at a booth table with a chocolate woman.
"Did he tell you he was dating recently?" Mya look confused.
"No! He didn't tell me anything! When since he's dating? He could've told me…That's probably why he's been going on so many, quote on quote, business runs."
"Why so quickly? He just got out of a relationship with you. It hasn't even been a good six months yet. But I do understand why he wouldn't tell you."
"Why wouldn't he? We've known each other for so long!"
"Because he knows your still in love with him and if you found out that he moved on, it would hurt too badly."
"So you think he's moving on?"
"Well he's clearly on a date. He's smiling from ear to ear. Unfortunately April, he looks happy. Look at him." April began to form tears in her eyes.
"What are those papers they're looking at? All smiling and shit."
"I don't know I can't see." Mya looked again to see him cupping her hand and shaking it.
"Wait…..you know his dad said he might be moving back to L.A….what if those papers are housing lists?"
"Wait his dad said he was moving? Why is he moving? Is it because of that building?"
"No, it can't be. Grant took it."
"He is such a jerk. And you never thought of getting it back for him?"
"No, it didn't even cross my mind to do that."
"If I was you, I would've got that building back. There's no way in hell imma let a sucka take my man's shit."
"That's between them two with that petty stuff."
"Yeah but when somebody is attacking your man, it's between the three of you. But anyways back to this mess. I can't believe this dude is on a date. So what does he think he gonna do? Just bring her home one day with you in the house?"
"Oh hell no. That's not going to happen. I'm setting the rules right now. No females in my house or they're getting their ass beat. No, no, no."
"Well, if they're moving to Cali, you won't have to worry about it."
"Mya…don't play with me…" Tears began to fall from April's eyes.
"Aww no boo, please don't cry. It's going to be alright."
"No. Imma do the same thing. Imma move on. Let's see how he takes that."
"Now April, do not start acting on emotions. I know you're hurt right now but don't do nothing stupid."
"Mya, we're not together no matter. What do I have to lose in this? I already loss him. We're not together. There's no obligation, there's no cheating."
"You can still at least have a friendship or cordial relationship with each other. Look April, I want you to move on but don't cross the line."
"Why is everyone telling me what I should and shouldn't do?! Ain't nobody telling him what to do! Look, he's on a damn date right now, fucking other people and here I am, still trying to be cordial and nice and thoughtful. Yeah I was wrong in the relationship, but forget that. Seeing this just gave me confirmation that we're really done so games on."
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Location: Basketball Courts
DJ promised to spend some time with Kye because he had been asking for these past months. Kye wanted to shoot some hoops so DJ agreed.
"Ohhh no! I'm killing you man haha!" Kye ran up to the hoop and dunked.
"I'm letting you win. It's called being respectful."
"Ohhhh stop making excuses. I won fair and square."
"Nope you got them trampoline shoes on, all that support underneath cheater."
"It ain't my fault you wore them cinderblocks."
"Get outta here haha." DJ and Kye walked to the gate and sat on the sideline bench.
"So how's school for you Kye?"
"I love the school. It's 10x's calmer than going to school in New York."
"What are your plans for after you graduate?"
"Well I plan on going to Truth or Morehouse. If I go to Truth, then I'll pursue psychology and if I go to Morehouse, I'll pursue pre-medicine."
"I thought you hated psychologists haha."
"Well I did until I met you. You're the first therapist that actually helped me. Thank you."
"Aw man you don't have to thank me. I enjoy helping people. That's why I chose psychology."
"You're really good at it. Why'd you get fired?"
"Life. Life got me fired. I actually have something to tell you."
"What is it?"
"….Never mind man."
"Well can I tell you something?"
"Yeah man."
"Well I just want to tell you that I appreciate you and you're one of the best friends that I've ever had. You've become the big brother that I've never had. I love you bro." DJ was taken aback. He wasn't expecting that at all.
"I – I love you too man. I'm glad that I can be here for you. Annnnnd now that you've said that, I kinda feel obligated now to tell you this. Ummm…"
"What is it?"
"Well I'm moving to California…for good…you're the first person I've told."
"Are you serious?"
"Yeah. I've been thinking about it over these past couple of months and I finally decided that I'm relocating. It's going to be a fresh start. It's too many memories here right now. I love Georgia but my blessings are in Cali."
"I'm so happy for you but…you're leaving? I mean…will I be able to visit you?"
"Of course! You can visit me anytime you feel like it. We can still skype and call each other. It's not like I'm just going to forget about you."
"You better not man haha."
"You have to promise me that when I leave, you keep up the good work, do what you love, and do what makes you happy above all alright?"
"For sure!"
"Damn, you remind me of my little brother…sooo bad man it's not even funny."
"Oh shoot, you got a little brother?! I didn't know that. Why you ain't ever say nothing? Can I meet him one of these days?"
"Umm no."
"Whatchu mean no?"
"He was killed when I was 19. He was a year younger than you at that time. That's mainly why you remind me of him so much."
"I'm so sorry. I didn't know, I wouldn't have asked."
"Nah it's okay. You didn't know."
(Flashback)
July 2005
12:17 am
18 year old DJ lay sleep in his bed when he heard a knock on his window. He sat up and looked out the window. It was 15 year old Duron.
"Bro, where you been?! I had to cover for you!" DJ whispered as he let Duron through the window.
"Bruh I'm sorry. I was just having fun." Duron smirked as he stepped out of his shoes and shirt. He sat on the edge of his bed zoned out.
"Umm you okay?"
"Yeah I'm excellent…" DJ raised his eyebrow.
"Did youuu….? Nigga nah. Did you…?"
"Did you what?" Duron smirked.
"Did you DO it?" Duron smirked again.
"Okay…I did."
"Oooooooo you little sneak freak! Haha that's what you was out doing. You know you can't hide nothing from me."
"I know but you CANNOT TELL MOM."
"D, why would I tell her that? I won't tell her nothing. I promise. Just like when I loss mine and you kept it."
"Okay good cuz I don't need my ass beat right now."
"What? You mean the beating I was about to get for covering your behind?"
"I'm sorry D. I won't come back late again. I promise."
"Alright and did you use protection? Please tell me you did?"
"Yeah I used protection. I'm not that stupid now. Uh uh. I can't be no daddy right now."
Yeah so be careful. I would rather you keep this at a one-time thing but since I can't control you, all I can tell you is to be careful and don't sling it everywhere. Have some self-control."
"Alright DAD sheesh!
"Eww don't even…"
"On a serious note, where do you think dad is?"
"Somewhere we're not. That's all I know."
"I can't believe he just never came back. Something is fishy."
"You know, I used to always tell him to leave mom and take us with him but he tried to deflect what I said every single time. He left when we needed him the most."
"Well I was young so I don't remember very clearly but didn't he beat mom?"
"That's what mom said but Aunt Kelis said it was a lie but yet he got jail time. I honestly don't know but I do know for SURE that she abused him. I don't know if you remember much but there was so many time where I witnessed him hurt, physically hurt. But back to the point, he just disappeared. Even though I'm angry with him, I can't help but miss him sometimes."
"Me too. We're lucky that we at least got each other."
"Your right. Always. You're the only one I know won't ever leave my side. That's truth!"
"Of course I won't. As each day passes, I'm starting to realize that you're my soul mate."
"Wait…what? How? We ain't a couple. Ew bro! Haha get outta her with that bullshit."
