Always Gonna Be My Baby: A Hood Love Story

by Charmanie Saquea

  Always Gonna Be My Baby

  Charmanie Saquea

  One

  Choppa was walking through the Aventura Mall with his boys when he saw her. She was already in the store he needed to go in, so he headed in her direction. He stood back for a minute just watching her as she browsed through the clothes, having no idea that she even had an admirer.

  “What's up, Chop?” his brother Benji asked. He followed Choppa’s line of vision to what had his little brother’s attention when a knowing smile spread across his face. Choppa was so much in a trance that he didn't even notice when his brother came up next to him. “Go for what you know,” Benji encouraged him.

  Choppa hit his brother with a sly smirk before heading in her direction. By now her back was turned to him, giving him a full view of her derrière and he definitely liked what he saw. It wasn't video vixen big but it was enough for her small frame.

  “Excuse me, ma,” Choppa said as he lightly touched her hand.

  “Yes?” she asked sweetly as she turned around.

  “I was wondering if you could do me a small favor. It's nothing weird or anything like that.” Choppa slightly laughed at the funny look she gave him so he had to clear up the fact that he wasn't with the weird shit.

  “Okay, what can I do for you?”

  “See, I have this little…event that I have to go to next week that requires a suit and tie. I'm not really good with picking that stuff out and you look like you have a good eye for fashion and shit like that, so I was wondering if you could help a nigga out so he won’t walk in there looking like Katt Williams or some shit.” Choppa hit her with a smile that was sure enough to wet her panties.

  She tore her eyes away from him and let out a little giggle that he thought was cute. “Fine, fine. I'll help you,” she gave in.

  “Thank you, ma. What’s your name, though?” Choppa asked.

  “What's your name?” she challenged.

  “I asked you first.”

  “I'm Aries,” she said, giving him her name.

  “I'm a Leo, I hear we’re very compatible,” he said while licking his lips.

  Once again, Aries tore her gaze from his as she shifted her weight from one leg to the other. She didn't know what it was about this man that was making her so comfortable but yet uncomfortable at the same time. “So can I get your name now?” Aries asked.

  “Choppa,”

  Aries just nodded her head. From the moment he approached her, she knew she was dealing with a street dude. Ten times out of ten, he was not about to stand here and give out his full government name to a complete stranger.

  “Okay, let's pick out some clothes,” she said.

  Choppa followed behind her while rubbing his hands like Birdman. For twenty minutes, Aries helped Choppa pick out something that he would like. He was a little picky but in the end, she stuck to her guns and he chose what she picked for him.

  “Thanks, beautiful, but I need one more favor,” Choppa told her.

  “What?”

  “I need you to pick out something to go with this.”

  Aries was caught off guard. “I…I can't,” she said as she twisted the ring on her finger.

  Choppa followed her movement with his eyes but didn't comment. Their moment was interrupted by someone speaking.

  “Really, Aires? You can't answer your phone? I said a half hour and it's been over an hour. We need to go!” Aries slightly jumped at the sound of his voice and quickly turned around to face her fiancé. He looked behind her at Choppa and his face scrunched up in disgust. “Who the fuck is this?”

  “Alright, Aries. Put your number in my phone. I know my mom will want to see you, she hasn't seen you in forever,” Choppa told Aries, ignoring her man.

  “Oh…okay. Tell her I said hi and to feel better,” Aries said as she plugged her number into his phone. For the life of her, she couldn't understand why she was really standing there plugging her number into another man’s phone while her fiancé was standing not even two feet away. She knew she was playing the devil’s advocate but she was very confident that Choppa wouldn't call her anyways.

  “It was good seeing you again…cousin,” Choppa said with a smirk before he walked out of the store. He had to laugh at himself as he made his way to the food court where his brother and boys were waiting on him. He was a slick nigga and he knew it.

  “Damn, nigga, about time!”

