The Roof is on Fire

by Brenda Hampton

  “Good. But here’s the deal. I told you that I’d be back with my decision, so I’m here to have a discussion with you. After further investigation, I determined that you did break the rules by opening the door to let your ex-girlfriend inside. However, I don’t think it’s my duty to remove you from this house.”

  There was a small sigh of relief from me, but there also wasn’t a chance in hell that I’d let Jeff put me out of this house. Ex-girlfriend, my ass.

  “But, Jaylin, I think, to be fair, that we should tell Jada and Roc about this. If they think you should go, then I’m afraid that you’ll have to leave.”

  I stared at Jeff, wanting to punch him in his face. But in an effort to put this incident behind me, I was down for what he had suggested. Once this was over with, I couldn’t wait to confront Jada about the flash drive. I figured what was on the video would concern Roc, and he definitely needed to know there was some trickery shit going on around here. I had a good feeling about who was behind it.

  Jeff went outside to get Jada and Roc. I sat on the couch, watching as they came inside laughing and dripping wet from being in the pool. Roc wiped down his face with a towel, then tossed it over to Jada so she could dry off.

  “Man,” Roc said, making his way into the living room. He seemed almost out of breath. “This chick is crazy. She almost drowned my ass.”

  “I did not. You’re the one who told me to stand on your shoulders while you were underwater.”

  “Why would I tell you to do that? What I said was stand back so I could free my shoulders.”

  Jeff interjected. “Thankfully, no one was hurt. Sounds like there was a simple mix-up between the two of you. But have a seat and let me explain a certain mix-up we seem to have in this house.”

  I stroked my goatee with a tad bit of anger trapped in my eyes. “There ain’t no mix-up. You’re only confused by what actually happened and you don’t have your facts together.”

  “Maybe so. That’s why I’m giving Jada and Roc an opportunity to clear this up. Afterward, we can move on.”

  Roc and Jada took their seats and listened to Jeff explain his side of what had happened. I had already spoken to Roc about everything. The plan was for us to stick together, no matter what. But this was new to Jada. She didn’t seem interested in what Jeff was saying and neither did Roc. He kept shrugging as Jeff kept putting emphasis on me breaking the rules.

  “So, to sum it up,” he said. “I want the two of you to decide if Jaylin should have to leave this house or not. It has to be a unanimous decision or else he stays.”

  This could turn out simple, especially since I saved Jada from leaving when she got into it with Prince. The question was would she do the same for me?

  Roc and Jada turned in my direction. I put my arms on top of the couch and crossed one of my legs over the other. This was about to get real interesting, especially since I knew what I had in my pocket—the flash drive.

  “When do we have to decide?” Jada asked Jeff. “Now?”

  He nodded. “Yes, as in right now. Ladies first.”

  Jada’s mouth dropped open. “Here we go with this mess again. Why I gotta be the one to go first? Why not Roc?”

  “Because he told you to make the call first,” Roc said to her. He glanced over at me, giving me a slow nod, as if he had my back.

  Jada made a ticking sound with her mouth. She searched me from head to toe while scratching her head.

  “Dang, Jaylin, I don’t know what to do. I hate to be put into a preditment like this, and we have had so much fun around here, haven’t we?”

  “A lot of fun, and we’ve learned some valuable things that we need to apply to our everyday lives. With that being said, the word is predicament, not preditment.”

  “Thank you for that tad bit of information, but at a time like this, I preferred for you not to go there. Boo, I know you think my decision shouldn’t be hard, but it is. While you know I ain’t got nothin’ but love for you, this is a challenge that I really and truly want to win. As only you know, we got this li’l thing goin’ on between us and I’m not sure if you gon’ follow through.” She paused and continued in thought. I assumed she was thinking about the money I had offered to her. She could forget it if she made the decision to vote me out over some bullshit.

  “Okay,” she said, smacking. “What I’m hopin’ is that you’re a man of your word like you say you are. And that you’ll be happy for me, if I win.” She paused to touch her chest. “With all of that bein’ said, my dear, sweet, loveable friend, I’ve enjoyed your company soooo much. I don’t know what I’mma do without you around here, but you did break the rules. Therefore, you need to go pack yo bags and get yo highly educated self out of here.”

