The Stick Up Kid

They Know

Two hours later I was at Jaliesha’s house lying in bed with my girl. Sheets and blankets were the only things that covered our naked bodies. Jaliesha was half asleep next me. I looked down at her, studying the girl who’s going to mother my child.

            Appearance wise, Jaliesha was not at her best. She had taken her weave out last week, and her real hair wasn’t that long. Her make up faded away, so her smooth skin didn’t look at soft as before. With out lipstick, Jaliesha’s lips were dark; more than likely from the many blunts she’s smoked. All of these imperfections of hers I already knew about, and they meant nothing to me.

            Jaliesha may not be a runway model, or a rocket scientist, but she was good enough for me. Even though I planned to continue cheating on her with Zora, I loved Jaliesha. Besides, I know she messed around on me before. She knew what kind of guy I was when we got together, and vise versa. To me none of that cheating stuff mattered anyway, just as long as I was her main boyfriend.

            Jaliesha stirred on the bed, facing me. She placed her hand on my chest and started rubbing my body. “Kashawn,” she mumbled, cracking her eyes open. I wrapped my arm around her, pulling her closer to me.

            “What?”

            “You think we gon be good parents?” Jaliesha asked.

            “I don’t know,” I answered honestly. “We might… or we might end up like my punk ass momma,” Jaliesha giggled.

            “I hope not. I wanna be ‘miss cool mom’,” she joked. “Just like my auntie.”

            “Yea, yo auntie is cool as hell isn’t she?” I nodded.

            “Yup,” Jaliesha added.            

            We stayed in the bed for another hour or so just talking. I would have spent the night if I could have, but Jaliesha’s mom wasn’t about to have that. And since she was coming home soon, I figured I better leave. Jaliesha walked to the door where we stopped and embraced each other.

            I held her in my arms and kissed the side of her neck. “You sure you don’t want me to drop you off?” she asked.

            “Naw, I’m good. Plus Tymark been bitchin’ bout gettin’ his bike back for the longest,” I told her. Jaleisha sighed, not wanting to leave my grasp.

            “Okay baby…” she said, letting go of me. “Call me when you get home.”

            I opened the front door and jogged down the steps. “I got you,” I called back. Jaliesha stayed in the doorway, watching me hop on Tymark’s bike.

            “Bye Kashawn!” she shouted. I tossed her a head nod and slowly pedaled down the street.

            I glided through the Woodlands neighborhood thinking about my girl and future child. For someone like me, having a baby at my age was a blessing and not a curse. I use to be one of those anti-baby guys, until my ex had that abortion. It changed my whole outlook on children.

            “Yo K.T!” someone called out. I drastically slowed my pace and looked around the area. To my surprise I saw Amp, Davontae, and two other Three-five gang members. They were all dressed in blue and black. “Let me holla at you real quick fam!”

            Now I just knew something wasn’t right with this. There was a strong possibility they were only calling me over to start a fight. Not to mention I wasn’t trying to be anywhere near Davontae after I robbed him a month ago.  

            I took a deep breath and exhaled. I really wanted to keep on riding, but I knew if I did, then they would know something was up for real. So I headed over to them.

            Amp was sitting on the trunk of his car with a cigarette hanging from his mouth. He had a dark blue bandana tied around his head and his long black t-shirt came down to his knees. Davontae was next to him, leaning on the same car. He seemed to be eyeing me down extra hard, like he knew it was me that night he got robbed.

            I stopped the bike a few feet from them. “What up man?” I asked, looking them each of them in the eye separately.

            Amp extended his hand and I dapped him up, but the handshake was cold. “Nothin’ dog.” He replied, taking another hit off the cigarette. “You comin’ from Li-Li house aint it?”

            I placed both my hands in my pants like I was chilling, but was really holding on to my gun. “Yea man,” I nodded, playing it cool. Davontae had arms folded keeping his eyes on my face.

            “Word, word… Aye you heard what happen to mans at Glen Flied?” Amp asked me. He was referring to the Glen Field apartments, the same place I robbed Davontae and Heton.

            “Naw man, “What happen?”

            “Man, some niggas ran up on Tae and Ton. Got em for all they shit too…” Amp said, jumping off the trunk.

            I faked like I was shocked. “Damn yo, that’s crazy dog.”

            “… Yea,” Amp stepped closer to me. With my hands already in my pants, I grabbed the handle of my gun ready for him to make a move. “I’m surprise you aint hear bout that shit.”

            “Man I been layin’ low dog. You know, trynna stay outta trouble,” I lied. Amp nodded his head like he agreed with me.

            “I feel you bruh,” he replied.

            I noticed Davontae still had his eyes on me, and decided it was time to leave. “Yo man, let me get up outta here though. Gotta stop by the store,” I said, excusing myself.

            “Ight my nigga, I’ll catch you on the next one,” Amp stated. I stood the bike back up and started pedaling away. “Aye watch yo back though cuz, you know how niggas round here be!” he shouted as I rode off.

            “I’m good for it!” I called back. I was relieved that nothing happened, because that could have been a devastating situation. As I moved a little faster down the street I could still hear Amp and his boys talking.

            “Yea that was him,” I heard Davontae say.

            My heart dropped to the bottom of chest while I continued to ride out of the neighborhood. I wished my ears had played a trick on me, but they didn’t. Davontae knew I robbed him that night, which meant he probably knew that Tymark and Raquan were with me. I let out a stressful sigh and pedaled a little harder. With Davontae and Amp on me tail, I had no doubt that things were going to get hot.