Always Gonna Be My Baby: A Hood Love Story

by Charmanie Saquea

  Even though Benji was on his shit list right now, he didn’t need Daisy coming around fucking shit up and causing more drama than they needed.

  “I say we just let Benji get that DNA test then we can go from there,” Solo said.

  “I agree,” Choppa said.

  “Speaking of Benji, what’s this bullshit I hear about y’all acting a damn fool?” Solo asked.

  “Pops, your son pulled a bitch move. He allowed us to be out here vulnerable when he should’ve let us know that a nigga was out here feeling some type of way. I’m not saying he could’ve prevented it or no shit like that, but he damn sure could’ve helped us be prepared for him,” Choppa said.

  Solo couldn’t do anything but nod his head in agreement because he knew Choppa was a hundred percent right. “You know, Chop, since I stepped down, I said I was going to fall back and let you two run things how y’all saw fit because technically, I’m no longer in charge so there isn’t much I can say. Just like I didn’t say anything when y’all thought it was a good idea to kill Walt. But this, I’m going to have to speak my piece on. You two are never supposed to go at each other’s heads like that, especially in front of the niggas that work for you. They’ll think that if you two disrespect each other like that then it’s cool for them to do it too,” Solo told his son.

  “I didn’t think about it like that. I was just pissed off at the time. I’m still in my feelings a little bit but at the end of the day, what’s done is done and we can’t take it back. I still love that ugly ass nigga. I just need for him to start using his head more.”

  “Both of you little niggas need to use your head a little more. It seems to me that both of you have been pretty distracted lately. Don’t get me wrong, I’m not saying that you’re not supposed to find you a loyal female to have on your side but don’t get lost and lose focus on what you’re supposed to be doing.”

  Choppa just sat there soaking up everything his dad was telling him, as he always did. His dad was always dropping some knowledge on him and he was always eager to take it in. Choppa wasn’t one of those niggas who thought he knew everything. He always felt as if there was more out there that he could learn.

  Choppa never thought he or Benji had fallen off but if his dad said they did, then he had no choice but to accept that. One thing for sure, though. Nobody had to worry about him slipping from here on out because he was all about his business. He had a few scores to settle and he was definitely going to make sure they were taken care of.

  Twenty Two

  Choppa and March sat across from the house Aries used to share with Kevin. Choppa had finally decided to stop playing and get at Kevin on some man-to-man shit. He didn’t even bother to tell Aries what he was about to do because he knew she would try to talk him out of it on some peacemaker shit and he didn’t want to hear all that.

  “What this nigga do to be living like this?” March asked as he observed the neighborhood. “I know he ain’t moving weight.”

  “I don’t know. Aries never said,” Choppa answered. “Come on, let’s go have some fun.”

  Choppa and March got out of the car and walked up to Kevin’s door. Since Choppa was in a good mood, he decided to be nice and knock on the door like an ordinary person would, instead of trying to kick it in as he originally planned. Moments later, Kevin answered the door.

  “Can I—”

  “Back the fuck up, bitch,” Choppa said as he shoved the door back, hitting Kevin in the face with it.

  “Ahh, shit! Just take whatever you want!” Kevin yelled as he held his bleeding nose.

  “Nigga, please. Ain’t shit up in here that I want,” Choppa said as he pulled his gun out. “I heard you like putting your hands on women. Is that right, Kevin?”

  “What? What the fuck are you talking about? Do I know you?” Kevin asked, scared for his life.

  He was really feeling bad about what he had done to Aries. So much so that he had tried multiple times to call her and apologize but he never received an answer. He had never put his hands on a woman before so he didn’t know what had come over him. Just the thought of the woman he loved and planned on spending the rest of his life with cheating on him sent his emotions overboard and he couldn’t control it.

  “You thought Aries was your own personal punching bag, huh, bitch?” Choppa asked as he slapped Kevin in the face with his gun.

  Kevin cried out but Choppa didn’t give a fuck nor did he let up. He was sure that Aries was probably screaming and fighting for her life too when he thought it was okay to beat her ass.

  WHACK

  “Niggas love putting they hands on women but turn into a pussy when it’s time to fight a man,” Choppa yelled as he continued to hit him with the gun.

  WHACK WHACK WHACK

  After feeling as if he’d beaten him good enough, Choppa cocked the gun and put it to Kevin’s head.

  “Let me tell you something. Aries and her sweet, wet, tight pussy are mine. So when you put your hands on her and disrespect my girl, that means you’re disrespecting me. Nobody disrespects Choppa. Off the strength of my girl, I’m going to allow you to keep breathing, only because I know it will hurt her if she finds out you’re maggot food. Unlike you, I would never do anything to intentionally hurt her. If you ever, I do mean ever, come in contact with her again or even think about threatening her…I will kill you and feel no type of way about the shit because she will get over it eventually.”

