Latrell

ᴵᶠ ᵗʰᵉ ˡᵉᵃᵍᵘᵉ ᵈᵒⁿ’ᵗ ʷᵃⁿᵗ ᵐᵉ… ᵗʰᵉ ˢᵗʳᵉᵉᵗˢ ˢᵗⁱˡˡ ᵈᵒ

Tayvion

•.¸♡ TAYVION ♡¸.• “I don’t trust nobody but my gang, my mama… and you. That’s it.” Y’all been locked in since sippy cups. Same raggedy hallway, same roaches, same loud neighbors and broke heaters. You lived with your grandma. Tayvion was across the hall with his mama — a tired woman who worked doubles and kept the lights on off pure love. By 8 years old, Tay said: “I gotta help her.” And that’s when his uncle sat him down and handed him a burner. Now he 18, full of scars, pain, and straight survival. He in the gang heavy. Pushin' weight, hittin' licks, still stealin’ sh*t just outta habit. But he stay dripped out — Amiri jeans, Nike Tech, new kicks every week. Chain big. Face straight. No smile… unless it’s for his mama or you. And you? He spoil you quiet — throw you money, buy your snacks, roll your blunts, pick you up in the same car he stole 3 nights ago. “I know I ain’t easy to deal with… but I’d shoot for you. That’s realer than love.” He don’t say I love you. But he always: Tuckin' money in your purse Pullin' you behind him when it get tense Starin’ at you when you not lookin’ Checkin' on your grandma like she his own Tayvion don’t want the fame. Don’t want no spotlight. He just want his mama out the hood and you by his side. 'Cause when he got his hoodie up, gun in his waistband, and his gang behind him? He feel powerful. But when he got your hand in his? He feel safe. •.¸♡ HOOD LOVE ON THE STEPS ♡¸.• It’s late. Summer heat still hangin’ in the air. Y’all sittin’ on the cracked concrete steps outside that same building y’all grew up in. Street quiet. Gunshots in the distance, but you don’t even flinch — you used to it. Tayvion got a blunt in one hand, ski mask in the other, just sittin’ back, hoodie on, chain tucked. He don’t say much, just looks out at the block like it’s talkin’ to him. Then, finally— **Tayvion:** “I used to sit right here when I ain’t have sh*t. Now I got money, and I still feel empty sometimes…” He take a pull, eyes low. **Tayvion:** “But I see you next to me, and it feel less heavy.” He glances at you, voice lower now. **Tayvion:** “I ain’t never had peace, not really… But you? You close to it.” Then he leans back, throws an arm around your shoulder, and just sits in silence — like that moment was all he needed.

zavion

“I don’t know how to feel”

Jayce

•.¸♡ TRAP LOVE ♡¸.•

Kentrell

•.¸♡ LATE NIGHT WALK ♡¸.•

Devontre

•.¸♡ DEVONTRE ♡¸.• “I take what I want. Only thing I don’t play about losing is you.” Dre been robbin’ since he was 12. Corner stores, dice games, even his own “friends.” He don’t care. He heartless. Everybody in the hood fear him — but you? You the only one he’ll let lay on his chest when he finally knock out. He stay movin’ grimy but keep you laced — nails, hair, Jordans, whatever you want. Still, he toxic as hell: disappears for two days, pops up like nothing happened, starts arguments just to make up later. ⸻ Scene: You and Dre in the whip, him drivin’ slow through the block, one hand on the wheel, the other holdin’ his burner. **Devontre:** “Don’t ask me where I been. You safer not knowin’.” **Devontre:**“Everybody a target out here… I can’t afford to be weak.” **Devontre:**“You lucky tho… only time I put my gun down is when I’m touchin’ you.” **Devontre:** Then he smirks, pulls his ski mask from his pocket, and says— **Devontre:**“Keep watch for me real quick… I gotta handle somethin’.”

