Juicy: The Complete Series

by Nicety

  Kojack walked through the double automatic sliding glass doors of the hospital heading straight for the information desk. Diamond had not given him any knowledge on how to get to her room, just expecting him to show up and magically get there. Annoyed, he tapped his finger on his cell to call her and retrieve the information she should have given him beforehand.

  “How the fuck are you going to tell me to get up here and see about her when you didn’t even bother to give me the room or floor number?” he bellowed tossing his hand in his pocket to keep his composure.

  “Hey! Don’t fucking start with me, alright! I’ve had a bad fucking morning. Tell Lexi I had to go home because now I don’t feel well.”

  “Fuck all that. What room is she in?” he yelled once more.

  “236! 236! Sheesh!” Diamond screamed as she hung up the phone, launching it across the car.

  Kojack stood there looking down at his phone for a minute before realizing that he was hung up on. He hated for that to happen to him even though he has dished it out on more than one occasion. He darted for the elevators and waited for his turn to load as the crowd moved slowly inside one of them. It was as if the elevator moved like the speed of lightning as Kojack exited once it reached the second floor.

  He headed down the hall weaving through the heavy traffic of doctors, patients, and nurses searching the door plates for room 236. His eyes glanced over a plate that was partially covered by a doctor and a nurse standing in front of it as they gazed down at a chart. Kojack felt he was in the right place and as they moved walking inside the room his feelings were confirmed. He wanted to walk in but part of him needed to brace hisself for whatever it was he was about to see.

  “Ms. Burden, how are you feeling?”

  He heard the dark skinned doctor speak while adjusting his glasses.

  “A little better,” Lexi responded groggily giving Kojack the notion that her illness was not life threatening.

  “Well I’ve got your test results back here and I would like to talk to you about a few things,” The doctor rambled in his thick African accent while he fumbled through papers.

  The pale thin Caucasian nurse stood there beside the doctor ready to assist him when needed. A shadow being cast over by the door broke her concentration on the doctor, taking a look in Kojack’s direction. He stood there unable to move as she walked towards him looking like she was about to scold him to death.

  “Sir, can I help you?” she asked with her angry eyes meeting him before she did.

  “Uh, I’m here to see Lexi,” he responded.

  “Oh. Come on in. We were just briefing her about her results. Now if she doesn’t want you in here you’re gonna have to step out for a minute. Okay, Hun?”

  Kojack nodded in agreement as she led him into the room. Turning the corner slightly, he gawked down upon Lexi wearing a hospital robe, lying back against the pillow. She had not even taken a look up to see who the nurse invited into the room. The nurse reached over, touching Lexi on the shoulder alerting her to Kojack’s presence as the doctor continued to fumble through his medical chart.

  “Hun, this young man is here to see you,” The nurse whispered while pointing in Kojack’s path.

  “Hey, Lex,” Kojack waved smiling as if he was actually happy to be there.

  “Hey,” Lexi responded half-heartedly.

  “Okay…” The doctor began noticing the tension in the air, deciding to slice through it before he was unable to get his speech out. “Ms. Burden. You really need to slow down on the alcohol and drug abuse. Your system was full of miscellaneous drugs and for a young girl that is most definitely not a good thing.”

  “Tell me something I don’t know,” Lexi said placing her head in her hands wondering why the hell Kojack was there.

  “You are perfectly healthy, other than that and you are disease free,” The doctor continued pretending to ignore her smart remark. “Your pain was just really bad gas.”

  “Again tell me something I don’t know,” Lexi smacked her lips with attitude even though she was elated to know that she was AIDS and HIV free.

  Her hair was a mess and she bore no makeup, which pissed her off to the fullest. She had never before been caught dead looking anything other than perfect in front of him, even in the early morning. So the fact that she looked like shit drove her insane. Gently and inconspicuously she tried to comb her short bob down a little with her fingers but no matter how she looked she could not bring herself to look up into his eyes. Kojack stood there a bit relieved that he was there to listen to the results of Lexi’s tests. He was happy that he did not have to fight with her to get one done.

