Poisoned Ivy

Chapter 3

My mother stood there in the doorway and if looks could kill let's just say I wouldn't be here. My little sister Anna pushes past her and and stood with her arms crossed shaking her head at me. If there was one thing I hated more than mama getting on me about something, it was Anna feeling that she's supposed to be in on it too. She's very mature and smart for her age, I will give her that. She would give those CrestView Hills brats a run for their trust funds. She was standing there in her favorite black leotard with the silver lining and her nude tights, her thick dark hair was pulled tightly into a perfectly placed top knot bun at the center of her head. I wonder how long how long it took my mama to do her hair this time. Anna's hair is so thick that it's hard to get a good right grip on it. She begs my mama for a relaxer almost everyday, but my mama brushes her off each time. "I don't want all those chemicals in your hair Annie." That was her response before the subject went cold for another day. I know she's gonna give in though. Anna's hair grows thicker by the the second and mama's frustration grows with it. It's becoming to much for her to tame. Besides, she won't have time to fight with it now that's she's working full time again.
"We are about to be boxing if you don't get in this house right now Ivy!"
"Hey Ms. Tiffany!" Marcus waves to my mama. She returned a reluctant wave back to him. Her smile was as dry as my mouth was at that moment. It feels like I've been sucking on sandpaper. I don't know if it's from thirst, or fear of what my mama is planning on doing to me. I'm praying it's thirst.
"Hey Marcus." That was the only response he was gonna get, and he knew it. When she's pissed Marcus steers clear. He knows she has no issue with lighting into him the same way she would me.
"Hey Marc!" Anna waives excitedly smiling from ear to ear. Anna was really feeling Marcus and has been for a while. She hates that I tease her about it all the time, but when I see her like this, all geeked up and crushing hard, I can't help but hold it against her.
Marcus shoots Anna his gorgeous smile and waves back. "Hey Anna Banana, we still on for that movie?"
"For sure," She answers back eagerly. Her dimples on full cuteness mode. Marcus turns back to me and smiles. He really gets on my nerves.
"Good luck with that," he nods towards the porch and smacks my face. I stop myself from running after him, remembering I'm about to go on trial.
He turns and runs back up the street towards his house. I want to follow him so bad. But that ain't about to happen, and depending on how this conversation with my mama goes, it might not be happening for a long time.
I walked onto the porch as fast as I could. My mama, visibly pissed, rolls her eyes and walks into the house. I wait until the coast is clear before I mug Anna in the head as hard as I can.
"Stay outta my business."
"HEEYY!" Anna whines and stumbles backwards. She rushes past me into the house and heads straight for my mama to tell that I tried to remove her head from her body. But I wouldn't be me if I let that go down. The last thing I need is something else for my mama to yell at me about. One battle at a time is all I can handle with Tiffany.
I snatch her arm back and give her the coldest look I can force to cover my face. It was a clear warning. One that says if you even think of saying anything to mama I tell everything I know about how her change keeps mysteriously disappearing from her purse.
She stands there for a moment, contemplating if the move is worth it. When I see her face go cold as ice I let her go. I win. See, told you she's smart. I smile and wink at her before leaving her in her feelings. I hear her mumble something before stomping up the steps to her room. I have to watch my back closely from now on. Can't let that cute face and dimples fool you- She's a pit bull in leotard.

