Dre Day

Fragmentation

May 28th 1991

Dre POV

Tensions were running high in the Ruthless camp. Yes I know the album was just released today but now it was time for me to make a big decision. A decision that could potentially change my life. I was currently at home on the couch with my sons Andre Jr and Curtis. Andre Jr and Curtis were both playing with a pack of playing cards that I bought them.  I wanted to spend time with them as I haven't seen them in so long ever since NWA really started to taper off. I sighed as I thought about what life was like before all of this occurred. A normal life. A life without any drama and stress building up over the years.

I smiled as Andre Jr began to match each of the cards to their suit whilst Curtis was busy watching cartoons on the television. Then I heard the doorbell ring. 

"Daddy who's car is that." Curtis pointed out the window and I went over to it before peeking through the glass. It looked like a brand new white Cadillac that I've never recognized before. I stepped away from the window just as the doorbell rang for the second time.

"Alright god damn! I'm comin'!" I shouted as I unlocked the door. As soon I opened it I saw Cassandra, Curtis' mother which proved to be a shock for me. 

"Oh hey uh Cassandra." I said as I fumbled over my words. "I wasn't expected you to be here this early."  Cassandra rolled her eyes before she spoke. 

"Whatever Andre I'm just here to collect Curtis. It's his friend's birthday party and he's gotta get dressed in order to go."  

I frowned for a minute. "Well I could take him." I said. "Just give the address to me and I'll take him-". Before I could finish Cassandra cut me off. 

"Look Dre as much as I'd like to it would be better if I did it myself. The least you could do is keep paying that child support." She grinned and I squinted my eyes at her.  "Just get my son." I mentally groaned. Bitch he's my child too you know!

"Curtis!" I said and he came running as fast as he could. "Hey Daddy-" he stopped mid sentence when he saw his mom. 

"Hey baby." Cassandra said. "Come on, let's go to your friends party as we promised." Curtis looked at me with big eyes and I was confused for a minute to what was happening. It seemed that he didn't want to go. So I knelt down and grabbed his hands softly.

"Look little man what's the matter you're gonna have a great time aren't you?" I said and gave him a reassuring smile. Curtis shook his head. "No Dad I wanna stay here with you and play video games with you and Andre Jr." I instantly felt his small arms engulf me in a hug and I turned to face Cassandra. 

She wasn't impressed.

I pulled Curtis away gently before speaking to him. "Look Curtis as much as I'd love for you to stay here, you wouldn't want to miss your friends party now would you. Besides your momma will be there every step of the way so there's nothing to be afraid of."

Curtis looked up at me before he spoke. "You promise?"

I chuckled. "Of course."

"At least let uncle T take me instead." 

Cassandra was quick to interject. "Uncle T is busy right now baby come on. Get in mommy's new car. You can sit in the front." She smiled to him which he returned. Then he gave me a big hug. 

"I'll see you next weekend Dad. Tell Uncle T thanks for the new sunglasses and the Adidas sneakers." 

I laughed. "Of course little man. Make sure you rock that party and remember those DJ tricks I told you." I watched Curtis run to the car before I got up to face Cassandra. Boy was she not impressed. 

"Look Cassan-"

"Save it Dre! You had T.A. The T.A! The T.A who used to call me and probably still does call me Miss Cleo even though I look nothing like her hang around with my son!" I couldn't help but laugh at Miss Cleo.  (A/N- Google her if you don't know who she is lol)

"He's just clowning you girl you know he don't mean it."

"Whatever. Tell his tall ass I ain't forget about that." And with that Cassandra took that as her que to leave and I shut the door before going back to my other son Andre Jr. 

"Looks like it's just me and you." I said to myself whilst looking at Andre Jr.  Before I could sit down I heard another doorbell ring yet again. 

I sighed to myself. "Fuck! What the hell do they want?" I said slightly annoyed now. I yanked the door open and prepared to cuss whoever was at the door out until I saw the person, then I stopped myself completely. 

It was Andre Jr's mom Jenita. We weren't really on the best of terms especially since she sued me last year for child support where she wants $5000 per month. To be honest I haven't been a great father to my kids but I plan to change that and step up my game. 

Our conversation was a little warmer than with Cassandra surprisingly. 

"Hey momma!" chimed Andre Jr as he ran to Jenita who embraced him in a tight hug. 

"Hey baby you good? Has Daddy been looking after you properly?" she said and he nodded. I smiled and she smiled looking up at me.

"Thank you Dre." she said and smiled before her and Jr left and went back to their home. Just as I was about to close the door I saw Jade and D.O.C. walking up to the house. 

"Hey babe." Jade smiled and engulfed me in a tight hug before placing fervent kisses all over my face. 

"Okay that's enough!" I laughed. "Girl you about to have a nigga killed for that shit." 

D.O.C. walked up and dapped me. "Yo what's up, you ready to do the video shoot?"  I frowned as D.O.C stepped inside the house. Video shoot? No one told me there was going to be a video shoot. 

"What'chu mean video shoot? For what single?" 

"Appetite For Destruction. Come on nigga I'm sure the rest of those guys told you earlier that was going to be the next single." D.O.C. said and I shrugged my shoulders.  I never got the message that the new single was gonna be that song.

"Man there's so much tension you could cut through the air with a knife, that's how thick it is." I said. Jade had reappeared by my side now, hugging my waist.

"Babe, I still think you should talk to Eric about this. I mean why can't you just stay and work this all out." Jade said. 

I sighed. "I honestly wish it was that easy. But come one baby you saw why Cube left. Something isn't right." 

D.O.C. nodded his head in agreement. "True, I mean we should be compensating for our hard work yet we're still getting light checks. That's why we got to start making our own company and benefit from the hard work we've been putting in."

Jade sighed. "Well have you decided what to do then? What people to meet and all that?" 

"T.A's sorting that all out." said D.O.C. As soon as he mentioned his name Jade's facial expression changed to a more somber one. I noticed this straight away.

"Come on baby girl." I said and pulled her into a hug. I know how upset she was for him hanging around Suge. Me and Doc personally didn't see anything wrong with Suge, but Jade always thought he brought a sinister aura to whatever environment he steps foot into. 

"He''s your friend, surely you gotta be happy for him." D.O.C. said as Jade cuddled into me before she spoke. 

"It's not that it's just-" She was cut off by my pager beeping.  I pulled it out before reading them.

"Yo what's up?" D.O.C. looked over at what was going on.

"Yo we gotta get to that video shoot man. Then we can start planning the shit next." I said.