The Wild Child

by Nicole Jackson

  Little Jah just wasn’t his outgoing self. He was withdrawn and rarely cracked a smile. It broke my heart to see my big brother in that condition and I tried my best to cheer him up. Miraculously, I’d managed to get to laugh a few times, before he’d disappeared into his room. And now, I was chilling in the den, pretending to listen as Daynah blabbed on and on. My mind was drifting to Jeremy again, when I received a facetime.

  Slicking down my hair, I answered. “What’s up?”

  Jeremy smiled into the camera. “Nothing.”

  I squinted, as I scoped out his busy background. “Don’t seem that way to me. Where you at?”

  He didn’t immediately answer my question, because somebody was talking to him in the background. The camera wasn’t aimed at the person, so I couldn’t see who it was. Eventually, he semi-focused on me again. “Huh, what did you say?”

  I swallowed hard, wanting to go off so badly. “I said, where are you?”

  “Oh, we’re at the studio with Amir Junior.”

  “Oh, okay.” I nodded, knowing that Amir was an up and coming producer, who we’d grown up with. My mama hung with his step mama, and Amir Junior had dated Keyasia, before she met Wale. “He’s making beats or something?”

  “Nah, not right now. Melo is here making a song.”

  “Melo, huh? Tell him that I said what’s up,” I offered coolly, although I was really a fan. Melo was a well-known rapper in the city, and my people personally knew him, but I couldn’t come across too eager to address him, because I knew how Jeremy could get.

  “Yeah, a’ight,” he responded, which told me that he was doing no such thing.

  “Twin, pass me that bottle next to you,” some girl commanded.

  I frowned, while he grabbed the bottle of liquor and handed it to some faceless broad. “Damn, sounds like everybody and their mama is over there. Yall are partying it up, huh?”

  “Yeah, it’s quite a few people in here. But yeah, how my boy doing,” he quickly changed the subject.

  I sighed. “He’s honestly not himself, right now. I tried to cheer him up, and we joked a little, but he’s still down, you know?”

  “Yeah,” he breathed. “That’s fucked up. Me and Jared are gonna come through and kick it with him tomorrow. Hopefully we can lift his spirits.”

  I fought so hard not to roll my eyes. This nigga was sitting there making plans for everybody but me. “He’ll probably like that. But uh, what’s the play for yall tonight? You going clubbing?”

  He tucked his lips into his mouth. “Nah. After this, we’re heading over to Amir’s crib to shoot some pool and have a smoke session. Nothing too major. What about you?”

  I shrugged. “I don’t know. Probably nothing. I’m chilling right now and have no plans. So, I guess that I’m staying in tonight.”

  He nodded. “Staying in don’t sound too bad. Especially for you, because we both know how you pop it.”

  My head fell back. “Oh, God.”

  “Nah, all bullshit aside, I’m serious. You know you’re a certified hot girl. Always running the streets with your girls, and shit. So, yeah, cooling off, and sitting your ass down somewhere sounds fucking good to me.”

  Ordinarily, I would’ve had a snappy comeback, but I knew that I’d created this turmoil between us. Therefore, I had to suck it up, and allow him to talk his shit. “Okay, Jeremy. I hear you, and I aint gon hold you. Go have fun with your boys. Turn up for me.”

  He smiled again, pissing me off. “Alright, man. Talk to you later.”

  Rolling my eyes, I ended the call.

  A couple of hours moseyed by, and eventually Taz and Taraj stopped by. Taz was…well, let’s just say this. Josairah’s daddy, Josh, was still in the game, and Taz was somebody he called whenever niggas were getting out of line. Over the years, we’d gotten close to him, especially once he brought Taraj around. She was his girl and neither of them had much family, so we’d basically allowed them to integrate into ours and Josairah’s family. Me and Taraj were practically the same age, give or take, and my mama and nem had taken a liking to her. She was a wild one and I always enjoyed kicking it with her.

