by Ms. Bam
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9. Who Can I Run To?
“ Now look you singing ass bitch you! You already know you can out sing anyone in my house. Turn that damn Wii game off. I'm telling you Mia,you sing better than anyone on the radio right now and you have the looks to go along with it. I say we do a video and get you on one of these shows!” Rayna said excitedly.
Mia rolled her eyes.
For years Rayna had been trying to convince her to try and get on one of those singing reality show. Mia wasn't interested. Yes she loved singing and knew she had some natural talent, she wasn't about to disappoint her mom who worked too hard providing for her to ditch all her college dreams. The law interested her so law school was where she envisioned herself. I want to be the dopest female defense attorney out there.
She had no intentions of trying to get on anyones American Idol, The Voice or X-Factor! The closest she came to really sharing her music with the world was through the 50 or so YouTube videos she had posted on her channel doing mostly covers of songs she loved and some original material she'd written. She actually had a large following and all of her videos had lots of views and positive comments from the viewers.
Rayna sat with her lips poked out.
“ Well if you wont do that for me, will you at least tell me why you ran through the door looking all sad and about to cry? What happened?” Rayna asked walking over and sitting on her bed with Mia.
Mia wanted to tell Rayna what happened but maybe I should wait until after I tell my mom?
“ I just can't stand Quinton. Why did my mom have to move him in? He's sorry as hell, he don't even work. I never see my mom anymore because she's always working doubles. I know it's to take care of him not us....because before he came along my mom worked her schedule and that was it. The only time she did extra was before we'd go on vacation in the summer.”
Rayna sat there quietly listening to her friend vent. It wasn't the first time Mia had expressed her frustration with her mothers current living situation.
“ Well I can definitely understand where you're coming from but what can you do? You know damn well black parents don't play that. If you try and talk to her she ain’t gon' do nothing but come at you with the whole “ I'm the parent,you're the child” type thing.”
“ I know. I used to think we had a really good relationship. Now I'm not too sure. BUT something else did happen today.” Mia said grinning.
“ What is it girl! Did you talk to Marquise?”
“ Oh yeah, Marquise did write me today, here you can read it...,” Mia said reaching into her back pocket and grabbing the note, “...but that ain’t who I'm talking about! I met someone new today. Jeremiah. He's 19 and oh my God! I thought Marquise was fine but he ain’t got nothing on Jeremiah!”
“WHAT!? Bitch you know you better fill me in quick fast and in a damn hurry!” Rayna squealed.
Mia spent the next half hour filling her in on both Marquise and Jeremiah.
“ Giiiirl! When you hot you hot I guess. What are you going to do?”
“ Well I mean I just met Jeremiah and he gave me his number but that doesn't mean much. I'll have to talk to him more. But before I say anything more to Marquise I need to see what's up.”
“Go head on shot caller!”
They both fell out laughing.
“ On the real though Mia ol' boy just got off probation! That nigga is on some bad boy shit for real. You may not even want to go there with his ass. I mean is the nigga rockin' an ankle bracelet or what? Are you sure he's done?”
Mia couldn't help but laugh.
“ Girl no. He had on some shorts. Besides I just told you he just got off. He ain’t on probation anymore. We'll see what's up with him though. You need to be lining up a date too! Prom is right around the corner and it's our senior year. We're both going with dates!” Mia said rolling her eyes at Rayna.
“ You should talk to Corey Williams on Monday,he's cute.”
“ Corey is okay. He's so goofy though.”
“Who cares? That boy looks good, you don't wanna take no ugly dude and have him messing up your prom pictures!” Mia said laughing. “ Anyway,let me get home my mom will be off soon and I already know after me and Quinton getting into it today he done ran and called my mama. His sorry ass stay minding my business. Like he really don't realize he's damn near in my age group. I may not know who my daddy is,but I do know it ain’t his ass. Okay I'm gone. Imma go say bye to your parents real fast then I'm out.”
Rayna and Mia exchanged quick hugs and she left her friends bedroom,said good-bye to her parents and began the walk home.
Mia had just left Rayna's yard when her cell phone rang.
“ Hello.”
“ What's going on? I guess you was gon' wait to call me huh?”
Mia started laughing.
“ What are you talking about? You just gave me the number a couple hours ago Jeremiah!”
“ I know. I wanted you to call me ass soon as we was pulling out the damn driveway.”
“ I probably would have if I hadn't gotten distracted. How are you? What are you doing right now?”
“ Shit I'm wishing I could see you right now.”
“ Hmm you know what? As crazy as it sounds I wish I could see you too.”
