by Linette King
“You gone give it to me one way or another,” she said and walked off. I watched her walk all the way back inside the ER. Her ass jiggled with each step she took. I sat there in a daze until my phone started ringing.
“I’m on my way,” I said then disconnected the call. When I pulled up to her house, she was already standing in the doorway. I got pissed off because she never has on clothes when she opens the door. “Get yo gahdamn ass in da house girl!” I snapped as I slammed the door to my car. She had on one of my muscle shirts and that looked like all she had on.
“Where you been?” she asked, as she placed her small hand on her thick hip. I could see her pregnant belly slightly and smiled as I approached her. “Where have you been?!” she yelled.
“You need to calm down because you’re putting that stress on my baby,” I said, as I rubbed her stomach. I felt the tension leave her body and I just don’t understand why she let me have so much control over her feelings. When I was here, I was spitting real shit at her, so I hoped she was listening.
I sat down on the couch and pulled her down next to me, so I could rub her stomach. She reached for my zipper but I swatted her hand away. She frowned up at me instantly and I could see she was fighting back tears. This pregnancy is really taking an emotional toll on her. “Chill out with the tears Chardae, do we need to talk again?” I asked because I needed us to be on the same page. I’m not fucking her no more because she’s confusing the shit and thinking I want to be with her, and that’s probably my fault because I fuck her like I love her.
“Why are you doing this to me?” she asked, as she laid her head on my chest. I wanted to move her off of me because she was already getting shit twisted but I needed to calm her down.
“I’m not doing nothing. Well, I’m not trying to,” I responded to her. I could tell that we were about to have a long conversation and I’m not leaving here until we have an understanding.
“You love me, right?” she asked, as she looked up at me.
“As the mother of my child, yes. I’ll always make sure you’re straight because if you’re straight, then he’s straight,” I said. I was trying my best to break it down for her, so she would understand and her feelings wouldn’t be hurt.
“Why don’t you want to be with me? Like, give our family a shot,” she asked and it irritated the fuck out of me. I scooted away from her and made her face me.
“Chardae, I didn’t try to have a baby with you but it happened. I’m going to take care of you both but I’m not going to be with you,” I said, clearly frustrated. I tried to take a few deep breaths to calm down before I snapped out on her for begging me to be with her.
“Why not?” she asked. I read her facial expression and she looked calm like she was ready for this conversation.
“I’m with someone already. That’s who I’m going to be with,” I said and her eyes damn near bugged out of her head.
“When did this happen because the last few weeks, you been with me every day!” she snapped and I could tell she was pissed off.
“Think about it for a second. Have I been here or do I just come over when you need something? Being here and being here for you are two different things. I’ll always be here for you because of him,” I said, then pointed at her stomach. She shook her head and stood up but I pulled her back down.
“Get all of your questions out, so you can get whatever you need to get out and over with because we’re not doing this again,” I said to her. She frowned up at me, like I was wrong when I was only trying to help.
“Who’s going to be around my child and what she got going for herself?” she asked, as she sat back and crossed her arms over her chest.
“Her name is Tamia. She just graduated from UMA with me and will be working at the hospital. Trust me like I’m going to trust you that no harm will come to him while he’s with us,” I said to her. The look she gave me made me think she understood where I was coming from.
“Why her?” she asked and shock filled my face.
“What you mean?” I asked, once her question registered.
“Why her and not me?” she asked. I didn’t come here to belittle her and I don’t want to make her feel like shit by going through the list of qualities that Tamia possess that she doesn’t. Hell, I haven’t even fucked Tamia yet and she got me in the process of cutting bitches off. I done already bought her a house so we can build together. I’m sure ya’ll think I’m moving too fast but I done already had everybody, and I’ve never met anyone even remotely similar to Tamia. I know I ain’t shit but I know when I’ve snagged a good one.
