by Khadijah J
“What? See, I told you, I still got it.” She laughed.
“Goodbye, Momma. I love you so much.” I told her.
“Seriously though, Yanni. Don’t let this distance come in between us. I’m still your mother, and I’m always here in your corner.” She told me.
“I know that, and I’m thankful for that.” I told her. She nodded and hugged me tightly.
“I love you, my shining star. Now, go make Momma proud.” She smiled. I smiled back at her, clutching my necklace she got me. I watched her driving off and blasting her oldies, shaking my head. She had bought me a remembrance necklace, that had two rings and a heart inside of the two. On the two rings it read ‘no longer by my side, forever in my heart.’ On one ring she had Taylynn’s name and dates. The other ring was my brother’s. It was a gift I would forever cherish and forever wear.
My first semester of college was hard as hell. Technically, credit wise, I was already a sophomore, so my classes were getting more, and more, complex, as time went by. I had a roommate, but we didn’t even speak to each other. Somehow, I had gained this associate by the name of Lashontae, but she went by Shontae. She was cool as heck, and she was in one of my classes, even though she failed it. I had gone to the café, and to grab me some food. She quickly found me, and sat across from me with this huge smile. I had on a Nike jogging suit that my mother had gotten, with some slides. My hair was in a frizzy bun, and I had my glasses on. Aside from that, I was stuffing this turkey club sandwich down my throat, so I had no idea as to why she was smiling so hard at me.
“What’s up, buttercup?” She asked, before taking a bite of her huge burger.
“Not much. I was trying to get a head start on the research paper. I actually figured out my topic already. I guess that’s better than nothing, right?” I joked.
“Girl, all you’ve been doing semester, after semester, is school, school, school. We need to get you out that shell. Live a little bit. Come hang with the big dogs.” She smiled.
“Girl, I am the ultimate big dog. Which is why I don’t fraternize with the little Chihuahuas.” I smirked.
“You are a mess. But the party starts at ten, I’ll send you the address in a text, or whatever. Please, I’m begging you!” She pleaded. I finally gave in, seeing as how I had only been in my stuffy room since I’d been here. Aside from that, maybe I could let my guard down and dance a little bit.
“Okay, cool. I’ll be there.” I told her. I debated on my outfit like fifty times, before finally settling on a cute, pastel romper, and putting my thick twist out to the side. I had on some gold sandals and gold earrings. I caught an Uber to the party, and called her when I pulled up.
“I’m about to come to the front door.” She hung up on me, and shortly after, she was welcoming me with open arms.
“Hey, girl! She’s with me. Come on!” She grabbed me by the arm and ushered me in. The music was bumping, and she walked me straight to the dance floor. When I got to the party, it was a bunch of frat boys stepping all over people’s shoes and everything. She obviously had been drinking, and was two stepping around me.
“I get the feeling you can dance. You just be acting, you got too much body not to know how to dance.” She yelled in my ear. I did a slight two step the rest of the night, and I enjoyed myself. One her homeboys came up behind me trying to dance, and I took a few steps up trying to move away, but he grabbed my hips.
“You fine as fuck, girl, what’s yo name?” He smiled at me. He was handsome, but he was touching me, and I didn’t know him like that.
“Please, don’t touch me.” I grabbed his hands from my hips.
“Damn, my bad, baby.” He licked his lips. I took a few steps back, see, this was what I wasn’t used to. Ever since my mom took me shopping and we changed up my wardrobe a little, people have been treating me differently. For instance, Lashontae. She would’ve never befriended me in high school, but because I wore name brand stuff now, and actually combed my hair from time to time, people were more accepting of me.
“Milly, chill. This my girl, Yanni,” Shontae introduced us.
“Wassup, Yanni? I’m Million. It’s a pleasure to finally meet you. I’ve seen you around from time to time, but you always be looking unapproachable on campus.” He chuckled. I just nodded, because I had no interest in furthering this conversation.
“How’d you get here?” Shontae asked.
“Uber. I’m about to call one right now, so I can get back to campus.” I started.
“NO! We can give you a ride. You ready to go now?” She asked.
