Love Don't Live Here

by Charmanie Saquea

  “Natasha, she is eighteen which makes her only two years younger than me. Besides that’s none of your business. The only thing you need to be worried about is giving me my money. Until then we have nothing to talk about,” Mario said before hanging up on her.

  That was the reason they always got into and ended up breaking up. She always wanted to cause some drama and start stuff for no reason. She was too insecure for him, and he hated an insecure female. Plus, she had stolen $5,000 from him on some get back type shit and the only reason she was still living was because she wouldn’t be able to pay him back if she was dead.

  ___

  Jaron was devastated by the news he had just gotten. His brother had just told him that Nadia had been seen hugged up with another nigga plus she there was a picture of the two all over Facebook making it seem like they were a happy couple. He was really blaming himself because if it weren’t for him, they would still be together. He was the one who pushed Nadia away because he didn’t want to feel like he was holding her back.

  He knew Nadia was a good girl and would wait for him, but he thought she deserved better than that, so he set her free. He was Nadia’s first everything, and he was close to everyone in her family, especially her brother. They got locked up together, and he couldn’t wait to tell him about what he had just heard.

  After his phone call, he went to Neeman’s cell to talk to him.

  “Man, when was the last time you talk to your sister?” Jaron asked Neeman.

  “Every time I call the house, she’s never there. Why wassup?” Neeman asked hoping nothing happened to his sister.

  “From what I was just told, she has been spending time with some nigga. Jason said he was at a party, and dude was all over her. He had his hands on her ass and everything. Plus, Marisa put a picture of her and the nigga on Facebook. They were posing like they were the couple of the Yeahr,” Jaron said.

  Neeman was thrown off because his mom never mentioned the fact that Nadia had a new boyfriend and plus Nadia was never the type to be all lovey dovey in public because she didn’t like people in her business. He knew Jaron was a little hurt because Nadia had moved on, but that’s what he wanted. “Who is the nigga?” Neeman asked.

  “Jason said she introduced the two, but he don’t remember the name because he didn’t really care,” Jaron shrugged.

  “Don’t trip, I’ll figure it out. You know nobody can fuck with my sister without me finding out,” Neeman reassured him.

  Neeman knew it was time for him to do some investigating. He didn’t just want niggas thinking that they could take advantage of his sister, and he didn’t really like the fact that his sister was so quick to let another nigga in.

  -5-

  Nicole wasn’t feeling too well, so Nadia stayed home to make sure her mom was alright. Marisa stopped by the house to take Nyzir to school for her, so Nadia knew he was in good hands. “You alright mommy?” Nadia asked as she climbed in bed with her mom.

  “Yes baby, I’m alright. You know you really shouldn’t be missing school. Especially since it’s your senior Yeahr, these days are real crucial for you.”

  “I already emailed my teachers, and my attendance has been perfect since I’ve been in school. I can stand to miss a day or two.” Nadia smiled. Her phone vibrated letting her know that she had a text message. She looked at her phone and seen it was from Mario. She had been ignoring him since Nisha tried to confront her in school. She had too much going on in her life, and she didn’t need the drama.

  “You should really stop ignoring that boy,” Nicole said surprising Nadia.

  “What you talking about mama?”

  “You know what I’m talking about. I haven’t heard you talk about a boy since Jaron’s little ass got locked up, so what’s his name?”

  “Mario,” Nadia answered.

  “Mario, huh? Sounds cute,” Nicole smiled.

  “Oh God, is he? He reminds me of the rapper YG and you know I love me some YG,” Nadia laughed.

  “So why are you ignoring him?” Nicole asked with a raised eyebrow.

  “Because I have too much going on with you and Nyzir plus, he seems like he comes with too much baggage,” Nadia explained.

  “Nadia look, me and Nyzir are not your responsibility. I understand that you want to look out for us and make sure that we are okay but don’t let us stop you from living your life. You are eighteen years old. You should be out there partying, having fun and doing stupid stuff, not sitting in the house and taking care of your sick mama and adorable little brother,” Nicole said.

