Natalie & King

Ch. 1

        Natalie

                I used to think life would get easier once I graduated high school. That it would somehow make it easier on my son and I not having to wake up early every morning just to sit in a classroom full of immature morons who didn't want to be there in the first place. But by my second college semester I figured it out quickly that nothing about college and raising a four year old was easy. It wasn't easy working on the college campus for a few hours right after my classes until I had to run across campus to the student daycare in time to get King and it wasn't easy making time for homework in between bathing, feeding and making sure he was taken care of. It would have been nice to have help but I buried that thought along with King's father almost two years ago and haven't entertained it since. What was the point in entertaining the idea of getting close to another man just to get hurt and burned in the end? I didn't see one.

                I wasn't as naïve as I once was when Daren came into my life all those years ago, before he gave me King. Before he ruined my life but saved it at the same time. Now I was smarter, less likely to ever fall for a fuck boy like that ever again. Now I was wise enough to know just because a man sleeps with you and claims he loves you, doesn't mean it's true. Half the time, it was the exact opposite.

                                "Do you mind closing tonight, Natalie? I need someone to help train our newest employee, Bay'Zell and Missy has already clocked out." My supervisor, Henry, approached the counter as I wiped it down with old dirty soap water and dodged the glare I sent to him. He knew I hated closing because of the walk I had to take across campus to get to King. I wanted to say no and even throw the rag at him but I knew another two hours would look good on my paycheck and I needed the money. I sighed, nodded my head and glanced behind him at the girl who I assumed was Bay'Zell. She was a pretty girl with unblemished brown skin and long black hair that stopped in the middle of her back. Her cheekbones, eyebrows and light makeup fit her round, heart shaped face perfectly. When Henry nodded and left us in the juice shop alone, I waited for her to join me behind the counter where I showed her how to work the register. It wasn't hard, it was actually simple but she couldn't figure it out and I didn't have the patience to keep telling her the same thing over and over again. Dealing with her was starting to annoy me even though I tried to hide it.

                                "So Natalie," Bay'Zell purred as the last customer left. "You either don't like me or you're not friendly at all." Bay'Zell turned her neck to get a better look at me which made me uncomfortable. Maybe it was a mix of both. I wasn't friendly and I wasn't Bay'Zell's biggest fan either. Surprisingly a small chuckle left my mouth.

                                "I'm not friendly, I guess."

                                "Why not?" she asked and followed me to the back so we could fill the sink with sanitizer and get ahead on the night dishes. I really didn't feel like having this conversation with her. She was annoying and somewhat...ghetto.

                                "I don't know, just ain't I guess."

                                "I know some niggas that would love a yellow bone like you but that's too bad, you're gorgeous." She complimented with a smile that I didn't bother returning. Instead of saying anything, I started and finished the dishes and then started on the mornings prep work.

                When it was almost closing time, two boys who instantly made me roll my eyes, walked in as if they owned the place with flirty grins being tossed between me and Bay'Zell. She liked the attention instantly and went out of her way to let it be known but me? I stood there silently drilling holes in the wall clock, willing time to pass a little faster. All I wanted to do was get home to my baby boy.