Yo. I finally returned. Yawn. 8D How ya'll doin? Okay, let me get right to it.

Paige: Rofl. Just leave her ass at a random place, so wrong. lol

Jazaveli: Yeah, she a punk. SMH. Good news! No more chances after this chapter, you'll see why! 8D And things are about to get a tad bit rocky for the team. I hate to do it but...it's gotta happen!

YOUNG REEZY NUMBER1: Okay...no seriously you totally lost me. lol thanks for the review

DeLorean Hedgehog: We shall see in due time...due time...

MissG2020: Let's see what happens in this chapter! 8D

Iloveyou: lol Aw, I love Huey's confidence, and as I said to someone else, no more off the BS with Jazz and Nicki...in fact, things will get damn tough on her. I got plans for her. Muhahaha

Schweetpea: LOL, you ain't the only one who got pissed. Ha!

BananaMilkshake: Will he win? I dunno

Teria Lera: Yes Kentrell is soft. haha glad you loved it.

Deadman2k47: Your reviews never cease to amuse me. LOL thank you

behavingmindlessly: Damn, you all the way back on chapter 3, well uhm...Lamilton is here because...I wanted him to be 8D lol thanks for the review

Disclaimer: don't own BD

Chapter 17- You Live and Learn

You won the battle, but not the war! - Anonymous

Cindy's POV

The team was partially reunited once more. Riley and Caesar were down in Texas to be with Huey and his fight with James Jackson. It was a highly anticipated fight; everyone was waiting for that shit. But I know my man Huey will rock him. I was back in my Maryland home, I found myself coming back here more often, primarily because I finally had people worth coming back to. I was at a grocery store close to my home, nothing too fancy; I just needed to get some strawberries to eat.

"Well, well, well, fancy meeting you here." I heard a forced greeting behind me. Sighing, I didn't turn around.

"Go away mother." I said bored.

"Where is your little thug friends? Out doing more drugs?" she called. Rolling my eyes, I walked away from her. I heard her run up to me. She grabbed my wrist and flung me around, showing me her red bloodshot eyes. You know, my mother was the first addict in my life…I can remember Riley cracking jokes about it when I was stylin on that ass in basketball.

'Yo' momma does coke when she thinks no one is lookin.'

'Who TOLD YOU THAT?'

But as I grew older I realized how much his check…really did hurt me. Why were all these people so broken? Damn, nothing in my life was ever easy, but at least I never used it as an excuse. Jazmine is all messed up because she had shit parents and was always starving for a sliver of attention. My mother was a mess because she had five failed marriages under her belt and couldn't stand that the Wives of Woodcrest would talk behind her back. That and her daughter were a tomboy/dating black guys. She cared more about social status than her own blood. That alone should make me as messed up as Jazmine is…but that's what sets the weak from the strong. I chose not to.

"Don't you dare walk away from me when I'm talking to you! You're just like your stupid father!" She gritted her teeth. "You always want to walk away when someone is fucking talking!"

"Yeah, yeah, yeah." I yawned as I snatched away from her. I've had it with crackheads yelling at me. Shit. I bought my strawberries and left her screaming and shouting, making even more of an ass of herself. I need to blaze, but I don't like smoking by myself. I picked up my phone.

"Yo chick, fall through at my place." I told Alice.

"Let me do something for my mom, and I'll be over."

"Okay." I said as I pulled up in my drive way. I know Sirayah would never smoke with me, her profession nor Huey would allow it. When she arrived, she gave me a big hug.

"Ooooo! I missed you! How are you? It's been forever since I saw you!"

"I missed you too and I've been alright." I walked into the kitchen to pull out all the snacks I could find.

"Binging much?" I heard her laugh behind me.

"Yeaaa, I'm about to get lifted…want to join me?" I looked at her. Alice looked unsure.

"I don't know…I never smoked weed before."

"You haven't? Ah girl, there's nothing to it." She followed me out the kitchen and onto the floor I pulled out my wild cherry swisher sweet cigars and prepared the joints for the both of us.