"Nah see soul mates can be anybody. It can be your mom, cousin, best friend, whoever. Soul mates aren't between intimate partners. Twin flames are when two people are intimate. Yes, I did my research. So technically, I think you're my soulmate. You gotta sleep on it and you'll get use to the term sooner or later."
"Ohhhhhkay? Well, that's new news. I never knew that. Just please don't say that in public haha. No one is going to understand."
"I'm not tryna be understood so anybody who got something to say can fight me."
"Goodbye! Haha you know you're not a fighter."
"Yeah I'm not but you are."
"You damn right and I won't ever hesitate to knock a nigga. You know better than anyone because I bust you up when you talk crispy."
"Yeah tell that to the knot on my shoulder ha."
"That's what you get. Keep ya hands out of my popsicles and you'll be alright."
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After playing basketball with Kye, Deondre called and said he had a surprise for DJ at his hotel so DJ decided to drive there and take Kye with him.
"I'm so nervous for some reason. My stomach has butterflies."
"Man there's no need to be nervous. My dad does not bite…I mean…only with some people but you'll be okay haha. My dad is the dopest person I know. Trust me. You're going to love him."
"You sure he don't mind me coming?"
"Yes I'm sure. He's going to like you. Don't worry."
DJ pulled up to the Marriott.
3 minutes later…
DJ led Kye to his father's room. Room 507.
"Are you ready?" DJ put his hand on Kye's shoulder.
"Yeah I'm ready. Let's go." DJ knocked on the door. 10 seconds later, Deondre opened the door.
"Ayeee! C'mon in!" DJ and Kye walked in.
"Dad, I want you to meet someone. This is my friend, Kye. He's a former client of mine." Deondre smiled and shook his hand.
"Hey man, nice to meet you. My son mentioned you before. He says you're a great kid."
"Aw well he's great too. I'm so happy to meet you. It's a pleasure."
"I'm happy you're here. If you're wondering about how I am as a person, I'm him times 10 haha."
"No but I'm better haha." DJ butted in. Deondre laughed and then put on a straight face.
"In your dreams. The original is always better. I made you. How you gonna be better than me?"
"Because I'm the younger version." DJ smirked.
"Ooooo you got jokes! Please boy, you damn near 30. I'm just 48, calm your nipples."
"48 going on 21 haha."
"Yeah because you know I still got it. Daddy's got a new bag!"
"I can't with you haha."
"That's why everybody be thinking we brothers when we go out. Women be coming up to us tryna take both of us home."
"My friends thought you were my brother at first too."
"Yeah because I'm still poppin. See that's what happens when you don't have a female dog barking in ya ear all the time."
"Aaaah no you didn'ttttttt hahahahahaha!"
"Hey, am I lying tho? I tell no lies."
"He really don't. My dad is a Pisces. He is so intuitive, it's creepy. Everything he says, turns out to be true. It's trippy. Seriously." DJ said to Kye.
"OH so the surprise! Soo I have somebody here to see you." Deondre smirked.
"Who?" DJ looked around the king size suite.
"Come on out sis!" Deondre called out to the bathroom. Suddenly, a brown skinned woman came out the bathroom. She had luscious dreadlocks and looked like Deondre.
"Aunt Kelis!" DJ ran over to her and embraced her tightly.
"Oh my goodness! You've grown up so much! I've missed you!" Auntie Kelis grabbed his face.
"I missed you too! I'm so glad you're here! Kye, this is my Auntie Kelis. Aunt Kelis, this is my friend, Kye. My aunt Kelis is THE homie. She's been with me through everything! I mean…EVERYTHING."
"Nice to meet you sweety!" Aunt Kelis hugged Kye.
"Nice to meet you too!"
"So auntie, what brings you into town?" said DJ.
"Well I promised your dad I'd visit him when I take my vacation from work so I'm here! Plus, I wanted to see you, my baby D."
"Oooo we got so much to talk about."
"I can't wait to hear!"
"Well damn, me and Kye might as well get our recliners and popcorn and enjoy because we're not needed anymore. I knew that once you two get together, it's a wrap." Deondre scratched his head.
"That is not true! Haha!" Aunt Kelis sat down and pulled DJ to sit down with her.
"Dad, imma talk to Auntie for a little while. You and Kye can go eat or something. Kye, you don't mind going with my dad for a while?" said DJ.
"Oh no. I don't mind." Kye nervously smiled.
"Okay good. Have fun and dad…do not roast him yet. You didn't know him long enough to do that yet…"
"I ain't gonna get em'. Don't worry haha." Deondre looked at Kye and started to laugh.
"Dad, seriously. Do not do it! Haha!"
"I'm not gonna do it. I'm just laughing at uncomfortable he looks. What? You gotta poop Kye?"
"Nah, I'm good." Kye smiled.
"You sure because if not, you don't have to go. You could sit here and do nothing and have them two talk your head off."
Ummmm nah. I'd rather go with you. Let's go."
"Alright. You hungry?"
"Yeah."
"Okay, we can go eat. D, we about to go eat." Deondre said as he opened the door.
"Alright."
(Flashback)
DJ's 8th birthday: After the chaos
DJ lay on his side in the hospital bed, motionless. He zoned out, staring at his iv, re-visualizing the attack over again. Aunt Kelis sat on his bedside while Duron lay asleep on the chair by the window. She caressed DJ's head gently. The room was filled with silence until suddenly, DJ spoke.
"Auntie?"
"Yes sweetheart?"
"…When is my dad coming?"
"Baby I don't know but he should be here soon okay? He should be here soon."
"Why did the man do that to me? I'm a good kid. I'm not a bad kid. Why?"
"Because sweety, some people are just plain evil. They don't have to have a reason. They just do evil things because they work for the devil. And it's not because of you. What they did, does not mean you did something wrong. The devil loves to send people after children of God. You're a child of God and no weapon formed against you shall prosper."
"I think my dad killed him. He was laid out on the ground. Is he going to go to jail?"
"No baby, your dad didn't kill him. He knocked him out. And no he's not going to jail, but that bad guy is."
"How long is he gonna be in there?"
"For a veryyy long time."
"Can we go visit him?"
"WHY on earth would you want to go visit that man?"
"So I can change him into good. If we go and we be nice to him, then he might be nice back. Then he'll be a good man. Then all the evil will leave."
"No, you're wrong sweetheart. You can't change anybody."
"My dad said that sometimes you can love the bad out of people. I think that's why he still tries to love my mommy even though she does bad things to him."
"Loving someone even when they do you wrong is God-like. Does the devil like when you're God-like? No. Everything happens for a reason. Usually to make us stronger or to teach us lessons. In your case, this made you stronger."
"Really? I am?"
"Yes. You're stronger than the average. Just like your father."
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Location: Cheesecake Factory
Kye nervously ate as he sat across from Deondre.
"How's your burger Kye?" said Deondre as he bit his fork full of chicken alfredo.
"It's excellent. It's soo good."
"I'm glad you like it. How's school?"
"School is great. I told DJ that I like school down here better than in New York. It's very fast and hectic up there but down here is so calm and peaceful to me."
"Georgia does have a peace to it. You're right. I reside in Los Angeles. I feel the same way you do when I come here. And New York? Sheesh it's fast! I know exactly what you're talking about. I was born and raised in Harlem. "
"Really? You a New Yorker? I knew I could hear a little accent in there. Ayeeee! New York brothers."
