I couldn’t lie, a nigga wanted to ball up his fist and do an air jump. The message he sent with it made me nod.Because I believe in you, my nigga.
Morgan’s hand caressed my back. “Is everything ok?” she asked.
I nodded as I pinched between my eyes to catch the falling tears. I had gone to stand up when suddenly, people came busting into her room. They snatched me up and slammed me against the floor. “Kareem Forte, you violated your parole,” the one who had his knee in my back said.
“Leave him alone!” Morgan shouted.
I tried to break free from their grasp, but they slammed me back down to cuff me. I could hear Morgan’s cries. I knew she had never dealt with shit like this, and I felt bad for even putting her in this situation. “Ayo, Rich Girl, I’m good. Stop crying, mama,” I said, trying to get her to calm down.
They cuffed me like a hog, hauling me out of her crib, with just my boxers on. I didn’t even want to look, knowing people were standing outside watching. “Ah shit! Y’all fucking hurting me,” I gritted.
When they placed me in the back of the police car, I lay there. The regret of last night was now weighing on me. I had a chance to make shit right, and here I was in the back of a pig’s car over some pussy I should have never touched. The cold seats and uncomfortable position were how they saw me. They had captured me like a fucking animal, as if I were being hunted. The drive seemed long, but when the police car stopped, I was grateful.
When they helped me up and out of the car, someone was waiting with clothes. They assisted me in dressing before guiding me into the building. Skipping processing and beingtaken to a small room made me realize something was wrong. Minutes stretched into what felt like hours, with five turning into ten before I even noticed. The small room reminded me of the hole where I was kept for days after fights in jail. Being in confined spaces tends to fuck with your mind.
I sat in the chair with my head on my arms when I heard the door open. A shadowy figure appeared, and just as I thought, this was some bullshit. I wasn’t sure what stage of the game we were at, but I wanted to move to the next level immediately. “Kareem,” Naheem grinned.
Hearing him say my name made my stomach drop.
I had just hit Enter, finalizing a project I had been working on. It was something I wasn’t sure I could pull off, but I knew only time would tell. I decided to switch up my flow for the day and work on some music when an email from the school caught my attention. Receiving daily emails wasn’t new, but when it pertained to financials, that was a red flag. I quickly opened the email and saw that my courses for the semester were in the red. “What the fuck?” I muttered.
I picked up my phone and called my father. I wasn’t sure what was happening, but it had to be a mistake. It was the start of my senior year, and I was told I hadn’t paid for my classes. The phone rang but went unanswered. I checked my watch to see the time. I knew if I left now, I’d have enough time to drive to Lake Hill and return, giving me about three hours to sleep before my class tomorrow.
During the three-hour drive, I was filled with questions that kept my mind racing. When I arrived at my parents’ house, I saw that my father’s car was not there. I wasn’t surprised because, growing up, his job had always been more important. His job was the easiest excuse to run from the things that were going on beyond the hundred-thousand-dollar wall we called home. As I entered the house, the sounds of my mother arguing with someone caught my attention. “Don’t tell me I made a mistake, goddamnit, I know I did.”
It wasn’t unusual that she was arguing with someone because it was like a daily thing for her, but the shit shewas saying was what bothered me. I crept closer toward the kitchen, where she was. “Well, Bobbie and I decided to cut him off. Music, tuh, who decides to choose music as a major?” she hissed.
So, they cut me off? I thought. In my mind, I couldn’t let them take away the one thing that brought me a bit of joy. All I needed was enough money to carry me through this semester, then I could figure everything out myself. Instead of approaching her, I backed into my father’s office. I knew the nigga had a safe in here somewhere, but I wasn’t sure. I moved quickly, looking high and low in every nook and cranny. I figured he would keep one. I walked over to his shelf as my eyes scanned all his law books. I began moving them in and out, hoping to spot a hidden knob or a key-coded safe. I was moving so fast that books fell, slamming against the floor. “Fuck,” I whispered as I froze.
I wasn't sure whether the noise of the books clashing was loud enough for her to hear. If it was, she would be walking in any second. I crouched to pick them up when something caught my eye. As I looked at it, a wave of sickness washed over me. It was like a switch flipped inside, and in that moment, I understood. The door swung open. “Braylen!” my mother called out.
I slowly stood, holding the law book in my hand. I closed it before sliding it back into its place. “What are you doing here?” she asked.
I stared at the title long and hard. “I-I,” I hesitated.
“You what? Speak up. Your father isn’t here, and you know you shouldn’t be in here. Now, get out!” she spat.
I turned around to face her. When she caught my energy, her head flew back slightly. I moved closer, and my eyes never wavered. Cutting me off was one thing, but what I just sawwas another. My mind changed about asking for or taking any money from them. Everything I knew or thought it was, wasn’t. I knew once I left this house, they were dead to me, Braylen included.
When I saw Diamond, Zeus, Foe, Monfua, Peanut, and Chevy, I knew they were about to wreak Havoc in my class. Chevy’s eyes narrowed in on mine as if he wanted to challenge me. My students’ eyes were just as curious as mine. I cracked my neck as I waited for one of those niggas to utter a word. Although I could feel the pressure Chev was applying, I still had a job to do. The last thing I wanted was for that nigga to see me sweat. I tried my best to ignore him as I began teaching my class.
The entire time I spoke on the history of music or mentioned one of the legendary artists that paved the way for niggas like me, my eyes bounced on each of them, waiting for a snicker, a joke, or a crass ass comment, but I got nothing.
My class went on for the next forty-five minutes. I taught and watched as Foe shot papers toward the trash. Monfua was on his phone, Zeus was dozing off, Diamond was taking notes, and Peanut and Chevy were watching me.
Once it was over and all my students had left the class, they remained seated. “Fuck is y’all here for?” I spat as soon as the last student stepped out of the door.
Chevy sucked his teeth. “I came to see you handle business. You should be grateful I wasn’t a disruptive student.Professor.”
I snarled. “I don’t need a fucking babysitter.”
Chevy rose from the seat. “Never said you did. However, I need my info sooner rather than later, so let’s get to it, Professor Laureaux.”
Not only was I agitated because these niggas were here, but it was him not giving me a chance to do what I said I would that bothered me. “I saw them last night. One of them raps. He goes by Six.”
“Continue,” Chevy said.
I flicked my nose. “I was with Scooter, and that nigga was there. It wasn’t until after the shit was over that I realized some of those niggas were in the building,” I explained.
