Forbidden Fruit

by Nika Michelle

  "I'm just not used to you doin' the daddy thing wit' her. At least she likes you. It's funny that she does 'cause she don't really take to strangers." Maya wanted to take it back as soon as she said it. Ju seemed to flinch at her reference to him as a stranger.

  "Well maybe she know that I'm her daddy. I won't be a stranger to her for long." He smiled kissing his daughter's cheeks. Lexus cooed and smiled at her father's show of affection.

  "Be careful Ju please," Maya begged. "Don't be speedin' or takin' my child wit' you on the grind. I don't play that shit. And don't have none of your tricks around my baby. You can do you on your own time. Let her get used to you first."

  "Maya chill, err' than goin' be straight. I'm spendin' the weekend wit' my baby girl by myself. Now give her a kiss."

  Maya leaned into the car and kissed her daughter. "Be good for your daddy," she said. Lexus smiled at her like she understood.

  "She's so sweet. I'm glad you made the right decision Maya. Now it ain't too late for me to show you that I can do right by my child. I didn't do right by you, but now I have a second chance to be a man. Thanks."

  To Maya's surprise he hugged her. She tried to swallow the lump in her throat. "I came to my senses thanks to Yanna. She got a way of tellin' it like it is and I needed to hear it. I'm just glad that you can forgive me and we can move on with our lives. I am sorry for my lies Ju. I hope we can be friends for our daughter's sake."

  "Of course," he said and softly touched her cheek. "I don't agree wit' what you did, but I can understand it. I do forgive you. See you Sunday." He got into the car and waved as he drove off.

  * * *

  I had been driving around for about thirty minutes before I realized that I had nowhere to go. Diablo had left six messages on my voicemail since I'd left. They were all pathetic attempts to apologize, but I was mad as hell. The phone rang again, but it was Maya's number, so I answered it.

  "Yeah," I said trying to sound like nothing was wrong. The truth was that I'd been crying the whole time.

  "Yanna, where you at girl?" Maya asked.

  "At the mall. I need some new boots to wear wit' that Dolce and Gabbana dress I bought last week. Why? What's up?"

  "Uh, look, I'm goin' be real wit' you. Ablo's here and he wouldn't leave until I called you. He said that you won't talk to him. He told me about the argument and how you just walked out and shit. Get over here and talk to him please. He's a mess," Maya said sounding like she was desperate to get him out of her house.

  "Fuck Ablo! Did that nigga tell you that he slapped me or did he leave that detail out?" I asked angrily.

  "He what? Ablo you slapped my sister?" She asked him. "You got me helpin' you and shit and you fuckin' slapped her?"

  I could hear him trying to explain to Maya that he was pissed because I threw some nigga in his face that was supposed to be picking me up.

  "I don't give a fuck about that don't you be puttin' your hands on my sister nigga," she said.

  "Look Maya fuck him I'm finished. I can't deal wit' that nigga's bullshit no more. Tell him that I'll be gettin' my shit out the house sometime next week. I'll just buy me some shit to last me until then. Tell him I don't wanna see him and not to come lookin' for me. He'll never figure out where I am."

  Maya sighed and repeated everything I'd just said to Diablo.

  "Tell her if it's like that to bring my mufuckin' car home!" I heard him yell in the background.

  "Tell that nigga it's my car for now. Shit, I deserve this mufucka for all the bullshit I took all these mufuckin' years. Tell that sorry mufucka that."

  "Look I'm tired of bein' the fuckin' messenger. Why don't you just come over here and talk to him yourself," Maya suggested.

  "Hell no! All he care about is this fuckin' car and his dick! Fuck him!" I yelled.

  I guess Maya gave him the phone because he said. "Baby, c'mon now. Please give me another chance. Just come home, fuck the car."

  "No. I already told you that I ain't marryin' no cheater slash woman beater. I don't want you no more!" I yelled.

  "Why you actin' stupid. You always say that shit and you end up right back wit me..."

