You Can't Help Who You Love

  CAN’T HELP WHO YOU LOVE

  WRITTEN BY:

  TIERRA HOPKINS

  Copyright © 2016 Tierra Hopkins

  Published by Tiece Mickens Presents

  All rights reserved. No part of this book may be reproduced in any form without written consent of the publisher, except brief quotes used in reviews.

  This is a work of fiction. Any references or similarities to actual events, real people, living or dead, or to real locals are intended to give the novel a sense of reality. Any similarity in other names, characters, places, and incidents are entirely coincidental.

  TEXT TIECE TO 22828 TO SIGN UP FOR UPDATES, SPOILERS, GIVEAWAYS, ANNOUNCEMENTS & ANY NEW TIECE MICKENS PRESENTS RELEASES.

  Back here again, doing what I love to do. I thank God that he blessed me with this talent. I can really see myself doing this for life!

  I want to thank my family who rode me to death about this. Yall are always there with me, whether im right or wrong. I really appreciate all of yall!

  Mommy, Neka, Nike, Thomas, Brandon, Jay, Jayden, Alaysia and Aubrey. You all mean the world to me and im blessed to have yall as my family! Life would not be life if yall insanaely crazy asses wasn’t in it!!!

  Tiece, I love you so much boop. I cant thank you enough for this opportunity. Youre the best publisher anyone could ass for! If they say otherwise, then they are lying!

  Ebony, thank you for each piece of advice you gave me! Im happy to be working with you and I wish you nothing but the best with your work. If yall haven’t read ‘Daddy Taught Me Better’ then yall need to check that out because its LIT! Love you Ms. Lady!!!

  my Kelly Kellz Kellz!! Im so proud of you! youre amazing and I know without any shadow of doubt that youre going to make it to the top! anytime I feel like talking, be it about writing or not, then I know youll listen and laugh right along with me! I would keep going, but I cant do that (LOL)

  I really appreciate everyone in TMP,RWP, and KKP, for all the love and support. Yall each ROCK!

  At the TOP its just US !!!!

  To All my readers and soon to be readers, I love and thank each of you! Yall make me go harder than what I already do.

  Again, thank you so much!!

  Don’t hesitate to add my reading group on facebook. (Dare To Dream)

  Facebook: Tierra Hopkins

  Miracle

  “Miracle Walker!” The moment I heard my name, I heard cheers from everyone all in the auditorium. Today was the day I was graduating from high school. To say I was happy was a major understatement. I was proud of myself. To see my entire family standing there cheering me on gave me an extra boost of confidence. My brothers were being all loud and ratchet, but what can I say? They were proud of me, just as I am. After I took my seat, the principal continued calling out everyone else’s names. The moment it was over, my family rushed to me.

  “Baby girl, I’m proud of you! You maintained a high GPA. I’m more so proud of you because unlike most girls, you didn’t let boys and material things knock you off your square,” he told me, giving me a hug and many kisses.

  “Thank you, daddy,” I replied back to him, before walking over to my two knucklehead brothers. “I guess it’s safe to say that it’s turn up time!” I yelled at them. They bombarded me with hugs and kisses.

  “Yes, I guess it is... but first, there is a gift that you have to have from us to you. But you can get that when we make it back home,” my oldest brother, Justin, told me. I shook my head at him before we all headed out of the school, so we could go home. On the way there, my mind wandered to my mother. Lord knows I miss her dearly. It would mean the world to me if she was here to see me walk across that stage. I never knew her personally, due to her dying while birthing me. But, nonetheless, she was my mother and I needed her. I started tearing up, until I felt my dad staring at me.

  “She would’ve been proud of you too pumpkin,” he told me, reaching over to rub my hands. I smiled at him because it felt like he could always read my mind. Ok, let me back step for a minute; I’m sitting here just talking and I haven’t even introduced myself just yet. My name is Miracle Ni’kole Walker. I’m 18 years young and the youngest out of my parents’ kids. So, y’all know that meant I get my way, no matter the situation. As y’all know, I just graduated high school; I know most girls be ready to turn up. Don’t get me wrong, I am going to turn up, but just as quick as school have ended, I’m ready to pack my shit and head on to college. That’s just how serious I took school.

