Syn 2: Sex Is Syn, Love Is Pain

by J Peach

  “Why not?” They once again asked together.

  “Because I’m pregnant,” I told them.

  “Are you serious? Oh, my God! I knew there was something different about you.” Peaches’ eyes were wide with shock. “Oh, my God, I’mma be an auntie?”

  “I knew it! When Peach said you was glowing I’m like, that bitch pregnant,” Missy’s dramatic ass laughed.

  “How far along are you?” Kim questioned.

  “Four months.” I smiled at them.

  “Congrats, babe,” Ebony grabbed me and pulled me into a hug. The other girls joined in.

  “Thank y’all. I’m so nervous about being a mom,” I told them as my eyes watered. “Y’all don’t understand how bad I wanted to tell y’all when it was just an assumption.”

  “Why would you be scared? That baby about to have four mommas. Oh, my God, Ang, you’re pregnant!” Missy yelled.

  We burst out laughing at her.

  “I am.” I turned and looked at Parker. I smiled down at him and then sat back on his lap. Instantly, his arms went around my waist. “Parker has been amazing, tho. He’s actually the one that helps me whenever I start to freak out. He has me excited about this, just to be doing this with him,” I told them, smiling.

  “You really look happy.” Peaches’ fingers brushed the hair from my face.

  If possible my smile grew wider. “I am, Peach. Like for real.”

  “Aww, babe,” she pulled me off of Parker and into another hug.

  “Congrats, papi,” Missy told Parker.

  “Thanks,” he nodded at her before looking at me.

  “Welcome to the family,” Kim leaned down and gave Parker a hug. “We still jump family,” she threatened him. “But I’m glad she has you. Parker, take care of my bitch. She really deserves it.”

  “Yeah, she do. You ain’t gotda worry, I got her.” He grabbed my hand and pulled me back into his lap. “She know I do.”

  “I know.” I leaned down and kissed him.

  “Aww,” they cooed.

  “Y’all stupid!” I started laughing as I leaned into Parker.

  Meka suddenly stood up, waving someone over. “Angel, this is Jason’s sister, Rita. I invited her, I hope you don’t mind.” Meka introduced a tall brown skinned female walked over to us.

  “Not at all. Hey, Rita, I hope you’re enjoying yourself,” I gave her a friendly smile as I waved.

  “Hey. Yeah, I am. I’m glad I came.”

  “Rita!” A familiar voice called to her. I knew the voice, I just couldn’t place it.

  “Right here,” Rita waved. “This my girl, Aja—”

  “Syn!” Diamond came over pulling me into a hug.

  “Well, I guess you know Aja,” Rita laughed.

  My breath got caught in my throat. I couldn’t respond.

  “Yeah, I know her. We work at Red together. I wish you would have told me it was Syn’s party.” Once Diamond started talking she didn't stop. Questions just started flying from her lips. “Where the hell have you been? Girl, Vince has been going crazy. You know that club really jumps when you’re there. Everyday somebody come in there asking for you. Don’t nobody put on a sexy show like you do,” she went on as if she was allergic to breathing.

  “Vixen done got almost all your regulars. Where have you been? Shit, I started to think that one dude kidnapped yo ass because ain’t nobody seen him since you’ve been…gone…” Her words started to fade as she focused on someone behind me. No doubt it was Parker.

  “Him!” She pointed to Parker. “I thought he did something to you.” Her eyes jumped from me to him and then back again. “I knew it. I knew y’all had something going on. Why you lie? Talking about you just dance for him, nothing serious. After all those years I knew it was something. So you quit working at the club?” She finally stopped talking and took in a deep breath.

  “Am I the only one confused?” Missy asked, staring from Diamond to me.

  “No, you’re not. I didn’t follow nothing after Syn and dance.” Kim looked at me. “Angel, what is she talking about?”

  I wanted to tell them so bad that she was crazy and I didn’t know what she was talking about, but at the same time I wanted to beat the fuck out of Diamond.

  I wanted to knock her ass out for fuckin’ talking so much without thinking to ask me if they even knew. But I couldn’t be mad at anybody but myself really because I should have been told them.

  “What’s Red?” Ebony finally asked.

  Diamond looked at her like she was crazy. “A gentlemen’s club out in Nap.”

