Love Is A Battle Field (Fourth Part of "Love In The Spotlight") MJ Fantasy

Chapter 29: I'm A Man

Junior's POV

"Look at him, he looks like such an idiot..."

I heard people giggling around me and I jolted awake to find Riley, Ben, and Heaven standing around me.

My face twisted in confusion. "What the hell are you guys doing in my room?"

"Room? Try patio..." Heaven laughed. The others joined in.

I sat up as my memory from the night before slowly came back. Oh yeah, slept  on the patio.

"So, how was your night? Sleep well?" Riley teased.

I looked up at her and squinted my eyes. "I don't know, ask your friend Tanya..."

Heaven and Ben burst into laughter as she stood there with her mouth hanging open.

"You're such a liar! Tanya would never get with you! She's a good girl..."

I snorted. "She's a good girl alright..."

She scoffed. "You're so nasty!"

I threw her a wink. "That's what she said."

With that, I stood up and waltzed into the house, ignoring the nagging pain in my neck. I'm tired of that girl and her big mouth. She's just like her mom. Always in my business.

I tiptoed up the stairs, afraid that my dad would appear at any moment. There's really no telling with that guy.

Once I realized the coast was clear, I headed toward my bedroom. I could use some real sleep.

As soon as I opened the door my heart stopped. My dad stood in the center of the room, his arms crossed as if he was waiting for me. Fuck my life.

I looked down at the floor as I stepped into the room and closed the door behind me.

He raised an eyebrow. "Strip club, huh?"

I remained silent, knowing better than to respond at a moment like this.

He held his hand out. "Give me your car keys."

I sighed. I expected that. I walked over to my dresser and picked the keys up, tossing them to him.

He shoved them in his pocket and held his hand out again. "Debit card."

I expected that too. I pulled my wallet out of my back pocket and handed him the debit card.

He peered into the wallet. "Give me the cash."

I scrunched my eyebrows. "This is mom's money..."

"Now." He snapped.

I smacked my lips and closed the wallet. "You're trippin', Dad..."

He snatched the wallet out of my hand aggressively and took out every single dollar before throwing it down on the ground.

I stared at him in shock. This dude has really lost it.

He took a step toward me and pointed his finger in my face. "You constantly disrespect your mother and I, going out and doing whatever the hell you want like you're a grown man-"

"I am a grown man..."

"No you're not!" He shouted. "Not as long as you're in my house and spending my money! A man doesn't get money from his parents to throw at strippers!"

I rolled my eyes. "God, it's always about money! You act like you guys don't have enough or something!"

"It's not about how much money we have, it's about how you think you can spend as much as you want but can't simply follow our rules! That's all we ask of you, Junior! We just want some respect! Is that too much to ask?"

I scoffed and walked away from him, sitting down on my bed. He's already getting on my nerves and we're not even 5 minutes into this conversation.

"I mean, I really just don't understand you sometimes... Hanging out with those idiots and throwing your life away..."

I cut my eyes at him. "They're not idiots, they're my boys. And why do you always say I'm throwing my life away? Like I can't have fun and be successful at the same time...."

His eyes widened. "Fun? Is that what you call it? You know what I thought was fun when I was your age?"

"I don't know or care, Dad. What you did when you were my age has nothing to do with me because we are not the same person..."

He fell silent and just stared at me for a while. Honestly, I started to get a little scared. I think I really pushed him over the limit this time. He looks like he's about ready to murder me.

He took a deep breath, finally ending the awkward silence. "Rent is $1,000. Due on the first of every month. No exceptions." He said before heading toward the door.

"Wait, what?" I called after him. He stopped and turned to look at me. "You're seriously gonna make me pay you rent?"

He wrinkled his eyebrows. "You're a man, right? Men pay their own bills."

My jaw dropped. "Dad, you just took all of my money! How am I supposed to come up with $1,000?"

He rolled his eyes. "Well, son, there's these things called 'jobs'..."

"And if I got a job how would I get to work? You took my car..."

He shrugged. "Figure it out."

I can't believe this right now. He is really off his rocker. What kind of punishment is this? It doesn't even make sense. There's no way I can pay him rent with no car or money.

"So what happens if I don't have the money?" I questioned.

"You get evicted." He responded casually.

I squinted my eyes. He has to be kidding. "You're really gonna kick me out?"

He nodded. "If it comes down to that."

My jaw tightened. I'm so done with all of this. I'm not playing his little games anymore.

I stood up from the bed. "Well you won't have to worry about it coming down to that. This is bullshit..." I muttered, grabbing a suitcase from under my bed.

He stared at me in amusement before letting out a soft chuckle as I stuffed clothes into the suitcase. I glared at him. What the fuck is he laughing at?

"Who bought you that suitcase?" He asked, still snickering to himself.

I froze and looked down at it. Shit, he did buy it.

"And what about all of the clothes you just put inside of it? Better yet, what about all of the clothes in your closet? Hm?"

I clenched my fists. I'm not going to let him defeat me. He thinks he can hold his money over my head forever, but not anymore. I don't need his money. And I'll prove it.

I picked up the suitcase and threw it against the wall.

His seemed surprised but didn't have much else of a reaction. He just stood there with his arms folded, shaking his head in an almost condescending manner.

"You won't have to worry about buying me anything else, Dad. Believe that." I said, brushing past him as I walked toward the door.

His brows furrowed as if he suddenly regretted something. "Junior..."

I ignored him and kept walking. "I'll mail you back the clothes I have on." I called over my shoulder, continuing on in the direction of true freedom.