  I hung up on him and turned the phone off. I pulled up into the mall's parking lot. I knew that some shopping would make me take my mind off things. It always did.

  In twenty short minutes I'd already purchased three pair of shoes, a cute Gucci skirt, a burgundy Prada tote bag, and a cute ass rust colored Roc A Wear velour suit. I wanted some ice cream all of a sudden and headed toward the ice cream stand. Suddenly I heard someone call my name. It was a man's voice, but it didn't sound like Ablo. Maybe it was one of the Cue Boys. To my surprise I spotted El walking toward me. I continued walking. Of course with his long strides he caught up with me quickly.

  "What kind you gettin'?" He asked reaching into the pocket of his light blue jeans. He had on an authentic Iverson jersey and some fresh white Air Force Ones. The ice in his ears sparkled and glistened as he waited for my answer.

  "Butter pecan in a bowl not a cone," I heard myself say.

  "That and a bowl of vanilla," El said handing the man a twenty dollar bill before he could tell him how much it cost.

  "I...thanks," I said taking the bowl and spoon from him. He put the change in his pocket and then started eating his ice cream. I walked off and he followed.

  "Well, we meet again shawty," El said smiling a sly smile. "Twice in one day."

  "Yeah, I guess so."

  "What's up? You look like sumthin's on your mind." He was looking at me like he was really concerned.

  "You the wrong person for me to be discussing my problems wit'," I said eating my ice cream.

  "Well, you never know Yanna. I could be just the one you need right now. Fuck all that arrogant bullshit I said earlier. Let's start over. That's cool wit' you?" He asked staring at me eagerly.

  "I don't know El. We shouldn't be walkin' and talkin' in public. Look at us eating ice cream and shit like we friends or sumthin'. It seems simple, but this innocent thing could cause a bad situation."

  "We could be friends though Yanna. I don't like that snake ass mufucka you call your man. I don't have a problem wit' you," he said looking all sexy as he licked the ice cream off the spoon. I couldn't help but stare.

  I shook my head. "Your problem wit' my man is a problem wit' me. Look, we shouldn't be talkin' at all."

  "What Ablo do baby? Sumthin's wrong. I can tell. You're a beautiful woman, but you look like you stressed out. I can see it in your eyes," he said being all observant.

  "Thanks for the ice cream El, but we shouldn't be discussin Ablo. We shouldn't be talkin' period," I said trying to walk away from him. He caught up with me.

  "You opened the lines of communication between us the day you showed up at my crib. You made me notice you. I'm sorry if I haven't been able to get your fine ass off my mind ever since. It really go deeper than you bein' that nigga's girl. Even if you ain't have shit to do wit' him I'd still be diggin' you, straight up. That's real talk shawty."

  I rolled my eyes toward the ceiling. "And you just like him. You think you got game too. This here got everything to do wit' me bein' Ablo's girl. I won't let you use me to get at him. Remember you said today that you'd do some shit to get at him like miss wit' his girl? Or did you forget. Looks like your game just blew up in your face," I said.

  "Ain't shit just blew up in my face baby. I ain't goin' front. Of course I'd bask in the victory of fuckin' my number one enemy's woman. On the other hand though I'd enjoy fuckin' you 'cause you a fuckin' dime piece for sho'. I mean look at you. You got pretty skin, pretty hair, pretty eyes, nice full lips, round, perky titties, small waist, and a nice juicy ass. Plus you got style, and you ain't no dumb ass broad. I would want to fuck you anyway. I wouldn't give a fuck who's girl you is." He threw his ice cream in the trashcan. "And wit' all that said and done I don't understand why that nigga keep fuckin' up."

  "You don't know if he's fuckin' up or not El," I said.