  “Yo, shut the fuck up. Damn, bitch, yo mothafuckin’ mouth just running,” Parker snapped at her, looking pissed off.

  Out of all places for this to come out, it had to be here. “Parker, it’s cool. She didn’t know.” I told him before I sat back on his lap. I looked at the girls. “Red is a club I’ve been dancing at for the past few years. That’s actually how I met Parker. We started messing around a few years back, but it wasn’t nothing serious. We didn’t start talkin’ until after King’s party when he found out who I really was. I asked him not to tell y’all because then I would have to explain how I knew him. I was going to tell y’all, but it just never seemed like the right time.”

  “Stripping?” Peaches asked. “Wow,” her head slowly shook. “Who the fuck are you? Seriously?”

  “Peaches—”

  “No, don’t Peaches me. I’m sorry, but we accepted the first thing she told us with no problems. Now it’s stripping. I don’t know who the fuck this person is. What’s gon’ come out next? She has too many fuckin’ secrets. But we family, tho. You bitches know everything there is to know about me. If we were family and you trusted us, you would have told us this at the same time you told us about Leon and the whole fuckin’ thing—”

  “Peaches, for real you, need to chill the fuck out,” Missy snapped at her. “Regardless of what she didn’t tell us, bitch, you don’t know her fuckin’ reason as to why she didn’t. Telling us that other thing was a fuckin’ lot. And your fuckin’ reaction is probably the main reason why she kept that shit a secret. So chill the fuck out.” Missy went in.

  “Fuck you, Missy. Bitch, you can come up with whatever excuse you want for her, I don’t give a fuck. But this secret shit we don’t do, never have,” Peaches snapped right back at her.

  “I didn’t tell y’all this at the same time because I felt that alone was too much for y’all to take in.” I began to explain to them. “And to add this onto it would have been way too much, if not for y’all, for me because of all the questions you were going to ask just like you did last time,” I told them as my nerves started to act up. My body began to shake out of both hurt and frustration.

  “This wasn’t something I could’ve half told you. All the personal shit behind why I started dancing would have come up, and I didn’t want to deal with that. But at the end of the day, that was what the fuck I had to do. Not nann one of you bitches had to deal with half the shit I did, so Peaches, bitch, fuck you! If you wanna be a bitch and can’t accept the shit I’ve done, then fine. I don’t give a fuck,” I spat out at her. I was so hurt and pissed at her.

  “I kept the secret for a fuckin’ reason, just like everything else I kept from y’all. It wasn’t that I don’t trust y’all. I just didn’t want to bring my past bullshit to y’all. You four are the only normalcy I have ever had growing up. That’s why I kept Syn and Angel separated. So be mad and bitch all you want, Peaches. And any of you who feel some type of way because of my secret, I don’t even give a fuck no more. But what you’re not gonna do is disrespect me. That’s not gonna fuckin’ happen!” I yelled at her.

  I could understand her being mad, but for her to pop off like she did in front of everybody wasn’t cool at all. That was some shit she should have pulled me off to the side and did. Especially, if she was going to bring up the Leon and money thing in front of Parker. She was out of line for that, period.

  “Peach, yo ass wrong for that,�
� Kimmy snapped at her. “I don’t give a fuck what she did, done, or continuing to do. It doesn’t justify the bullshit you just said to her. Even after everything she did tell us last time, learning this should not have caused you to jap out that way. And given the shit she did tell us, it should have made this more acceptable. You foul as hell,” Kimmy spoke her peace before looking at me.

  “Angel, I understand,” she went on, “you don’t have to explain shit to me, period. Regardless of that, you still my bitch, my sister. So fuck what Peaches said, I know who the fuck you are. You are my fuckin’ sister, period! And ain’t shit you done did gon’ change that.” Her eyes turned to Peaches and she rolled them hard at her.

  “Kimmy, you can really shut the fuck up. I have every right to feel the way that I do—” Peaches started to say.