"Ohhh, and I got that Cali shit…haaa, Riley would be so mad to know I smoked it without him." I was saying that more to myself than to Alice. I handed her piece and she looked at it like it was a disease in her hand.

"Don't worry girl, I got you, weed ain't nothing like crack, look at me and Riley. We're fine." I smiled.

"You sure I won't die or something?" I cracked up. "No." I lit hers up and then mine. She took one huge inhale only to start coughing and choking and shit.

"Damn girl, watch how I smoke it, and don't breathe in the shit." I laughed. She scrunched her nose up as she watched me. Her second attempt was way better.

"Now, smoke all of it, I think you'll like getting high…just think of yourself flying without a plane!"

So four buds a piece later, we were faded.

"Woah…I feel so light…" I nodded.

"Told you…hey can I ask you something?" She took a puff and turned her head to me.

"What is it bruh? You know you can talk to meeee." I smiled at her high ass.

"You think I should try to help Jaz-"

"You know, I've been meaning to ask you and Sirayah something, are you two taking stupid pills? Real talk." Smoke left my nostrils.

"What you mean?"

"Sirayah told me about seeing Nicki during her Battle of the Bands concert, and now you're going to tell me another sob story about Jazmine. The bitches ain't worth it, shut the fuck up already." I was taken aback by her bluntness. But then again, Alice has gotten the worst of Nicki's wrath, so I know Sirayah talking to her about giving her another chance would fall on deaf ears if she ever asked Alice that.

"Givin' these ho's all these chances that they don't deserve. I don't know Jazmine, but it sounds like to me she's too far gone for your help. She has to get her shit together on her own, and fuck Nicki…stupid bitch I'm waiting for her 15 minutes of fame to be up."

I guess the weed helped her express her pent up aggressions against these people.

"They make excuses for screwing over people in their lives; they deserve whatever happens to them. Or am I being too hard? Sirayah grew up with Nicki, and you've been friends with her for years…it's hard to let go or something?"

That's what it is…I don't know. I just feel that I didn't try hard enough, that if I stopped her from running from rehab she'd be on the road to recovery right now. I miss the friendship we had, but Alice is right. I just didn't want to come to terms with it.

"Yeah…you're right. I got to let it go. But I feel I didn't stop her from-"

"She stopped herself. You and Sirayah gon' have to learn you can't save anyone who doesn't want to be saved." She put her head back and let the smoke blow from her nostrils.

Damn…yeah.

"So, I know you hype for the fight." She called as I went to go wash off the strawberries and returned with them ready to eat.

"Oh girl yes!" I exclaimed. Huey was itching to fight Jackson for a minute; I can't wait to see it! We ate up all the snacks and Alice was still hungry, so we ordered pizza. After watching some stupid white people do stupid shit on MTV, Alice yawned.

"Damn, now I'm sleepy. You know, this stuff wasn't as bad as I thought it is. Thanks for showing me the way."

"No prob, now I have a homie to smoke with!" I grinned.

o0o

Nicole's POV

I was dare I say it…bored. I was bored with this touring shit here in Canada that Cairo and the team was doing. I wanted to be back in the States already. Tonya was here, but Lord knows what she was doing right now. I wasn't scheduled to perform until tomorrow night, and I really didn't feel like watching the show. I was still blue at the fact Sirayah turned me down again. Damn it, I should be happy. I got my fame and fortune; I have all these people that love me and my music so…why the hollow feeling. I shook my head, thinking of ways to come at her again. Tonya said she had some weird plan to get Escobar to me, but she didn't really say how or when. To be honest, that was the last thing I was focused on at the moment.

When I heard yelling and laughing in the hall way, I stood up and opened my hotel door. I saw Cairo and some other dudes play around. But then…something weird happened. Maybe I was seeing things but Cairo pulled the dude's pants and boxers down and started slapping his ass. People were recording it and shit on their phones. I made a face and silently closed the door, hoping they didn't see me. Naw…I am high right now so…maybe I shouldn't even take that seriously. Ignoring the site, I went back to puffing my blunt. Seconds later there were pounding at my door, rolling my eyes, I went to answer it. It was Wacko Jin…the guy whose ass Cairo was slapping…or not, like I said, I didn't see shit.

