“Hey Tre.”
“What’s up?” I spoke but not really wanting to. What I really wanted to do was ask this nasty bitch to leave! Seeing her made me think back to the night that I’d gotten drunk and passed out on Casper’s sofa.
“Bae, you know I’ve wanted to get my hair braided for a while now. I am so glad that I ran into Tamika today at Food Lion.” Kisha explained. “Tamika and I go way back. We used to be good friends back in middle school but once we got to high school we started to run in different circles.”
“Hmph.” I responded thinking to myself it’s good that she decided to run in a different circle or she probably would’ve turned out to be a hoe just like Tamika!
“Is everything alright baby?” Kisha asked. I assume that the expression on my face reflexed how I was feeling on the inside because I definitely was not feeling Tamika being up in my house.
“Yeah everything is straight.” I lied and left the two of them in the kitchen.
From that day about a month ago until now, every time I look Tamika is sitting her funky ass up in my house. She hasn’t tried anything or said anything out of the way but I still don’t trust her. I know that bitch is up to no good. She can smile up in Kisha’s face all she wants with her fake ass but the first time that she steps out of line I am putting her dirty ass in her place like I should’ve a long time ago!
It was Friday afternoon and I was laid back on the sofa chillin watching TV because I didn’t have to go in to work. Kisha was sitting on the other end of the sofa with her feet in my lap reading a book when the doorbell rang. Kisha looked up from her book. “Baby can you get that? I don’t feel like getting up. I finally got my copy of Confessions of A Side Chic today! I am just getting to the good part, LeLe is finally about to tell Trent that she’s pregnant by him! Ooooooh…I hope his girlfriend Karma whoop LeLe’s ass when she finds out!” She went on and on about the book she was reading. Sometimes I believe that Kisha thought the shit that she read in those books were real because she would be so damn hyped about it!
I shook my head as I got up, placing Kisha’s feet on the sofa. “You seriously need some counseling woman.” I laughed at my baby, who damn near had her whole face in the book! She waved me off. The doorbell rang again. I walked to the door and peeped out of the peep hole. I saw Tamika standing on the other side of the door. “Gotdamn this bitch don’t ever stay at home!” I mumbled as I unlocked the door and opened it. I didn’t bother to try and hide the irritated look on my face.
“Hey Tre.” Tamika smiled her eyes roaming over my bare chest. I’d taken my shirt off because Kisha had the heat turned up and it was hot inside the house. She was wearing a red halter jumper that was so tight it looked like it would split if she made any sudden moves! “Is Kisha home?”
“Yeah.” I replied dryly. I stepped back out of the way and let her in. “She’s lying on the sofa.”
She walked past me and into the living room switching her ass as hard as she could. “Hey girl!” She squealed to Kisha.
I closed the door and followed her into the living room. I grabbed my shirt off the back of the sofa and put it on. Kisha laid her book down on the coffee table. “Hey Mika, girl that jumper is cute. Where’d you get it?”
“Chile, I’ve had this thing for a while. It’s old.” She said looking down at her outfit.
“Old or not I still like it.”
“Well thanks girl. Chile, I swear you always have your head stuck in a dag on book! What’s the name of that one right there?” Tamika asked pointing to the book lying on the table.
“It’s called Confessions of A Side Chic by this girl named La…”
I interrupted her to let her know that I was about to go. I didn’t want to be anywhere near Tamika so I always made it a point to leave whenever she was around. “Baby, I’m about to roll out for a lil while.” I told Kisha as I grabbed my hat and put it on. “I’ll be back in a few hours.”
“Alright baby.” Kisha replied. “Don’t stay gone too long, I’ll miss you too much!” I gave her a quick peck on the lips and was out the door.
I hadn’t been going over to Casper’s crib as much since the shit that had gone down with Tamika but since she was over at my spot I decided that I would go and holla at him for a minute. When I pulled up in the driveway as usual the yard was full with vehicles. His crib was where all of the fellas hung at. I parked and got out of my car and walked up on the porch. I rang the bell a few times before my homeboy Skeet opened the door.
