The Wild Child

by Nicole Jackson

  “Man, what the fuck it looks like?”

  Taking a deep breath, she lifted the phone and examined the screen. Now, she could catch a nice glimpse of the photo circulating around the internet. It was of her and some lame ass nigga named Latrell. She was sitting in his arms in the club, with a boob out that he was openly clutching for the fucking world to see.

  Instantly, her chest began to heave up and down. “What the fuck is this?! I…I didn’t do this! I mean, I know it’s me, but I would never allow his fat ass to touch me like that. Jeremy, you know that this has never been me!”

  “Aye, at this point, Ion know shit, besides the fact I’m fucking done.”

  “You’re done?!”

  “Hell, yeah.”

  She hurriedly climbed out of the bed. “Bae—”

  “Say, hoe, I aint your bae or nothing else. I put that on my mama,” I cut her off.

  “What? Jeremy, just please listen to me,” she begged, as she tried to grab my hand, but I stepped back. “I swear to God on everything that I love that I don’t remember shit from last night. Somebody had to do something to my drink. All I know is that me and Roxy—”

  “Nah,” I shook my head. “Roxy? The same bitch we just had a talk about? The same hoe I told you to watch, and you swore that you had it under control?!” I belted. “After all that fucking talking, you still went out with the bitch, and now you wanna bring her name up? Hell, nah, fuck that. I don’t give a fuck how the shit happened! Even if somebody did slip something into your drink, none of the shit would’ve happened had you not been there!”

  “Bae, and I know that. I take full responsibility for that,” she sputtered with desperation laced in her voice.

  “Man, you sound like a fucking broken record. You always fucking up and you’ll always do better. But then the shit happens again and again. Got me out here looking like a sucker ass nigga, while your lil’ bitch ass runs around like a slut with no home training. I can’t do this with you no more, before I fuck around and lose everything I worked for!”

  Her eyes bucked, as tears slipped out. “How the hell could I be the cause of you losing anything?”

  “Because I’m this close from chocking you until you take your last fucking breath. And before I go down for killing you, I’ma leave this fucked-up ass situation.”

  “But, Jeremy, I didn’t mean to do this,” she broke down into heavy sobs. “Please let me fix it. I’ll do anything.” She tugged at my shirt.

  I shoved her back with force. “Get the fuck off me.”

  “Baby, please don’t leave meeeee,” she boohooed.

  “The fuck you crying for?!” I quickly grew infuriated. “Your actions are telling me that this shit is what you want. You been begging for this day and now you finally got it!”

  “No,” she vehemently shook her head. “That’s a lie! I never wanted this! It’s supposed to be us…forever. You remember that?” she asked, as snot dripped from her nose.

  The fact that a part of me considered hugging her to sooth her sorrows had me vexed. She didn’t deserve my comfort or my love. “Look,” I breathed, while snatching my cell off the bed. “I came here to say what I had to say. Now, I’m done. I aint finna argue with you. The condo? You can have that shit. Ion want nothing you slept in. I’ll have my shit out by the end of the day. I just want a clean break, so you can stay the fuck out of my life.”

  She stood sniveling uncontrollably, as I unlocked the door, preparing to leave. I thought that she’d given in, until I felt her snatch the back of my shirt. I was caught off guard, as she caused me to stumble backwards. Losing her fucking mind, she bit my fucking jaw, as we both fell into the bed.

  Furiously, I flipped her ass over, and I felt her draw blood, as I literally had to yank my skin from in between her teeth. I then wrapped my hands around her throat. She flailed her legs, as I blacked out. She was clawing at my hands, but I was seeing red.

  “Hell, nah!” Keyasia blurted, as she stormed into the room. “Get the fuck off her, nigga!” she seethed, as she pummeled my back.

  People had always talked about how strong Keyasia was, and I guess I always felt that they were exaggerating until that very moment. She put a choke hold on me that had a nigga gasping for air. Spitefully, I tightened my grip on Jhyrah.

  “Corinthian!” Key screamed. “Come get this nigga, before he kills my fucking cousin!”

  Within seconds, Wale was in the room, prying Keyasia off me.

  “You so fucking worried about me on him, but he’s about to kill her!” Key exclaimed. The panic was evident in her voice.

