Real As It Gets

by ReShonda Tate Billingsley

  “Dang it,” Travis mumbled. He seemed really upset.

  “I hope it was worth it,” I snapped. “Jerk.”

  He glanced back and the car, where Angel was sitting in the front seat, trembling.

  “Nah, it wasn’t worth it,” Travis softly said, like he was mad at himself. “I don’t even like shorty like that. It’s just she ...”

  I looked at Angel buttoning up her shirt over her gigantic boobs. Yeah, I knew exactly how she had lured my cousin. But I wasn’t about to let him off that easy.

  “You’re trifling, Travis.” I jabbed my finger in his face. “I don’t even know who you are anymore. You’re selling drugs. Trying to play my friends. You make me sick.”

  Just then, we heard a loud scream. I looked to see where it was coming from. It was just a few feet away. It was the stringy-haired girl from my calculus class. She had fallen to the ground in tears. A group of people had gathered around her and were trying to console her as she screamed and cried.

  “Nooooo, not Lin,” she cried.

  I guess it was the reporter in me because I flicked Travis off and made my way over to the commotion.

  “What’s going on?” I asked one of my classmates.

  “You know Lin Vo, the valedictorian?”

  “Yeah, I have calculus with him. What about him?” I asked.

  “He died today. You know he had overdosed and been in the hospital.”

  “From dope, right?” someone standing next to us asked.

  “From that K2,” the guy said just as Travis approached. I looked at him to see if he had heard. Judging from the look of horror on his face, he had definitely heard.

  Chapter 30

  “What’s wrong with you? Are you still mad at me?” Travis asked. I’d ignored him all evening. I was so mad at him and I was mad at Sheridan for being mad at me, so I didn’t have anything to say to either one of them.

  I stared at Travis but didn’t say a word.

  “Come on, Maya. Don’t be like that.”

  I put my magazine down and stared him directly in the eye. Travis was always playing around, but this was serious and I needed him to know it. “First you playing with my girl’s heart and now, Lin died from those drugs you’re selling.”

  Travis lost his smile. “I didn’t have anything to do with that. I don’t sell at school.”

  “Okay, so he didn’t get it from you. But who knows, maybe the next person that does get it from you will end up just like him. I just don’t understand how you can get caught up in this. You haven’t been here that long—how could you be hooked up with a drug dealer so fast?”

  Travis let out a long sigh. “Look, you don’t know my world.”

  “Even if that was your world, it isn’t anymore,” I protested. I was about to put anger aside and try to reason with him. I was done. If I couldn’t get through to him, my next step was to go to my dad. “You have a good life here.” I motioned around the house. “You have everything you ever wanted.”

  His eyebrows narrowed together and his nostrils flared. “No, Maya. You have got a good life. This isn’t my home. Yeah, Uncle Myles and Aunt Liza are trying to make me feel welcome, but at the end of the day, if I slip up, I’m gone.”

  “Then don’t slip up,” I said matter-of-factly.

  “Do you mess up? Yeah,” he said, not waiting for me to answer. “And if you do, nothing’s gonna happen. If I do, I’m outta here. And it’s just a matter of time before I’m not good enough. So, I’m trying to get a better life for me and my mom.”

  “By selling drugs?”

  “By any means necessary!”

  I didn’t know how to get through to my cousin, but I had to get him to see he needed to get out of the drug game. “You know, my dad is not gonna turn his back on you.”

  “If my own dad would turn his back on me ...” Travis caught himself, like he was trying not to get angry. “I’m not counting on anyone but me and my mom.”

  “Travis, that’s crazy.”

  “You would think so,” he snapped. “You lead a privileged life, Maya. But the rest of us, we gotta do what we can to survive.”

  “But you’re family. Mom and Dad treat you like you are. Anything you want, they give it to you.”

  “Until they don’t. My mom won’t ask your dad for help. There’s a reason for that.”

  I shrugged. As much money as my father had, he could pay for whatever Aunt Bev needed, so I didn’t understand why she didn’t want to ask.

