The Preachers Daughter

Chapter Six

" 'Cuse me!"

I bolted upright and wiped the drool from the side of my mouth. I hadn't realized I stayed the night at Zy'Air's house, and I'm surprised he even let me do it. We sat up all night talking, mostly about me. He didn't seem like he was going to open up, at least not now. I was completely fine with that though. What I wasn't fine with was him leaving me in here alone without a note or something.

I looked down at the small hand that was tapping me to wake up.

"Granny gonna be here soon. Ziggy said wake you up".

"And where is Ziggy?", I asked.

Her answer was a shrug. Poor girl, she's probably home alone a lot.

"What's your name?", I asked her.

"Melody".

"That's a pretty name. Well Melody, when you see Ziggy tell him to call me. Okay?"

She nodded and gave me a smile with a couple missing teeth. I slid my gym shoes on and got out the house as quickly as I could. Lord knows the last thing I need is someone's grandmother cursing me out for being in their house.

I checked my phone to see if I had a missed call from my father; I didn't. Which, regardless of the circumstances, is not like him. I went to my favorites list to call him and make sure he didn't get alcohol poison and die on our living room floor. I was so busy looking at my phone that I hadn't noticed the guy in front of me. I ran right into him and his expression when he turned around sent chills down my back.

"Watch where the fuck you goin'!"

"My apologies, sir".

"You made me spill my drink. Now, how you think we should deal with that?"

He dropped the styrofoam cup he was holding on the ground and stepped closer to me. He leaned in and smelled my hair then toyed with the button on my shorts. I was frozen to where I was standing, completely afraid. He smelled like a bottle of liquor and Black and Milds, so I knew his head wasn't right. So many scenarios ran through my head of what he was going to do. And with every one of those scenarios, I was terrified to do anything.

"You a soft lil thing", he slurred into my ear.

The biggest lump formed in my throat and I felt myself begin to cry. Before he could make another move, he was snatched away and thrown against the nearest car. The person reached behind them and pulled out a gun and pointed at him. The drunk man looked into the eyes of my mysterious hero and his eyes became wide with fear.

"I don't think this young lady likes your clammy hands touchin' all on her".

"I wasn't tryna-"

"Yeah, shut yo drunk ass up! You ain't shit but a street bum and that fact alone is the only thing keeping me from flat lining you. Get the fuck on, before I change my mind".

"Okay okay, you got it".

The drunk man scurried away, tripping over his own feet. My hero turned around and pulled the bandana that was around his face down below his chin.

"Zy'Air", I stated more than asking.

He tucked his gun away and looked over my shoulder then his own.

"Are you okay?", he asked.

"What was that?", I asked in reference to what I had just witnessed.

"Just get home, aight?"

He walked away from me without another word. This isn't the Zy'Air I'm used to. He was in rare form. Maybe this is the way he has to be when he's out running the streets. Either way, I don't think he wanted me to see this side of him.