Chapter 30

Vicky had no idea what was going on. She was not only pissed off but fidgety. It was twelve, and she was supposed to be at work.

But Shi needed her. “It’s important,” Shi said, and so Vicky came.

She had to, Shi needed her. Vicky was tired of always being there when Shi called; when she needed. Things were different, she couldn’t just drop everything for Shi anymore, she could lose everything. And at the moment she had much more to lose.

She walked from her West Park Apartment to the McDonald's on University.

Her car’s transmission went out which was fucked up. She had just bought the car two weeks prior, and now it sat in her parking stall. What made it all the more messed up was the fact that she could have bought another one but then again she couldn’t. She had to keep up the image; she had to continue to play the part. She had to act like nothing changed and live on a budget in her rat hole working her dead end jobs.

She usually caught the bus to work. But she wasn’t headed to work. She was sitting in McDonald's waiting for Shi.

It’s all about Shi, she thought. It’s always been about Shi.

Shi was the one her dad loved, and Shi was the reason he was dead. Vicky felt bad about all the bad thoughts she had about Shi.

Shi was her best friend, her sister. They’d grown up together. But things were different, times had changed, Shi had been gone for over three years. Shi had been gone for far too long. Shi hadn’t been there for Vicky at all over those years, though Vicky knew the reason Shi was gone it didn’t change her thinking.

Shi had taken the case, had lied and not told a soul what had really happened.

Shi could have gone to jail for the rest of her life.

Times had changed, and things had happened, things Vicky was dying to tell Shi but couldn’t. At least not yet, and it hurt Vicky to think maybe not ever.

Vicky sighed, it was frustrating. Shi was her friend no matter which way she cut it or looked at it.

And that was the reason she’d called out of work and sat waiting in McDonald's risking her future.

Looking at the menu, Vicky wanted so badly to order something, but it was not in the budget. She had to keep up the front and live her pauper life. “How the mighty have fallen,” Vicky mumbled to herself.

She remembered when she had any and everything she wanted. She thought when her dad died she’d have money like when her mother passed, but her dad did not expect to die. Not so soon anyway, thus he didn’t prepare for it. The city had helped with everything, and her father had a proper reception and burial. She’d even had a little pity money from people, but that ran out long ago.

There she was twenty-two, working or rather slaving over two jobs just to make ends. But that was now; times were changing for the better she hoped. She’d gotten her G.E.D. and now had a high school diploma, she didn’t earn.

Her newest and third job was to work the other two she had and live life as normally as always until the time was right.

Vicky sighed as her stomach rumbled. She decided to move to a booth away from the food.

She relocated near the restrooms when she saw a familiar face. King walked in through the front doors. He looked around and then walked towards the restrooms looking like he was looking for someone.

Vicky was going to attempt to hide but decided not to. It’d be more embarrassing if he seen her trying to hide. She was wearing some tight jeans and a hoody. She had on her makeup, which she wouldn’t be caught dead without.

She could have pulled the hood over her head but smiled and said, “King?” He looked at her and after realizing who it was smiled. “Visiting?” she asked with a smile.

King walked to her, “Naw I’m looking for Shi. You?”

Vicky shrugged, “same, she called and said it was important and here I am.” King sat down. “Any idea what it’s about?” Vicky asked looking into his green eyes.

Vicky was hiding her contempt. Shi had been out for a few months, and Vicky hadn’t heard from her since she went to her hearing. And Shi finally decided to call.

Vicky thought that was fucked up, but she tried not to dwell on it.

“She said she knows who killed my brother.”

Vicky’s mouth dropped open. She didn’t know what to say or think. Shi had not told her anything nonetheless that she knew who killed AJ

And Vicky knew whoever killed AJ would be who killed Free, or at least knew who did, or even where Free was. Vicky sighed thinking about it all.

“Hungry?”

She looked at King.

“Not really,” she lied.

“I’m gonna go get something; you sure you don’t want anything?”

Vicky acted like she was thinking as her stomach rumbled. “Well, I ain’t ate all day maybe I should. Get me a Big Mac meal with a sprite please… super-size it,” she said looking in her purse as if she was intending to pay. King stood and began walking away. “Hold on, I gotta get my money,” Vicky said.

“I got it.”

She was relieved he was a gentleman, and she didn’t misread him.

King returned five minutes later. He sat down when the front doors opened, and a beautiful brown-skinned girl with her hair pulled back and pinned up with a clip came in. She looked like a kid though Vicky knew she wasn’t. She’s pretty Vicky thought wondering who she was.

She looked familiar.

She wore a tight Baby Phat shirt which stretched over her D’s and showed her navel which was pierced. Her hip huggers were denim and were tight enough to give a yeast infection. She had on white K-Swiss. Her arched eyebrows and manicure looked perfect. Vicky could tell her eyes were smoked out from across the room. She was rocking the hell out of a black and gray Gucci purse and Vicky wondered whether it was a knock off.

The girl looked around, and Vicky could tell she worked out. Her body was well proportioned, beautiful.

“Don’t we know her from somewhere?” Vicky asked King looking at the girl.

He turned to look, and the woman saw them. She smiled a flawless pearly white smile and Vicky was sure she knew her. She knew that smile which belonged to someone else, not the girl she was looking at. However, she couldn’t place where.

Her black lip liner and glossy lips sparkled.

“I don’t know,” King said as she approached.

“So!” the girl said standing behind King.

Vicky lifted an eyebrow. “So what?” she shot back with an attitude ready to clown her pretty ass because she no doubt was there trying to get at King whom Vicky could not help but realize was fine as hell.

“What do you think?” the girl said looking nervous.

Vicky recognized the voice but coming from the girl she was looking at seemed out of place.

“Shi?” Vicky heard King asked sounding just as lost as she was.