"Dude, why aren't you out here with us?" he was grinning.

"Uhm…I'm sleepy."

"I smell reefer."

"…It puts me to sleep." Cairo came bustling beside him.

"Yo bitch, you been actin' anti since we came here, the fuck is wrong with you?"

"I'm cramping." I'm a skillful liar when pushed to be. He sucked his teeth.

"Hey, can bitches still have sex on their periods?" Cairo looked over at Wacko. I slammed the door soon after that. No way. Disgusting, what the hell? Sighing hard out of irritation, I went to go on my Twitter, see what's popping over there on my page. They continued to knock and bang on my door.

"GET SOME OTHER BITCH TO FUCK, I AIN'T IN THE MOOD!" I shouted. Ignoring them, I noticed some bitch talking shit about me; my fan sent the link of the tweet. Her name was Vee or some shit.

-Barbie bitch, get off your knees and into the pit. I challenge you to a battle rap.

-Vee…you a stupid ho.

I slammed down my computer monitor. Fuck all this. I'm going to sleep. Good thing we're heading back into the states tomorrow after my show.

o0o

Jazmine's POV

No answer to Cindy's cell. I groaned. Why was she ignoring me? Well…I know why…but she needs to come on! I can understand if I got her fired, but she still has her job and she still models. What's the big fucking deal? And don't get me started on the whole 'I need rehab' bit. What got on my nerves is that she thinks she's perfect because she's not on it. I didn't see her scold Hiro while he was binging out on coke! Same goes for Riley. I shook my head. Whatever, she'll come around, she'll miss me. I was still hanging out with Nikoali, we were making more press the more we were spotted publicly. I admitted there was a romance budding between us, and I think I'll even go as far as to say I'll marry him. He was recording his bands album out in Seattle; I was down here in Maryland. I was so stoked for Nikoali's first album release. He'll be the biggest break out rock star ever! I was scanning through TV when I saw Team Renegade on 106 and Drive, I decided to watch it for Cairo. He was cute, I'd hit it if I didn't have Nikoali already. It was him, Wacko Jin, and Kentrell, and Cairo's lifelong friend Duey Jenkins. I laughed; he had his whole damn posse with him didn't it? Liberty and B.K started asking questions about Cairo's grill. I wish niggas would stop wearing those already.

"Okay, ladies! I got ya'll over here, so when you kiss a girl right-" Duey had sat up.

"I'm the only person he kiss!" he shouted. I covered my mouth. Liberty and B.K gave empty looks, and Kentrell looked over towards them. Liberty threw her head back in shock as the audience screamed in response. I cracked up in laughter, unable to hear the damage control that was no doubt going on during my laughter. My life just got rosier.

"That's how we roll; we're brother's we roll like that. Ain't anything freaky." I heard Cairo say, that only made me laugh harder. I had to make a Tweet about it.

Cairo's cute and all, but I better stand back, I don't want his brother to get me! Muhahaha#gay ass niggas

o0o

YouTube Video: Cairo's PAUSE moment on 106 and Drive

Comments:

'Ughh, gay niggas!'

'I knew Renegade were some fags, ya'll see that other video where Cairo taking some dude ass out his pants? It looked like Wacko. Where I'm from, we don't play like that.'

'Ya'll some haters. Team Renegade for LIFE. They ain't gay! Ya'll always want to say who's gay. Who cares? He's the best rapper alive! They are like family to one another!"

'I wish my "brother" would play with me like that…he gon' get his ass knocked the FUCK out yo.'

'Haters SMH. Cairo is a skilled rapper, he can kill ALL these other rappers out right now. He ain't gay!'

'He fucking Nicki Cole, he ain't gay, ya'll some stupid jealous mo'fuckas!'

o0o

Sirayah's POV

It was time, the fight! It was finally here! Me, Cindy, and Alice were all cooped up together on my couch at my house. My mom was watching the fight with Ms. Stone over at Al's place so she wouldn't be left alone.

