_{❛     yeah,  i heard what you said.    i’m just try’na figure out when i asked for yo’  bitch - ass  opinion.    if you don’t like it,  walk yo’ prissy ass up off my  block.    ain’t got time for this shizz.     ❜}     //  @keptafloat,  x.

_{ORIGINALGRILLA.}

_{‘     light hits that  greasy - ass head  the wrong way ‘n somebody’s gonna go  blind.    my dojo’s got a workin’ shower,   you’ve seen it,   right    —    ?     ’}

_{❛     yup !    seen all them hard water stains,  too.    ‘n since we out here talkin’ ‘bout  hygiene,  when’s the last time yo’  dojo’s  seen a li’l sprinkle of  comet ?     ❜}

_{ORIGINALGRILLA.}

_{‘     trippin’,   like,   them  runaway brows  are trippin’ ?    they’re goin’ so many directions not even a damn  compass  could set ‘em straight.     ’       he almost takes a dig at lyric,   but he figures she has her reasons for not bringing that up.       ‘     i know what i’m about.    ‘n i ain’t had no  complaints,   is all i’m sayin’.     ’}

_{she wasn’t ready for that clap - back.     ❛     yo,  you ain’t got a leg t’  stand  on,  captain hook.    light hits ya the wrong way ‘n y’ start lookin’ like a damn  pirate  with that  pinpoint chin  straight outta google maps !     ❜}

_{ORIGINALGRILLA.}

_{‘     best brush me up on what kinda  bills  you been payin’,   thug life.     ’       feigned indignation as he shifts to lean against the chain - link,   arms folded,   weight braced comfortably on his left shoulder.       ‘     yo !    the hell you mean  low standards.    she is outta your  league,   son.     ’}

_{❛     bite me !    ain’t even  legal  t’ be workin’ at my age unless you got three hour shifts.     ❜     she knows because she  checked  online,  just out of curiosity.    takes a bite of the sandwich and washes it down with hot cocoa.     ❛     if she’s outta mine,  then she’s outta yours !    what,  she dig yo’  molester ‘stache ?    girl must be trippin’.     ❜}

_ENVISAS.

          ‘ my name might not be on the lease but i pay the rent. ’  he can buy whatever he wants, threads included.  ‘ what are you doing here? ’

_{elliot neglected to  mention  that he had a sugar daddy who payed all his bills.     ❛     spare some  change  for the homeless ?     ❜     you could probably weaponize the bitter sarcasm in her tone.}

_{ORIGINALGRILLA.}

_{‘     so you were gettin’ yo’  thievin’ hands  all up in my  crunchberries,   too ?    p’ft    —    whatever.    i ain’t  paid  her ‘cause she ain’t  SELLIN’.    i got  standards,   li’l man.     ’}

_{❛     didn’t see yo’  name  on the box !     ❜     using her knapsack as a cushion,  she settles down comfortably and takes a sip of the hot chocolate,  free hand still holding onto a half - unwrapped mcmuffin.     ❛     ‘n they  hella  low standards,  too.    i’m just bein’ real,  yo.    no offence.     ❜}

_{ORIGINALGRILLA.}

_{‘     gettin’ your  sleuth  on,   now ?    alright,   i feel you.    but one date don’t mean we’re  datin’    —    you  know  i ain’t got time for that.     ’}

_{fair assumption.     ❛     wasn’t  like  that,  asswipe.    it was ten in the mornin’ ‘n i was havin’ me a bowl of  cap’n crunch  on the couch,  watchin’ animal planet,  then out comes this chick lookin’ like she  just finished  filmin’ a damn  porno,  yo !    so ?    how much’d you pay her ?     ❜}

_{ORIGINALGRILLA.}

_{‘     well seein’ as how i don’t  got  one    —    you try’na tell me there’s a new  honey  you been eyeballin’ on the sly ?    oh,   SNAP.    bullet’s got  game.     ’}

_{ORIGINALGRILLA.}

_{‘     that’s just how i  roll,   playa !    say it a little louder for the haters in the back.     ’       there’s more,   in the form of  hot chocolate    —    promptly handed over.       ‘     you stayin’ outta trouble ?     ’}

_{a quiet scoff,  more than half - amused.    takes the cup with the same hand holding the bag,  then  swaps  hands for sole convenience.     ❛     you’re an idiot    ––––    ‘n i ain’t done nothin’ t’ be gettin’ in trouble  for  ‘cept bangin’ yo’ lady.     ❜}

_{ORIGINALGRILLA.}

_{‘     yo,   bullet    —     ’       he tosses her a paper bag,   folded over at the top,   its contents still warm :   hash browns and two bacon - egg - and - cheese breakfast sandwiches.       ‘    think fast.    ’       @junkyardteen.}

_{❛     –––––     !     ❜     she has good reflexes.    catches the bag one - handed and unfolds it,  eager  to get food in her system this morning.     ❛     you the  bomb,  bugs !     ❜}