Friend or Foe?

Kindred examined her best friend's bruised face for the second time this month. Her light skin only made the black and blue marks stand out more.

"Why you keep letting him do this?" Kindred asked Dani.

This wasn't the first time her grown ass boyfriend put his hands on the 17 year old girl. Dani was only 5'2, light skinned and chubby while her 23 year old boyfriend was 6'1, muscular and fresh out of jail.

They barely knew each other for a month before Dani decided she was in love. He took all his anger out on Dani and Kindred hated it.

"He didn't mean to, I started it." Dani reasoned, putting the cold rag back on her eye. "Are you gonna do my make up or what?"

Kindred rolled her eyes, "Uhm." She opened her friend's old makeup bag and got to work covering up as much as she could.

"Don't ask me to do this again."

"I won't, I swear." Dani smiled, admiring her friend's work.

"Why you even staying with him, knowing he ain't no good." Kindred shook her head. 

It was a question but came out more like a statement. Everyone knew Damon had his baby mama staying with him along with another young girl he called his play sister.

"Neither was cheating ass Eric but you don't see me bringing him up." Dani retorted.

She knew it was a low blow since it had been Kindred's first relationship. The situation was different too, the couple lived in different parts of the city. She couldn't keep tabs on him and he eventually came clean about his infidelity.

"I'm out, there's money to be made and I'm late fucking around with you." Kindred grabbed her bag and headed out the door. 

Sometimes she hated being around her friend. She was always quick to throw something in your face when you're looking out for her but never expects it to be done back.

***

  "You're late again, Ms. Simmons."  One of the managers called out after her as she walked in. She turned around to notice them writing something on their clipboard.

"I know, my train was running late."

"You said that last time, let's not let it happen again." The lady walked away. Kindred quickly joined her friend Cedrick, setting up the snack bar.

"I swear that bitch got it out for me." Kindred sighed. Ced looked at his friend and laughed.

"You and all the black girls in this catering company." He scanned the building before turning back to his friend. "Where's Dani?"

"She not feeling good today."

He shook his head, Cedrick already knew what was going on. He tried to fight Damon on many occasions but the nigga was lowkey a pussy.

Ced was kind chubby but he was fit, he had a few tatts on his arm. He stood about 6'2 and was actually kinda sweet, but he lose his cool

fast for his friends. The fact that he had bitched a so called gangsta like Damon made her laugh.

"She just won't learn." He mumbled.

A dark skin girl with a neat curly bun on the top of her head approached the two. She was curvy and her skin seemed to be shining, her hoop earrings complimented her face. Ced couldn't take his eyes off her but Kindred eventually elbowed him.

"Hi, I'm Princess." She smiled, she had the whitest teeth.

"Um, Cedrick is supposed to be training me?" She looked between the two and almost thought she came to the wrong table.

"Oh I'm Cedrick." He nodded but continued to admire her body.

Kindred almost felt awkward standing there so she cleared her throat interrupting the silent moment.

"I'm Kindred." She smiled at the girl before elbowing Ced who was still staring hard as hell.

"I guess you'll be helping us over here at the snack bar." He finally spoke.

"Today we're catering some rich folks charity event, they like to feel like they not assholes once a year. Usually..."

Kindred eventually tuned him out as she started setting up for the long ass night and probably early morning they were about to endure. Drunk rich white folks flaunting their money was now her everyday weekend.

***

It was going on 4 in the morning and Kindred was just now making it to her Aunt's apartment in the projects. Ced agreed to drop her off since her place was on his way home.

The place wasn't as bad as people made it out to be. There was a lot of drug dealers, prostitutes and crackheads around but everyone looked out for each other for the most part.

Her Aunt's apartment was on the 5th floor. The halls always smelled bad but once you entered

her place you entered a whole new world. Her place had three bedrooms and was well decorated and always clean.

"Damn ma, why you coming in so late?" Kindred was shocked by the voice since the living room was almost pitch black.

She knew it belonged to her older cousin's boyfriend, Samuel. He was some regular old dope boy who thought he was all that since he worked for a big connect in NY.

He looked like a knockoff back in the day Chris Brown. His hair was always cut and he kept his waves together, his light skin was overly decorated with tattoos. But all in all he wasn't shit, he stayed hitting on anyone when his girlfriend wasn't around.

"My name is Kindred not no damn ma." She managed to huff while walking off to her room. She hated that her aunt let his creepy ass stay over. She locked her door and changed into some shorts and a t-shirt.

Samuel stayed in the living room watching her get comfortable on his phone. He had set a camera up in there earlier in the day. He had a thing for her since he met her almost three years ago but she was only 14 going on 15 at the time, now she was going to be 18 in a few more months.

He smiled as he watched her fall asleep.

***

"Where is my money at?" Amaria yelled waking Kindred out her sleep.

"My check came yesterday, I cash it now all of my shiiit gone!" She started slurring her words.

Kindred wiped the crust out her eyes and got up. Here this drunk dumb ass go again, she thought.

Amaria was in the living room in some too small catsuit and stiletto heels. Her brown skin was gleaming with sweat and her leave out was sticking up and frizzy.

"You need to chill out, you probably drunk it all away." Kindred shook her head as she watched her cousin, she wanted to be nothing like the 24 year old girl.

