Luckily, I took my comforter, radio, CD’s, and things from Tisha’s house so that added extra spice to the room. Ray-Ray insisted that I get comfortable, and hang up all of my clothes in the closet, after he dragged in a dresser from another room for me. I had too many clothes, so I knew that it would take a while for me to get settled.
As I took care of my clothes, the loud mouth woman came into the room. “I’m so rude, baby. I didn’t introduce myself. My name is Red and I’m your daddy’s girlfriend. He has told me so much about you that I feel like I know you already. I just want to let you know that my home is your home. If there’s anything you need just let me know. I mean anything. Don’t be shy, either. I know this may be a little awkward for you, but I will do whatever is within my power to make you comfortable. I should let you know that you are the only girl under the roof besides me. I have three knucklehead boys. Two of them live here and one is in jail. You already met Jahrein who’s seventeen, and the other one, Jalero who’s ten, is outside somewhere.”
“Oh, okay.” I smiled.
“And there are plenty of girls around here your age. So tomorrow you might make some new friends.”
I nodded to get her to go on about her business. It was hot enough in that house, so I wasn’t even thinking about going outside. They needed to turn on the damn air.
“The air don’t work?” I asked her, as I fanned myself.
“It’s hot, huh? That shit is broke, but we have plenty of fans. I’ll get you two.” Red told me, as she finally left the room.
A few minutes later Jahrein brought me the two fans. I was bending over organizing my shoes when I heard, “Got damn!”
I jumped at the sound of his voice, before I stood up. “Boy, don’t scare me like that.” I breathed, as I held my chest.
“My bad.” he replied as he looked at me strangely. “Here go the fans.” he placed them on the floor.
“Thanks.” I sighed half-heartedly.
“So, how old are you?” he asked, as he gazed at me. I was growing uncomfortable, because of the way he was looking at me. It wasn’t the way the boys at school looked, either. It felt like a grown man was scoping me out.
“Thirteen.” I replied shyly.
His mouth dropped. “Damn, you young. I kind of thought that you was a little older.” he stated, as his eyes examined my body.
“Oh.” I sighed.
I was feeling self-conscious about my outfit, and I really wanted to pull my tight shorts down.
“Oh. My. God. Um um umm.” he said as if I couldn’t hear him, as he stared at my na-na.
“Did you want something?” I asked him, trying to redirect his attention.
“Oh, no.” he looked up. “I was just seeing what’s up with you. So, you from the bloody nickel, huh? It’s crunk out there?”
“I mean, I guess. It’s fun sometimes, but you know how shit can get out there.”
He stopped and looked at me as if I was crazy. He was acting as if my words shocked him.
“The hood do raise y’all fast.” he smiled, as he left out of the room. I really didn't know what he meant by that, but I knew that is was going to be a long summer.
Chapter 2
(This Little Game we Play/ Subway & 702)
“Girl I want to you to stay and play this little game we play.”
The first week at my daddy’s house flew by. My daddy had gone out of his way to make sure that I was comfortable, and Red was sweet. Jahrein was very popular around the neighborhood. All the girls stayed in his face, and all the niggas respected him. Even though Ray-Ray’s from Fifth Ward all the niggas gave him even more respect. My daddy was a man that could walk through any hood. Therefore, people naturally showed me love. Hell, he was damn near a legend back in the Ward.
Plenty of the hood rats in the neighborhood were crazy over Jahrein. So, many of them would try to kick it with me, just to ask about the other broads he talked to. I was far from lame, and used his popularity to my advantage. Those stupid ass girls would buy me all kinds of clothes from the store, and kiss my ass. One girl, who was every bit of seventeen, even tried to spend a night over, thinking that she would be closer to him. I asked Red if she could stay, and she said hell naw.
“That little bitch get more dick than I do. She aint laying up in my house around Ray-Ray.” she blabbed.
I just sat back and laughed, because I really didn't give a damn about that girl spending a night with me.I just asked, because she had just stolen a new Guess outfit for me as a bribe.
Man, those broads would do anything to get closer to Jahrein. Deep down, I understood why. He was one of the flyest niggas on the south side to me. He had naturally curly hair, which grew quickly, so his taper fade was lined up weekly.
