Another chapter! And Happy Belated Fourth of July!

"You cheated!"

Cindy laughed, as JC crossed his arms and looked away, stubbornly. "Nigga, I didn't cheat," she said, "I played this game over five times. I know what to do and how to do it. What you getting all emotional for?" "I ain't getting emotional. This is just some bullshit! I would've won if you wasn't in the way. You always blocking a nigga and shit," JC said. Cindy put her elbow on his shoulder. "Yo, it ain't like this is serious. I'm giving you some time to practice before Reezy comes over. Be grateful," she said.

JC twisted some parts of his mohawk fade: a habit he grown accustomed to. "A'ight. You got a point. How much we bettin'? Ten? Fifteen?" "I was thinking...twenty-five."

JC looked at her, shocked. "Twenty-five dollars?! Girl, you trippin'! What I look like giving away twenty-five dollars?" he responded. "Ay, I'm just trying to make it interesting. If you ain't got the papers, pay me back once you do," Cindy suggested, "I know you ain't scared." JC scoffed. "Naw, shawty. Ain't nobody scared. I'm just sayin' you don't wanna miss all that dough once you lose, now do you?" he retorted.

Cindy shook her head. "JC, you my nigga and all, but there ain't no way in hell you can take my money." She started the game over, as she patted his head. "Plus, I saw how you play. We all know who gon' win all them money, boy."

That's when they heard the front door opening. "Hol' your applause cuz Young Reezy is in the house making all them hoes love me and all them niggas wish they were me," Riley announced, once he and Gabby came in the living room. Gabby looked around the room in amazement. "Damn, this place is large. I've never seen a house this big since...shit, never," she said.

JC looked at her up and down, as Cindy smirked. "It's a'ight. Who would've thought you ever show your face around here, hoe?" Gabby rolled her eyes. "Yeah, well it doesn't make my day to look at you, too, bitch," she said.

JC looked at Riley, confused. Riley just shrugged, not understanding the relationship between the Caucasian girl and the African-American/Hispanic girl. "JC, this is Lil G. My girl I was telling you about. Lil G, this is JC. One of our homies," Riley said, picking up a controller. JC smiled at her. "Ay, lil mama. What's a fine girl like you hanging with Reezy's lame ass?" he asked.

Gabby laughed once she saw Riley glared at him. "What can I say? I'm being held against my will," she joked. Riley sucked his teeth. "Man, if y'all done talking shit, we got a game to play," he told them. "You can play with us if you want," JC offered to Gabby, while Cindy scoffed. "If she knows how to hold a controller."

Gabby was about to retort, until her phone ring. She rolled her eyes once she found out it was her sister. "Ay, y'all. I gotta take this call. I'mma be back," she told the others, as she walked out of the living room. "What's up, Fae?" "Gabby, where did you go? You said you wanted to come back to Woodcrest to see Riley." "And that's what I'm doing! Riley here with me. He took me to C-Merph's place so we can chill," Gabby explained.

"Gabby, I don't care where you go nor where you been. However, I'm more concerned that you don't let me know where you headed off to. You remember Dad told me to watch you while we come over here?" Gabby sucked her teeth. "Man, stop treating me like a baby! Girl, I don't need you to be watching me. I'm grown. I can take care of myself," she said, clearly aggravated. "Trust me, I know that, but the least you could do is informed me that you were going somewhere with a boy. Huey and I were looking everywhere for you and Riley."

"Fae, you don't need to be knowing what I do every single damn day. I have a life! Let me live it. And now that you know where I'm at, you can chill. So hang with your boy, Huey, while I hang with mine. See ya at home!"

Before Fae could respond, Gabby hung up and went back to the group.

Huey and I finally made it to his house. It was nice walking with him, but at the same time, he looked very anxious. For a while, he's been looking around as if he was expecting something. It was starting to get me worried. "Huey, are you all right?" I asked. He looked at me for a moment, then said, "Yeah. I'm fine." "Are you sure?" I pushed a little further. I could read faces very easily and he did not show any signs that he was 'fine'.

That's when he sighed. "Actually, no I'm not. There's something I need to tell you. It's been in my head for a while," he admitted. "What is it?" I questioned. Huey keeping secrets? That didn't sound like him. It sounded more like me in retrospect. "It's hard to explain and I shouldn't keep you any longer, so if you're not busy, I wouldn't mind you coming back over." I looked confused. "You want me to come back?" I asked.

Huey raised an eyebrow, noticing my confusion. "Yes...why is that surprising?" Surprising? More like unorthodox. "No reason. I'll be here tomorrow," I confirmed. "Good. Once you come, head over to the garage. I have to show you something as well. I'll see you later." After that, he went inside his house, leaving me with my thoughts.