"Yep. You can take the man outta New York but you can't take the New York outta the man." They both chuckled. "So do you miss home?"
"No. I don't miss home at all."
"Geez. Was it that bad?"
"Yeah. Have you ever felt like you didn't belong in a family or a situation or an environment? Like you're just not meant to be there. You're not supposed to be there. In my household at home, my step dad isn't evil but he's mean and he just never took the time to get to know me. My mother is so detached from me. Neither one of them really cares but yet they want to control me."
"I know how you feel. As a parent, I can tell you that I feel for you because I used to be with someone who treated my kids like shit. As a child, you can only do but so much you know? And you can't pick your parents. I can tell you're a great kid. You have a lot of dreams and aspirations and you have a huge light about you. Your future and your light is just too big for their minds and that environment and it's not your fault. There is nothing wrong with you."
That's a first. My parents never tell me things like that."
"Well you're going to be uplifted if you're around me. And if you don't mind me asking…where's your father?"
"Well…all I know is that he doesn't know I exist."
"Wait…how is that possible?"
"She didn't tell him she was pregnant because she didn't know if the baby was his."
"Wow really? That's crazy man. I'm sorry to hear that."
"Don't be sorry. One day imma find him and me and him are gonna have a long conversation about how she affected us with her decisions."
"Haha I wish you luck in doing so. I really hope you find him because he's missing out on an amazing young man right now and he doesn't even know it."
"Wow…Thank you…" Deondre grabbed Kye's hand and shook it. Instantly, Kye's nervousness went out the window. He felt a since of comfort and excitement fall over him. Suddenly, he had a lot to say.
"Thank you so much for this talk. I realllyy appreciate it!"
"No problem man. Anytime."
"So you own a couple of restaurants?"
"Yeah I got two as of now. Working on my third. I should make my third one down here."
"That's a great idea! So when you and DJ are in Cali, I can have a part of you guys down here with me."
"Well DJ lives down here. He just visits me sometimes. And plus he has a business he's starting there."
"Oh well he told me today that he's moving there for good."
"Really? Oh my goodness! Good for him! He told me he had to tell me something but he never got to tell me what it was. I'm ecstatic! That's really good for him. He's doing what's best for him. You make sure you do the same. No matter what anyone says. If God is trying to send you down a certain path, you listen and follow his directions. You might lose some people on the way. You might even have to give up some things dear to you but it's worth it in the end. Trust me."
Meanwhile back at the hotel…
"Wow I've missed a lot! One thing I know for sure is that I do not like that girl April. Please don't get back with her nephew." Said Aunt Kelis.
"I won't. At least not for now."
"At least not for now?! Uh uh! Not evaaa! She crossed the line more than 20 times since ya'll been together. The line she just recently crossed should be the LAST one. If you get back with her and she crosses another line, she's going to ruin you."
"She can't ruin me. She can hurt me but she can't ruin me. She doesn't have that type of power over me. And yes, at least for now. I don't know what my future holds. I told my father that I might reconsider, not get together but reconsider getting back with her only IF she changes."
"Do not wait until she changes. Don't wait on her. You go on with your life and if she's supposed to be there, some way, she'll catch up and be there."
"You're right. Well I'm moving to Cali for good."
"Aaah! Are you serious?! Oh my gosh! I'm so excited for you! Your dad told me about your business. I'm so proud of you!"
'Thank you! I'm so ready to start fresh. I've been meeting with interior designers and promoters and it's coming a long great!"
"Will I be invited to the opening?"
'Of course you will! What kind of question is that?"
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Later that evening…
DJ's House…
DJ: Did U drop Kye off yet? 203 Sylvania Avenue?
Seen at 7:21 pm
Dad: Yeah he's home safely. I dropped him off about 30 mins ago. Your aunt just left my room. She's staying at the same hotel.
Seen at 7:25 pm
DJ: KK. Thank U. Come over tmrw.
Seen at 7:27 pm
Dad: What time?
Seen at 7:28 pm
DJ: Come over in the morning. Uncle Nate bday party tmrw in the afternoon.
Dad: Ok. I'll be there.
Seen at 7:30 pm
DJ laid his phone on the living room table and noticed a big box by the front door. He went to the box, grabbed it and sat it on the living room table.
He read: "To DJ Williams…From: Lorraine Hawkins" As soon as he read "Lorraine Hawkins", he froze. Why is his Aunt LoLo sending him things? And what is it? DJ took his key and cut the plastic seal on the box. He took a deep breath in and out and opened the flaps of the box. DJ froze as he stared at the blanket, a batman blanket. He held up the blanket and tears filled his eyes. Angry swept all through him.
"THIS bitch…" DJ fell out of his trance and quickly ran to the kitchen to get a lighter and a garbage can. He took those things and the blanket out on the patio. He placed the blanket in the garbage and set it on fire. He placed a patio chair in front of the can, sat, and watched it burn.
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Next morning…
"Dad, you want some coffee?" said DJ as he sat next to Deondre at the dining room table.
"Oh no. I'm good. I already had some green tea this morning. I don't need to double the caffeine."
"Okay."
"You alright? You seem a little down this morning." DJ was silent.
"If you need to talk. I'm here." DJ looked at his lap and shook his head.
"I'm not okay. I'm not alright."
"What's wrong? What happened?"
"I have something to tell you. It's bothering me. I couldn't even sleep last night."
"Tell me. What's up?"
"So last night, I come home and I notice a package by my door. I grab it and it's for me but from Aunt LoLo. I open the box and…"
'What was in the box?"
"Dad…the blanket that I was assaulted on…was in that box. Do you remember the batman bed spread you bought me?"
"NO she didn't…..uh uhhhhh NO she did NOT."
"YES she DID. She mailed me my blanket. I went and burned it."
"Why in the world would she do that?!"
"To hurt me. That's all."
"That's something your mother would do."
"That's something that Lorraine would do too. There's something else I gotta tell you. I didn't get to tell you because you weren't around."
"What is it?"
"I think she poisoned me when I was 17. I know she did."
"WHAT?!"
(Flashback)
17 year old DJ walked into the living room after school to catch his Aunt LoLo sitting on the catch with a platter of cookies. She stood up when he entered the room.
"Umm are you waiting for my mom? She's not here right now so…"
"I know that boy. I'm not here for her. I'm here to give you this. I made you a platter of cookies. I'm not here to argue, just wanna do something nice."
"Why? You're never nice especially to me so why are you making me stuff?"
"Because I want too. Can your aunt do something nice and make up for it? We gotta start somewhere."
"How I know that's not a bomb you holding?"
"Haha it's not a bomb. Trust me. I really genuinely was just thinking about you and I decided to bake you some cookies. Seriously. I want you to take these and enjoy them."
"Oookay well thank you."
"You're welcome and tell your mother that I'm going to be out of town for a couple of days."
"Okay I will."
"See you later then." Lorraine left. DJ opened the clear wrap from the platter and grabbed 2 cookies and gobbled them down. Next thing you know, he was on his fourth, then his fifth, then his sixth cookie.
15 minutes later…
DJ laid on the couch when he felt a sharp pain jab his stomach.
"OW! What the hell was that?!" DJ looked at his stomach and held it. 2 seconds later, a sharp pain hit his stomach again followed by another dagger of pain and another. DJ sat up and bent in agony. DJ broke out in a cold sweat and his heart raced faster and faster. After 20 minutes of this agonizing pain, he called his mother at work.
