Jackie D. - Life After A Balla

“Don’t be mad, I’m just having fun with him for now. It won’t last long.”

Kareem woke up on the couch at Le Le’s house an hour later. As soon as he opened his eyes, the argument between him and his mother instantly popped back into his head again. He felt bad that he’d talked to her in such a disrespectful way, but lately the whole situation with her and Cruze was getting to him. He’d been holding how he felt about their relationship in for months, so it seemed like the perfect opportunity to air out his feelings. He needed a break from her and the reminder that his life was so fucked up. Whenever the visions of Justice dying and his father getting shot popped into his head, he would do anything he could to block it out. But seeing Cruze on a regular basis was making it harder to forget.

But being around Le Le helped him take his mind off all that. She really made him want to do something with his life. Luckily, he’d managed to graduate high school back in June, and even though Kareem decided not to go to college, he still wanted to make something of himself. With him receiving probation for his prior possession charge it was only right that he found a way to somehow make his mother proud even though it seemed as if nothing pleased her these days. He also had to find a way to please Le Le. With a woman like her, Kareem knew she wouldn’t want to be with a loser. Feeling the dryness of his throat, he got up and walked to the kitchen to get something to drink; he could still taste Le Le’s pussy in his mouth. When he called out her name and she didn’t answer he wondered where she was. As soon as he walked into the kitchen, he noticed a note on the granite counter.

Kareem, since you were sleeping so well, I didn’t want to wake you. I had to go out for a while. There’s a leftover plate of food in the fridge if you get hungry. I hope you’re feeling better about the argument with your mother now. Maybe you should stay with me for a while and give her time to cool off. I really enjoy having you here with me. Be back soon.

Le Le

Kareem opened the fridge and pulled out the plate she’d left for him. He then took the foil off stuck it in the microwave and heated it up. He walked to the bathroom wondering where she’d gone.

“She’s never left me at her place alone like this before. I hope I didn’t scare her away today showing her my crazy side for the first time,” he mumbled.

As Kareem stood on the heated marble floors in her bathroom taking a piss, he looked around at her five-star bathroom. It had a basin stone sink and copper rust slate tile in the shower. She definitely had some money because the rest of her home was just as nice. It puzzled Kareem as to why she didn’t have a man before he came along.

How can she afford all this shit, he wondered . She probably used to mess with some baller. And if she did, how the hell am I gonna compete with that ?

When the microwave beeped letting him know his food was done, Kareem flushed the toilet, washed his hands and headed back to the kitchen. He opened the fridge, grabbed some juice and turned it up leaning against the counter.

“Le Le would probably be pissed off if she saw me drinking from the container like this,” he said, laughing to himself.

Seconds later he glanced at the note she’d left him again admiring her penmanship. However, when he reached down to pick it up it fell to the floor on the opposite side. His eye’s increased twice their normal size and he stood stiff trying to comprehend what he saw on the back.

“What the hell?”

The next morning Skye was awakened by the sound of Payton crying. When she opened her eyes the sun was beaming brightly through the blinds of her bedroom window. After glancing at the clock that read 8:45 a.m. she looked over at the empty spot beside her, and realized that Cruze hadn’t come home.

“Oh, hell no. We’re not about to start this staying out shit again. I don’t care how mad we get with each other,” she said, picking up her cell phone and dialing his number.

When it went straight to voicemail, she called back three more times, then decided to leave a message when she heard the beep.

“Cruze, where the hell are you? Why didn’t you come home last night? Call me back,” Skye said, hanging up.

Feeling pissed and worried all at the same time, Skye jumped up and grabbed Payton out of her crib when she started crying. “Good morning, little girl. Are you hungry?” Skye said, kissing her daughter on her cheek. “Let’s go in the kitchen and get you some juice, then I’ll fix you something to eat.”

Skye wondered why Jordan hadn’t come into her room and got Payton like he did every morning as part of his regular ritual. She was so thankful for her son, who was beyond helpful. When she passed his room a few moments later, her question was answered after seeing him sound asleep with his mouth wide open.

All those late football practices are wearing my poor son out, she thought

Skye then glanced across the hall into Kareem’s room and immediately noticed his bed was still made up, which meant he hadn’t come home either. She was pissed off even more that he hadn’t called to let her know where he was.

“I know that bitch, Le Le, probably influenced him to stay out.”

When Skye got closer to the living room and saw a body on the couch with a blanket draped over their head, she breathed a sigh of relief that Cruze had come home after all. He was known for falling asleep after watching movies late at night. Before she could wake him up, Payton started crying again, this time having a full tantrum by kicking her feet and moving her head from side to side.

“Okay little girl, calm down,” Skye reacted.

After putting some apple juice in one of Payton’s bottles she headed back into the living room to wake Cruze up and drill him about what time he’d come in. However, when she got to the couch and pulled the blanket back, Skye was shocked to see that it was Kareem laying there…not Cruze.

“What are you doing out here or should I ask what time did you come home?” Skye asked with an attitude. She then frowned up her nose. “You smell just like sex. I know you didn’t come in here and lay your nasty ass on my couch!” she yelled.

A sleepy and dazed Kareem looked up and wondered why his mother was bothering him so early in the morning.

“Ma, please don’t start with me again. I’m tired,” he said, turning over.

Skye decided to leave him alone for now since her main concern was Cruze, but the shit definitely wasn’t over. She headed back to her room to get her cell phone and call him once again. As soon as she laid Payton back down in her crib, Skye wondered what type of lie he would come up with for staying out this time. Was it really work related or was he going to try and pull the same stunt he did the month before saying that he’d gotten drunk with the boys and fell asleep in the car?

I forgave his ass that time, but I’m not gonna keep falling for that shit , Skye thought.

After calling Cruze’s phone at least five times and it continuously going straight to voicemail, Skye’s head started to spin as she took her fist and pounded it repeatedly on her bed.

She then decided to text him as if that would make a difference.

Cruze, where are you? You need to call me A.S.A.P, WTF? Skye typed, and then hit send.

Why would he take me through this if he knows Sandino used to do the same shit ?

Her blood began to boil, as each minute passed and Cruze never text back. After waiting for almost twenty minutes, Skye decided to go to his job and see if he was there or even worked the night before. She glanced over at Payton who’d fallen back asleep. She then walked back into the livingroom and woke Kareem up once again.