  “Why won’t Aunt Bev let him help her?”

  “Because Uncle Myles made her feel like a failure and she refused to beg. She wanted to make it on her own. That’s what I’m trying to do.”

  “But you’re trying to make it by selling drugs.” I sighed heavily. It was like nothing I was saying was getting through to him. “How’d you even get involved in that game?”

  He blew a frustrated breath. “Look, I had a connect that used to come up to New York. I hooked up with him down here. It wasn’t supposed to be permanent. It was just to get a little stash.”

  “How much do you need, Travis? I have some money—I will give it to you.”

  He actually looked insulted. “I’m not some kind of leech. I work for mines.”

  “Selling drugs isn’t work.”

  Travis threw up his hand like he was tired of this conversation. “It’s not even that serious. I’m out of the game so why we even having this conversation?”

  “So you’re really out of the game now?” I asked, trying to decide if I was going to tell him about the latest conversation I had overheard.

  “Yes.”

  “Whatever, Travis.” I couldn’t believe he was just going to keep lying to me. Well, now I knew what I had to do. “I’m done.” I stood and walked toward the door. “I tried to give you a chance. Now you left me with no choice.” With that, I headed down the hallway toward my father’s office.

  Chapter 31

  I stood outside my dad’s office, wrestling with my decision. I was seriously scared for Travis because this drug was no joke and according to sources in the newsroom, police were really about to start cracking down on it, so the last thing I wanted was my cousin going to jail. Not only because he wasn’t the jail type, but how would that look for me?

  “Hey, sweet pea, how are you?” my dad said once he noticed me standing in the doorway.

  “Hey, Dad. You got a minute?” I asked.

  He motioned for me to come in. “I’ve got just a minute.” He shuffled through some papers on his desk. “I have an important meeting I’m getting ready for.”

  I sighed. He always had an important meeting. I thought about going to talk to my mom but quickly nixed that. She would hear the word “drugs” and have Travis on the first plane back to New York.

  I sat down in the tall wingback chair in front of my dad’s desk. “Can I ask you, why’d you bring Travis here?”

  My father stopped for a minute, then looked up at me. “Why? I thought you’d enjoy having your cousin around. You guys used to be so close when you were little.”

  “Nah, he’s cool. I like having him here. I was just wondering why you decided to bring him here.”

  My dad finally gave me his undivided attention like he was trying to figure out where this conversation was going. “Well, my sister is just having a hard time.”

  “Travis said Aunt Bev is sick. Is that true?”

  My dad nodded. “Yeah, Bev’s not doing too well and the stress of Travis getting in and out of trouble is only making things worse. He was running with the wrong crowd and the judge said this was his last chance. So, this is kind of the last shot. It would probably kill my sister if it didn’t work out here,” my dad sadly said. “So, I really appreciate you working with me on this. I can imagine that it can’t be easy for you since you’re used to being an only child. I’m very proud of you, Maya.”

  Oh great, I thought. How was I supposed to tell him about Travis now?

  “So, why’d you want to t
alk to me about Travis? Is something wrong?”

  I paused. I couldn’t do it, especially after what he’d just said. “That’s actually not what I wanted to talk to you about.” I thought for a moment. How would I get out of this now? “I’m working on this story for the station,” I continued. “What would you do if you found out someone you knew was selling drugs?”

  “Drugs? I would call the police and turn them in myself.” Somehow, I had known that would be my dad’s answer. He’d always made it clear that the two things he would not tolerate were stealing and drugs.

  “What if it was a relative? You would turn in your own flesh and blood?” I asked.

  “Absolutely.” He narrowed his eyes at me. “Morgans don’t mess around with drugs.”

  I forced a smile. “Dad. It’s for a story, I told you. You know I’m not about to mess up all of this.” I motioned up and down my body.

  My dad narrowed his gaze. “Is it Travis? Is he doing drugs?” I could see the panic on his face, so I quickly said, “No, Dad. I told you it’s just for a story. This lady turned in her son and I just couldn’t see how she could do that. That’s all.”