"Hello?"
"Mom, please come home…I don't know what's wrong with me!"
"What are you talking about?"
"Aunt Lorraine…I think she poisoned me…I know she poisoned me."
"What?"
"The cookies she brought over…she poisoned me. Just come home."
"Why would my sister poison you?! She would never do that!" Before DJ could speak, vomit shot up from his stomach out his mouth. DJ wiped his mouth with his shirt and picked the phone back up.
"She did…."
Deondre sat stunned by what DJ just told him.
"I'm soooooo sorry you had to go through that. You know if I was there I would've-"
"I know. You would've protected me. I know."
"No, seriously. I mean that."
"Yeah, yeah I know." DJ stood up and walked out the dining room. Deondre followed.
"…Are you still angry with me? I thought you forgave me for it…"
"…I just don't wanna keep hearing about how you would've did this, you would've did that! It's pointless because you can't go back in time and change it. You can't magically go back and be there for me! So could you please stop telling me what you would've done when I tell you something because it's never going to happen and it's not going to change how I feel or the fact that it did happen!"
"Well what do you want me to say, D? I don't know what else to say! All I can do is apologize for the people who wronged you while I was gone and tell you what I would've done! I'm playing catch up here! Lord knows I'm trying my absolute best to make up for lost time."
"You disappeared during a time when I needed you the most. It's going to be very hard to make up for all of that time."
"Well what am I doing right now? What have I been doing? I'm trying as we speak."
"I know you are…"
"Okay so why tell me about something that happened back then, then get angry at me all over again after the fact that you forgave me? I told you the situation! When you tell me stuff like what you just revealed, all it makes me think about is what I could've done as a father if I WAS THERE. That's all I can think about when you tell me some vile shit like that. You think I wanted those things to happen to you? My heart breaks all over again every time you tell me about something that happened and I couldn't be there to protect you! You'll understand when you have kids. As a father, do you know HOW MUCH PAIN it brought me and still brings me to know that you were helpless and vulnerable and scared and I couldn't get a hold of you? I had to hope that you were okay? To know that my son was killed and I didn't even get to say goodbye?! Breaks my heart to pieces. That's why I keep saying I would've." DJ was silent.
"You're still angry with me…okay. I won't say it no more."
"Okay well I'll see you at Uncle Nate's house at 6. I'll see you later."
"Okay. Be safe."
"Yeah. Sure."
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Location: Grant's House
"Zeke got arrested?! What the fuck?" Kita yelled.
"Yes, for credit fraud. He was probably set up by DJ."
"Well look, I just got fired. It's starting to look like our karma is catching up to us and I'm not liking it and I don't want to go to jail so you're on your own."
"What?! You can't just back out now! We said we were in this as a team!"
"Forget that team! Look, me and Kev are moving to New York. We don't want no parts in this no more. It's starting to become foolish! When you really think about, you trying to get revenge on people you had beef with 8 damn years ago and it's putting a toll on our friends. Zeke don't got shit to do with you and DJ's rift but yet he's the one in jail looking at a year or two! This don't make no sense!"
"Look you can't just leave me hanging. I need ya'll!"
"We're grown ass adults jeopardizing other adults! I don't even know them! They never did anything to me but yet I'm causing them harm?! The leaked pictures was what topped the cake for me but I didn't say nothing then. The truth hurts. She's in love with a man and that man isn't you and it probably won't ever be you after this. I just came here because I was worried about Zeke but now that I know where he is, I'm out. Grant, I wish you the best but you have to stop. If you don't you'll be Zeke's cellmate."
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Location: Vivian's House
"Sis, I'm so glad you're here girl!" Vivian hugged Lorraine.
"Girl I know honey! It's been a minute! How's James?"
"Oh he's grand! We're getting remarried soon so it's good over here girl!"
"That's good! Am I invited?"
"You know you invited child, stop playing with me haha."
"So it's Mr. albino's birthday today…"
"Who? Our brother Nate?"
"Yes ma'am."
"Mhmm girl I done forgot. I don't keep up with his phoney ass."
"Phoney? Uh uh girl spill the tea."
"He's more over there with the Williams' then the Hawkins' but that's none of my business."
"Oh really? I bet you it's that level headed heffa he's married to that brain washed him."
"You think so? You think it's Jackie?"
"Yeah! You told me she didn't hesitate when you asked if DJ could stay with them."
"Yup and I ain't lying. She act like she's his mother."
"Yeah because she ain't have none of her own."
"Yeah either he couldn't get up or she had issues. I don't know but that's none of my business."
"It sure ain't child. And Deondre and his block head ass is back. Why the hell is he here?!"
"To try to be the dad he wish he could've been back then. He's such a sorry mofo. That's why he couldn't get the job done. If I even breathe the wrong way around James, he'll put me together. Dre? Pleaseeeee! He'd probably kiss my fucking feet."
"He never been the type of dude to have a back bone so I'm not surprised."
"And now he's trying to get DJ under his wing as if he can make up all that time girl. Like it's too late. Give it up baby."
"He ain't gonna give it up. You know he kinda slow from you hitting him upside his head all the time."
"Look haha. He deserved it. Always working my nerves. Tiring me out. I'm glad it's over though! I am happier than ever and Stella's got her groove back!"
"Ooooo girl! I know that's right! Tell me about James."
"Well…he's definitely not a Dre. That's a plus! Girl he's just as fine as all get out. He has a construction business so you know the coins are coming in! He takes me everywhere, he buys me things, and the pipe is great. Everything is great! It's just us and I'm on cloud nine."
"I'm so happy for you sis! You deserve it. After all the abuse and turmoil you've endured. I'm happy that you've found a man who treats you right, gives you attention, spoils you and makes you a priority. Dre could never do HALF of what James does. That's the type of man you need in your life. He's a keeper."
(Flashback)
San Diego Music Studios
Deondre mopped the hallway floors of the studio while listening to music on his radio. Suddenly, a woman tapped his shoulder.
"Excuse me Sir?"
"Ohhh! Whoa you scared me." Deondre leaned his mop against the wall.
"I'm sorry to startle you. I didn't mean to. I'm trying to leave and all of the doors are locked. Can you open the door down stairs for me?" Deondre and Vivian gazed at each other.
"Oh. Sure! Yeah lemme get my keys. And I'm Deondre by the way. Deondre Williams."
"Nice to meet you. I'm Vivian Hawkins. It's a pleasure." They shook hands.
"Are you from around here?"
"No, I'm from Los Angeles, not San Diego. What about you?"
"I'm from Los Angeles as well. That's where I'm residing."
"Hmm I'm surprised I've never seen you around before."
"You probably have but just never paid attention. I'm not your type of guy anyway."
"What do you mean?"
"You know what I mean haha."
"No I don't. Inform me."
"Well lemme put it like this. I'm a little too basic for your liking."
"Don't judge me."
"I'm not judging. Weren't you just screaming to your producer boyfriend about how you want to go on another vacation and how you need more diamonds?"
"Uhh okay. Well damn. Someone needs to stop intruding."
"I wasn't intruding. You were just loud. Then, you threw your fur jacket on the floor and told your boyfriend that he acts just as broke as the janitor…which is me." Said Deondre as they walked downstairs.
"Did I say that?"
"Yes you did."
"I'm so sorry. I didn't know that was you."
