The Wild Child Read online

  Jeremy sucked his teeth. “Man, come on.”

  I grabbed my butt with both hands. “Don’t look at me, boy. Cause you can never have it,” I declared.

  “Whatever, girl. That’s what you say, but I didn’t want it, anyway. You’re a real headache,” Jared rebutted with a hint of laughter in his voice.

  I gave him the finger, as I switched to the kitchen. “Let me tell Auntie Trina that I’m riding with yall,” I offered.

  “I heard you from in here,” Auntie Trina alleged, before stuffing her mouth with Cajun pasta. “So, go ahead. Keep your phone close by and tell them damn twins not to venture too far out. They know to have their asses back here before it gets too late.”

  “Okay, I will,” I promised, before spinning around and jogging back into the living room. “Alright, you lames. Now, it’s time to head out.”

  Chapter 2

  Jeremy

  “Don’t be all up on me, when we get in the car, neither,” Chubby teased Jhyrah, which was getting on my nerves. That nigga was always shooting his shot at her and couldn’t take a hint. She didn’t like his ass like that.

  “Oh, God,” she rolled her eyes, as she eased into the backseat of the whip. “Chubby, just shut up.”

  My twin glanced at me. “You driving?”

  I shook my head. “Nah, you got it. I’m finna take a nap.” I grabbed the backdoor handle.

  “What you doing?” Chubby frowned, as he stood beside me.

  “Nigga, get your ass in the front,” I instructed. “Don’t worry about me.”

  He squinted. “What you wanna ride in the back for?”

  “Why you worried about it? Any other time, you be trying to tackle a nigga down to ride shotgun.”

  He grinned. “You right. Yeah, ya ass get in the back. Let big cuz have the good spot.”

  “Yeah, whatever.” I waved him off, before hopping into the car.

  Glancing to my left, I noticed that Jhyrah was texting away on her iPhone. Her little manicured nails were rapidly moving, as her naturally long eye lashes fluttered while she typed. She tucked her lips into her mouth, causing her deep dimples to sink into her cheeks. Soft baby hairs framed her pretty face. She smelled sweet. She always smelled sweet. So, I wanted to sit next to her and inhale her. That’s all.

  “Who you over there gossiping with?” I asked for the hell of it, while my brother pulled out of my granny and pawpaw’s driveway.

  She lifted her head and peered at me. “Huh?”

  “I asked who are you over there gossiping with on the phone,” I clarified.

  She sassily fluttered her eyes. “How do you know that I’m gossiping? I could be texting my boyfriend or something.”

  I sucked my teeth. “Yeah, right, girl. Big Jah aint letting that happen, so quit fronting.”

  “My daddy can’t watch me 24/7,” she twisted her neck. “I’ve had a few boyfriends.”

  I tilted my lips to the side. “I know you aint talking about that lame nigga from middle school. The one that we beat up after school?”

  “Yeah, he was one of them. But I never did understand why you and my hating ass brother had to jump him. What was that about?”

  “Ask Lil’ Jah,” I referred to her older brother and one of my closest friends. “He said that it was beef and that’s all I needed to know.”

  She rolled her eyes. “And what about Courtney? He was my boyfriend, and your friend. But you fought him too.”

  I grimaced. “Fuck him. Why you bringing up them lames? Wasn’t none of them your boyfriends, anyway.”

  She scowled. “How are you just gonna tell me who I messed with?”

  “Messed with? What does that mean?”

  She gulped. “You know that’s just a figure of speech.”

  I lifted my chin. “Yeah, okay. Tell me anything.”

  “I’m serious,” she insisted. “But you and Jah are really some haters. Almost makes me wanna go to another high school, but my daddy won’t let me.”

  I lazily grinned, as I snapped my fingers. “I almost forgot that your lil’ young ass gone be going to school with us, after the summer is over. You’ll be fresh meat around there. That nigga Lil Jah aint finna let you do nothing.”

  “My lil’ young ass? Boy, you aint but two years older than me, and since girls mature faster, I’d say that you’re at least three years behind.”

  “There you go with that crazy logic, sounding like my mama.”

  “Well, they say that mamas know best, right?”

  “Yeah, whatever,” I yawned. “I’m sleepy. I’ma fall asleep on your ass.” I slickly placed my head on her shoulder.

  Chubby glanced into the backseat. “The fuck yall got going on?”