  Sometimes she felt like she was holding Nadia back from being able to live her life. She knew it was hard on her daughter having to deal with her and Nyzir, and that’s what hurt the most. She felt that if she hurried and died, Nadia’s life would be better because she wouldn’t have to worry so much.

  “Ma, I’m good. I don’t want to go out and do stupid stuff. I want to make sure my brother and mother are alright. Y’all mean more to me than going out and having fun.”

  Nicole just sighed, sometimes she forgot just how stubborn her daughter was, but she knew that she got it honestly. It won’t be too long before her daughter has a chance to live her life. Nadia didn’t deserve to have all this stress on her.

  ___

  On the other side of town, Marisa was about to lose her mind. Jax and Mario came over and were trying to get her to convince Nadia to come over. She knew why her friend was avoiding Mario, and she didn’t want to feel like she was betraying her by having her come over knowing he was there.

  “I’m telling y’all, she is not about to come over here,” Marisa sighed.

  “You know you could get her to come over if you really wanted to.” Mario was damn near begging. “I thought we were better than that.”

  “Ugh,” she was giving in. She really wanted the two to work out. She took out her phone and called Nadia.

  “What’s up Marisa Nicole?” Nadia answered.

  “Not much Nadia Raelynn, but I need you to come over and help me with something urgent.” Marisa bit her lip hoping her friend would come.

  “I guess I can stop by. I’m on my way,” Nadia said before hanging up.

  Marisa hung up the phone, and all eyes were on her. “Both of you seriously owe me for this one. She is going to kill me.”

  Mario smiled. He was happy that he was finally getting a chance to talk to Nadia and straighten some things out. He could have easily had Marquise or Marisa talk to her for him, but he wanted to do it himself. He knew how things looked with Nisha stepping to her, but he wanted her to know it wasn’t anything like that.

  Fifteen minutes later, Nadia pulled up to Marisa’s house. She knocked on the door and waited for her to open the door. To her surprise, Mario opened the door. She rolled her eyes and did an about face to walk back to the car, but she didn’t get too far before he lifted her up by her waist and took her in the house.

  “Put me down!” Nadia said as she tried to get away from him.

  “Calm down,” he said as he threw her over his shoulder and slapped her on her ass real hard.

  “Ouch,” she yelled while hitting him on his back.

  Jax stood there laughing at the two while Marisa shook her head. She thought they were adorable, and she really hoped that they would work out. Mario sat down on the couch and put Nadia on his lap as he wrapped his arms around her waist so she couldn’t move. “How much longer you gon run from me?” He asked.

  “Mario, let me the fuck go! I’m not playing with you.”

  “You mad at me?” Mario asked while he put his face in her neck. “I missed you.”

  Nadia was getting weak, and her resistance was down. She was getting turned on and hated to admit it. She snapped out of the trance he had her in, “Mooove!” She whined.

  “Nope, not until you tell me you missed me and that you’re sorry for ignoring me.”

  “Boy please, you better call Nisha’s sister so she can tell you.” Nadia rolled her eyes.


  “Wrong answer,” Mario said as he lightly pulled her ponytail and bit her neck before lightly sucking on it.

  “Oh shit Nadi,” Marisa laughed. Nadia stuck up her middle finger, and that made Marisa laughed even harder.

  “Come on, let’s give them some privacy,” Jax said as he pulled Marisa up the stairs to her room. He knew his cousin was about to make Nadia cave in one way or another.

  “Stop before you give me a hickey,” Nadia laughed.

  “I’m just marking my spot,” Mario said as he let her go.

  Nadia was about to make a smart comment before her phone started ringing. She saw her mom’s picture flash across the screen and immediately answered. “What’s up mommy?”

  “Nadi mommy…I…She…” Nyzir was trying to talk, but he couldn’t form a perfect sentence because he was so shaken up.

  “Whoa, calm down Zir. Take a deep breath and tell me what’s wrong,” Nadia said trying to help her brother calm down.

  “Mommy, fell down the stairs Nadi and she won’t wake up. I’m scared,” Nyzir cried.

  “Shit,” Nadia jumped up. “Okay baby boy, I’m on my way. When you hang up, I need for you to call 911 alright?”

  “Yes,” Nyzir cried.

  “Stop crying baby, everything will be fine. I just need for you to be brave and call 911 so they can come help mommy.”

  “Okay, I’ll call now,” Nyzir said hanging up.

  All of a sudden, Nadia started to feel dizzy. “Reese Cup!” She yelled. Right now, she needed her best friend. She was starting to shake, and she couldn’t think straight.

  “What’s wrong?” Marisa asked on alert as she ran down the stairs with Jax right on her heels.

  “Nyzir just called me. He said mommy fell down the stairs, and she won’t wake up,” Nadia said. “Shit, I gotta go get him,” she said looking for her keys.

  “Ain’t no way in hell I’m about to let you drive and you’re shaking. We all can just go in my car,” Mario said as he grabbed her hand and led her out of the house.

  Marisa hurried to lock her house up and jumped in the car with everyone else. When they pulled up to the house, the paramedics were wheeling Nicole out on a gurney. Nyzir was standing in the doorway looking lost. Before the car could even come to a complete stop, Nadia jumped out and ran to her brother.

  “Come on Zir,” she said as she wrapped her arms around him and led him back to the car.

  Mario followed closely behind the ambulance all the way to Brooklyn Hospital. When they pulled up, they had informed Nadia that her mom was conscious, but they were still going to admit her. After twenty minutes, Nadia and Nyzir were allowed back to see their mother.

  “Hey ma,” they greeted her.

  Nicole smiled at her two youngest children while Nyzir took off and ran into her arms. He held her tightly like he didn‘t want to let her go. Nadia just stepped back and let them have their moment.“Where‘s Reese?” Nicole asked.

  “In the waiting room with Mario and his cousin,” answered Nadia.

  “Go get‘em.”

  Nadia was a little thrown off,but she did as her mother told her and went back to the waiting room.“Umm, my mom wants all of you to come back,” Nadia said. Everyone just quietly got up and followed her back to the room.

  Marisa went right to the bed and hugged Nicole.“Don‘t be scaring us like that,” she said.

  “I‘m fine girl,” Nicole smiled. She looked at the boys trying to figure out which one was Mario. She knew the other one had to have been Marisa‘s boo.“Hello, I‘m Nadia‘s mom as you know and Marisa‘s god mom,” she introduced herself.

  “I‘m Mario, and that‘s my cousin Jamil,but we call him Jax.”

  “So these are the handsome men that my girls spend hours on the phone talking about,” Nicole smiled.“What do you think Nyzir? Do they have your approval?”

  Nyzir looked up like he had to think about it for a minute.“Umm...Yeahh,” he finally smiled.

  Everyone started laughing, Nadia quickly ran to her mother‘s side when Nicole started coughing.“What I tell you about that Nadi?I‘m finebaby.”

  “Just making sure ma.”

  “Mario and Jax I want you two to do me a favor,” Nicole said.

  “Yes,ma‘am?” They both said simultaneously.

  “Please look after my girls and my boy. I promised Raelynn that I would look after Marisa,and I know I won‘t be here for too much longer,but please promise me that no matter what that you‘ll be there for them.”

  Nicole had a gift where a person could just walk in the room,and she‘ll see their true colors before anyone else could. She knew Mario and Jax had good hearts and would take care of her girls, even if they didn‘t end up together.

  “We will, you have our word,” Jax answered.

  Nadia didn‘t like the fact that her mom was talking like she wanted to die, but she opted not to say anything. She just sat back deep in thought. She hadn‘t talked to her brother Neeman in a while, but right now she needed him. They may not have always seen eye to eye, but he had always been there for her.

  -6-

  Nicole was only supposed to be in the hospital for a couple of days, but her illness was giving her serious issues, so she had been there for a little over a week. Nadia was making sure Nyzir was ready so they could go see her when the house phone rang. Nadia answered it, and the operator came in, she got excited because she knew it was her brother.

  “Hey, Nemo!” She said excitedly, calling him by his nickname.

  “What‘s up Nadi? What you doing?” Neeman asked.

  “Getting Nyzir ready so we can go see Ma,” she said walking over to the door when she heard a knock. She opened the door and let Marisa, Mario, and Jax in.

