Chapter 1 - Be Calm And...

: Be Calm &...

A college campus bell rings from a nearby building; signaling it was the afternoon in Dallas Tx, the loud bell can be heard from many miles away. A man exits the building on his way to the parking lot with a smirk on his face. 'Yeah, this semester is over!' the man thinks to himself as he stretches out a bad vibe that was itching him the soon he left his last classroom.

With so much off his back, worries of school, tests, final exams, even homework is all in the past now! The last drag of the semester was such a snore-fest since he basically got the gist of everything through sleep-learning. The last bit was about more theories of life, he sighs as he rubs his head, "What more do i need about that?...Eh-" He strolls past two voluptuous women a few feet away from the exit, cooing at the lad as his ear picks up,

"Girl, I'll change for a piece of that! Mph, I don't even care!"

More compliments; not really relevant in his mind at the moment, but he can't help but learn from other classmates as well. Another conversation shifts his eyes to the right, and spot two men whose jealousy were shown in tone, he begin to smirk as his ear translates,

"Look at that tired asshole, doesn't that count ALL of his classes he chose to attend? Geez what a waste of money!"
"Could be threatening the teachers... I mean look at him! Who knows dude..." 
"Maybe we should find out..." 

Envy; nothing like that phases him now, he scoffs at such thoughts, he just came across a clever discovery anyone barely uses and turns it into a gold mine of knowledge! Intelligence courses through his brain ever since he finally decided to stop causing his mother trouble and became the "man of the house".  Ezell can even remember the exact words his father spoke as his huge hand holds his little peanut head with pride: "Be a leader chief, not a follower. I will be back..." And just like that, the warm pressure of the familiar butch hand that once held him dear, throw him into skies, and even whips him as a sign of disapproval-turns to a cold gentle breeze that ran through the naps in his crew cut.

Who knew he didn't mean in less than 20 minutes?

Did anyone else knew he meant, "I will be back in your vision one day..."?

Little Ezell jr. took that one lone tip act of desertion to the deepest of his heart, he thought of it as a last advice from father to son. He would often ask his mother at times, but since the questions would run cold he stopped interrogating. Adapting that it wouldn't matter since he wasn't prepared for the answer yet. So he decides to do just that, prepare; the naps eventually formed into long ebony twists that hung tied in scrunchie-

'Whoa, what the hell am I thinking about? Focus, they're tailing you...' 

For a minute his mind trails off sometimes without him even noticing; it's hard having to control a racing brain, it can even control you. He notices the shuffles of shoes became clearer as they step on the campus parking lot. They were in a hurry to catch up to him. He decides to make it easy for them and stop. "Is there something you got to say?" 

One of them stops as he turns around, noticing an intimidating glare that meant business. One of them ask, " Hey cousin!"

"I'm not your cousin, brother." Ezell snaps back, gang affiliation wasn't his thing. Since the man before him uses it as an approach, he shouldn't be around more drama he doesn't need. "What's Up?"

The other guy finally steps up, "How'd you get so big dude? 

"It was just determination and practice alone. It's all what you can put your mind to in order to make family stand strong."

In a way, he was right; Though the two would never believe that was the answer. It sounds so straight forward that it couldn't be trusted! In their eyes something as risky even. 

"It's a girl right? I know it is! What's her name?" One pat the belly of the other as he began to chuckle. 

"I"m single." Ezell sighs as this conversation was getting nowhere.

"I don't believe you, and you fall asleep during class all the time! Why do you even come to class?" The one who offends him before began to protest as if it was personal. 

"Geez..." Ezell was about to add, but he smirks as his ear picks up more giggling in the distance, he notices the women from earlier followed him too. 'I should have stalled myself...'

The two men looked at the women he was eyeing, then sneers back to him. One with a more grim expression than before! Ezell knew what was coming: Trouble.

"You Eyeing my girl Loc? You eyeing my Rye Homie?!" The first talker grips his fist as he points his thumb at his girl, Ezell was too focused on him to care.  

"Hey, man she eyed me way before I met ya'll foo..." Ezell backs away with a groove and a smirk as he gets to a safer place to move around. Nothing is stopping this now, all the more time to put someone in his place. 'The man has negative intentions, so of course he thinks I'm talking trash.' His mind blinks as he checks his footing.

"Why you!" With another outburst, he charges with a raised fist. 

"Escalating quickly now are we?" Ezell says as he stands guard with a fist in front of him, and the other on his book bag full of wrapped posters. 'What a feeble chance of attacking a guy like me' he saw the slow swing coming from a mile away. Sending his head to the right, he avoids the fist and brings his head right back to throw a strong right hook to the opponent's jaw!

The guy was sent to the left like a fade away shot was his goal; but instead of landing on his feet, he lands flat on his ass.