My phone chimed and all I could think was “Saved by the bell”. I checked to see what it was and it was that It’s a go message from one of my runners. Since I got that one, I knew I needed to head out and get the money to drop off before the rest of my runners were ready. “Call me later so we can go get the baby some stuff from the mall. I have to go check on my sister,” I said, as I stood up.
“He don’t need anything right now,” she said with a slight attitude. I could tell she was frustrated but she will have to get over it.
I shook my head and headed out the door. I felt like someone was watching me, so I quickly checked my surroundings and didn’t see anything out of place. If someone is here then they will surely stand out in this neighborhood, I thought to myself as I continued to walk to my car. I opened the door and opened one of the secret compartments and got a .45 out of it. I concealed it and walked back inside. I needed to give Chardae the gun, in case someone is lurking and run in there on her.
“Yea... He just left... Shit, iono, just follow him and get it! ...Aw fuck, do I have to do everything! Ok Joe, I’m sorry, just don’t lose him… I know… Love you too.” I stood in the foyer shocked as I listened to Chardae’s one sided conversation.
Michelle
I regretted snatching the wheel the moment I did it. I regretted it even more as we sat idly in the middle of the expressway with an 18 wheeler heading straight for us. I clenched my shirt over my chest as I tried desperately to brace myself for the impact. I watched the truck get closer and closer and all I could think about was not killing Tamia before I died.
All of sudden, the car took off with so much force that my head jerked backwards and hit the seat. At the same time, the truck driver switched lanes and ran a Ford Explorer off the road. I watched in horror as the Ford Explorer flipped three times then collided with a small two door Honda. I got on my knees in my seat as we pulled off and left the scene, so I could watch the wreckage. It had reached a 6 car pileup, not including the 18 wheeler truck. I shook my head and turned around and sat down.
“Find somewhere to pull over,” I stated calmly.
“Ok,” Lisa said and it shocked me. I just knew she was going to give me some lip about the accident I caused but nobody said a word. At least not until we got off at the next exit and parked at a gas station.
“What the fuck is yo problem man? You could have gotten us killed!” Bo snapped at me. My eyes got huge as I had a flashback of this same man beating me halfway to death.
“Do you not remember almost killing me?! Or was I supposed to forget? You beat da fuck outta me and now I hear voices! I’m gonna kill you, Bo. I told her to pull over to give you a head start because when I catch you, I’m gonna kill you! Get da fuck out my car!!!” I screamed at the top of my lungs.
I’m pretty sure people were looking at me crazy but I didn’t give a mammy fat fuck! Shit, he’s lucky that I don’t have a knife in my car or I would have killed him already. “Chelle, I’m sorry about that. Lemme explain please?” he pleaded. I glanced over at Lisa and could see the tears in her eyes and knew, she’s indeed my friend. My pain is now her pain.
“Get out Bo.” she said calmly without looking back. Bo looked at me then her, shook his head, and climbed out of the car.
Lisa pulled off before the door was closed good. “I’m sorry Michelle. I didn’t know,” she said somberly, as she shook her head. I nodded
my forgiveness as I turned around and buckled my seatbelt. I gave her directions to my house, so we could go in and catch up. I needed to know everything about her if we’re going to be friends.
*** Back at Michelle’s House ***
“I can’t believe that bitch was sleeping with your man!” I said after Lisa told me that Tamia took Amere from her. That scandalous bitch just goes around taking everybody’s man. She told me Tamia moved here to get away from Amere because once he found out Lisa was pregnant, he left Tamia. Then they started messing around again and he tricked Lisa into moving here, so he could get back with Tamia! That bitch is trifling! Ray has no idea who he thinks he’s in love with.
“We should expose her for the hoe she is!” I said with my voice laced with excitement.
“We have to take care of these men first,” she said, which caught me off guard because I don’t even have a man.
“What you mean?” I asked her.
“I’m not gonna be safe until Andre is dead but I don’t know how to kill anyone; can you help me?” she asked with tears in her eyes. I nodded my head and she jumped up and hugged me. “Now, we have to kill Bo too because you threatened him, so now he’s gonna try to kill you first,” she said and I felt so stupid.
