Reality (Sequel to Future)

Chapter Nine

Rico and I made our way into the cafeteria and got in line. They had meatloaf and greens today...their idea of meatloaf and greens. I told myself after I saw Bahja the other day that I was going to try to eat for her but it seemed like everyday the food just got nastier and looked runnier. Nope, I wasn't gonna do it. It was about to be another day of Jello and milk. We took a seat at an empty table and ate. Rico wasn't the only friend I made since I got here, just the easiest one since he's my roommate and everything. He's pretty chill and hasn't done anything to piss me off yet. But I wasn't going to hold my breath.

"You ever hear of the Miami Bandits?" he asked all of a sudden.

I rose an eyebrow at his question but I knew the answer.

"Yeah, those three dudes that were robbing all the banks in Miami last year. Shit was crazy" I chuckled remembering watching the whole thing on the news with Bahja. "They got arrested like three months ago though. Why?"

I didn't get a response from Rico and the way he was picking around in his food told me everything I needed to know.

"No fuckin' way" I said leaning back in my seat. "You're one of the Miami Bandits?!"

"Chill, man" he harshly whispered. "I ain't tryna have everybody know. We had a lot of beefs with people and some of em might be in this bitch"

Ever since we came in here, we had been trying to figure out each other's stories. I told him why I was here even though he already knew who he was but for whatever reason, he wouldn't tell me why he was in here.

"Sorry but damn, man! Ya'll were fuckin' shit up. Why are you telling me now though?"

"'Cause I figured a week is long enough to tell whether you're phony or not...and you're not"

I smiled.

"Thanks, man"

A few minutes later, four guys came to our table. Rico and I looked at each other wondering what the hell they were doing over here but I wasn't going to jump unless they did. They sat down next to us and kept staring. Suddenly, Rico pushed away his tray and stared back at them.

"What ya'll want?" he asked them in annoyance.

"You're Roc, right?" one of them said to me.

He was dark skinned with tattoos all over his body including his face. His cornrows were all frizzy and seriously needed to be redone but I guess in jail, you really don't care. I know I wouldn't. I nodded as I chugged down my milk.

"Name's Vic. My boy, Jac" he said motioning to another guy across from him who just as dark as he was. "says that you be trappin' big time"

I shook my head and finished off the Jello.

"I'm off of all that" I said.

"But you the man for that kind of shit, right? You know the phone calls to make and all that?"

"Nope" I shrugged.

I wasn't about to get dragged into this shit so that Bahja could knock the taste out of my mouth again. To be honest, I'm lucky she didn't leave me this time. It's not like I could've stopped her. As long as she's got my son and my ring she has my word too.

"C'mon, man, help some niggas out. We're tryna start something here. Get a lil something in our commissary. You know how it is"

"I don't. Is that all?"

"Nigga, no, that's not it. I'm offering you something that someone in your position needs to take right now"

"In my position?" I asked scrunching my eyebrows.

"You're new up in here. I'm offering you a nice living during your stay and protection"

At his last word, my head snapped up.

"Protection? You think I need protection?"

"Hell yeah"

"And you niggas supposed to be the ones to give me that?" I said motioning to the four men that were sitting at our table.

"Yep"

I turned to the guy who was supposed to be Jac.

"Looks to me like you ain't tell your boy everything about me if he thinks I need protection or help period"

"He told me everything I needed to know" Vic interjected.

"Then he should've told you that part too. I don't give a damn if I just came up in here yesterday, I don't need a nigga for shit. For the last time, I ain't doing that shit no more. I'm off that. Now leave me and my dawg alone before I get upset"

Vic held up his hands up defensively and stood up with his friends.

"You gon come around eventually" he said smugly.

I gave him a threatening look and they all finally walked off.

"Coulda gotten a lot of good shit from taking that deal" Rico said. "Probably some food since you don't be eating this shit. Why didn't you take it?"

"I got a fiancé and a son waiting for me outside of these walls. I'm not finna fuck up my time over a little money and some junk food"

Rico nodded.

"I can feel that" he said. "Still, Vic ain't gonna stop til he gets what he wants out of you"

"Fuck is up with that dude anyway? I can't be the only nigga stuck in here for dealing"

He shook his head.

"Nobody in here was on your level. Everybody in here was on that corner shit. Enough to pay the rent, not for a private plane. That's how far Vic and them are tryna take their shit"

"Then they can do it themselves"

"You gonna tell your baby mama about this?"

"No, she be worrying about me enough. I don't need her thinking about me possibly getting into that shit again while I'm in here"

"ALL RIGHT, EVERYBODY" one of the guards called. "MUNCHIN' TIME'S OVER! BACK TO YOUR CELLS"

NEW CHAPTER TOMORROW MORNING!