Obstacles | Keith Powers |

your number

Keith

september 13th, 11:51 pm
I was driving around the deeper parts of South Sac looking for the corner where the first person told me to meet him at. I saw a little flashlight from a corner and I pulled up in it and saw him. I parked and hopped out the car with his stuff.

"Was' 'hannen young blood." He greeted me. I clapped up with him and took the bag out.

"You got the money?" I asked him, looking around.

"Yeah yeah." He said pulling out the $50. I slid him the weed and he handed me the money at the same time.

"'Til next time, young." He saluted me. I nodded my head and threw up the peace sign, getting back in the car.

Nights like these were some of the most dangerous ones for me. There's no telling if police would catch me or not, if I'd get shot at or not. You never know. But as long as I make it home to Kalani, I know I did a job well done.

It was after three a.m. when I finished all the drops. I made my way back home. I stopped by Ms. Jackie's house first to pick up Kalani. I pulled up in front of her driveway and jogged up the front porch and knocked on the door. The porch light came on a few minutes later and Ms. Jackie opened the door.

"Boy why you knocking at my door at three in the morning." She whisper yelled. I chuckled.

"My bad. I just wanted to pick up Kalani." I told her.

"She's sleeping. I hope you aren't still selling that stuff, Keith. You too smart and talented to be doing that." She said to me, crossing her arms.

"I know Ms. Jackie. I'm trying to get just enough to move Kalani and I into a better neighborhood. And as soon as I graduate, we'll be set. I just... I need more time." I said to her.

"Well, I'm always here for you two." She said, leading me into the room where Kalani was sleeping in. I grabbed her bag and carefully picked her up so she wouldn't wake up. I walked to the door before Ms. Jackie stopped me.

"I'm praying for you, Keith." She said. I smiled and nodded my head.

"I appreciate it."

8:37 am

"Keith.... Keith, wake up baby." I heard my mom's voice as she shook me. I sat up and looked at her.

"What ma?" I asked, annoyance in my tone.

"You're gonna be late for school, it's 8:37." She told me. I sighed and got out of bed, stretching.

"Where's Kalani?" I asked her.

"I told her to walk-"

"The fuck? No ma, are you crazy?! Get out my way." I said, as I sucked my teeth and pushed past her. I quickly brushed my teeth and rushed into my room, throwing clothes on. I rushed out the door only to see Kalani sitting on the porch.

"Oh thank God." I said as I let out a breath of air.

"Mommy told me to walk to school, but you told me to never walk alone, so I waited for you. I didn't wanna wake you, because you looked really tired." She said as I held her hand as she got in my car. I hopped in the driver's seat and started the car.

"Good girl. But you're gonna be a little late so I'll walk you in." I told her, looking at her through the rearview mirror.

"Okay, Keith."

Walking into the front office and signing myself in, I ran into Jasmine. She smiled my way and I walked up to her, wrapping my arm around her waist in a hug.

"What you doing in here?" I asked her as we walked.

"Oh I have teacher's assistant as an elective and Mrs. Garcia asked me to drop some papers off in here. But why are you late?" She inquired, with an eyebrow raised.

"I woke up late and I had to drop my little sister off to school first," I said to her. She nodded in understanding.

"That's cute." She smiled.

"Yeah yeah... So what's your story?" I asked her as we walked through the hallway.

"I don't have a story." She said to me. I gave her a look.

"Everyone has a story, so what's yours?" I asked her again.

"Not much... I live with my mother and step-father, and my little sister. I'm a dancer, I'm on the team actually." She pointed out.

"Yeah I know, you be doing your thing." I said in a girly voice. She laughed.

"But it sounds like you got it going for yourself. What you wanna do when you get older?" I asked her.

"Uh, I wanna be a dance choreographer and own my own studio. But if not, then I want to be a Neurologist." She answered. I nodded at her choices.

"Impressive. I just wanna run track." I shrugged. She looked up at me as if she was reading me. I looked down at her and smirked. She blushed and looked away.

"I should get back to class.." She said, walking away and blushing. I grabbed her hand, turning her around before she could get far.

"Let me get your number first." I said, running my tongue across my bottom lip and sinking my teeth into it. She nodded and held out her hand. I smiled and gave her my phone. After putting her number in, she handed it back to me and smiled.

"I'll see you later and you better call me too." She said as she walked away.

"You better answer."

I got hella heart eyes for her.

fin.