"I've been waiting 50 years for this shit!" Cindy yelled as she poured her Bacardi. Alice was bouncing up and down.

"Get em' HUEY!" I cheered at the TV.

o0o

James' POV

I had 30 minutes to prepare for the fight. Checking to see my guard was outside my door, I opened it to see him standing there.

"Hey, I'm about to Juice up. Do not let anyone pass!" He nodded and I shut and locked the door behind me. I know I can't beat Huey without the Lighting juice coursing through my veins. I pulled out the necessary tools and began to work. Wrapping the rubber band tightly around my arm, I watched as my vein was up. I prepared the needle and stuck the fluid inside me.

"Mmmm." Grunted as the burn of it flooded my bloodstream, I instantly felt empowered. I hopped to my feet, bouncing back and forth, giving the air lightening speed jabs. When I heard knocks at the door, I quickly put my instruments away in my gym bag.

"James, you ready?"

"Yes, hold on." I dialed Kentrell.

"Yea, I got it, thanks for the lift nigga…you still going after that Sirayah chick? Yeah well, I'm about to ruin this nigga's life. Hell yeah. Peace." I hung up and made my way to the ring. When I entered after they called my name, I threw my hands up in the air. When I entered the ring, that's when I saw Huey. I'm about to make this nigga have one loss under that belt, this nigga has to be knocked off his pedestal. The Undefeated is about to be defeated.

'Round One!'

He was able to evade most my punches, as I came out swinging. He was quick with the 3 combo, two punches and a kick to my side, but that was fine, he's not going to win. I struck his side then connected my fist with his jaw. He staggered but didn't lose footing as he then charged at me, punches all in my face. I will give this nigga credit; he is hard with these punches.

The crowed howled at those spurs of hits but in the single second he lowered his arms, I returned the favor. I tackled him to the ground and was beating the shit out his jaw only to flip me off of him. Blood was starting to drip from his forehead. We were separated once more and I had to time it right. With Lightning in my veins, I was not tired; hell I didn't even feel the pain. I decided I had to knock this nigga out…literally. While dodging his blows, I kicked his leg, making him lose balance and right after that, I swung clear at his temple. Instantly knocking him out. I grinned, who knows what ran through that niggas mind when he saw my fist flying towards his head.

o0o

Cindy's POV

"WHAT THE FUCK?" I screamed. My eyes were as big as Monique's pants, no he DIDN'T! I shook my head in disbelief. The fight lasted a whole hour, but it felt way too damn fast, they didn't even make it to the second round. Huey wasn't responsive at all and James was declared the winner. All of us sat there in silence as James was giving his winning speech.

"Yo, tell Huey when he wakes up, he can have a rematch, I'll be ready. Good fight though, Love!" I tossed the pillow at the TV.

"CHEATIN' ASS BITCH!" I shook my head. He would knock Huey out the first round; he was wearing his ass out.

"Oh no…" Sirayah sighed. I shook my head. I already knew her ass would get the receiving end on Huey's anger when he gets here. Alice just looked sad.

"Sirayah, girl…I'd hate to be you." Alice placed a hand on her shoulder. "That nigga got a temper problem."

"Yeah, yeah." She changed the channel. Well, Huey wasn't going when he lost, it wasn't like he was slaw or some shit, he just got hit at wrong spot that's all.

o0o

Riley's POV

I can't believe my nigga lost! Oh, that shit was so foul how he did it, I swear that nigga cheating! But the ref claims it was a legit hit so…nothing we can do. Huey was taken out the ring and onto the stretcher, still out like a light. He had to hit him super hard, Huey just fell over after that hit, that was something I never seen him do, and he's had hits upside the head before. I think that nigga James altered his skills…if you know what I mean. I mean, I watched his past matches, I never seen him swing that fast or act all rowdy like he was tonight. Me and Ceasar sat in the ambulance in silence.

"Yo Cease?"

"Yea?"

"That was some ol' bullshit."

"Yeah, but Huey will do a rematch, you bet your ass on that."

I nodded.

Ohhhh...James cheated 8P. Had to do it guys, sorry. lol

R&R