  “Kinfolk,” Wale voiced, as he clutched my shoulder. “Let her go, man. It aint worth it.”

  Just then, something clicked inside of my head, and I released Jhyrah. Immediately, she began coughing, before rolling off the bed, and puking all over the floor.

  “This nigga is crazy!” Keyasia squawked. “He choked that girl, until all her food came up.”

  “She lucky that’s all I did to her,” I growled, as I fought strong urges to drag Jhyrah through their fucking condo.

  Jhyrah slowly climbed to her feet, wiping her mouth with the back of her hand. “It’s cool, Key. I’m okay.”

  “You’re okay?” Keyasia repeated. “Jhyrah, he would’ve killed you had I not stepped in! I’m calling your daddy!”

  “No!” Jhyrah quickly blurted. “Key, don’t you do that bullshit! This is not my daddy’s business!”

  I sucked my teeth. “I don’t give a fuck who you call. Anybody can get it!”

  “Baby, just—” Jhyrah attempted to touch me again, and I pushed her into the bed.

  “Okay!” Keyasia fumed. “It’s time for you to go, Jeremy. And Jhyrah, leave that nigga alone if he don’t wanna be bothered. Fuck him.”

  I shook my head, noticing how quick Keyasia flipped the script. She was just claiming to know where I’m coming from, but now it was fuck me. But I wasn’t surprised. They were cousins and that’s the way the loyalty shit was supposed to go.

  “Yeah, kinfolk, just walk away. I know exactly how you feel. And I know putting your hands on her feels like the right thing to do right now, but you’ll regret this shit later. You got too much to lose. It’s way too many other hoes out here for that,” Wale lectured.

  “Wait a minute, muthafucka,” Key snapped. “The fuck are you trying to say? I know you aint standing here encouraging this nigga to shit on my cousin!”

  “What you mean?!” Wale bucked his eyes. “Just like she’s your cousin, he’s my cousin too. I aint gotta stand here and pretend that what happened last night wasn’t foul. Any man is his right mind would wanna mash something. So, the best thing for this man to do is to move around. Ion give a fuck what nobody feel. I aint finna sit back and watch this man write himself a one-way ticket to the county jail.”

  Jhyrah clutched her mouth as tears continuously fell. “Jeremy, please don’t leave like this.”

  “Nah, fuck that,” Keyasia spat, as she took Jhyrah into her arms, hugging her tightly. “Don’t beg that nigga. If he wanna go, then let him go.”

  Wale cut his eyes at her. “Keyasia, man, mind your business. This is for these people to handle. How the hell are you gonna tell her not to beg, when she was the one who fucked up?”

  “Say, none of that shit matters, cause it’s over. I put that on something,” I promised, as I turned to head out the door.

  Jhyrah must’ve attempted to come after me, because I could hear her and Keyasia scuffling.

  “Let me go, Key!”

  “No!” Keyasia refused. “Regardless of how this shit pans out, you gotta let him leave, right now, Jhyrah. You got to, because that boy wanna hurt you. I can see it in his eyes. And I’ma fuck around and cut his ass. So, let him go!”

  Chapter 24

  Jhyrah

  “The hell is wrong with you, little girl?” My mama fussed, as I sat on the couch in my living room. “Why the hell did we have to drive all the way over here because you wouldn’t answer yo
ur phone?”

  I wasn’t surprised to see her here. For two days I’d been locked away in my apartment, crying my eyes out. People who didn’t know me from a hole in wall were now sudden experts on my alleged promiscuous ways. I was the biggest hoe around, and niggas needed to realize that a fat ass and pretty face didn’t amount to anything. More men needed to choose women of substance, and according to Instagram and Twitter I didn’t have any.

  “Exactly,” my daddy agreed. “We dropped everything we was doing, because nobody had heard from you.”

  “I’m sorry,” I sighed heavily. “I just didn’t feel like talking.”

  My daddy sat in Jeremy’s recliner, frustratingly stroking his waves. “I bet you didn’t. What the fuck is this shit I’m seeing all over Instagram?”

  I held my head in shame. “Somebody had to put something in my drink,” I mumbled.

  “And why would you think that?”