“ Well let's make it happen then. Imma take you out,the full treatment girl,dinner the movies whatever you want to do. Where you at by the way? You sound like you're outside.”
“ I am outside. I'm walking back home I was over my best friend Rayna's house. I had to get out. I can't stand Quinton. I swear to God I hate his ass.” Mia said stopping to talk.
“ Damn girl it's after ten. You don't need to be out walking this late by yourself. How far away from your house are you? Do you want me to come get you?”
Mia couldn't help but smile that he'd even offer. They didn't even really know each other.
“ You don't have to do that. Rayna just lives the next block over. I just had to get out of my house for awhile. Quinton and I got into it so I left. I know my mom is gonna be pissed I left since she told me to stay home. I had to leave though.”
Jeremiah's mind immediately drifted to the conversation he heard between Quinton and his brother earlier today.
“ Jeremiah...honestly I don't know when or if my mom is gonna let me see you. I mean granted I'm almost 18 but you're 19, out of school,just off probation. What am I supposed to tell my mama about you? I mean really it ain’t sounding too good for you!” Mia said laughing.
“ I mean do you even have a job? Are you trying to get your education Jeremiah? Give me something to tell my mama.” Mia paused once more. She'd just turned the corner and could see her house.
“ Shit pretty soon you just gon' say “ Mama I love him!” that's all her ass gon' need to know.” Jeremiah said confidently.
Mia burst out laughing.
“ I don't know why you laughing. I'm dead ass serious.”
“ I'm not playing Jeremiah do you even have a job?”
“ Yes Mia, I do have a job. I mean I get my hands dirty. Imma blue collar dude but it's legit. I'm working at my uncles shop as a mechanic. I've always been good fixing things putting them together and taking them apart. They also had this program when I was locked up where they taught us. I have a little certificate and everything.”
“ Okay that's good. I don't even want to take the time getting to know you if you plan on being in and out of jail.”
“ I understand. So when are you gonna let me see you again?”
“ Well let me see how much trouble I'm going to be in after tonight and I'll let you know okay?”
“ Cool. Holla at me if you need me.”
“ I will. Bye.”
She took out her key and opened the door and headed straight for the kitchen. Quinton was laying on the couch watching a movie.
“ You know your mama said you weren't supposed to leave the house.”
Mia continued walking to the kitchen to get something to drink
and then go to bed.
Who the fuck this lil bitch think she is ignoring me all the goddamn time? I see this shit starts early. Bitches thinking they the shit and too good to open they mouth and speak to a nigga
Quinton raised up from the couch and followed Mia into the kitchen.
“ Little girl don't you hear me talking to you? I said your mom didn't want you leaving the house.”
Mia pulled a cup out of the dishwasher and opened the refrigerator. Mia quickly made up her mind to not even agitate Quinton by arguing with him. She wasn't in the mood and her mom would home soon enough.
“ I heard you Quinton.” Mia said pouring herself a drink and turning to walk out of the kitchen.
“Don't turn your back on me when I'm talking to you.”
“ Quinton I said I heard. Aren't you happy? I heard you aren't you happy,what more do you want me to say?”
“ You're so disrespectful do you know that?”
“ Actually I'm not.” Mia had enough. “ For the life of me I don't understand what my mom sees in you. You walk around here like you should be getting some kind of respect from me and you don't even deserve it. All you do is use my mom and live off of her....,”
“ Mia your mom is the one who asked me NOT to work. You steady judging me for what you mom wants.” Quinton said trying to plead his case. He didn't know what it was about Mia but her didn't want her to think badly of him.
“ Well you know what? Even if my mom did ask you to do something like that, what kind of man would accept that? You're damn near in the same age group as me and you think it's okay to lay up and live off a woman? It's pathetic. I'll be glad when I graduate in a few months so I can get out of here. If you're what my mom wants fine. At least I don't have to watch her get used anymore.” Mia said walking up the stairs to her room and locking her bedroom door behind her.
Quinton stood at the bottom of the stairs, panic beginning to set in. He’d given plenty of thought to the fact Mia would be turning 18 soon but he was more concerned about whether he should come on even stronger. When Mia turned 18 he had every intention of leaving Terri and letting Mia know he was in love with her. He'd had enough of being Terri's kept man. It was cool the last few months but he was more than ready to move on from Terri....even if he had to move in with his mama for a hot minute.
The thought of Mia actually not being there for him to see everyday? Another day passing and him not being able to reveal his true feelings for her were driving him crazy. Now here she is all up in Jeremiah's face and ain’t no telling how many other niggas? No, I can't have that. I can't have that at all.