Snatched (August Alsina)

Chapter 22: Saturday

Sorry if this chapter seems confusing as it switches back and fourth from August to Daniell repeatedly in the same day.

Saturday

August's POV

I  held my wrist out to my eye's view and squinted at the time displayed on my watch; 1:21. I sighed and propped that same arm inbetween the car window and the door interior, running my fingers through my hair without taking them out.

"Nervous, bro?" Melvin asked from behind the steering wheel, driving us down a half-occupied road that I've been on so many times before.

I admit, I was kinda nervous... I mean, this gonna be my first time seein' my mama in two years. To me it feels like a lifetime, and who knows how shit's gonna go down when we see her. All I know is that I don't have a good feeling about it.

I gave off a shrug, which he'd glanced long enough to see but short enough to turn his attention back to the road.

"It'll be ight, man... I think." Melvin said.  I could tell he was just as uneasy about this as I was.

Mama and I got history. We had an alright relationship until daddy died... that's when shit went downhill. Mama yelled more and put me down for everything (especially my singing, but that's something she's put down since I first started when I was little). She got really into smoking, alcohol, drugs... you name itt. That's why Mel moved out.

"Mama c'mon, you gotta quit this shit" I used to say to her.

"It helps me forget" Mama would say, those bullshit words teasing my nerves and nudging my temper.

Mama and I ended up fighting all the time... that ended up being the only thing we ever did. We fell into our constant arguments and disagreements and eventually I left home. Mama was just fine with this.

I was homeless for a while working overtime at my job just to eat for a day. Melvin eventually let me live with him up until one point when I turned 18. At that time he helped me buy my apartment with some of his drug dealing and side-job money and that's when I thought about the business and decided to deal alongside with him. He forbid it at first until I pulled the "I'm an adult now, I do what I want" card on him and he reluctantly convinced Javo about letting me in.

Javo runs a good business; good enough to where I could quit my job because the dealing pays me well. I do delivering and set out to get money owed to Javo, and he pays us a fair profit. Until I decide what I wanna do when I grow up, this what I'm gonna stick to doing. I just hope I don't gotta do it forever.

I despise having to be in this business, but I have no choice. Mama had a choice with her wrong decisions, that's why I had the right to get mad at her. Ain't nobody have to right to get mad at me for my wrong decisions... I'm just tryna live.

Melvin snapped in my face, pulling me out of my thoughts.

"What man?" I asked, snarling at him in annoyance.

"Ain't this your song?" Melvin asked, nodding towards the radio. Power Trip played through the speakers... damn, this one was a classic.

"Would you believe me if I said I'm in looove" I blurted singing, then continuing on to the rest of the chorus.

"It upsets me that you ain't chasing your old dreams of becoming a singer" Melvin said disappointedly.

"Me being a singer? That would never happen" I pointed out.

"How you know that? You gotta go for what you like doin'. I know damn well you love to sing."

"I ain't ever gonna get famous off it. That's a one in a million possibility' I said.