  “Why yall sitting around, looking like some old ass women?” Taraj questioned as we all lounged around the den, while the older folks hung in the living room.

  Keyasia yawned. “Bitch, I know you aint talking. You used to be the main one dragging your feet, whenever I wanted to go out.”

  “Yeah, but that was then, big belly,” Taraj rebutted. “Don’t hate now, since Wale done placed that ass on the bench.”

  Keyasia sat up on the couch. “Hoe, you got me fucked up. Wale aint done shit. I sat my ass down to give these hoes a break. I know they’re tired of me standing on their necks. Believe that.”

  I tittered at her arrogance. It definitely ran in the family. “Key, quit talking shit, because I just heard you asking Wale if you could fly to New York. You had to ask.”

  Keyasia scooted to edge of her seat. “Baby, my daddy can’t stop me from doing what I wanna. So, Taraj, what’s up? What’s the play?”

  Taraj smiled, as she rubbed her hands together. “We got the middle section in the Engine Room tonight.”

  I nodded, completely down with it, until it dawned on me. “That sounds cool, but I told Jeremy that I was in for the night.”

  Keyasia, Taraj, Josairah, and Daynah all looked at me sideways. “What that mean?” they questioned simultaneously.

  “Nothing, really. I’m just saying. I don’t want it to seem like I was dry lying or something.”

  “I mean, did I miss something here?” Josairah quizzed. “Is Jeremy your daddy now?”

  “Yeah,” Keyasia co-signed. “Is he beating your ass…or what? Cause I didn’t know that you had to answer to him.”

  I jerked my head back. “Answer to him? Tuh. Yall know better than that.”

  “I’m saying, so you’re down or what?” Taraj pressed.

  I nodded, as my silly ass succumbed to peer pressure. “Yeah, I’m down.”

  Keyasia grinned. “That’s what’s up. It’s been forever since we’ve all been together. Let’s turn the fuck up.”

  We all gave her the side eye, because her ass was big and pregnant, so I don’t know how much turning up she could really do.

  “Alright, Key,” I offered a nice warning. “Don’t come looking at us, if Wale hems your ass up for going out, while you’re pregnant.”

  Key smirked. “And you better hope that Jeremy don’t go upside your head too.”

  I gave her the finger and she blew me a kiss.

  “I love you too,” Keyasia puckered her lips. “Now, let’s start gathering our shit, and go get ready at Daynah’s house.”

  I frowned in confusion. “Why Daynah’s of all people? She lives the furthest away.”

  “Because,” Keyasia shrugged. “She’s the only one of us who don’t have a nigga. Aint nobody got time for one yall hating ass dudes to call and tell Corinthian nothing.”

  I pursed my lips. “Oh, like the fact that your pregnant ass is going to the club?”

  “Exactly.”

  I shook my head, knowing that it was going to be a crazy night, as it always was, dealing with my crazy cousin and the crew.

  Jeremy

  Amir had a full-fledged kick-back at his crib going on, where he’d invited a host of ratchet pussy over. I mean that nigga had called up on some of the baddest, loudest, wildest bitches around. These hoes were literally fucking niggas on the couch, while he sat next to his homeboy. These were some pure freaks…and it wasn’t shit I hadn’t seen before. Me being me, I’d jumped off the porch early. My family was hood royalty so pussy was always a given. I’d witnessed girls behave like this too many times to count, and I was shaking my head at some of my boys. They were fucking these hoes raw, probably about to give themselves a lifetime of problems. Me…yeah, I could’ve strapped up and had a little fun, but that honestly wasn’t where my head was at.

