Trap Goddess

by Sasha Ravae

  “Let me get out of here before I knock this boy out. I think we’re about to start here pretty soon. Jewel, let’s get a move on.”

  “I got this, Pops. Thank you though,” he said beginning to get irritated.

  “I’m just trying to help.”

  “I know,” he said taking a breath, “I’m sorry. My nerves are bad.”

  “Well, just try to relax,” he said walking out of the room as Sacario came in.

  “How you doing, Mr. Sanchez, sir?”

  “Good, Sacario, how bout yourself?”

  “Can’t complain.”

  “Glad to hear it,” Joe said going to rejoin his wife Isabella before the ceremony began.

  “I got exactly what you need,” K-2 said shutting the door before he pulled out a bag of weed from his pants’ pocket.

  “In the tux though, blood?” Sacario asked laughing.

  “You said that like it’s a bad thing.” He grabbed a small magazine that the church had laying around and broke down the buds as Jewel continued to get dressed.

  “What’s up with you though?” Sacario asked walking up to Jewel, “I feel like I never see you anymore. Nigga, you didn’t even let me throw you a bachelor party.”

  “I’ve been doing the family-man thang, bruh.”

  “It looks like it’s working out. I’m proud of you, blood.”

  “Man, that nigga’s bored,” K-2 interrupted, “You out here bout to get married and got two kids. All your life consists of now is baby throw up and sports practices.”

  “Welcome to your future,” Jewel mocked.

  “Not I, said the cat,” K-2 said sealing the swisher he held in his hand, “I gotta keep it P.I. at all times.”

  “Here you go. Can’t you just let this nigga be happy?”

  “I’m just saying I know you miss the life, blood.”

  “I do. I can’t even lie, but I gotta family to think about now. I mean we all have families, so we gotta do better, feel me?”

  “How you lecturing him, and you never step foot outside the shop?” Sacario asked.

  K-2 had always been quick with the cuts. All through high school, his potnahs never had to go to the barber shop because he hooked them up, but after wanting to follow behind Sacario into the M.A.C. Boys’ elites, he put his talents aside and chose another path. It was a dream come true when he was inducted into the organization. He looked up to Jewel and Sacario and valued their leadership, but after Pop’s death, K-2 could see the

  change in Jewel, and it scared him. He had climbed his way to the top, and in the blink of an eye, he let it all go. K-2 went back and forth with himself about going legit and separating from the clique, but when Gabrielle confirmed that she was pregnant, he decided that his time, unfortunately, had come too. He took the money he had been saving over the years and invested in himself. Soon thereafter Rich City Cutz was born. Sacario wanted to be his silent partner, but for K-2, it was something he had to do on his own.

  “We not talking about me,” he said lighting the blunt.

  “How’s business though?” Jewel asked proud of his young homie’s new venture.

  “Popping as usual. Gabby be helping me with a lot of the administrative stuff, but I told her that I was gonna eventually have to hire somebody once she gets bigger.”

  “What she say?” Jewel asked taking the blunt out of K-2’s hand already knowing his little sister’s reaction.

  “That it’s good as long as it’s not another female,” he said laughing.

  “Speaking of females, what’s been up with Diamond?”

  “Man, that’s a whole ‘nother story,” he said shaking his head. He didn’t even know where to start, “but, man, enough about me. What’s been up with you?”

  “You know I got it rocking out in the Bay. I thought the transition was gon’ set us back some, but so far things have been smooth. We still miss you though. Niggas swear up and down you coming back.”

  “You not bout to Jay-Z niggas, are you?”

  “Naw,” Jewel said flattered, “I’m good where I’m at. After losing Brandon, Golden, and Pop, it’s not the same no more. It doesn’t even feel right, you know?”

  “What doesn’t feel right?” Diamond asked busting into the room. The mango and white-colored bouquet she held in her hand glittered under the sunlight.

  “We’ll be in the sanctuary, blood,” K-2 said ashing the blunt before quickly putting it behind his ear.

  “Yeah, hit me if you need anything. I’ma make sure that Kiko and Navari are okay out there.”

  “Take your time,” Jewel said finally relaxing a bit.

  “Jewel, the ceremony starts in like twenty minutes,” Diamond said with her hand on her hip, “and you’re not even all the way dressed yet.”

  “D, I got this,” he said as K-2 and Sacario walked out of the room hoping to avoid their usual drama.

  “Well, let me help you,” she said grabbing his shirt and pulling him toward her.

  “Where’s Reagan?”

  “Finishing up with her makeup,” she said tracing her fingers across his chest.

  “Maybe you should go check on her,” he said pulling away.

  “Why would I do that when I can be here?”

  “Diamond, come on, blood,” he said feeling himself becoming tense again.

