fantasia b.
a week later...
taraji left to take autumn and winter to their while bryce and i sat in the room looking for bryce and i a place. the fact that my house was burned into flames out of nowhere still haunts me. it's only a matter of time before they come after me or maybe even bryce.
"TASIA?!" i rolled my eyes at the sound of her voice, "i know you hear me calling you."
"i don't have to answer to you." her eyes landed on bryce, and it was like i became invisible that fast.
"hey you!" she started to tickle bryce, making his laughter fill the room, "you found what you was looking for?"
"no, leave me alone."
"alright. we gon be in the toy room then. tell ya boring mama goodbye son."
after they left out, i continued searching. ive seen multiple 2-bedroom apartments and all of them are beautiful, so it's hard to choose honestly.
an hour later, taraji came back without bryce. i furrowed my eyebrows.
"where's my kid?"
"in his room. i wanna talk to you, though."
"about what?"
"that house. is somebody after you or something?"
"i don't know"
"they after my son?" i didn't have to look at her to know she was giving me a death stare.
"i don't know, taraji." my voice became shaky. i searched for the answer to that same question, and i can't seem to find it.
"just so you know, if anything happens to my boy and you know who's after yall or him and dont wanna tell me, i will be put away for life on the count of two. no doubt about it."
"two?" murders, but what two people are she referring to...
"yeah, you and the person that set that house on fire."
"if i knew, i would have said something by now. dont start with the psychotic threats."
"its a promise, but alright. i wanna give you something."
"a headache? not today, please...."
"the penthouse."
"im sorry, what?"
"i switched everything over to yo name. the bills will be taken care of."
"why?" i didn't trust her.
"it's ducked off, and nobody knows where it is except you, me, and my parents. this house is safe, but i know you don't wanna be around me any longer than you already have."
"you got that right."
"so what you say?"
"you're really trying to get me out of this house?"
"tasia, what? you been saying you didn't wanna be around me. i was giving you options."
"no, just say you want me out. no need to offer me a whole house. what am i taking too long to find a place? too slow for your liking?"
"what are you talking about?"
"you're rushing me out is a sign of you saying that im taking too long to find somewhere to be. im no dummy, taraji"
"tasia, did you not tell me you ain't wanna be near me? make up yo mind."
"fuck you. ill go to a hotel or something. i don't need to be here with an abusive monster anyway."
"alright. just tell me which one you wanna go to. ill take you." she was so calm, and that was concerning.
"are you serious?"
"about taking you? yeah, i would rather you ride with me than a stranger."
"you honestly want me to go? is there someone else coming over?"
"nah, but you wanna be away from me. im not finna force you to be here, tasia."
"i hate you." i pushed her back. "i really fucking hate you!" i pushed her until she fell back to the wall and started to punch her chest.
"tasia w–" she grabbed my arms.
"FUCK YOU! GET THE FUCK AWAY FROM ME! WEIRD ASS BITCH."
"i won't be too many more bitches. lower yo voice before you scare bryce out of his sleep."
all i know is my hand went across her face. i looked up at her shaking, thinking she would charge at me, but she just stood there looking at me. her eyes held no emotion. almost as if she didn't feel it.
"im sorry, um..."
"dont apologize. i deserved that– come here.." she wrapped one arm around my waist and pulled me into her. i couldnt look her in the eyes without getting weak in the knees so i laid my head on her chest, "i dont want you to go, but i also don't want you feeling as if you don't have options when you do. i understand how you feel, and i already told you i wasn't putting you through that stuff again– the ball is always in your court. just tell me what you want me to do, and ill have it done for you. if you wanna stay, then please do, but if you decide you wanna go, the keys are always in arms reach. the old raji wouldn't have given you these options, but im not her anymore..."
"how do i know that?"
"know what?"
"that you're–" i was cut off by her grabbing my chin, forcing me to look her in the eyes.
"i need eyes. continue."
"um... h-how do i know you're not that person anymore?"
"okay, let me put it like this. if it involves my kids, mama, or you, then im for sure turning back into the old taraji thats a fact. ive calmed down a lot. ill prove it rather than just tell you."
we stared into eachothers eyes for a second, but i had to pull away and come back to my senses.
"i still don't trust you." i slowly removed her arm from around my waist and wiped my eyes.
"i know, tasia. you been telling me since you got here and before. right now, im only focused on building a relationship with my son and getting my woman back in the future."
"keep wishing. that's never happening again."
"what's never happening?"
"you and i will never be a thing again. last time i made that mistake of letting you taste, i was being knocked from wall to wall."
"pussy got superpowers." she held her hands up in defense, "but the abuse was over the line and again, im sorry. so sorry."
"yeah, im tired of hearing that."
"so let me prove it..." she hugged my waist again, "can i?"
"yeah..." i sat down and pulled her in between my legs before lying flat on my back. she placed kisses on my neck and continued on down, "fix it by getting up and out." i kicked at her shoulders so she could back up.
she started laughing, "i knew you was bout to pull that shit. i swear."
"you'll never get to touch this again."
"and that's aight with me." she smiled, "ill be back."
"where you going this time of the night?"
"to see my therapist" finally shes getting help.
"she's here?"
"i never said it was a woman, but no, we meeting somewhere."
"why would you be meeting your therapist this late?"
"i don't want them to be where my kids lay at. i was gonna go to the penthouse, but i changed my mind."
"thats where you take all your little whore bags?"
"didn't i take you there...?"
"im not a whore bag."
"exactly. catch yall later."
"when will– nevermind, bye."
