Chapter 5

Lucian stood there proud to see his mother on top of the stage getting an award. He waited for this day to happen for the longest. She worked her butt off for this little trophy.

She smiled over to him and he gave her a thumbs up. "Your mom is so cute Lu." He heard Raymond say next to him. He smiled over at him and nodded.

"Don't go falling for my mom now. That's totally weird." He told him, making sure that he wouldn't fall for his mom. He was weird enough.

"Anyways, I would like to bring up my son Lucian King to the stage to say a few words for his precious precious gracious mother." She emphasized to which he laughed in return.

He plastered a smile on his lips moving over to the stage so he could step up. "Wow thanks, gracious precious precious mother." He teased and shook his head. "I would like to congratulate my mom on winning this. She really deserved it you know..."

He paused for a second and looked around the room. "She's been through so much, especially raising me as a kid. And you know it's not so easy growing up when you're different. I would love to tell my mom that I'm super happy for her."

She hugged him with one arm kissing the side of his head. "You deserve this so much. I don't even know what to say. Jeez.. You're just amazing mom. Really. Especially what happened a few weeks ago yet you still persevered. I'm so proud of the woman you are today."

"Sorry for taking so long, anyway congrats everyone who won something and earned it. Goodbye." He stepped off the stage as people clapped it up for his mother and his silly little speech.

"That was amazing Lu. I'm so proud of you for standing in front of an audience." Raymond said and he was taken off guard by the hug he threw at him. His face tinted a little as he slowly circled his arms back around him.

He made an exception only because he was generous enough to come. He heard a cough behind him. He looked behind him letting go of Raymond in the process. "Mother."

"Well you two seem so cozy. Anyway. We should get going. I did come what I was looking for you know? My promotion." She told him gripping his shoulder briefly.

"You earned it ma." He told her and scanned the room then looked at Raymond with a small smile. "Don't tell Brianna or Trent that I've smiled this much please. I'm just happy for my mother."

"Your secret is safe with me." He told him and ruffled up his hair which Lucian swatted his hand away but cracked a small grin on his lips.

"Let's go." He turned and started walking but he bumped into someone. "I'm sorry. That's my fault."

"You should watch your step nigger." He heard him mutter and he looked up to see it was the guy who tried to sexually assault his mother.

"What did you call me you rapist?" He hissed at him and pushed him back. "You dare call me a foul name that shouldn't be in your mouth and have the nerve to try raping my mother?"

"You're a kid. You can't do shit. I'm your superior." The taller broad man tried moving past him but he wouldn't let him.

"What's going on here? Dad? What's Lu talking about?" Raymond questioned and he had to double back. Dad?! He thought.

"You know this brat?" The taller man questioned.

"That brat is my son." He heard his mother yell and slapped the man. "And that is for trying to put your hands on me while you have a son." She slapped him again. "And for treating my son like shit. Watch your damn tone."

He looked at his mother amused. He just wanted to high five her for the sass. He was so proud. "Dad. You raped Mrs. King?"

"Sexually assaulted sweetie but no difference. This is your dead beat of a father?" She asked while crossing her arms. He knew everyone was looking at them now but he didn't care.

"Seems to be like it." Raymond said a little devastated and disgusted. "I thought we treated melanin people with respect. We're not racist. Well I'm not racist, how could you lie dad?"

"Stay out of this boy." He heard his father say. He wanted justice and that was what he was going to get. He went over to the stage and took the mic from the lanky man.

"Excuse me everyone. I know you're concerned. I'm a mixed boy but I identify as black. My mother was courted by that man." He pointed over to the man standing in front of Raymond. "He came to our house unexpectedly and used some old hag to distract me. Her only son to try and rape my mother in the kitchen."

He heard the crowd gasp. "Yeah. That man you call friend? HA. He's a rapist. Obviously. I want justice and I'm filing a report. Probably suing this company into the ground if we don't get justice served. I'm tired of living in fear."

"Being black isn't a curse. But he thought other wise when he didn't have no warrant to check my damn house. So, he had the audacity to come into our home unannounced and tried to physically hurt my mother."

The crowd gasped even more. White people, I tell you. He sighed in his thoughts. "That means do something. Get your boss or something. Please and thank you." He stepped down.

"Hey Lu, you think I could stay at yours for the time being? I can't stand my fathers presence. I feel so ashamed being his son."