  “Shut the fuck up!” Choppa said as he snatched one of his brother’s fries. “Man, y'all niggas missed it.”

  “What happened?” Benji asked.

  “So I'm in there laying down my game, whoopty whoo, and all of a sudden, her nigga walks in huffing and puffing,” Choppa explained.

  “Nigga, you lying,” his boy March said through laughter.

  “So you did all that shit just to not get her number?” Benji asked.

  “You know me better than that. I hit her with that ‘put your number in my phone, cousin. I know mom would love to see you.’”

  Everyone fell over in laughter. Choppa was one of the most ruthless niggas they knew but he has his comical moments. Neither of them would have ever thought to play the cousin role just to get her number. Only Choppa.

  While everyone was laughing, he looked up just in time to see Aries rushing to keep up with her fuck boy. She glanced over in his direction and he blew a kiss at her. Aries just quickly turned her head and proceeded to walk out of the mall.

  Two

  Aries sat there with a pulsating headache that she just couldn't seem to get rid of. She had been under so much pressure lately that it wasn't funny. Between school, work, and the stress of planning for a wedding, she felt as if she was being stretched thin.

  “Here,” her sister Treasure said as she handed her a bottle of water and some medicine.

  Whenever she wanted to get away from the stress of the world, she always ran to either her brother or sister.

  “What's up, Arie?” Treasure asked as she sat on the couch next to her.

  “I'm just stressed, Tres. I have a lot on my plate right now.”

  “I can help you with some of your stress, sister of mine,” Treasure let her know.

  “How?” Aries asked.

  “Stop stressing and going through with a wedding that you don't even want to have!” Treasure said like that was the million dollar question.

  Aries just rolled her eyes as she laid her head back on the couch. She was not in the mood to go there with her sister today. Treasure and Kevin, her fiancé, were number one on each other's least favorite person list and they let it be known every chance they got.

  “Not today, Treasure, alright? I love Kevin,” Aries told her sister.

  “All I said was you didn't want to marry him. I never brought your love for him into the equation. You did.”

  Before Aries could respond to her sister’s smart ass remark, her phone started ringing. It was a number she didn't know so she let it go to voicemail. A few seconds after she put her phone down, the number was calling her again. Deciding to go against her better judgment, she answered it this time.

  “Hello?”

  “From now on, your ass better answer when I call the first time.”

  Immediately, recognition set in. “Choppa?” she asked.

  “Damn, so you just hand your number out like that. You don't know who's who calling you and shit?” Choppa playfully asked.

  “No! I'm just surprised you called, that's all.”

  “Well, I had to see if you got your dress and shit,” Choppa said.

  “My dress?” Aries asked, confused. It took her a second to remember he’d asked her to go to his event with him. �
��Noo, Choppa! You see I'm in a situation right now. I would love to go with you but I can’t.”

  “Where are you?” Choppa asked, ignoring everything she’d just said.

  “What?”

  “Stop playing with me, girl. You heard me. I’m not into repeating myself.”

  “I'm at my sister’s house.”

  “What's sis address?” asked Choppa.

  Aries ran off Treasure’s address, causing her sister to look at her like she was stupid. Choppa told her he would be there in ten minutes before hanging up before she could respond. When she put the phone down, Aries noticed the look her sister was giving her.

  “What?” Aries asked.

  “So just fuck my life, huh? Bitch, I don’t know who the fuck you just sent over here to my house,” Treasure snapped.

  Aries put her head down in shame because she didn't think about that. “You're right, I'll tell him not to come.”

  “Him?” Treasure asked with a raised brow. “You cheating on Richy Rich? Well, I guess it's okay. Just don't let it happen again,” she said with a smile.

  “You know what…” Aries voice trailed off when her phone started ringing again. Before she could utter a hello, Choppa’s voice was booming through the phone.

  “Yo! I’m outside. Bring that ass on, girl!” he said loudly before hanging up.

  “Rude ass,” Aries mumbled as she got up to go to the door.