"Kin, you know to ignore her when she get like this." Her aunt warned.

She looked nothing like her daughter. While her hair was long and curly, Amaria's was usually cut short and damaged or in sew ins. Her skin was light and freckles decorated her 39 year old face. Shariyah looked about the same age as her daughter to be honest.

"But Auntie, she just woke me up for nothing!" Kindred whined.

"Learn to ignore her bullshit, I know I have." She laughed before taking her plate of food into her room.

She had waffles, strawberries, sausage, bacon and eggs laid out on the table. Kindred grabbed a plate and piled on some waffles, bacon and strawberries before shuffling back to her room.

Her drunk cousin was still in the living room being loud and accusing them of taking her SSI check when Kin's IPhone 7 started ringing.

"Sorry about yesterday." Dani said immediately after Kin answered her call. "Can I come

over?"

"Sure." Kindred replied with no hesitation, she didn't stay mad at her friend for long plus it wasn't her life to make choices for.

Dani hung up and headed her way the moment she got the okay. Kindred's aunt Shariyah wasn't very fond of Dani but she never objected to her visiting since Kindred paid to live there.

It only took Dani a good 15 minute walk to make it to their apartment building from her mom's. Kindred quickly opened the door for her and pulled her quickly pass a ranting Amaria in the living room.

"What's going on?" Kindred raised her eyebrow and pointed to the bag Dani had on her shoulder.

"My mom kicked me out." Dani started.

"She was mad because I wouldn't tell the cops about Damon and shit. I don't think she understands that I love him, I'm tired of her shit. She so damn controlling."

Kindred just looked at her friend, there was nothing she could say at this point. Her friend was stuck on stupid.

"Plus I'm pregnant, I can't have my baby daddy in jail! I need him."

Kindred spit out her food and almost choked.

"What you mean you pregnant?!"

Dani laughed. "Girl, I'm 12 weeks now."

She reached in her bag and pulled out some ultrasound photos, handing it to Kindred.

"Wow."

"That's all your gonna say?" Dani rolled her eyes. "I knew you'd be jealous!"

Kindred scoffed and tried not to laugh. "Do not start please. You can stay here til things with ya mom cool down."

"Thanks but I think I'm gonna stay at Damon's house soon."

Kin bit her took, it took everything in her not to cuss her friend out. Why the hell would you wanna stay in a house with another bitch he got pregnant, she thought.

"Okay." She finally managed to say before continuing to stuff food in her mouth.

"Imma go grab some of that. It look good." Dani mumbled before leaving out the room.

"WHAT THE FUCK!"

Kindred heard her aunt yell and quickly jumped off her bed, heading for the kitchen.

"Kindred follow me please." Shariyah said between gritted teeth before dragging her niece into her room.

She slammed her door and locked it. "Why is that fast ass girl here? Amaria said she had a whole bag of shit."

"She's in a bad situation, I'm just helping her out." Kindred sighed. "I didn't think it would be a problem, she should be out soon."

"Mhmmm." Her aunt shook her head. "That lil girl better not be in my fridge, she hungry she better buy her own food."

She started to open her door back to send Kindred out but stopped to say one last thing.

"You better not be in whatever got her that big ass black eye." Shariyah opened her room door and quickly pushed Kindred out.

Soon as the door was closed Dani started questioning Kindred.

"What? She got a problem with me being here cause she can say it to me."

"That's not what she said so chill." Kindred shook her head at her friend, she was gone stir up some shit.

"Look I'm tired and wanna sleep before we have to work that wedding tonight." Kindred continued. "I'll be up at 2 to do your makeup so we can be on time."

With that Kindred went in her room and got back in bed, pulling the covers over her head. It was gonna be hard as hell trynna deal with her friend's shit.

***

"Mm, glad you could join us Dani!" Ms. Korkov smirked at the two girls as they entered the venue.

"Mhm." Dani rolled her eyes and kept walking.

"What's your problem?" Kindred whispered to her as they made they way into the staff room.

"I don't really want to be here."

"You have a whole baby on the way and don't want to make money?"

"Damon already makes a lot of money, he doesn't even want me working."

Kindred tried not to laugh after she heard this. Damon had a whole child he already didn't take care of or pay child support for. What the hell makes her think she and the new baby mama will be a different story, she thought.

"Whatever." She shoved her purse in her locker before locking it and leaving Dani in there.

Cedrick stood at the main table setting up for the reception when Kindred stormed towards him.

"She's so damn dumb." She huffed.

"Don't tell me she didn't come to work again." Cedrick sighed.

Kindred picked up some names and card holders, putting them together. "Oh she came, she just back to glorifying that woman beater."

"She not gone be satisfied until I kill him." He shook his head before helping her.

"Kill who?" Dani asked approaching them.

"Nobody." Kindred and Cedrick replied in unison.

Dani joined them and informed Ced about her pregnancy, he just scoffed. They continued to set up their section in silence before Princess approached them.

"Hey, looks like I'm with you guys again." She smiled.

"Yay." Kindred said in the driest tone.

She didn't mean to come off as an asshole but she definitely wasn't in the mood for this happy go lucky girl.

"What's up your ass?"

"Nothing." Kindred rolled her eyes before walking off to help another group.

Today was gonna be another day of hell for her. I hate it here, she thought.

***