"Choyce, why are you calling me?"
"We need to talk."
"We haven't talked in years, so going a couple more won't hurt," I replied, filling empty bottles to stock the fridge with Zenade.
"Have you always been a bitch?" Choyce huffed like I didn't have the right to be the biggest one.
"Nope, at least not to you. I used to be your favorite person. Shit, you used to be mine, but then you grew up and became a shiesty hoe." As harsh as my words were, there was no malice in my tone. I wasn't even upset with Choyce anymore. I was disappointed.
"If you would just let me explain?—"
"Why?" I snipped, frowning. "An explanation won't change what you did, Choyce. You lied and manipulated me into doing something I would’ve done if you had just asked. The scheme really wasn't necessary."
"It was because I didn't know you anymore. Yes, I watched you for a few months, but I didn't know you," she stressed, as if that changed something.
"But you knew I was your sister and that should've been enough!" Feeling my anger rise, I stopped what I was doing and took a step back. "Look, I'm at work and can't deal with your bullshit right now. I already have a long day ahead of me."
"I bet if it were Navy calling, you'd drop everything to comfort her."
I chuckled inwardly at the jealousy lacing her tone. "Drop everything… no. Navy wouldn't expect me to."
"Yeah, okay, Chosyn," she spat, sucking her teeth. "I hope that friendship is worth it."
"You hope it's worth what?" I asked when I really should've gotten off the phone.
"Me. Those people you love so much might be your family, but they're not your blood."
"And they don't have to be. I love them like we all came sliding out of the same womb. Just because you and I are blood doesn't mean you get unearned forgiveness. You fucked up, Choyce, and like always, you expect me to smooth it over."
"I guess that's why you let your new sisters come over and slice my neck, right?"
I grabbed the store phone, took it off speaker, and pressed it to my ear.
"What did you say?"
"You heard?—"
"Say it again, Choyce."
"Don't act like you care now." She laughed derisively. "Honey and Navy are gonna get what's coming to them."
"What did they do?"
"Why? I thought you didn't want to fight my battles anymore."
"Choyce," I gritted, pinching the bridge of my nose.
"They forced their way into my house. Honey pulled a gun on me and shoved me into a chair. Then your precious Navy straddled my lap, told me about the babies she's aborted while sliding a knife across my neck."
I froze, the phone still pressed to my ear.
"Navy doesn't seem like the violent type," she continued. "I can only imagine where she got that nifty idea from."
I let the bullshit Choyce was alluding to linger for all of a second.
"I may hate…" I stopped myself from telling Choyce I hated her because it wasn't the truth. "I may notcarefor you right now, but I would never give someone ideas on how to hurt you. Regardless of it all, you are my sister."
"Then that means your little makeshift sisterhood with those bitches is on shaky ground. Handle her before I get my hands on her, Chosyn. You might not know me anymore, but don't take this warning for joke," Choyce sneered, ending the call.