"It shouldn't matter if it was me or not."
"Look, can I make it up to you?"
"No, you don't owe me anything. You don't know me and I don't know you. You don't have to do anything for me. I'm okay."
"I insist. How about we go to lunch tomorrow?"
"Hmmm I don't know haha. I'm kinda broke right so I might not be able to afford it." Deondre mocked.
"Oh c'mon! I'm sorry okay? It was wrong of me."
"I accept your apology."
"Okay so now will you accept my offer?"
"I don't think your fiancée would be too pleased with that. No thanks. But thank you for being thoughtful." Deondre walked over to the door and unlocked it. He held the door wide open for her. She walked outside and turned around.
"You might wanna hurry up and get home. Someone might steal your Porsche. It's dark out."
"Okay well you have a good night, David…right?" Deondre rolled his eyes and laughed.
"Yep that's me."
"Really? I got it right?"
"No, but it was nice guess."
"I'm sorry. What is it?"
"Deoonndree."
"Right. Deondre."
"Hey, what type of shoes are those? They're nice."
"Oh! These? They're Gucci." Deondre laughed hysterically. "What's so funny?"
"Goodnight…Vivian…right?"
"Ohh so we got a wise guy? I see what you trying to say. Goodnight!"
"Goodnight Vivian."
4 years later…
Location: Hospital~ Maternity Ward~ Labor and Delivery
"Aaaah!" Vivian squealed as she pushed in labor.
"Baby, you're almost there. Push!" said Deondre as he held her hand.
"The shoulders are out! One last push! Push!" The doctor instructed. Vivian pushed down and Baby DJ slid right out. Baby DJ wailed as the doctor suctioned his nose and wiped him off.
"Congratulations on your baby boy!" said the doctor. Vivian and Deondre smiled.
"So dad is going to cut the cord." The doctor walked baby DJ up to him and instructed him where to cut. With one snip, the umbilical cord detached. The doctor wrapped him up and handed Vivian her baby.
"I can't believe he's here." Vivian cooed.
"Me either." Deondre rubbed the baby's temple.
"He has your big head and your lips."
"Haha oh wow! Wait a minute…he kinda does." They both laughed.
"Welcome to the world, DJ Williams."
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Location: Dr. Palmer's Office
"I need you to get her back. This is your chance. You love her don't you?"
"Yes I love her." Grant sighed.
"Well get her. She told me that thug has moved on. This is your chance to win her heart. C'mon! I'm rooting for the underdog."
"You sure you don't have any other motives?"
"When since you care? All those times you've came in here and we've discussed our plan to take him down together? If I have motives, it shouldn't worry you."
"You're right."
"Okay so go get her! Take her to lunch! Do something before you miss your chance!"
"Okay I will, just give me until the day after next."
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Location: April and DJ's house
While DJ upstairs getting dressed, April stayed downstairs and cleaned the kitchen. Suddenly, the phone rang. She ran in the foyer to answer it.
"Hello? This is April Williams speaking." A woman answered.
"Hi! I'm calling for DJ Williams? Is he home right now?"
"Umm I'm sorry, who is this?"
"I'm Milana. I'm DJ's business partner. I'm calling to inform him about the next meeting about IATT."
"Wait hol up…partner?!"
"I think you misheard what I said ma'am. I meant I'm his business-"
"What's IATT? What is that?"
"I'm sorry ma'am. I cannot disclose that information with you at this time. This is a confidential project."
"What?! Look, I'm his wife so I need to know!"
"Ma'am, I'm sorry. I'm following specific orders from Mr. Williams."
"Look bitch. Don't you EVER call my house again! Understood?!" April slammed the phone down. DJ came jogging downstairs.
"What the hell is going on?! Who was on the phone?!"
"Milana…hm…that's her name right?"
"Wait a minute…she said her name was Milana? Did she just call?"
"Yup" DJ froze in fury.
"April…what did you tell her? WHAT THE HELL DID YOU TELL HER?"
"I called her a bitch and told her to never call my house again. That's what I said."
"APRIL NO!"
"What you mean no?!"
"APRIL…why did you do that?!"
"We may not be together but I'm not having no hoes calling my house!"
"Hoes?! What are you talking about?!"
"Milana huh?! Is that the same bitch you were all giggly and smiley with at that restaurant the other day huh?! You fucking her? HUH?! Here I am constantly thinking about you and you already moved on!"
"Wow okay. Is this what this is about? APRIL. I'M NOT SEEING HER. SHE'S MY INTERIOR DESIGNER! WE WE'RE DISCUSSING HER DESIGNS THAT SHE CAME UP WITH FOR MY BUSINESS PLACE. I WAS SMILING BECAUSE I FINALIZED MY DECISION SO SHE AND HER TEAM CAN START DESIGNING IT FOR IT'S OPENING IN TWO MONTHS. I TOLD HER TO CALL ME WHEN SHE HAD INFO ON THE NEXT MEETING. NOW, I HAVE TO CALL HER AND APOLOGIZE BECAUSE MY EX WANTS TO ACT LIKE A JEALOUS BROAD."
"RIGHT! LIKE I'M SUPPOSE TO BELIEVE THAT! YOU DON'T EVEN HAVE THAT BUILDING ANYMORE. GRANT TOOK IT."
"Well baby you thought wrong. I have it and I'm moving to Los Angeles and FOR GOOD. You won't have to worry about me anymore."
"How'd you even get it?! Did Milana buy it for you?"
"That's none of your business who bought it but I'll tell you this. Someone sacrificed for me. That's how I got it. We're not together anymore so that means my business is my business and yours is yours. I respect your calls and you respect mine. When somebody calls me and ask for me, you give me the phone. If I'm not home, let them leave a message. Don't ever disrespect my co-workers like that. It's unprofessional on my part and they don't deserve that. So cut the bullshit."
"You're not going to talk to me like I'm a child!"
"Whatever April. Respect my co-workers and respect my privacy. That's all I ask. I would hope that you're adult enough to do that."
"And I would hope that your man enough to keep your hoes on a leash." DJ turned around.
"You know what?"
"What?"
"Nevermind…Imma let you have that one. I gotta go. I need to be somewhere." DJ rolled his eyes.
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Location: Uncle Nate and Aunt Jackie's House
Nate's 52nd Birthday Party
Their house was packed from front to back with family, friends, co-workers, and neighbors. The house filled with the aroma of Aunt Jackie's famous fried chicken and the noises of laughter, chatter, and music. DJ arrived shortly Nate blew out his candles and food was just served.
"Happy birthday!" said DJ as he tapped Uncle Nate and Aunt Jackie's shoulder. They turned around and grinned.
"Aww thank you nephew!" Uncle Nate embraced him in a hug. Aunt Jackie hugged him also.
"I'll be back. I have to check on this chicken." Said Aunt Jackie. She made her way to the kitchen.
"So I have a birthday gift for you." DJ held up a big Louis Vuitton bag.
"Whoaa man! Louie Vuitton?! Ayeee thank you! You trying to have me stunt like you huh?"
"Yes Sir! Haha! Hey, did my dad come yet or nah?" said DJ as he looked around.
"Uh uh he's not here yet."
"Okay thanks." DJ hoped that he didn't truly upset his dad. Especially to the point where he wouldn't even show up.
"Oh! Wait a minute. There he is right there! Aye man!" Uncle Nate called out. Like clockwork, Deondre walked in the front door and approached Uncle Nate and DJ.
