Qaddriyah POV Queens January 3, 2019
“How you holding up, Jounte?” I asked, not meeting his eyes. He sounded pissed on the phone, and I didn’t want to see his face when he was like that.
“I’m coo,” he said, too sharply. He grabbed my hand, yanking me around until I was looking at him. “Why would you, Driyyah?”
I stared back at him, blank. How could I explain it? Explain that I was falling apart? Dropped out of varsity ‘cause there wasn’t a dime left. Too scared to tell him, ‘cause he had enough on his plate locked up in there. “I didn’t wanna go.”
“Qaddriyah Dior Mayers, don’t lie to my fucken face,” he said, low and dangerous. He made sure I knew he was dead serious.
I just looked at him. How could I even explain it? “Okay Dejounte, there ain’t no money. I ain’t got enough to go to varsity, alright? The fees are damn expensive and I ain’t got that kinda money. My mom cleared my bank account when she ran, left me with nothing except the house and the car. You happy?”
He looked down, sighed. “Why didn’t you tell me that from the start, Driyyah? If I knew, I would have…”
“Nah, it ain’t your job to take care of me. You ain’t my dad.”
“You tripping, dawg, why you being like this? Lemme help.”
I pulled my hand away from his grip. “Nah, Jounte, I got it. I’ll make a plan. Just work on surviving here. How much time you got left?”
“Ion know. I forgot,” he shrugged, like it didn’t matter. He was such a baby sometimes.
I glanced at my phone. Message from Zee.
Zee????:
I need you to come over rn. I think I found a way for you to make extra cash.
“Ayt, Jounte, I gotta go now. Be safe.”
He looked at me strangely. “I see. I will.”
We stood up and hugged, he smelled like weed. Was that what they did in there now?
“I luh you, Driyyah,” he said, his voice rough. “I love you too, Jounte.”
I kissed him on the cheek and walked out.
Got in my car, drove to Zee’s club. Wondering what she had up her sleeve. I’d do whatever it took to get that money.
Dejounte POV
“Yo Trevs, come here real quick,” I said, signaling Trevor over. Been in jail for a year and a half now. Got a month left, and I hadn’t told Qaddriyah yet. Wasn’t ready. Damn, I was whipped. That bitch had me tripping hard. I’d do anything to make sure she was good.
“Wassup, Dej,” he said. The guys called me Dej, and Qaddriyah was the only one allowed to call me Jounte. That’s why I fucks with shawty so much.
“Is Qaddriyah ayt?” I asked. Sat down as he passed me a blunt.
“What’s up with her?” He asked, sparking the blunt. I sighed. “Found out she dropped outta varsity, shit. Asked her about it today. Money problems. Her mom did her dirty, took all the money and left. Left her with nothing.”
“Shit is deep, mane, whatchu gonna do about it?” He asked, puffing on the blunt too.
“I don’t know, man. All I know is when I get outta this place, I gotta make up for lost time with my baby.”
“Make sure she ain’t fuckin’ with another nigga tho, bro,” Trevor said.
I shook my head. She wouldn’t. That’s my baby. My bitch. And I wasn’t sharing.