Love Lock Down

Chapter 35 (Navette)

Things had really changed a lot for me in the last 4 months. I went to Shayla's grave every weekend with Leroi. Ms. Judy was starting to be sick so much that some days she did not get out of the bed. I hated the way Lupus attacked her body. She had lost so much weight and most of her hair. I made it my business to go see her every day. My daddy had long abandoned his apartment and I didn't even get to get anything to remember Shayla by. Leroi's daddy got me a job at McCallisters deli because he messed with the hiring manager. because it was summer and I was legally and adult I worked as many hours as I could. Me and Leroi had gotten closer and he came around as much as he could, but he was starting to change.

"Bae look what I got." Said Leroi coming through the front door.

I sat on the couch blowing my nails. "That's a huge box. What's in there?"

"Well you know how you wanted that t.v. you saw in the sales paper?"

"Leroi I know you didn't!!" I said forgetting about my nails and snatching the box.

"Yeah mama this is just the stand, but the box is in the truck."

"What truck?" I asked almost dropping the box.

He summoned me to the door and I walked out onto the porch. He pointed to a huge black truck in the parking lot. I could see the bed was full of furniture and Petey was in the drivers seat. I smiled to him and waved as he stepped out of the truck. He waved back and called Leroi over to help him unload the truck. Since I lived in the old peoples section of the projects we had wrought iron gates that surrounded the courtyards so no cars could pull up in the grass. I tried to help them as they brught in the stuff, but they told me to move out of the way. I sat on the steps as they bought the last of the stuff in.

"Aight bruh I gotta go. Me and Juan throwin a pool party at the new spot."

"Aight thanks I appreciate it. Imma get wit you about that one situation later on P."

"Aight bruh love." he said as he bumped fists with Leroi. He nodded up the steps to me "By Vette."

"Bye P." I said as I ran down the steps. It took hours for me and Leroi to get the furniture situated. He had bought me a glass coffee table with two match end tables, a wooden bookshelf with glass racks, a 60" flat screen t.v. with a wooden t.v. stand and a small wooden kitchen table with two chairs. I made him a cup of ice water and he sat in the kitchen with me as I made us taco salad. I had just sat out food down when Leroi's phone started ringing.

I heard Ms. Pretty Pussy playing and I gave him sideyes wondering whose ringtone that could be. I was further suspicious when he held one finger up as if to keep me from speaking.

"Hello. yeah what's up wit you? Okay, okay I can come through in about an hour. Where you gonna be at? Ok cool, let me hurry up and eat and Imma hit you when I'm on my way. Aight.Later"

He hung up the phone and wiped the smile off of his face when he saw me leering at him.

"Leroi who was that and where are you going?"

"Ma that was some business I gotta take care of that's all."

I sucked my teeth. "Okay Roi whatever."

"Mama please don't start this jealous stuff. You ain't never had to worry about me before so why you worrying now?"

"You know what Leroi, you been acting real strange. Ms. Judy said you coming in late and you be smellin like weed. I know you like your new found family, but you need to tighten your shit up for real."

He looked at me like I had sprouted another head.

"Oh so yall just sit up and discuss a nigga huh? I am trying to make some money so that I can help both of yall pay bills and maintain so discuss that." He said taking a bite of his food.

"Leoroi I appreciate al that you have done for me and you know that, but I can pay my own bills. I work long hours so that I can save up the money to get what I want, plus I want Shayla to have a headstone on her grave."

"I know that you work hard, but grinding at  a lil job like that don't work for me. I want to help you get that headstone, and mama got medical bills piling up so I gotta do what I gotta do. "

I just kept right on eating because I felt myself about to cuss him out. His phone went off again, but now it was R..Kelly singing Sex Me. He looked down at it smiled, but opted to silence it instead of answering. I just shook my head.

"Navette what you shakin your head for?"

"Nothing just that you got interesting taste in ringtones."

"Are you really mad about a ringtone? Come on bae that's petty."

I didn't say anything I just looked at him. He pushed his plate away.

"I guess I should leave cause I don't like the vibe in here right now."

"There's the door." I said pointing to the back door. He grabbed his fitted off of the couch and came back in the kitchen to give me a kiss before he left. I pulled away and he gave me a look then walked out of the back door slamming it closed. I got up to lock the door behind him when I realized he had left his phone. Come to mama, I thought to myself as I walked back towards the table. I had just picked the phone up when it rang in my hand. I panicked not knowing if I should answer it, but I decided to.

Me: Hello.

Caller: Yeah, aye who is this?

Me: Navette who is this?

Caller: Aye this is Juan. I was trying to find Roi.

Me: This is his girl he just walked out of the door.

Caller: Shit!!! How long he been gone?

Me: He just left.

Caller: Do he got another phone cause I need to stop him.

Me: No he just got this one why what's wrong?"

Caller: Damn!!! aight thanks ma I gotta go find him!

He hung up in my face and I immediately got scared. I threw on my sneakers and grabbed my purse dialing Petey from his phone as I locked my door. I was waiting on him to answer when I heard sirens.