“What’s up man? Come on in.” He greeted me, leaving the door open for me to come in.
“Hey.” I went inside closing the door behind me. I followed him down to the basement. When I got down there everybody was doing the usual, drinking, smoking, gambling, playing the X-box and talking shit. I greeted everybody and joined right in. I’d been there for about an hour when my phone started to vibrate. I checked it and was shocked to see that it was a message from Lala.
Lala: Hey Tre, I’m sorry to bother you but I am in town and I need to see you. It’s important.
For some reason her message immediately caused me to become upset. I mean she’d been gone for six and a half months and now she was back and thought that I was supposed to want to see her! Nah, she had the game fucked up! Shit had changed since she’d been gone! Kisha and I were finally doing good and I planned to keep it that way. I texted her back.
Tre: Don’t text my phone anymore.
A few seconds later she texted back, Lala: I really need to talk to you. I only need like ten minutes and then if you don’t want me to bother you anymore after that I won’t.
What in the fuck was so important? What could she possibly have to say to me after all of these months of me not hearing from her? Tre: Whatever it is I advise you text it to me now because I’m not meeting you anywhere. Honestly I don’t have shit to say to you and I don’t see what you could possibly have to say to me! What we had is over and done so if it’s anything like that then you may as well save it!
Lala: For real? Since when did you become such an asshole! Nigga the last thing on my mind is meeting up with you to fuck so please get over yourself! What I need to talk to you about is something way more serious than fucking! Smh!
Tre: When did I become an asshole? Lmao around the same time you decided to run off without telling a motherfucker shit! I don’t know what the fuck you think this is but you can’t just roll into town and expect me to come running because you text! Shit has changed! Now I am going to ask you again to stop texting my phone. Have a nice life!
Lala: FUCK YOU TRE! I GUESS THIS IS WHAT HAPPENS WHEN YOU CHOOSE TO LAY DOWN WITH KIDS!
Tre: Oh now I’m a kid but you are a grown ass woman who jumped up and moved out of town, leaving your home and your job because you claimed that you couldn’t handle your feelings for this kid! Bitch please! Get a life and leave me the fuck alone!
I was about to slip my phone back in my pocket when it started to ring. Cuddy Buddy by Trey Songz played letting me know that it was Lala. I looked at the screen and contemplated whether or not to answer it. I pressed ignore and put my phone in my pocket.
“Damn nigga you done got all quiet, over there texting like some love sick teenager!” Casper teased laughing. “Let that woman breath man!”
“Nigga shut up!” I forced a laughed because my mind was far from what he was talking about. Lala’s messages had me heated! My phone vibrated again, I let out a frustrated breath before reaching into my pocket to retrieve it. “Why the fuck won’t she chill?” I huffed aloud.
“Oh damn…babymama trippin?” Skeet inquired.
“Nah man, this chic that I used to fuck wit blowing my damn phone up! She’s about to make me cuss her ass out!” I replied checking my phone. I saw that Lala had left a voicemail. I got up and went outside to check it and to check her ass after I listened to whatever bullshit that she’d left on my voicemail. I dialed my voicemail and entered my passcode. “I can’t believe that you are playing me like this.
I didn’t message you to start an argument with you or cause you any trouble. You should know me better than that because for as long as you have been dealing with me, I’ve never brought any drama your way. I really need to speak to you about something very important but I guess…” Her voice cracked and I could hear her sniffling. “You know what, never mind. I guess this is the way that you treat bitches…it’s funny how I am a bitch now but never once in the two years that we were dealing with each other was I a bitch. Or maybe I was a bitch then too but I was just too stupid to realize it. Things really have changed I see. Good-bye Tre. I won’t bother you again.” I pressed end on my phone. I stood there for a while looking out at the cars passing. A part of me felt bad for carrying it with Lala the way that I had but how else was I supposed to treat her? She jumped up and left, not me. After all of these months of trying to do the right thing and get my relationship back on track with Kisha, I really didn’t need Lala popping back up. Like my dad has always told me, the best way to handle the past is by leaving it in the past and that is exactly what I planned to do.