 
"Oh, I must disagree wit' you on that one sexy. I know for a fact that nigga's fuckin' up. I ain't tryin' to put salt in that nigga's game, but I saw him last night wit' this lil' short dark-skinned shawty. She thick as hell. Her name Tanisha or sumthin' like that. Anyway, I know her 'cause she used to fuck wit' my boy Ty. Anyway, that nigga was all hugged up wit' her and shit. They was leanin' against his truck. She live in the apartment complex my cousin live in. They didn't notice me when I pulled up. I went to holla at my cuz and shit. If I didn't know any better I would've thought they went together and shit the way they was all up on each other." He shook his head. "If you was mine it ain't no way I'd fuck up wit' you for her."

  So that's where that nigga was all night. "You sure it was him?" I asked. My heart sank.

  "Yep. I'm positive. I looked right at that nigga, but he was so into her he didn't notice me. It was your man, believe me I know. Shawty cute, but she ain't got shit on you."

  "What's the name of the complex?" I asked throwing my half eaten ice cream in the trash. My appetite for ice cream vanished.

  "Alden Ridge apartments, in Clarkston. You know, over there off Brockett. Down the street from Strokers. He was parked in front of building 1393, so she must live in one of those apartments. I seen her over there a few times before then. She tried to give me some pussy, but I heard about how that broad get down. I heard she freaky as hell, but I ain't fuck her. I just let the nasty bitch suck my dick. I guess quantity means more to that nigga than quality. He need to take care of home 'fore he lose you, fine as you is."

  "Look El, thanks for the ice cream and the 411, but I gotta go," I said rushing off. El yelled after me as I hurried out of the exit doors nearest the car.

  He was talking about Tanisha Lewis. She had gone to high school with me and we hated each other back then. She always wanted Diablo, and I always wanted to bash her head in. She was about five feet tall, and was small up top, but had a nasty looking ghetto booty and big legs. She'd been a nasty slut all her life and had I had something for her and Ablo. This time when I went on the hunt for him I would be alone.

  * * *

  By ten thirty that night I'd put on some black tights, a long black t, black Air Ones, and a do rag on my head. I was at Tanisha’s building ready to catch Diablo in the act, or at least scare the shit out of his little girlfriend. I hadn't talked to anyone about anything. I was on this hunt alone. I didn't know how I would catch them, but I tried my luck and looked under the welcome mat for a key. There wasn't one there so I reached into the light fixture. I couldn't feel anything so I stood on my tip toes. I actually felt the key. The fool had left her spare key in the light fixture. This shit was just too damn easy. I would get his ass.

  I turned the key and heard the lock snap. I softly pushed the door and I was in. I tip toed in the dark feeling my way through the hallway. I heard voices. I knew that the male voice was Diablo although the voices were faint, because his truck was parked exactly where El had said it was the night before.

  "She know about us?" Tanisha asked.

  "C'mon Nisha. You already know what's up wit' that. She sense sumthin's up, but I ain't admitted shit. I told her that I stayed at Ace crib. We got into it, and she called herself breakin' up wit' me."

  "Good. Now she out the way and we can be together," she said.

  "Bitch," I whispered outside of the door.

  "She don't know about us, and it's goin' stay that way if I can help it. I told you before that Yanna's number one. You know that I'll take her back, and she's definitely comin' back to me."

  I pushed the door open and they jumped out of the bed. Neither one of them had on anything other than underwear.

  "Yanna? What the..." Diablo said looking shocked and scared at the same time.

  I had one of his revolvers pointed at them and they had their hands up like it was an episode of cops.

  "You crazy bitch!" Tanisha yelled.

  "You shut up 'fore you be a dead bitch!" I yelled pointing the gun at her face.

  I saw Ablo move out of the corner of my eye and I pointed the gun at him. He froze. "Yanna you trippin' baby."

  "No nigga, you the one trippin'. I'm just fed up wit' your bullshit," I said angrily. "I'm here to put a stop to it. You was right when you said I'd come to you. Just not the way you thought I would." I looked at Tanisha. "Sit down on the bed bitch."

  She sat down. "If you could please him he wouldn't have come to..."

  I pointed the gun to her face again.

