CHAPTER TWENTY-ONE

KADEN

 

I was on the phone, sitting on my bed talking to Lakota, doing my best not to cry out loud. She called the police on that girl and she got arrested. The worst part is I tied myself into Barby’s world and I didn’t see an escape.

Now I was a prisoner too. I needed the money and I needed to be away from Barby.

The door was locked but I was still worried she would come in and kill me, even though I knew she couldn’t get inside. “She didn’t care, Lakota,” I whispered, looking at the door as if she would bust in, in any moment. “Like, she called the cops and Paris got arrested and she didn’t care. What kind of person is she?”

“Wow, I ain’t know your people got down like that.”

“Me either. So what can I do?”

“You don’t do nothing, Kaden,” he said firmly. “What you mean what you do?” He chuckled. “If you get involved you’ll be no better than her. A snitch. Stay out of it, K.”

“So I’m ‘spose to let her sit in jail and rot?” I paused. “Lakota, this seems so wrong.” I tossed myself face up on my bed. “I feel so bad for her.”

“Did she do it or not?”

I stood up. “I don’t know but—”

“See, you don’t even have the facts and it’s none of your business, bae. If she ain’t ‘spose to be in there she won’t be long. Let stuff play out on it’s own. Without your help for once! Besides, you got other things to worry about like me. I can’t move on the streets and I need a crib and some money. What’s up with that plan? Or is Paris all you worried about these days? Don’t neglect me, baby girl.”

“You’re right.” I turned on my side and scratched my scalp. “I’m just…fucked up by it all.” I sighed. “But don’t worry. I’m gonna get some money for sure.”

“I hope so. Because right now I’m homeless and—”

KNOCK. KNOCK.

I turned around and Barby came inside without my permission. She was holding a key to my door. Where did she get it from? “You still on the phone? Because I really need to talk to you about some things.”

I smiled and it dropped away. I smiled and it dropped away again. I felt like a robot or a broken doll. She was so scary. “Yeah, I’m still talking to—”

“Go ‘head and kick it with her,” Lakota said. “I’ll rap to you later ‘bout everything else.”

I sat the phone down and she walked deeper into my room, closing the door behind herself. “How did you get in? I locked my door.”

“Oh, girl don’t worry about that. I had keys made awhile ago, after you locked yourself out that time remember?”

I didn’t.

“So you mad at me now?” She continued. “Just like the world it’s my fault once again.”

“You called the cops,” I whispered. “And now—”

“Are you still with it or not?” She seemed short. “I don’t have time for all this other stuff.”

My eyebrows rose. “What you talking about all this other stuff?”

“I’m talking about the plan for Tabitha tonight. Because whether you in or not I’m pushing forward, Kaden. I want that money and it’s mine. Do you hear me? It belongs to me!”

I rubbed my throbbing temples. “What happens if I say no? You gonna call the cops on me too?”

“How you sound?”

“You can’t be trusted, Barby.” I threw my arms up and they fell back down at my sides. “You can’t be trusted because your emotions rule you. If you have that attitude how I know when shit goes down that you won’t turn on me?”

“So I’m a snitch?”

“Yes!”

She looked at the door and back at me. “Maybe I am.” She shrugged. “Who cares? And keep your voice down.”

“How do I know, Barby? I’m waiting for an answer.”

“Because you got to trust me.”

I laughed. “Yeah aight.”

“Okay I’ll be honest. Yeah I may have gone a little too far with Paris but guess what, the damage is done isn’t it?” She paused. “And even if she didn’t get locked up it never meant our plan was not going down.”

I scratched my head. “So what is this plan?”

“Well first off I called in for a little help. Like I told you last night.”

My jaw opened. “So you were serious? You getting more people involved?”

“We need them.”

“For what, Barby?”

“The body. How we gonna get it out without muscle?”

I felt like I wanted to throw up. Instead of answering I walked toward the door and she stopped me by grabbing my arm like I was a little girl getting into trouble. “You gotta decide tonight. You either with me or you against me. And trust me, you don’t want to be against me.”

“You a fucking monster.”

She giggled. “You know what, I’m starting to think I am. And I like it.”

 

TABITHA

 

I was on the phone in my room trying to get a hold of Paris in Jail but it wasn’t working. Everyone was unhelpful. “Yes, ma’am, I’ve been trying to get more information on her but—”

“She hasn’t been booked yet,” the officer on the phone said. “Apparently she’s in holding.”

I frowned because they weren’t giving me enough information. “So what that mean? I need to know what to do.”

“It means we have 24 hours to get her into the system. And it also means you’ll have to wait.”

I paced the floor. “Listen, listen, I don’t know what someone said but whatever they claimed she did she didn’t do. And I need her home. You hear me? I need her home!”

“What you mean you need her home?”

I remained still and took a deep breath. Desperation was probably all in my voice. “She just needs to be home is all I’m saying.”

“And like I said you have to call back, young lady.”

When I looked at my screen and saw the call was ended I looked at Chaviv who was lying in my bed, the sheet over the lower part of his body since we had sex. “I can’t believe we just fucked and the first thing you do is jump up and call the police about a woman.”

I sat the phone down, got on the bed and straddled him. “I’m worried about her.”

He smiled and combed my hair with his fingers, so that it fell over my breasts. “I bet you are.” He smiled. “You beautiful. You know that?” He paused. “But you also naive.”

“Naive?” I pointed at myself. “What does that even mean?”

“Have you ever thought that maybe they aren’t into you like you’re into them? Even Paris?” He squeezed my nipple and it hurt a little. “Have you ever thought you playing yourself with the females in here? You’re too nice, baby girl.”

I pushed his fingers away. “Why you say that?”

“I’m just trying to see where your mind is.” He paused. “You do all you can to make everyone feel comfortable but you put no time in figuring out if they deserve it or not.”

I tried to get off of him and he grabbed my waist and positioned me back over his crotch. His limp dick next to my pussy. “None of these bitches in here fuck with you, Tab. Not a one of ‘em. And they all gonna get what’s coming to them in one way or another.”

“You just saying that because—”

“I’m your nigga.” He grabbed my face and pulled my head down so our eyes were looking into each other. “And I wouldn’t lie to you.” He let me go. “Now I’m sorry she got locked up because caging anybody is fucked up on the mental.” He pointed at his head. “But you gotta let her deal with that on her own.”

“Maybe you right.”

“And don’t feel bad about that, Tabitha,” he said. “It’s just how shit is. It’s how the world is out there. I’m trying to protect you.”

“I know…so what am I gonna do now? Put in an ad for another roommate?”

“I say we get a place of our own. Let’s leave these chicks to it.”

I laughed. Hard. “Chaviv, ain’t nobody moving in with yo ass, nigga.” I got off of him and grabbed my robe. “Now get up and clean your dick. It’s time to start the day.” I walked out the door.