“Umm. Yeah, I’m a little tired.” I yawned.
“No, you need a drink.” She started.
“I’m not drinking, I’m underage, and I’m just going to go ahead and leave. I’ll see you around.” I told her.
“No. My ride is ready to go too. So, I guess we can go.” She rolled her eyes, grabbing my hand and leading me to her homegirl, who looked mad at the world. We headed out with a couple of guys following us, making me uncomfortable.
“What y’all about to do?” Milly asked.
“Mind our business.” I snapped, they were pissing me off.
“Damnnn, she hoed you, nigga.” His friends joked. His jaw clenched.
“That’s alright. I like them feisty.” He licked his lips. I flared my nostrils, and shook my head, as we loaded up into the car. They dropped me off, and I quickly went to my dorm, locking my door, stripping, and passing out in my bed.
The next morning, I woke up and had a couple of missed calls from an unknown number. I listened to the voicemail, and it was Giona, telling me that it was Mylo calling me from her phone.
“Well, where is she now?” I asked.
“She’s at your Auntie Lawrie’s house, but her phones cut off.” She started.
“What the hell is going on?” I asked.
“Girl, it’s chaotic. Your momma was arrested yesterday. It was bad, Noah and Mylo got into it bad. The police was called, and Mylo said yo momma had warrants. They even arrested Noah.” She told me. My heart instantly sank to my feet. I didn’t know how or what the fuck to say.
“What?” I blurted out, in frustration. I was due to get my refund this Friday, so now I had to take money from that to get a ride up there, and hopefully, bail my mother out of jail. I know Auntie Lawrie ain’t got no money if her phone’s cut off, and I know my granny ain’t got shit either. I was so over my entire family.
***
When I made it home after catching the bus, I was able to go to my mother’s house to get her car, so I could make some moves. I went down to bail her out, and majority of my money was gone. I was going to have to use the library for my books, because I didn’t have enough for them. My mother looked so frustrated as she walked outside.
“Lee, what are you doing here?” She frowned.
“Hey, Momma.” I gave her a hug and she held me tight.
“Baby girl. Please tell me you did not.” She started.
“I couldn’t let you sit there.” I told her. She shook her head.
“Listen to me, don’t you ever do no dumb shit like that again, Lee. You stay your ass at the school, and get your education. Don’t worry about me or your sister.” She stressed.
“Mom, how can I not worry about you? You’re my mother.”
“Oh my Lord, Aliyanna, you are Heaven sent.” She hugged me again.
We went back to the house, and she made a few phone calls. When everyone got to the house, I over heard them talking about my mother’s charges. She just shook her head and she looked really sad.
“I’m facing up to ten years for all that hot shit I was doing back in the day. It’s finally caught up to me. I don’t have to go back to court for another six months, so I’ll be trying to scrape up money for a new lawyer, because this public defender is gonna get my ass the chair.” She joked. My grandma handed her a red cup filled with some liquor.
“We gon’ figure this shit out, don’t even worry about it, Marleigh.” M
y auntie said.
“Damn, just when Ali on his way home, you on your way in,” one of her friends said. I shook my head and walked back to my room. I didn’t know what to say or think. I couldn’t even fathom the thought of my mother getting locked up for ten years. I would be grown and everything by that time. How would I be able to get through life with out my mother? No, I had to figure something out. I couldn’t let her go to jail and rot away. I was gon’ come up with the money somehow, someway.
NINE
Kentrell “Ken”
A lot had fucking changed in since I graduated high school. A nigga was accepted into U of M Ross School of Business, and one of the biggest dope dealers in Michigan. It was comical, because motherfuckers didn’t know I was pushing weight, but I ain’t have no other option coming from where I was from. I had made so much money, and I was only twenty. I had bigger plans though. I was really saving up a certain amount to start investing in my business. I had deposited so much money into my savings account. Every time I got a refund from school, I would add a couple bands into my account with it, to make it look like it was coming from the school too, or some shit.