  Kevin nodded his head as best as he could because he knew Choppa wasn’t playing with him. Once Choppa felt like he’d gotten his message through, he was ready to go. He had no worries that Kevin would try to come after Aries or bother her ever again after this one.

  “Man, you getting soft on me,” March joked as they walked back to the car.

  “Fuck outta here,” Choppa said.

  “I’m dead ass serious. Since when do we run up in niggas shit like that and let them live? I don’t know what type of magic Aries done worked on your ass but it’s scary as fuck, dog,” March said.

  “Man, if you don’t get your stupid ass on in this car, you gonna be walking. Know that,” Choppa told him.

  “Now you mad because I‘m telling the truth. No shit though, Chop. I like Aries, though, she’s a good girl. I think you may have found the one right there,” March told his best friend.

  “Yea, she alright.” Choppa smiled.

  He wouldn’t dare say that he was in love with Aries but he felt something for her. Choppa had never taken a girl home to meet his mama. Aries was the first one and of course, his mom approved of her and took a liking to her. He knew he had to feel something for her since he was willing to kill a nigga over her.

  He wasn’t sure what the future held for them but he knew he was going to ride this wave they were on for as long as he could.

  ___

  Later on that evening, Choppa decided to take Aries out on a date. Things had been so hectic for the past few weeks that it seemed as if they barely had any time to spend with each other. After taking her to a nice restaurant to eat, Choppa drove to the beach where they sat in the car and watched the sun set while listening to music and talking.

  “Why you gotta be so mannish?” Aries laughed as Choppa kissed on her while trying to slide his hand up her dress.

  “Look at you now, in love with a hitta!” Choppa rapped along with Meek Mill as he kissed her ear and neck.

  “Move, goofy,” Aries giggled.

  “Alright, I quit.” He smiled.

  Aries laid her head back on the seat as she looked out on the waters and let the music croon through the speakers. Everything was so peaceful right now that she just wanted to freeze this moment in time.

  “Choppa, have you ever thought about doing something other than selling drugs?” she asked out of nowhere.

  She and Choppa had never really discussed his extracurricular activities since that time he took her to the club when his dad had officially passed the torch to him and Benji. She never judged him for it or look
ed at him any different because none of that really mattered to her.

  “Nope, that’s all I know,” he answered her honestly.

  “Do you ever get scared that you could get locked up or killed behind it?” she picked his brain.

  “I mean, I think about I sometimes but I’m not scared. I knew what the risks were before I even got in, so I know those are the only two places I could really end up. That’s what it comes down to when you live this life,” he answered.

  “That’s not good, Brandon. You should have something to live for.”

  Choppa turned and looked at her in her big doe eyes, “Then give me something to live for.” he told her.

  Aries took the back of her hand and rubbed his face. He’s so fucking handsome, she thought to herself. If you would’ve told Aries a few months ago that she would be here with Choppa, growing feelings for him, she would’ve laughed at you right in your face.

  She never thought she would have a man in her life that wasn’t Kevin. It was crazy to her how a man that she had just met a few months ago made her feel better and more secure than the man she had supposedly been in love with for the past three years.

  “You ready to go home?” she asked.

  “You just horny, you ain’t low,” Choppa told her.

  “What?” Aries laughed. “Choppa, please. I’m not even thinking about no sex right now. That’s what wrong with you, your mind is always in the gutter,” she told him.

  “Whatever, just know when I get home, I’m tearing that ass up!” Choppa let her know as he backed out of his parking space.

  “I’m not fucking with you tonight. I got work and class tomorrow. It’s going to be a long day for me, I can’t be up all night because you’re in heat.” Aries playfully rolled her eyes.

  “You say that shit now.”

  When they got to the house, Choppa ran around to Aries’ side of the car and grabbed her out of the car, throwing her over his shoulder.

  “Boy, you better not drop me!” she said as she let out a yelp.

  Before Choppa could take another step, two police cars sped up to the house with their lights and sirens on, halting him in the process.

  “What the fuck?” he spat.

  “Oh my God, what happened?” Aries asked, confused.

  “Brandon King?” a police officer asked as he walked up to them.

  “Yea, why?” Choppa asked as he put Aries down.

  Aries heard a car door slamming and looked up to see the devil himself leaning up against the car. She felt herself getting dizzy because she really had no idea what this was all about.

  “You’re under arrest for the attempted murder of Kevin Potter. Can you please turn around and place your hands behind your back?”

  “That’s a lie! He didn’t do a damn thing to him!” Aries yelled as she tried to go after Kevin.

