All About The Benjamin's, Teasha Adams [best new books to read .TXT] 📗

"I didn't know you spoke English."
She chuckled. "Never assume my child."
She then reached over and gave Hazel ans hug. "Now why did your mother name you Hazel?"
Hazel smiled. "Well in Africa, the sun sets beautifully over the horizons making the land appear gold, orange and yellow. After she gave birth to me, she said that it was right at sunset. The sun hit my skin and I appeared to be a little gold speck of joy. So she named me Hazel."
"Beautiful--muy bonita."
She then turned and looked at Carlos. "Came for a visit?"
"Yes ma'am." Carlos looked over at Hazel and I. "I want to show these two, especially Devon, just how much they're appreciated."
Carlos' grandmother nodded her head, "Okay Carlos, but make sure you sign in so you can get your volunteer hours."
Carlos laughed. "I know, I know Abuela."
She hugged him one more, "The kids are in the back playing baloncesto, they'll be so excited to see you."
Carlos smiled and led us to the back of the house. I could tell that there were lots of kids that lived here because there were eight bedrooms, and each room had three beds in it. I looked over at Hazel and she said, "Wow."
I could say anything other than that because I knew that as well I was astounded too.
From the front of the house, it didn't seem this big but after getting to the back door, the house was bigger than we thought. It had three levels, and a huge backyard, which by the way was full of teenagers.
I basketball rolled by my foot and stopped in front of Carlos' heel. He picked it up and spun it around a few times before tossing it back to the kids. "Looking for this."
I wish I could describe the look on the kids faces when they realized who we were.
"Oh sh-, I mean snap." One of the older boys said. "Its's Devon."
They all formed a circle around us and started immediately asking questions. Sooner or later we were all sprawled out on the basketball court listening to each other talk.
"Devon, how do you know Ms. Cortez?" One of the girls asked. She sat on top of a semi-flattened basketball, twirling here fingers through her long curly hair.
I smiled. "Ummm, she's Carlos' grandmother and Carlos is my step father."
"Ummm Devon, why do you rap?" One of the younger boys moved closer to me. He barely had any teeth. I'm shocked he could even say my name.
I looked over at Carlos and Hazel, and the both of them gave me encouraging smiles. "Well, I started rapping as a way for me to escape from my reality. I was kind of lost, and unsure of what my future had to hold. All I knew was drugs. Yes, I was a drug dealer at one point in time, but music became my inspiration for succeeding in my dreams. I wanted more than what society had already set up for me. You know?" All of the kids nodded their head at the same time. "Life is a privilege, it's not promised to you. People all over the world know me as Devon, not Devon Mitchell. My family knows how big my heart is, and where my loyalty lies but the world only knows me based off of what they say about me in the magazines."
There was a pause between everyone.
"The sad part about all of this is that I didn't realize none of that until about five minutes ago."
We all shared a laugh.
Before I knew it, we'd been out there with the kids until it was time for their dinner. I didn't want to leave. These kids had so much potential, yet they were put in a predicament that prevented their success.
The oldest teenager there was a boy name Malik, he was sent there because as a baby his parents left him on the doorstep of some random persons house. He's been through more than I can imagine. He'd been molested, abused, and forced into some shit that not even I can account for. I thought I'd seen it all, but the truth was that I hadn't.
Being there with those kids shed a new light on everything that I had ever known while living in Georgia. It shed a new light on me. I thought that me and Lyric has been through it all, but the reality was that we had only seen the beginning of something was bigger than the both of us.
You never really know how good you have it until you meet someone, or someones, who have literally nothing.
Before I turned in for the night, I thanked Carlos for taking me to the group home. That was my blessing of the day. Being able to talk about my life and not feel like I was being judged. For the first time ever I didn't mind being asked a thousand times for my autograph. Maybe my life isn't so messed up after all.