  After Pop’s funeral, Jewel decided that life was too short. He and Diamond had both been to hell and back, but he was ready to start over. As much as he loved being with his son, he could tell that he missed his mom, so he didn’t stand in the way of Diamond regaining joint custody again. They managed to work out a system that worked for them and Jailen, but with this newfound co-parent relationship meant that Diamond was around more and more, and as a new mother, Reagan gravitated to her. With the birth of her son Chase, she was ready to put the past behind them. She had no more room in her heart to hold grudges, and soon her hatred for Brandon dissipated with every smile Chase made, or every step he took, so when it came to her and Diamond coming together as mothers, Diamond was able to take full advantage.

  “Jewel, are you really gonna do this?”

  “Why wouldn’t I?” he asked staring into the mirror as he slipped his cream-colored suit jacket over his crisp white shirt.

  “Because we have a child together, and I know you still have feelings for me.”

  “Diamond,” he said turning around to face her, “Me and you have had this conversation more than once, and I’m mad that you choose my mothafucking wedding day to have it again.”

  “What do you expect me to say? I’m sorry I can’t just turn my feelings off. I love you,” she said wrapping her arms around his waist.

  “Don’t you feel just a little bad?”

  “Bad about what?” she asked acting oblivious.

  “That you’re Reagan’s maid of honor.”

  “No, not really. She took what was mine, and now I want it back,” she said lightly kissing his lips, “I’m done with the games, Jewel.”

  He pushed Diamond off of him fed up with her unwanted efforts. His heart belonged to Reagan, always had and always would, but she refused to accept it. Her love for Jewel and hate for Reagan made everything she did a little easier. She was determined to get her family back.

  “Bye, Diamond, you’re hella outta pocket. I try to keep shit cool with you for the sake of our son, but at this point, I feel like your priority is to fuck up my family,” he said wiping his mouth, “Why the fuck are you even here?”

  “I am your family. We’re bound for life, so that’s why I’m here.”

  “Tell that to my wife.”

  “Not wifey just yet, hunny,” she laughed as she walked towards the door, “And believe me she knows. What’s that saying? ‘Keep your friends close and your enemies closer.’”

  Jewel tried to tell Reagan over and over again that Diamond was still interested in him, but she just charged it to his ego. Reagan and Diamond had spent almost every day of the past year together, and she wanted to believe the
y were better than that. Through all of the drama, she believed that they had found peace and wanted nothing more than to hold onto it.

  Jewel got up to lock the door needing a moment to himself. Nothing made him happier than picturing Reagan as his wife,

  but with everything going on around him, it was hard to remain focused. He grabbed a small glass that sat on the table next to him and filled it half way with the 18-year old scotch his father had given him as a pre-wedding present. He looked around the room saddened that so many people weren’t alive to see the day. Sacario graciously agreed to be Jewel’s best man, but there wasn’t a minute that went by that he didn’t see Pop’s face. Jewel just accepted that he would be forever haunted. It was his punishment.

  Knock. Knock. Knock. Knock.

  I swear if this bitch keeps playing with me. “What, Diamond?” he yelled through the thick, wooden door.

  “Diamond?” Reagan asked with an attitude.

  “Baby, what are you doing here?” he asked pressing his cheek against the door. He wanted nothing more than to fall into the arms of his solitude, but he didn’t want to jinx anything. She deserved perfection.

  “Open the door,” she said jiggling the handle.

  “You know I can’t do that,” he laughed, “Traditions, baby.”

  “But I wanted to see you,” she whined, “I’m nervous. I need a hug.”

  “Shit, me too. I can’t even lie, but I want you walking down the aisle to be the first time I see you, and I can’t afford for anything to go wrong.”

  “What could go wrong?”

  “Anything.”

  “Well, if you feel like that then maybe we should postpone this.”

  “You sound crazy. $50,000 later, you have no choice but to marry my black ass,” he said pausing, “It’s not us or you. I can’t wait for you to be my wife. I just feel guilty that Pop’s not here, you know? Here I am going on with my life while he’s lying in a box somewhere.”

  “Pop would be so proud of you. Not a lot of people get a second chance, Jewel, remember that.”

  “You’re right, baby,” he said hoping her words could soothe him.

  “Babe, I hear the music playing, so I guess I should go find your father. Last chance to back out.”

  “Not even if you paid me. You’re stuck with me. I love you,” he said placing his hand on the door.

  “I love you too. See you in a minute.”

  Jewel finished the scotch that was still in his hand before taking one last look in the mirror. It was show time. Preparing himself to marry the love of his life, he grabbed his mango-colored boutonniere and headed for the door. When he opened it, he ran into the last woman he ever expected to see.

  “Mom?” He almost choked on the word as it flew out of his mouth.

  “Hi, baby,” she said opening her arms wide.

  “What are you doing here?”

  “Do you think that I would miss the chance to see my only son get married? I wouldn’t have missed this for the world.”

  To Be Continued….

  Counterfeit Dreams 4: A Coke White Dreams Coming March 2015!

  www.SashaRavae.com