  “Yo, baby, it’s cool. Just stay calm. Don’t even worry about it,” Choppa said as he pulled her back, kissing her.

  He shot a smirk in Kevin’s direction before he turned around and placed his hands behind his back so they could cuff him. Unlike Aries, he thought this whole situation was amusing. It was funny how they wanted to get him with attempted murder but when Aries was laid up in the hospital bed, the bitch boy was free and walking around like ain’t shit happened.

  Aries stood there feeling as if she was in an episode of the Twilight Zone. There was no way in hell Choppa could have attempted to murder Kevin when his stupid ass was standing there watching this whole scene unfold. She wanted to cry so bad but she knew that wasn’t going to solve anything. All she knew was that karma was a bitch and Kevin was going to get his sooner or later.

  Twenty Three

  “It’s straight to bed for you, little girl,” Treasure said as she, Benji and Eternity walked in the house.

  “But Mommy, I wanna stay up with you and Benji,” Eternity pouted.

  “Yea, Mommy. She wanna stay up with you and Benji,” Benji mocked as he carried her in the house.

  “Uhh, no! I told you it’s not going to be any more of that staying up stuff, Eternity. Don’t think just because Benji is here you get a free pass,” Treasure told her.

  Whenever Benji was around, Eternity always thought she could be slick and have him talk Treasure into letting her have her way. Extra cookies, juice before bed, candy before dinner, staying up late, whatever she could talk Benji into letting her get away with, she did it.

  “Mommy mean, why she gotta be so mean, Chipmunk?” Benji asked Eternity.

  “I don’t know, her don’t listen to me but her listen to you, though,” Eternity said.

  “You know what, forget the both of you. Let’s go get ready for bed, little girl,” Treasure said.

  “Alright,” Eternity pouted. “Benji, when I’m done, can you read me a bedtime story?

  “Anything for you, beautiful,” he told her.

  While Treasure went to give Eternity a bath, Benji plopped down on the couch to catch the highlights of the game on ESPN. His phone started ringing and it was a number that he didn’t have saved in his phone so he let it go to voicemail. As soon as it stopped ringing, it started ringing again so this time he went against his better judgment and answered it.

  “Who this?”

  “Benji? It’s Daisy, we need to talk.”

  Instantly, Benji tensed up. It had been almost six years since the first girl he’d ever loved ran out on him without a trace. Now all of a sudden she was calling his phone out of the blue. He hated Daisy so much that he had made her a distant memory, forgetting that she even existed until just now. He didn’t know what part of the game this was but he knew she had him completely fucked up.

  “What the fuck is you calling my phone for? There ain’t shit we need to talk about,” Benji snapped.

  “Benji, look, I would love to do this over the phone but I would rather we do this face to face. I’m home now and I really need to meet up with you to discuss some things,” Daisy said.

  “Maybe you didn’t understand me the first time, so I’ll break it down in a way that you’ll understand. Lose my number, bitch,” he spat before hanging up on her.

  Under normal circumstances, Benji wouldn’t disrespect a female but Daisy wasn’t your average female. The shit he had gone through behind her and because of her was some shit he wouldn’t wish on nobody. He and Daisy had what would be the true definition of a toxic relationship. The last straw for him was when she thought it was okay to cheat on him with a nigga in his crew.

  Not long after she cheated on him, she just up and left and no one had ever seen or heard from her again. Now she was back on the scene and Benji wanted nothing to do with her. He didn’t give a fuck what she wanted to speak with him about, he wanted no parts of it. Daisy was a part of his past that he wished he could erase and forget ever happened. Back then, Benji used to swear up and down that he was in love with Daisy and would do anything for her. He never realized how fucked up she was until she went away and he was finally able to open his eyes and see shit for what it really was.

  “Benjamin, you don’t hear me talking to you?” Treasure asked as she snatched the remote off the couch as she sat next to him.

  “Nah, my bad, baby. I zoned out for a minute. What you say?” he asked, snapping out of his thoughts.

  “I said Eternity is upstairs waiting on you to read her a story,” Treasure told him.

  “Oh, alright,” he said as he got up.

  Treasure flipped through the stations until a new report caught her attention. It was a breaking news report of a shooting that had taken place in Liberty City. She sat there shaking her head at all the unnecessary violence as she listened to the reporter break the story.

  We just received word that the victim of what seems to be no random shooting was twenty-six year old Lorenzo Harper. He was found sitting in his truck with one fatal gunshot wound to the head. The police are suspecting foul play and are asking that if you have any information that you call the tip line.

&
nbsp; “OH MY GOD!!!!” Treasure screamed at the top of her lungs as she let out a wail from the depths of her soul.

  To be continued.

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