  As soon as she got up, Treasure was right on her heels snacking on a bag of Twizzlers. She had to see who this man was that was making visits to see her sister who was claiming to be oh so in love with her stuck up ass fiancé, the one she really didn't want to marry.

  “Hey, you,” Aries spoke as she got close to Choppa's car.

  “What up, Ma? How you doing?” Choppa asked as he wrapped his arms around her small frame and pulled her in for a hug.

  “I'm good, who's this you got with you?” she asked as she pointed her head towards the car.

  In the passenger seat was a man on the phone who resembled him a little.

  “That nigga ain't nobody special, he ain't even worth introducing. That's why his ass still in the car.”

  “Nigga, what?” Benji asked as he stepped out of the car. “Imma call you back. Choppa showing out in front of his lady friend,” he said before hanging up.

  Aries was in a fit of giggles by now. She could tell just by their exchange that the two were brothers who shared a very close relationship. They had a bond that was unbreakable and loved to joke around with each other because she was the same way with Treasure.

  “Excuse me, Ms. Aries, is it? Since my little brother wants to be a little rude bitch right now, allow me to introduce myself. I’m Benji, the better brother. Obviously,” Benji said as he took Aries’ hand and kissed the back of it.

  “Alright, nigga! Get the fuck on somewhere, got her blushing and shit. Take yo ass on, Benjamin!” Choppa said as he shoved his brother out the way.

  After having a laugh at his brother's expense, Benji’s attention was snatched by the sweetest laugh he had ever heard. He turned his attention to the front porch where Treasure was standing and could have sworn he saw an angel.

  “Damn, who is that?” he asked.

  “Oh, that would be my sister Treasure,” Aries told him.

  That was all Benji needed to hear as he made his way towards her.

  “Wait, Benji. I wouldn't if I were you,” Aries stopped him.

  “Why not?” Benji asked, truly intrigued.

  “Because she has a baby daddy that you'll damn near have to go to war with to be with her,” Aries said.

  Benji looked at his brother and they both burst into laughter. He and Choppa were seriously standing there laughing as if Kevin Hart had just told the joke of the year or something. Benji just shook his head because poor little Aries had no idea. She was so clueless that he really felt sorry for her. She was dumb to the fact that she was already Choppa's girl and he wasn't even trying yet.

  “Gone, bruh, she don't know yet,” Choppa told Benji.

  “She'll find out, though. Soon,” Benji said as he made his way towards Treasure.

  “Yea, real soon,” Choppa said.

  “Find out what?” Aries questioned.

  “Don't even worry about all that. But come here,” he said as he led her to the trunk of his car.

  When he popped it and lifted the trunk, Aries thought he was playing games with her. There were Louboutin boxes, La Perla, Chanel, and whole bunch of other bags.

  “You gonna get your stuff or stand there looking stuck?” Choppa asked.

  “Wait a minute, Choppa. I can't take all this stuff. I don’t need all this. Besides, you know I can't go and I damn sure can't take it home,” Aries told him.

  “Aries, I told you to pick something and you wouldn't. Ain't no way in hell I’m going to be looking fly as shit and you look mediocre as shit, so I picked a couple things out for you to choose from. Options, baby. As far as that other shit, miss me with it, alright? I don’t give a damn about your nigga and he ain't for me to worry about. I done dropped all this money on you, so tell him that you're going out with Choppa for some family time and ain't shit he can do about it but get his ass beat if that's the route he wanna go,” Choppa told her.

  Aries just didn't know the extent of the type of situation she had unknowingly put herself in. It was clear that Choppa wasn't the type that could catch a hint or be let down easy. She could tell that he was used to getting what he wanted and had never been told no before. She sighed deeply and diverted her eyes from his gaze.

  Choppa reached in his pocket and pulled out some cash. “I'll pick you up from here Friday at eight o'clock sharp,” he said while placing the money in her pocket.

