Falling For A Hood King

by Shvonne Latrice

  Falling For A Hood King

  A Novel By

  Shvonne Latrice

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  © 2015

  Published by Leo Sullivan Presents

  www.leolsullivan.com

  All rights reserved.

  This is a work of fiction. Names, characters, businesses, places, events and incidents are either the products of the author’s imagination or used in a fictitious manner. Any resemblance to actual persons, living or dead, or actual events is purely coincidental. Unauthorized reproduction, in any manner, is prohibited.

  Author’s Notes:

  Thank you to my loyal fans and readers of all of my books. Just for you there’s a special surprise at the end from the entire Leo Sullivan Presents family.

  Chapter 1: Natalia Thomas

  "Would you like the $73.50 back on a gift card or cash, sweetie?" the cashier asked.

  "Cash please," I smiled. She smiled back, and tapped her screen to make the drawer pop open.

  "There you go. Is there anything else I can help you with?" she smiled.

  "That's it. Thanks," I smiled and rushed out.

  This was my usual routine. I would buy one cheap thing, then buy one expensive thing, switch the price tags, and return the cheap item to get the money from the expensive item back. I learned this from my mother Dalia. She was a full-blown scam artist, and it's pretty much how we got by every day.

  My mother had me at 15 years old, and she had to do what she had to do to make sure we ate. I wouldn't necessarily say she was a good mom, but she was straight. You see, my father was the love of her life, but he got murdered. That was normal here in Indianapolis. Niggas got killed every day, and it never really shocked people anymore.

  I was an only child, because every time my mother got pregnant by one of her new niggas, she had it scraped out. She said I was her first and her fucking last; her words, not mine. My mom was more like my sister who let me live with her. We lived separate lives, and anything I needed I had to buy it. That included, clothes, shoes, food, school supplies, a phone, anything I needed to get by these days.

  My return scheme had gotten me plenty of things I needed from the thrifty clothing shops. I was nowhere near the best dresser, which is one reason I hated high school. My school was a damn fashion show, and if you didn't rock the newest Jordans, or jeans with a known label on it, you got clowned. Only reason I wasn't completely miserable was because I was pretty as fuck. I had long, curly, chestnut brown hair, peanut butter skin, a naturally flat stomach, sexy legs, and a nice size ass. I had B-cups up top, but I was still proportioned. I didn't have one of those video model asses, but I def had one that made niggas’ mouths water. I had dark brown eyes, long eyelashes, and a perfect set of white teeth that I thanked God for. Lord knows braces were not in the budget.

  Niggas loved me and wanted to fuck, and they knew making fun of me was not the way to get some pussy. I was a virgin but I made niggas think otherwise, so that it seemed as if they had a chance to fuck me. It's not like I was waiting or anything; it was just that I had yet to meet a nigga to peak my interest. I was starting to think I needed to leave Indiana to find someone decent.

  Another reason I could withstand the fashion school war was my best friend Lucy. She wasn't rich either, so she had to take some of the rare verbal abuse right along with me. She depended on her poor ass mama to take care of her, so sometimes I would have to buy her some $5 or $10 jeans when all her current ones had become capri pants. I only had two more years left in that hellhole, including this one I was in. I swear, I couldn't wait to be 18, cause being 16 was some straight bullshit.

  I smiled on my way to Lucy's house, cause I was $73.50 richer, and got to keep my new jacket I bought. $73.50 was just enough to buy me a $3.00 pack of panties, some pads so I could stop using toilet paper in their place, get lunch for the week, and pay my phone bill. I had an iPhone 4S, so not the newest, but it worked perfect. I bought it off eBay for $40.

  "You look cute," Lucy commented, as she walked out of her house. I had on skinny jeans, some black, off-brand sneakers that I got from K-mart, and a black t-shirt. My curly hair was hanging down my back, and I had my black backpack on.

  "Thanks. Let's go," I said.

  "It's only 7:45, why you rushing? School starts at 8:15," Lucy frowned as she walked down her porch steps.

  "Cause I want some breakfast from Burger King," I spat.

  "Where you get money for Burger King?' Lucy asked.

