Faces of the Game (26 page)

              “I want a puppy, a cute little puppy that won’t get too big.  Oh and a new laptop, mine is on its last leg.  You already know I love diamonds, so any nice jewelry would be great.  Should I keep going?”  Chelle giggled and sat up on the bed.  He chuckled, “I guess it’s up to me to narrow down the list huh?”  He had that genuine smile on his face; the one Chelle dreaded she wouldn’t see for years.  A tear dropped from her tear dock to her lap, Chip saw it but decided not to address it.  He was so excited for Chelle he didn’t want to leave her side until she graduated, but he had moves to make so he was leaving on for Atlanta the following morning.  They both felt like Chip was skating on thin ice by even being there, but the cars that were posted outside had recently left and nothing seemed sketchy.  He trusted her with his freedom, she trusted him to move silently enough to keep her out of harms way; they felt inseparable.  Chelle fell asleep comfortably in her safe haven, his arms…

              “Wake up; what do you have to do today?”  Chip said walking into her room at 8am with a plate of fresh fruit and a muffin.  Chelle sat up and looked at him confused as to why he was bringing her breakfast in bed, and where he got the fresh fruit from.  She didn’t ask any questions, she just decided to enjoy the moments.  She smiled, “nothing, I’m chilling’ for the most part.  I just wanted to go say my goodbyes to a few of my favorite Professors and that’s about it.”  “Well I’m leaving, but I’ll be back in a few days.”  Chelle’s feelings became numb, and she remembered that in a few days, she would be starting her new avenues of life. They talked while they showered and dressed, and they went their separate ways. 

              Chip was headed straight to the mall, he wanted to get everything on Chelle’s wish list minus the dog he didn’t think she was ready for a dog, she was always on the go, but if he could wrap the world in a platinum box with a white bow on it, he would. Chelle headed over to campus, she had to give a special thanks to three Teachers in particular who inspired her to design herself for the lifestyle she dreamed of.  On the way, she decided to stop by the local dollar store to get each of them cards and she even found little books with short stories and quotes for teachers, it was too ironic for not to grab each of them a book and a cute bag to place them in. 

              After spending a few hours at what would soon be her Alma Mater, Chelle headed to the Friendly Shopping Center to find a fly dress to wear under her gown, and a pair of cute shoes to match.  She decided she would go to the hair and nail salon the following day, it was officially the countdown to the big day.  Chelle found herself trying on tons of shoes and trying to narrow her choices down to three pairs.  She was strong when it came to many things, but shoes were her weakness and she was in the shopaholic mood. 

              The sun was going down, Chelle was getting hungry and she was spending too much money so she decided to go to Arigato Japanese Steakhouse and ordered food to go.  On her way she could’ve sworn someone was following her because she saw a green Ford truck frantically pull out of the parking lot she as leaving from, but she also knew she was ridiculously paranoid so she tried to laugh it off.  She subconsciously kept her eyes on the Ford truck through her rear view mirror.  Since she wasn’t in the mood to sit at the table with a group of strangers, she sat at the bar and ordered a few shots of Tequila with a splash of lime juice while her food cooked.  Tipsy and aware of her surroundings, she noticed a guy sitting at a table in the bar area alone.  She could feel him staring at her from time to time, so she decided to turn and stare at him for a few moments to call him bluff and take a mental snapshot, she had a strange feeling paranoid or not.  He glanced up at her with a blank look while talking on a cell phone, so Chelle decided to leave it alone. 
Maybe I’m tripping’, I need to chill out and enjoy my glorious week cheers to me damn-it. 
She silently saluted herself, however she couldn’t help but to watch every move everyone around her made, it was almost as if she had eyes in the back of her head and her sixth sense told her there was a snake in the vicinity.      

