Chapter Thirty-Two:

Palm City Kings

It was the first day of the fall semester. Festival sat up in her queen sized, bubblegum pink bed that was decked out with a princess themed canopy. Her whole room was an explosion of pastel—pink, soft yellow and lavender, with a matching carpet. The chiffon drapes were a lacy flamingo pink while her bed sheets more of a coral tone. Her enormous room sported a beautiful vanity and upon her vanity, she had a glass menagerie, a music box and a collection of her hair clips. Her teddies were piled in the corner while her favorite, full sized teddy bear shared the bed with her. She sat around the vanity, dressed in her silk pink robe and her hair tied up in a gold and red headscarf. She unwrapped the scarf and brushed her hair out, putting it into two pigtail braids with slicked down edges. She dabbed a bit of blush on her cheeks and got dressed, electing to wear blue skinny jeans, pink sequined sneakers and a cute peach colored tank top. She grabbed her unicorn themed backpack and walked through the wooden double doors of her room, walking down the long, elaborate hallway of their new, gorgeous manor. She jogged down the stairs and headed to the kitchen, where the family chef had finished preparing breakfast.

There were pancakes, a fruit bowl, freshly squeezed orange juice, muffins and coffee. Mardi finished up her fifth pancake and downed the juice in one gulp, patting her mouth dry. She decided to wear a black skirt, flats and a yellow top. Pam was already in the luxurious lobby of the manor, waiting for Mardi and Festival, while Diddy was smoking outside on the magnificent veranda, decorated with lush plants: roses, carnations and hydrangeas. The Pinsir girl opted for all black—jeans, heels and a crop top to go with her sparkly mask. Diddy, on the other hand, iridescent polka dot shorts, a see-thru bikini top with pasties, a leopard patterned fur jacket and clear wedge heels and her flower shaped shades. Festival grabbed a muffin and drank her juice and met up with Pam, with Mardi following behind her. They stepped outside and waited for Jasper to pull up in front with his Buick. He dressed in his usual flare, mirrored shades and all, smoking as he did. Pam, Mardi and Festival hopped in while Diddy went in the front, putting her feet up on the dash. He drove out of the sandy path of the manor's courtyard, the gates automatically opening up as he passed through, heading out into the street.

"Ready for y'all first day?" Jasper asked.

"No," Mardi said, texting on her phone. She decided to wear her designer shades to school today to flex.

"Yes!" Festival said excitedly.

"I ain't been in school in years," Pam said, looking anxious.

"School's okay," Festival said, "Sometimes it's boring, sometimes it's fun."

Jasper drove down the long main road, passing by a few convertibles and family SUVs, bobbing his head to some throwback R&B as he took a drag. Diddy was on her phone, taking a drag as she nodded her head along to the music.

"Niggas better not try jockin' me on my first day," Mardi said, taking a selfie, "I ain't about that corny shit."

"I can't believe I'm starting high school! I'm a freshman!" Festival squealed.

"I can't believe my ass goin' to school," Pam whispered, smiling a text from Lil Pac.

"No moffuckin' boys, iight?" Jasper said to Mardi and Festival.

"Really nigga?" Mardi said, sucking her teeth.

"Unless I approve of 'em," Jasper added, which earned him a small concessive smile from Mardi. "And keep them grades good, iight?"

"Yes daddy," Festival said confidently.

"Iight, wha'ever old nigga," Mardi said.

"I'ma try," Pam added with a small laugh.

"This only temporary," he reminded them, "Prolly a semester or two 'til I get y'all tutors and shit. Ain't tryna have y'all nigglets blabbin' bout the shit I be doin'."

"We aren't going to blab, daddy," Festival said, rolling her eyes.

Jasper smiled widely, taking a pull of his cigarette as he passed by the Kabana and then eventually, Babylon Nights. He took a left turn into a one-way street, feeling the warm breeze ruffling his hair, diffusing the cigarette smoke. Eventually, he pulled up to the campus of Palm City High. Students were outside on the grassy field, chilling, talking and eating their breakfast. It was a mixed group, a lot mons, but also quite a few humans. They seemed to be getting along, regardless. Mardi noticed that people were staring at them, mainly because a pink convertible Buick with animal print seats was beyond tacky, but their clothes screamed "expensive spoiled brat," as well. Jasper cut off the engine, turning to the three in the backseat.

"Iight…so…I'm pickin' y'all up at 3? If I can't make it, I'ma send my driver to get y'all."

"Yeah," Mardi said, shutting the car door.

"Bye daddy," Festival said.

"Yeah bye dad," Pam said, still trying to get used to calling Jasper that.