My boys were holding shit down back home and up north. They were coming up to kick it with me this weekend. They were coming to party with these wild ass college girls. Shit was crazy, I had a whole baby and shit. I stayed off campus now with Briana’s crazy ass. My daughter, Aubriana, was just now one, and bad as hell. I was working or in school, but every bit of free time I had I was with my daughter. Briana aggravated the fuck outta me, and she pissed me off literally, every day. I was two seconds from snapping her gotdamn neck, but I was never a woman beater.
“Hey, bae. You think I can get some money to go shopping?” She started.
“Nah, you already know I’m trying to save and do some shit.” I told her.
“What? A couple thousand ain’t gon’ hurt yo stingy ass. But if I told you it was for her, you’d do it, right?” She smirked.
“Briana, shut the fuck up, and get the fuck out my face. Damn, all you do is bitch, and complain.” I snapped. My phone chimed, and it was Kenzo and Zell, saying how they were twenty minutes out.
“Who is that? Another bitch?” She asked.
“It’s my fucking brothers, damn.” I told her.
“Yeah, okay, what the fuck they want?” She asked.
“They coming in town for the weekend.” I told her. My daughter was in her playpen sleeping.
“Oh, well where they staying? Cause last time I checked-” She started.
“Last time I checked, anytime yo raggedy ass friends come up, they be all up and through the crib, even when I say hell no. So, kill all that noise, shorty.” I walked off, and that only pissed her off even more. She started hitting me in my back, and in the back of my head.
“Briana, how many times I told you to stop putting yo fucking hands on me?” I snapped at her. I grabbed my backpack, cause I had a class at four.
“Fuck you, nigga. You think you.” She started, and I just walked out.
“Ahh, shut the fuck up.” I closed the fucking door, and walked outside to my truck. I got in and headed to the store. I had to smoke a blunt. She stressed a nigga the fuck out. Shit was ridiculous, and I already knew that I had to let Briana’s crazy ass go. She was gon’ drive a nigga straight down with her crazy ass. I would still take care of her and my seed, but us being together was a dub. She was too insecure, and for no fucking reason. I wasn’t fucking none of these rat faced bitches out here. I had too much shit to lose. My niggas called and said that they were at my crib.
We had a nice little townhouse, in a nice neighborhood, thanks to me. But Briana was the loudest motherfucker out here, and we stayed getting noise complaints cause of her stupid ass. I told her if she got us evicted, I was gon’ break her fucking jaw, so she couldn’t run that fucking big ass mouth no more but she kept it up. I pulled up, and these niggas let the window down on Kenzo’s truck, and nothing but smoke came out. These motherfuckers must’ve blown crud the whole way here. So much smoke was coming out the car, you would’ve thought this nigga’s truck was on fire.
“Wasssuppppp?” This nigga, P, yelled, laughing.
“This nigga, man.” Kenzo laughed.
“Ain’t got a lick of sense.” I chuckled, but it was cut short, when Briana came down the steps with my baby and two bags. I shook my head as these silly niggas rolled they window back up.
“Where y’all going?” I asked.
“Home, I’mma take her to my momma’s, and have a girl’s weekend.” Briana smirked.
“You do the fucking most, and that’s why-” I started.
“That’s why I’m about to find me a new nigga.” She teased.
“Please fucking do, shit.” I stared at her blankly.
“Yup, and Aubri will have a new daddy!” She added. I shrugged.
“You know that’s not happening, Bri, so stop fucking playing with me. Give me my baby, so I can strap her in correctly.” I told her.
“You get in front of yo boys and want to show out, but that’s alright. I don’t give a fuck. That’s why…” She went on, and on, for a good ten minutes, before I finally asked was she finished.
“You done?” I asked.
“I am, I’m done with yo broke ass.” She went to push the side of my face, but I grabbed her wrist.
“Don’t fucking touch me. I’m not gon’ tell yo stupid ass again!” I told her, straight up.
“Whatever, let me go.” She snapped, and I did, kissing my princess, and telling her to be good. She pulled off in her new Chevy Malibu that I got her, and headed home, I guess.
“Is it safe to come out yet, bruh?” Kenzo cracked the window and asked. Both of these silly niggas started laughing.