  Jhyrah shook her head. “Nothing, now, turn your nosy ass around.”

  “Why your hair so soft?” I questioned her just above a whisper. Her long hair was draped over her shoulder, which meant that my head was resting on it.

  She softly snickered. “How am I supposed to answer that? I don’t know.”

  “Yes, you do.”

  “Uh-uh,” she insisted.

  “Bro, get your head out the clouds. We pulling up in the jungle,” my twin announced.

  I lifted my head and glanced around. We were indeed in the jungle, in the heart of 3rd Ward, in the Cunney Homes. Boppers were everywhere. Niggas were posted up. Normal hood shit going on left and right. It was nothing that we didn’t see on the regular, but we had to be more guarded, because this wasn’t our hood.

  “Oh, yeah, they’re looking to get fucked,” Jared grumbled, as we pulled up on the chicks we’d come to see.

  Jhyrah gazed out of the window and giggled. “Oh, they’re some freak hoes for sho’. Got shorts all in their asses.”

  I playfully tapped her thick thigh. “Stop hating.”

  She continued to give me that contagious smile. “Not hating, merely stating.”

  I slid my tongue across my lips. “Yeah, okay.”

  Jared parked the car, before him and Chubby hopped out.

  Jhyrah shook her head. “Yall niggas are something else.”

  I stared at her. “And you aint?”

  Jared tapped my window. “Man, what you doing? Come on.”

  I glanced his way. “Alright, nigga.” I then focused on Jhyrah. “Come on, let’s get out.”

  She nodded, before we both slipped out of the car. The chicks we were there to visit were standing on the sidewalk, greeting my brother and Chubby. Everybody was all smiles, until they noticed Jhyrah emerge from the car. That’s when all those broads’ smiles were instantly swiped off their faces.

  “Who is that?” the girl I was supposed to be seeing asked. Crazily, I’d gotten head from her the same night we’d met, but I couldn’t remember her name. She was a tall, slim, pretty, yellow girl, with a sweet personality, but her eagerly taking my dick down her throat on the first night diminished her image, making her less desirable. My daddy had always warned me about girls who gave up everything too easily. Usually, she was gonna bust it open for anybody; not just you. And with the amount of girls I encountered, I had to use some kind of eliminating process, otherwise, I’d be lost, cause finding an attractive girl in Houston was simple. So, I had to have somebody that other niggas couldn’t.

  Jhyrah switched down the sidewalk with confidence that wasn’t seen every day. It was almost like she moved like the world was hers, and we were just all in it. “Don’t worry. I’m family,” she offered, causing all three girls to shift their attitudes. It was plain to see that she’d gone from a possible adversary to someone they wanted as an ally. I knew how girls loved to attach themselves to your family whenever they were trying to sink their hooves in you.

  “Oh, okay,” the girl who’d sucked me off smiled, before setting her sights on me. “Hey, Rock,” she spoke.

  Jhyrah pursed her lips. “Rock? Really?”

  I chuckled, knowing that I’d given the girl a portion of my pops’ street name. I didn’t know her like that, and di
dn’t need her knowing anymore than she needed to. “What’s up---”

  The girl frowned. “You don’t remember my name?”

  I snapped my fingers. “It’s Porcha, right?”

  She rolled her eyes. “Wrong girl. It’s Tymeisha.”

  Jhyrah giggled to herself. I bet she was laughing at the fact that the girl had -isha as a part of her name, which was usually always a good indicator that you were dealing with a certified hood rat.

  I shook my head. “My bad, man.”

  Tymeisha placed her hands on her small hips and twisted her neck around. “You gonna have to find a way to make this up to me.”

  I looked her up and down. Like her girls, she wore little bitty shorts and had her stomach fully exposed. Her look was a tad classier because she was slim, while her girls had more curves. “Yeah, let me think about that.”

  Gradually, we made our way over to one of their porches. I didn’t bother asking who lived in that particular apartment, because I honestly didn’t give a damn. Tymeisha sat on one of the steps, and stared at me, I guess waiting on me to say something to her. Her girls were all in Chubby and Jared’s faces, skinning and grinning.

  “Are you gonna come sit by me?” she questioned.

  “Damn, lil’ mama,” some random nigga uttered, grabbing Jhyrah’s hand while strolling down the sidewalk.