  Since I was young, I wanted to be a neonatal nurse, helping birth children. It has always been my passion and I love kids to the death of me. I have two older brothers; (who haven’t given me any nieces or nephews just yet) their names are Justin and Carter. Justin is the oldest at the age of 23 and Carter was the second born at the age of 21. Y’all will know about them sooner; I’m sure they’ll tell y’all who they are. I was drop dead gorgeous; I wouldn’t say I’m conceited. Let’s just say, I knew I was poppin’. Most would say I favored Lashontae Heckard. But, I don’t look like anybody but myself to me. But hey, to each its own. If they liked it, I loved it. I was a redbone, true to its saying. I was so light; most would’ve thought I was mixed. But I wasn’t. My mom was just as bright as me. My dad, De’Nardo Walker, was also African American.

  Speaking of him, my father is the plug. He literally had to keys to the city. Where some feared him, majority respected him. Before I came along, they were living in the worst projects ever. When he came up, they ended up moving the day I was born. But instead of being like most people, when he came up, so did the entire hood. For each and every holiday, he made sure they were eating just like we were. For that, I truly respected him. He didn’t look down on anyone.

  Coming up, I was spoiled to death and whatever my little heart desired, my father and brother made sure I had it, not later. But right then. Instead of going coo coo for cocoa puffs like most girls did, I was humble about everything given to me. When I received money, I didn’t go and blow it on an outfit to flaunt in front of people with. Instead, I placed it in my bank account. For me to be 18, I had one that most people would kill for. None of the girls from the hood liked me because they felt like I thought I was “siddity” as they say. It wasn’t that at all; I just didn’t get with females on any kind of level. Well, besides one. They kept up too much mess that I didn’t want to partake in.

  My phone started vibrating, bringing me out of my thoughts. It had to be my best friend, Halee. She had been my friend since we were young, young. She stayed across the street from me; that’s how we got so tight. She was white and her father was a plastic surgeon. He was good as hell at what he did. I saw some before and after pictures of people and, honey, when I tell you he MADE these people, that’s exactly what he did. Her mother was also a nurse. Not only that but she fixed up people who were harmed in the drug game for my father and he paid her greatly. So, you know, just like me, her little ass was spoiled. Unlike most white girls, Halee wasn’t stuck up or funny acting. She was the most down to earth girl I have ever known; she was stacked up just like us black girls. I mean, ass and all. Baby wasn’t lacking nowhere. She was gorgeous, with or without makeup. She loved her some black boys. She said a “thug” just turns her on. I loved her because she was always there for me.

  Our families got along really good, so we were like the fucking Brady Bunch, just of different races. That doesn’t mean I love them any less. Just like me, she had graduated today. We had been planning on going to the same college since we started elementary school. She wanted to be a Neonatal Nurse as well. My phone continued vibrating, breaking me out of my thoughts. “Hello?”

  “Hey girly, what are we doing tonight? It’s graduation nig
ht and I wanna go see some cuties.” I could hear her smile through the phone. See, Halee was boy crazy like a fool, so she loved being on the scene catching eyes.

  “It’s up to you. We might as well go ahead and turn up,” I told her. I didn’t want to be negative Nancy, so I decided that I would step out with her.

  “Where are you?”

  “I’m currently en route to home actually, what about you?” I asked her.

  “Same. Just ready to see this gift my parents claim to have me.”

  “My dad told me the same. I’m ready too girl!”

  “Ok, well I’ll be over after we get our gifts.”

  “Ok, just walk in and come on to my room; you know the way,” I told her before hanging up. We were finally pulling into our driveway. Each and every time we pulled up, I admired our home. It was so gorgeous. Everything was bricked in.

  “Halee huh? What y’all got planned for tonight?” my daddy asked me, interrupting my thoughts again.

  “Oh, nothing. We are just going to head out tonight to celebrate is all,” I told him.

  “Ok, good thinking,” he told me before climbing out of his truck.

  “What’s that supposed to mean?” I asked, smiling at him.

