“Oh my God! Oh my God! That nigga Ray must not be in the building!” the deejay shouted in the mic.
“Girl, get your ass up.” Red laughed. “You making us grown ass women feel like shit.” she roared with laughter. “That’s my little patnah right here.” she pointed as I stood up.
“Who is willing to go against Lil’ Fifth Ward?” the deejay asked.
“It don’t matter because she disqualified. She aint even in the contest. This aint Harlem Knight’s!” Jahrein yelled, referring to a well-known strip club. “Red, how can you encourage that shit?!”
“Boy, stop hating.” Red laughed.
The party went on, but Jahrein was mugging me like he was ready to fight me for real.
“Okay it’s official! Lil’ Fifth Ward did that!” the deejay shouted right before he playedWanna be a Ballerby Lil Troy.
I was too crunk to let Jahrein spoil my fun. Shell and me started rapping,Wanna be a -- baller, shot caller
Twenty inch blades -- on the Impala
A caller gettin laid tonight
Swisher rolled tight, gotta display my ice
I hit the HIIIGHWAY, making money the FLYYYY WAY
But there's got to be a BETT-ER WAYY!
A better way, better way, YEAH-AHHHH
I enjoyed myself that day, maybe even a little more than the birthday boy did.
Chapter 4
(Just Like Daddy/2Pac)
“Close your eyes and feel the magic. Never leave when you need me. I’ll do you just like daddy.”
Back to present day…
As I rode on the school bus I snapped back into reality. Jah’s party was probably one of the last times I'd had real fun. I really had a blast that day. But at that moment I was back in that day’s madness. Le-Le was still going on and on about that damn boy. Hell, I couldn't even remember his name. All I could think about was my bed. For a while, I’d been so tired and my back was always killing me.
My daddy had gotten locked up two weeks after Jah’s birthday, but surprise! I was still living with Red. He only had to do six months in state jail, anyway. Now that I think about it, my daddy wasn't all that bad. Hell, he was better than sorry ass Tisha. She had the nerve to expect a child support check, even though I was living with my daddy. That broad was crazy. She tried to convince me to come home, but I felt that it was all for the wrong reasons. She wanted Ray-Ray’s money. Then she was still living with Curtis’s old crusty ass.
I already knew the deal. My mama was selfish. Tisha knew she was fine, but swears that a younger attractive man couldn’t treat her like her old sugar daddy could. Yep, she was very selfish, but had beauty out of this world. I guess that’s why Ray-Ray used to be crazy overher. Quiet as kept, they still messed around from time to time. My parents were definitely a hot mess, but Tisha still took the cake. She knew damn well that I wasn’t coming back, and deep down I don’t think she cared.
Boy, my back was killing me. I was having some major cramps.
Finally, the bus was in front of my house. I could barely stand, because my back was hurting so badly. So, I took my time. Man, when I reached the door I was already out of breath.
I had to unlock the door, because I’m always the first to make it home. Red was still at work. Jalero walked home from school, and always took his sweet time getting here. Jahrein was a senior in high school, and basically came in whenever he wanted to.
I knew that Jah was still fucking with other girls despite what he promised. They called, and I’d caught him hanging with a few. Each time we fought. It’s wasn't much I could do about the calls without looking suspicious while in front of Red. Still, I couldn't talk to nobody else, cause his bitch ass showed up to my school, screened all my calls, made sure that I came directly home from school, and sometimes even smelled my kitty when he walked through the door.
Shell kept telling me that I was crazy. She claimed that she would never let any boy run her like Jahrein did me. I lost count of all the guys that wanted to talk to me, but I was stuck on him. Really, I didn't have much of a choice, anyway. She'd tried to introduce me to a few other boys. That didn’t roll over well, though. Each time Jahrein somehow ended up in a verbal or physical altercation with the niggas. I was to the point whereI didn't even waste my time trying to entertain the thought of messing with another boy. It’s impossible.
Seemingly out of nowhere, I felt like I was pissing on myself. So, I ran to the bathroom in pain. The piss was just running down my pants legs and I had no control over it. I tried to pull down my jeans, but then a sharp pain ripped through me. The pain momentarily took away my breath. It was damn near blinding.
I struggled to sit on the toilet. Fighting through the pain I pulled down my jeans and panties. Minutes later, it felt like something was ripping me apart again. I didn't know what was going on. My life had to be coming to an end.
I let out a loud scream then I heard, “Raven, what’s wrong?” Red asked me as she stuck her head in the bathroom. I was so glad that she had come home early.
