Shut Up & Listen - Chapter 82: Chapter 82

[Sadé, 21]
August 25
"The baby tired of playing, hunny." Sadé picked up Georgie from the bouncer surrounded by the twins who were shoving toys at her and holding her hands, "She's hungry and ready for a nap." She told them. "Hand me that blanket over there please." Both of them ran to the blanket, fighting over who would get to bring it to her. "Oh my Gawd, somebody, anybody, everybody." She complained while positioning the baby to feed, just about ready to get up and grab it herself. It had been nearly three two days since Dame or Maverik had returned to the house and the boys were determined to make sure his presence wasn't missed. Sade didn't have to lift not a hand or a foot as long as the boys were around.
"Y'all so sweet. But, me and Georgie need a little alone time and some quiet time okay? Go upstairs and play the game or something."
"Okay, we gone be back to check on Georgie."
Sadé sucked her teeth with a smile; irritated but appreciative at the same time. "Girl!" She yelled as the baby began to whine at the disappearance of her new favorites. "You better get this milk and leave them little boys alone." She fussed. "Let them go have some fun. Spoiled self."
"Okay." Holle announced as she entered the room. "I'm going to the store. Text me." She gave Sadé a half hug and kissed Georgie on the forehead.
The garage door closed behind Holle leaving Sade alone in the living room with the baby as she nursed in silence. Georgie's almond eyes began to roll softly as her lids grew heavy with sleepiness. She rubbed the baby's head watching her first born in awe.
She heard a creak in the next room which caught her attention causing her to look over; "Reese, you cool?" She asked, still concerned after his 'episode' the other night. He entered the living room taking a seat on the chocolate coated hardwood panels by her feet. She leaned back, getting comfortable on the couch.
"What happened? Why you gotta take meds and shit?" He ignored her question which bothered her being that she and Maurice were very comfortable with one another before the 'Mo incident'. Now he was a turtle hiding inside of its shell. "School starting soon. You ready? Eleventh grade, right?" She asked, changing the subject, not knowing what else to say.
"Did you finish high school?"
"Boy, I'm about to graduate College. Fuckisyoutalmbout?" She jerked her neck back as the newyorker flew outta her mouth.
He smirked and she jokingly pushed him with her foot.
"You bet not be asking me that for the reason I think you are."
He was quiet but the things he didn't want to say out loud were plastered on his stressed face. He massaged the back of his neck as he rested his head on the couch behind him. Sadé didn't want to push him to talk about anything he wasn't ready to, but she couldn't sit back and watch the sixteen year old self destruct right before her eyes. Once she finished feeding Georgie and put the baby down, "We get diplomas and degrees 'round here patna." She pointed at him. "So why you asking me about dropping out?"
"I didn't."
"You're not doing that dumb shit, Maurice."
"I didn't say—"
"What would you even get outta that? Huh? Ya baby gonna think you stupid, you not gone provide for shit, and you never gone get a good job." She shrugged, balloting her stance, walking through the living room. "So...?"
"I just need a break."
"A break from what?"
"No, I'm being serious. I'm listening."
"It's just a lot going on in my head. I can't think about all this stuff at one time. I feel like i'm going crazy. And i'm —" he stopped, not finishing his thought.
"You're scared? What are you scared of?"
He shrugged.
She waited.
"What if something happens to me? What if I end up doing something that I can't take back?"
"Something like what?"
Maurice shook his head and stood from his seat on the floor. "Nothing. Nevermind." He walked past Sadé and she followed him. Standing in the threshold of the door to his bedroom, watching him. Her own anxiety had begun to swarm at what could possibly be going through his mind. Practically ignoring her presence, she called his name a few times before he looked over.
"I'mma give you your space." She started, "But when you ready to come talk to me? Bring everything, okay? I'm not going to judge you." She offered and walked into the room. She put her hands on both of his shoulders. "I don't care how many times you need to hear this because i'll tell you everytime that you're not by yourself." She half smiled and hugged him.
"I just never had nobody to talk to before." He apologized for his inability to completely open up to her.
"It's cool. I'm not going nowhere. Take your time."
She heard her phone dinging in the other room and went to grab it noticing a lot of incoming messages; mostly from cole. It was a random new group chat she'd been added to. It included herself, Cole, Cheyenne, Damon, CJ, Sadé and Jah.  Someone had named the group chat:
Secretive Ass Niggas
Cole
Somebody tell me something right now!!!
Cole
I'm sick y'all keeping secrets and shit
Cole
Why tf is everybody not answering they phones the past couple days??!!!
Cole
Y'all together ain't it
Cole
hello!!
CJ
Boy, calm tf down
Cole
Wya??
Jah
Bro, u the one who can't answer a damn phone
Jah
I been told you to come to the crib
Cole
So thats where errbody at??
