homecoming. | EDITING

eighteen

Jada

I woke up and checked my phone, realizing I was asleep for about 2 hours. I sat up and saw my surroundings,"What the hell...." It looked familiar, but I just couldn't put my finger on it. Then I realized I was in Justin's bed. The one that we shared 5 years ago.

I quickly got out of the bed and made my way downstairs, ready to ask Justin why he put me in his bed instead of one of the extra ones. But I found him and Khaila asleep on the couch.

I giggled at them, cause they slept exactly the same. Khaila's feet were kicked up on the couch while Justin's were on the table, and both of their mouths were wide open and their harmony of soft snores filled the room. I smiled and went outside, quietly shutting the door behind me. I decided to call Angie.

"Hello?" I said once the phone stopped ringing.

"Jada?" She asked. "Nah it's Barack Obama," I kissed my teeth,"Of course it's Jada!"

"Sorry, I just thought you wouldn't be calling any of us for a couple of days."

I furrowed my eyebrows,"What? Why?"

"Well Khalil told me and Maejor that y'all had a fight, and that you ran away. I was gonna call, but he said that you were just being dumb and you'd be back tonight."

I shook my head. Ran away? Nigga, I wasn't 14 years old. I'm a grown ass woman, runaway my ass.

"Don't listen to him. Don't even talk to his dumbass, block his number."

She laughed,"Well okay then. What happened?"

"He's a puss," I rolled my eyes,"He needs two things: to get his ass beat and a reality check. "If he hit you I swear to G--"

"Bitch he hit me." The phone was silent.

"Angie...?"

"Oh my God Jada why didn't you tell me sooner? Fuck that nigga bruh! Man, get ya' glock, we finna' shoot up this nigga house since he wanna put his hands on you, the fuck. He got me fucked up, with his pussy ass. The fuck wrong with him? I swear--"

"Angie," I said in between laughs,"Angie calm down. We're not doing anything."

"What?"

"My success is gonna be my revenge. I'm gonna get a job for real this time and save up for an apartment, on my own. I'm done relying on men."

"Who are you staying with now?"

"Justin," I said sheepishly. "Bitch."

"Okay, okay. He was the only one I knew would help me quickly."

"Me and Maejor would've took y'all in!"

"But I didn't wanna torture you everyday by forcing you to watch a child play around knowing that you..." I stopped, knowing I hit a soft spot. "Sorry," I said.

She sighed,"Jada, don't worry about that. You're my sister and if you need help than I got you. Don't worry about me and my problems, I'm fine."

"Me too. I'm okay with staying with Justin. It's only temporary."

"Swear you're okay? Cause I'll come get y'all right now."

I nodded,"I swear." I looked up and saw Justin at the door. "Uh, Angie I got to go. I'll talk to you later," I hung up and looked at Justin. "Did I wake you?"

He shook his head and sat out with me, leaving the door cracked in case Khaila woke up. "Nah. You're fine."

"Okay," I said. "Look, I didn't get a chance to tell you how thankful I am about you taking us in. In means a lot, cause I know you didn't have to do this."

He shrugged,"I don't want you and my daughter to be stranded."

I sighed,"Justin, what makes you so sure that she's your daughter?" I asked curiously. He smiled,"A father knows."

"I'm for real."

"I told you, some pictures really showed the resemblance and then the birth mark. And our connection, we clicked as soon as we met each other. Isn't all of that a coincidence?"

"Yeah, but--"

"But nothing. I believe Khaila's my daughter so that's what I'm gonna call her. No shame in my game."

I chuckled,"Okay. So do you want me to get the DNA test or ...?"

He shook his head,"No thanks."

"What?" He stood up and smiled,"I got this."