Alright, my friend wanted in so I created a new character. I own Vikki, the neighbors and now Junior. Hope u like.


















Mia drummed her fingers on the counter and glanced at her watch for the tenth time in an hour. She sighed and wondered if he was going to come in at all. She liked it when he came and just talked. He was a good listener and actually paid attention to what she said instead of nodding and changing the subject. He would just let her say what ever she liked. She told him about college and the classes she was talking at UCLA and how she was so happy she got in there with a full scholarship. Mia told him about her family and her boyfriend, but never gave out Brian's name. She talked forever to him, but she let him talk too. He would tell her about the time he did in juvey for a crime he didn't even commit. He told her how his family abandoned him because he was a disgrace after he got arrested. She felt sorry for him, but he would brush it off and keep talking about cars and other things he thought of.

Junior, that's what his name was. She asked him if he was named after his father and he said no, they just named him Junior. But he would never tell her his last name. He told her that he was nineteen, two years of his life was wasted behind bars. Apparently he was caught in a stolen car that his body stole and had shot the owner, luckily didn't kill him. Junior had no idea it was stolen or what his friend had done. He was put on trial and convicted of auto theft and attempted murder. His friend never confessed to the crime, in fact he moved out of state.

Mia wished he were here now. She liked having him around to talk to. Not that she didn't love Brian, but he never listened to her the way Junior did, at least not anymore. Brian loved her in all, but he never really cared much to hear what she had to say. She understood he was busy, but it was nice to have someone to listen to her the way Junior did.

She glanced around and looked at Ebony. She was reading Cosmo and trying to stay occupied with reading the articles within it. Every now and then she'd smile when she came across something really intriguing and become totally wrapped up in it. She even showed Mia a few of the things she was reading. It was mainly sex articles on how to please a man in bed or something like that. Interesting enough, but her mind was still on Junior.

Summer was working on the paper work for her and trying to figure out what they were out of and needed to restock on. She had decided to come after Ebony kept talking about Junior. She knew Leon was jealous beyond anything else, but he kept his mouth shut and let her go. He was probably going nuts with envy next door. They all were most likely. She wanted to find out for herself why this guy was such a charmer to the other two and what about him made the men want to kill him. Whatever it was it had to be good.

The front door opened to the store and the girls' heads snapped up from whatever they were doing. They were disappointed to see it was only Violet.

"Gee don't look to grim," she said sarcastically. Pulling up a stool in front of Ebony. "Apparently your 'mystery guy' hasn't shown up yet."

"No, not yet. I'm wondering if he'll even show today," Mia sighed sadly, resting her chin on the palm of her hand and her elbow on the counter.

"Why are you here, Vi?" Ebony asked her looking at the magazine still.

"I thought I'd see what this guy was all about. Not like I had anything else to do, Asher's at work and all," she grinned, clicking her tongue stud against her teeth.

Summer rolled her eyes as she continued on the paperwork. "Real perverted aren't we Ms. Slut?"

"Least I didn't do my boyfriend the first week I met him,' she countered smiling back at her.

"That's because you did him first day," Summer gave her an eat-shit grin.

Violet growled but made no response to it. She couldn't deny something that was true. She didn't car she was still with Asher after nearly five years. Didn't matter when she had sex with him. "And Crimson can't leave the house so I had nothing better to do with my time."

"Get a job," Mia suggested to her. "There's plenty of places around here that could use the help."

"I'm too lazy right now," she shrugged. "I make money the old fashion way."

"Having sex," Summer put in, keeping her eyes on her work.

Violet flipped her off and continued. "Racing cars, it's the easiest way I know how and no more comments from you, Cheap Lay."

Summer returned the gesture and went back to her work.

Mia rolled her eyes and continued to tap the counter. "Yeah, well he's not here yet and I don't know when he'll be."

Just as she said it the door opened and the little bell above it jingled. A tall, well-fit young man came through the door. Mia smiled and sat up as Junior came in. "You're late."

