Salty: A Ghetto Soap Opera (Drama In The Hood) (11 page)

"Nope. We been on for a few years now.  Niggas used to say we were some nerds, because Ken and me stayed in the lab or my garage experimenting. People did not know what we were doing. We was trying to come up with a pill to cure breast cancer. At the time my mom’s had it. Ken’s grandmother had already died from it. When my mom’s died, we did not see the purpose no more, so we left it alone. We stopped messing in the lab altogether. We kicked back for a few months. Then Ken came up with an idea to make some money. Everybody was off that X, so he was like fuck it, let’s make that. It took some time. It was well worth it because we on now.  Ken’s about to go to New Orleans, help his moms get settled in, and while he’s out there he’s going to try to expand our shit out there. We trying to put that West Coast Fire on the map."

West Coast Fire, Wack thought. He heard about it; niggas said the shit was the business. It’s the red pill with the WC on the front and the flames on the back.

Wack smiled at his luck.

"I might can help you expand. We going to talk, little homey."

"Thanks man. Get at me. Aye, call my phone so I can have your number." Peter said.

"Alright." Wack said and walked out.

Drama, don’t you sleep?

Chapter 6

Jazz looked at her clock; it was almost 5am. What the hell did Yay-Yay want?

"Hello." Jazz answered in her gurgle voice.

"Um. My bad for waking you. But I thought you may wanna know what your man did."

No, she is not calling me about Peter. What the hell is up with that
? Jazz thought.

"I haven't talked to you in three days. And when I do it’s about Peter. Isn't Peter the reason you stopped talking to me?"             

"Look I ain't got time for all that extra shit. Whining and stuff.  Grow up.  Do you wanna know what I gotta say or not?"            

 
"Not!" Jazz said and ended the call.

Yay looked at her phone. No this bitch didn't. She dialed Jazz’s number back. Jazz hit ignored and then cut her phone off.

I wonder if Peter cut her ass off like I suggested. I'll ask tomorrow.  
 

The Next Day

Jazz stood in front of the studio waiting for Peter to pick her up. The two were going to see a movie then have dinner.  Jazz turned to the sound of Laurie's voice.

"You want me to wait with you?"

"No I'm good." Jazz said.

Laurie looked across the parking lot.

"Girl, look; she all on my brother." Laurie said, referring to one of the dance instructors.

Jazz shook her head.

"What, girl? Why you shaking your head?"

Diesel saw that too. He wondered why she shook her head and hoped Laurie would tell him.

 
"Because he just had that white girl in the car, now her? Guys are a trip."

 
"He a ho. What you expect; he a ball player."

"I know right."

Both Laurie and Jazz laughed.

"Let me go pee real quick." Laurie told Jazz.

Laurie then turned to go back in the building.

"You going to get enough about  peeing in public restrooms. Something going to jump out on you."

    
"I rather that, then pissing on myself."

Laurie walked back in the building to use the restroom. Jazz glanced back over at Diesel.
She all on him. I could have sworn she said she had a man.  I guess they made for each other. Like Laurie said, he ain't nothing but a ho.
Diesel looked up and caught Jazz’s stare. She turned her head. 
Peter needs to hurry up.
  She then thought about Yay’s call last night.
I wonder what happened between the two.
Jazz went in her bag and pulled out her cell phone and dialed her voicemail.  The first message put a smile on her face. It was Peter...
Baby I love you. I can't wait to see you today.
  Message number two, erased her smile.
It was Yay-Yay. I know your immature ass didn't hang up on me. It ain't my fault your nigga foul. I was just trying to let your silly ass know that Peter has no respect for you. You so stupid."
Jazz shook her head. Message three was Yay-Yay again.
"You know what. I'm going to tell you because you're my cousin. Peter is a ho. He’s scandalous. He had Sabrina’s young ass over there about 3:30 this morning. If I hadn't come over to pick up the work, no telling what would have happened. The little girl was not only drunk, but he laced her drink. I saved her by taking her home. I saved Peter’s perverted ass too. If her grandmother would have found out his ass would be in jail. That's some desperate ass shit."
Jazz was heated. If Peter was in front of her she would have knocked his head off. How dare he? She thought.

 
Laurie walked up. She noticed her friend’s mood. 

"You okay?"

"I'm good. Just wait right here. I may be leaving with you."

Laurie was about to ask her what happened, but Peter pulled up and Jazz walked to his car. She opened the door and sat inside. She left the car door open on purpose.     

"I thought I asked you not to allow my cousin to work for you anymore."

 
"Damn. That's how you get at me? While she telling you I gave her work, she didn't tell you that Ken fired her ass.  She claims her momma stole her work. That’s what she mad about. Her momma ain’t took that shit, she just trying to get over."

If she said that then most likely it’s true. That sound like auntie. Jazz thought
.

Peter added,

"If she wasn't family, Ken would have gotten something done to her."