  I almost couldn’t believe Jada’s decision, but then again, yes I could. I said not one word. Nothing but a crisp silence soaked the room. I looked over Jada’s shoulder at Roc. The ball was in his court. He damn sure better had known how to play it. If not, he was going to be fucked!

  BOOK CLUB QUESTIONS

  1. After reading Hell House Part Two, who do you now believe will be the winner?

  2. Do you think Sylvia should have been the first person voted out of the house? Why or why not?

  3. Would you come up with a plot to win this challenge or would you play fair and square. Share your plot to win or what would you do to get the other participants out of the house?

  4. Do you think Jaylin should have to leave the house for inviting Brashaney to come inside? Why or why not?

  5. Roc and Desa Rae are from the Full Figured Series. How do you feel about older women dating younger men?

  6. Chase is known for being scandalous. How do you feel about women having sex with multiple men, versus men having sex with multiple women? Should there be different standards?

  7. Sylvia fell in love with her best friend’s husband. Do you believe that people can control who they fall in love with? Why or why not?

  8. The participants in Hell House have one bathroom, they’re limited on the computer, they have one TV, and have no access to cell phones. If you were inside of this house, what would be the hardest thing for you to do without?

  9. The fight between Jada and Prince got out of hand. We all know that Jada put her hands on Prince first, but do you believe that her actions justified what Prince did to her?

  AUTHOR’S NOTE

  I’m eager to hear from you! Please visit hellhouse.homestead.com to send comments regarding your Hell House experience. If you would like to ask questions or send “fan mail” to any of the characters, and possibly have your inquiry answered in the next book, please follow the submissions guidelines.

  READING JUST GOT MORE FUN!

  Naughty 1

  Naughty 2

  Naughty 3

  Naughty 4: Naughty by Nature

  Naughty 5: Too Naughty

  Naughty No More

  Jaylin’s World: Dare to live in it!

  Full Figured 1

  Full Figured 3

  Full Figured 5

  Who Ya Wit (Full Figured Finale)

  How Can I Be Down?

  No Justice No Peace

  Street Soldier 1

  Street Soldier 2

  In My Shoes: A Writer Is Born

  SLICK

  Don’t Even Go There

  Two Wrongs Don’t Make a Right

  The Dirty Truth

  If Only for One Night

  Don’t Ask Don’t Tell

  Girls From Da Hood 5

  No Turning Back

  IF YOU ENJOYED “THE ROOF IS ON FIRE,” BE SURE TO READ

  BY BRENDA HAMPTON

  AND SEE HOW IT ALL BEGAN!

  AVAILABLE FROM STREBOR BOOKS

  I couldn’t believe that I agreed to do this bullshit. And it surprised me when I stepped inside of the so-called Hell House in St. Louis and didn’t see anyone. The Miami Vice-style glass doors left me with a dramatic first impression that was kind of dope. I could very well be satisfied living
here for the next three months; the living conditions resembled a penthouse I used to have while selling cocaine. That was then, this is now. Now, I was on lock by my fiancée, Desa Rae Jenkins, who recently suggested that we needed to explore life and try different things. In other words, she was tired of my black ass hanging around her house and wanted a break from our relationship. I also needed a break, so I jumped on this opportunity to jet away for a while.

  I dropped my Nike duffle bag at the door and glanced upwards at the vaulted, sloped ceiling. The smell of newness was in the air and the glossy marble floor in the foyer was polished to perfection, displaying a glare of my chocolate fineness. Umph, I thought while staring at the blurred image of me. I wet my thick lips, then headed toward the kitchen to scope the rest of the amenities in this immaculate one-story crib.