  “Because, I can only recall having two drinks, before I blacked out. I’ve been drinking for a minute and have never experienced anything like that in my life.”

  My daddy angrily scooted to the edge of the chair. “Who the fuck gave you a drink?”

  “Umm, I don’t know. This girl named Roxy handed it to me, but I don’t think she fixed it herself.”

  “And you don’t think that she could’ve been the one to spike your drink?” My mama enquired.

  I shook my head. “I doubt it. Keyasia told me that from what she could tell, Roxy was out of it too. So, she more than likely had whatever was given to me.”

  My mama shook her head, warding off tears. That fucked me up even more.

  “I’m sorry, mama. I know that I’ve disappointed you,” I apologized.

  She dabbed her eye as a few tears slipped out. “Even though, you haven’t been making the best decisions, I’m not crying because of that. I was your age once, so I know that you’ll fuck up. I’m just thinking about what could’ve happened had Keyasia not saw you there. Who knows how far Latrell’s fat nasty ass would’ve gone? That’s what kills me the most.”

  I gulped, never really considering the possibilities ‘til that very moment. Somebody probably wanted to do more than just embarrass me, and I’d probably gotten off easy.

  “Yeah, anything could’ve happened, but I’m seeing now that these niggas don’t value their lives,” my daddy fumed. “I aint giving no passes. And if it wasn’t for your little social media fame, that nigga would be dead, right now. It’s too many eyes on the situation, so I gotta let it die down. In the meantime, Latrell’s bitch ass aint eating nowhere in Houston. I’m making sure of that. Then after I starve him, and people forget about this; it’s lights out.”

  My gaze fell to the floor as I knew that he meant every word. It wasn’t often that he talked that way in my presence, but everybody knew that my daddy didn’t just talk it. He lived it.

  “And let this be a lesson to you, Jhyrah,” my mama added. “Keep your circle tight, and if you don’t know them, don’t fuck with ‘em.”

  My daddy scowled. “Where is Jeremy?”

  My gaze remained trained on the floor. “I don’t know.”

  “You don’t know?! What you mean? Why aint he here at a time like this?”

  “Because.” I lifted my head. “He broke up with me.”

  My daddy shook his head. “I aint even about to ask the details. That’s yall business.”

  “Baby, you sure he’s not just mad, right now?” My mama quizzed. “You know, maybe he’s embarrassed by what people are saying about yall, right now.”

  I exhaled. “Honestly, mama, it’s a few things, and it’s serious. Whatever’s happening with us, it’s enough for him to say he’s done. Most of his clothes are gone, and I guess that he’ll come get the rest of his stuff later.”

  “Aww, baby, I’m sorry,” she consoled. “How are you feeling about it?”

  I shrugged my shoulders, feeling defeated. “I guess it doesn’t matter. Regardless of how I feel, he seems determined to go his own way. He wont talk to me or anything.”

  “Give him some time,” my daddy offered. “He’ll cool off and bring his ass home.”

  I tried to hold it in, but reality was finally setting in. “I don’t know about that, daddy,” my lips quivered. “I think it’s really overrrrrrrr,” I sobbed.

  “No, baby, don’t cry,” my mama pleaded, as she rushed over, wrapping her arms around me. “I know this hurt, right now, and if I could take your pain away, I’d gladly do that. I know that you might not believe me right now, but you’ll get past this. Regardless, if Jeremy’s here with you or not.”

  Jeremy

  “Aye, good looking out. As always the food was hitting.”

  Vita gently smiled, as she sat next to me on her couch. “I appreciate that. Now, what are you about to do?”

  I licked my lips as I contemplated. “I wouldn’t mind stepping out. You down to hit up the club with your boy?”

  She tilted her head sideways. “The club is cool, but I’m just not feeling it tonight. But you go ahead. Turn up for me.”

  I chuckled.

  “What’s so funny?” she playfully elbowed me.

  “I was honestly beginning to believe that there weren’t chicks walking around speaking your language, anymore.”

  She lifted her chin. “What is that supposed to mean?”

  I slid my tongue across my teeth. “It means that I like that shit.”

  She blushed.

  “So, what’s popping? You gon hit up the movies with me or what?”