I know you’re not supposed to threaten anyone and let them walk away. That’s like pulling a gun out on someone and not pulling the trigger. “Who do we kill first?” I asked her. It felt good to talk to someone that let me help make decisions versus when the voices demand that I do something.
“Bo,” she said and I nodded my head.
We sat around watching TV until it got dark. I threw on a black jogging suit and used gel to slick my short hair down over my head. I gave Lisa a brown jogging suit to put on and she threw her hair in a short ponytail. She’s skinny like me so it fit around the waist but since she’s taller than me, the pants weren’t long enough for her. I gave her some tennis shoes and we were out the door.
We climbed in my car, but this time, I’m driving because I know exactly where we’re going. “What’s in the bag?” Lisa asked, as we pulled out of my apartment complex.
“Knives. You gotta figure out which one you like to kill with,” I answered and she nodded her head. I continued to drive until I pulled up to Rashard’s mom’s house.
I’d heard through the grapevine that Bo had moved back home with their mother. I stopped in front of their house and cut the car off. “Wait,” Lisa said, as I opened the car door.
“What?” I asked, hoping she wasn’t about to punk out.
“You can’t park here. What if someone recognizes your car? Go down there somewhere,” she explained. I smiled as I took another look at the house and parked a few house down.
We walked casually on the sidewalk, so we wouldn’t look suspicious. Once we were back in front of Ray’s mom’s house, I removed the backpack and got my butcher’s knife out for me. Lisa’s eyes grew big but I couldn’t tell if she was afraid or excited. I handed her the backpack, so she could get a knife out of it. I laughed softly at the knife she chose. “What’s funny?” she asked, clearly confused.
“What you gone do with that small ass knife?” I asked, as I continued to laugh at her. She shrugged her shoulders and sat the bag down on the sidewalk.
I led the way to the house. Back when I use to come over here, Ms. Janice would complain about a window in the back of the house that wouldn’t lock. I crossed my fingers with hope that she hadn’t gotten it fixed. “Stay low,” I said to Lisa, even though the house was pitch dark, except for one room. Hopefully, for Rashard’s sake, his mom isn’t here because she was always a nice lady and I’d hate to have to kill her.
We made it to the window and it was still unlocked. I opened it with ease and slid my slim body inside the house. I waited patiently for Lisa to do the same. “Well, wake up the neighbors while you’re at it,” I said sarcastically because of all the noise she was making as she climbed in the window behind me.
“Well, this isn’t something I do every day, ya know,” she said, as she rolled her eyes. She fell down as soon as she made it inside of the room we were in.
“Shit girl! We should have just knocked on the fucking door!” I said, as I popped her in the back of the head.
I helped her to her feet and watched her fix her clothes then rub the spot that I hit her in. When she removed her hand, it had blood on it. “Fuck Michelle, what you hit me with?” she asked, as she touched the spot again and got more blood on her hand. I looked in my hand and noticed there was blood on my knife.
“I’m sorry Lisa,” I said and showed her the blood on the knife.
She shook her head at me as she grimaced in pain. “Well, get over it; at least you’re still alive,” I whispered harshly.
“I knew you would come but I didn’t know you would come so soon,” I heard Bo say, then the flights flickered on. He stood in the doorway with a gun in his hands and we’re standing here with knives in ours.
Talk about bringing a knife to a gunfight, I thought to myself as I stared at Bo. He had this evil grin on his face as he looked at me.
“Ya know, I’d like to sample that pussy again before I kill you Michelle,” he said, as he licked his lips. He walked closer to me and I looked over at Lisa. She had blood dripping down her back as she swayed from side to side.
“Mi… Mich… Michelle,” Lisa said as she reached around her, trying to grab something to keep from falling.
I reached for her but Bo pulled me away from her and towards him. I tried to stab him but he grabbed my wrist and squeezed it tightly until I let go of the knife. Lisa hit the floor, so I had no help. I looked up into Bo’s menacing eyes as he rubbed all over my body. He had the gun pressed firmly against my side as he squeezed my breasts.