"Hey man, he only wanted to ask a question! What's your problem!?" The other guy felt like he was about to step forward, but he couldn't help but hesitate. Ezell's fist gripped firm like it wants to be thrown again!

"Hey now!" Their suspicion furthers as a man came out of nowhere and sent a left straight towards the coward who evades and sprints off; leaving his friend snoozing on the floor. He turns to Ezell shrugging and smiles, "What's up brotha?" 

 Ezell sent a bro-mantic smile back, his childhood friend Rey! One meeting on the playground and the mischievous two became inseparable throughout their early childhood. That made his mother worry even more when he began to sport a smile more often when he come home from his friend's home. Their fists meet with a slow crash, then a silly handshake. "Nothing man, what about you? Just about to go home and get some rest," As Dallas street teenagers with angst in their gut, trouble was always brewing as soon as the after school bell ring. A fight was all but preemptive glory when it precedes these two. Maybe it was rough upbringing, maybe the lessons that stick to their mind as they throw blow for blow. 

Rey smiles as he turns toward the girls, "Well, I'll catch you later. I'm sure Rye gonna want your phone after this ordeal. Haha, and I know this ain't you to turn this down! Give that mind a rest bro!" Just like that, his homeboy was chasing tail in the other direction. At this day age, time is money, when that money arrives, opportunities open. These two knew of respect, so they let each other be. 

"I know...I'll catch you later brotha..." As he makes his way to his car, he strolls with an 'easy' attitude. Opening the door thinking nothing can upset his mood now; all he wants to do is get home and spend the rest of his day relaxing! He hops in and turns on the ignition with a quick rev, waiting on the car to instantly boom with music from his car stereo. The sudden thump from under his seat made his body hum as the music continues from the last time he left his car. He pulls out of his parking space to travel home in a manner of excitement, the groove he began to slow until it came to a stop, the view of afternoon Dallas skyline always looks so beautiful on the way home. Dallas streets was always non comparable to him, everything besides the cops seem to suit this boy's fancy. Leaving Irving, Texas after the first seven years of his life was never really explained, but he could puzzle a good reason why. His grin was suddenly wiped with a stern grip. His father, he can't really get this guy out his head to save his life! Everything pretty much revolves around this cat. 'My damn father...What the hell am I thinking?' "Eh, I already 'vibed' to this on the way to the school...Time for a change."

Coming to a stop light, he starts to change the CD in his car drive. Ezell's face reverts back to normal as he presses the Eject button, making his CD retract from the compartment. Maybe some good soul music can get him out this funk. Although, as the CD injects, his radio suddenly turns to a static tone, then an unfamiliar monotone tune suddenly erupts from the place in his pocket, he pulls his cellular out and checks the incoming screen, "What the shit?":

{Attention citizens, this is a direct message from the Soul Solicitors. We advise you to wake up and smell the roses, they ALL want us DEAD. D-E-A-D… Think about it A-I-R-E-S…D-E-A-D. Do you understand what I’m trying to tell you? They've found you…and now we have no choice but to show you the tr-}

INCOMING MESSAGE: {UNKNOWN: #5556662) : Hey, dis is Ry3, R3y g4v3 m3 y0ur numbah,,, we should kik it. Btw I'm single now!!!! SAVE MY NUMBER BESTFRIEEEND!!!!......now. {Alotta hearts here}

He raspberries as he will curse his friend later for spreading his number out, but he could be helping out though! “Rey you sly dog you...what the heck was that other advertisement though...They're never for you.” He smiles as he his new song begins to play. “This is what I’m talking about!”  Ezell start to dance in his seat as he turns into his apartment gate, but clicks his tongue as he begins to lower the volume and open the gate since most neighbors can't stand bass. Man can he ever get a break?! 'I bet Karma is laughing her ass off right now' He recollects of Karma so much he even gave it a form: Straight Up Bitch! He sighs as his mind trails onto bitter exes. You would tell him to give his mind a rest right? Too bad it can't, it's too busy thinking about the best memories, then the bad ones, he then wonders why he hasn't gone bald yet! It never ends!