He nodded and patted his shoulder. "He's a monster but you're not. You're different. We can grab your stuff from his house when he's not there." He smiled up at Raymond weakly.

"Thanks, also-"

"Someone called for me. The boss of this whole entire company." A voice said rasping.

His voice sounded so sexy. He shook his head out of his thoughts, he turned to the man to who he said he is. "Yes, I'm the one who.." He opened his eyes and choked on his spit.

"The one who..?" The tall, well fitted young man asked.

He cleared his throat and stood up straight. "I-I'm the one who called for you sir. Sorry to be a bother. But this man, next to you. He sexually assaulted my mother, the one you gave the promotion." He let out of one breath, breathing in.

"Really now?" He questioned looking over to the man that was now shaking in his bones. "You're fired."

Lucian heart stopped quickly. He thought he would've let him off with a warning. He actually fired this man? Give or take, it was still a little justice. "Uhm. How old are you by the way? Asking for a friend."

"I'm 21. Yea, I know. A young man can't be the top top boss of this company, it'll go into chaos. Blah blah but I am him." The boss of this company spoke.

His eyes lit up like stars at the tall man. He noticed his skin tone but he didn't care. He was down right handsome. "And who might you be?"

"Luciwn— Uh I mean Lucian King sir?" He cursed himself for acting this way in front of the boss. He would never get over it.

"Nice to meet you Lucian King. I am Cameron." He nodded quickly and listened to him quietly, afraid to speak. "How about we take this to court yeah? I'll vouch for your mother and everything will be taken care of."

"Uh yeah! Thank you. That would be awesome. You're not so bad Cameron." He told him quietly and took his mother by the arm. "Raymond lets go." He walked away, hoping he wouldn't embarrass himself a bit more.

"Nice meeting you both and the boy of course. Richard right?" Cameron asked Raymond who gave him the stank eye. "It's Raymond and I'm coming Lu."

Raymond followed behind him and crossed his arms. "This night turned out to be shit. But I'm still so happy for your mom. Thanks for making me come here."

Lucian nodded over to him while he kissed the side of his mother's cheek and then Raymond. Raymond held his cheek with a tint on his cheeks. "What was that for?"

"For being here. Never would have done this without you Ray." He smiled at him.

"You called me Ray! And what was up with you giving dreamy eyes at Mr. Cameron?" Ray asked suspiciously.

"I just admired his way of dealing with the situation and not taking another second to give my mom the justice she needs. It's not like I'm gay or anything." He felt an elbow into his stomach. He let out a yelp and glared at his mother who only snickered in triumph.

"Ohh yeah. That's cool. I wouldn't mind if you were or weren't either way. He is an attractive man. I wonder how he deals with all the women in the facility." Raymond joked.

"Every women except me. They all either suck up to him literally or you know get into his pants for a reward for better pay. You know I hate white guys but he's the exception and of course fresh meat here." She laughed.

"That's sweet of you to say.. I think? But man. No wonder you got a promotion. You really know how to stick your ground and keep it professional. Second, Black moms don't play." Ray said.

"That is correct. So if you come around my house, I don't care what your parents say. Treating you like my kid and smacking you if you need to be smacked anywhere." She pointed out.

They all laughed talking some more and Lucian felt complete like they were his own little family.

***********

He laid on his bed quietly while Ray was in the guest room. He was looking through his phone. He deleted every single social media he had. He needed to start fresh. He noticed being afraid wouldn't do any good. "Self empowerment."

He put his phone down and heard a knock coming from his door. "The door is always open." He said and in came his mother who was standing by the door.

"Lucian. You're growing up so fast. You were so brave today. I can't believe it. I didn't name you Lucian for no reason. Shine that light. What you said was very inspiring."

"Ma.. yes I know and I didn't want to live in fear. For our entire lives living on earth we've lived in fear. We never knew if we were going to die today or tomorrow or in a few hours ma." He explained.

"But I'm tired ma. I don't want us to constantly keep peacefully protesting and nothing gets done. We've been walked on, stepped on and so much more. Justice doesn't come without the color black. What your boss did today was powerful because it's changing already."

"Of course I know that, I taught you everything you know." She sat next to him and patted his leg. "We all deserve the justice we think we deserve. If the white supremacist can't see through their faults we can't really do nothing but fight."

"I understand you baby. Justice should be served for every missing black. Every assaulted or raped black. Anything that happened because we deserve it. Trust you when I say we're trying each day that goes on." She told him.