Lala
I sat in my car parked outside of my parent’s house crying. I couldn’t believe how Tre had just played me. Why was he being such an ass? I’d felt that it was a bad idea coming back home and contacting him. Honestly I’d felt like he might trip, though it never crossed my mind that he would be as cold as he’d been in his messages and then to top it off when I’d called he didn’t answer.
I wiped my tears away with my hand. “Fuck Tre and fuck sitting here crying like some weak bitch! I don’t need his ass! Me and my babies will be just fine without him!” As if they knew what I was saying I felt one of the baby’s kick. I rubbed my belly. “That’s right we don’t need your stupid ass daddy! Mama will make sure that y’all are good! You can believe that!” I promised my babies. I sat there in the car for a little while before getting out and going back inside my parent’s house. I’d been home for only a day now and my mama and daddy had been spoiling me ever since I’d walked through the door! My mama had called all of her friends and told them about my book. A few of them had even stopped by the day before and bought books from me, demanding that I autographed them! I would’ve given the books to them but they insisted on paying. Two of them bought more than one copy to give to other people. They were all so excited about me writing a book because no one from our small town had ever done anything like that before. The love and support that they’d showed made me feel really good and proud of myself.
When I walked inside the house the smell of food greeted me. I went into the kitchen and found my mama standing over the stove, stirring a pot. She glanced back at me as I took a seat at the table. “I am fixing your favorite! Cabbages seasoned with ham, baked chicken, macaroni and cheese, jiffy cornbread, and I bought a peach pie while I was out at the grocery store!”
My stomach growled just hearing her talk about all of the good food that she was cooking. I hadn’t eaten ay of my mama’s good cooking in a while. “I can’t wait til’ those cabbages get done!” She cooked the best cabbages!
She walked over to me and rubbed my belly. “Grandma is going to feed her little baby good while you’re here!” I looked up at her and she was grinning from ear to ear. She was so excited about becoming a grandmother. My daddy was equally excited, that’s all he’d talked about the night before.
“Ma, I can’t be eating all of this good home cooking.” I laughed. “I’m big enough now. By the time I leave here next week, I will have to be airlifted out of here!”
“Oh hush your mouth! You are going to feed my grandbaby, girl. You can worry about your figure after you have her.” I’d told her that the baby was a girl. “You sure are big though. I don’t know if you are going to make it another two months. You look like you are about to give birth now!”
“Yeah I know.” I said taking a deep breath and then releasing it slowly.
“What’s wrong?” Ma asked taking a seat in the chair next to me. “You seem like you have something on your mind. I’ve told you that you can talk to me about anything. I applaud you for being a strong woman and wanting to work through your problems on your own but there’s nothing wrong with accepting a little help sometimes. Besides that’s what I am here for, regardless of what it is.” I looked at her, tears stinging the back of my eyes. The least little thing made me cry these days! She noticed the tears in my eyes. “What is it LaQuela?”
I ran my fingers through my hair, which now hung past my shoulders. “I’m just frustrated ma! It’s like the harder I try to act like this situation doesn’t bother me the more it does! I never thought that things would turn out this way but now that it has I don’t know what to do! I thought that my leaving would solve everything but it didn’t because no matter how far I run I can’t run from my feelings for this man. I love him!” I cried. “I love him even more than I did before. Maybe it’s because I am carrying his babies. I don’t know what it is but I do know that there isn’t a day that goes by where I do not think about him or think about all of the good times that we shared. I miss us laughing and joking around. I miss us sitting and talking for hours. Am I wrong for feeling the way that I do?” I looked at my ma waiting for an answer.
