Westwood, Los Angeles, California
Locked Out of Heaven by Bruno Mars
Sun. Dec. 19th, 1:12PM
""
🏀

Shamar grabbed his bookbag off the chair then headed out his room. Heading down the stairs, he checked his phone when he felt a vibration. A message from Newt showed on his phone screen. He locked it then continued on his way. He made his way to the kitchen where Sean sat at the dining table, papers in front of him, while he talked on the phone. This was the same sigh he's been seeing for the last couple of days. Shamar wasn't interested in knowing who Sean was talking to.

"Dad!" He called out to Sean. When he didn't respond, Shamar sighed and went to the table.

"Dad!" He called out again, waving his hand to get Sean's attention.

"Not right now." Sean responded. He didn't bother to look at Shamar to see what he wanted. It frustrated Shamar, especially since he was doing what Sean told him to do. He may have been grown but he still had to let Sean know where he was going.

"Dad, I'm trying to-"

"Don't you see me on the phone?" Sean raised his voice. "Go on somewhere," he waved Shamar away then went back to his phone call. Shamar said no more, turning around and walking out the kitchen. He left out the house just as Newt pulled in front of the house blasting rap music in a Cadillac.

"Wassup my nigga!" Newt exclaimed, throwing his arms outwards. Shamar approached the car, tossing his bag in the backseat, and got in.

"Wassup." Newt continued with his high pitched voice.

"Wassup." Shamar dryly responded giving Newt a dap.

"You fucking with the car? My mom hustled it out one of her sugar daddies. Shit is sweet." Newt said, caressing the car door.

Shamar nodded, uninterested in car talk right now. His irritation with Sean was only increasing the more he was being ignored. He could barely get a hello out of his father, let alone a full three minute conversation informing him where he was going. He was unsure how long he could put up with any of this.

"Why you look like that?" Newt questioned. He sat down then pulled away from the house.

"No reason." Shamar muttered.

He turned his phone to face him and unlocked it. The screen showing the email he received from Hampton. He had officially been expelled from the university as of yesterday. He had read the lengthy email this morning explaining his reckless behavior was unacceptable and that he no longer was allowed on campus once the break was over. He also had thirty days since receiving the email to retrieve his belongings or else he'll be fined for noncompliance. Soon as he read the email, he's been up crying to himself.

He had finally reached his break point, a level he never thought he'd get to. He still hasn't told his parents about the incident and now he had no other choice but to. He could hear them now, cursing him out and chastising him for his behavior. The disappointment that'll come and whatever consequences he might face. He was scared out of his mind for their reactions. Keeping it to himself was better.

Swallowing hard to stray away from getting teary-eyed, Shamar locked his phone and put it away. He seen Newt reach towards a compartment in the car and popped it open. He pulled out a bag of pills, Shamar raising his eyebrows.

"Perc 30s." Newt told him. "Another treasure coming from my mom sugar daddy."

"Want one?" He offered, handing the bag to Shamar. With slight hesitation, Shamar took the bag and examined the pills. It was his first doing cocaine. It was about to be his first time taking pills, unprescribed.

"Where are we going again?" Shamar asked. He opened the bag and took out a pill. He rested it in his hand before popping it in his mouth to take.

"A darty over at Malcolm's place. He said there's mad chicks over here in bathing suits with their asses out. I'm ready to pop a titty out of their tops and lick them." Newt responded. He took the pills from Shamar, his hands moving off the wheel while he dumped a couple pills on his hand. He popped three inside his mouth at the same time and took them effortlessly.

"A darty? Man, I don't know if I want to be around that right now. I'm going through a lot." Shamar told him.

Newt suck his teeth, "Bro, you're going to pass up a party at Malcolm? That nigga has the best fucking parties ever and you know it."

"I know but I have a headache. I'm not up for partying right now."

Newt handed the bag of pills to Shamar after his statement. "A perc is going to help out with that headache." He suggested.

"We're partying whether you like it or not dawg. There'll be tons of sloppy drunk bitches to fuck all day long. So chill out and vibe." Newt said. He turned his music back up and started rapping to the Young Thug song.

Shamar sighed, feeling defeated and not in control. He glanced down at the pills and decided to take another one. He knew the risks but it didn't matter anymore either. His life was already in shambles. He might as well keep it going for the plot. He leaned back in the seat and watched the scenery, allowing the drugs to do its thing and his life come crashing down right before his eyes.

It was whatever.

🏀

Minneapolis, Minnesota
5:45PM

"I never been so bored in my life before. Like it's ridiculous." Dess expressed, finding a comfortable spot on her bed. She popped her tablet in front of her and made sure she was in the camera.

"You're in your hometown. There's plenty of places for you to go to, so how are you bored?" Shai questioned.

"That's not what I mean." Dess reached for her phone off the charger. "I have stuff to do. I'm bored because everyone is busy. My grandma is acting weird and bossy all of a sudden. My Pop-Pop and Tatum are always out and about. My aunts are doing their thing as always, along with my cousins. And my Dad and Val been with each other, going out and stuff," she explained to him.

"They're all acting distant, leaving me home alone to stare at the walls. And when I want to go out, DeeDee is giving me these strict ass rules." She added, zooming her camera in on Shai. She took a couple pictures of him then put her phone down.

