by S. L. Walker
“Yeah it was great,” I told her. “Raven almost through up on the Demon. I told her not to eat,” I started to say.
“I ran into Debbie today at the grocery store. She said you weren’t at your job for two days because you were sick,” she looked at my facial expressions for answers. Something she always did when she questioned me. I was a horrible liar and I completely forgot about nosy ass Debbie. She was one of the assistant managers at the center. She hadn’t been there that week because she was sick as well. So she must have had a conversation about something going around.
“I didn’t know you were sick. Did you not go to school either?” She asked me.
“Yes, mom, I went to school,” I told her.
“Then, I go and tell your dad and as usual he didn’t seem a bit concerned,” she told me.
“Mom, who cares if I missed a couple days of that center,” I said, annoyed. The center was my choice. It wasn’t doing any of them any harm and a part of me felt like she was taking out extra anger on me.
“Is there something I should know, Angie? You like the center. And we agreed it would be good for you and having responsibilities,” she pried. I couldn’t understand why she was so concerned nor what she wanted to hear from me.
As we got closer to home, she kept waiting for me to let her know something but I kept denying anything was wrong. I told her I just wanted a break from it, that's all, but she didn’t believe me.
She finally let it go as we turned in the driveway. My dad’s car was parked in his usual spot.
“Okay, Angie. It’s your life,” she said, getting out the car.
When we walked in the house, we both could tell he was just getting home. He still had on his shoes as he walked up and kissed me on my forehead, completely ignoring my mom as she passed by into the living room.
“You have fun, Angie?” He asked.
“Yeah,” I told him, taking off my coat and hanging it on the coat rack by the door.
“Good,” he smirked.
“That’s all you’re going to say to her?” My mom fussed at him as I walked quickly to my room. I closed the door to drown them out. This nightly routine was getting old.
EVA
I had another tutor session with Professor Heart after class. I had been purposely dressing a little nicer, even sprayed perfume before I went to class. Raven was teasing me all day today about it. She gave me a wink when the bell rang for the end of class as she headed out. I brushed her off as I met Professor Heart at his desk.
He gave me his usual sexy smile as he closed his lesson for the day. I watched him go into his computer, untie his red and black tie and loosen his ruby red button up shirt. He looked damn good. He closed the door when the last person left. As his back was turned, I straightened my breast in my black sweater dress and boots and tied my hair back in a ponytail, leaving just a few teasing hairs.
“Okay, let’s get started. Did you finish your outline?” He asked me, coming back to his desk.
“Yeah, it’s right here,” I said, pulling out a Michael Jackson folder. He laughed.
“MJ fan huh?” He asked.
“Yeah, why?” I asked, interested.
“What you know about Michael Jackson?” He teased. “You not old enough to know about the real MJ,” he laughed.
“Ummmm, I happen to be a huge MJ fan! And I’m old enough!” I said looking him in is dreamy eyes. I showed him my dancing MJ engraved ring holding it up to him. He took my hand and examined the small engraved MJ figure in it. I could feel a spark in the way he was holding my hand. I guess he could feel it too, because he instantly let my hand go.
“Aight aight, I give it to you. What’s your favorite song?” He asked me.
“Dirty Diana,” I instantly said. He looked at me and laughed even harder.
“You def shouldn’t be knowing about Dirty Diana,” he crossed his arms.
“Dirty Diana is the shit. That and Bad,” I said completely not wanting to work on this project anymore but put some music on and have some real fun.
“You have good taste, I’ll admit that,” he said. “So about that outline,” he grabbed the paper and looked over it. I sighed at the instant change of subject, but respected it.
“Looks good, you’re halfway there,” he said, handing me my outline back. “One more session and you got this girl,” he cheesed.
I smiled back but dreaded not being able to spend time with him anymore. Something about him was enticing. I don’t know if it was his maturity, his intelligence, his looks, or all of it. But I didn’t want to stop. Not yet.