  Relief immediately passed over my dad’s face.

  “Okay. I’m just making sure,” he said, relaxing for a bit. “But no, anyone who sells drugs is a blemish on the community and deserves to be put in jail.” I wondered if his answer would be different if he knew his nephew was selling one of the biggest drugs on the market.

  “Okay, I was just wondering. I’m going to let you get back to work.” I stood and made my way back out into the living room. Travis was standing near the front door like he wanted to be ready in case he had to make a quick getaway. I swear, I’d never seen him look so scared.

  He watched me slowly walk toward him. We stared at each other until he finally said, “You feel better now that you have cleared your conscience and told Unc about me?”

  I didn’t reply.

  He actually looked like he was trying not to cry. “I guess I need to go pack before Uncle Myles comes and throws me out.”

  “Nah, you don’t need to pack,” I coldly said. “Your little secret is safe. For now.” I stepped closer. “Your secret may be safe, but are you?”

  I let those words simmer as I turned and walked away.

  Chapter 32

  My eyes absolutely had to be deceiving me. There was no way my BFF was sitting in my living room with my cousin. In the past week, he’d become more relaxed when he saw I was holding true to my word and not telling my parents anything.

  I stood in the doorway and just looked back and forth between the two of them. Sheridan’s eyes were puffy like she’d been crying, and Travis was holding her hand. As soon as she spotted me, she jerked her hand away.

  “Really?” I said.

  “What’s up?” Travis said. “How was work?”

  “Work was work.” I walked in and dropped my stuff on the coffee table. “What’s going on?”

  “I just invited Sheridan to come over so we can talk,” Travis said.

  “And she told you what you could do with your invitation, right?” I knew that was a dumb question since she was sitting right here. Sheridan still hadn’t looked up at me. I was really mad. Here she was ignoring my calls for the past couple of days, but she’d made up with him?

  “So ... she forgave me,” Travis said, smiling as he took Sheridan’s hand again. “What I did was dumb. She’s the one I want and she doesn’t ever have to worry about something like that happening again. She knows that. Right, Sheridan?”

  This fool actually nodded.

  Now I was sure that BFF had completely lost her mind.

  “Everyone makes mistakes,” she mumbled in my direction.

  “Who are you, and what have you done with my best friend?” I exclaimed. I knew Sheridan liked having a boyfriend. But my girl was gorgeous. She could have any guy she wanted and she was going to take Travis back just like that?

  “Maya, just leave it alone,” she said.

  I threw my hands up. “Fine. I’m out of it. And the next big-boobed chick that his tongue slips and falls into, I’m gonna let you handle it.”

  “I made a mistake, Maya,” Travis said.

  Ugh, my cousin was really working my nerves. Maybe him going back to New York wouldn’t be such a bad thing.

  “You know what, do whatever. I’m out of it.”

  “You don’t understand,” she said.

  “You’re right. I don’t. Because the Sheridan Matthews I know would never let a guy run all over her. But like I said, I’m gonna stay out of it. You do what you have to do.”

  Travis sat back down on the side of Sheridan and put his arm around her. “That’s probably best.”

  I rolled my eyes at him.

  His phone rang. He pulled it and looked at the number, before clicking the button to answer. “Yo, what’s up?” he said, like he was thankful for the reprieve. “What?” He lost his smile as he stood and walked away. “Oh, man. Okay, okay, calm down. Chill.”

  “What?” Sheridan and I asked at the same time.

  He turned his back to us. “Are you serious? Oh, no.” He paused. “A’ight, a’ight. Chill. Where you at? Which Denny’s? Thirty-sixth and what? Nah, I don’t know where that is, but I’ll find it. I’m on my way.” Travis hung up and ignored our barrage of questions as he raced over to the kitchen counter to get his keys.

  “Travis, what’s wrong? Where are you going?” I asked.

  “Nothing. I’ll be back.” He headed toward the door.

