A Year and Some Change Later
“Ithought you had to leave?”
I heard her voice and turned my head toward my room door. My blackout curtains blocked out all sunlight, so I had no idea what time it was. The only source of light coming in was the hall light from where Lyric stood.
“What time is it?” I rubbed my hands across my sheets, looking for my phone. I had a meeting scheduled with Gunna at two, but that was the only pressing thing I needed to handle. Once I saw it was only a quarter after eight in the morning, I relaxed back into my pillow.
“It’s almost nine, but you’re usually out of here before I head to class. I thought you might have overslept or something.”
“Naw, I’m straight. You need something? Speaking of class, aren’t you late?”
She rolled her eyes at me because I stayed on her ass about going to school. I needed her to get an education and continue on with the plans she made for herself.
“They canceled class because the teachers are having a professional day.”
“Alright, bet. What you got planned for the day?”
“Umm, I hadn’t made any plans. I talked to my guidance counselor, and she said I have all of my credits, and I’ll be able to graduate on time. I’m still trying to decide what I’m gonna do.”
“What is there to think about?” I asked, shifting my body so I could rest against the headboard.
“I’ve been accepted into Douglasville University. I qualify for a few scholarships, but I’m still gonna have to pay out of pocket for my books and study materials. My counselor is gonna help me find a work-study job, but it won’t be enough to cover everything I’ll need. I’ve got to find a job right now so I can save as much as I can.”
I knew she was only venting because of our friendship, but the shit coming out of her mouth pissed me off.
“What do you need a job for?”
“Are you not listening to me? I told you all the things I have to pay for. Plus, I need to find a daycare and an apartment. I thought about applying for off-campus apartments, but I’m not sure what to do. I don’t even have a car, and I need to figure that out before I leave. I’m okay with taking Ubers, but I’m not sure how I’m gonna do it with a baby on my hip.”
“Lyric, get the fuck out of my room with this shit. It’s bad enough you woke me up, but now you’re about to piss me the fuck off, and it’s too early.”
“What the hell is your problem? You asked me a question, and I answered. If you didn’t want to know, that’s all you had to say.Gimme my baby!” Lyric rushed over to the bed, attempting to remove a sleeping Symphonee from my bed. I lifted my hand and pushed her out of the way.
“Man, go ahead with all that. She ain’t got shit to do with your attitude, and you ain’t about to wake my baby up because you’re mad. I can’t believe you came into my room talking that nonsense.” I fussed, patting baby Symphonee on her back when I felt her squirm in her sleep.
“How is it nonsense? I’m about to graduate in a few months, and I don’t have any of my shit together. I thought you of all people would understand.” Lyric pouted with her arms folded across her chest. I wasn’t in the mood for her bullshit, but I needed to set some shit straight.
“Lyric, what do you pay for?”
“What do you mean?” Her tone was defensive, but I paid her no mind.
“I’m asking, what are you responsible for right now? How do you pay for your housing, clothes, shoes, and school stuff? Huh?”
Her brows furrowed as she shifted her weight from one foot to the other.
“You pay for it all.”
“Exactly. You came up in here as if you have the weight of the world on your shoulders, when you don’t pay for shit. All you had to do was tell me what you needed. You could have kept the sob story because you don’t live that life. Anything you and baby girl need is already taken care of, so I don’t understand what we’re even talking about.”
“I’m eighteen, and I’m about to be on my own, East. I understand you’re loyal to my brother, but I’m not your responsibility, and neither is—”
“Don’t even finish that bullshit.” I gently patted baby girl on her back a few times to make sure her sleep hadn’t beendisturbed. Symphonee looked like a mini version of her momma as she snored lightly with her pink pacifier hanging from her lips. I knew better than to remove it because her little ass would cut up.
Once I made sure she was settled, I slid out of the bed. I couldn’t believe Lyric had me up entertaining her bullshit. We had been living together for well over a year now, and she tried my patience every chance she got. It was like she couldn’t stand being at peace and needed to question anything and everything. It didn’t matter how much I tried to show up for her, she still questioned how long I would be around. The shit was growing old, and if it wasn’t for my love for her and baby girl, I would have probably said fuck it and let her figure it out on her own.
I opened my closet, picked up one of my safes, then carried it over to my dresser. I had about six hidden in various places in my house for the time being.
“Bring yo’ ass over here.” My patience was as thin as her momma’s edges, and Jazzie’s shit was damn near see-through.