She reached over and caressed my face. “First of all stop that crying because it’s not good for you or the baby.”
“Ma, it’s not only one baby…it’s two.” Her eyes grew huge. “I know…I didn’t know how to tell you that it was twins at first but I am just so sick and tired of lying. I’m just tired!”
She shook her head and looked up towards the ceiling. “Lord have mercy, God give me the strength. Lala, is there anything else that you haven’t told me that you need to tell me?”
“No ma’am.”
“Girl, I am going to be honest with you. This is one messy situation that you have gotten yourself into! I mean it is just downright messy as can be! Now you asked me if you are wrong for feeling the way that you do. Baby you were wrong when you dropped your underwear and laid down with that man! What were you thinking? Were you thinking at all?”
“I don’t know.” I hung my head and looked down at my belly. “All I know is that now my babies aren’t going to have a daddy and it’s all my fault! I tried texting him and he told me not to text him anymore! I tried calling and he wouldn’t answer. I left a voicemail telling him that I wouldn’t bother him and anymore. I can’t force him to see me or talk to me.” I sniffled. There were so many emotions through me all at once. I felt lonely, stupid, confused, and hurt! I was just downright miserable at this point!
“What? Did you tell him that you are pregnant?”
“No, I want to tell him face to face not in a text or over the phone so that I can explain to him that is mostly the reason I left. I know how some men think and he may think that the babies aren’t his. I have proof that I was pregnant before I left. My papers from my doctor have the date of conception on them. I brought them with me to show him if he acts like he doesn’t believe me!”
Ma got up and went over to the stove to check her food. “Well you may just have to tell him over the phone if he won’t agree to see you. Text him or leave a voicemail. One way or another he needs to know. I don’t agree at all with how this happened because I feel like you could’ve went out here and found a man that didn’t already have someone but the deed is done now and so I am not going to stand here and preach to you about what you should’ve done! Now all we can worry about is what you do from this point on.”
“That’s true.” I agreed.
“So now what if you tell him and he says that he doesn’t want anything to do with these babies. What are you going to do then?”
“I’m just going to raise my babies by myself. I’m not going to try and make this man be a part of their lives if he doesn’t want to be!” Millions of women raised children by themselves every day! I could do it to if I needed to!
“Wrong!” She hit the counter with her hand! “You are going to have these babie
s and make his ass take a paternity test! He may not want to be a daddy to them but he still has a responsibility to help take care of these children! As a mother your job is to make sure that these babies are well taken care of! Damn trying to look out for him! Look out for them! It’s time that you put on your big girl panties and think like a grown woman! He played now it’s time to pay! I have been listening to you talk about what you did and what you shouldn’t have did and how you left so that you wouldn’t cause him any drama! Hell he had a part in all of this! You didn’t do all of this by yourself so you shouldn’t take on all of the worry and responsibility by yourself! You are twenty-eight years old Lala! It’s time that you start acting like it!”
“Why does everyone keep implying that I don’t act my age?” I asked becoming agitated.
“Because you’re not acting your age! A woman your age should know that when you play with fire you are bound to get burned! You want to play big girl games but then when things get tough you want to jump and run! Uh-uhh baby that ain’t how you handle things like this! You stand up like a woman and meet this thing head on! I am not saying that you should go to his house and cause a scene or anything like that but don’t back down and tuck your tail between your legs and go running back to Danville without doing what you came to do! If he doesn’t want to meet you then that’s fine, text him and let him know that you are pregnant! If he says that these babies aren’t his then you tell him that you have proof. If he doesn’t want to see it and still doubt you then you say okay and tell him that you and him can have a paternity test done after they are born! At this point you can’t worry about protecting his relationship because to be perfectly honest it doesn’t seem like he was too concerned about his relationship or family when he decided to have an ongoing relationship with you for two years behind his girlfriend’s back! Let him worry about that situation and you worry about seeing to it that these babies are taken care of!”
Side Chic Page 10