New Native Land (The Next Step) (Book II)

Chapter 18 (Distance)

           

"Let's go." Ahm said to the crew and they all nodded. "You good baby girl?" Scrap asked Draya and she went back to normal and nodded and smiled at him. Scrap smirked and said "If you ever need me, I'm here." He winked at her and she giggled shyly at him as he walked out.

          Everyone looked at me like they were scared and shit I was scared of me too. It was just some nasty little boy trying to talk to me, I don't know what Ahm did to Tyrone but it really wasn't that serious for him to make everyone scared like that.

          The owner walked up to me and said "I ain't know Ahm was your man. I would've let you eat free." He joked and I shook my head "No, that's not necessary." And the guy laughed "Any girlfriend of my nephew's is someone important in this place." I looked at him weird. "Check, I didn't know Ahm was your nephew." Draya said and he nodded "Yeah, that knuckle head is my nephew." He said lovingly.

          "It's nice to meet you. I wish we could've met on a better note, but I guess that's just how we have to do." Check said and we shook hands. "I don't know how you got caught up with him, but watch out who's around and stuff because he'll get pretty violent and I don't want him getting caught up." He told me and I nodded. "Alright." He smiled at me and walked away to attend to others.

          "This is a small world." Draya said.

          We were at Prospect Park walking with Drew.

          "So, all you heard was the dude scream that's all?" Drew asked us and we both nodded. "Oh, well he probably broke something." We paused and snapped our heads to look at Drew, well mostly me anyway. "Broke something?" I reiterated his words. "Yeah. Usually him and the crew just beat a nigga up real bad and that would be it. But when Ahm is real mad, like you have to really piss him off, he'll take care of you himself and he'll break your arm, or hand. Something like that. One time this dude pissed him off so bad that he straight up ran him over." Drew told us. I didn't know how to process this.

          "Why would he do something like that?" Draya asked and Drew shrugged and explained "He's ruthless. He's that nigga, anyone try to fuck with that title or make him look bad gets dealt with." I kept on walking sadly. "It's part of the game, don't worry." Drew tried to make me feel better "It makes me want to stay away from him." Drew shook his head. "You gotta know who you're with Reagan. He ain't no prep school honor student. He a hustler and a gangster. He's the man around here, what he says goes." Drew broke down reality for me.

          "I hope you know how much he cares about you though before you get all up in your feelings, think about why he did that. You were uncomfortable and the guy wouldn't let up." Drew said flat out, defending Ahm's actions. "Yeah, but Scrap beat up Draya's guy and told him to go, Ahm went and broke a limb on the guy messing with me." I reasoned my behavior. "Well Scrap ain't the big dog." Drew plainly put and that was it with him explaining, nothing else could be said.

          "I think I might start liking Scrap, he's cute and funny." Draya said out loud trying to change the subjet and we both looked at her like she was crazy "Please don't." I said to her and she laughed "It's too late, he's got my attention." I rolled my eyes at her. "You'll regret it." Drew warned but she was in her own Lala land.

          When I made it home, it was like eight in the evening. The lights were on so I knew someone was home. I walked inside and Pete welcomed me at the door. "Hey Pete! How are you?" I picked him up and he waged his tail. I put him down and walked into the living room. "Hey." I said and Trey looked over the couch and then back to the TV and waved lazily.

          "Why were you starting stuff at Benny's today?" He asked me shocking me in the process. "How do you know about that?" I asked him and he scoffed "Whole damn neighborhood was talking about it." He answered with a tacky attitude. "I didn't do anything. Some dude and his homie interrupted Draya and me. And the guy was putting his hands all over me. Ahm happened to see it and he flipped." I explained and Trey looked concerned "Who was the dude?" I sighed and rolled my eyes.

          "Where's Malcolm? I rather talk to him about this."

          I said out loud.

"Why you can't talk to me? I'm just as good as Malcolm."

          Trey said jealously.

"I'm your oldest brother, I'm the one you should turn to the most."

"You're too impatient, and you're too hot headed like I am. I need someone who is calm and collected, also you're not the oldest brother I have."

He twisted his mouth.

"Alright, I'm collected. Talk to me."

          I paused contemplating if I should talk to him. I guess, it wouldn't hurt.

"Ahm... I don't know what he did to the guy... But he had his homie cover my eyes and all I heard was the dude scream out in pain."

          I told him as if it just happened, reliving it made me even more scared.

"It's like... I knew who he was when I got with him, but I didn't know he was that... Bad."

          I said and sighed out sadly.

          Trey rubbed the back of his head and breathed out trying to figure out the right words to say.

"Well, Reag. Ahm... Ain't a bad person, he just wants to make sure nobody messes with you. Sometimes he gotta make examples out of people so that others know. It's kinda like Malcolm and I, cause we don't take too kindly to someone messing with someone we care about."

          He paused trying to figure out what else to say because my face showed my confusion, but he continued.

"In this world, we live in people don't care about you the same way I care about you. And you, you have such a caring and sweet heart. It's like someone can do you wrong but at the end of the day, you still feel bad for them. Not everyone is like you, and though your way is right, it just doesn't come to others that way."

          I twisted my mouth disappointed in his words. They were similar to Drew's from earlier, and I didn't want to hear that, even if it was my reality.

"I want to be with someone who's like me."

          I told Trey and he made a sympathetic face

"Then, I don't think Ahmed is for you shawty."

          He plainly put. I felt that familiar twinge in my heart and I noticed it skipped a beat. I forgot to take my medicine today.

"Thanks."

          Trey smiled like he accomplished something and I went to the kitchen to take a pill.

          I went up to my room and I turned on the TV and I watched some sitcoms, but I couldn't pay attention. I really thought about this, it disturbed me to no end.

*Ring, Ring*

          My phone interrupted me and I jumped at it being so loud. I picked it up and said "Yeah?" And no one answered "Hello?" I said confused but still no reply. "Okay." I said about to hang up but then I heard "I'm here." I recognized Ahm's voice.

"Why didn't you say something before?"

          I asked silently at the realization of him on the phone, but I was also frustrated.

"My bad."

"Mhm."

          He hesitated.

"Are you okay?"

"I'm fine."

          I knew he could tell I was lying, but I did it anyway.

"Are you really okay?"

"Yeah."

          He grunted at the second lie and then he let out a defeated sigh.

"Reagan I-"

"I gotta go. I'll talk to you later."

          I quickly hung up the phone. I sighed out loud, and grabbed my heart. I let out a very quiet but frustrated shout into my pillow. I looked up and I felt this cloak of sluggishness coming over me afterwards. This is what happens when I forget to take my meds.