Secrets Of A Sugar Baby

Episode 2

Chapter 1

I hated taking the bus, but I would rather my sister have the car when she returned from the strip club. We'd had problems before where dudes tried to offer her rides home. I needed her to be safe and that was the best option for us as of now. I knew this path like the back of my hand, having walked it since my eleventh grade year of high school. It was three years later now and I was 19. I moved up over the three years that I'd been working at Footlocker. Now I was a manager. I really wanted to go to college, maybe major in business or something. Once I found the time to actually study, then I would make sure to go. I didn't want to waste my time. I put on my earbuds as I approached the bus stop. It was 9:30PM. I had to clear my mind so I would be able to go to sleep immediately once I got home. I had to open the next day.

I was at the bus stop for a few minutes when a man in a hoodie came up beside me. This was the other reason why I put my earbuds in. It protected me from having random dudes try to get at me. But tonight may have been the one time that was a mistake. He tried to get my attention, but I refused to answer him.

"Hey Miss? Can I ask you a question?" I heard him say over SZA. I refused to acknowledge him.

"Miss? Miss?" he asked again. I continued to stare straight ahead, waiting for the bus.

The next thing I knew, my head hit the side of the bus stop as he tried to pull my purse off of my shoulder. It dazed me but it was not enough to knock me out. I braced myself against the side of the bus stop and kicked him twice in the face. I then regained my footing, hitting him in the face with my elbow. He fell to the ground. I gave him one good kick and took off down the road. I ran as fast as I could, dodging and weaving to make sure that I wasn't being followed. Being raised in the projects definitely taught me what I needed to know to defend myself. I wanted to get home as soon as possible, so I ran to H Street and walked into the 7-11. I pulled out my phone and ordered a Lyft. Even though it was only five dollars or so to get home, I hated spending the money when I had a bus pass. I may need to take a new route home from now on. I wanted to avoid that happening again.

Instead of the usual hour to get home, it took all of ten minutes to get home. I missed having my own vehicle and would need to start saving up as soon as possible to make that a reality. I arrived at home and walked through the park to my apartment. I walked past Aunt Jeanie's house. To be honest I was completely unsure if she even still lived there. After we moved out, we hadn't so much as spoken to her or even called. She didn't return the favor either. I took out my keys and unlocked the door.

Home sweet home.

I dropped my stuff on the couch and walked straight to the bathroom. I knew that if I sat down for even a minute, I would've knocked out right there. I needed to wash the bullshit of the day off of me. Just as I was about to reach the bathroom, I heard a loud knock on the door. It was probably one of those busted ass niggas or some crackhead who was knocking around looking for a fix. Either way I didn't have time for it. I walked over to the shower. As I was about to turn it on, I heard my text message ping. No one texted me this time of the night so it had to be some kind of emergency. As if my night couldn't get any worse. I ran back into the living room and took my phone out of my purse.

It was a text from my best friend, Darryl. He was at the door.

I walked over to the door and there he was. He smiled at me as he walked inside. I closed the door as soon as he walked in. I gave Darryl a quick hug and I turned around to walk to my bedroom. He followed me. My boy had been home from college for a couple of weeks. He played basketball for FAMU, but he was also very smart, basically having a full ride academic scholarship. He was getting his college degree in business management. This was the same Darryl that everyone said I liked when I was twelve. He was the one who had seen me through everything, the only remnant I had of my old life. Even though he was miles away, doing big things, Darryl always still checked on me.