Page 25 of Falling Into Gravity

Pharaoh wheezed another laugh. “She…funny.”

Malik stared at her last text, thumb hovering over the keyboard thinking about his response. “I ain’t flirted like this in a minute. Not for real,” he said. He wanted to say more but then Quesha eased past them being nosy. Malik could always tell when she was eavesdropping.

Pharaoh’s tone dipped, pulling Malik back to their conversation. “Don’t…fuck it up.”

Malik looked at him sideways. “Damn, that’s your advice?”

Pharaoh shrugged the one shoulder he had good control over. “You…fuck up…good things.”

Malik looked down. He couldn’t even argue his case.

He had a habit of letting the best parts of his life rot before he ever watered ‘em. Guilt stayed close…regret closer.

“She different,” Malik said quietly. “She got a daddy.” He knew because finding out information on Aku wasn’t hard. With just a quick social media dive, her page was flooded with all the people she loved—her daddy being in the top spot. “She comes from money, got that own the world attitude. She probablyused to dating rich corny niggas with trust funds and skincare routines. I’m the complete opposite.”

“Maybe…she tired…of corny,” Pharaoh said.

Malik chuckled. “Maybe, I don’t know if I should see.”

Just then Quesha stomped past again with a deep huff, begging for his attention but Quesha knew like Malik did, that was a road he would never travel again. Too much had happened. Shit that altered people’s lives for forever. So, his attention, she couldn’t get…not now or ever.

Malik and Pharaoh sat in silence…a silence that only old friends could share – one where the air didn’t need filling, just honoring.

Pharaoh eventually broke it. “Text…her back.”

Malik hesitated, but when he looked over to his friend who couldn’t live life as a whole person, he responded, even if only just to please Pharoah.

Key:Noted. Friendly only for me.

He stared at it, sent it, then double replied because Aku already had his fingers and mind moving too damn fast.

Key:Something ‘bout you feel familiar. You feel like you got secrets, but I’d listen to all of ‘em.

He hit send before he could think too hard, then locked his phone and tossed it on the table like it didn’t matter.

Pharaoh smirked. “Damn…you down bad...already?”

Malik grinned. “Yea, but it feel good, though.”

“I…get…that,” Pharaoh’s voice turned serious. “Roll…that…before...”

Malik laughed. “I got you, nigga.”

He reached for the table to grab a wrap and stuff it with weed. He no longer smoked and preferred a different kind of high - one that came in a pill bottle with Pharaoh’s name on it. That and a cold beer or a shot of brown was enough to keep Malik’s demons away.

As if he needed something heavier to help ease his mind, his phone chirped from a new notification. He picked it up to see another message from Aku.

StylistBae: Familiar, huh? Pull up on me then.

His yellow skin flushed red. “Let me hurry up so I can see what this girl on.”

Pharaoh’s lip curled as he did his best to nod his head in understanding.

Key: You’re a lady…I’m gon’ treat you like it. Come to me.

chapter 6

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