Creepin' 2: A New Orleans Love Story

by Chenell Parker

  “Well damn, what else do you know Inspector Gadget?” Mia joked.

  “Honestly, I’m not even surprised. And that bastard Jabari knew I was right all along and didn’t say anything. That’s why he would always get quiet when I said something about it.”

  “He just found out the night of his pool party,” Mia said.

  “I bought it up to him after that. When people were talking about how he beat Ro up over you, we talked about it again. He tried to downplay it, but I’m not crazy. What did that bastard do to you?” Tiara asked.

  Mia really didn’t feel like talking about it, but she broke it all down to Tiara from the time that she first started dealing with Tre up until the time that she saw London coming out of his room the day before. Surprisingly she felt a whole lot better than she did when she got there. She didn’t feel that stabbing pain in her chest anymore and she didn’t shed one tear while she talked. She didn’t know how long the feeling would linger, but she was enjoying it while it lasted.

  “I’m so mad right now, but don’t let Tank turn you against all men. All of them are not the same, so don’t start thinking like that,” Tiara said once Mia was done telling her story.

  “I can’t help, but feel like this is all my fault,” Mia said honestly.

  “What!” Tiara yelled. “How is any of this your fault? He’s the one who cheated and got caught.”

  “I know Tiara, but he’s been wanting us to tell Von for a long time. I kept putting it off, and I guess he got tired of waiting. He said that he feels like I’m ashamed of being with him, but I’m not. I was scared to tell Von, but I swear I was going to do it yesterday,” Mia replied.

  “That’s bullshit, Mia. This is all on Tank, so you shouldn’t feel bad about nothing that happened. That nigga didn’t think you would be home that early. I just keep thinking that if you hadn’t come home early he would have gotten away with the shit. Everything happens for a reason, and it was meant for you to find out.”

  “That’s the same thing I said. As bad as I wanted to beat her ass I let her make it. Now I’m mad at myself for not knocking her ass out when I saw her coming out of his room. She was always throwing shade at me, and now I know why. He gave that bitch all the ammunition she needed to come at me sideways,” Mia replied.

  “You did right to let her make it. Tank is the one who violated. That girl didn’t owe you nothing, and you weren’t in a relationship with her. And I swear if Rainey was in on it, she gon’ get dealt with too. I always told you that she was jealous of you. She always had something to say about everything you did.”

  “It’s still fresh, but trust and believe that I’m going to get to the bottom of it. I’m done with Tre either way, but I still want the truth. I’m so happy that we didn’t tell Von about us. That would have made things even worse. I just need to find me a part time job, so I can maintain my own car. I’m not asking him for shit ever again.”

  “I can ask my supervisor if we have any part time positions available. Sometimes they hire high school students to work part-time sorting mail during the week. You might be working at more than one office, but it’s good money.”

  “I have transportation, so I don’t care where they put me. I just need my own money. I don’t want to have to ask Moonie for nothing even though I know she won’t mind. She has enough to do taking care of the smaller kids.”

  “You know me and Jabari got you if you need anything,” Tiara offered.

  “I appreciate it Tiara, but I’m trying to do some things on my own. I’m not trying to wait around for a man to take care of me. I see how that works with Moonie, and I don’t like that feeling. These niggas ain’t right, and I saw that for myself with Tre.”

  “Fuck Tank!” Tiara yelled angrily. “He must not know how many niggas be checking for you. Now I know why you turn everybody down.”

  “I’m not turning anybody else down. I don’t want a boyfriend right now, but there’s nothing wrong with me having friends,” Mia replied. “I would have still been a virgin if I wouldn’t have started messing with his ass. I bet you I won’t be giving it up to nobody else.”

  “Ewe,” Tiara frowned. “I don’t need to hear that. Come on in the bathroom and let’s get that puffiness from around your eyes before your brother gets back.”

  Mia followed her sister-in-law to the bathroom and sat on the edge of the bathtub. After putting hot water on a towel, Tiara gave it to Mia to put it on her face. They repeated the process two more times before Mia was satisfied with her appearance. It was just in time because they heard Jabari pulling up not long after. Mia expected him to be alone, but RJ walked in behind him followed by Ricky. Mia hadn’t seen or talked to him since before her birthday trip to Miami. When she and Tre worked things out, she kept it real and told him that she had gotten back with her ex. He didn’t like it, but he respected her honesty.

  “Look at this stranger,” Ricky smiled when he spotted Mia sitting on the sofa.” I haven’t seen you since you broke my heart a few months ago.”

  “Boy stop with all the dramatics,” Mia laughed. She stood up and gave him and RJ a hug before taking her seat once again. RJ sat in the recliner, but Ricky took a seat right next to Mia.

  “So, where’s your boyfriend?” Ricky asked making Mia feel uncomfortable.

  “What boyfriend?” RJ asked looking at Mia with raised brows.

  He’d know Mia since she was about ten years old, and he’d never heard of her having a boyfriend before. She was one of the baddest chicks that he’d ever seen, so he didn’t know why. His friendship with Jabari was the only thing that kept him from getting at her. He would never say it to Jabari, but RJ could see why his ex-best friend went there with Moonie. She was fine as hell and Mia was a younger version of her.