Hump Day Madness

“Bitch, I just got an offer from the Fed’s and you owe me!”  Tim jacked Chelle up in the corner of her living room, Chelle’s eyes got as big as golf balls and she didn’t utter a word.  “Listen bitch, your stupid ass uncle owes me a quarter-mill, that’s two-hundred fifty thousand fucking dollars I’ll never see.”  He was yelling to the top of his lungs with venom on his tongue and murder in his eyes, Chelle knew she didn’t have a choice but to stay strong and tighten up. 
How did I let this motherfucker sneak me like that, I knew something wasn’t right.  What the fuck, if he kills me I hop
e
he dies a slow death bastard!
  Chelle squinted her eyes, tightened her lips and slightly shook her head.  “What bitch!?”  Tim spat as he let go of her collar.  “Listen, I know your little boyfriend Chip is running around here playing Prince Charming and shit, but your family owes me money and if I turn Chip in they’ll give me fifty grand.  That’s a start, shit I got kids to feed.”  Chelle raised her eyebrow as if to say, ‘
so what
’.  “Say something, look I don’t want to hurt you but I fucking will.  I’m a cold hearted killer without shit to loose.”  He seemed so violent and confused, but Chelle wasn’t a whimp and she definitely wasn’t going to let this weak ass man get the best of her.  “So you sell out to the Feds?”  Chelle had the deepest look of disgust plastered on her face.  “That’s a cop out, the easy way out.  I was a kid when my uncle owed you all of that money, I don’t have anything to do with that shit.  Why me?”  Chelle leaned against the wall and crossed her arms, she was inching closer to her desk where her .22 was stored.  “What is a nigga to do when he’s served a sentence, owed money and don’t get to see his kids grow up?”  Tears welled up in his eyes, but he didn’t drop a single one.  Instead he pulled out a gun, but he didn’t cock it.  Chelle grabbed the gun out of her desk drawer as quick as Tim could blink, he smirked. 

Tim left Chelle’s apartment with a few threatening words, “if you thing you’re the only one in danger think again, I know where all of you live.  I know everything; the ball is in your court.  It’s your life or my kid’s future, choose wisely”.  He looked at her with piercing eyes as he let himself out of her apartment and gently closed the door with a quick slam to follow.

                                                                      ***

Chelle relived the initial break in, and Tim was smooth; he moved like a killer.  Chelle went outside that morning to get her notebook out of the car, when she got back upstairs to her door; there he was standing at the side of her door.  When she stuck her key into the doorknob, it was like Tim appeared out of nowhere caressing her face.  Chelle had an anxiety attack, but she didn’t show it.  “Open the door and everything will go smooth.” 
I knew something wasn’t right yesterday, fuck. 
Chelle made a decision to never underestimate her instincts again. 

“Look, you got one week bitch.  You better help me find Chip, and if the Fed’s find him before I do, that’s my fifty racks and your fucking life.  If you don’t have another solution, bitch you better find your uncle and he better have at least half of what the fuck he owes me.”  Tim placed a sticky note in Chelle’s hand with a telephone number on it and dismissed himself.  He left a cold feeling in her apartment, Chelle was shook and unlike any situation before, Chelle didn’t pick up her phone and call anyone; instead she turned her phone off and laid in the bed scared for her life. 
Why would someone be so cold, yet so explanatory?  I thought he was going to try to rape me at first, hell I didn’t know what to think.  Who do I tell first?  This nigga might have my phone tapped.  How did he get past me and to my door in that short amount of time anyway?  Where the hell is Chip?  At least he doesn’t want to kill him, but what if he does something to somebody in the family.  I know what he looks like for sure now, and he told me his name was Tim which could be a lie.  I’m packing the day after graduation; I have to get out of here real soon.  Oh my goodness, what if Chip gets locked up before he finds him?  He threatened my life pretty much.  This coward just made a deal with the Feds though?  And he had the fucking audacity to put his filthy hands on my cheek… 
Chelle fell asleep overwhelmed with what just happened, her home was invaded by someone who claims to have dealings with the Federalies.  Somehow this had to be illegal, but she didn’t have time or the courage to bring it forth for justice.  Besides, if luck was on her side she would dodge the entire situation with clean hands.  She didn’t know what all this Tim guy knew, and she definitely didn’t want Chip rolling up the night before graduation; this man knew where she lived. 

