Jaylen POV

  "Jay you OK? You've been walking funny all day." Malika said looking at me with a concerned expression glazed over her beautiful face. "Yeah. I'm fine. Just went a little to hard at the gym yesterday." I said with a smile. She can't know. "You need to calm yo lil ass down with that. Fuck around and break something." she said as I let out a laugh. "For real. Gonna break a leg for real or some shit." she said as she rubbed her temples. She really cares about me, it honestly feels good to have someone like her in my corner. "OK OK. I'll calm down. Stop worrying champ." I said hugging her as the pain seared through my body. 

  "Good cuz I don't like hospitals." she said while still embracing me. "Awww look at the mom and her cub." Dion said as he walked up to us. "Shut up ugly. You want a hug too?" I said as I pulled him into the hug. I grunted while doing so because my whole mid section felt like it was being it was being put into a trash compactor. "You OK?" Dion said as he looked at me. Guess I wasn't hiding my discomfort that time. "Yeah. Him and the gym had an argument." Malika said as she rolled her eyes. "I love you too." I said as I laughed. "Take it easy bro. Muscle spasms and cramps aren't worth it. What are you even going to the gym for? You already have a nice body." he said. "That's what I been trying to tell him." Malika added. 

  "I know. I just want to tone it up. More so keeping it this way. I ain't trynna be like those people who was fine as hell in high school and then boom" I clapped. "Life hit them fast." I said as I finished. "You're annoying but you have a point." Dion said as he laughed. "Hey do you know that guy over there, he's staring  mad hard at you." Malika said pointing. I turned around to see one of Bryheem's goons standing by the car, staring hard as hell at me. "Nah, I never really seen them before. Stop pointing at him like a weirdo." I said as I swatted her hand. "Sorry. Forgot you have a thing about that. Want to go get something to eat? Me and Dion are both off today." she said as she smiled at me.

  "Uh- I-" "Aht aht aht. I didn't ask if you had money. I asked if you wanted to go. Now, yes or no?" she asked me again. "Sure." I said as  smiled. One of the reasons why I decline to hang out with them sometimes is because I don't have any money and I don't like them paying for me every time. Makes me feel like a burden. The other reason being the weirdo watching us. "Cool. We out then." Dion said as we started to walk to his car. "I forgot my science book. Imma go get it and meet y'all at the car. I can't let him see me getting in the car. I do not want them in harms way. I quickly limped into the building  and faked like I was going to my locker. I actually went to one windows by the stairs and watched the guard dog. He looked like he was getting irritated and after a few more minutes, he got in his car and left. "Good." I said to myself as I headed to my locker to grab a spare aleve.     

  "There you are. Let's go. Thought you ditched us or something." Malika said walking down the hall. Guess I took longer then I expected. "Ight we good." she said as we got in the car. I gave them both a confused look but shrugged my shoulders. We made small talk while we was our way to the restaurant. "I've dying to come here." She said ass we sat down.  "Hi. Are you guys ready to order your drinks?" The waitress asked as we all nodded our heads. "I would like an orange soda." I said. "Water with a lemon" Malika said. "Pineapple soda for me." Dion answered.

"Got it. Give me a few minutes and I'll be right back." She said as she gave us a smile before leaving. I took the rest of the time to look over the menu. This food was a little pricey for my broke ass, then again,  everything is. "I see your face. Don't you dare try to order the cheapest appetizer you can find either. We got you kid so order something that'll actually fill you up." Dion said looking at me. I really need to work on my facial expressions. "Here you go guys. Here's your drinks.  Are you guys ready to order or do you need a few more minutes?" she said with her notepad in hand.

  "I'm ready to order." I said to the surprise of Malika and Dion. "Could I get the Cuban chicken with mashed potatoes and the sauteed broccoli. Could I have a side of butter for the broccoli?" I asked as she nodded her head. "Sure. What can I get for you two?" She said as she turned her attention to my friends. "Uh- yeah, I would like the chicken and shrimp alfredo. Full plate please." Dion answered.  "I would like herb grill mahi mahi with the same sides as him." Malika asked as the waitress nodded her head. "Alright, I'll go submit these orders and will be right back. Don't hesitate to call me if you need something else." She said as turned around and left.

  "Expensive." I said to her. "I've been wanting to have that for a min. Since my dad wanted to be stingy with his food." She said as she stuck her tongue out. "Nah nah nah. Did you just order actual food. Whaaaaa- are you feeling OK?" Dion said as he felt my forehead. "Get off me fool. I finally decided to listen to you guys." I said laughing. I'll definitely pay them back for this. "FINALLY. Damn. Malika said as we all laughed. We continued to crack jokes until our waitress came back. "Sorry for the wait you guys but heres your food." She said placing our plates down. "Thank you so much Xena." I said. I took a quick glance at her nametag to catch her name.