With a beep of the scanner due to the swipe of his key card, the gate slowly slides open on the track it rides. He notices a few maintenance men right in front of the apartment office, chattering language that didn't seem familiar- misunderstanding-yes, but familiar-not the slightest! He slows down to hear more slurs than he should, like they were drunk and playing in reverse! They abruptly turn to sneer at him as he pass by. “…Always were some creepy motherfuckers I swear!” Ezell mutters as he watch them with the usual look of annoyance, then continues toward his home. The hell were they ogling at, isn't he a liable tenant as well? As he pull into the parking lot close to his house, he runs over a water bottle that litter in the parking place. The bottle pops from under his tire and hit his mother’s car, and suddenly the front door opens with a rapid swing! “Aww crap…” he mutters as he slowly cut off his car and watch his mother storm from the front door straight to his car window! He looks at her mouth off and point at her car tire, knowing exactly what she’s talking about. This type of pestering can be a pain when it comes with age, but he copes because that's his blood. His loving mother! He'll shield and protect her at any given moment. He smiles as he watches her try to look for damages to her trophy of a "Whip". "Ah, Fam.." she put ups with him still, and throughout his life he feels he could have done better regarding being a good son, even a better brother to his sister that witnessed desertion from their dad at the worst age of 1. That's why these little arguments will always be averted with love. Because she's still here, unlike someone he doesn't even wanna bother thinking about. With a huge sigh, he opens the door to hear the earful of sweet nothings. He continues going to their apartment home with her in tow repeating the same rant over (in case he didn't hear it the first time), with him replying, “Sorry…Love ya mom…Won’t ever happen again. I know it was a bottle, so dangerous…That’s why I’ll park away from you from now on…Sorry again.” He shuts his door and drops the bag he carries inside to the floor, tuning that out was easier thought than done!

"Ah...Home!" The safest zone he could ever think of. Ezell looks at his inspirations on the wall of his man cave; mostly women posters, game illustrations, and a common “Legalize it” poster, which covers one side of his room. Some art pieces he hangs in achievement, nothing can be a greater skill than something you've done yourself! He turns on his tunes and slumps in his chair to get comfortable; the fan blows against his right side as it flows endlessly. 'Speaking of doing something yourself,' He thinks as he lifts a miniature stock box up to his lap and tops it open with ease, grinning as he spots the stress-reliever already rolled up from morning. He saved it up for the start of the vacation, makes it better with nothing else on the brain! “Let the rest of summer begin,” he says as he grabs his lighter and starts to strike the ignite, but no spark. He tries again and again, then utters a curse as he can't get it to ignite a flame! “Wow…Can this day get any fucking better!" he mouths in a sarcastic tone as he leans back into the chair with the blunt still in his mouth. He forgot to buy a new lighter on the way home due to that altercation, and he doesn't want to get up anytime soon. With so much shit on his mind he reaches bummer incarnate! He began to question his plans when suddenly he heard a loud creak on his bed.

Turning to see what fell on his mattress; he drops his blunt into his lap because what fell on his mattress, was sitting at the edge of his bed right next to him. It was a girl, handing him a box lighter with the letters “W.W.A.D.” carved on the sides. Judging by her skin tone she was native, she even sports a native feather band tied around her head. Long, silky black hair hung freely on her shoulders. She wore regular attire though, just a tank top underneath a leather jacket and some hip-hug jeans that had a firm snug on her smooth hips. Her converse turns inwards as she tried to hand Ezell the lighter with a light chuckle, “Here man, you kinda need it more than I do…”

Ezell kept looking at the girl, it was hard to grasp how beautiful she was; even harder to figure out how she got into this room, this close, without him noticing! 'Was she there the whole time? How did I not notice her? DOES MOM KNOW SHE'S IN HERE?!' A few seconds passed without any of them turning their eyes from each other, then he slowly reaches for the lighter after finally realizing that she was giving a gesture. After taking it from her hands, he thanks her with a nod. The boy honestly didn't know what to say at the moment, it was ironic since most girls this beautiful doesn't know how to be nice without asking something in return, but he speaks awkwardly anyway. “Um miss…Thanks and all, but how did you even-“

“Your father,” she says with a distinct smile, “He told me to come get you…And my name is Sira~Ch by the way.”

Not this shit again, he needs a strong hit from this "Purple Haze" filled blunt first.“Sira-Ch? Siracha? No-Sira-Ch...So Pops told you to come get me huh...” his face drops to a certain frown after pronouncing the girl's name. “Lucky I arrived at the nick of time huh,” Ezell says as he brings the blunt back to his mouth and lifts the lighter cap with his thumb. He inhales through the marijuana filled tunnel as it began to vacuum burning plant. He holds the smoke in as he begin to feel invaded by a familiar succulent sense of relaxation, then exhales before saying, “He trying to make up for lost time or something? It’s a bit too late for that…Rat’s ass gives a shit, not me. Now how-"

“Yes indeed, he knows that too; but it’s not what you think…” Sira’s hand scratches her head as she tried to figure out the best way to say the next words, but suddenly scent of good smoke enters her nose, “…Anyway-oh is that 'Purple Haze'?!” she asks as her eyes grew big, and she obviously waits for her turn.

The man was astounded by this girl's sense of smell, even his paranoia was shut down for a minute as he puffed for a second time. As he held in the powerful intake, she's not really looking intimidating to him right now, pretty much the opposite. Maybe the great smell she secretes or the great smile that she shines gracefully. It seems she's really here, talking to him. On a whim from his father, but actually here conversing with him. The asshole must have some balls in him to get a woman like this on his side! Or he really must have taken a huge hit from this blunt to even think about this type of thing. "Actually, yeah it is…How-“ he says as he passes his blunt to the left, sending smoke from his nose. His nose hairs flared as the smoke tingles as well as tickles. 