"I really need you here." She desperately told him.

She didn't think being home was going to be like this. Any other time it wasn't. She chilled with her family, happy to be home and around them. But there was this weird feeling that lingered in the home. Her family conversations paused when she entered rooms and didn't start until she left. They left her alone with nothing to do and no time frame of when they'll be back. She was given rules that she never had to follow before and trying to compromise with the adults was no use. No one listened to anything she said. Not even her father and it was frustrating her. She was unsure what it was and why it was happening all of a sudden.

She definitely needed Shai here.

"I know baby. I want to be there too but this tournament is looking like it's going to be the entire month we have off. I have four games this week and I think Maxwell is looking for another to have." Shai responded, Dess frowning when she heard that.

"Christmas is Saturday, Shai." She reminded him. "I, at least, want to spend some time with you during this break." Her feelings were starting to hurt now that he was disappointing her as well. It must've been a common theme before the New Year to leave her in the dark. She was hoping this wasn't happening again to her.

"Baby." Dess looked at the screen. "I'm going to figure something out with Maxwell. Him and Logan are kissing my ass right now because of what happened, so imma talk to them. I'm going to come down. I just don't know if it'll be on Christmas. Is that alright?" He asked her.

Dess rolled her eyes, accepting it. "I guess it's cool. But if I have to keep dealing with my family and them being distant, my mind is going to pop." She exaggerated and Shai laughed.

"I'm sure you are but relax for me. We both can't be insane, we have to have one that'll calm the other."

"You're right." Dess chuckled. "Anyway, how's the-"

"Dess!" DeeDee shouted her name from downstairs. Dess groaned, throwing her head back. That was something else she was beginning to hate too. Everyone steady calling her name to do something.

DeeDee shouted her name again, Dess rolling her eyes. "Yes, ma'am!" She yelled back so DeeDee knew she heard her. When she didn't receive a response, Dess knew she had to get up.

"Oh my gosh. Gimme a second."

"Aight."

Dess got off her bed and headed out the her room, catching DeeDee yelling her name again. "I'm coming!" Dess shouted back, annoyed that she was being called. Once downstairs, she went into the kitchen where her grandma was.

"You called?" Dess rudely asked. DeeDee turned to face her, her hands going on her waist.

"What's up with the attitude?" She asked.

"I don't have an attitude. Sorry." Dess apologized before DeeDee made it a problem.

"Mhm. Help me put these groceries away." DeeDee ordered. Dess sighed, the attitude present but stayed lowkey as she helped with the groceries.

"Where's my dad?" She questioned.

"He's out with Val. Hurry and put those ice cream bars on the freezer." DeeDee ordered.

Dess rolled her eyes behind her grandma back and did as told. "When is he coming back? And where are they?" She continued with the questioning.

"Why do you need to know?" DeeDee shot back. "He's a grown man and he's out with his girlfriend. You don't need to know his every move."

Dess scoffed at the comment. She thought otherwise clearly. "It's my dad and I think I should know something. I want to make sure he's alright."

"He's grown, Dess, and he's fine. I need you to stop worrying about him and worry about getting your behind up early this week. We need to go Christmas shopping and I'm not trying to be those stores all day."

"Why are you being so mean?" Dess bluntly asked, turning to face DeeDee. It caught her grandma off guard, having her staring at Dess with a surprised look.

"W-What are you talking about?"

"I'm talking about you being meaner than usual all of a sudden." Dess explained.

"Lately, you all have been rude towards me for some odd reason. I ask a question and I get ignored. Your rules are different for me now and you make it seem like it's going to be problem if Shai shows up.lie everyone has been acting weird and I utterly hate when that happens because I know what comes next."

"Aww." DeeDee cooed. She walked to Dess and gave her a hug. "I'm sorry," she apologized.

She pulled away, her hands cuffing Dess face. "I'm sorry if I've been mean. I'm stressing out with this dinner. Your Grandma Judy is coming with your Aunt Queenie and your cousin True. You know they haven't been around for some years and I don't have time to hear their complaints." DeeDee informed her. Dess face scrunched up when she heard who was coming for dinner.

"Yup." DeeDee patted her shoulder, understanding where the disgusted face was coming from. "Again, I'm sorry for being mean. Judy is already shifting the energy in the home without being here."

"Also, if Shai is coming over then I'll fallback. There won't be any sex going on though and that door will be open the entire time." DeeDee said while pointing at her.

"I know, I know. Speaking of Shai, he's on the phone and-"

"Go ahead." DeeDee waved her off.

Dess thanked her then took off, heading upstairs to her room. She shut her door then plopped on her bed. After fixing her tablet, she smack her lips when she seen Shai was sleeping.

"Are you sleep?" She asked, tapping the screen. He didn't respond verbally but his snoring was heard loud and clear. Dess hummed not believing it entirely and she knew how to check.

"Oop, I just popped a titty and you missed it. So sad." She lied.

"Liar." Shai responded. Dess instantly laughed at how quickly he spoke, confirming that he wasn't sleep.

"You're supposed to be sleep." She said while rolling her neck.

"I am."

"Whatever.

🏀

Thoughts?