16
I hurried into the building, glancing around to make sure I wasn’t being watched. I saw Mika and her girls but I didn’t think they noticed me. They were too busy huddled together, whispering about something. Running up the stairs I took them two at a time. I couldn’t wait to get back to D-Waite and to start our new life. Just the thought of him joining me in Boston and leaving this place behind made me want to see him. Hopefully I could gather all my stuff and be out in no time. D asked me to move in with him because he didn’t want me in Cumberland.
“You don’t belong there,” he held my face in between his hands. “I want you to be here with me so that I can protect you.” My aunt would be in rehab for six months. The first few months I would still be in Brooklyn and I could check on her. I was so glad that we got her away from that life.
Taking my suitcase from the closet I placed it on the bed, opened it, and started throwing clothes inside. I would use my social security money to pay the rent while my aunt was in rehab but I really hoped she wouldn’t come back here. I opened my backpack and put my computer inside. I was so busy daydreaming and packing that I didn’t hear the knocking. My stomach sunk at first but then I remembered that it could be one of the real friends Kim had made in the building.
“Who is it?” I called out through the door.
“It’s Mika,” answered the last person I expected. “Look, I know I’m not your favorite person but I just need to talk to you.”
“About what?” I shouted through the door.
“Gabby, I want to apologize.” She spoke in a softer tone than I had heard her use before. “I swear I won’t do anything to hurt you. If you look at me you will see that I’m serious.” It was like she was pleading with me.
After a few moments I opened the door. A more subdued Mika stepped into the apartment, carrying a backpack. It occurred to me that I didn’t even know that she was in school. I didn’t know anything about her. She offered a warm smile.
“I been a real bitch to you.”
I nodded, ’cause it wasn’t like I could disagree with her.
“See, D-Waite didn’t know that I had real feelings for him. He thought it was just a booty call because I never told him. So when I saw you with him I got jealous. ’Cause to me you were this goody-goody stealing my man.”
“I didn’t know,” I swore.
“I know,” she agreed. “It was fucked up of me. I didn’t know that you had lost your mother. That must have been tough.”
“Yeah, it was,” I admitted.
“I lost my father when I was younger. He was murdered.” Her voice shook at the memory. “So I know what you’re going through.”
“Thanks. That means a lot to me.”
“We orphans have to stick together.”
I nodded my head in agreement.
“Hey, can I use your bathroom? I’ll be quick.”
“Sure. It’s down the hall to the left.”
“And can I please have some water?”
“’Kay.” I felt so much better as I poured Mika a glass of water. Everything in my life felt like it was turning around. Three weeks ago I thought my life was over and now it was like it was just starting.
Mika came into the kitchen. “Thank you. I got to run.”
“Don’t you want the water?”
“No. Somebody is waiting for me.” She rushed out the door.
“Bye,” I hollered out behind her as I locked the door and went back to packing. My phone started ringing immediately.
“You can’t wait can you?” I joked into the phone.
“Get out of there right now,” he screamed at me.
“I’m almost done.” I rolled my eyes at his bossiness.
“Was Mika just there?” he asked.
“How did you know?”
“Did she leave your sight?”
“She went to the bathroom but that’s all.”
“Get out of there now! She set you up! Run!”
I grabbed my purse and ran to the door just as two uniformed cops were about to knock.
“Going somewhere?” One of them laughed. Within five minutes they had found a pound of pot and fifty rocks of crack cocaine stuffed in my backpack.