"I know we're trying but I don't want there to be a protest where it evolves around someone killing our own then it dies down like it's over. We should keep protesting. We shouldn't stop until we've got what we wanted. I want us to be warriors. White killing black? Protest quick. Black on black? Gang affiliated."

"They put us in a box where we can't get out of. They pushed us to drugs and gangs when there was nothing else to do and we couldn't get jobs. I hate that when our own skin kills one they act like they were in a gang or something. But what if they weren't? What if they were innocent? What if that person was struggling? He said we wouldn't make it past 21. I'm starting to believe this initiative."

"Who said we wouldn't make it past 21?" She looked at him. "Boy. I'm 35. I made it past 21. We all have to help each other out. That's what we're missing. Everyone's looking at the whites for their crimes. Which is indeed a crime but at the same time, all these kids are dying so fast. Some of them had dreams, futures, careers once they got out of the hood."

"But they can't get out of the hood. And I was talking about Gen Z ma. Xxxtentacion said we wouldn't make it past 21. I believe him because so many kids under the age of 18 are dying quickly. Not even graduating high school yet." He said.

"We'll talk more about this tomorrow. At least your up on your stuff. I think one day you'll make a fine president. Anyways, goodnight Lucian. I love you." She kissed his forehead and left his room.

"Love you too ma." He muttered and turned on his bed but felt something buzzing. He looked under him seeing a mysterious caller ID. He picked up putting the phone to his ear. "Hello?"

"Is this Lucian King?" His heart immediately stopped when he heard the raspy voice. His phone dropped and he hurriedly picked it back up. "Hello? Are you Lucian King?"

"Yes, this is he. How did you get this number?" He asked a bit concerned but face palmed when he figured it out on his own.

"Well you're the emergency contact for your mother, I figured why not. But the court date is set up and I'll email it to your mother." He listened in and couldn't help but admire his voice.

"O-oh really? Thanks that's cool." He spoke into the phone and got ready to disconnect the call.

"But that's not what I wanted to talk to you about." His heart started pounding in his chest. He closed his eyes and wished his mind to think different.

"I liked your attitude at the little ceremony. The way you took control and spoke out for what you believed in. I really admire that about you, Lucian." He loved the compliments he was receiving.

"Uh— uh. Thank you so much Cameron." He stuttered a bit in the beginning. He heard a chuckle from the other side. "Huh?"

"You know. When I saw you, you didn't look that tough. You just seemed like a lanky boy who wasn't going to do nothing." He pouted. Ouch..

"But you proved me wrong and you looked really cute when you were frustrated but talking about something you were passionate about." Did he just call me cute? He did? He shook his head.

"Happy to please you sir. You did after all give my mother the promotion she deserved for all her hard work. It isn't so easy being us and you've kind of got it easier since you know you being white and all. Not that it matters to me but my mother said I'm not allowed to date white men." He rushed out the last sentence.

Cameron laughed over the phone and shook his head. He couldn't believe how overly cute Lucian was being and wish he could see more. "That's alright. Uhm. How would you like to come work for me? As an assistant?"

He bit his lower lip and thought about it. His brain was thinking another but his mouth said. "But I'm only 18 sir." He told him.

"You can just call me Cam. And it doesn't matter that's a good enough age for me. I do need a new assistant. I fired the last one. So it would be a big help. You can come after school of course and on time in the mornings on the weekend." Cameron told him biting his lower lip.

He couldn't wait to get closer to the young one. Man.. when I get to know him better I'll fuck him over my desk, He thought. "That's fine with me. I'll have to ask my mother though she'll probably say yes. Will I get paid?"

"However you want to get paid is up to you." He heard Cameron over the phone which made his cheeks flush with color. "Plus seeing your mom is a plus so it shouldn't be a big deal."

"Okay thank you sir— I mean Cameron." He disconnected the call and set his phone down. He remained quiet before squealing then forgot people were sleeping so he squealed quietly.

"He's so handsome but he's white." He frowned and tried to figure out an exception. Maybe his mom would allow him to like this man? He's only 3 years older. "Be real, don't let this man get to you. Be happy you're getting paid."

He whispered to himself and closed his eyes covering up with a sheet. He had a big day tomorrow but first he was going to ask him mom if he could work as an assistant for Cameron. He smiled in his sleep.