NUMB

Chapter 4

September 7, 2018

10: 32 am

I wake up to my alarm going off for what feels like the past 2 hours. I check my phone and see that it's 9:32 am.

"CRAP!"

Ain't no way I'm over 4 hours late. I might as well stay home. Thank God I did all my work for the week.

I to get out of bed to go find something to eat but before I decided to check my phone.

Text message from 'Big brother Dre' "We tried waking you up. Mama said just let you sleep but Nana think you died in your sleep because we couldn't wake you lol"

Text Message from BIRTH GIVER "Good morning sweetie. I made you some breakfast and put it in the microwave. ILY"

*49 Missed Calls from Dwayne*

*12 Messages from Dwayne*

I didn't even bother calling or texting Jahseh back. I didn't bother talking to him right now. I went downstairs to get my food from the microwave and was scared by someone talking.

"WHAT THE HELL JAHSEH!?!"

"My bad. You should've saw the look on your face. It's so easy to scare you"

"Why are you in my house boy?"

"To come see you. You didn't reply to any of my texts and didn't answer my calls. And I didn't see you at school so I came here."

"How long have you been here?"- I questioned.

"Long enough"- He said while walking closer to me with a smirk on his face.

"Wha- what are you doing."

"Look Mia, I'm sorry. I really am. And I want to make it up to you."

At this point I had a million and one things going through my head. I didn't know what he was gonna do. I hope he isn't about to do what I think he is about to do. Because if so-

"MIA!!'

"Huh??"

"I said can you move back so I can get to the stove so I could cook you something. Your mom told me she cooked you something when she let me in but I'm pretty sure it got cold.

I stood there speechless with the dumbest look on my face.

"I thought you were gonna do something else..."

"Like what?"- He said looking me dead in the eyes.

"No- nothing. Nevermind. I'm gonna go upstairs for a minute. Call me down when you get done."

After I said that, I went back to my room to think about what just happened. If he was gonna do what I think he was gonna do, would I have went through with it? Why did I let it go on that long if that's what I thought he was gonna do? Why was I slick mad when it didn't happen?

Anyways I decided to get dressed and put on some more presentable clothes. I plan on getting a few errands done after I get done eating.

-20 Minutes Later-

"MIASIA!!!!"

" Nigga, the hell you yelling for??"

"The food done" Jahseh said with the biggest corniest smile ever"

"What you make?"

"A bacon, egg, cheese, and sausage biscuit."

"Sounds good."

I started eating my food and realized it tasted just like McDonalds.

"Hey, this is good, it taste just how McDonalds makes it."

After I said that, out of the corner of my eye, I saw a McDonalds bag in the trash can.

"Boy I know you did not just buy this food and say you cooked it."- I said laughing hard as hell.

"Well, at least I fed you. Can't get mad at that."

"You right, but I can get mad at the fact that you lied to me again. I hate that Jahseh, and you know this, man." (I hope yall caught that reference lol)

"I know and I'm sorry. I'll never lie to you again. I promise"

There goes that word. Promise. I never liked that word. It always gave false me hope and expectations. The last time I heard that word was when my God brother said he was going to the bank to get some money to take me shopping for my 12th birthday. Later that day I found out he had got shot coming back to get me. And before that, I heard that word when my grandma said she was gonna see me tomorrow but died that night back when I was 9 due to cancer. After those two incidents, I never like using that word. A lot has changed since I was younger. I don't really go out as much as I used to. Even if I did, who would I go with? My older brother stays with his friends and my younger siblings are 9 and 7. I'm 16 so that wouldn't really work out. Jahseh hangs out with me sometimes but he has his own life to tend to. I can't always count on him to be here for me 24/7. It wouldn't be fair to him.

I snapped back into reality when I felt Jahseh wipe my tears away. I didn't realize I was crying until then. After he wiped my tears, he embraced me into a tight, warm, loving hug. I've hugged Jahseh plenty of times but it was never like this. It was like one of those hugs you would get from your grandma. It almost felt like I was hugging her.
"You okay?" He asked, breaking the silence.
"Yea, just thought about nana and Jacob."
"Oh. I can't believe it's been almost 8 and 5 years. Feels like just yester-
"I don't mean to cut you off but can we not talk about that..."
"Oh yea. My bad. Well let's talk about what you want for you birthday next month."
"Now you know I hate celebrating my birthday since Jacob... passed away"

After my grandma passed away it was never the same. It just never had the spirit for it. And considering Jacob died on my birthday, that made it even worse.
"I know but it's been almost 5 years. And you and I both know Jacob would want you to celebrate it this year."
"I know but what would I even do?"
"I don't know. But I do know we're about to start planning right now.

I didn't even get the chance to object to Jahseh's idea because right after he said that, he pulled my arm and practically dragged me out the door.

-3 hours later- (SpongeBob Voice 😂)

Jahseh and I have been planning my birthday for about 3 hours and I'm tired. My phone died 30 minutes ago right before  I could text my mom back. It's hot as hell in this building and I swear if I have to taste one more cake I'm gonna throw up.

"C'mon Mia. One more cake"
"I swear to God Dwayne, I'm gonna throw up if I have to look at another cake. I don't even think I like it anymore"
"But you haven't chosen a cake for your part-
"Vanilla, now let's go."- I said cutting him off and dragging him out the building.

Before I could completely pull him out the building, he left a stack of hundreds on the table and thanked the woman for helping us.

"Keep on spending money like that and you gonna be broke"- I told him
"Na. Not really. The game keeps on going as long as the money flowing. And best believe, the money keeps flowing. If it's anything I learned while on this earth, it's that there's three industries that's gonna always make profit.... Childcare, Drug game, and the Mortuaries. In that exact order. You live, you get a lil buzz, and you die."

He had a point. Crazy how that works. You live, you get high, then you die. And the cycle continues forever whether you're here or not. The world stops for nobody... and neither does money.

"Aye, I gotta make a run someone so imma drop you off and see you later"- he said.
"Why can't I come with you?"
"It's dealing with business and I don't want you around that. I don't want your life at risk for anything."
"Jahseh, I'm fine trust me. I wanna see how all of this goes. Is it really like it is in the movies. Is it like El Chapo or Pablo Escobar? Are there like gang wars?"
"Mia, calm down. First of all, we ain't even as close to being rich like El Chapo or Pablo Escobar. Secondly, we do have our rivals but we keep our distance. And third, if imma take you with me, you gotta be chill."
"Okay. Imma be chill. Now let's go foo"

After I said that, he started driving towards what I'm guessing is his business.