  His home boy, who was walking with him, thought the shit was funny, until he glanced at Jhyrah’s face. His smile dropped instantly. “Nigga, you tripping. You might as well call her lil’ ass Trouble. Cause that’s exactly what’ll come your way, if you fuck with her. Jalero shooting on sight.”

  The cat released Jhyrah’s hand like it was on fire. “Oh, my bad, lil’ mama,” he offered, before they marched down the sidewalk.

  Jhyrah simply laughed.

  Tymeisha frowned. “Did I just hear them say Jalero? You fuck with Jalero? Cause you don’t look nothing like his gal. I know her personally.”

  Jhyrah gave her a funny look. “Does it look like I give a fuck about who you claim to know?”

  Tymeisha rolled her eyes, before glancing at me. “You scared to sit down?”

  I exhaled, before throwing her a bone, copping a squat next to her. For the next hour, we sat around shooting the shit. The lil’ chocolate cutie that my twin was hollering at was all over him, wrapping her arms around his neck and whatnot, while Chubby sat on the next porch with his little caramel toned bopper sitting in his lap. I was still sitting next to Tymeisha, while Jhyrah stood on the sidewalk, fending off niggas left and right.

  I was glancing down at my cell when I felt Tymeisha lightly elbow me. I lifted my head and glanced at her. “What’s up?”

  She tucked her lips into her mouth. “Why you acting funny with me today? You wasn’t like this last time.”

  I narrowed my eyes. “What you mean? I’m chilling, man.”

  “You know. I was hoping to have fun, but you’ve been paying attention to everything and everybody but me,” she stressed.

  Before I could respond, the screen door of the apartment we sat in front of swung open and outstepped some nigga. He was light skinned like Tymeisha, which made me lean towards him being her relative.

  “Move,” he rudely commanded, glowering down at Tymeisha.

  She sucked her teeth, while reluctantly standing up, allowing him to step off the porch.

  “Why the fuck yall got these niggas out here in front of my mama’s house, main?” the light skinned cat questioned.

  Checking him out, he appeared soft, while living in a rough neighborhood. It was my guess that we looked non-threatening with our expensive threads on and unfamiliar faces. He was clearly testing us, pulling some shit that he probably wouldn’t dare pull on anybody who actually lived over there.

  “Say, home boy, if you got a problem with me posting up on your shit, say that to us,” I spoke up. “Let it be known, like a man. I mean, I still aint moving, but say how you feel, fam.”

  “Get up, right quick,” Chubby told his friend, before he shot to his feet. “Yeah, what’s up? We got a problem?” he quizzed, lifting his shirt, flashing the butt of the pistol he had tucked in his jeans.

  Usually, I hated that my cousin was knuckle head, who refused to leave home without protection, but today the shit was necessary. Chubby may not have been the best fighter amongst us, but he had heart, and a loose trigger finger. He’d bust without hesitation, and I’d witnessed him do just that, unbeknownst to my parents, of course.

  “Aye, I was just asking, dawg. Yall good,” the yellow nigga quickly backpedaled.

  Tymeisha shook her head, as the cat traveled down the sidewalk swiftly. “Oh, God, that was embarrassing,” she groaned, holding her head.

  I frowned. “Who the fuck is he?”

  She was still holding her head. “My stupid ass brother.”

  “Well, your brother is gonna fuck around and get knocked off, fucking with me,” Chubby promised. “With his bitch ass. Tell him these fucking government apartments don’t belong to nobody over here. Not even ya mama. Trying to call shots at a spot where nobody pays rent.”

  Chubby’s friend smacked her lips. “How are you just gonna assume that their mama don’t pay rent?”

  “Fifteen dollars a month don’t count, baby,” Chubby rebutted, like the asshole he was. I was laughing my ass off.

  Jared chuckled. “Kinfolk, you wild for that one.” He stepped away from his lil’ freak. “But on the cool, I’m ready to burn. I’m really not feeling just dry standing out here, dealing with all these bitch ass niggas constantly strolling by, mugging and shit.”

  Jared’s friend placed her hands on her hips. “Well, then, we going with yall.”

  “Nah,” I interjected. “We gonna have to catch yall on the rebound. We pulled up four-deep. Aint no way in hell we’re pulling out of here seven-deep.”