  “You do, Peach, you have every right to feel any way you want,” Ebony began to have her say. “But it doesn’t make what you just did right. Not everybody grew up the way you did. Then you gon’ do that shit right here in front of everybody. This is exactly what Angel said she didn’t want to happen and then you turn around and do it. Like Kim, I don’t give a fuck what she done did,” Ebony informed Peaches. “Given her reasons, I get it and I don’t care. It doesn’t change shit. She’s still my bitch. Hell, me and Kim was just talking about taking a pole dancing class,” Ebony started laughing, looking at Kim. “Wasn’t we, tho? I got a pole installed in my basement the other day, you can come over and show us something, shit.”

  I couldn’t help but chuckle at her. “Thanks, E,” I said and she waved me off. I looked at Peaches and she shook her head, not saying anything else. Peaches’ reaction wasn’t what I expected at all. It hurt me how she was being, but I didn’t even want to be there no more. I was ready to go.

  “We late, I know,” King came over to us and gave me a hug. “Happy birthday, Angel.”

  “Thanks, baby,” I smiled at him, returning his hug.

  “Happy birthday, black,” Blaze waved at me before he went over and sat beside Peaches. She shrugged him off of her. “What the fuck wrong with you?” He asked her, but she didn’t say anything to him.

  My hand waved in her direction. “I’m ready to go,” I looked at Parker.

  “N’all, Ang, don’t go. Please, man. Come on,” Missy grabbed my arm and pulled me down on her lap. “Fuck Peaches ass, for real, man. This yo day.”

  “Missy, shut the fuck up,” Peaches snapped, rolling her eyes.

  Missy turned to glare at Peaches. “No, bitch, you shut the fuck up with yo ignorant ass.”

  “Miss, stop. It ain't even that serious. But I’m not trying to ruin my night no more than it already has been. I’d rather be at home caked up with Parker.” I kissed her cheek then got up. She stood up with me.

  “Ang, just stay for another hour and if you still wanna go, I’ll let you.” Missy begged.

  “Yeah, Angel, we barely get to see you as much. Just an hour, please?” Kim held her arms out for me as she got up.

  I gave Kim a hug. “N’all, we gon’ go. I promise to call y’all before we leave tomorrow.”

  “I’ight,” Missy sighed. “What time y’all leaving tomorrow? We could meet up before that.”

  I looked at Missy, slightly getting annoyed with her. She was trying to stall me from leaving which wasn’t going to work. My mood had been thrown off completely. And I wanted so badly to slap Diamond for running her damn mouth. After she done told everything the bitch was sitting there quiet, looking fuckin’ stupid.

  “I don’t know, I’ll call you in the morning. Parker, can we go?”

  “Wait, what the fuck we miss?” King looked around at us, trying to figure it out.

  “You ain’t miss shit. We just got an early morning,” Parker said as he slapped hands. “Missy?” Parker called to her. “I’ll have Chris come and get you later on during the week and you can come out to the house. Bet?”

  Missy looked at Chris and rolled her eyes. “Just text me the address.”

  “I’ll come get her,” Chris smile at her.

  As bad as I wanted to laugh at them, I just couldn’t. “I’ight, y’all, we’re gone. Parker,” I nodded towards the door.

  “What the fuck is she doing here?” Missy sounded pissed. She suddenly grabbed my arm, stopping me in my tracks. “Kelley’s here.” She nodded ahead of me.

  Are you fuckin’ serious? Can this night get any worse?

  I just wanted to lay down and die at that moment.

  “Who is Kelley?” Parker asked me.

  It was then I remembered I told him my momma was dead.

  “Happy birthday, baby!” Kelley stumbled over to us.

  I didn’t know what to do. My body literally froze.

  Chapter 24

  Parker

  Syn’s body became stiff as she stood next to me. I didn’t like how the night was turning out for her. The main thing that pissed me off was how her girl popped off at her. I was ready to choke the fuck outda her ass, but Syn handled that shit like she was supposed to. I was glad to see she didn’t let ol’ girl fly with that shit and stood up for herself. She didn’t fold when she was pushed into a corner.

  I watched as a drunk, dirty woman walked over to us. Angel didn’t answer my question the first time I asked, so I repeated myself. “Who is that?”

  “Nobody,” she finally answered. “Let’s go.”

  “I just got here, baby. You tryna leave,” the woman asked her.

  “Kelley, you need to get the fuck from up here. Bye,” Missy snapped while pushing her back.