  "Not a problem.  You guys enjoy your meal." She said smiling and walking away. "That fish looks good." I said as I grabbed my fork. "Aht aht aht. You know damn well we bless the food." She said as she popped my hand. "Sorry. I forgot." I said as we gathered hands and bowed our heads. "Dear lord, we want thank you for this food that we are about to indulge in. We want to thank you for allowing us to be here and still remaining friends. We pray for nothing but peace, love and prosperity. Amen." "Amen." Me and Dion said unanimously. "Now lemme get a piece. "A small one!" She said as I took one.

  "Ooooooooooooooo this is good. Good choice." I said to her. "I know." She said as she started to eat her food. Lemme get some of that chicken tho." Dion said as I slid my plate over to him. "That shrimp looks good. Thank you." Malika said as she picked one up with her fork. We do this every time we go out lol. "Safe to say everyone has good taste." Dion said laughing. "Plus we got free samples. " I said laughing.  We  continued to laugh and share a couple of jokes as we finished eating. "That was so good." I said laying back in my chair. "Yes it was. I think we found our new favorite spot." Malika said doing the same thing that I was doing.

  "Yup. It's my turn to pay right?" Dion asked her. I slowly put my head down. "Hey. What did she tell you earlier? Don't do that man. Its cool we got you." He said as she picked my head up and smiled at me. "Always." She said. That honestly made me feel so warm on the inside. "I think we should tip her. M, you got cash on you?" He asked as she shook her head no. "Ah well I guess next time then." He said as he waived for her to come with the check. I begin to check my pockets for some sort of change. In my back pocket,  I found $5. When she came back with the receipt for him to sign,  I motioned for her.

  "I know it's not much,  but I just wanted to thank you for being an excellent waitress for us tonight." I said as I placed the money in her hand.  "Thank you sooooooooo much.  Please do come back anytime."  She said smiling and squeezing my hand. We all got up and headed out. "That was so nice of you Jay." Malika said as her and Dion placed their arms over my shoulders.  "I really wanted to thank her and make her feel appreciated. I don't know where that 5 came from but I was glad I had it at the time." "Me too." Dion added.  We spent the rest of the walk humming random songs.

  The ride back home was a silent one. I love when we spend time together. "We're here." Dion said as we pulled up to my house, well the house I made them think was mine. I haven't seen my family in about 1 or 2 years now, due to the constant relocating. "Thanks you guys. See you at school tomorrow." I said waving to them as they pulled off. Once they were out of sight.  I began my trek to the real place I called home. "Ah look who finally made it in." Bryheem said the moment I opened the door. My boy told me that you didn't chose not to ride home with him. Any particular reason why?" He asked with his eyebrow raised. 

  At this point, my breath was hitched and it was hard for me to even formulate a sentence right now. "I - I- uh-" I started to say. "USE YOUR WORDS!" His voice said as it boomed off the walls.  "I just wanted to enjoy the day." I finally said. Shit! He started to laugh.  "You just wanted tho enjoy the day huh? He said he just wanted to enjoy the day y'all. Get a load of this shit." He said as his face turned cold as hell. "First,  you cost me money and then you got the nerve to want to be Diego.  Exploring the world and shit." He said as one of his boys gripped me up. "You taking me for a joke and I don't like that shit so lemme show you what I do to clowns." He as a few more guys walked up to me. 

  One of them punched me dead in my stomach. I let a gasp of air at the impact. That moment was short lived as the rest of them began to throw punches. My body immediately began to cage up. "Watch the face." He said in the background.  That was once thing he made sure never got touched since he said that it was his money maker. Plus you could still suck a dick with a bruised rib, according to him.  This went on for a few minutes and I was beginning to lose consciousness. " I think he's had enough boys." He said as they moved away from me. 

  The one that was holding me up let me go as I instantly dropped to the floor,  coughing up blood. "Now when one of my boys show up,  what are you gonna do?" He said as I laid on the floor coughing and catching my breath.  "G- g- g- go w- w- with- th- them" I finally managed to say. "Good that's what I knew you would say. Now let me help you to your room.  He said as he picked me up.

  I just wanted to have fun. 

Thoughts?

Jaylen?

Dion?

Malika?

Meet Bryheem: