NELLY

Forced Into It: Chapter 6

"So where we headed. It's looking dead out tonight." I asked as me and Kaykay drove around Atlanta in search of a goood place to kick it. Being that we were two ex cons, we for damn sure weren't going to any clubs. Just in search of a great bar or restaurant where we could hang out.

" I don't know. Looks like we're gonna be cooped up in the house again looking at each other. So where is Jake?" she asked, giving me an "I asked but I really don't care" look.

"I dont know. Somewhere shaking in his boots. He dropped me off at home yesterday, acting nervous and strange, but I ain't heard from him since." I answered avoiding the subject of Jalisa. It was still annoying me that I had know idea why her face looked so familiar, but I couldn't make out why.

"See I knew I wasn't missing shit with these clown ass dudes out here. I'm tryna revert back to men and you keep making me wanna screw females."

"Girl please!!"I laughed. "Don't blame your love life problem on me. You know you would rather have both."

" Nah If I'ma date a guy, he gotta have a lil money baby. That's what we need. Let's go down to one of them Buckhead bars and find us a lawyer or some shit. We dressed for the high heads."

She was right. We needed somebody who could help us to better ourselves besides the same ole dope dealer, killer west side Atlanta men. We had stepped out quite ravishing if I had to say so myself. . . .pretty fly for some ex cons. I wore a cut up knee length high waist blue jean pencil skirt, white fitted camisole, pink quarter length blazer, and nude heels and bag. One of the many outfits that Jake had bought for me. Kaykay was actually very sexy as a woman. It was hard to tell what she had under those baggy clothes and jordan sneakers. She even could do a good face of make-up. She had on a blue body con dress, blue jean jacket, and a pair of black wedge heels. She had a body of a goddess. My girl had turned into a bad bitch.

We pulled up at a bar called Mighty Martini, about 3 minutes inside the Buckhead area. I had heard my bougie cousin Skyler talking about how nice it was, and how all the successful men would drank here.

" So Kaykay, Are you really trying to find a man?" I asked as we grabbed our purses and headed for the door.

"Shit time will tell. I wasn't always gay Nelly. I've been with a man before. I use to be a hood barbie."

Walking into the bar, I instantly noticed how upscale and different it was from the bars on our side of Atlanta. So fancy with everyone in high fashion. Even the waitresses looked expensive. We quickly grabbed a seat at the bar and looked over the drink menu.

"I don't think I've ever seen you beautiful ladies here before." said a gentleman sitting beside me. True eye candy. . .

"No sir you haven't." I answered sizing him up. " This is our first time coming."

"You ladies from Atlanta?"

"Yeh, the outskirts of Atlanta."

"So can I bother you for a name?"

"I'm Natalie but everyone calls me Nelly and this is Kayla."

"Natalie sounds so much better so I'll call you Natalie." he said, taking a drink from his beer bottle. He was very handsome and much more clean cut than I was use to, wearing a grey suit with a grey and blue loosened tie. Dark smooth skin and jet black perfectly cut wavy hair. I couldn't helpbut to notice his muscles poking up in his arms. Damn he was fine!!

"What do u go by?"

"Corey. . . .Corey Bryant"

" Just getting off." I asked, helping myself to a serving of cheese and crackers.

" Yeh, I work in that building across the street. I'm an accountant."

"Jackpot" Kaykay whispered to me as she order our drinks, suddenly being approached by another handsome guy in the bar. Finally, someone to entertain her.

"You doing good for yourself huh. How old are you" I asked.

"30 today" he said with a panty wetting smile. "You?"

"I'll be 27 in about 2weeks"

"Well hopefully I'll be able to show you a good time for your special day." I smiled at him and we continued to talk for over an hour. Kaykay was overly entertained with her little friend, both of them talking loud, joking, and laughing loud as hell. She slid me a note that read "I'm in love with Buckhead" with a smiley face.

"Kaykay you ready to go" I asked as me and Corey stood up from the bar.

"Yes ma'am, and this is Chris, Nelly." The four of us walked outside and talked for another 30 minutes. We all exchanged numbers and drove away.

" I'm glad they didn't ask what our jobs are Kaykay" I laughed. " We would've ran them men off".

"Girl ain't it the truth. But the subject is gonna come up one day. Shit we just got alot of explaining to do."

How in the world were we going to explain to these guys that we had been to prison? They were perfect gentlemen. I wasn't trying to get him to wife me up off top, but I never wanted to lead someone on. Most of all, how in the hell was I going to get rid of Jake's tired ass. I wasn't going to just throw him away that quick. I still relied on his money as a source of income.

"Let's just see how these guys act? Then we'll know how to break off the bad news." I joked.

As I pulled into Kaykay's driveway, she gave a look as if she had seen Michael Myers. I then noticed a black cadillac and a guy leaning against it who resembled Notorious B.I.G.

"Who the fuck is that Kaykay?" I asked scared for my friend to get out of the car.

"That's my Uncle Larry. Hurry up and leave Nelly. Go head and go home" she said grabbing her things slowly and shaking in fear. I drove off slowly, looking in my rear view mirror. I could see Kaykay walking towards him slowly. Just then he came towards her, choking her so hard that her heels came off her feet. He then threw her down, kicking her repeatedly. I then put my car in reverse, backing into her driveway, and hoping out of the car.

" Bitch don't you make another step. This is family business" said Larry so viciously that it almost sounded as if he were growling. I step up slowly, hands out to Kaykay, who laid there in pain and crying.

"Didn't I say not to move" he said again pulling out a gun and pointing it towards me.

"Nelly just leave!" yelled Kaykay still crying. I looked around and noticed her mom in the doorway in her wheelchair, not saying a word. Her siblings were peaking out of their bedroom window.

"When I come back, everything I gave you better be sold and you better have my money." Larry said grabbing Kaykay by her shirt and slapping her so hard that her body hit the concrete and bounced up. He then walked to his vehicle and drove away. Kaykay's mom closed the door as I helped her up off the pavement. We walked through the house and into the bathroom. I could hear her siblings crying in their bedrooms.

"Leave Nelly just leave me alone!!" she yelled, pushing me out the door, and slamming it so hard that it popped back open.

"Stop slamming doors before I get on yo ass!" her mother yelled from her bedroom. I was disgusted by her. What mom sits back and watches while your daughter is being beat? I wanted to go beat her ass.

Peaking in the bathroom, I saw Kaykay wiping the blood and makeup from her face. She then stripped from her dress and jacket, and threw on a pair of sweat pants and a t-shirt. She placed her hair in a ponytail, reached in the bathroom cabinet, and grabbed a square shaped package with a rip at the top. My mouth dropped. I couldn't believe it. She wanted so much more for herself. It was her family that didn't want her to succeed. She didn't want this lifestyle but was forced into it.

Picking up the package, she opened the door, almost knocking me down, and headed to the living room. Grabbing a book-bag that hung on the coat hanger, she threw the package inside of it and left out of the house. I walked slowly to my car, watching my heart broken friend walk up the street. She didn't deserve this life. She was so much better than it all. But how could she break it. How could she hide from her family's drug ring. . . .