  “What up? Anybody here?” I called out, cautiously taking slow steps down a narrow hallway that had framed pictures of modern art on the freshly painted white walls. My new Air Jordans left imprints in the cottony carpet that led to a spacious, sunken living room area on the right and an urban-style kitchen with stainless steel appliances to the left. Checking out my surroundings, I narrowed my eyes into the living room that was laid out with a horseshoe-shaped microfiber sofa and square pillows. A forty-two-inch flat-screen TV was mounted on the wall. Underneath the TV were bookshelves filled with many books for someone’s reading pleasure—definitely not mine. Numerous multicolored beanbags were also in the living room, and I assumed they were there for chilling purposes.

  The living room could be chalked up as simple, but the high-priced kitchen was kicking ass. Everything was white, navy or stainless steel. Navy pendant lights hung above a white rectangular countertop that was surrounded with wavy curved-back barstools that had a steel finish. The decorator damn sure needed a kiss, but she wouldn’t get one from me since I was now a reformed man.

  While thinking about Desa Rae, I eased my hands into my jean pockets and looked out a sliding glass door that viewed a backyard my hood relatives could only dream of. There was an Olympic-sized swimming pool with crystal-clear blue water, tennis and basketball courts, and rock waterfalls used for diving. The lawn was well manicured and lounge chairs were all over the patio. At 103 degrees outside, I damn sure knew where most of my time would be spent. Yeah, my skin color was already black as charcoal, so I wasn’t worried about the sun baking it much more.

  I was getting impatient and sighed after licking my lips again. The motherfuckers running this show told me to be here at two o’clock, but when I looked at my watch, it was already two-thirty. Deciding to see what else was up, I turned away from the kitchen to go check out where I would have to lay my head. I noticed that the carpet trail split into two directions, so I shifted to the left first, entering a modern bathroom with unique stainless steel faucets, a pearly white toilet and a shower squared with thick glass. All the white made me nervous. I sure as hell hoped that I wouldn’t be shacked up in this crib with a bunch of nasty people. I was eager to see who those people would be, especially the women—for whatever reason that might be.

  I backtracked to the other hallway and that was where I found a room with three full-sized beds against one wall and three beds against the wall in front of it. The beds were covered with multicolored comforters and colorful sheets. Wasn’t feeling that shit and the beds were too small. Nametags with our names on them sat near the edge of each bed. One by one I checked out the names, noticing that the brothers were on one side of the room and the sisters were on the other. That didn’t work for me either, so I rearranged some things. I put my nametag on the bed that was in between Chase’s and Sylvia’s beds. Jada’s nametag I put between Prince’s and Jaylin’s beds. I hoped Jada wasn’t the finest one in the bunch, but then again it didn’t matter either way. I was on lock. That was today, didn’t account for tomorrow.

  There was no window in the cramped room, but there was one sizeable walk-in closet. It was obvious that all this room was good for was sleeping and fucking. Didn’t think I’d be spending much time chilling in the bedroom, so I made my exit, realizing that time was moving on and my grand tour of this crib was over.

  I took another look at my watch, then reached into my pocket to grab my cell phone. Somebody needed to tell me what the fuck was up. I was getting impatient. A nigga like me was beginning to think this was some kind of setup. I’d been in these situations before. My instincts were saying run! The information guide and itinerary that I received said the meet and greet of contestants would begin at two. It was way after two, so fuck it. I felt the need to jet, so I put my phone back into my pocket and grabbed my duffle bag. Once it was on my shoulder, I headed toward the door, but was stopped dead in my tracks when I saw a taxi pull up. I squinted as I peeked through the glass, trying to get a glimpse at the fine-ass woman whose peep-toe stilettos had touched the ground. She had long, light-skinned legs that were made for riding. I was eager to see her face, and as soon as she exited the taxi, I could feel my nature trying to rise. That ass was fat and those hips swayed with rhythm as she made her way up the long driveway. Her weaved-in ponytail swung from side to side and was tightly pulled back, making her hazel eyes slant. I sucked in a deep breath and backed away from the door. Checked myself again, while looking down at the floor and hoping that the white wife-beater I had on wasn’t too laid-back. It showed my tats that so many women loved and I figured she wouldn’t be able to look away from my bulging muscles. Lance Gross didn’t have shit on me, but there were some who would beg to differ. This chick, however, was classy and I liked that. She wasn’t Full Figured how I normally liked my women, but I could definitely work with her. Unfortunately, if this was Jada, I had already messed up by putting her nametag on the other side of the room. Big mistake, no doubt, but after this bullshit was over I was sure there would be plenty.