  “Pumpkin, you know no matter what, daddy is going to be right here. I know sometimes you may feel like I’m hard on you but it’s only because I want to see you succeed in life. I’m proud to say you’re my daughter. Your mother would’ve been so proud of you. As I have stated before, you’re not like most girls out here and that shit there, that makes me happy,” he said, smiling at me. He reached back in the truck and pressed the button to open the garage. And there she sat. It was a hot pink Audi R8 V10 Plus.

  “Daaaaaaaaaaddddddddy!!!!!!!” I screamed as I started jumping up and down; I couldn’t help when I started crying. This baby was LIT!!! It was my first car ever and I was ready to take that hottie for a spin!! “Thank you, thank you, thank you, thank you!!!” I couldn’t control my happiness if I wanted to. He threw me a small remote; it was push to start. I pressed the button and heard my baby roar to life. I ran over to him and gave him so many hugs and kisses until he started to slightly push me away.

  “Anything you heart desires pumpkin,” he told me smiling. “Go ahead and check it out; I’m going to go make me a sandwich and watch the game highlights,” he told me before kissing me again. I climbed in the car and it was beautiful on the inside. It was leather everything; everything was black. The tv’s were built into the front of the car where the radios would be and the two on the back of my seats had set it off. Yep, I truly believe in love at first sight! I tried pulling my iPhone 6s Plus out of my pocket to call Halee, only to see a big picture of us flashing on my screen. She was calling me.

  “Ahhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh!!!!” she was screaming in my ear. “Come outside now!!!” she yelled before hanging up. I know she was excited because I was already outside. I walked across the street and headed around back to see her snapping pictures of a car as well. Looks like she got one too. Instead of an Audi, she had an all-black BMW i8 sitting on some blacked out rims. (Told y’all she was a black girl in a white body.) I ran over to her, so we could share our excitement. This day was literally the best ever. After we acted up over my car, I headed inside to take a quick nap before getting ready to hit the club with my bestie.

  ****

  I felt like I had only been asleep for five minutes before both of my brothers came into my room jumping on my bed. “Wake up sleepy head,” Justin said, kissing my forehead.

  “She acting like she can’t hear; let’s take this shit back to the store then bro,” Carter said, immediately catching my attention. I wiped the side of my mouth and sat up then.

  “Sorry we are later, but we came bearing gifts baby girl,” Justin told me, passing me two Tiffany and Co boxes. I lit up like a Christmas tree; this was my favorite jewelry ever! I opened both boxes and saw a diamond studded tennis bracelet and a pretty set of earrings.

  “Jussssyyyyy, thank you! I love them!” I said, reaching over and giving him the clingiest hug ever.

  “Blah blah blah, fuck all that. It’s my turn now,” Carter said, pretending to be jealous. I watched him as he got up and dragged damn near five small boxes over to me. He knows I have a tennis shoe fetish, so I’m hoping this is what those are in these boxes. Hell, even if they weren’t, I would’ve been satisfied. It’s the thought that mattered the most. I jumped up, almost falling flat on my face due to my feet getting caught in the cover. I scrambled over to open the box. One was a shoe box full of BEN FRANKS!

  “Ok, ok. I see you, bro!” I said, kissing his forehead. He pushed the rest towards me and, like I guessed, they were shoes. I jumped up and hugged him like my life depended on it. “Thank y’all, so much. I don’t what I would do without you three men,” I said, tearing up.

  “Aw, baby sis. That wasn’t nothing but love. Keep being great and there’s more to come. We love you, Miracle,” Justin told me. I wiped my eyes and stood to hug them again.

  “So, what you got planned for tonight?” Carter asked me.

  “Stepping out on the scene for a minute with Halee,” I told him, smiling. On the low, I think he liked her, but wouldn’t react to it. Oh well.

  “Aight, well y’all be careful and don’t make me come out and show out because you know we will. No doubt,” Justin told me. They were so overprotective of me. It showed like crazy, but I understand because I’m their only baby sister. What brother wouldn’t act that way, ya know? They left and I walked over to my nightstand and checked my phone. There were several iMessages from Halee of outfits that she was undecided about. I placed my phone down and headed to the shower to start getting ready. It was 8:03, so I knew I needed to put a move on; it always took me hours to get ready. I grabbed a washcloth and a towel and proceeded to the shower.