  She smiled brightly. “Hell, yeah. I’m definitely down with that.”

  ***

  “I got dreams of living lavish. In the kitchen whipping magic—” The Hardaway pumped from the internal speakers in the ceiling.

  Without a doubt, one of my best investments was purchasing my first three-story home. It was conveniently located right outside of the inner loop of the city on the west side. The home had the amenities and feel of a high-rise condo, with the freedom of not sharing walls with a neighbor. Everything was so high-tech that I’d been there for nearly a month and still hadn’t figured out how to operate everything.

  I was chilling in the workout room, which was directly behind my four-car garage. Everything in the room was state-of-the-art, and I no longer had to leave home to do a proper workout.

  “That’s right, boy!” Vita boasted, as she towered over me, wearing yoga pants and a sports bra. Her body was glistening in sweat, since she’d literally been down there with me the entire time, burning calories. She’d been spotting me while I weight-lifted 150 pounds. “Show me why you dominate those other players on the field!”

  “That’s a hundred, right there,” I exhaled, as I placed the bar of weights back on its holder. “It’s a wrap for the day,” I proclaimed, as I grabbed a bottle of water off the floor. I was shirtless and had worked up a serious sweat.

  “Yeah,” Vita smiled, placing her hands on her round hips. “I think we did pretty good.”

  I eyed her sexy physique. “Is that right?”

  She stroked her long ponytail. “Yep.”

  I stood up, as we locked eyes. I could tell that she was a little nervous, as I lowered my head, kissing her lips. As if on cue, my cell went off.

  I took a deep breath, as I pulled away from her, and grabbed my cell. Realizing who the caller was, I shook my head. “Fuck man.”

  Vita rolled her eyes. “Her again, huh?”

  I nodded, as I sent the call to voicemail. “But fuck all that,” I stepped to her again, and resumed kissing her soft lips. Gradually, I hooked an arm around her tiny waist.

  Lovingly, she caressed my face, before taking a deep sigh.

  I paused. “What’s wrong?”

  She cleared her throat. “What’s really going on between you and ole girl, Jeremy? Seriously.”

  I frowned. “What you mean? I told you what it was. It’s over. I don’t fuck with her.”

  “Okay, but who said that I wante
d to be a rebound?”

  I squinted. “Where did you get that from? Have I came at you like that?”

  “No, you haven’t,” she admitted. “But I have plenty of common sense. The girl you were with did some foul ass shit and you reacted. I get it. But I’m not gonna stand here and pretend that I don’t have feelings for you. Keeping it real, I’ve felt something for a while, but I wasn’t going to disrespect your relationship or hope for a side position. In the meantime, we developed a solid friendship and I don’t want to lose that over a fling. Going there will change everything, and if you’re just trying to play for a while, let me know. That’s not what I want, though. I’m not looking for a casual fuck. I mean, it’s cool if you are, but I’ma need you to go get that from somewhere else. That way we can maintain our friendship and there will be no love lost.”

  I lightly chuckled before sliding my tongue across my lips. “Look, I’m not finna stand here and bullshit you. I was blind-sided with this bullshit. I definitely didn’t expect for shit to pan out this way, but I’m single now. Frankly, me and you both know what it is. I like you and you like me. We just met at the wrong time. I was into something so we couldn’t act on our feelings. But I’m free now, and I wanna see what’s up. I can’t make you no promises, but I can tell you that I’m serious. There’s no games here. If it was just about me trying to fuck, I could easily go a simpler route. I got you in my crib, Vita. All up in my personal space. You’ve been getting any free time I have, so you gotta know it’s real.”

  Instead of replying, Vita stepped up and attacked me. Boldly, she slid her hand into my basketball shorts and boxers. Gripping my dick, she stroked me.

  “Ummm,” she moaned with a grin on her face. “Oouuu, it’s big just how I imagined it.”

  I gazed down at her pretty face. “Oh, yeah? What are you gonna do with it?”

  “Let me show you,” she mumbled, before stepping back and removing her own sports bra. She then slid her yoga pants down her legs, before kicking them off with her feet.

  Wasting no time, I dropped my shorts and boxers to the floor. My hard dick bobbed, as she gripped me again.