  “Fine. Here’s something you don’t know, you’re pregnant. Congratulations. Oh and you were dehydrated as well. You might want to cut back on all things unhealthy and start thinking about the health of your unborn child. You also might need to call your parents and let them know that you’re here,” The doctor frowned signaling the nurse as they headed for the door.

  “Wait! Wait. I’m sorry I didn’t mean to get nasty with you before. This is just all so overwhelming right now. Can you tell me how far along I am?” Lexi asked turning her attention to the shocked look spreading on Kojack’s face.

  “About 6 weeks Hun. I’ll give you some time and I’ll be back in a little while,” The doctor smiled as he and the nurse left the room.

  “6 weeks? Damn. Well, congratulations. That’s great for you,” Kojack spat nonchalantly.

  “Yeah, congratulations to you too motherfucka, because it’s yours,” Lexi said rolling her neck and eyes simultaneously.

  “Mine? How do you know that for sure, girl? Shit, you know how you get down.”

  “Are you serious right now, Kojack? You are the only nigga that has hit this pussy in the last year so you’ve got me fucked up. I was fucking with bitches before I met you.”

  “Man, how do I know that? You could be still playing games like you’ve been doing,” Kojack thumbed his nose as the words flew from his mouth but a part of him felt stupid for questioning her.

  “Is that why you came up here, to fuck with me? I know Diamond pawned me off on you but you didn’t have to come, you know. All you know how to do is run the fuck away. So here’s your chance. Run.”

  “Man you gonna stop talking to me like I ain’t grown or something—”

  “It will always be the age difference with you, isn’t it? You just can’t allow your fucking heart to love me,” Lexi shook her head in disappointment, “And what’s fucked up is I can’t help but to love you and now I’m pregnant…GET OUT!”

  Lexi’s voice released an unspeakable torrent that he had never heard come from her lips. Her eyebrows were curled all the way over and she appeared to be breathing much like an angry bull, all that was missing was the smoke from her nose. She pointed to the room door just in case he did not hear her the first time, hoping he just got the drift and left. Her heart could not bear to look at his worthless ass any longer and she needed to mentally prepare to take care of her baby on her own.

  “Lexi, I’m…I’m…”

  “Sorry? Of course you’re sorry. Sorry motherfuckas are always sorry. I can’t believe I was stupid enough to believe you could ever love me especially after knowing how you ended it with Pandora. But that was me, being young and dumb and this is me being on some grown woman shit. Get the fuck outta my room and never come back.”

  “Lex…”

  “Diamond should be getting us an apartment soon and then you will have your fucking place back but for right now, I don’t want to know you exist,” Lexi crossed her arms and turned her head waiting for him to leave the room.

  Kojack looked at her expression knowing that she was not playing and astonished by her sudden change in attitude towards him. He had to admit it was quite the turn on to see her so in control of her life. The very thought of her raising a kid that could potentially be his on her own flashed in his head. It was a thought he was not prepared to extinguish or live with. She was going
to have to listen to him one way or the other because he refused to be absent from his kid’s life.

  “I’ll leave but this ain’t over girl. We need to talk.”

  “Nigga get the fuck outta my room!”

  Chapter 11

  “My wrath.”— Pandora

  “Excuse me, ma’am. I’m sorry but you can’t go up there,” The doorman said stopping Pandora at the door.

  “Well why not it’s my condo?”

  “Because, ma’am. As of this morning, the property manager has been issued a warrant to seize all of your personal assets including your home. The police are not allowing anyone in your door,” The doorman tightened his lips in dismay, “Sorry.”

  “Argh!” Pandora shouted in rage as she headed back out of the revolving lobby doors.

  She walked back out the door meeting Oxy who was patiently waiting on the corner. The two walked off headed back down to the Harrison Street Red Line el station quickly scurrying down the stairs. They remained silent until Oxy became bored with their little rendezvous and began whistling to pass the time away.

  “What the fuck is that noise?” Pandora snapped.

  “Uh, duh, it’s called whistling,” Oxy snarled back at her.

  “Well stop it. It’s giving me a headache.”

