Page 20 of Her Loyalty

"Yo, Dom. What's up?" Piro asked with money in his hand before we did the quick exchange we'd become used to.

Really just tryna make this money and focus on all of the shit I had planned for myself.

"Yo, bro." I heard Dej calling me from up the block.

"Yo." I answered, picking up my pace, just tryna she what she wanted.

"You still going?" She asked as I walked up to her and I stopped in my tracks, pulling out my phone.

"Yeah." I told her, seeing that I had a few messages from Tiana.

"Aight, coo. Let me know when you ready to ride out and shit. I'm about to go see what's up with this bitch." She spat, referring to this girl she was supposedly cuffing.

"Aight, coo." I nodded, jogging up the staircase, making my way back into the spot.

Plopping down onto the couch, I started counting money before my phone buzzed again with a message from T. I ignored it though, tryna finish what I was doing before I looked to see what she wanted.

See, T and I were still done but we'd both came to terms with it. I wasn't looking to be in a relationship with her and I knew she still wanted to be with me but I made it clear to her that I was cool on that. So now we only spoke on cordial terms.

Today things were different though because today was her graduation and we'd been texting all night about it but the one question she never asked me was are you coming.

She'd been beating around the bush all night about it and I knew she was scared to ask me but honestly, there was really no question.

Of course I was pulling up to her graduation, boyfriend or not.

As I finished up with my money, I slid it all into my pocket.

I then pulled out my phone reading the messages from T.

She was simply telling me that she was nervous to go across the stage, she hoped her hair looked nice enough for pictures and she hoped that she wasn't too afraid to go up considering the fact that she wouldn't know too many people in the crowd.

I couldn't do shit but laugh as I read her messages, I knew she wanted me to be there bad. So I was making it my business to be.

* 10am

"Nigga, I don't even know why I let you talk me into this shit. I don't like dressing up and I definitely don't like this little hoe."

"Man, shut up." I couldn't help but to laugh at her.

"I'm serious. I don't even know why you still like her ass." She continued to talk shit as we made our way into the school's main entrance.

"Look, I don't. I'm just coming to congratulate her."

"Relax." I told her, making her scoff.

"Are you here for the graduation?" The greeter spoke as we walked in.

Damn, she fine . I thought as we both looked her up and down.

"Yeah, ma." I spoke up, waiting for her to give me directions.

"Alright, so it's going to be straight down the hall to your left." She spoke, blushing hard as I kept my eyes on hers the entire time.

"Aight, thanks. Come on, lover boy." Dej ended up pulling me away as I smirked, watching as the lady waved to me while we made our way.

"See, she want a nigga." I couldn't help but to say.

"Nigga, please."

After finally making our way down the hall, we turned left and walked into the room filled with seated people. It was packed in here.

Making our way through people and to our seats, Dej complained the whole way.

"See, if another motherfucker bump me, I'm busting a cap in their ass." She spat, making me laugh as we finally found seats.

"Man, chill out." I told her as we sat down and looked around the room.

"Ain't no chill. I'm serious, nigga." She went on and I simply shook my head, just ready for this to be over already so we could be out.

After about 30 minutes and many more of Dej's complaints, the graduation was finally starting and I was happy as hell.

"We're going to ask that you all please hold all applause until the end." The speaker said and I scoffed.

"Soon as they call T, I'm gon' embarrass her." I joked as Dej laughed.

The room was quiet as hell now too. This was a predominately white school so nigga's was actually tryna follow rules out this bitch.

"Na' I'm just playing." I smirked.

* An hour later

After over a thousand speeches and names I didn't give a fuck about, Tiana's name was finally called and I couldn't help but to stand to my feet as she walked across the stage.

"Damn." I said to myself, acknowledging how good she looked. I hadn't seen her in a while.

"Damn, T!" I ending up yelling out obnoxiously, making everybody in the room turn back to look at me and Tiana couldn't help but to gasp.

"Oh my god." She facepalmed herself as I read her lips from afar. I couldn't help but to laugh and smile.

Shit a nigga was happy for her, this was all she ever wanted to do and I had the privilege of witnessing this shit firsthand.

"Please hold all applause, sir." The speaker spoke out as Dej pulled me back into my seat.

"Nigga, sit your crazy ass down." She laughed as I chuckled, shaking my head.

*

Tiana 30 minutes later

"Oh my god, Tiana. Who was the guy that yelled out your name?" Jennifer asked jokingly.

"Right. He was so hot." Ashton butted in as I smiled small.

"That was Dominic, my ex-boyfriend." I admitted.

"Oh." They dragged, laughing afterwards.

"It was Dominic, the one she's so in love with."

"No no no. It's not like that." I couldn't help but to blush.

"I can't tell." Ashton raised her eyebrows, making us laugh.

"Oh, shut up." I playfully waved her off.

"So what are we doing afterwards guys?" Jen asked, checking her eye makeup in her hand held mirror.

"Well, I think I'm going to just go home. My mom's supposed to be making dinner." I shrugged.

Ever since my mom and I had that long talk months back, her and I had grown closer. We were spending more time together and creating a better bond. And I loved every second of it.

"What. Why?" They both asked at the same time, knitting their eyebrows.

"I'm honestly not really in the mood to do anything else." I admitted, fixing my cap on my head.

See, these days I didn't do much but study and occasionally go out with Jen and Ash sometimes. I wasn't the same girl I was four months ago. I was more focused on other things such as being a well communicative, poised and graceful person.

I was simply working on me and partying just wasn't my cup of tea.

"Oh my god. Please come out with us tonight, Tiana."

"Yes, please."

"I heard Connor's throwing a huge graduation party at his dad's estate tonight." Jen went on.

"And you know Chad's going to be there." She looked over to Ash who was obviously all in now at the mention of Chad.

"No, It's cool. I'm just going to go home and relax probably." I admitted and they both gave me the puppy dog eyes but I wasn't giving in.

"Fine." They finally agreed.

"Well at least have a shot with us."

"See now that I can do." I smiled as Jen pulled out the small bottle of liquor she'd snuck back here.