Back In The Game

Chapter 6

LaShawn's POV

           I cant believe that just happened. I take a girl out for the first time in I don't know how long, and this happenes. To top it all off, I owe a guy 600 dollars. I don't know exactly how I'm going to get it but I will. After I pay him, I'm definitely making it up to Marie.

           The look on her face nearly killed me. I could tell she had never been more scared in her life. But it's over now and it's not going to happen again.

        When I arrived back at home, I called Zeke.

"Guess who I ran into bruh," I say into the speaker.

"Steven, I know. He came by here asking where you were. I haven't seen dude in a while, what did he want with you," asked Zeke, oblivious to the situation.

"I owe him money. 600 bucks," I tell Zeke, mentally slapping myself for being so stupid.

"Damn mane, what you do to get yourself into that mess," Zeke asks me.

"Long story mane. Remember I was in the crack game back in the day," I tell him. Of course he remembers, he's the one that got me into it.

"Yeah, man, those were the good ole days," he says like they were actually good. I hated myself for letting him talk me into it but he is my home boy.

"Yeah. Well I gotta go, I owe a nigga some money," I tell him and hang up.

I try to fall asleep, but this Steven thing is weighing over my mind.

>>>

Marie's POV

         I have never been so scared in my life. But after what LaShawn told me, it shouldn't happen again. After he leaves, I take a shower and get ready for work tomorrow. I don't know how im getting there though.  I debate with myself on weather I should call him or not but I decide not to. I'm still pressed about what just happened.

     As I fall asleep I cant help but worry about Shawn.

>>>

       I wake up to my loud alarm. I turn it off to see that it is 6:30 in the morning. I don't know why I agreed to take the first shift this week.

       I get dressed and head down stairs  to catch a taxi to work. When I get there, it was mostly empty, as I suspected. Who in the world goes shopping for shoes at 7:30 in the morning?

       As I began to ring up a costumer, my phone rings. Being the good employee that I am, I finish helping the customer before answering. I was hoping it was LaShawn but it was Russie. I haven't heard from her since we got back from Jersey.

"Hello?"

"Hey girl, what are you doing?" she says. She sounds pretty excited for some reason.

"Just working, whats going on?" I ask her.

"Girl me and Nicole were thinking of going back to Jersey. But of course we cant go without you! So are you in?" she ask. I really missed my girls.

"Heck yeah, girl! When are yall going?" I ask her.

"Well we have a couple things to take care of before we go, but we were thinking sometime next month. Is that cool?"

I was supposed to be going to see my mom and dad soon but they can wait. Its not like they cared that much about me anyway, I haven't heard from them in months.

"Of course, hit me up with the details later," I tell her, and hang up. I was already looking forward to the trip to Jersey. It was so different than New York, more calming.

       A couple minutes later my phone rings again and this time it really is LaShawn.

"Hello?"

"Marie, did you get to work okay this morning," he asked me, his words sound rushed.

"Yeah im fine, thanks."

"Im so sorry, I forgot to ask you last night, with what happened and all," he says.

"Its fine, really. I'm actually going to get my car today after work," I tell him. I hate not being able to drive myself anywhere.

"Okay, well can I come get you from work?"

'Can he?' He actually likes coming to get me? The thought makes me tingle for a second.

"Yes, thank you," I tell him.

"Well I'll see you at 6:30." he says and hangs up.

The rest of my work day goes by quickly. Im just ready to get out of this place. At the end of my shift I go outside to wait on Shawn. A couple minutes later I see his car roll up to the curb.

"Hey," he says looking me up and down, approvingly.

"Hey," I say back with a small grin.

"So how was work?" he asks. I could tell he was just joking though. Work is work, nobody cares.

"It was good, how about you," I ask him.

"Same old same old. So which shop is your car at," he asks me, pulling into the busy street.

"The one on the corner of 17th and 51st," I tell him. "So have you figured out what you are going to do?" At first he is confused about what im referring to but then it hits him.

"Ill get him his money one way or another," he says looking defeated, but only for a second. He sweet smile returns to his face in a matter of seconds. "But dont worry about that, I'll be okay," he tells me, grabbing my hand. He quickly realizes what he is doing and jerks it away.

"Sorry," he tells me. I don't say anything. Instead I grab his hand again and hold it until we get to the car shop.

"Thank you so much," I say as I get out of his car.

"It was nothing. Hey, what are you doing after this," he asks me. I didn't have anything planned so I just shrug.

"Want to grab some ice cream?"

"Sure, where do you want me to meet you?" I forget the promise I made myself to stay away from him until he got himself together.

"Well we could ride together if you want. If you just want to drop your car off at home and I can get you," he suggests.

"Sure, thanks," I tell him and start my own car. I love my car. It's a 2012 Honda Civic and I love it. I begin the drive home, with LaShawn right behind me.