"Hey guys. Happy happy birthday Nate!" said Deondre as he handed Uncle Nate a birthday gift.
"Thank you amigo! Thank you."
"I see those grays playing peak a boo brotha. 52. You getting up there man!"
"Haha yeah. That hairline of yours getting up there too!" Deondre and Nate laughed hysterically. So much that they leaned on each other for support.
"Imma stop there because I don't want to kill you on ya birthday."
"Bruh I gotta enough meat on me. It's alright! Haha! Aye man! You want something to drink?"
"Oh! Not right now. I might catch one later on. Thanks."
"Okay well I'll be back. I gotta check on the steaks. I left em on the grill."
"Oh okay. Cool bro." Once Uncle Nate left, Deondre headed towards Aunt Jackie but DJ stopped him in his tracks.
"Dad, what's wrong?"
"Nothing. Why?"
"Because you're not even saying two words."
"I said hey to you."
"Yeah but you're acting like there's an issue."
"There is no issue."
"Then what's wrong?"
"Nothing. I'm fine."
"Dad, if it's what I said earlier, then I'm sorry. I'm sorry for what I said."
"Don't be sorry. It's okay. I told you, I'm fine."
"Are you sure?"
"Yes. I'm okay. Now. Let me go and greet your Aunt Jackie."
"You're not okay. I know you're not okay."
"I don't care what you say. I'm alright. Now go and enjoy yourself." Deondre walked towards the back. DJ sat on the couch by the living room window and something caught his eye. Familiar voices were talking in the front yard. DJ squinted out the window and to his surprise, Aunt LoLo, Vivian, and her fiancée, James were all in the front yard walking up to the front door. DJ jumped up and dodged through the crowd to find his father. He had to get himself and his dad out of there before Uncle Nate's birthday party ends in flames.
"DAD!" DJ called shoving through people. He finally found Deondre in the backyard with Uncle Nate and Aunt Jackie. DJ squeezed through the slide door leading to the patio, hopped over the patio railing and ran over to Deondre.
"Dad! We gotta go like NOW."
"What are you talking about?!"
"Vivian, her douche bag man, and Lorraine is HERE." Deondre's face twisted in disgust and anger. Uncle Nate and Aunt Jackie stood up in shock.
"What are they doing here?!" Aunt Jackie yelled.
"They're not supposed to be here!" Uncle Nate thundered.
"Dad, let's go because if them niggas try us or touch you, I'm killing somebody and I don't need a charge right now!"
"Shit, me too!" said Deondre.
"They're COMING."
"Look, don't try to fight because if they touch you, it's murder she wrote up in here. Say what you gotta say and no physical unless you have to." Suddenly, Aunt Lorraine, Vivian, and James walked outside on the patio and towards where they were. Deondre and DJ got in stance and braced themselves. Deondre slightly backed DJ up with his right arm and hand.
"So we couldn't get an invite little brother?" Vivian said as she and the others approached them.
"No. You're not supposed to be here and you know we don't rock like that! Get out!" Uncle Nate yelled. Party guests started to come outside to see what was going on.
"Don't you think it's a little unfair that you're sisters wasn't invited but my ex and his no good son was?"
"Don't you dare disrespect them! Not here! Not today and not ever!"
"You know what? You are such a sorry excuse of a brother. How could you be chilling with the man who put me through abuse all those years?"
"Now Vivian? C'mon. We allll know that was a lie. The gig is up. Let that weak ass story go. What I do know is that it was the other way around."
"Oh please! Did sorry ass Deondre brainwash you with those lies? And did your old, hagged out wife help you believe that lie?"
"STOP!" Deondre thundered. Uncle Nate stepped back trying to contain himself. Deondre stepped up.
"Oh so now this faggot wanna speak?" Aunt Lorraine scolded. Vivian laughed.
"Shut your WEAK and ILLITERATE ass up! I should rip you limb by limb for poisoning my son! What you forgot about that?! SAY SOMETHING! I'll rip ya fucking head off if you step to me again! Now fall ya fat ass back!" Deondre roared as veins popped out of his neck. Everybody got quiet. Somebody even turned the music off! You could hear a pin drop out there. "Now back to you…years later and you still on my neck?" Deondre stepped in front of Vivian not giving two cares if James was standing a foot away from him.
"On ya neck? Boy bye! You wish!"
"You're still bothered and miserable and evil. Don't you ever get tired? Oh I forgot. The devil NEVER gets tired."
"You're so angry and jealous that I moved on and didn't give a fuck. Are you mad that you were left in the dust to rot? Huh?"
"The only thing that's rotten is your soul and trust me, I'm smart enough and my eyes are clear enough now to confidently say that I would NEVER EVER want somebody as twisted, evil, nasty, sad, hurt, and CHILDISH as you EVER again. All of the things you put me through?! I wouldn't wish it on my worst enemy. I wouldn't even wish it on YOU."
"Ohhhhh so now you're the victim?! Hahahahaha! Really?"
"Nah. I'm not a victim. I'm a survivor. I'm a survivor of your lies. I'm a survivor of your degrading. I'm a survivor of your anger. I'm a survivor of your evilness. I'm a survivor of YOU. And anybody who can survive you is built of steel because Lord knows, you've even frightened demons!"
"Shut up! I'm not going to stand here and listen to this!"
"Oooo did I push a button satan?"
"Vivian it's over." DJ butted in. "Stop with the lies once and for all." DJ stood shaking, trying to hold back his anger.
"Last time I checked, you got my son killed so NOTHING FROM YOUR MOUTH IS VALID."
"DON'T YOU TALK TO ME ABOUT MY BROTHER!" DJ got teary eyed.
"Oooo DID I push a button satan?"
"Heffer, don't do it! I am warning you. I'm not playing games with you. I am SICK and TIRED of you! It's over Vivian! Stop with the fronting! I tried for so long to contain myself just because of the mere fact that you're my mother! You know what you did! And then on top of that, your stupid, punk ass sister wanna be your minion and follow the leader!" DJ looked at Aunt LoLo and stepped to her. "AND YOU! YOU REALLY THOUGHT YOU WAS DOING SOMETHING WHEN YOU MAILED ME THAT BLANKET BITCH?!" Vivian tried to grab his arm but he pulled away. "NO! Don't ever touch me! You know all the times I saw my dad physically hurt because you done threw glassware at his feet or punched him or threw BOILING HOT WATER ON HIM?! You don't remember that?! That don't ring a bell?! Huh?! The time you pushed him down the stairs?! Huh?! You don't remember that?! How about the time you beat him out of his sleep for simply not being in the mood to fuck you?!"
"YOU'RE LYING! I'M NOT LISTENING TO THIS BULLSHIT!"
"OH YES YOU ARE! YOU NOT GONNA WALK OUT AGAIN! YOU ALREADY DID THAT TO ME A THOUSAND TIMES!"
"STOP!"
"OH SO NOW YOU CAN'T TAKE IT? HOW IT FEEL?! HOW DOES IT FEEL?!" James grabbed DJ's arm.
"You better back away from her nigga. YOU don't know who you messing with." DJ looked at James' hand that was gripping his right arm and looked back up at him. DJ impulsively took his left fist and swung at James, landing a hard one on James' eye. Chaos erupted. Vivian and Lorraine tried to pull James from DJ. The crowd gathered around the fight gasping and yelling.