Lyric

When I got home, I went straight upstairs to call it a night. I opened the door slowly and saw that Devon was asleep on out shared king sized bed, with his daughter December curled up in his arms. I couldn't help but smile at the thought. I placed my hands on my flat tummy and closed my eyes. Here I was thinking about killing my child, when I have a man who is willing to take care of me and the baby. I know Devon will give his life for us, but I'm scared. I'm scared of becoming another baby mommma to "Rapper Devon Mitchell". I'm scared.
I opened my eyes and walked into the bathroom. I warm bath would make me feel a whole lot better than I do at the moment. So that's what I did. I took a warm bath, and relaxed. Just to make myself feel better, I sat there and thought of cute names that I could name my baby.
About ten minutes into my bath, a knock sounded at the door. "Lyric, you in there?"
I sighed. "Yes Devon."
Pause.
"Can I come in and talk to you real quick?"
Pause.
"I don't care."
Devon opened the door, and slid into the bathroom. The lights from my candle bounced off of his face, creating this beautiful shadow on the wall. He sighed and sat down on the edge of the bath tub. "Lyric, something happened to me when I met you."
I looked up at him. "What are you talkin' about Devon?"
"I mean damn Lyric, you got me sprung." He admitted. "I love you with everything I every had Lyric. Everything!"
I jumped. "Why are you yelling?"
"Because I freaking love you." He exclaimed. "I love you, I love you, I love you. Damn Lyric how many times I gotta say I love you before you except me?"
Pause.
"I get it Lyric, I fucked up." Devon said. "I messed up big time. I didn't kill your grandmother Lyric, and I would give anything just to have a clue as to who did it. I don't know what happened, I wasn't there. Go ahead and blame me for everything Lyric, 'cause it a'int shit you say now that's gon' hurt me more than I already am. If I could turn back the hands of time I would, but I can't. Me and you gotta fix this Lyric, for the sake of our child. You know I would die just to make you happy. If that's what you--"
"Devon please don't say that." I placed my hands on his chest, watching my tears fall on my bare chest. "Please just stop."
"I thought--"
"You thought wrong." I stated. "I'm scared Devon, not angry."
Devon frowned. "Scared of what?"
"You!" I screamed. "You don't get it do you. I'm nineteen years old and pregnant with your child. I just dropped out of school, and convinced La-La to help me get signed up for online classes. I'm scared that once I become happy again, something will happen and I'll be right back where I started."
"Lyric, listen to me." Devon said. "I just want you to be happy. If you're not happy then, I'm not happy." Devon sighed. "As a matter of fact, I've been sleeping on that couch just to make you happy."
I cracked a smile and reached up to Devon for a hug. "I love you so much Devon."
Devon wiped my face. "I love you too. I just want you to be happy, and not feel like you can't talk to me anymore. It's me and you against the world--remember?"
I smiled. "Forever?"
He kissed me softly on the lips. "Forever."
I don't know how long I sat in that bath tub listening to Devon talk, but it must have been a long time because the water was starting to get cold.
"Can you help me up?"
Devon reached for my soft pink towel, then wrapped it around my body as he lifted me out of the tub. I felt like a little ass kid.
I laughed. "Devon, I think I'm able to take care of myself."
He smiled and placed his hand on my stomach, "Really?"
"Yes really?"
He laughed and ran his fingers through my hair.
I grabbed his wrist, "Shouldn't you be going to check on December?"
He frowned. "A'ight I'ma leave you alone, but me and you got a lot of stuff to talk about."
I laughed and shook my head. "Bye Devon."
It felt good to be able to talk to him again without arguing. I just wanted us to start over and fix our relationship. I needed him now more than ever, now that my grandmother was gone. Let's hope we can make this work.
****************************************************************************************** I wouldn't say that I was back to normal, but I was definitely on the track to recovery. Devon and I had been spending every free time we could get with each other, trying to build on our trust. We figured that was where we suffered the most damage.
Today was just a normal Friday. I was heading over to Justin's house to see my sister La-La, so that we could get ready to fly out to Hawaii for the funeral tomorrow.
La-La and Justin started dating around the same time that Devon and I did. Those two can't stand the thought of being away from each other. Especially La-La. When Justin travels with Devon to different cities, La-La nearly freaks out. I'm used to it by now, so it doesn't bother me nearly as much as it used to.
Their apartment is located about a couple blocks from seventh street New York. It's so beautiful.
When I reached the door, the doorman opened the door for me and let me into the lobby. I'd been here so many times, the staff must've thought that I lived here too. They never asked me to sign into the guest book or show i.d. Justin only had a certain select of people on his guest list, so if yo' name wasn't there then you weren't allowed to see him.
I took the elevator up to the third floor, and went straight to their apartment.
I used my extra key to get in.
"La-La!" I yelled.
La-La came out of their bedroom wearing a fitted formal grey Chanel dress that showed off all of her curves. Her bleached blonde hair was let down in loose curls that fell down her back. She wore a pair of solid red Christian Louboutin pumps. She looked so pretty.
"Lyric, is this too much." La-La asked. "Maybe