  I saw his blackness through the door, but why wouldn’t he come outside to help me with my bags? Some men were so lazy and he obviously wasn’t the exception. I hoped that someone else was here to help me. I had about six bags in the taxi and needed some assistance. The taxi driver claimed that he had broken his leg, but my question to him was where were the crutches? He didn’t have an answer for that and I didn’t have an answer for my wallet somehow disappearing. That is what I planned to tell him, once I got my belongings out of his taxi.

  Instead of pushing on the front door, I pursed my lips and knocked with an attitude. It was scorching hot outside, and I was dying for a glass of ice-cold water. But when the door flew open, my thirst was more than quenched by saliva that almost slipped from my wide mouth. The rule was to never let a man see me sweat, so I quickly clamped my mouth shut, trying to downplay my instant attraction to the brother on the other side of the door. With tattoos running up and down his arms, he looked to be straight out of prison. But so damn what! I loved a man who was a bit rough around the edges, and I’d had enough of the business- minded married ones with clingy wives who liked to start trouble. After seeing him, my whole attitude had changed. I almost broke a heel as I rushed inside to see if he had been invited to Hell House, too. Right now, it felt more like Heaven’s House.

  I held out my hand to shake his. “And you are?” I said, awaiting an answer.

  “Yo baby daddy.” He smiled, displaying those snow-white teeth against all that black. Lord have mercy on me. I couldn’t help but to play along with him.

  “Well, baby daddy, do you think you can help me with my bags? They’re still out in the taxi. The driver claims that his leg is broken and he won’t help me.”

  “I got you,” he said, passing by me to go outside. His good-smelling cologne tickled my nose and left me standing in awe. I was in a daze until I heard his voice. It shook me from my thoughts.

  “Wha…what did you say?” I said, watching as he walked backward down the driveway.

  “I said, since I got you, you gotta have me, too. That’s on a for real tip right there.”

  Okay, so his language wasn’t a
ll that great, but I still gave him a nod. If this worked out, yeah, I had his back, front, side and then some. I was single, loving it and hadn’t made any commitments to anyone, especially since that trick, Liz, caught me in bed with her husband. Liz was my boss and that day still haunts me. I’ve been careful not to date married men with bright wives. If she wasn’t bright then that was a different story. The hubby was considered fair game and nine times out of ten he was mine.

  My baby daddy was trying to impress me by carrying all six bags into the house. A sheen of sweat covered his forehead and he pulled up his wife-beater to dab the sweat. I got a glimpse of his abs. The look of them almost sent me to my knees, begging him to slip something into my mouth. I wanted to rip his clothes off right then and there, but I didn’t want to blow it, as I had done so many times in the past.

  “Thank you so much, but please tell me your name,” I said.

  “Roc,” he said. How fitting for a stallion of a man like him? “But before you tell me yo name, you’d better go outside to pay the taxi driver. He’s about to clown on yo ass. I wouldn’t want him to do that, especially since I’m enjoyin’ the look of it.”

  I didn’t respond, but since he was enjoying it, I made sure he got a good look at my butt as I sashayed back to the taxi. I could only imagine what Roc was thinking. My tight, gray skirt hugged my backside like a long lost best friend, and my red silk shirt was draped low in the front, showing off my 36 C’s. I had no idea what I was going to embark upon coming to Hell House, but I was thankful that my attire was professional and sexy.

  “How much do I owe you?” I inquired to the taxi driver while digging into my purse.

  The Fred Sanford-looking black man cut his eyes at me and then he pointed to his meter. “The car was still runnin’ while you were inside. You owe me a hundred and fifty-two dollars.”

  It sounded like he had gunpowder clogged in his throat. My hand quickly moved to my hip and the attitude was back.