"YOU BITCH! YOU THE ONE PUT THEM CAMERAS IN MY HOUSE! IMMA KILL YOU!" DJ swung, fist connecting to James' jaw. Deondre jumped in between when James' swung and caught DJ's lip.
"OH HELL NO! GET THE FUCK OFF MY SON!" Deondre pushed DJ back and swung a left hook, a right hook, and then a knee to the gut. Then he followed with an uppercut, making James fall back on one of the picnic tables. James' grabbed Deondre's throat and slammed him over now on top of him. Uncle Nate and two other men held DJ back as he tried to fight out of their restraint.
"Get ya hands of my dad! NO! Let me go!" DJ screamed. Deondre pressed in James' eye and he immediately took his hands from around his throat. Deondre pinned him and continued to give him continuous right jabs, knocking James clean out. Four men grabbed Deondre by the waist and arms to get him off of James'. While Deondre and DJ were being escorted into the house, James regained consciousness.
"Are you okay baby?" said Vivian as she caressed James' face.
"Yeah babe. I'm alright. I'm alright."
"I'm going to kill that son of a bitch."
"No…don't do that. I don't want you in jail. I got something for him."
"Ya'll better get off my property before I call the cops!" yelled Uncle Nate from the patio slide door.
"Come on babe. Let's go." Vivian and Lorraine helped James off the property.
Meanwhile inside the house…
DJ and Deondre sat in the living. DJ held a zip lock bag with an ice cube in it to his lip. Aunt Jackie and Uncle Nate came back in from saying goodbye to their guests.
"Jackie…Nate…I'm sooo sorry that we ruined your party. I am so sorry!" Deondre shook his head.
"It's alright Dre. You don't have to apologize. It wasn't neither one of ya'll fault. Just think about this as the most historic birthday party for having the most family enemies in the same vicinity at the same damn time haha." Everyone laughed.
"We'll make up to you guys. I promise. It was unfortunate but ass had to be beat."
"We understand sweety. They the ones rolled up in here like animals." Aunt Jackie laughed.
"What a birthday!" Uncle Nate shook his head.
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Later that night…
Deondre's Hotel Room
DJ decided to check up on his dad after the brawl. He seemed really upset and was barely talking which is unlike him even when the worst happens.
Deondre sat at the front of his bed while DJ stood at the door.
"Dad, are you okay?"
"Yeah. I'm fine."
"Dad you are NOT okay. It's okay to cry." Deondre's eyes began to fill with water and suddenly, a single tear finally fell. DJ walked over to him and hugged him. Once DJ did that, he let it all out. Every tear from years ago to present time began to fall out his eyes. DJ held on tight.
"You've been lying to me since I was a child. Do you know how many times I've heard and seen you cry? After you told me you were okay? That day mom cut your feet with glassware, you told me you were okay but your whole body trembled with fear. That night she burned you with the water and you told me you were fine and then sent me to bed, I stood by the door after I closed it and I heard you cry and say how you felt like dying. You don't have to keep lying to me and yourself. You don't have to hold it in anymore. You don't have to be strong for ME anymore. Be strong for yourself now. I'm not that little boy anymore. I'm a man now and I can handle it. I've heard you cry a million times before and this time just made the millionth and one."
"I didn't want to put all that on you. You were too young to handle all of that. I didn't know you knew." Deondre sobbed.
"Well I kept some things to myself too. Dad, I saw everything. I was waiting for the day that you would finally break in front of me and Duron but you never did. You're THE strongest person I know. Out of everyone I know in this world, the strongest person I know is you and that's FACT. When you get boiling hot water thrown on you and all you do is mumble so you won't scare your kids, that's some gangsta shit! I don't know anybody who could do that. I can't even do that. A speck of grease pop on me while I'm frying chicken and I'm screaming." Deondre wiped his eyes and let out a chuckle.
"Now, let's try this again. Are you okay?"
"Yes! I'm okay now."
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Next day…
Dr. Palmer: Sweetheart, I'm so glad that he asked you out to lunch. You're single. What do you have to lose? Do whatever you want. He's moved on. So should you. Love you princess."
Seen at 1:14 pm
April: Thanks dad.
April read her dad's text before walking into the bar. Grant greeted her with a smile.
"Hi April. You look beautiful as always." Said Grant as he help her up on the stool.
"Thank you. So how are you?"
"I'm great. How about you?"
"I couldn't be better."
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Deondre was on his way to the movies with his sister, Kelis when something caught his eye. He squealed on the breaks and pulled up to the side of the road.
"Kelis…I know I'm not seeing what I think I'm seeing. Look." Kelis looked in the direction he was staring and saw.
"Ohhhh my. That's his ex-fiancée with that bastard! What the hell is she doing with him?!"
"I have no clue and I will never understand why. Can you take a picture of this? I'm about to go inside and say hi." Deondre walked around the car and into the bar. He flopped on the stool next to April and folded his arms.
"Ayee wassup?" Deondre shouted out scaring both April and Grant. Deondre smiled. April turned around nervously.
"What are you doing here, Mr. Williams?" April sighed.
"Oh! I was just riding through town with my sister and saw you and this bitch and just decided to say hi. Don't mind me. Continue whatever ya'll got going on."
"Who the hell are you?" Grant yelled.
"You don't wanna know. I think if you knew, you wouldn't be talking shit. I think it's better if you didn't know. I don't want you to piss yourself in here." Deondre eyed him. "But I do know who you are and if it wasn't for the police station being right down the street, I'd light yo ass up! Ohhhh how lucky you are today."
"That's DJ's father." April whispered. Grant almost spit out his drink.
"Oh ya'll don't gotta whisper now."
"What are you doing here, Mr. Williams? Don't you have somewhere to be?" April side eyed him.
"What are YOU doing here? C'mon you know you better than this. And I actually do have somewhere to be but this bs that I'm seeing almost made me crash a few minutes ago so I decided to come in a pay a visit."
"Well you can leave now. I'm glad you didn't crash."
"Yeah. Thank you. Whatever. No moving along…who's gonna tell him April? Me or you?"
"What are you talking about?"
"Who's going to tell him about this? If you don't, I will. You wanna tell him or….? Because I'll gladly tell him if you don't have the balls to. Make up your mind."
"I don't have to tell him anything."
"Ohhhh yeah you do. Anytime you mess with Grant, you must tell. Don't do like last time sweetheart."
"Whatever." April mumbled under her breath.
"What was that?"
"Nothing."
"Oh I thought. I'll give you two hours. If he doesn't know by three, I'm spilling it."
"And how would he find out if I told him or not?"
"Oh don't worry! He'll call. He tells me everything." Deondre got up from the stool. "Welp, you kids have a great lunch while it lasts. Remember. Two hours."
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Later that evening….
Location: DJ and April's house
DJ came down the stairs slowly when he heard April come through the door. When he got to the bottom of the stairs, he stepped in front of her.
"You know the real reason why I'm here? Instead of L.A right now? The only reason why I'm here is to look out for you during this crazy ass time in our lives even though you did me wrong. I still cared enough and loved you enough to come back here just to make sure you were good but…it seems like you're well off so I'll be leaving in the morning…and I'm never coming back. This house is yours. You can do whatever you want with it. I don't care. Everything in here you can have. I packed all the stuff I wanted. I'm spending the night with my dad and aunt so you can lock the screen door." DJ opened the door and turned around. "Oh yeah and umm…your dad is off limits. Just thought you might wanna know."