  After I stayed in there for literally an hour, I hopped out. I didn’t have to make sure anyone was there because my bathroom was built into my room. I plugged my phone up and started vibing to Boosie’s new album, In My Feelings. He was my most favorite rapper and it pained me to know that he had cancer. I prayed for him because I know that was a hurting feeling. I walked over to my closet and looked through my clothes. There were still things in there that had tags on them. Being that it was May, it was hot out. So, I decided on a PINK, black tight fitting crop top, some ripped up high waisted shorts with cuts everywhere, and my sexy black Timberlands. I laid them out on the bed and headed to plug up my wands. I knew it would take almost thirty minutes to do that, so I prepared myself.

  After another hour, my long, pretty, Brazilian hair, which was 24,26,28 and 30 inches, were tightly curled and my face was beat with only MAC cosmetics. I headed to get dressed. I was the shit and I knew it. I stared at myself in the mirror and did a little twerking dance. Just because I lived in the white neighborhood, I was originally from the hood, so I could twerk with the best of them. I snapped a few pictures and did a few snapchats. I grabbed my remote control key and headed to Halee’s. Yes, we lived across the street but, for some reason, tonight we both wanted to go and flex on the people who already thought bad about us, so we were driving both of our brand new cars.

  I walked into her room and smelled the good, good potent weed that I knew she had fired up. Usually I don’t smoke, but shit tonight, I’m trying to feel myself more than I already was. I was a high school graduate. Might as well turn up. She was out standing on the balcony that was attached to her room. I walked out there, scaring her. “Cause my bestfriend finna, she finna,” she said singing the Tokoyo vanity song. While she was singing, I stood there and made my ass cheeks jump and shake about. “Man, it’s going to be turnt tonight,” she said, sliding out of her robe. She was dressed in a tight laced fitting dress. The only parts that were covered were her breasts and her voluptuous behind. I must admit, Sis was doing the damn thing.

  “I hope you’re not wearing heels girl,” I said to her. Shit, this was a turn up night.

&nb
sp; “Girl. No,” she said, walking to her closet and pulling out some hot pink UGGS. It set the outfit off as well. “You ready boo?” she asked me, grabbing her keys.

  “Yes ma’am!” I told her. We jumped in our cars and took off to this house party that a guy from school was hosting at his crib. When we pulled up, everyone was out and about trying to see who the people were that were pulling up in these high priced cars. Sometimes, I hated the extra attention but, tonight, I embraced it. As Halee would say, “They already hate us, so let’s give their asses something to hate on.” Tonight, that saying was stuck inside my head.

  I got out my car and strutted over to Halee, who was already out and mingling. The stares we received from some of the girls was funny. I smirked at all of them and we proceeded in the house. Speaker Knockers’ Freak Hoe was blasting through the system and with the weed in my system, I immediately starting shaking everything my parents blessed me with. Before I knew it, there was a circle around both Halee and I, egging us on. I swung my hair before I dropped down doing a full split, making my ass cheeks move. Left to right. I glanced over at Halee and she had her knees touching her elbows foreal, just like the rapper told us to do. After the song, we were drained, so we headed to get something to eat. Not before literally bumping into two men, who looked as if they were created by Allah himself. I mean, damn they were fine as hell.

  “Excuse us,” I said to them, grabbing Halee’s hand. Yeah, they were fine. But, we weren’t about to look thirsty like most of these bitches out here. Fuck it. If they wanted us, they would have to come get us. After three shots of Apple Cîroc and some hunch punch, I was really feeling myself. They had the twerk songs going back to back, so we politely made our way back to the dance floor and continued shaking our asses.

  I was in the middle of my signature move before I heard shots rings out. Everyone started scattering like roaches, as if the exterminator himself walked up in this bitch. I quickly grabbed Halee, so we could take cover. Before I knew it, the two fine ass men grabbed us and placed us inside of a cocaine white Navigator. Whatever their occupation was, they were getting it.