The Best Version Of Me

Chapter 4

"Woah you alright." I asked as I helped Riley stand to her feet.

This have to be the clumsiest person in the world. She's literally fallen down about 5 times since I met her. She has absolutely no balance what so ever.

"Sorry. I'm sorry." She says as she tries to run away.

I keep a vice grip on her but not enough to hurt her. She look like something happened. She's mad and I want to know why. She struggles to get out of my grip but I don't let her move.

"What's wrong?" I ask geniunely concerned.

"Everything. I just want to go home." She whispers.

Home? Isn't this her home?

"Look. You got somewhere that we can talk in private?"

She shakes her head and I sigh. Shit. I don't have nowhere to talk at and I can't leave Ma to take her back to my place. I don't even have a car to do that. I run my hands down my face trying to think of something.

"I'ma go tell my moms I gotta go. You got a car?" I ask and she nods. "Good. We can go to my place and talk but it ain't nowhere near what you're used to. You down?"

She doesn't reply. I tell her to meet me in the front of her house and she agrees. I hurry to the kitchen and just hope and pray that Ma don't be to mad at me for ditching her over a broad I don't even know. Ma was in the kitchen barking out instructions for the dinner plates to go out as I walk over to her.

"Marcel! Where have you been? We have to get these plates out now." She says and I rub the back of my neck.

"Ma, I know I said I would help you but I got a lil dilemma. I need to go help a friend out right now and it's not Dante. I promise I'll make it up to you." I say as I bite my lip.

She reluctantly agrees telling me to be careful. I speed walk to the front of the house where a blue beamer is parked with the lights on and top down. I see Riley throwing suitcases in the backseat. I rush over to her praying she ain't running away from home. I can't be giving nobody no pep talks on that situation.

"What you doing ma?" I ask scaring her again.

I notice she scare easily too. So she's beautiful, clumsy, kind hearted, and scare easily. I want to know more about her.

"I'm getting out of here. I have to catch a red eye tonight anyway." She says as she climbs into the driver's seat.

"Maybe you shouldn't drive in your current state. I mean, you're obviously upset about something and I don't need you to be getting killed tonight or any other night."

"Can you drive?" She asks me.

Yeah I can drive but I've never driven something as nice as a BMW. I don't want to mess up a single thing in her expensive car. I know if I did, I couldn't afford to pay for any of it.

"We can let somebody else drive. You got a driver?"

"Please Marcel. I just want to get away from here." She begs.

Something clicks in me. I don't want her to have to beg anyone for anything again. I climb in the driver's seat as she scoots into the passenger seat. Lord, don't let me fuck up this girl ride. Amen.

"You want to go to my place? It's nowhere near as nice as yours. In fact, it's a roach motel compared to your house." I say slightly embarrassed.

I really don't want to bring her to my apartment because like I said, it basically is a roach motel. Even to me. The building is run down. Crackheads be all in the building and outside. Bitches be selling pussy on the corner. I don't want to expose her to that.