"Woke up late," he said, his voice deep yet charming all at once. Junior pulling up a seat across from her. He rubbed his eyes and removed his hat showing her his messy bed head hair to prove his point. His short dark hair stood in every direction. He ran a hand through it and put the cap back on backwards.

"Rough night?" Ebony asked, leaving the magazine open in front of her.

He nodded, "Kinda, I just had a hard time sleeping is all."

"Why?" Mia frowned. She liked getting him to talk. It filled in those awkward moments of silence later on.

"I had a lot on my mind," he sighed leaning back in his chair. He noticed Violet for the first time then. "Who are you?"

"Names Violet," she said, not bothering to shake his hand.

"I'm Junior," he held his hand out to her. She looked at it and turned away. "Okay then," he nodded and turned back to Mia.

She gave Violet a look. "Why don't you go help Summer in the back Vi?"

"Oh give me a break, Mia," she whined.

"Go!" she said with more force. If there was one thing she had in common with her brother and sister it was putting up with other peoples attitudes. She hated people who were disrespectful and Violet was having one of her moody days. Violet muttered under her breath and left the counter going to the back.

Mia shook her head as Ebony followed out, sensing Mia wanted to talk alone. "I apologize for her. Violet's a nice person, she just has her good days and bad days, today happens to be a bad day. She's been spitting venom all morning."

He brushed it aside with a wave of his hand. "It's cool. I don't mind it really. I mean, my family through me out and I've been behind bars. I've been treated worse than that. So she's not a big problem, Mia."

Mia smiled and shook her head, "What kind of things were on your mind?" she asked turning the subject back.

He thought about it a moment. His dark eyes staring off into space as he was lost in his thoughts. "Mostly my family…I've been contemplating on whether or not to talk to my brother and try to patch things up with him." He stood and grabbed a soda from the back of the store and sat down again.

"What about your dad? Don't you want to fix things with him?" she asked as he opened the soda and took a drink before answering.

He shook his head and handed her a dollar for the soda. "No not really. He's stubborn and made it clear that he never wanted to see me again. I have no interest of talking to him. It my brother I hope to talk too."

"Is he older?"

"Yeah, he should be twenty-three this year going on twenty-four in December," he nodded.

Mia smiled a little, "My boyfriends birthday is in December…I just hope he remains my boyfriend."

Junior saw the grim look on her face. "What's wrong? He treating you wrong?"

She shook her head as tears stung her eyes. "We had a fight last night about stupid shit and he became all pissed off because he claims to never see me anymore. But I'm busy with classes and the store and the family, and he's busy with races and work. This morning he found out that I talk to you and became furious. I left before I got out of control."

"He became mad about me?" Junior frowned, watching the tears in her eyes that threatened to spill down her cheeks.

"Yeah," she nodded, running her hands in her hair and resting them on the back of her neck. "He accused me of cheating on him pretty much. The thing is I just like talking to you. He's not a good listener like you are. If I'm not talking about cars than he isn't interested."

Junior frowned and felt bad for her. He stood and went around the counter, putting a hand on her shoulder. "It'll work out. Why don't you just tell him about it? Tell him how you feel and that you'd like to talk about things besides for cars and work. Tell him you do love him and you want to spend time with him. Maybe you two can work out a day when you aren't doing anything and do something together. Just stay home and talk to each other or go for a walk on the beach."

She nodded and hugged him, "You always seem to know the right thing to say, Junior to make me feel better."

"What can I say, I'm Mr. Advice. I should start charging for it," he teased and she laughed. It felt good to hear her life and it actually made her feel good to laugh.

"Thank you, Junior," she kissed his cheek.

"Anytime," he was about to pull away and ask her who her boyfriend was when the front door opened and a shadow from his past came through the door with three other guys. Juniors mouth fell open in shock and his eyes widened. The sandy blonde had the same look on his face as he froze a few feet in the doorway. Mia saw the look on Junior's face and turned around to see the guys.

Junior finally found his voice and managed one word. "Brian."




Oooo more conflict and more problems. R&R please!!