  "Shut the fuck up bitch. I'm fuckin' warnin' you. I'll blow your face up like a mufuckin' pumpkin'. Do not fuck wit' me. I ain't scared to use this mufucka. I don't wanna hear your voice. This shit ain't 'bout you. I need to talk to my ex-boyfriend. He need to hear this. And don't even think about movin' bitch, 'cause I'm watchin' you."

  I turned the gun and my attention to Diablo. "You sorry, bitch ass nigga. I can't believe that you did this shit again. All that remorseful bullshit was just that, bullshit. Well, what a good performance Ablo. Your lying skills have improved over the years, 'cause I was actually convinced that I could trust you again. I was wrong tho', 'cause you still sorry as hell. You sorry as hell and I'm done wit' your ass. I'm finished and I oughta kill you for breakin' my heart over and over again. You ain't a real man,’ cause a real man would appreciate a good woman. You hear me nigga! Fuck you! You ain't shit!"

  His eyes drifted the floor. He looked ashamed. He cleared his throat and said. "I can't say shit baby."

  "You ain't gotta explain shit to her," Tanisha said.

  I was so fired up that I actually grabbed the bitch by her hair and lifted her up from the bed. "Didn't I tell you to shut up bitch? Open your mouth!"

  She did what I said and I pushed the barrel into her mouth. "I know you like to have hard, black steel in your mouth bitch, but how 'bout I bust a cap in your throat instead of a nut! How would you like that?"

  She looked scared as hell, so I removed the gun from her mouth. "I'll do it bitch if you say one more fuckin' word!" I pushed her back on the bed.

  "I don't expect you to say shit Ablo, 'cause you can't say shit to change the way I feel. And you bitch! You ain't shit but a stankin', low budget, dollar store, thrift shop clothes wearin' bitch!" I yelled.

  "Fuck you! You just mad 'cause your man want me!" Tanisha yelled.

  I hit her in the face with the gun. "I told you to shut the fuck up!" She fell back on the bed and clutched her jaw. "Maybe that'll shut your ass up."

  Diablo moved toward me and I pointed the gun toward his balls. "You still wanna be able to have babies?" I asked. "Don't play games wit' me nigga."

  "I still wanna have babies wit' you. I still want 'em wit' you baby. Put the gun down Yanna. Don't do no crazy shit baby," he pleaded.'

  "Against the wall nigga. I ain't playin' wit' you or this bitch!"

  Tanisha was on the bed crying. "You a crazy ass bitch!" She yelled as loud as she could.

  I slammed the gun into the other side of her jaw. She cried out in agony.

  Ablo moved toward me again as an attempt to stop the torture on Tanisha.

  "C'mon Yanna, damn. You killin' the poor girl."

  "Fuck her! You can get the same treatment nigga. I told the bitch to shut the fuck up and she keep on fuckin' talkin'!" I pointed the gun at him again. "Against the wall."

  He leaned against the wall. "How'd you find out baby? I was careful as hell."

  "Well you won't careful enough 'cause I found out. I got my ways, believe that. I just wanted to let you know you can have that bitch nigga! I don't give a fuck no more. I just hope she don't be as ugly as she is now when her jaw heals. You know me. I'm a real bitch, and I'm fine, so I'll survive. I don't need you. A dime piece like me'll never go broke. Just like I pumped you I can pump another pussy whipped, so called balla. So you can fuckin’ kick rocks and have a nice mufuckin' life. Just keep this one thing in mind. Just like all these bitches you fuckin' I got a pussy too. And every time you fuck you better believe I'm fuckin' too. Everytim
e you fuck some ugly chicken head bitch you goin' see my fine ass wit another nigga knee deep in this good ass pussy. You goin' see my face, but you ain't goin' see his. Could be one of your niggas, could be your worst fuckin' enemy. Just believe you goin' see that shit. It's goin' drive your sorry ass crazy. That bitch right there ain't got shit on me and you know it. I hope it was worth it nigga!" I'd said my piece.

  "I'll kill you and that nigga Yanna! Lemme find out!" Ablo yelled behind me. "And gimme my fuckin' car!"