  “Travis,” Sheridan said, following him. “You had me come over here and you’re just gonna leave?”

  “I’m so sorry, Sheridan.” He paused. “I wouldn’t leave if this wasn’t serious.”

  I had never seen my cousin look so scared. “What do you mean, serious? Where are you going?” His hands were literally shaking. “Travis, tell me what is going on? Is this about drugs?”

  “I’ll be back” was all he said as he barreled out the door and toward his car.

  “Drugs? What are you talking about, drugs?” Sheridan exclaimed.

  I ignored her question and simply said, “Let’s go.”

  “Go where? Maya, what is going on?”

  “To Denny’s on Thirty-sixth. Isn’t that where Travis said he was going to meet whoever was on the phone?”

  Sheridan looked unsure. “Yeah, but what are we going there for?”

  “To find out what is going on and make sure Travis isn’t getting caught up in something dangerous.”

  Sheridan’s eyes widened in horror. “Dangerous? What are you talking about?”

  I sighed deeply as I snatched open my car door. “Come on. I’ll tell you all about it in the car.”

  Chapter 33

  “I cannot believe you have me caught up in some double-oh-seven stuff,” Sheridan said as we stayed two cars behind Travis. I had no idea if this really had anything to do with drugs, but the way he had raced out of there, I could tell he was up to something.

  We’d followed Travis to the Denny’s, where he’d gotten into a black Escalade. He had only been in the truck for about fifteen minutes before he’d gotten out and back into his car. Even though it was getting dark, I could see the terror on his face.

  “Just keep up with him,” I said. “He’s turning!”

  Sheridan groaned, but turned as well. “I don’t do this kind of stuff.” She just kept shaking her head. “I can’t believe he’s selling drugs. Now you got me in this mess. I don’t get down like this,” she huffed.

  “Yeah, yeah, yeah. In there.” I motioned to the upscale apartment building Travis had just turned into.

  “Turn the lights off.” She rolled her eyes and did as I instructed.

  “This doesn’t feel right, Maya.” I know she was freaking out at everything that I’d just laid on her.

  Travis looked frazzled, and the way he darted across the parking lot, I could tell he was up to no good. I almost honked the horn to get him to s
top, but I wanted to bust him red-handed so he couldn’t lie his way out.

  “Come on,” I said, opening my car door after we had parked.

  “Come on, where?”

  “We’re going in.”

  “Unh-unh,” she said, locking her door. “You did good getting me this far, but this is where I draw the line. I’m not going in there. It looks like he’s involved in something dangerous and I don’t do danger.”

  I blew a deep breath. “Just wait here.”

  “Maya, don’t go in there,” she warned. “If Travis really is involved in this K2 ring, you need to let the police handle it.”

  I turned to her. “Do you want Travis to go to jail?”

  “Of course not, but ...”

  “Then I can’t go to the cops. Just give me a minute. If I’m not back in thirty minutes, go get some help.”

  “Go where?” she asked, her eyes wide.

  “I don’t know, the police, my dad, just whatever.” I got out of the car and closed the door on the sound of her voice. Travis had already gone inside. I didn’t know how I was going to find him once I got inside the building. But as soon as I looked to the right, I saw his New York Yankees baseball hat bopping down the stairs. I quietly followed, trying to make sure I stayed out of the way. Even though the place was upscale it was dark and eerily quiet. It creeped me out.

  Travis went down a long hallway in what looked like a basement area. He stopped outside the door of the last apartment. I went down another hall that thankfully led to the other side so I could peek out and see what was going on.

  “Yo, I’m here for Nico,” he told the tall, stocky guy standing near the door.

  “You got the money?”

  “It’s on the way. My boy is bringing it.”

  “Bringing it? Where he at?”

  “He’s coming. I just—”

  He cut Travis off. “Nico said he don’t want to see you without your boy.”

  Now I knew Travis was in trouble. This guy had no-good written all over him. I was just about to come out and let my presence be known when I heard a familiar voice say, “Hold your horses, man. I’m here.”