Tony's jaw nearly hit the ground when he saw Tracy after school. She looked stunning—polished but still soft, still humble. Even with people hyping her up left and right, Tracy kept her head down when she spoke, shy as ever.
Tony pushed through the crowd and kissed her right there, bold enough to make half the hallway stop talking. When he finally let her breathe, he grabbed her hand and walked her to the car. Tracy waved at everybody politely before getting in.
As soon as the door closed, she turned to him.
"Are you giving Booter a ride? He was real nice to me today."
Tony wasn't about to say no—not when she asked like that. He let Booter hop in the back. When they dropped him off, Tracy turned back to Tony.
"What do you think of my outfit?"
Tony grinned wide.
"Baby, you look so damn good I had to let everybody know what's mine—before them dudes started gettin' ideas."
Tracy felt warm all over. She liked that he wanted her. She liked that he claimed her.
For the next couple of weeks, life fell into a rhythm. Tracy hung with Booter and the crew at school, worked three days at Ms. Cherry's, and Tony made sure he saw her every day—either at lunch or after school.
But one morning Tracy came in looking a hot mess—hair wild, clothes rumpled, like she got dressed blindfolded. Alexis spotted her first and dragged her straight to the bathroom.
"We gon' let you rock the boy look today, but we gon' make it cute," Alexis said, brushing Tracy's hair into a high ponytail.
She handed Tracy a clean blue tank and let her borrow Booter's basketball shorts to layer under her loose jeans.
"Why'd you help me?" Tracy asked quietly.
Alexis smiled. "Girl, you're one of us now. We not about to have our sis walkin' around lookin' crazy."
Tracy came out the bathroom glowing a little. Booter was waiting and handed her a charm bracelet.
"Congratulations. You official. Whole squad voted."
Tracy felt her throat get tight. Friends—real ones. Something she'd never had.
She hugged Booter before realizing what she was doing.
"Whoa, chill," Booter laughed. "Tryin' to get me killed out here."
Not long after, the group decided to skip school to celebrate their "newest member." Tracy had never skipped in her life. Ashley and Tisha led her to the car like she was being adopted.
On the way there, Tracy called Tony.
He answered cold.
"Who is this? What you want?"
The tone scared her; she stumbled over her words. Once he realized it was her, he calmed down.
"Call me when you get there. I'll meet you. I'm busy."
Ashley and Tisha went wild hearing Tony planned to show up.
By the time Tony walked in around 10:30, almost everybody was off doing their own thing. Tracy didn't know anybody well enough to wander around with them, so she was isolated in the living room with Mark and Steve.
As soon as Tony stepped inside, Tracy jumped up and threw her arms around him.
"I missed you," she said softly.
He stepped back and looked her up and down.
"I missed you too. And this little tomboy thing you got goin'? Cute."
When he entered fully, the whole house seemed to snap to attention. Suddenly everybody was in the living room, hanging on his every word.
Only Tracy wasn't paying attention—she was falling asleep in his lap.
Tony noticed and whispered in her ear,
"You tired, baby?"
She nodded, barely awake.
Booter pointed down the hall toward an empty room. Tony picked Tracy up and carried her there, expecting to come back out…but he didn't.
Later, Steve peeked in the room expecting drama.
Instead, he found them both knocked out on top of the bed—Tony shirtless, Tracy curled up beside him in his oversized shirt. Nothing scandalous, just two people sleeping.
Tracy woke to loud noises from another room.
"Tony…what's that?" she whispered.
He sighed.
"Alexis and Booter having sex."
She laid there quietly while Tony talked to her about his life—his little brother, his childhood, the trouble he got into. Tracy didn't have stories like that. The most exciting thing that had ever happened to her was Tony.
Eventually she whispered, "I'm hungry."
Tony went to grab food but the house didn't have any. He called Tracy out to leave with him, but she went back to the room to get dressed properly. When she came out with her hair in a messy bun, Tony tried to fuss but couldn't do it—she looked too cute.
They hit the store, then the mall. Tony bought her clothes that matched the style she had on. When they passed a lingerie shop, Tracy admitted she needed new things.
"Ain't nothin' to be embarrassed about," Tony said softly, kissing her forehead. "I got you."
A saleswoman helped Tracy pick out what she needed—cute, simple things and some sexy things she never would've bought on her own. Tony brought more clothes over for her to change into.
By the time they got back to the house, Tracy looked different—confident, stylish, glowing. She even had a new belly piercing Tony convinced her to get.
Heads turned. Mark nearly choked.
But Tracy got overwhelmed with all the noise and drama, so she went to the bedroom to breathe. Alexis joined her.
Tracy admitted,
"I don't care about Tony's money. I like Tony because he's…Tony. He's nice to me. Makes me feel special."
She didn't know Tony was outside the door listening—quiet, eyes unreadable.
He walked in.
"Can I have her back now?"
Alexis slipped out with a knowing grin.
Tracy motioned for Tony to sit beside her. He wrapped his arm around her waist and kissed her softly. The kissing got deeper, Tony's hands wandering as the moment heated up—
until Tracy pushed his hand away.
"Stop…please."
Tony froze. She looked scared. His face softened immediately.
"Damn…Tracy. I'm sorry. Baby, don't cry."
He wiped her cheeks, apologizing over and over. But Tracy stayed quiet, stiff, hurt.
When she told him she wanted space, Tony snapped.
"Man, whatever. Give me my phone back. Don't call me again. That lil' bit of money? That was nothin'. You won't ever see that again in your life."
He stormed out, slamming the door.
Tracy crumbled into tears. Her clothes were wrinkled, her chest hurt, her whole world tilted sideways.
Alexis came back in, saw her crying, and immediately wrapped an arm around her.
"Come on. I'm takin' you home."
She didn't ask questions—she just drove.