“Man, fuck both of y’all. Let’s order a pizza or some shit, and smoke some.” I told them.
“Look at the college kid. I guess that’s how he gets high scores on the tests, because he takes the tests high.” P joked. I shook my head and we headed up to my crib.
Later on that night, I got a text about a house party. Me and my niggas sat around until like fucking midnight, before we finally got up and headed to the party. It was pretty cool, niggas was weird, but we were playing pool. Niggas was drinking and on some other shit. I was peeping the scene as my niggas got they mac on. This light skinned bitch was in my face with her hot ass breath.
“So, you gon’ let me suck yo dick or what?” She bluntly asked me.
“Nah, shorty. You good, I got a girl.” I told her.
“I bet she can’t do it like me though.” She flicked her tongue out. I had to chuckle and look passed her. I was tempted like hell to let her slurp me up, but how her breathe was smelling, I knew shorty ain’t care about her hygiene, so I passed.
We ended up leaving the little house party and sliding back to the dorms with these shorty’s that they was on. I was chilling, when one of the girls came and gave me a lap dance. She was stiff as fuck, and I couldn’t help but to chuckle, cause she was trying her hardest.
“Why you so quiet?” She asked.
“I’m chilling.” I told her.
“You smoke?” She asked.
“Yeah.” I nodded.
“You got some on you? Spark up.” She smirked. I nodded and did exactly that. My nigga, P, slid off in the room with homegirl, and Kenzo slid off with old girl in another room. It was just me and Jessica on the couch. Smoking and talking, she was actually a cool female. She was so damn cool, that she somehow ended up topping me the fuck off in the living room on the couch. I grabbed her hair, holding it in place.
“Mmmm,” she slurped me up. I couldn’t help but to chuckle. Shorty was giving me nothing but neck, and as soon as I was spitting my kids in her mouth, someone was knocking on the door. I stood up to go to the bathroom and find a towel or some shit. I heard a nigga going off on homegirl in the living room. I thought the nigga had to be at least seven foot the way he was yelling, I walked out the bathroom, took one l
ook at this nigga, and chuckled. Him and his homeboys were all mugging the shit outta me.
“This nigga laughing and shit. The fuck is funny? You fucking my girl or something?” He asked.
“You got it, big fella.” I sarcastically put my hands in the air.
“What’s funny, nigga? We can get it right now.” He pulled up his pants. This nigga had to be a comedian.
“Babe, no. Nothing happened.” She held onto his shirt.
“Nah, fuck that. This nigga come from the bathroom laughing and shit, like something funny. What’s funny, nigga?” He asked. Kenzo and P came out the rooms, this ignorant fool, P, was zipping his pants up.
“Stacy? What the fuck?” One of the niggas behind this nigga yelled, before cutting up on Stacy. Me and my niggas was about to head on out, cause this shit was comical, before this lil nigga got disrespectful.
“You a bitch ass nigga! All y’all niggas is pussy, especially yo big ass. When I catch yo ass-” I ain’t let the nigga finish before stopping in my tracks.
“You ain’t gotta catch me, nigga, I’m right here.” I frowned.
“Well, what’s up, nigga?” He pulled up his pants again, never moving from his spot.
“Don’t do it, bro. Let the lil nigga make it!” Zell laughed.
“Yo pussy ass ain’t moved from that spot.” Kenzo teased the lil nigga, and we kept walking. Soon as we got in the hallway and around the corner, this little nigga ran up, and I popped that nigga twice, knocking over some girl. I quickly went to help her up, cause I know she hit the ground hard as fuck.
“Geesh! It’s just not my day or night! What the HELL?!” She shrieked.
“My bad, shorty.” I helped her up and catching a glimpse of her fine ass. Damn, and she had a body out of this world.
“Here go yo glasses.” P handed them to her. She quickly put them on, looking like a sexy ass school teacher, before wiping her eyes, grabbing her bag, and storming off, bumping into me. I couldn’t help but to look back at her thick ass hips switching off.
“Damn, they making them like that up here on campus. How you gon’ be a fine ass, thick ass, nerd, with glasses?” Zell was damn near drooling at the mouth.