RAVEN
I couldn’t stop looking at the piece of paper Treach had given me nor could I stop thinking about if Deon saw us talking.
If I didn’t do this for Treach, would he be offended?
Was he doing this to teach Deon a lesson?
Would I be digging myself further into something I couldn’t get myself out of?
Everything pointed to hell yea, Raven. I had somehow got lucky with the Kaitlin situation. I wanted to reach out to her for advice, but she wouldn’t even look at me at school now.
Instead of meeting the girls after school, I went to Zara’s house. I couldn’t talk to my girls about this since they were all against the idea. It was understandable seeing as they all cared about me, but I needed some advice. Plus, I had a feeling there was something Zara wasn’t telling me about Treach. Usually when I have a feeling about someone, it’s usually right.
We were sitting in her room as she rolled us up a joint.
“You might as well throw that away,” she said about the paper I was looking at.
“So you think it’s crazy too?” I asked her.
“Raven, Treach isn’t someone to just get involved with. I didn’t even know your brother was involved. How did that happen? He could just be using you,” she said, finishing the roll.
“Yeah he could. I don’t know, I fucked up,” I began. “I tried to sell all his weed for him through this chick at school. His weed got sold, but the girl is stuck doing deliveries and Lord knows what Deon has to do and isn’t telling me,” I told her.
“That’s some shit, Raven. Here,” she said, handing me the joint and the lighter. I took it and lit it.
“Where’s your dad?” I asked.
“I don’t know. Probably working. He works a lot. Gone a lot, but I don’t mind. What’s your dad like?” She asked me.
“Smart. Hard working. He does a lot for us. He tries,” I told her, handing her the joint.
“Then you definitely shouldn’t mess with Treach. Don’t put your dad through that, especially if he already has to deal with it with Deon,” she said.
I hadn’t thought about my dad being affected. He would go crazy if he found out both of his kids were involved with the one person he said not to be. We’d deserve him kicking us both out. But, I couldn’t stop thinking about what Treach had up his sleeve if I didn’t do it.
“What’s that face?” Zara interrupted my thoughts.
“Nothing,” I said.
“No what?” She asked handing me the joint.
“How do you know Treach? Is it cus everyone knows who he is, like Tori said? I mean you stay in these hills, your dad got money, you wouldn’t be exposed to none of that right?” I asked curiously.
It was just me and her, I figured she would be comfortable enough to be honest with me. She stood up from her bed we were both sitting on and closed her door as if someone would hear her.
“My dad did some work with Treach. I don’t know what or why. He wouldn’t tell me. But whatever it was, I overheard him saying something about Treach being a bad investment. I did a little research and you can google him, shit,” she said taking the joint from me and sitting back on the bed.
“I wonder what your dad was doing,” I said surprised. I still felt like she wasn’t telling me the whole story, but she didn’t know me like that and I didn’t feel it was right to press it anymore.
“All I’m gonna s
ay is think long and hard about it before you do anything dumb. Maybe ask you brother whats up, I am sure he will figure it out,” she said.
“Hell no, are you crazy? I already fucked up by not telling him sooner. Deon would flip and might even make it worse,” I refused. Deon was the last person I’d tell.
“Okay but if he finds out it’ll be even worse,” she said putting the remaining piece of joint out in her Hello Kitty ashtray.
She had a point. Damned if I did, damned if I didn’t.
Molly knocked at her door.
“Come in!” Zara yelled. She hopped up opening her windows.
“Hey, Z, dinner is downstairs, I am about to leave,” she said opening the door and waving the ganga smoke out of her face. Molly was a thin, short white woman, looked like she was about 60. I couldn’t tell if her chocolate brown hair was dyed or she hadn’t grown her grey in yet.
“Awesome, thanks Molly. Oh, Molly this is Raven,” she said introducing me.
“I heard about you, nice to finally meet you,” she shook my hand.
“Me too,” I told her.