  “Yeah, cause the train station ain’t loud enough,” Oxy rolled her eyes, “Why are we downtown anyway? I hate it down here. It’s always so crowded and motherfuckas is rude.”

  “Look, if you gonna be with me then stop questioning every little thing I do. That place we just came from used to be my fucking place. I can’t believe it’s gone.”

  “Girl, fuck that place. As soon as we’re married you’ll be in the biggest house we can afford,” Oxy smiled, dreaming.

  “Yeah, that sounds nice,” Pandora did not sound interested at all.

  “Why do you always gotta be negative, P? I’m pouring my heart on the table here and you just keep shutting me down.”

  “Ugh! Shut the fuck up with that sentimental shit, Ox. Damn,” Pandora said irritated by her very presence.

  “What happened to your spot, Pandora?”

  “Does it matter? I lost it okay, along with everything else,” Pandora lowered her head thinking how easy life would be if she were dead.

  The more she thought about the turn her life has taken all in a couple of months, the more she began to wonder what death would be like. Her soul yearned for a good clean death, one that would not hurt at all and one that she would never see coming. It would be the sweetest taboo for her even though she had not been able to do any of things she wanted to do in life. It all seemed like a distant thought as she mentally prepared for a sweet death much like the one Shakespeare used to describe.

  “Is that why you keep threatening Diamond to give you that money? I told you I can give you everything you need baby and more.”

  “You know, I don’t remember agreeing to let you in my business, Ox,” Pandora stuffed her hands in her jacket pockets for warmth from the Downtown Chicago tunnel air and walked up to the approaching train’s door.

  “Hey, if we gonna be together you might as well confide in somebody. What the fuck else are we gonna do?” Oxy smiled devilishly.

  Pandora side eyed her not wanting to trust her with any information for one minute. There was something about her that never sat quite right with Pandora from the first moment she began talking to her back in county but the more she talked to her the more she realized that she needed to use her for resources. The train was virtually empty for a middle of the day ride but it made Pandora less edgy. After her arrest, she had always felt like someone was watching her in the shadows.

  “I told you everything, so try to get it when I tell you this time. First of all let’s get one thing straight. Those bitches stole my money…mine. I would’ve been able to bail out and afford my own damn lawyer if it weren’t for that and now I want my shit back.” Pandora spat sternly. “I don’t understand why I got to keep explaining this shit to you. It’s like you’re not listening or something.”

  “At any cost huh?”

  “You damn right at any cost. Those hoes weren’t thinking about me so why the fuck should I let this shit go?” The veins in her forehead began to pop out from her torrent.

  “Yeah, yeah, I hear ya. I’m just saying niggas get shot for less and you just won’t let the shit ride,” Oxy retorted, “Over some money?”

  “Listen bitch. If I find out you talking to them and telling them shit I swear to Christ you will regret it.”

  “Pandora, why would I talk to them? I’m not fucking them, I’m fucking you,” Oxy reassured her. “Meanwhile I would like to get a bit of that. Shit, I’m fucking frustrated.”

  “Yeah, well, you and me both,” Pandora mumbled, “Meanwhile, if you were really a friend you’d help me give those bitches exactly what they deserve.”

  “And what exactly is that my fiancé?”

  “My wrath,” Pandora replied sinisterly.

  “Ah ha ha ha ha!” Oxy chuckled holding her stomach for relief then mocked, “Yeah alright boo. I got you. If you down for this shit I’m with you but know that now that I’m out, I ain’t going back, straight up.”

  Pandora slowly looked at her face confused as to why she would think that for one minute she was going back either. Her laughter was insulting. It pierced through her earlobes and made her stomach boil. Her sarcasm ate at her like a flesh eating disease and tore her open from the inside out. She could not for the life of her figure out why this bitch was taking her for a joke.

  “I’ve tasted blood before, Oxy. This shit is real. It’s not a damn game,” Pandora snarled through her teeth hoping she got the message.

  “Okay, okay. I feel you. So you’re a bad ass. Well, what do we do now bad ass?” Oxy asked crossing her legs, giving Pandora her undivided attention.