  “How she doing and don‘t bullshit me.”

  “She‘s doing better, a lot better,” Nadia answered.

  “So what‘s up with you? You still not going to tell me that nigga name?” Neeman asked. The first time he called last week he tried to get her to tell him who she was messing with, but she wouldn‘t give up the info.

  Right then, Mario walked over and kissed her on the forehead. She smiled before turning her attention back to the phone. “I already told you I don‘t know what you‘re talking about,” Nadia said playing dumb.

  “Alright lil bit, I‘ll give you that one, but I love y‘all and tell ma I said get well soon,” Neeman said.

  “Okay and love you too.”

  Neeman shook his head when he got off the phone with his sister. He had done his research and plus the streets talk and shit gets back to prison fast. He had found out that she was messing with a nigga named Mario, and that made his blood boil because there was only one Mario that he knew, and he was bad news.

  When they reached Nicole‘s room, they were shocked to see that Raelynn was there. Especially Marisa, she hadn’t seen her mother in a few months since the summer. Raelynn’s job had transferred her to Texas, but Marisa wanted to stay and finish out the school Yeahr with Nadia. Raelynn agreed knowing that she would be in good hands with Nicole.

  “Hey Ma, what you doing here?” Marisa asked as she hugged her mom.

  “Came to check on my girls and I’m glad I did,” she said giving Nicole a look and Nicole just waved her off. “Are you going to introduce me to your friends?”

  “Oh, duh,” Marisa said as she walked over to Jax and grabbed his hand, leading him to her mom. “Mom this is Jax, I mean Jamil and Jamil this is my mom,” she introduced the two.

  “Hello, Jamil, nice to meet you,” Raelynn smiled.

  “You too, I’ve heard a lot about you,” Jax smiled.

  “All good things I hope,” Raelynn laughed.

  “Not in this lifetime,” Nicole joked.

  “Uhn uhnheffa, don’t go there.”

  Everyone in the room started laughing at the two older best friends. That was a reminder to Nadia of how she and Marisa were going to act when they got older,and she loved it.“How you feeling ma?” Nadia asked.

>   “I’m good girl, just ready to go home. You know I don’t do hospitals.” Nicole scrunched her nose up.

  “You’re not leaving here until you feel better. Ain’t that right Mama Lynn?” Nadia said.

  “That’s right,” Raelynn cosigned.

  “Psst,” Nicole waved both of them off. “I’ll have my son-in-law over there break me out of here, and it won’t be nothing y’all can do about it. Ain’t that right Mario?”

  “Right,” he laughed. He and Nadia both caught on to the fact that she called him her son-n-law, but neither of them was going to speak on it.

  “He knows better, but your son called to check on you, and he told me to tell you he loves you,” Nadia relayed the message.

  “That’s sweet,” Nicole smiled.

  ___

  Neeman was outside watching some of the inmates play basketball when Jaron walked over to him. “What you got Nemo,” he asked calling Neeman by his street name.

  “She supposedly kicking it with that nigga Mario,” Neeman said.

  “Wait, Mario? Not the nigga that…” Jaron’s voice trailed off. Neeman nodded his head for confirmation. “You don’t think she knows do you?”

  “Nah, I’m pretty sure she doesn’t because I never let her get caught up in my shit, and I kept her away from the street life.”

  “So what you gon do?” Jaron asked.

  “What you think? I’ma shut that shit down immediately. I don’t want my sister dealing with that nigga, he bad news anyways. Next time ol girl come up here I’ma have her do me a favor,” Neeman said.

  “I already know what you on and I love it. Plus, when I get home I plan to pick up where we left off anyways,” Jaron smiled.

  No matter what, he would always consider Nadia to be his. She could have her play time until I get out, but the moment I come home all that shit was going to come to a stop.

  -7-

  Mario stood over the man with his gun pointed at him while Jax went to empty out all the safes in the house. They had been watching this cat named Havier for two weeks. He was supposed to have been ‘that nigga’, but it was hard to tell because he had got caught slipping. His ass broke the rule about shitting where you sleep because his dumb ass had all his money and product in his house.