  “Say, lil’ mama,” another buster stepped over, addressing Jhyrah. “My boy said what’s up,” he claimed, pointing over at some nigga posted up against a slabbed-out Cadillac. The red candy painted Lac had the traditional Houston swangas, which were elbow rims.

  At this point, I was getting annoyed. Those boys were bold as fuck. They didn’t know Jhyrah’s relation to any of us, and they clearly didn’t give a fuck.

  “My nigga, she good,” I squawked. “You can move around with all that.”

  The cat smiled. “Oh, alright, lil’ nigga. I got ya.” He spun around and cut across the parking lot.

  “Yeah, it’s time to go kick it somewhere else,” Jared’s friend alleged. “That was right up Demo’s alley. He’s finna go hype Rico up to start some shit.”

  “Fuck them niggas,” Chubby growled. “We can do this shit however they want to.”

  “No, fuck all that,” Tymeisha chided. “I wanna know how this girl is kin to yall.”

  Jhyrah frowned. “Who are you talking about?”

  “You,” Tymeisha snapped, as she stood up. “You claim to be family, but I aint seen these niggas carry you like a relative, yet. Shit, they’re looking at your ass harder than these other niggas.” She glanced at her girls. “Yall better wake up. She’s probably the reason yall can’t leave with them. They’re probably about to leave here and run a train on her ass. Cause I know what I know, and something aint right.”

  Instead of lashing out, Jhyrah giggled. “Is this gutter rat serious, right now?”

  “Okay, man,” my twin spoke up. “I’ma fuck with you later...uh---”

  “Holly,” she answered with her lips pursed.

  “Yeah, okay. We gotta go, cause I aint got time for this shit.”

  Holly pouted, stomping her feet. “I’m not done kicking it. Tymeisha’s crazy ass don’t speak for all us.”

  Tymeisha rolled her eyes. “Holly, stop it. You’re making us look bad. Don’t beg that nigga. You heard his twin say that it aint enough room for us to ride. Read between the lines. Damn.” She then keyed in on Jhyrah again. “And I don’t know what’s so fuckin’ funny, lil’ m
ama. You think you cute and shit, and I’ll snatch that weave right out of your head.”

  Jhyrah continued to smile. “This is my hair, muskrat. But I really want you to think long and hard about who I am, and what’s gonna happen if this conversation goes any further. My uncle Jalero will be the least of your worries.”

  Holly gasped. “Your uncle? You’re kin to Jalero? How?”

  Tymeisha’s nostrils flared. “Holly, you sound so damn stupid. This girl aint no damn kin to Jalero nem. His people are rich and damn sho wouldn’t just be causally hanging over here. Jalero don’t even bring his kids over here. She’s just like the rest of these dick riders around here, swearing they’re kin, because they know his name, and their mamas grew up with him.”

  “Tymeisha you tripping,” Chubby’s friend offered. “This girl don’t look broke to me. Them shoes she got on cost almost two racks.”

  I smirked, recalling how we’d met them in the first place, with their thieving asses. They saw us copping some Louboutin sneakers, and they’d offered to steal them, and charge us half the retail price.

  “I wouldn’t give a fuck how much her shoes cost!” Tymeisha shouted, and that’s when I knew that Jhyrah was gonna be whoever she needed her to be in order to get some shit going. Lil’ mama was in her feelings, and jealousy was seeping through her pores. I could smell it on her.

  Jhyrah still wasn’t bothered, but I could tell that Tymeisha was a ticking time bomb. Undoubtedly, Jhyrah could make one phone call, and it would be over. Her people would shut the entire complex down on her behalf, but that wouldn’t stop Tymeisha in this very moment.

  “Bitch, what’s so fucking funny?!” Tymeisha snarled, before launching her attack, lunging at Jhyrah.

  My reflexes kicked in naturally, as I clotheslined her, sending her flying backwards, before she crashed into the hard concrete.

  Chubby laughed hysterically, while Tymeisha’s disloyal friends both attempted to conceal their snickering. Jared slightly chuckled, as he traveled towards the BMW.

  “I’m gone, man. Black, get at me, later, man,” my twin mumbled, calling that girl Holly by the name he gave all his chocolate girls. He’d do it to avoid calling them by the wrong name, and the girls would usually just roll with it. It didn’t matter that her name had been mentioned several times. My twin had mentally checked out once he decided that he was ready to go.