  “Come stand on the porch with me Mia,” Ricky requested. “This nigga is too nosey.”

  Mia got up and followed him outside taking a seat on the concrete steps.

  “What’s up?” Mia asked him.

  “I should be asking you that question. I haven’t seen you in a minute. Things must be good with you and ole boy,” Ricky said while looking at her.

  “Nah, we’re not together anymore,” Mia replied.

  “I can’t say that I’m sorry to hear that because I would be lying if I did,” Ricky laughed.

  He started to go home after helping RJ get his car to the shop, but he was happy that he didn’t. Seeing Mia again was worth the trip to Jabari’s house after all.

  “I don’t expect you to be sorry,” Mia laughed with him.

  “I guess that means I can take you out sometimes now right?” He asked hopefully. “You already know I’m feeling you, so no need for me to play games.”

  “I appreciate it Ricky, but I’m not ready for all of that right now. We just broke up yesterday, and I’m still trying to get my emotions in check. I probably won’t be ready to get into anything else for a long time,” Mia replied honestly.

  “I’m not asking for your hand in marriage or nothing Mia. I just want to chill with you sometimes. Maybe I can help to take your mind off of your troubles. It beats sitting at home thinking about your ex. I’m cool with us just being friends.”

  “I can’t do that to you, Ricky. That’ll make it seem like I’m using you just to get over my ex.”

  “Well, use me then. I’m giving you my permission to do it,” Ricky smiled.

  Mia smiled along with him all the while thinking that it wasn’t such a bad idea. She had fun with Ricky the few times that they did hang out, and she didn’t mind doing it again. She would get over Tre in no time if she focused on something or someone else for a while. Ricky might be just the distraction she needed. As long as he understood that friendship was all that she could offer, it was all good.

  “Okay,” Mia agreed. “We can be friends and nothing more.”

  “I’ll take that,” Ricky said with a huge grin. “I’ll be your friend… for now.”

  Mia heard the last part of his statement even
though he tried his best to whisper. She made it clear to him what she wanted, and she hoped that he would respect her wishes. After having her heart ripped out of her chest by Tre, she wasn’t sure when or if she would ever trust another man.

  C hapter 3

  Two weeks into her breakup with Tre and things were looking up for Mia already. She was all prepared to go by Von the following weekend until he called and told her that he and Tanya were going to Florida for a few days. They were leaving that Thursday morning and coming back on Sunday night. Tanya had a business conference to attend, and Von went with her just to chill out for a few days. Mia was happy because it gave her an excuse to avoid going to his house once again Tre had still been trying to contact her, but he was wasting his time. His number was still blocked, and she stopped answering from numbers that she didn’t recognize. This was her second weekend being away from him, and she was starting to feel better. She also had lots of other things to be happy about. Tiara had spoken to her boss on Monday about getting Mia a part-time job, and she had an interview the following Wednesday. He called her bright and early that following day and told her that she had the job. She had to take some kind of test before she started, but Tiara gave her the answers that she needed in order to pass. The drug test and background check were no problem because Mia didn’t do drugs or jail. She would be working from four in the afternoon until eleven at night Monday through Thursday beginning on Monday. When she left for school in the mornings, she wouldn’t return home until later that night. Her days would be filled up with work and school, so she would have little to no time to think about Tre. Tiara was also helping her fill out college applications to begin taking classes the fall right after she graduated. She was determined to make something of herself, and she wasn’t stopping until she did. She was tired of people thinking that she would end up like her mother just because she lived in the projects.

  “Alright Moonie, let me show you how to work the different cycles,” Mia said.

  She was spending her entire Sunday trying to show Moonie how to do some of the things around the house that she did when she was too busy running the streets. Moonie had an attitude the entire time, but Mia really didn’t care. All of this was her job anyway, and she should already know what to do. Mia had been doing everything for so long that Moonie never even bothered with any of it.

  “Okay, so where do I put the washing liquid and bleach?” Moonie asked in an aggravated tone.

  Mia seemed to be speaking a foreign language when she tried to tell her how to work everything. She only asked Dalvin for the high-tech equipment because it went with the color scheme of her washroom. She had the entire room decked out in purple and gray, so the purple and silver front load washer and dryer set the room off perfectly. She never imagined that she would have to go to school to learn how to operate it. Mia usually did all the laundry, so she never had to worry about it before.

  “The washing liquid goes in the first part, and the bleach and fabric softener goes in the second and third area. It tells you right here,” Mia said pointing to an area on the front of the device. “I’ll be gone from sun up to sun down for most of the week, and I won’t be able to do as much as I used to. You have to step up to the plate more than you’ve been doing. You have to make sure the kids eat and you have to help them with homework. ”

  “I know all of that Mia. That’s why I’m trying to learn how to do everything. I don’t know how I’m going to deal with these bad ass kids while you’re at work,” Moonie frowned like the kids in question were Mia’s and not hers. “What is it that you’re trying to save up for Mia? All you had to do is ask, and I would have gotten it for you.”

  “I’m not saving up for anything Moonie. I need a job so I can have my own money. I have car insurance to pay, and I have to keep gas in my car.”