I walk into the kitchen feeling as if I'm walking down a prison corridor to death row. I feel the sandpaper scratching the back of my throat and head straight to the fridge for a bottle of water. I sit at the table waiting to get the life lectured out of me. Responsibility, thinking of others, respecting people's time, thinking before I act, the dangers of the courts, blah blah blah.
"So what excuse do you have for not being at home when I asked you to be Vy?" Tiffany was not playing today. Straight to the point, no intros. I wasn't ready for that. She's setting me up- shit.
I look back at her . She had her arms crossed, which means she's trying not to smack me. She's biting down on her lip, which usually means she's trying not to full on cuss me the hell out, but she wants to- man does she want to. She might as well be foaming at the mouth right now she's so pissed at me. I remain calm though. If I act as if it's no big deal maybe she'll come down a few notches. Then again it depends on how much she knows.
I watch her as she moves in my direction. She sits in the chair across from me, her big brown eyes stare at me accusingly. My mama was gorgeous. Her smooth chocolate skin and dark features make her look like an Egyptian goddess. Her jet black hair framed her perfectly round face falling just past her shoulders. There wasn't a man in the Courts that didn't try to get with my mama, but she never has time for it. She thinks most of them are trouble anyway.
"Ma you know I don't give excuses, I give reasons, there's a difference."
"Ivy, I am not in the mood. Quit tryin to be cute. Have you been into it with that boy again."
And there's the set up. Ms. Jenkins strikes again. Why does this lady have it out for me? She's been in my business since before I had business.
"Now why would you ask me that?"
"You know exactly why I'm asking you that.  Ms. Jenkins called me not 5 minutes before you got here tellin me all about your little run in with Tyrell." I roll my eyes up into my head.
"And if you roll your eyes again-"
"Ma"- I interrupted. She is 10 seconds off my ass at this point. I have to get control of this conversation before I end up stuck in this house for the entire summer.
"Ms. Jenkins is over reacting as always."
"Oh, is she? So you weren't about to punch him in the face? Is she lying about that Ivy... is she? Or what about the gun? Is that a lie too?" I felt a stinging in the back of my neck at the mention of Tyrell's gun. I see it all over again, locked against his waist, ready to shoot whenever he feels it's necessary. How in the hell did Ms. Jenkins see it. I didn't notice it until Marcus said something and I was right in front of him. She had to have already known he has one. I slam my back against the chair crossing my arms. I can't win this.
Thank you Ms. Jenkins.
"Okay she wasn't lying about that but"-
"But my ASS Ivy..." A smile slowly comes across my face. Hearing her say Butt my ass was kinda funny. I try to snap back into form before notices my smile, but I wasn't quick enough.
"So you think this is funny ?" You think this is all a joke?"-
"No mama, I don't. I just don't understand what I'm supposed to do anymore. He lives to mess with me. Am I not supposed to defend myself? Uncle Mike"-
"Isn't HERE!" She yells. She stands up leaning over the table right into my face. It felt as if the entire house moved off of its foundation. I don't think I've ever seen my mama this pissed, at least not at me.
"Uncle Mike isn't here. It's just us Ivy,US. Tyrell isn't just some boy. The streets talk and you know that." She slowly regains her composure and sits back in the seat across from me- her eyes never leaving mine. I take a deep breath, trying to gain some understanding of what she's telling me, what everyone is telling me. I guess I'm just to blind and stubborn to see past who Tyrell is, still seeing what he was.
"Tell me what happened?" She calmly ask.
"I was coming from my classes at the center when Tyrell and his friends start to follow me. He called me a bitch-"
"Watch your mouth," she interrupts putting her finger towards my face.
"He called me out of my name and I lost it, period. I was about to swing on him and Marcus stopped me."
"You mean he saved you," She remarked getting up from the table. She was still really irritated by the entire situation. She wanted me no where near Tyrell under any circumstance if she can help it. But that's the problem. She can't help it. This is my neighborhood as much as it is his. I can see the fact that she realizes that plastered all over her beautiful face like a billboard.
"Mama, it's TYRELL, He wouldn't"-
"He wouldn't what? Hurt you?" She looks at me like I have completely lost my mind. It's like in that moment she's realizes I'm not as smart as she thought I was. But it wasn't that. I just see my old friend. I know what he is now. I guess I think that somewhere in all that mess, he still sees me as his friend. I'm an exception to the rule... Right? She snatches her keys off the counter and walks out of the kitchen. I've already taken up enough of her time, she still has to get to work on time. I follow her into the hallway still praying that there is a way to make all of this just disappear. Anna was to busy packing her dance bag to notice what is happening.
"What is it that you don't understand about all of this Ivy, what? What are you not seeing? He isn't the same little boy you ran the streets of the Court with. He is different, dangerous. He kills people with no regard to who it is. He doesn't care about anything or anyone including you. And then you get Marcus involved in this shit? It's reckless and selfish."  It's like she read my mind.
"But I"- She grabs my wrist and holds it so tight it begins to hurt.
"Be smart Ivy. See this for what it is, before it sees you- Do you understand me?" I nod.
"DO YOU UNDER "-
"Yes, mama, I understand you." She let's go of my wrist and I immediately begin to try and rub away the pain. I watch as she kisses Anna goodbye and gives me one last glance.
"Get her to practice and come home right after, Clear?"
"Crystal." I mutter. She grabs her purse and walks out the door. Before Anna can open her mouth to weigh in on the situation, ma sticks her head back in the door.
""And you're on punishment. Love you."
Anna burst out into the loudest laugh I've ever heard. I reach over and grab her by the neck putting her in a headlock. She screams and squirms trying to break free. "My bun Vyyyy! You're gonna mess up my bun!" I let her go and grab my keys.
"Next time, I won't care."