“Aww, don’t cry,” he said, as he wiped the tears away as they fell from my eyes. He jerked my pants down and ripped my panties off. He snatched them so hard that the material nicked some of my skin off. I didn’t move or try to fight him off as he placed a finger inside of me. I tried to fight back the tears as I stood there as stiff as a board.
“Why are you letting him do this?!” I heard the voice scream out.
“Kill him dummy!” she screamed.
“I can’t!!!” I cried out because I didn’t know what to do.
Tamia
I laid in the hospital bed trying to figure out if I should break up with him based solely off of an assumption or stick it out and see what happens. Nurse Jennifer has been in and out of all of our rooms to check on us since Rashard left, and that was well over an hour ago. His mom is here but she’s in the room with Myra and as sad as it may sound, I’m glad I don’t have to meet her. Especially since her daughter is here because of me. I should have listened to Candy and not given Brandon a chance, and neither one of us would be in the ER right now at all. I shook my head as I reflected on the first sign I had that Brandon was crazy.
I had just gotten in from work. I went to my room and grabbed some clothes, so I could take a shower when my phone started to ring. I walked over to my bed where the phone was and saw that it was Brandon calling. “I’ll call him back after my shower,” I thought to myself. I walked back over to the dresser and allowed the phone to continue to ring as I grabbed my underwear out of my drawer.
I took a shower and a few seconds after I entered my room, my phone started ringing again. I smiled to myself when I noticed it was Brandon calling back. “I’ll call him once I get dressed,” I said out loud to myself as I began to lotion my skin. I got dressed and brushed my wet hair up into a messy bun. I grabbed my kindle and climbed on the bed. As soon as I got good into the book I was reading, my phone chimed, indicating I had a text message:
Brandon: I just wantd 2 c how ur day was bt i c ur screenin my calls
“No, it couldn’t have been,” I said, as I sat completely up in the hospital bed. I winced in pain but I got to see if I’m wrong. I pulled the covers back and swung my legs off the bed.
“What ar
e you doing?” Nurse Jennifer asked, as she walked in my room and saw me trying to get out of bed.
“I need to get home,” I said, as my skin began to itch.
I could feel the lump forming in my throat as I looked at the confused face in front of me. “Sweetie, you can’t leave until you have been cleared. Wait until Rashard comes back and get him to do whatever you need him to do,” she said, all the while laying me back down on the bed and covering my body.
Even with the sheet over me, I felt exposed. I pulled it up around my neck as I looked around the room. I tried to focus my thoughts on something else but all I could think about is, what if I had a camera in my room? My mind flashed back to a phone conversation we had.
I was doing squats in my room when my phone rang. It was the first day I hadn’t gotten a chance to speak with Brandon since we started conversing, so I knew it was him. “Hello sir,” I said, as I smiled into the phone.
“Hey yourself. You’re breathing heavy; you must have been working out?” he asked.
“Yep!” I said, as I tried to slow my breathing. I heard him chuckle softly.
“Let me guess, squats?” he asked. I furrowed up my eyebrows after he said that.
“How you know?” I asked him cautiously.
“That’s all females ever do,” he answered.
“Oh!” I said, as I wiped the sweat off of my forehead.
“What you thought, I planted cameras in your room and was watching you or something?” he asked with a laughed.
“No,” I said, as I laughed nervously.
“What’s the matter Tamia?” Nurse Jennifer asked. Her question snapped me out of my thoughts.
“I think… I think he was recording me,” I said with tears falling freely down my cheeks.
“Who?” she asked, after she closed the door completely.
“Brandon, this guy I was dating,” I answered her after she pulled the chair closer to my bed.
“Wait, I thought you were dating Rashard,” she said with a confused expression on her face, accompanied with a slight frown. “I was but we weren’t official. After he slipped into a coma, I conversed with Brandon,” I explained but the frown got deeper.