NELLY

Cost of a Friendship: Chapter 7

Finally!!! My day had come to see the free world. I was not as excited as Nelly and Kaykay were to be released. I didn't even know who's gonna pick me up.

"So Porsha, I'll deal is still on right?" asked Shawna, leaning over into my cell."

" Yeh, Yeh I remember" I answered continuing to pack the last of my things.

"And don't forget. . .don't let Nelly's bitch ass know anything. I got somebody to take care of her."

"I have nothing to do with you and Nelly."

"You got in this when you took my money. She answered slowly. Don't bitch out on me. Your loyalty is to me now."

"What if I get caught up. I ain't tryna get killed and for damn sho ain't tryna come back here."

"Girl Jake ain't about all that and Nelly aint real. Yall met in this dump of a home. You make all kind of friends when you locked up and vunerable. . . . .I know." laughed Shawna, leaving out of my cell.

"Baby, they ready for ya" whispered Officer Tucker as I grabbed my bag. Walking out of my cell, I started to feel sort of guilty. Nelly had really became sort of close to me. As much as I tried to stop it, I had grown to her. Shawna put me up to this shit from day one. She held a great grudge towards Nelly. One that Nelly wasn't even away of.

" Your brother will be here shortly" said Officer Tucker as walked out of the office amd towards the gates.

" Who is my brother?" I asked quietly, making sure no one else could hear me.

" My cousin Rod is gonna pick you up and take you to my house. You can trust him. He's 100."

" So my dad isn't coming to get me?"

"They couldn't get in contact with him. He had a number change that dumb ass Officer Morris forgot to write down. I'll take you by there later." He answered, opening the last gate and pointing towards a silver impala. "There he go right there."

I paused before opening the door to the car. I didn't want to get in but had no choice. I wasn't gonna stay at that prison another second, so I got in the car.

" How you doing? I'm Porsha."

"Rod, nice to meet you."

We road in complete silence for most of the time, randomly talking about prison, prison women, and life to fill in the uncomfortble comments. I was too busy thinking about Nelly and Shawna and Jake. I thought my love life was a mess, but damn. They were crazy. I should've never initiated the conversation between me and Nelly. It was all planned. Shawna put me up to that shit. Nelly was smart as hell. She would eventually figure it all out.

"This cell phone is for you" Rod said, pulling up quietly to Tucker's home. "His son will be in there with the sitter. When you go in she's gonna leave."

"Ok. . . . .thanks for the ride."

"Welcome to the family" he said, giving me a very empty look. I could tell he didn't mean that shit. What person would welcome a freshly released convict into their family?

Walking into the house, I noticed the fresh smell of lavender and baked cookies. Tucker's home was beautiful. Not as big and fancy as my parents' home, but just as cozy. Nice brown leather couches and cream and brown window shears. Huge flat screen tv that was neatly between 2 giant floor vases. Walking into the kitchen, I saw a familiar face. A face that I had missed for many years. A face that was always a pleasure to see.

"Welcome home Porsha!!" said my cousin Ashley running and giving me a hug. " It's good to see you girl"

" Ashley I missed yall!!! How has everyone been."

"Good. . . . .good. . . .everyone is great" she said holding my hands, and looking at me smiling. "Damien talked about you so much. I never knew it was you until I finally asked for a name and description. Welcome home cuz" she said looking over into the dining room.

"In there is little DJ. That's Damien's son. I told him all kind of great things of you" she assured me as we walked into the dining room.

After Ashley left, I played with Dj for a while, we ate cookies, and ended up falling asleep on the floor. Dj was a nice kid. Only 6 years old. He asked me was I his new mommy. Shit I didn't know if I was sane enough to be anybody's mommy. I would damn sure do a better job than my mom. . . . .that's for sure.

Jumping up from my nap, I went into my bag and got Nelly and Porsha's number, notifying them of my release. I then called the number that Shawna had given me to notify them of my release. Some bitch name Jalisa. She was somehow in on our deal.

I could feel God yelling to me not to do it. Not to go on with our plan. I had already taken Shawna's money. Wasn't any coming back from that. Plus, she had major pull in the streets. She would've made sure I got dealt with. Picking up my phone, began to text Jalisa.

Me: Hey is this Jalisa?
Jalisa: Yep who is this?
Me: Porsha. . .Shawna said to meet up with you
Jalisa: Come to Mama Joe's the restaurant off Espell St. today at 7
Me:Cool

I had Ashley to come back over. Me, her, and DJ went over Mama Joe's for dinner. As we walked into the restaurant, a waitress stood by the door, puffing a cigarette. I stopped at the door as I read the nametag, and Ashley and Dj made their way to a table.

" You must be Porsha."

"Yep. What I need to know."

" We gone meet up next Saturday at The Mahagony, you know, over by Wesley Park. Bring Nelly and talk her into bringing Jake to drop yall off. From there, we got Jake. Sit at table 10. Get drunk as you possibly can and we got Nelly from there. Meet me back here for the rest of your cut next Friday."

" But I don't drink Jalisa. . . ."

" Don't get drunk then. But come Saturday night, . . . .you gone wish you were drunk." she laughed.

"Why is that?" I asked nervously as she smiled at me, flicking her cigarette across the parking lot, and walked back into the restaurant.

Walking back into the restaurant, I had suddenly lost my appetite. I really wanted to know Shawna's plans for Nelly. On top of that, I didn't even know the story behind it all.

"What you talking to her for?" Ashley asked as I sat down at the table. "Dj go tell the lady at the counter we are ready to order baby."

" She's an old friend that's all" I amswered looking over the menu.

"You don't have any old friends on this side of Atlanta stop lying. Porsha that bitch is trouble. She is one of the streets' "go to and she'll do" girls. That bitch is crazy. Stay away from her."

I said nothing. The table had a awkward silence between me and Ashley as we at dinner. We finished eating and headed home. Me and kaykay we suppose to link up that night, but with all the negative energy, I decided to stay home with my new family. My family that didn't understand the monster of a person they had invited into their home. Living conditions for me in the prison had caused me to sign a contract with the devil. Devil's don't forfeit deals. And if they do, at what cost would that be for me. . . .