"Nobody ain't going to do shit to my cousin."

"I know ‘cuz that's your peeps. Now shut the door so we can go."

"Was Sabrina at your house? Did you lace her drink?"

Peter scrunched up his forehead and tiny beads of sweat formed on the top of his nose. Peter only does that for two reasons. He’s either nervous or lying, or both.

“
There you go. Always coming at me with what somebody said.”

"That’s a lie and you know it.  Now answer my question!"

"It wasn’t even like that."

"I can't believe you." Jazz cried," You was going to fuck her? Damn Peter." She got out the car.

Peter jumped out too. He ran toward her.

"Come here, Jazz. It wasn't like that. That was the homey boy girl"

"The homey? Tell me why in the hell would you lace your homey’s girl’s drink?”

"Can you just get in the car. I'll tell you in the car."

The security walked over and asked was everything ok.  Peter told him yeah.

"No, it’s not. This man won't leave me alone."

"Sir, if you don't leave I'm going to call the police."

Peter looked at Jazz ; he then glanced at Laurie and her brother who were watching.

"You not going to leave with me?” He asked.

She ignored him and walked off , heading toward the parking lot where Diesel and Laurie waited.

Chapter 7

Jazz and Laurie sat in the dining room talking about their past and future. It wasn't that Diesel was trying to eavesdrop on Jazz and Laurie conversation; it was just that Laurie had a high pitch, squeaky voice that echoed throughout the mansion.  It didn't make it any better that they were in the family room and he was in the den right next to them. When the girls were through talking, he learned that Jazz was still a virgin. That sort of shocked him since most girls her age was already given it up; including his sister. Not to mention the high percentage of teen pregnancy. But not Jazz, that diva refused to put out until she was eighteen.

"No babies until I finish college and my husband and I purchase our first home. I refuse to be a welfare recipient mom, living in a low-income,  Mexican neighborhood or the projects.” Jazz stated.

"I feel you girl." Laurie replied.

The girls sat in their own thoughts for a minute.                                              

 
"So are you really done with Peter?"

Before Jazz could respond, Laurie added,

"How you know Yay’s messy ass ain't exaggerating. You know your cousin’s messy."

"Yay is messy, but the thing is, she be telling the truth. And plus I know when Peter is lying. I mean damn, I'm not stupid. I know the nigga was sleeping with other females. I didn't care as long as they weren't anybody I knew. And it wasn't in my face. He only had a little over a month, and I was his. He couldn't even wait. He trying to practically rape a 15 year old whore."

Jazz frowned her face thinking about how low Pete was willing to go just for some ass.

"I mean damn. People already think he a nasty ho. Yay couldn't wait to throw that shit in my face."

Tears began to fall.

"I really love that boy. I trusted him. I accepted him for him. Not for what he got. Niggas don't appreciate a real one when they got it. Ughh... I hate that Yay caught him. "

"Girl, forget her. Why you always worried about what she think? She can't judge nobody. She a  ho."

Jazz chuckled,

"she's a stripper not a ho."

"Whatever. But let me go put this food up and clean the kitchen before my momma come down and have a fit. You staying the night or do you want my brother to take you home?"

"I’mma stay."

"Good, we'll finish this convo when I'm done." Laurie got up and headed for the kitchen.

Jazz got up, straightened the couch pillows back, cut the radio off and headed toward Laurie’s room. She bumped into Diesel coming around the corner.

"Hey", she said and smiled.

“
Hey, yourself." He smiled back exposing his deep dimples.

The lights from the chandelier caused his blue eyes to sparkle. They stared at each other for about a minute before Jazz tried to walk off.

"Where are you going?" He said, grabbing her hand.

He looked into her eyes. It’s true that you can read the depth of a person’s soul just by looking into their eyes. Her eyes say, she can be trusted and she wanted to trust. Her eyes said that her love is 100. Her eyes say that she yearned for Mr. Right to give her love. Her eyes said, that she was attracted to Diesel just as he was attracted to her. And that pleased him. However, her eyes said, I'm scared that you may hurt me. And I wouldn't give you that chance. Jazz looked down at Diesel’s big hands on her tiny wrist. She then looked back up at him. She spoke softly, “is there something you wanna talk about?

"I was wondering if you would like to go to the Lakers game next week?"

Why would I ask a girl to the Lakers game? Damn, D, you couldn’t think of nothing else?

Jazz’s smile was big as the Pacific Ocean and bright as a sunny day in Cali.

"Heck, yes I wanna go. Laurie know I love some Fisher."

He smiled again.

"Oh, yeah?"

"Yeah; she didn't tell you? Of course not; she don't care about basketball."

"Oh, so you don't mind going with me alone just the two of us?"

I know he ain't trying to Mack. Please.

"Oh, no I'm good. I met your girl the other day."

He had a feeling she would say something to that effect.

"Sweet heart, I’m single. I hang with who I wanna hang with."

Umph.