Jah
Thats where tf im at 🤷🏾‍♂️
Cole
Forget it. I just wont tell y'all my secret then
Dame
Nigga, u aint got a secret
Cole
Yes I do
Dame
You probably already told 3 ppl. Thats not a secret
Cole
Well I definitely aint tell u
Cole
And wont since u a hater
Jah
Tell me then
Cole
Hell no
Cole
Where tf y'all niggas at?
Jah
Come by the house
Dame
I'm busy Cole
CJ
I'm babysitting
Sadé
This mans said he babysitting 🤦🏾‍♀️
Dame
Right, how u babysitting your own child???
Chey
Whew
Cole
STAY FOCUSED MFS
Cole
Mandatory family meeting tonight!! 7pm! No kids old enough to be nosey! So if it ain't my little baby then leave em at home! Only ppl in this chat invited!!
Dame
What about Lonnie
CJ
And yo brothers are still here
Cole responded to 'And yo brothers are still here'
Good they can keep C3 then
Sadé
😩
Cole
MANDATORY!!!
Dame
Why he not in the chat
Jah
His phone broken anyway
Cole
See what i'm saying 😫 stop fing lying
Dame
🤔
Dame
Shit, i'm there. I got questions myself
Dame
Look at this nigga. Having good ideas and whatnot
Dame
See y'all in a minute
Sade called Dame next. "Baby."
"I was just about to call you. You ate?"
"Yeah, just put Georgie down. You on the way? What happened with Maverik?"
"Well, Mav is at his brother's house and these niggas are still confused. I'm outside now. Wait," he paused and Sadé waited like he said, "Is that.." he spoke again, then waiting for clarity, "Sadé I think this is Lonnie walking up the street. Hold on."
She could hear his footsteps on the other end of the phone and she listened intently. He was walking for a good half a minute before he said something else, "I kinda feel like taking him with me instead of letting him go in the house. What you think?"
"Why?"
"Well, for one, nobody seen or heard from him in like a month. They gone be all on him. I just wanna see whats up wit'em before he get into allat."
Sade nodded, "Yeah. Just make sure you don't take too long cuz you still gotta pick me and the baby up." She reminded him. The two of them remained on the phone. Dame kept his earpod in with his cell in his pocket, unobvious that he is on a call. Finally approaching his brother, he lifted a hand in a half wave.
"Lonnie." He said, standing before him. "Where you on your way to?"
"Home."
Dame nodded, walking with him. "But, I ain't seen you in a minute. You aight?" He asked him. Lonnie didn't respond. Be didn't speak, nod or shake his head. He avoided looking straight into his little brother's eyes. "You good?"
"What you doing here?" He asked Dame, looking down the street at the abundance of cars taking up space in front of his parents' house. "Did something happen?"
Dame inhaled, shaking his head. "Nah, everything is fine." Lonnie looked him in the eye, face to face, they were the same height. Lonnie observed his features as they changed in time with his emotions. His eyes were straight on, not wavering or darting; his mouth taut, unmoving. He could tell his brother was hiding something, keeping something, holding it tight. Lonnie held the same posture in understanding that there actually was something going on.
"You hungry?" Dame asked him, lifting his eyes and eyebrows in suggestion, "I was just about to go pick up Sadé and the baby to go eat. You should come with me." He offered in a more commanding than suggestive way. "Stay right here, i'mma go get the car." Lonnie nodded, turning, shifting in place while he watched his brother walk away, leaving him on the corner.
"I'll be there in like twenty minutes." He said to Sadé who'd been on the phone waiting.
"You want Maurice to come?" She asked him. "He been in a weird mood today, I feel like he might wanna get out the house."
"Okay, but if Cole trip its on you." He warned, knowing two things. One being that Cole meant what he said about who was invited and who wasn't. And two, Maurice is not in the right mind to be sitting up with them talking about the shit thats happening.
"He ain't invite Lonnie either so..." she rebutted.
"Welp."
"Yeah."
"Aight, he boutta get in the car. I'mma see you."
"In a minute." She replied as the call ended.
Dame unlocked the door as he approached the stop sign at the end of the block. It was opened by his lighter skinned brother who looked like he'd been in the sun for hours already today.
"Whatchu got a taste for?" He asked Lonnie as he closed the passenger door.
"Cole said 'Would you listen to Jill if she told u not to do something?'" Dame heard in his earpod from Cole. And another one came through, "Cole said 'She was really buggin. I haven't said a word to anybody but I really feel like I should and at the same time, I think I should just listen to her.'" Then the phone operator spoke, "Would you like to respond? Say yes or no."
"No."
"Huh?" Lonnie asked him, not aware of the device in Dame's ear.
"I said what you got a taste for."
"Not really that hungry." He mumbled.