  Jhyrah had sank her claws so deep into a nig
ga that sometimes I hated the shit. The evil part of me wanted to fuck over her, just to show her who she was playing with. But I was literally stuck. All I could think about was her and how she’d fucked up the vibe. If I was being real with myself, I would much rather be somewhere ducked off with her, letting her ride my dick. With her…there was no protection. That meant that I was trusting her with my life, in some ways. To a nigga with all his sense, that shit meant something. Me loving her was something that I wasn’t shame about. My mama had ingrained it in our head that we were supposed to love the one we choose, properly. So, this definitely wasn’t about my feelings for her. No, this was about how she made me feel sometimes. I questioned if I was too forgiving. Shit, several of my boys switched girls for less, but unlike them…I couldn’t see myself without Jhyrah. And that sometimes bothered me. Because I questioned how far she could go, without me deciding that enough was enough. The last thing any man wanted was to feel weak behind his broad.

  Wanting to be away from the crowd for a second, I slipped off to Amir’s balcony, which overlooked a pool down below. I shook my head, as I contemplated calling Jhyrah. Truthfully, I had been punishing her. Me not seeing her for the past few days had been intentional. I wanted her mind to wonder, but I was slowly realizing that this shit was backfiring. I couldn’t even have fun, because most of my laughs were now shared with her. She was usually right with a nigga, even when I was hanging with the boys. Her absence was felt, and I was horny as fuck, therefore I was seconds from giving in.

  Attempting to distract myself, I scrolled through my phone, going to Instagram. The first thing I noticed was Taraj’s instasnap. Curiously, I clicked on the shit, and realized that she’s at the club. I was about to go the next person’s page, when I realized that the ass she was filming, twerking, looked awfully familiar. I knew Jhyrah’s ass from anywhere. The hairs on the back of my neck stood, as she stood upright, giving me a full view of her outfit. She was wearing some shit I’d see hoes wear in videos and shit. Her little backless halter was sheer and made of small diamonds. The shit looked like some costume and definitely shouldn’t have been worn in public. It was over the top along with the metallic platinum shorts she wore, with the matching heels. Her hair was done up in big curls, and her make-up looked professionally done. Nobody just randomly stepped out like this. It looked like whole glam squad had helped her pull this look together, although she’d specifically told me that her ass was in for the night.

  If Jhyrah’s look wasn’t enough to piss me off, then her behavior was about to drive me over the edge. On bad terms or not, I had never seen her publicly dance like this. She was wagging her tongue, while squatting and rolling her hips all nasty like. I noticed a few niggas grab at her, before the story switched to the next clip. Clip after clip, I saw my supposed gal cutting loose. Her, her cousin, and friends.

  “Boy, she a wild lil’ bitch, I see,” I said to myself. Glancing back, I saw all those freaks still kicking it tough in Amir’s living room. One of them caught me looking and blew a kiss. I could undoubtedly get my dick wet, right then. I was tempted, but I had more pressing matters to deal with. Yeah, I could act unaffected, but that aint never been my style. Jhyrah had me so fucked up, and she was gonna feel me tonight. On God.

  ***

  After leaving the Porsche with valet, I headed into the club, skipping the long line, of course. Admittedly, the Engine Room was packed and had I not been on a mission…I could see myself turning up. But duty called.

  Knowing Jhyrah and the rest of the girls all too well, I figured that they were in a section. Therefore, it was no surprise when I realized that they had the biggest section right in the middle of the club. I’m guessing that Instagram had pissed off a few niggas, because I immediately noticed Wale glowering down at Keyasia, and Little Jah was there snatching a bottle out of Josairah’s hand.

  I smirked, thinking that my cousin, Wale, and Keyasia were made for each other, because they were both a little touched in the head. Who the hell comes to the club with a big ass belly, anyway?

  Jhyrah seemed to be enjoying witnessing her people get checked, as she leaned into Taraj, laughing her head off.

  Creeping up behind them, I placed a hand on Jhyrah’s shoulder.

  “Uh, don’t be fucking touching me,” she snapped, spinning around. “Oh,” she gasped, laying eyes upon me.

  “Yeah, oh,” I mocked her, grabbing her arm. “Let me talk to you, right quick.”

  “Bae, what are you doing here?” she nervously smiled.

  “No, the real question is what the fuck are you doing here?”

  “I…I…I thought about calling you—”

  “But you didn’t,” I finished for her.