  “Now I need some money to go cop some heat. That’s where you come in.”

  Oxy was not surprised. She knew eventually Pandora was going to come knocking on her Financial Avenue. She smiled and nodded her head refusing to engage in anymore revenge talk. Pandora sensed tension in the air but brushed it off. She knew that regardless of how Oxy felt she would do anything she told her to do including shoot one of her thieving whoring sisters right between the eyes.

  “Well I ain’t got any money on me. I have to ask my dad,” Oxy said staring straight ahead as a bunch of kids walked through the train cars.

  “Then ask your dad.” Pandora mocked her as she turned looking out the window.

  An hour later they had finally made it back to Oxy’s house. Pandora raced to the bedroom and dropped her jacket on the floor. Oxy followed close behind to figure out what the hell she was on. She sauntered up to Pandora’s waist dropping to her knees to give her center a kiss through her jeans. Her hands firmly gripped her backside, giving it a good squeeze.

  “Let me see your phone again,” Pandora said tapping her shoulder and reaching out her hand.

  “You gonna call your sisters again?”

  “Naw girl, damn. Just give me the damn phone,” Pandora waved her hand at her wildly expecting the phone to magically appear in her hand.

  Once in her possession, she began trying a million different numbers, typing one after the other into the phone trying to get in touch with her old hood hookups. Oxy sat trying not to stare but she was intrigued to know what Pandora’s next move was. It was crazy that everything she wanted to do was more important than having sex with her fiancé. She watched as Pandora talked on the phone like she was running a business. Her confidence was sexy but it meant nothing if she could not enjoy it. Frustrated yet again, Oxy fell back on the bed pouting, yearning for just a small taste.

  “Hey. I’m home! Is anyone here?” Ivan yelled as he walked to the dining room table.

  “Yeah dad, we’re up here,” Oxy bellowed back, looking at the clock noticing that he was home rather early today.

  “We?” Ivan mumbled as he removed his coat an
d hat and tossing them across the chair.

  “Yes we dad. Did you forget that Pandora was here?” Oxy said coming from the staircase while she fidgeted with her fingers.

  “With us?” Ivan roared.

  “Shhh, dad, lower your voice. She could hear you. I thought you wanted her here. What’s the deal?” Oxy stressed.

  “Oxy, I do not like that girl. She is bad news and I don’t know what you have brought in our house but I don’t like it,” Ivan was firm sending off a treacherous look unknown to his daughter.

  “Shit, it can’t be any worse than what’s already here.”

  “What did you just say to me?” Ivan’s eyes punctured through Oxy’s soul like a piercing gun.

  Oxy swallowed the lump that sat in the back of her throat as her heart rate tripled in under a second. Sweat droplets began to form on the smalls of her hands and the back of her ears realizing that she had fucked up. Her only thoughts were that he would save his torment for another time seeing as though they had guests who he surely would not want witnessing what kind of man Ivan really was.

  “Dad I…”

  “Is everything okay?” Pandora asked as she trotted slowly down the stairs aware that she was interrupting something very heated.

  “Yes,” Ivan cleared his throat. “Everything’s fine Pandora. I was just telling Oxy here that uh, we need to go over your case some more.”

  “Oh that would be good. Maybe we could do that tonight,” Pandora replied before winking and heading back up stairs.

  “I’m sorry daddy. I didn’t mean to disrespect you,” Oxy stated hurriedly bowing her head, “But can I please have some money.”

  “Money for what Oxy, drugs?”

  “No daddy. I…I don’t think I want to do drugs anymore,” Oxy said calmly as she looked up into her father’s astonished eyes. “I just need some money okay? Can you give me some?”

  Ivan was shocked by her sudden change of heart. Her eyes were not discolored and her voice resounded with sincerity. He looked down upon her attempting to cast a dark shadow over her frail form. His fist balled up tightly but his arm could not bring itself to raise feeling as though for once in her life she was attempting to follow the rules and obey. Even though he did not want to admit it right then and there his heart was pleased with her sudden change in demeanor.