Rhymes of Passion

Chapter 4

Karma's POV

Looking at the time it was getting late. I was supposed to meet up with Fashionista for lunch to catch up on the past few days since she had her event. I had texted her earlier to see if we could make it dinner plans instead and she agreed. I spent most of the day talking to Driver. I honestly thought he would've called that same night I gave him my number but he must be following that 3 day rule or something. We talked about our life goals and what we see in the future for ourselves. I told him some truth but mostly lies, he seemed sincere in his answers though.

After freshening up and getting dressed, I headed to the restaurant. When I got there, I found a quiet table in the back and ordered a drink while I waited for Fashionista to get there.

"Hey girl hey," she said as she pulled out a chair at the table.
She was always fashionably late.

Shaking my head as I responded, "I been here for like a half hour! I know you ain't keep me waiting while you were out probably getting some limp dick!" I laughed hard.

"Ha, ha, ha! Don't play with me," she said, "You know I like my nigga to be harder than trigonometry for a 3rd grader!"

I shook my head and we both laughed.

"Girl, trigonometry is hard for anybody."

"I'm just saying," she said still laughing, "but for real, that shit was wack! I can't believe everybody hyped that shit up like that to the point where you even know about it." She shook her head.

"Well actually..." I said then took a sip of my drink, "I have a confession."

"Somebody live streamed the pay per view," she shook her head, "niggas always trying to get something for free."

"You know niggas ain't trying to pay to see these battles when we was getting them for free for years but I feel you girl!" I said then continued, "Naw actually I was there."

She opened her mouth to say something but the waiter interjected, before she could get a word out, to take our orders. After giving him our food and drink orders he left and then I continued talking.

I went on to tell her how I was at the event because I wanted to see how she would do battling against a guy. She was a little upset that I didn't let her know I was coming or that I didn't go with her since I went anyways. But I told her I didn't want to be a distraction, I wanted her to be focused. She seemed to be ok about it after I bigged her up and told her how good she did. I couldn't tell her the real reason I was there.

"I met somebody there too," I told her with a smirk on my face.

"Aww shit bitch," she said with a big grin, "who was it?"

"You might know him, he go by the name of Driver," I responded before taking a sip of my drink.

"The sexy one in the loonie gang?" she asked and I rolled my eyes, "What? He's fine!"

I told her all about how he came up to me after his battle and started talking to me. She rolled her eyes, still a little pissed I didn't tell her I was there. I just laughed it off and continued talking, telling her about when I gave him my number and how we spent most of this morning talking.

"Oooh so that's why you wanted to change our plans, you slick bitch!" She said laughing. "I'm happy for you though girl. I've known you what about 3 months now and still never seen you with a nigga or even talk to one."

"Well thank you but it's not like that," I replied, "I didn't even tell you the biggest part of it."

"You gave it up that night?" She asked, tilting her head with a confused look on her face.

"Hell no!" I damn near shouted, "I told him that I battle and that I have a sparring session coming up soon. So I need you to see if you can talk to the people at your league so I can get on that next card." I rushed out.

"Girl slow down. Why in the hell did you tell him you battle?" She asked.

"I don't know that nigga!" We both laughed.

We had finally got our food and drinks and spent the rest of dinner talking about me battling. I couldn't tell her what was really going on because there was some things I still didn't open up to her about. She told me that she knew the next sparring session card was in a couple of weeks and she would let me know by the end of tomorrow if she could get me on and versus who. She was geeked when I told her what I was going by and said she would introduce me as her protégée. I was cool with that because I didn't plan on doing this long term anyways. She said she can even help me with my bars but I told her I wanted to test my pen and use my own creativity. I know she helped a couple niggas write before but I was interested in seeing how the crowd would react to me.

After we left the restaurant I told her to let me know as soon as she finds out anything. She said she got me, we hugged and then parted ways.

I started my car up and connected the Bluetooth for my phone. Ra'keem had called while I was eating and texted me to call him back asap. He probably just wanted to know how everything was going. He hit me up everyday asking the same thing since I told him I gave Driver my number. What's up, did he call yet, I should've went my damn self and everybody would've been dead, we waited long enough, my bro need to rest peacefully. I shook my head and proceeded to call since I finally can tell him something. The phone only rang twice before he picked up.

"What's up?"
"What's up, my bad I was at dinner," I said.
"Dinner? I hope it was with that nigga!" He said sounding pissed off.
"Naw it was with my homegirl." I replied.
"Ya homegirl?" He smacked his teeth. "Man I'm bout to just go ahead and show up at the next event cause ya plans never go according to plan and I..."
"Could've been killed all them niggas! Yeah I know!" I finished for him.

He been saying the same shit for months so I already knew everything he would say before he even says it. I always disregard it though cause his ways of doing things would lead to a shootout and more fatalities than there's supposed to be or end up landing niggas in jail. I was trying to make it to where we can just live peacefully after shit was taken care of.

"Did the nigga even call yet?" He said, I could sense the frustration through the phone.
"Yeah he called me earlier today," I finally said to keep him from going on about what he should do.
"And?"
"And we talked. He wants to meet up and chill soon." I told him, thinking that was good news and he'd be happy to hear that. He still wasn't satisfied.
"Soon? Naw tell that nigga you want to meet up asap and tell him to bring his homeboy for ya homegirl! Then dead both them niggas and her ass too!" He said angrily.
"You can't be serious right now!" I said shaking my head.
"Dead serious! It's time for my bro to rest in peace!"
"And he will but we need to stick to the main plan, no innocent bystanders need to die!" I responded in my serious tone before I continued, "I will keep you updated on everything, you know that. I just pulled up to Mama Richards house right now though."
"Alright well you do that and tell mama I said hey."
"Will do." I said before hanging up.

The only time he's calm is whenever Mama Richards, Kane's mom, is mentioned. I guess he knows, just like I know, no matter how much we may be hurting, she was hurting way more! Kane was her only child. I thought about her face at the funeral and then everything Ra'keem has been saying since Kane got killed started replaying in my head. He was right, it was time for Kane to rest in peace. Enough of trying to run things my way, it was time to get everything done and over with.

I parked my car then called Driver to see if we could move up our plans to chill. The phone rang and kept ringing until it went to voicemail. I tried once more, still no answer. He must be busy, I thought to myself. He seemed interested but we did only have one conversation so I don't know why I just expected him to answer my calls.

I took the key out of the ignition and got out of the car. Hit the button to lock my car and went up the stairs to the door. I used the key that she had gave me sometime after the funeral to open the door.

"Mama Richards, it's me!" I announced myself when I entered the house.
I closed the door, before I could even lock it good, I heard feet running up to me.
"Mommy!!!" I turned around and smiled.
"Hey KJ!" I said kneeling down to hug my son.