Joji Imagines

Wanted U

I sit in the back of the small car, crammed between two stocky guys. One is Hunt, he's a tall and stocky black man. He comes off as scary, but he's actually an angel. An angel with a love for hugs.
On the other side is actually Angel. He's not the nicest guy I've ever met, but a gentleman, nonetheless. They laugh. I look at Hunt

"Aye, Mingo, you rolling with the big guys now," Trevor leans over the front seat. He laughs a hoarse, obnoxious laugh. I focus on pulling every muscle in my mouth to smile. It feels like it comes out weak. I'm not sure what they gave me, but it's working like a charm.

"I can't feel my nose," I say in slow motion to Hunt.

He chuckles, "aye, man! Mingo can't feel her nose!"

Everyone in the car laughs. I giggle and lay my head against Hunt's thick shoulder. He's funny. So funny. I close my eyes and drift into the darkness.

~~~

Mingo was the name I was given by Lil' Ricky. The first time I met Lil Ricky was at a gas station. He walked up laughing, "hey, Gator." Gator was Trevor's given name. Trevor sighed and looked into my eyes with a sadness to it. It was kind of a beautiful moment. I don't know if it was beautiful because it was ACTUALLY beautiful, or if it was just the blunt I smoked making my perception foggy.

At the time, I didn't try anything heavy. Trevor and I became friends through dealing. He was my dealer, and I was desperate for friends.

"Stay here, okay," the sadness in his eyes turned to worry. The moment was no longer beautiful. He turned away from me, "aye, man! What's up?"

I began to focus on the pumping gas. The numbers rolling. I looked up at the florescent lights. There was something sad about florescent lights. Something that made me want more..

I slowly turned my head to Trevor. His back was to me, but Lil' Ricky looked at me. His bright blue eyes were grim. His face tattoos made him intimidating, but he was so attractive. I hurried to look to the ground. I hadn't brushed my hair in three days. Hadn't washed it in four. I had been wearing the same black shorts for days, and the AC/DC muscle shirt Trevor let me use was dingy. I pulled the oversized flannel Trevor let me have over it.

"Why you standing like that, girl," Lil' Ricky pushed past Trevor to me. "Looking like a flamingo."

I looked down, self consciously and sighed. I had a habit of standing with my left foot pushed against my right leg. It sounds weird, but it's a comfortable way to stand.

After that, Trevor promised me I'd never see Lil' Ricky again. Until two weeks later, when Lil' Ricky showed up to talk to Trevor about business. I watched the tv, acting clueless as to what I was hearing, like a child with parents who argued. I felt sick on that couch in that very moment. I swallowed hard, but I couldn't get the lump in my throat down.

"Aye, Mingo," Lil' Ricky spotted me on his way out. "Come here!"

I turned my head over the couch to the door. Trevor was shifting uncomfortably.

"Gator, tell her to come here," Lil' Ricky smiled.

Trevor gave a light smile and nodded. I peeled myself off the couch, feeling the sweat on my back. I didn't want to, but I had to. Trevor wouldn't put me in danger. I knew it then, just like I know it now. Trevor loves me. Trevor is family.

I made my way to Lil' Ricky and smiled. It felt like I had been walking for ages.

"You're so grown, Mingo! Look at you," he grabbed my shoulders and smiled. Then he left. I was frozen in fear. I could barely even breathe. Lil' Ricky was at the top of the food chain of drugs, and I was just a little bug on a leaf.