“Okay, tell your dad remember I am off Friday, okay? See you tomorrow,” she said and closed the door as she left.
“She seems cool,” I told Zara.
“She totally is. You hungry?” She asked me.
“I can eat,” I answered.
“Here, roll this before we eat. I think she made Lasagna, too,” she threw a small bag of weed and the utensils my way.
VICTORIA
Alex had left almost ten messages on our phone in one day, cussing my mom out about the court papers he got served. He must’ve gotten them today. After the third message, I pressed delete as soon as his irritating voice came on. My mom hadn’t heard any of the messages yet, thank God.
He had called her all kinds of bitches and how she wasn’t getting a dime and he didn’t have time for this.
I cursed myself for not keeping the messages, thinking she could have used them in court. She had been doing well at her job and actually liked it, and I didn’t want her to be stressing off him. Her job was still only part time but with this child support money, she would finally be okay.
I threw a frozen pizza in the oven and called Raven who had been a little distant since the Halloween Fair. I knew it probably had something to do with that Treach guy and I didn’t want her to do anything stupid.
“Hey,” she picked up.
“What you doing?” I asked, pouring me some juice out of the fridge.
“Nothing, waiting on my dad to bring some food. I’m starving,” she said. I could hear music playing in the background.
“Where you been after school?” I asked, worried.
“Just been hanging with Zara. You going to her party?” She answered.
“Yeah, I am. I don’t think Eva is going, though,” I said.
“I’m not surprised, Eva’s such a hater. If she stop acting like that, just maybe she will see they both are kinda alike,” she said.
“You must really like her,” I said, suspicious. I didn’t have a problem with Zara, but Eva had a point on how close they were getting so soon.
“You sound like Eva,” she laughed.
“You hear anymore about Treach?” I changed the subject.
“Nah, I threw the paper away. Not gonna put my family through that. I am sure Treach has plenty of delivery people,” she said.
“Good. I think that’s best. Just watch your back and you know we got your back,” I reassured her. The front door opened. “Moms here, I’ll call you back,” I told her.
“For sure,” she said, and we hung up.
I looked over the couch as she walked in smiling and waving. She had a pretty blue dress on and knee-high boots.
“My feet are killing me!” She said walking in. “You making pizza?”
“Yeah. Mom, did you serve Alex? He called today upset,” I asked her. I didn’t want to tell her the level of how upset he was, but she needed to know he was trippin’.
“Yes, I know, that idiot called your grandmother, who called me at 6 this morning questioning me,” she said, taking off her shoes and plopping next to me. “Look, baby girl, this isn’t your fight okay,” she said rubbing my hair out of my face. “Your mother is stronger than she looks,” she said, kissing me on the forehead and heading towards the kitchen. She really was a strong woman. But being strong didn’t mean you couldn’t get hurt and that’s what I was afraid of.
ANGEL
The burger place I met Sam at had an old 80’s feel to it. Framed records all over the walls, dimmed lighting and a mini bar. I had met him as soon as I got out of the center. Sam was sitting at one of the booth tables and I noticed he had some red roses with him. I instantly blushed. He waved as I walked up to him.
“This place is pretty cool. I don’t know how I’ve never seen it before,” I said, sitting down.
“They have the best milkshakes. You look nice today,” he complimented as if he didn’t see me earlier today. I had on a light jean jacket and red tank top and some skinny jeans. Nothing special to me, but Sam was polite like that.
“Thanks, I can definitely use a good shake,” I told him. We opened the menu and I looked at all the delicious burgers; one stuffed with fries, another onion rings, and triple meat patties. I didn’t exactly eat these kind of burgers but was willing to try. “What do you recommend?” I asked Sam.
“Depends on what you like. I’m getting the grizzly burger,” he said. I looked at it on the menu and it had double patties with tons of cheese gushing out the sides. I made a disgusted face.
“Something simple,” I told him, shaking my head.
“The lighthouse is a good one,” he pointed at a burger, which was filled with chips.