  "I hit up Oscar's early this morning," I smiled, and Lucy shook her head. "Don't shake your head! I bought those jeans you wearing with that good money!" I smiled. Okay, I wasn't all the way honest with y'all. A lot of times, I flat out stole clothes as well. However, stealing was a little more risky in my opinion.

  "You gon’ get caught!" Lucy chuckled.

  "Sike!" I jerked my neck back. I had been doing this for over a year now, and never got caught.

  We arrived to Burger King, and I ordered breakfast for Lucy and I. I was so hungry, cause I hadn't ate at all yesterday. My stomach was hurting so bad that I could barely sleep. I ended up eating ice, and drinking sugar water. That seemed to be enough to help me drift off to sleep. Lucy and I sat down at a table to wait for our food. After a couple minutes, the employee called my name to let me know it was ready.

  "Lucy, you gon’ have to start finding a way to get cash," I said. I didn't mind buying her shit, but I could barely take care of myself.

  "I'm 16, how am I gon’ get money?" she asked, eating a piece of hash brown.

  "You can do what I do, since I know your mom won't let you work," I said, squeezing the ketchup on my food.

  "I ain't doing that shit you do, Nat," she spat.

  "Well you need to figure something out, because I don't have much money this weekend," I said. I felt like we were married. Shit, I was 16 too; why did I have to always pay our way, or steal us new outfits? She didn't respond, and sipped her orange juice. We ate in silence for a moment, until I heard loud talking, gum popping, and high heels.

  "Damn Natalia, can't even afford Keds?" this bitch named Ratishay laughed.

  "Still can't afford butt injections, Ratishay?" I fake smiled, referring to her obviously flat ass. She rolled her eyes and switched over to order her food. "I can't stand that bitch!" I said to Lucy, while watching Ratishay.

  "Me either, you would think after you beat her ass, she would get the hint," Lucy said, glaring at Ratishay and her friends.

  We finished our food and headed to school. I hated school with a passion, but I knew I needed to finish if I wanted to do something with my life. I couldn't be a petty thief forever. I would love to just wake up, and see a paycheck direct deposited into my bank account.

  Chapter 2: Natalia

  I finally got home to the apartment I shared with my mother, and I was exhausted from school. I didn't feel like dealing with my mom, especially cause I was on my cycle. My cycle! Fuck! I thought. I pulled my key out the door so I could stop by CVS for some pads. I wish I could wear tampons, but for some reason I couldn't get it up there. Lucy said once I started fucking, it would work. Lucy killed me; she was fucking, drinking, and smoking, but wouldn't steal.

  I finally got to the store and stopped to catch my breath, since I'd ran the whole way. I walked in, and opened the small freezer to grab a water bottle. I downed it, and then hid the empty bottle behind some beer cans so no one would find it. I looked up at the aisle signs to see which aisle the pads would be on, and once I found it, I walked over and saw it was $8.00 for the Always brand. I shook my head and grabbed the CVS version instead
. I picked up a small box of wipes, and headed to the register.

  "$7.63." the cashier said non-chalantly. She clearly didn't want this job.

  I pulled out my cash, and saw I only had $55 left after buying Lucy and I breakfast and lunch.

  "Here you go," I said, handing the cashier a ten-dollar bill. "Where is your bathroom?" I asked, putting the change in my backpack.

  "Straight to the back. Make a left," she said.

  "Thank you," I replied, and grabbed my bag of pads.

  I found the bathroom, and it was disgusting; not like I had to pee, but still. I didn't want this nasty aroma touching my bare vagina. I tried to lock the door, but realized it was broken. I blew out hot air, and wondered if I should wait until I got home to put on a pad. I decided against it, cause I felt myself soaking the toilet paper currently in its place. Hurry up! I told myself as I pulled my pants down, and began to remove the soiled tissue paper. I wiped myself clean with one of the wipes, and then opened the pad. Just as I was placing it in the crotch of my panties, someone busted in.

  "I'm in here!" I yelled with my panties and jeans around my knees.

  "Ugh! Nasty bitch!" the girl frowned and walked out.

