What Have I Gotten Myself Into?

Prologue

Prologue

Kandy

2009

Walking down the stairs to the Red Line platform on 95th street, I couldn't help but feel like everybody was staring at me. Today was the last day of school and hopefully, Tra'Zell would be home by the time I got back. I couldn't wait to share the good news with him. Stepping onto the platform, I saw my best friend, Ra'Kayla waiting on me. She must've sensed that I was coming because as soon as I was within 10 feet of her, she shot up to her feet and wrapped her arms around me.

"Well, I missed you too best friend even though I just seen you last night." I said, playfully.

"OMG, Kandy. I'm so sorry." She said, and I was curious as to why she was sorry.

"Ra'Kayla, what are you sorry for? Did you forget to grab my book so that I can turn it in?" I said, jokingly but stopped once I realized that she was wasn't laughing.

"Wait, so you didn't see Zell's Facebook last night or this morning?" I shook my head no but now I was genuinely confused. Did something happen to Zell? No, nothing could've happened because his mom would've called me. So I shook that thought off.

"No, I haven't seen it. I barely get on Facebook or any other social media for that matter. What's up? Did something happen? Did he say that he was going to be back home today?"

"Kandy, No! He has a new girlfriend, they even have a picture up of each other kissing." She said, I just stood there stuck because I know Zell wouldn't do anything like that to me. We've been together since I was 9 and he was 10. No, Zell just promised me last night that he would be home.

"I don't believe you! I just talked to him last night and he said that he was coming home to me." I said to her. She reached in her jacket and grabbed her HTC EVO 4G and clicked on the app. She typed Zell's name into the search box and his profile popped up, scrolling down, she stopped on the picture of Zell and a girl, sitting in his lap looking to be kissing.

I felt my heart drop into my stomach. I couldn't believe Zell would do something like this. After 7 years, he wouldn't do anything to hurt me. Something didn't seem right but the picture was proof. I snatched her phone and scrolled down a little more and there was a new relationship status that said in a relationship but it wasn't with me and there was a status and it read,

Tra'Zell Getnrich Goodman,

"My old bitch didn't appreciate me so I got me a new bitch that would elevate me. Me and my shorty. She been holding a nigga down through whatever and ima love her forever."

I couldn't read or see any more so I handed the phone back to her and I took my book bag off and handed it to her. I wasn't going to shed tears in front of everybody but I would do it in the comforts of my own room.

"I don't feel good anymore. Can you turn my books on for me?"

"Of course, Kandy. Go home and get some rest boo. I'll come and check on you later."

I turned and walked back up the stairs and headed towards the bus line that headed to the south suburban, Country Club Hills. I decided to call Zell while I was on the bus. I grabbed my phone out my pants pocket, dialing his number, it rang three times before somebody picked up.

"Hello, you've reached Zell's phone. How may I help you?" A female's voice, came through the phone.

I was stuck for a minute but then they repeated, "Hello."

"Oh, um, yes, can you tell Tra'Zell that his girlfriend of the last 7 years said, fuck him and she hopes he's happy." I said before hanging up. I felt the tears sliding down my cheeks. I quickly wiped them so that nobody would be able to see them. I couldn't let what Zell did to me, get me down. I had to do better because in 7 months, my baby was going to be here and I was going to love him/her enough for the both of us. Zell was now a thing of the past.

*****

"Aye, why the fuck you got my phone, Serena? What the fuck are you on man?" I said, snatching my phone out of her hands. I don't know why this bird brain ass bitch was touching my shit. She was my cousin's bitch but she been all up in my fucking face since I been In the A.

"Nothing, some girl called and told me to tell you that your girlfriend of the last 7 years said fuck you and she hopes you're happy." I looked at this bitch because I know that she didn't answer my phone.

"You answering my phone? What the fuck yo? If I call my wife and she don't answer the phone, I'm calling my cousin over here to beat your ass." I dialed, Kandice number and the automated voice service let me know that the number was no longer working. What the fuck I thought. I texted Ra'Kayla and she instantly hit me back with a screenshot of my Facebook page. My blood instantly started boiling because that shit was crazy.

"Bitch, you uploaded a fucking Facebook status with us and a picture? Do you know what the fuck you just did?" I said, putting my all white ones on.

"Well, you didn't say that last night when I had your dick down my throat nor when I uploaded that picture. You just laid there, Zell so don't pretend you don't know what the fuck I'm talking about." I looked at this dumb bitch like she had lost her fucking mind. Did this bitch just say she gave me head? I moved around the across the room, grabbing her by her neck. I lifted her off the ground. She was scratching up my arm but I didn't give a fuck.

"Bitch when? I came in the house drunk and fucking high outta my mind? I don't remember shit bitch and if you find out you did something to me, I'm killing your hoe ass." I said, dropping her on the ground, she started gasping for air.

"Now get the fuck outta my granddaddy house before I call Shay over here to beat your ass." She hurriedly got out the fuck outta dodge.

I called Ra'Kayla and she answered on the first ring.

"What do you want Zell? Do you know that you just broke my best friend heart?"

"Man, give me her new number she done changed it on a nigga." I said, talking breathlessly.

"I can't do that, just leave her alone Zell. She deserves to be happy and since you can't do that then leave her alone. Please!" She said, hanging up the phone. I decided to try my luck with Ms. Kandrea, dialing her number, it rang for about 4 rings and she answered.

"Really Tra'Zell? You can't seriously be calling me right now? Why did you do that to her? She loves you Tra'Zell. Help me explain why you did my baby like that?" She yelled whispered into the phone.

"Ms. Kandrea, it's a total misunderstanding. Can I please have her number so that I can explain to her?" I pleaded on the phone.

"I'm sorry honey but she'll call you when she's ready." She said, hanging up the phone. I logged into Facebook and deleted all that shit that Serena uploaded and sent her a message.

"Call me Kandy. You know I would never do no shit like this. I can explain just hit a nigga back." I saw that she read it.

"I'm sorry Tra'Zell but I can't. Have a nice life. I love you."

"I love you too, Kandy so you know a nigga would never do no shit like that to you. Please forgive me."

"I can't and this will be the last time I talk to you." She said, and just like that she was offline.

I tried clicking on her profile but her page was deleted. Fuck, I thought. I was coming home today to tell her that I was moving to Atlanta permanently and that I wanted her to come to down to college next year and I would pay for everything. I was going to have to do everything I could to get her back.