"Oh."
"This the first time it been just us since the roof that night. So, I understand why you would feel awkward."
"I'm not. It's just... it's a lot going on right now. I wish I actually knew you so I could decipher what's real and what's noise."
"What do you mean?"
Dame chuckled nervously, "Nothing. Nevermind."
"You tryna figure me out?" He challenged him. Dame just glanced at him though, silently. "I can tell you whatever you wanna know." He looked at himself in the side mirror though the window, "One thing i can tell you is that i grew up. I'm not whoever you remember. A lot has happened since then. You know?"
Dame nodded.
"Ugh, what else?" Lonnie went on, "I uh, oh! Oh yeah. Another thing I can say about me is that I believe in Love. But, I don't believe that it matters at all. If anything, Love makes you weak, brings problems. And, stupid decisions. Very very stupid decisions."
"Like what? I mean, you been in love?"
Lonnie nodded his head. "My only flaw forreal." He dug into the corner of his eye, seriously speaking. But, Dame laughed, looking over at his big brother. Lonnie grimaced, "I made a big mistake because of how I felt about another nigga. I really fucked up. Can't take none of it back either."
"When was this?"
"I'm sure you already know." He said solemnly. "Everybody be knowing my fucking business."
"So you ain't mean to do it?"
"Hell no. I don't be meaning to do no shit like that. I just lost control. That shit easier than you think. But, once you lose control, it's hard as fuck to get it back. I been trying for weeks." He mumbled the last part but Dame heard him and thought he understood. He did understand. He felt him too.
"I know."
"And what do you do about it?"
"I pretend it isn't happening until it isn't happening anymore."
Lonnie took the cigarette from behind his ear and lighter from his pocket. Holding the orange and white stick in his finger and thumb, he prepared to light it. "I don't know which is worse. Keeping it in, like you; or fucking up everybody's lives like me." He put the cigarette up to his lips as the smoke reached Dame's nose. He looked over.
"Oh, naw. Sorry, you can't smoke in here. The baby." He told him, rolling the windows down to air out the vehicle.
"My bad bro." He mumbled, taking one more drag before putting the cigarette out. "Was it a girl or boy?"
"Girl."
"Aw, what you name her?"
"My girl named her. Obadiah, after her grandfather."
Lonnie nodded, hanging his hand out of the window as they inched further west of the mitten-shaped state. "Besides our father residing out here, I actually love this area. It's beautiful."
"Yeah, it's nice over here."
"Why we out here?" Lonnie asked, just bow realizing that they were in fact heading to Maverik's residence. "You playing sides?"
Dame shook his head. "Nah."
"Then?"
"It was a lil incident the other night. We was just staying at Mav and Holle place for a couple days."
"What kinda incident."
"Um." Dame thought, wondering if it might be the right time to mention that hell was breaking loose as they rode down the highway.
"Why was everybody at my pops house?"
"Everybody wasn't there. Just Maverik."
"And you." He said matter of factly.
"Yeah."
"What then? It got something to do with me?"
Dame shook his head. Then nodded head. He was clearly indecisive. "You still friends with Cole?" He asked his older brother, changing the subject. Lonnie slightly scrunched his face, suspicious of the question— remembering the last things he and Cole spoke about.
"I mean, y'all are cool, right?"
"I'on know. Why?"
Dame curled his mouth, shaking his head as if he were 'just asking' as conversation.
"Are you still friends with Cole?"
Dame shrugged, "I don't know if we're friends, but that's always going to be my brother. You know?" He replied, sentimentally. "I haven't talked to him for real for real in a minute though. Not since I been getting to know y'all recently."
"How come?"
"Just a rift. But, that shit happen so much it don't even bother me no more. We always end up growing out of whatever and becoming cool again."
"That's family."
Dame nodded, "Yeah, that's how it's supposed to be." He agreed, "Maybe it can happen for our little family?" He asked, hopeful although knowing the situation was much more complicated than whatever he and Cole had ever gone through together. There was no response from Lonnie on the topic. The car ride was silent from here to Birmingham. Once they arrived, Dame exited the car, going inside leaving Lonnie with two options, stay out or come in.
Dame went to the rest room after greeting Sadé and the baby and Called Cole. "Yo," he started as his brother answered. "What you mean?" He asked referring to the text message he received almost forty minutes ago.
"Just answer the question." Cole dismissed Dame's request for more information. "Do you trust Jill?"
"I guess so?" Dame answered, just wanting to know more.
"You ain't no help." Cole complained, ending the call. Moments later, he was securing the baby chair while Sadé and Reese settled into the pick up. Lonnie had offered the front but Sadé declined, opting to stay with her child in the back seat. They rode quietly back to the West side of Detroit, arriving at a place unfamiliar to any of the passengers in the vehicle.