  “I could have done that for you. You didn’t have to go get a job just to pay car insurance and get gas,” Moonie replied.

  She made it clear from the start that she wasn’t in favor of Mia’s new job. True, the post office paid well, but she could have given Mia whatever she needed and more. She also knew that Von would look out for her if she needed anything. Moonie’s days of having fun were going to be cut short unless the kids were with Jabari or their fathers. Mia would be working all week and spending her weekends at Von’s house. Moonie wanted to cry at just the thought of her in-house help being gone all the time.

  “I know you don’t agree with me getting a job, but I really don’t care. I’m doing this for me and not you or anybody else. You’re sitting here talking like these are my kids. I already do everything for them, and I’m tired of it. I’ll still help you out as much as I can, but I’m not putting my life on hold just to be a babysitter,” Mia replied.

  “I didn’t ask you to Mia. It’s just going to be hard with you not being here like you use to, but I’ll manage,” Moonie pouted like a spoiled brat.

  Jabari was right when he said that Mia did too much, which was why Moonie didn’t do anything at all. The time for her to be a mother to her own kids was long overdue. Mia walked back to her bedroom just in time to see Von calling her phone. He was probably letting her know that he was back at home, and she was excited to talk to him.

  “Hey Von,” Mia yelled excitedly into the phone. “How was your trip?”

  “Hey, Mimi. It was nice,” he replied, but he didn’t share the same excitement that she did. “I know it’s a school night, but I need to see you tomorrow. We need to discuss a few things.”

  The churning in Mia’s stomach started as soon as the words left his mouth. Her first thought was that Tre had opened his mouth and told Von about them. She’d been avoiding him like the plague, so that was probably his way of getting back at her. But then that wouldn’t make sense because he would be in the dog house right along with her if he did. Suddenly the thought of them telling Von didn’t seem like such a good idea after all. He sounded like he was downright pissed over the phone.

  “I start my new job tomorrow but is something wrong?” Mia asked nervously.

  “Damn, I forgot about you starting to work,” Von answered. “You’re off on Friday’s right?”

  “Yeah, I only work Monday through Thursday.”

  “Okay, I guess I’ll have to wait until Friday to say what I have to say. Are you coming over this weekend?”

  “Yeah, I’ll be there,” Mia replied.

  “Alright Mimi, I’ll see you then,” Von said before hanging up.

  Mia was a ball of nerves after their brief conversation. He was so vague when he spoke that she wasn’t sure what was going on. As much as she hated to hear his voice she had to call Tre to see if her original assumption was true or not. She sat there in a daze until she worked up enough courage to dial a number that she swore she would never dial again.

  “Hello,” Tre answered on the very first ring. Mia hated to rain on his parade, but nothing about her call was social. She skipped all of the pleasantries and said exactly what she was calling for.

  “Did you tell Von anything about us?” She asked him.

  “I haven’t talked to you in two weeks, and the first call I get from you is about some bullshit like this?” Tre asked angrily.

  “Just answer my question Trevon. Did you or did you not tell Von anything about us? I’m trying to figure out why he’s calling me saying that we need to talk.”

  “I don’t know why he wants to talk to you, but it has nothing to do with me. I’ve been calling you all day every day, and you never accept my calls. The first time you think your little secret is out in the open I’m the first person that you reach out to.”

  “I really didn’t call to argue with you. You’ve answered my question so I’ll let you go.”

  “Mia wait,” Tre got out right before she hung up on him. He didn’t sound convincing enough to her, but she wouldn’t know the truth until Friday came. Mia had no doubt in her mind that this was about to be one of the longest talks she has ever had.

&nb
sp; ****

  Friday seemed to have found Mia much faster than she would have liked it too. She started her new job, and she loved it already. She was a mail sorter, so the only thing she did was route the mail to its destination to assure that it got to where it was supposed to be on time. She did the same with packages as well as the post office boxes. She was making nineteen dollars an hour working twenty-eight hours per week. Once taxes were taken out, she would still have a decent amount of money to pay for the things that she needed. She knew that the post office paid good money, but she never knew that it would be that much. Standing on her feet for seven hours straight was nothing because it helped to keep her mind off of the drama in her life. It was the same drama that she was about to face in just a few more minutes. She was parked outside of Von’s house trying to steady her nerves before she went inside. Although Tre played the innocent role, Mia wasn’t so sure. Why else would Von ask to speak with her? She hadn’t done anything else that would make him angry, or so she thought. After ten more minutes of waiting Mia decided to exit her car and get everything over with. She grabbed her purse and exited the car at the same time that Tre was pulling into the driveway. When he saw her walking up, he hurriedly got out of the car and made eye contact with her. Her initial reaction was to ignore him, but she decided against it. Because of Von they would still have to be around each other, so it made no sense to keep the tension going any longer than it had to. Being cordial was about the only thing that she could offer him.

  “Hey,” Tre spoke while looking her over from head to toe. He was leaned up against his car like he wanted her to stop and talk to him.

  “Hey Tre,” Mia spoke as she tried to keep walking. She didn’t get too far before he gently pulled her arm to stop her from leaving.