Broken Pieces

Chapter 3

Today Tyler decided to drag me out of the house and go shopping with her for a while. We never really spend any time together so today should be very interesting. Tyler is known for being strong minded and isn't afraid to have an argument with you anywhere about anything. I have talked to her a few times while living here but just until recently we couldn't even leave the house to do anything. Daddy always keeps us under heavy surveillance and so we don't try to get away from him he makes sure one of his guards watch us. He is extremely overprotective and we must never leave apart.

"You ready to go?" she said swinging her long weave over her shoulders. She had on a jean dress that was almost too tight for her and some nude wedges which complemented her cream complexion. She had her jean print Coach purse in one hand and the keys to the Benz in the other. Daddy never lets us drive his expensive cars so I wonder what she had to do to get it.

"How you get the Benz?" I asked her curiously. She smirked while applying some lip gloss making them look juicy.

"I have my ways," she said smiling big showing her straight teeth. I rolled my eyes and followed her out the door.

An hour ride to the mall turned into about 30 minutes. Tyler sped all the way to the city, half the time passing red lights while security followed close behind. As we drive closer to the inner city, I started to remember a lot about my past. Things weren't like how they used to be and in just about 2 years everything looks completely destroyed. The park where I met Rakim at was missing a few swings and there was yellow tape around the playground area. Some of the old stores started growing leaves and vines on the side of them and the streets looked as if they haven't been clean in a while. The crack heads still remained though, pushing their shopping carts up and down the streets looking for something to sell or smoke.

"Girl we is here," Tyler said singing snapping me out of my thoughts. I prayed that no one here would recognize me. The last thing I needed was for a bitch to come up to me asking me a bunch of questions about my life.

The mall was crowded from end to end and it was hard to even maneuver through the entryway. Bodies brushed passed me on both sides making me stumble. I hated coming to the mall when it was this crowded. Everybody rushed from store to store trying to find their version of the perfect outfit and people walking in groups took up a lot of space walking slowly like they had nowhere to be. I instantly wanted to leave.

"How long are we going to be here?" I asked her while we passed stores looking inside for something that caught our eye.

"I don't know but I wish this bitch wasn't following us around," she said referring to the guy Daddy sent to watch us. I have to admit I feel like a child with him walking around with us. I want him to disappear just as much as Tyler does. She turned around facing the guard looking at him.

"Look, I know this is your job and all but can you please just sit in your car until we are ready to go. I promise we won't run away," Tyler said flashing him a smile. He raised an eyebrow looking from me to Tyler. After a short staring contest he nodded his head and walked away leaving out of the mall. I sighed.

"Well anyways now that he is gone, I seen some cute shoes in Foot Locker that I wanted so let's go there first," Tyler told me. I rolled my eyes and followed her. She picked up the new Jordan's that had just come out and went to the register with them.

"Have these in a size 5 boy?" she asked the sales clerk at the counter. When he turned around I almost had a heart attack. I haven't seen this man in forever and I just couldn't believe we were standing in the same area together. His hair was now really gray and he had put on some extra pounds since I last saw him. I would've never thought my mother's boyfriend would work here. I wondered how he went from working at a good company to working here anyways.