  “What—”

  “Get your hair and all that girly shit done. It’s on me,” he cut her off before she could even speak.

  Aries just shook her head because she didn't even know what to say. She had never known a man to drop money on or give money to a woman so freely who wasn't his woman. Choppa was certainly something different. There was no denying that.

  Three

  After a long day at work, all Treasure wanted to do was take a relaxing shower and cuddle in bed with her three year old daughter Eternity. No matter how tiresome or stressful her day was, it seemed as if none of that mattered the moment she laid eyes on her baby girl.

  Pulling into the driveway, Treasure got out and made her way to Eternity’s grandmother’s house. Even though Treasure and her son were no longer together, Sheree Turner was still like a mother to her and there was no way that Treasure would keep her daughter from her grandmother based on the status of her relationship with her dad.

  “Hey, ma,” Treasure spoke.

  “Hey, sweetie,” Sheree said as she pulled the door open. “Get on in here, she just finished eating.”

  Treasure followed behind Sheree as they walked to the kitchen where Eternity was standing on her little princess stairs over the sink trying to wash her hands but she was making more of a mess. Instead of fussing, Treasure just played the background and watched as Sheree took care of her and dried her hands off.

  “Mommyyyy!” Eternity yelled when she turned around to see Treasure.

  “Hey, little one.” Treasure smiled as she scooped her daughter in her arms and placed kisses all over her face.

  Sheree handed Treasure her shoes for her to put on when she walked back into the living room. She sat on the couch and noticed that Eternity was missing a sock. She just shook her head and didn't bother to ask her where it was because ten time out of ten, she didn't know.

  “You always losing a sock over Nana Ree house,” Treasure said.

  Eternity let out a little giggle as she looked over at her grandma. Sheree just shrugged her shoulders like she didn't know what Treasure was talking about.

  “So, I'm taking her to my mom’s tomorrow because I'm sure you need a break,” Treasure told Sheree.

  “Girl, gone. I could
never get tired of My Suga,” she said as she blew Eternity a kiss. “But tell Ariela I said hey and to call me.”

  “I sure—”

  “Daddy!” Eternity yelled with excitement as she watched the front door open.

  Treasure had Eternity in her arms with her back to the door so she didn't see him come in nor did he see her roll her eyes.

  “Damn, I'm just in time, huh? Wassup, momma?”

  “Daddy! Daddy!” Eternity said as she reached for a hug.

  Treasure huffed with annoyance. It was things like this that pissed her off.

  “Hey, Princess,” Lorenzo said as he took Eternity from her mother’s arms. He tried to give Treasure a kiss but she moved her face away from him. That garnered a funny look from Lorenzo because she had never acted funny towards him, no matter what they had been through. It was written all over her face that something was wrong with her and she had an apparent attitude about something. “What's wrong with you?” he asked her.

  “I'm ready to go, that's what's wrong with me,” she said.

  “Okay, and? I want to spend some time with my daughter so just chill out for a minute, damn,” Lorenzo told her.

  “No, you knew she was here all day so you had plenty of time to spend with her. Instead of being out in them streets,” Treasure snapped.

  Lorenzo had Treasure so fucked up that it wasn't even funny. The two communicated religiously so he knew when Eternity was going to be at his mom’s house, what time she went to work, and what time she got off work. The thing about Lorenzo that pissed her off the most was that instead of dropping their daughter off at their parents’ houses for them to watch her, he easily could have done it but he would rather be in the streets 24/7.

  True enough, Treasure knew what type of guy he was before she got with him but the moment she got pregnant was when the broken promises and the lies started. The moment Lorenzo started making more money was the moment he stopped being the man she fell in love with and the moment he became the man the streets know as Renzo.

  He cheated on her while she was pregnant with Eternity and that was enough for Treasure. She had loved this man since she was fifteen years old and literally had been through everything you could think of with him but that is where she drew the line. She only needed a nigga to make a fool of her once before she got the message.