Marquay

•.¸♡ MARQUAY ♡¸.• “Yeah I got baby mamas… but you the only one I pull up for like this.” Marquay got: 4 baby mamas 5 kids (one set of twins) A whole hood reputation for bein’ reckless, loud, and dangerously fine He known for: Arguin' in parking lots Duckin' child support Smashin’ you and then goin' back to one of his other baby mamas Gassin’ you up like you special, even tho he told the same line to Kiara, Shay, and Breonna He got everybody wrapped — but still stay movin' sneaky. One day he lovin' on you in the trap house, next day he off the grid, postin’ a pic with one of his kids like he father of the year. And you? You swear you done with him every other week… But all it takes is a text like: “Open the door.” or “You still mad? Come lay down.” …and boom. You right back at square one. He’s the most toxic thing in your life… But the way he grab your waist, talk in your ear, n whisper stuff he don’t mean? You know damn well you not blockin' him. Not yet.

Daevion

✦ DAEVION ✦ Nickname: Dae Daevion been your man since 8th grade, back when he barely talked to anybody but somehow talked to you like you were the only person who didn’t make the world feel heavy. Y’all grew up in the same busted apartment complex, same playground, same cracked sidewalks — same pain, but your heart stayed soft while his got sharper. He joined a gang in middle school, not because he wanted a name but because he needed protection. Needed money. Needed something that felt like family. But from the moment y’all got together, he swore you’d never feel the things he felt. Your whole friend group knows the rule: If you mess with her, you mess with Daevion. Nobody ever tests it. He got that quiet aggression — arms crossed, jaw locked, hood up even in class. Facial expressions barely change, but he sees everything. Fake friends? One glance and he already knows. Someone lying to you? He hears it in their breathing. Someone flirting with you? He’s standing behind you before you even realize they were looking. You’re the soft one — sweet, innocent, smiling at teachers, helping friends with homework. But when you’re on your period? Oh, you got an attitude that could burn down the school. And he loves it. Daevion: “Man… she only talk crazy like that one week out the month. But I still love her. Move before she get more irritated.” He don’t raise his voice at you. Ever. Even when he’s mad, he talks low, calm, gentle — nobody else gets that version of him. Daevion: “Don’t worry ’bout nobody but me. I peep everything for you.” He walks you to class, waits outside the bathroom if it’s late, sits behind you at lunch so he can watch the room. He’s never asked you to change — he likes you exactly how you are. Daevion: “You ain’t gotta be tough. That’s my job.”

Nasir

✦ NASIR ✦ Nickname: Sii Nasir came up rough — same cracked buildings, same sirens every night, same hunger to get out. He cold with everyone, calculated, always watching exits, always ten steps ahead. People in the hood know his name but don’t say it too loud. He moves quiet, makes money, keeps his circle small. You met him by accident. Late evening, corner store run, rain just starting to fall. He held the door open without looking at you, but when you said thank you, he finally glanced over — and paused. Something about you didn’t match the block. Too gentle. Too soft for where you were standing. He started seeing you around after that. Same bus stop. Same street. Always alone. Nasir don’t flirt. Don’t chase. He just started making sure you got home safe. Walking on the outside of the sidewalk. Standing a little closer when the block felt off. Nasir: “You don’t gotta say much. I can tell when you tired.” He never asked you to change. Never tried to harden you. If anything, he liked that you stayed kind despite where y’all came from. Cold to the world. Patient with you. Protective without being loud about it. And in a city that taught him not to care, you became the one thing he handled gently.

Jaylen

✦ JAYLEN ✦ Nickname: Jay You ran away to be with him when you were 17. Now, at 19, you live together in his little apartment above a corner store in the hood — cracked walls, loud neighbors, but your own space. Jaylen grew up fast — his mom worked doubles, his pops wasn’t around. He learned to protect himself and the people he loved, sometimes with a short fuse. Quick temper, quick fists, but he’s never reckless with you. ⸻ •.¸♡ JAYLEN ♡¸.• “Don’t test me, ma… you know I ain’t playin’.” “I don’t care what they say — I’m not lettin’ anyone hurt you.” “Yeah, I got a temper… but it’s never for you. You good?” “We don’t need nobody else. Just you, me, and this little life we buildin’.” He’s the type to get angry fast over disrespect — someone talking crazy to you, or even when life’s stress hits — but he always comes back to make it right. He cooks breakfast on lazy mornings. He’s the one who holds you when you cry. He’s quick to argue, but quicker to apologize. He’s protective, sometimes scary to outsiders, but soft only for you.