"Your dad better NOT hurt my dad!"
"He won't…I mean…at least I'll try to make him not get him. Good night April." DJ left.
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Location: Fulton County Jail
Grant picked up the phone and smiled at Zeke through the glass.
"Nigga don't smile at me in here." Zeke said.
"Alright."
"I'm in here because of you and your bullshit. You know I'm facing a year up in this bitch. A FULL YEAR. Imma die in here! It's dumb man. As I sit in here day in and day out, I realize how DUMB this shit was. It ain't worth my freedom man! Let that shit go. You know, I know, and everyone else knows the truth. Yes, we the enemies know the truth. It's one thing for her to leave you for someone else but to leave you for someone else who is actually better than you in every area that human can possibly be in. That's what kills you. DJ loves that girl! And she loves him and they were meant for each other. We saw how you use to treat her man. You didn't have a clue about what to do with a woman like her. How could you be mad the nigga for making her happy? Man, get out my face. I don't wanna see you until I get out and when I do, this bs better be over."
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Back in L.A
Location: Deondre's Restaurant
Deondre and DJ stood in utter shock looking at the ransacked restaurant.
"Oh my goodness. They completely destroyed everything they could grab…this is ridiculous!" Deondre picked up broken glass from the door way. "When I find out who did this, I'm tearing up tail."
"This is crazy man. It's my fault for dragging you into this drama."
"It's okay. It's not your fault. I'm just glad no one got hurt. I wanna cry but I kinda don't because I have insurance but it hurts seeing my baby ruined." DJ looked up from picking up shards of glass and saw Duron standing behind his dad.
"Yo what do you be looking at?!" Dre said. "Every once and awhile, you'll be looking at thin air or talking to nothing and I'm like what's going on?" Duron put made bunny ears with his fingers and put it behind Deondre's head.
"Aahhh! Hahahahahaha!" DJ laughed.
"What the hell is so funny?" Deondre looked around.
"Hey dad, I'm about to tell you something crazy. I need you to not get creeped out though."
"What is it? I don't think anything can creep me out more than you talking to air."
"Well…I can see Duron." Deondre almost loss balance while squatting to pick up the glass.
"Ummmmmmm WHAT?"
"I can see Duron."
"Umm you know he passed away and can never come back right?"
"Yeah but I can see him. I always see him. He visits me. He's standing right behind you." Deondre jumped up and ran to DJ.
"Uh uh! What are you talking about? He's right behind me?! Get out of here with that bs. You're scaring me now."
"Dad, there's nothing to be afraid of. He said come back to him or he's coming to you."
"What the hell? I can't see him or whatever it is! Wait a minute! Stop doing this!"
"Haha dad it's okay. Duron, come here. Touch his shoulder." Deondre cringed awaiting a touch. Duron walked towards Deondre and touch his shoulder, making his shirt flutter. Deondre ran out the restaurant and stood at the front.
"HELLL NAHH! He just tapped my shoulder like three times! Are you serious DJ?! Oh shit wait! Something's squeezing me!"
"Haha Duron is hugging you Dad."
"Duron, do not hurt me."
"He said why would he do that?"
"I don't know. You're a ghost. That's what ghosts do."
"He said he's not a ghost. He's your son."
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Later that night…
Deondre fell asleep on the couch because he was so spooked from earlier. He fell into a deep sleep and began dreaming.
Flashes from earlier today zoomed past me on a screen. Now I'm walking down a white corridor and there's three human figures in the distance. As I walk closer, DJ appears. I take a couple more steps, Duron appears. I took 10 more steps and the last figure is still in black. I can't see who it is.
"Dad!" Someone called to me. It got louder and louder and louder until it bellowed through my ears.
Deondre from his dreams feeling anxious and confused. He sat on the couch trying to get himself together until someone called him from the kitchen.
"Dad." They said. Deondre looked around and quickly got up. He slowly walked to the kitchen and felt someone gab his hand. He jumped. It was Duron.
"Dad, don't be scared." Said Duron. Deondre's mouth quivered as he tried to say words but all he could do is mumble. Soon after that, he fainted.
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Location: IATT Building
DJ and his dad drove Kye to DJ's new business place.
"Kye I'm so glad you came to visit! This is my new business. I wanna show you inside. " DJ turned around to see Duron and his dad whispering to each other. "Kye you go take a look. I'll be there in a minute."
"I'm sorry. We're having too much fun back here." Said Deondre.
"Soo I'm guessing you visited him last night Duron?"
"Yeah and he fainted on me haha."
"Dad did you really?"
"Hell yeah! I was scared!"
"So you're not scared anymore?"
"Nah, we talked all night surprisingly. This is still the weirdest thing I've ever encountered." Suddenly, Kye butted in.
"Who are ya'll talking to?!"
"Each other!" They yelled in unison.
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Location: April's House
Grant planned to meet with Dr. Palmer and April to discuss some things.
"So I wanted to meet with you guys to tell you something."
"What is it?" Dr. Palmer said as he sipped his coffee.
"I'm done. I'm moving on from the anger and hate between me and DJ. No, we're not going to be friends but I'm not holding this 8-9 year grudge anymore. The truth hurts but I've accepted it and I'm ready to move on."
"What's the truth?"
"The truth is…the real truth is that I've been jealous and bitter for all these years over someone who no longer belongs to me. The truth is that April loves that man and he loves her more than I ever could or can. The truth is that me and Dr. Palmer here are just being the same people who hurt us when we were younger. We spend days and nights plotting against people's blessing because we're miserable. You know? I'm an awful lot miserable making others miserable than being miserable by myself. April, I knew from the moment you accepted my offer for lunch that you were just as hurt and broken inside as I was. I have to forgive myself for wasting all these years trying to ruin a man made out of steel. One day, hopefully soon, I can meet with DJ face to face to apologize, if he lets me get that close. Until then, I'll be leaving all this in the past. I wish both of you nothing but the best." April and her dad sat stunned at Grant's words. It was most definitely unlike him.
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Location: Sylvester's House
"Why are you here April?" said Sylvester. April started to sob.
"I don't know what else to do. Things will never be the same. I tried to put on this front that I didn't care and I kept screwing up and now he's moved on without me forreal this time! I don't think I have any room for redemption. I'm going to be honest with myself for the first time in months…I don't want to be with anyone else! I love that man beyond words, beyond actions. I just have a very bad way about me and I'm willing to change to get it all back but I don't know where to start!" Sylvester stepped out on the porch and stood beside her.
"You know what you hav to do? Start by forgiving yourself. Once you can truly forgive yourself, that's when you can leave this new, messy April behind and get back to the old you. You gotta work on yourself. If you want to be ready for him, you gotta be ready for yourself. Just work on yourself and get back on your track. He'll know the old you is back, if you really changed. The old April is his favorite person in this world."
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Later that night…
Location: DJ's new house
While DJ fixed his bed for bed time, he found a note on his bed. It was from Duron. It read:
"This is your forgive list. Forgive everyone listed. After you have done so, the names will disappear. I wrote them in the order that you would have put the names in. If you complete this and do it from the heart, I'll reveal the biggest gift you and dad could ever possibly get.
Grant
Rich
April
Vivian
Don
Sphere Saldivar
Thank you for reading everyone! Hope your liking the story so far!
