Chapter 2: Now
Ryan's POV
"Take me to the king.... Don't have much to bring...." I kept one hand on the steering wheel and dug into my pocket with the other. I took out my phone and answered the phone, cutting the ringtone short.
The phone connected with the Bluetooth allowing me to speak aloud. "Hello?"
"Hey..." I heard my baby mother Rochelle's breathless voice. "Do you still want Christopher today?"
"Yeah. I'm around the corner. He dressed?"
She was quiet for a minute then I heard her sniff roughly. "Um... He's at my homegirl's house. I'll text you the address."
"So why in the living hell would you call me last night talking bout come get me like that's why I'm talking about. You stay pissing me off." I went off, putting on the turn signals and got off the freeway.
"Nigga, you always trying to start an argument. I had to work and you trying get him all late at night nshit! He at my homegirl's like I said. If you want your fucking son so bad, go the fuck over to her crib and get him!"
I hung up quickly before I said something to hurt her little feelings. I hated that I slipped up and got such an immature girl pregnant. When Christopher was one, Rochelle finally hit me up sayin' that I was the father. They did the test which came out positive. It didn't matter to me anyways, Christopher was a split image of myself.
My phone dinged when it received the address she sent and I quickly swerved the car to the other direction to get my son. Rochelle was always doing things I didn't like. She would call or text me at all times of the day acting like it was about Christopher when really she just wanted to bother me. She didn't keep Christopher in nice, clean clothes. And don't let me go on a business trip, the kid's hair grew fast, in a week his hair was a big bush and I am the one who has to go get it cut because Rochelle doesn't care.
I stopped the car in front of the small house, not really caring to park then hopped out. Knocking on the door twice, I waited for an answer. You could clearly hear a loud television, a baby crying, and a dog barking inside. I sent a quick prayer to the man above that Rochelle didn't have my kid in a unsafe place which would have me acting out of my character.
The door opened and Mariah, a tall cocoa skinned pretty woman smiled at me. "Chris!" She called out behind her.
Pitter patters of feet were heard and Christopher showed up with a Superman backup in his hand. He had a small grin on his face as he looked up at me. "What's up little man?" I bent down to high five him.
I placed my large hand on Christopher's big hair and nudged him out the door. I gave Mariah a head nod then went to the car. Strapping Chris in the backseat, I got in the front as the car blared my ringtone. "Take me to the..."
Quickly, I clicked the keypad and answered. "Wassup wassup." I called out and put on my seatbelt before backing out.
I hadn't came on this side of town, the slums. I'd been living on the other side for a good portion of my life and unlike most people, I didn't want to "pay homage" to where I came from or think about it.
"What's good in the hood baby boy?" I heard my friend Darius sing out the speaker.
"Aye nigga." I chuckled. "What's up?"
"We got big booty bitches at the crib. You comin'?"
"Nah, I got my son with me. I'll holla at you though."
"Alright nigga. One."
The call disconnected and I looked to the backseat to find Christopher fast asleep in his seat. I chuckled lightly, shaking MY head. It was only eight and Chris usually went to sleep around ten. That meant Rochelle had him up earlier than usual which also annoyed me. I decided to dip through the McDonald's driveway to get dinner before going home.