"Iight, have a good first day, don't be doin' no dumb shit," he said, pulling out of the parking and driving off with Diddy. She looked behind her, gazing at the campus and then laughed derisively.

"That school lookin' low key fancy as fuck. A mixed school? Y'all ready know…the drama."

"Ay it's the only fuckin' school in NPC that's worth a shit," Jasper said, his cigarette hand hanging out over the side of the door, "And, once again, it's temporary."

"Yo kids got drip," Diddy said, "Either they gon' be hated as fuck or popular as fuck."

"Knowin' those lil nigglets, it's gon' be the former," Jasper joked, sailing down the street before doing a sharp, but legal U-turn. He went back the way he came, heading towards Krookodile Kabana.

"Can we go shoppin' today tho?"

"Again?" Jasper asked, adjusting his shades and taking a drag, "Y'all moffucka's really like swipin' daddy's card all fuckin' day."

"Well…" Diddy took a drag of her cigarette, "Is you really complainin' tho?"

"Ion really care, but damn y'all buy some dumb shit. Was it you or Mardi who bought the fuckin' light up back massager?"

Diddy snorted sharply, "Oh? A light up back massager? Iight, Jasper."

"I ain't like I'm made of money tho."

"Nigga, yes you is!" She teased, laughing.

"Speakin' of which, since you workin' for me," Jasper began, "You can start by keepin' tabs on my social media—make sure I ain't, or anyone else in my crew or my dumbass kids ain't postin' some wild dumb shit that can get us implicated."

"Yessir."

"And you can start pickin' up my dry cleanin," Jasper continued, taking a drag, "And puttin' in orders for me if I'm too fuckin' stoned to do so."

"Yes, yes," Diddy affirmed.

"You can handle all that?"

"I can handle anythin' you throw at me," she said playfully. Jasper raised an eyebrow and shook his head.

"Kids," he mused, taking a pull. He reached the Kabana in about fifteen minutes, parking in his designated space. Due to the fact it was now fall (or the NPC version of fall), there were far less tourists and the beaches were nearly empty, especially during the weekdays. He got out, locking the car behind him as Diddy jumped over of the door, scampering after him. He entered the Kabana, greeting the people at the front desk as he made his way over to the lounging area. Sitting there were the Palm City Kings, the full crew: Rapier, Chanel, Sticks, Haze, Lil Pac, Parker, Barry and Glen. They were having their breakfast and their usual morning mimosas. Chanel had her feet on the table as she vaped, while Parker and Rapier stuck with smoking their usual brand of cigarettes. Jasper took a seat, ordering for a mimosa as he put out his cigarette. Diddy slid next to him, giving her hellos to the crew as she ordered for some cranberry juice.

"What's good," Lil Pac said.

"Yo," Chanel greeted.

"So…whatchu got for us?" Rapier asked as Jasper made himself comfortable. The Jolteon man leaned back in his seat, his arm around Diddy who was finishing up her cigarette. He cleared his throat and thanked the waitress when she handed him his morning mimosa. He sipped it, steepling his fingers when he set his drink aside.

"A new shipment," he said, "Y'all ready?"

"I was born ready nigga," Chanel asserted.

"Ay do I gotta be flyin' mad miles tho?" Parker asked, sighing heavily.

"I'ma snatch it up," Lil Pac offered, "But after that I'm hittin' the studio."

As they discussed what this new shipment could be and who would accompany Jasper in retrieving it, the waitress came with Diddy's cranberry juice. She sipped it, offering her ideas, which were surprisingly appropriate and well-thought out. Jasper sipped his mimosa, checking his phone. His eyes widened upon seeing a surprising text.

It had been from Nadio. He opened the notification, taking off his shades and switching them for his reading spectacles.

Hey Jasper

I'm engaged.

The wedding by the end of the year

I don't really want you to be part of my life…I mean I don't need you

But…

This was my girlfriend's idea…to reach out

Ion really know if I should invite you…

But I'ma be the bigger man and invite you.

You know…to be…fair.

Jasper felt his heart skip a beat in excitement. He texted back, a resounding yes to his invitation. After he replied, he decided to check Nadio's Poke/Gram profile. There were pictures of his girlfriend, smiling happily with Nadio, with the caption reading: we're pregnant. Jasper's eyebrows went all the way up. He scrolled through the latest picture, seeing that she had recently found out and posted the positive test. From Nadio's comments and his insistence of putting up pictures of his girlfriend, it was clear they were going to keep it and he was going to be part of this child's life.

Jasper gave a tiniest of smiles.

Well shit.

I'm a granddad.