  I hurried up and finished, then washed my hands. I stuffed my bag into my backpack, and then left the store. I was hungry, so I stopped at Jack in the Box for some $1 tacos, curly fries, and iced tea. I shook my head at my dwindling funds and headed home.

  "Aye little mama!" some nigga smiled, flashing his golds. I ignored him and kept walking since my house was near. "Aye little bitch! I know you heard me!" he yelled.

  It was dusk, and I knew he would kill my ass right here and no one would tell. I started to run as I held tightly onto my iced tea, hoping it wouldn't slip. I made it to my complex, and rushed inside. Once I reached my apartment, I rushed in and slammed the door.

  "Don't slam my fucking door!" my mother yelled.

  "Sorry!" I yelled back, and plopped down on the couch. I turned on the TV, and saw it was some Love and Hip Hop LA re-runs on, so I selected it.

  "Un uhn, you ain't pay to watch TV miss lady!" my mother walked out from the back with her hand out. I rolled my eyes, and went into my pocket. Yes, my mother charged me to watch cable and use the house phone. I usually would do it behind her back, so it was rare that I had to pay up.

  "Here," I said slamming the $3 in her hand.

  "Thank you. Why you ain't bring me shit to eat, Natalia?!" she frowned.

  "I didn't have enough. Plus you just took my last $3," I lied. I could never ask her for money or food, but she stayed asking me.

  "Whatever bitch," my mother shook her head. See, I told y'all my mother was more like my sister than my mother. She never spanked me as a kid, and always let me do what I wanted, when I wanted. She would beat your ass if you fucked with me though.

  My phone buzzed, and I saw it was a text from this guy at school named Frank. Frank was fine, and in 12th grade. He was dark-skinned, tall, and on the basketball team. I didn't like him, but I knew he had cash, and I wanted it. I loved texting him, cause we always talked about sex. I liked to talk about it, but I didn't actually want to do it. I told him all kinds of made up sex stories, and he believed it. I just retold the ones I heard my mother telling her home girls when she was on the phone.

  Frank: I'm so horny right now. Thinking about you.

  Me: Thinking about me throwing it back?

  I ain't know shit about throwing it back until I saw it on urban dictionary.

  Frank: Damn, yes. What you doing right now?

  Me: Eating. I’m on my period though.

  Frank: I can still fuck.

  I frowned and locked my phone up. He was too sexy to be that damn thirsty. Texting on my phone made me realize I didn't have enough for my phone bill this month. I had budgeted everything in my head, except Lucy's lunch and the $3 I just paid to watch Love and Hip Hop. I closed my eyes and exhaled heavily.

  "Dalia, can I borrow some cash?" I asked.

  "For what?" she frowned.

  "My phone bill. I'm short $30," I lied. I was short $10, but I needed some cushion.

  "When the fuck am I gon’ get it back?" my mother frowned.

  "End of the week," I replied, hoping I could make good on that.

  "Aight Natalia, I want my damn money by 12 midnight," she raised a brow, and I smiled and nodded. She chuckled and reached into her purse. "You need to find work, CVS is hiring," she added as she handed me the money.

  "CVS? I don't want to work there!" I frowned.

  "No choice. The manager and I are good friends, and he said he'd give you a job working 4 to midnight," my mother spat.

  Good friends meant she was fucking him. My mom was only 31 years old, but looked 25. She had long, straight, dark hair, flawless mocha skin, and a thick body with a nice size ass and big breasts. I wondered why I didn't get her breasts.

  "Dalia!" I whined. My mother made me call her by her first name.

  "Natalia!" she mocked me as she pulled a TV dinner from the freezer. "You start next Wednesday. Don't fuck this up, mommy needs him," she smiled, and placed her food in the microwave.

  "Who did you tell him I was to you?" I asked, just to make sure we had the same story.

  "My little cousin," she replied and I nodded.

  Chapter 3: Natalia

  Two Weeks Later

  I hated this fucking job, but I knew if I quit, my mother would kick my ass. The manager she was fucking was bringing in a nice amount of cash. He was the district manager, which sounded like he was the big dog around this area.

  "You gon’ be okay over here?" my co-worker Victoria asked, popping her gum.