“Not every native only smokes peyote…even though it's one hell of a trip.” She smirks as she takes the offer and began taking a hit without hesitation. Sira inhales twice after the blunt left her lips, her eventual grin suddenly overpowers her as her hit satisfies her quench of crave for the taste of the "Purple Haze"; and then exhales with an exaggerated sigh. "Ahh, that's nice..."

“Touché, but you caught on by just taking a whiff of MY hit! You’re that keen on your senses?” Ezell asks as he watches the girl smoke weed like a pro. “Not most girls can do that really, let alone someone I actually know.”

She chuckles as she exhales the second hit and passes it back to him, feeling the warmth flux throughout her body like a flower sprouting in the brink of spring, “Well…Now you know someone that does; even though I might add, I’m not like most girls you would know.” Sira motions her head away as she looks around his room. Looking at one of the women pictures a bit longer than average, must be the good taste in clothing. 

“Ah, I kinda figured that when you appeared in my room without me-Almighty forbid-my MOTHER noticing! How did you get in here anyway!?” Ezell says as he took a huge hit, emphasizing on how important this is if they don't make too much noise. Who knows what that woman will do...Oh wait, this is mother we're talking about. The hit was so pure that he lost focus! He has to thank his supplier one time when he gets the chance...He awkwardly takes another hit as he's back to reality.

“I don’t think you’ll believe me if I told you,” she lies back onto the bed, then leaning back up to take the blunt he passes towards her. “I don’t think you’re high enough to believe anything I’m about to tell you yet.” She holds in and let it escapes through her nose as she stretches her back. He can sense she's really comfy in his bed, a little too comfy.

“Of course if it’s 'naive' you’re after, you've found the wrong guy Sira-Ch." Ezell chuckles as he sits in his chair, he was past buzzed with the strong puffs he was taking; he didn't know he was sharing so he figures he make them count! “Shit, I should be saying this to my father, since the asshole ain't got the audacity to say whatever you’re going to say to his son’s face!” Talking wasn't gonna be the goal, but it was a good lie at the moment!

“Hah, the man has his reasons to not be here…Trust me, you don’t have to be naive to believe the things I’m about to say. You will eventually though,” Sira says before inhaling her hit, she was in the same state Ezell was in! As she passes the blunt back, she feels the urge to mention, “First off though, we’ll finish your blunt before we get into business. I’ll match yours with mine!” she smiles as she lifts her head band to reveal a blunt she secretly keeps. “I just made this bad boy…Lucky they summoned me in the nick huh?” She chuckles as she puts it in the fold of one of her ears.

“And to think I was starting not to like you, you pull a rabbit out of the hat,” Ezell mutters through his hit as he gav a thumbs up sign to this spectacle of a woman. He doesn't want to talk about his father, he barely even knew the guy! He would rather call him a sperm donor than a parent, and what not to expect from a kid living in a cold world like this?! “...You wanna tell me about someone who I don’t even want to re-acquaint myself with? We've been doing fine without him!”

“Oh Easy boy, so little you know,” Sira reassures as she receives his blunt from him. “Just chill for a moment, I see you’re getting riled up off of just thinking alone.” she pats his shoulder as she looks into his eyes. 

The boy eases his breathing as he felt her hand on his shoulder, ‘this girl…’ something about her touch made him feel like she could somehow relate. She was so inviting, yet distant. Yet which makes his paranoia rile through the roof again! “…Who are you? How do you know of me and my father?”

“Finish the blunt first kid; we have all the time in the world for that. It won’t be long now…” She says as she looks at the doobie in her hand, then looks around, "I know if you toke, you have- and you do!" she pulls out a glass bong from beside the wall and lifts it high!

Ezell chuckles as he looks at Sira with a raised brow. This girl is something else! He surely needs a laugh, and she was supplying them by the bucket-load! “Please, we look the same age! This ‘kid’ can smoke you under the table any day~anyway.”

“One way to find out...” She mutters as she takes a hit after carefully inserting the doobie in the chute and began blowing smoke rings in the air. Seeing as the flame on the doobie was almost close to her fingers, she asks, “Ready for the one I brought?” Sira smirks as she pulls it out from her ear. It was rolled in a green leaf, filled to the ends with substance of good, or at least he hopes! If he weren't so productive he would be a pure stoner, blame it on his mother's work ethic. 

“Hah, I bet this is child’s play,” Ezell jokes as he hands her the lighter for her to spark, though as it lingers out in the open; he couldn't catch a smell from the cigar in her hand. The curiosity grew until the question finally rears to the tip of his tongue. “What do they call that?”

Sira looks at the lad as she double taps her eyebrow muscles. “They call it 'The Truth'!”