Huey Freeman always leaves me with my thoughts.

I started taking the long walk to Granike. Over my years of running away from home, almost being taken as an orphan, reunite with my father after how many years, moving from one state to the next, getting kicked out of public schools several times, sharing my beliefs on political and historical views, and having an ominous mind that I doubt anyone would have, I can admit that I'm not, what they called, normal.

Despite that, I grew a lot over the time; not only mentally, but physically as well. I knew I wasn't going to stay in my petite body that long. Growing at approximately 5'7", I've gotten more curves that would make anyone believe that I was never skinny. Even though I don't portray it, I have been working on my martial arts for over ten years and not to mention, a couple of sports, unlike Gabby. In an average 5'3", she grown a bit thick in contrast to her small body when she was eight. I informed Gabby and Grandmom about how much they eat meat. It can do a lot of things to your body, but evidently, they didn't listen to me.

I eat meat. I really do, but not that much. It can make me sick, especially when I have an admiration towards animals, so it was pretty clear that I was semi-vegetarian. Nevertheless, puberty had done my figure good.

Did Huey notice?

No.

Do I care?

Possibly...

Huey is my friend, but there's some strange feelings I have just by noticing his presence. He's very tall...built...handsome...and captivating to look at...

I shook my head. God, I'm so foolish. What the hell did he mean by he had something to tell me? It sounded serious. I couldn't figure it out on my own, so I needed a little help.

I pulled out my phone and called one person I know that wasn't simpleminded.

"Hello?"

"Hey, Lay. It's me, Fae," I responded to my best friend. "Hey, Fae! What's up?" "I need to ask an important question," I stated. "No problem! Let me make it a three-way, so Ni-Ni can help me with it if she knows." "Be my guest," I replied. After a few minutes, I heard a shy voice from my other best friend. "Hello?" "Hey, Ni-Ni! It's us. Lay and Fae." "Hi, Ni-Ni," I greeted.

During my time in my sophomore year, I met Layla Khaled and Shani Kota. I wasn't the type of person to socialize, so they were the ones who started communicating with me. After some time of getting to know each other, I realized they weren't as annoying as the other girls, so I started hanging out with them and we became friends that quick. Layla, Lay, is Palestinian and Shani, Ni-Ni, is Indian. "Hi, guys! What's going on?" Ni-Ni asked. "Fae has a question to ask us," Lay answered, "So what is it?"

I sighed, a bit embarrassed to ask this question.

"What does it mean when a boy wants you over to his house again and needs to tell you something?" "Well, it depends," Lay spoke up, "Is it a boy or a boy?" Ni-Ni laughed, as I said, "I don't understand your emphasis." "Okay, first of all, who is he?" Lay asked. "It's Huey...the guy I've been talking to you about," I responded. "Oooohhhh," They said, simultaneously. "What does that supposed to be implying?" I asked, confused. "It implies, Miss Walker, that this Huey guy is in L-O-V-E!" Lay said, as she laughed. "With Y-O-U!" Ni-Ni added, excitedly.

I rolled my eyes.

Typical.

"I honestly doubt that." "Well, think about it, Fae. The way you've been describing Huey - you know, how he helped you when you two were little and made you find a guardian to raised you before you reunited with your father - it seems to me that he cares about you a lot," Lay explained. "Lay's right, Fae. You also explained how he's so moody and pessimistic. We figured he would probably never done that for anybody else," Ni-Ni agreed. "You always go for the serious guys, Fae," Lay told me.

Hmph. I have to admit, they do make valid points. "So you're saying that tomorrow, he's going to express his undying love to me?" I joked. "There's a good chance, you know. What else would he want to talk you about that's so important?" Lay said. I thought for a moment. "He did say he was going to show me something." "Ooh. Must be something he never showed anyone before! How romantic," Ni-Ni gushed. I scoffed. "Probably not, but I guess we'll see." "Which is why we're coming to your house and going to find you the right outfit," Lay reminded.

"What right outfit?" I asked, a bit suspicious. "You know, for your date! You need to look sexy for him. He won't keep his eyes off of you." Ni-Ni giggled, as I rolled my eyes. "One, it's not a date. Two, I don't even know what he has to say to me," I pointed out. "Whatever, girl! We're still coming over. Right, Ni-Ni?" "Right! This is so exciting! Fae is going to get dolled up for the guy of her dreams!"

I shook my head. It's still a wonder how I became friends with them.

Just a reminder, Layla Khaled is Palestinian Eyes' OC and Shani Kota & Joshua Caesar (JC) is my OC! Another chapter coming soon!