  "Yeah, I will be cool," I replied, looking at the time. It was 10 p.m., so I had just two more hours.

  "Aight, I'm gon’ go to the back and clean the aisles. When I come back, you can go to break," Victoria replied.

  "K," I said, and started flipping through a magazine.

  It was late, so no one was really in the store. Just as I was happy about it being so quiet, I heard a bunch of male voices in the distance. I rolled my eyes and put the magazine down. A group of five guys and two girls strolled in, laughing and talking. I picked the magazine back up and tried to focus on it.

  "Damn are y'all still open?" I looked up and saw some light-skinned guy with braids.

  "Yeah. I'm here, ain’t I?" I replied, turning my lip up.

  "Well ring me up then! Mean ass!" he spat, and placed a bottle of Gin on the counter.

  "ID please?" I asked. I wasn't allowed to sell alcohol, but I felt bold in this moment.

  "You don't need no fucking ID! Ring my shit up so I can bounce!" the guy yelled.

  "I ain't ringing shit up until I see some ID, nigga," I replied, standing my ground.

  "Aye, chill out ma," some guy said, walking up. He was about 6 foot even, and had a fresh fade. He wore a black polo, dark blue jeans, and some Jordan Retro 7's. I didn't reply, because his sexiness made me completely forget about this current altercation. His peanut butter complexion matched mines perfectly, and his full lips made my mouth water.

  "She asking for some fucking ID!" the annoying nigga yelled at me.

  "You need to show ID when you buy liquor!" I frowned.

  "Here!" some girl walked up, and handed me hers. She was light-skinned, with long red hair. She looked like a damn clown, but a pretty one. I looked over her ID, and could tell it was a fake. I had enough fake ones myself. I accepted it anyway, and charged them for the liquor.

  The sexy guy in the black Polo, stared at me with lust-filled eyes. I smiled at him, until I saw the red head lean up and kiss his lips. Of course, the one fine nigga in Indiana is taken.

  "Here is your change," I smiled. The annoying dude snatched his money from me, and stormed out.

  "Thank you, Natalia," the sexy one said.

  "How did you know my name?" I asked. He pointed to my nametag and chuckled. I was embarrassed as hell. Here I was thinking this was some romantic momen
t.

  "Julius! Come on baby!" the red head yelled, and he left.

  "Julius," I smiled to myself, and watched him leave.

  ***

  I walked outside of CVS, and took a deep breath. Getting off work was the best feeling in the world. I would much rather go back to stealing and scheming though - not such long hours.

  As I was walking home, an all-black 2016 Lexus pulled up on me. The windows were dark, and "Only Right" by Ty Dolla $ign was blasting. I sped up, hoping they weren't trying to rape and/or kill me.

  "Slow down, Natalia!"

  I turned around to see Mr. Sexy. "Julius?" I smiled. My smile once again faded when I spotted Jessica Rabbit in the passenger seat, rolling up.

  "You need a ride, babe?" she asked.

  "Nah, I just have a couple more blocks," I said, holding tightly onto my backpack straps.

  "Girl! It’s after midnight, and you’re pretty as hell. Get in the car!" she shook her head, and pointed to the backseat with her thumb. She licked the blunt, as I entered the backseat.

  As soon as I got in, Julius sped off from the curb. I instructed them on how to get there, and then hopped out quick as hell.

  "Nice meeting you, Natalia. I'm Bianca," the red head said, extending her hand out the window.

  "Nice meeting you too Bianca," I replied, shaking her hand.

  "Bye Natalia," Julius said, licking his lips seductively. Bianca was still looking at me, so she didn't see. I half smiled at him, and ran inside my apartment complex.

  Chapter 4: Natalia

  "He was so sexy!" I beamed to Lucy. We were in my room chilling. It was Saturday afternoon, and as a little gift to me from my mom's boo, I had Saturdays and Sundays off.

  "Julius you say?" Lucy smiled, and I nodded. "You gon’ finally let him pop that cherry?" she smiled.

  "Hell no! He has a girlfriend, and she is really pretty and nice. Plus, even if he didn't, I don't know him well enough," I replied.