“I’ll get that and a vanilla shake,” I said. The waitress wasted no time and came over with waters just around the same time we decided on our order. We ordered our food and I caught Sam staring.
“What?” I blushed.
“You’re just so pretty to me. I can’t even believe we are actually eating together. Beats the small convos at the center. And you’re always busy so I can’t really get to know you the way I want,” he said. Get to know me? I was hoping Sam didn’t think I would eventually be his girlfriend. He was cool, sweet, and handsome, but being someone’s girlfriend was never my intention.
“Well, you are my actual first date I’ve ever been on,” I told him.
“Serious? Wow. So why me?” He asked, his puppy dog eyes waiting for my answer.
“I don’t know, because I know you,” I answered.
“That’s it?” He asked, disappointed.
“Yea, I mean guys ask me at school all the time, but I don’t know. I’m not comfortable,” I said.
“Of course they are, you’re beautiful,” he said again. I looked away blushing and fiddling with my drink straw.
“Thanks, Sam,” I said taking a sip of my water.
“Am I being too forward?” He asked.
“Listen,” I started to say before the waitress came over with our milkshakes. “I just have a lot going on,” I told him as soon as she walked away.
“Meaning? The center?” He asked.
“My parents, my friends, and yeah the center. I don’t know how to be a girlfriend,” I admitted. He looked disappointed.
“Well, I’m not asking for that. Not right now, I mean we can just be friends. I would be there for you regardless,” Sam said. “What’s going on with your parents?” He asked.
“I don’t know really,” I looked away fighting tears.
“Everything okay?” He asked me. I looked into his concerned eyes and didn’t realize how much I was bottling up what I seen my dad do and how I was keeping this secret from my mother. But did I want Sam to know this? A part of me didn’t and the other part wanted to run into his arms and tell him everything.
“Um, I caught my dad cheating on my mom. She doesn’t know,” I told him.
“Does he know you know?�
�� He asked. I know he could see the doubt and shame in my eyes.
“Yeah” I said, still holding back my tears but I knew he could tell I would cry at any moment.
“I’m sorry, Angel. You don’t deserve that kind of stress. My parents are divorced for that reason. Cus my dad couldn’t keep it in his pants. So your mom doesn’t know you know either, huh? You should tell her,” he said.
“What? No, I can’t,” I told him.
“You can’t keep that to yourself,” he said. I finally lost my composure and dropped a couple tears hurrying to wipe them away before anyone else saw. He leaned over and wiped my face with his hands. “I’m sorry if I upset you,” he said.
I grabbed my milkshake and started drinking it to get my composure.
“I can’t tell her, okay?” I said. Thankfully, the waitress, once again, had perfect timing bringing our food, but now I wasn’t so sure I had an appetite.
CHAPTER 7
Raven arrived at an abandoned restaurant during the late evening. She took out the piece of paper Treach gave her and double checked the address. She then looked around at the dimly lit streets. There were a few stray cats running around and a couple people walking, but nothing too scary or suspicious. She looked at the paper again.
“Where the hell is the entrance?” She said to herself.
“You lost?” A woman’s voice appeared behind her. She turned around to a black woman about her height. She had on a designer velour sweatsuit and large gold earrings with long black and blonde braids past her breast. Her Baltimore accent was strong.
“Uh, maybe,” Raven hesitated to say. “Does a Lo live here?” Raven asked.
“Oh you lookin’ for Lo? He don’t live here. Follow me,” she said. Raven was again hesitant but followed her around the side of the restaurant, clinching her taser she took from her dad. The woman opened the side fence and the back of the restaurant looked like a completely different setting. There were men outside talking and drinking and a big dog was chained up to the side of the fence that started barking as soon as they walked in; Raven jumped. There was a small house lit up on the inside. Raven could hear people talking and laughing inside. She clinched her taser tighter. The men stopped talking to each other and greeted the girl.