Brunch and G Chat

“Meet me downtown at nine” Chelle said to into the phone, Vae knew where to meet her and Chelle was straight to the point which could only mean one thing; the conversation wasn’t to be discussed over the phone or at her house for that matter.  Chelle then got in the shower, found the most comfortable yet cute outfit she could find, threw her hair in a messy bun and headed out of the house.  She needed advice from everyone in her immediate circle, one at a time.  They were both at Noma’s for mid-week brunch by 9:15am sharp.  Once Chelle broke everything down, Vae was in awe.  She didn’t know whether to advise Chelle to shoot the vengeful motherfucker Tim or to tell Chip as soon as she could.  Vae was worried, this could mean that she was next; what if her dude was mixed in trouble?  Did this mean he would come after her for another 50 racks?  Either way, she didn’t have much time to worry about this one of her closest cousins needed immediate advice.  “Okay, first off you need to pack a bag and come stay with me or something; I don’t want you at that house by yourself.”  Vae was sick, she had to keep it together to keep Chelle from freaking out.  Chelle had to make her rounds, so she called Ash she needed solid opinions from the inner circle who always kept it 100% real with her.  “I’m pulling’ up in ten” Ash just said alright and they hung up.  Chelle’s eyes shifted from the windshield to the rear view mirror repeatedly.  She was very cautious, and now her paranoia was on hell. 

She circled the neighborhood before she backed into the garage and once again, she spilled the beans.  She didn’t know whether to tell her mom or not, but she definitely had to figure something out. 

Ash was shocked at the news, “Girl you can’t go back home until you move your stuff.”  Chelle became nauseous, and for the first time in her life; she threw up with no stomach virus.  Ash was right behind her, “Oh my gosh are you okay?”  “I’m dizzy; I need some water or something.”  Chelle said as she leaned over the sink.  Ash brought her two face towels and she cleaned up her face.  It wasn’t much, but it was there and she wasn’t the type to puke at the moment of clarity.  “There’s a first time for everything” Chelle said laughing.  She was embarrassed that she threw up, she always played it cool but she felt defeated and this was the wrong time for her emotions to be all over the place.  She had too much going, good and bad all at the same time. 

                “What’s up?  I’ll be back tomorrow night.”  Chip said into the phone.  Chelle’s heart thumped hard.  “Honey, let’s go to a room or something.  I want to do something exclusive, let’s get away and get a room on the other side of town.”  Chelle quoted a song and tried to make a joke out of it.  Chip didn’t care, he just wanted to see her happy.  It was her day, and they were going to do whatever she wanted to do.  “Just let me know, it’s on you.”  Chelle let out a sigh of relief.  How was she going to make plans with him and this creep might have her phone tapped?  Moreover, how was she going to tell him what was going on?  He was already under enough pressure so she decided to keep it to herself.  She had to figure out where she wanted to stay, somewhere ducked off and fly. 

              Chelle decided to do a deep search on this weirdo Tim; she started off by doing a reverse search on his phone number.  Then she looked him up by first name, city and an approximate age.  Chelle found a little bit, but not enough.  She was certain he had served a few hefty sentences, which had to be vital information for future references.  He had possession with intent to sell charges and robbery charges.  This spooked Chelle out, but at the same time she found a little relief because she didn’t see any kidnapping, rape, assault or battery charges.  Chelle had one more day to make this right, she had to get up in the morning and she was overthinking.  Before she got sick again, she decided to drop to her knees and pray.

             
Lord, please remove the pain from my heart.  Keep me sane and protect me.  God keep me safe from all harm and danger, protect Chip from danger God lead him in the right direction by all means.  God keep me on a straight path; lead me into prosperous avenues in my life.  Amen. 
Chelle dropped a tear and sighed.  She knew that her humble prayer would reach God’s ears, and no matter what he always seemed to answer her prayers.  She wasn’t worried about it anymore; she just decided to let go and let God.  Before she knew it, she was dozing off in the guest bedroom at Ash’s house.  She shot Vae a quick text message, ‘I’m not going home, but I’m straight.’  Vae text her back to let her know she got the text and to holler at her if she needed anything.  She figured Chelle had stayed with Ash. 

Roller Coaster

              Chelle decided that she wanted to spend the next two nights at the Grandover Resort in High Point; it was perfect.  Ducked off, five star, and most of all she would have a piece of mind.  Most average local cats didn’t even know that this spot existed, she was sure that creepy Fed cop out wouldn’t know this place existed.  She’d done enough research and he was just an average Joe who needed a quick solution to a lifelong problem.  She hopped up looking for excitement in the mist of it all.  Her department was having an award ceremony and brunch and she had to be there by 9:30am.  Luckily it was 7:15 and she was full of energy.  Chelle had packed quite a few dresses, slacks, jeans and yoga pants just to make sure she was comfortable and prepared; she didn’t want to go back to her apartment until after graduation.