  “Bitch, don’t you touch me!” Kelley jerked away from her before she looked at Syn. “I wasn’t gon’ miss my baby’s party,” she smiled as she started to dance. “Happy birthday to you,” she began to sing.

  “Kelley, you need to go. I don’t know why the fuck you came here,” Syn snapped at her. “Get the fuck out of here!”

  “No, you can’t put me out. You’ve always been an ungrateful little bitch,” Kelley spat at her.

  Syn slapped the shit out of her. “Get the fuck from up here before I beat the hell out of you!” She threatened, looking both scared and pissed.

  Kelley threw her hands up. “Fine, I’ll leave. Let me hold something so I can get something to eat, just a few dollars.” She rubbed her hand over her nose before she scratched the crease of her arm.

  She was a fiend, I could tell from that action.

  “I ain’t got shit for you,” Syn grabbed my hand and started to pull me away.

  But Kelley’s next words stopped me.

  “This how you gon’ do your momma? Just let me die out here, huh? It’s just fuck me, huh? I can’t even get a dollar after everything I’ve done for you.” Kelley grabbed her arm. “Bitch, you done fell into some money and you can’t look out for me? And I raised yo ungrateful ass.”

  “This yo moms?” I asked her, confused.

  “Yeah, I’m her momma,” Kelley answered for her as she took me in. “Yeah, baby you done did good. Look at him,” her eyes roamed over me before she looked at the group. “I taught you good.”

  “Kelley, shut the fuck up. Parker, let’s go.” Syn screamed at me as she jerked on my hand.

  “Yo, you told me yo moms was dead. Is this yo momma?” I was trying to understand why she would lie and tell me her momma was dead. Wasn’t shit wrong with the bitch being a fuckin’ crackhead. Shid, not when I told her everything about my folks and my childhood. “Syn, is this yo fuckin’ momma?”

  “Yeah, that’s my little bitch,” Kelley ran her finger across my chest. “Can I hold something?”

  “Bitch, get the fuck away from me before I knock yo ass out,” I pushed her back.

  “I’m gone,” Syn snatched away from me.

  Kelley jerked Syn to her. “I’ll let you have her for a hit.”

  For the first time in my life I was stuck. I was hearing what was being said, but my mind was slowly processing what left her mouth. I wanted to be hearing her wrong. “Just give me
a couple of dollars,” she smiled at me.

  Did this bitch just try to sell me her daughter for a hit?

  “We can tag team like we used to when you were younger. You still some good if he wants yo little black ass.” As soon as those words left her mouth, tears immediately filled Syn’s eyes. Kelley hauled off and slapped the hell out of Syn before she started to fluff her hair as if getting her ready. “Bitch, stop that gotdamn crying. Don’t act like you ain’t done this before. Get yourself together!” She shook her hard.

  Is this really happening right now?

  I think everybody around us was stuck listening to this bullshit.

  Before I could process what I was doing, I knocked Kelley in her face three times. “You sick bitch!”

  Chapter 25

  Angel

  It’s seemed as if once Parker lost it and started going crazy on Kelley, everybody seemed to unfreeze. Kelley lay sprawled out on the floor as Chris and Mane pulled Parker away from her, but he moved around in their hold, trying to get free.

  I couldn’t believe what she’d said in front of them, I needed to get out of there. I couldn’t take the shocked look on the girls’ faces as she talked. Neither could I take the sad, pitiful looks in their eyes as they found out the truth. I couldn’t take it and I couldn’t take the questions they were going to ask.

  Peaches moved towards me. “Ang, I’m so sorry—”

  I didn’t say anything as I turned around and ran out the Rex. I quickly went to Parker’s truck. Jumping in the driver’s seat, I pulled out fast. Tears burned from my eyes, causing my site to become blurry.

  How did this beautiful day turn into shit so fuckin’ fast? And to make matters worse, I didn’t say anything. I just stood there. I couldn’t even fix my mouth and form a lie to tell them as Kelley told them everything.

  My chest shook violently as I cried hard.

  It never failed that whenever something was going right in my life, my past was always lurking in the background to ruin it. No matter how hard I tried, I just couldn’t catch a fuckin’ break. My hands wiped at my eyes as I tried to clear my blurry vision and slowed down as I came to a stop light.