  “I…I know. I figured that you were tied up, anyway—”

  I placed up a hand, halting her. “Say, don’t give me that bullshit. You was on some sneaky shit. Just admit it.”

  “But I wasn’t,” she pouted, stomping her feet.

  “Yes, the fuck you was!” I barked, losing my cool.

  She glanced around, probably hoping that nobody was paying attention. “Can you calm down?”

  Releasing her arm, I tugged at my Givenchy jeans. “Hell, nah, I can’t calm down…matter of fact, I aint finna do this with you, right here. Bring your ass outside. Now,” I gritted, not giving a fuck about who was there. Luckily, Little Jahrein was too preoccupied with Josairah to be up in my business, because I could definitely see us tearing the club up, if he’d tried to stop me from checking Jhyrah. His sister had me fucked up.

  With her lips poked out, Jhyrah reluctantly followed me outside. As soon as she hit the door, she began shivering. I shook my head.

  “Look at you. Trying to be seen, coming out half naked and shit. Put this on, man.” I removed my Gucci jacket and placed it around her.

  “It wasn’t this cold earlier,” her teeth chattered.

  “It wasn’t cold?” I repeated in disbelief. She was talking as if the shit she had on would’ve been acceptable had it been warmer. I was so heated that I had to step away for second. Within this time, some lame nigga decided to step to Jhyrah. Apparently, she knew him somehow and called herself engaging in a conversation.

  “Yeah, I believe he was leaning,” she giggled.

  The dude smiled. “I told that nigga that he’d had enough.”

  “Come here, Jhyrah,” I cut into their conversation.

  “Are you calm?” she questioned. I guess trying to show out for that nigga.

  Gritting my teeth, I yanked my jacket that she was wearing, snatching her away from that nigga. I then drove her further down the sidewalk, until we were standing in front of the club’s main parking lot.

  “You really testing my fucking patience!”

  “Who are you hollering at?! She shouted back.

  Getting in her face, leaving no space between us, I growled. “You must really want me to embarrass you out here.”

  “Jhyrah, you good?”

  I glanced up, realizing that Keyasia was standing a few feet away with Wale.

  Wale shook his head. “Man, let’s go to the car, and get out of their business.”

  She sucked her teeth and rolled her eyes. “Nah, I aint going nowhere, until I hear what my cousin got to say. Cause Jeremy is cool and all, plus I know he’s your cousin, but I’m never gonna stand by while he handles my cousin. It aint happening.”

  I glared at Jhyrah. “Tell her to go’on ‘bout her business.”

  Jhyrah gulped. “I’m good, Key. I’m leaving with him.”

  “You sure? Cause you can ride with us,” Keyasia offered.

  I frowned. “Man, she’s good. Go ahead, Keyasia. Don’t nobody be all up in you and Wale’s business like this. Let us handle this shit. She’s good.”

  Keyasia looked like she was ready to go off, but Wale dragged her ass away. I shook my head, as I gazed down at Jhyrah. “Look at this shit. You see how you got your people all up in my business?”

  She fluttered her long lashe
s. “Jeremy, whatever. Let’s just go to the car. I’m not trying to argue with you out here.”

  ***

  “I find it really fucking hilarious how you go from forgetting that I exist to dragging me out of the club. For three days you haven’t been concerned about me, but now you’re mad. I bet you was posted up over there at Amir’s, seconds away from getting your dick sucked, and only hopped up to come ruin my fun,” Jhyrah fussed, as I floated down the freeway.

  “No,” I denied, as I gripped the steering wheel. “I hopped up because you told me that you was staying in.”

  “And that was true at the time.” She nodded. “But then shit changed.”

  I squinted. “And you couldn’t have called to tell me that?”

  “Nope,” she popped her lips. “Did you call me every time you traveled from one place to the next? Or did you hop up and do whatever the fuck you wanted?”

  “And why is that, Jhyrah?”

  “Why is what?”

  “Why have I been moving the way that I have?”