"Say What's Real"

Nayeli
⚜️

Unlocking the front door I stepped inside and silently closed the front door. It was pretty late so I knew everyone was asleep by now. My mother most likely thought I was at work so I knew she wasn't worrying. I slid off my shoes and placed them on the mat near the door before heading to the kitchen. The lights suddenly switched making me jump back in surprise.

"Where have you been?" My aunt asked bringing her bottled water to her lips. I frowned wondering why her weird ass was sitting alone in the dark.

"I have a job remember" I replied smartly. She was always in my business, I understand that I was living in her house but I never gave any trouble. She always scrutinized everything that I did.

"I called your job today and your manager said that you weren't there. So tell me, is that the story your sticking with?" she stood up walking towards me. I shook my head trying to refrain from snapping. For someone who didn't have any kids, she was always acting like she wanted to be my mother.

"Why are you calling my job?" She always made it her business to be in other people's business. I didn't want to tell her about the shooting because I know that would only lead her to list more reasons why we need to hurry up and leave her house.

"Why are you lying about your whereabouts? I barely have space for you guys right now so I don't need your fast ass to get pregnant from one of those little hoodlums" she spat.

"What is going on down here?" My mother asked stepping into the kitchen.

"Your daughter has just returned home after being out all day" she smiled.

"Janine can I speak to my daughter alone" my mother forced a fake smile as my aunt rolled her eyes.

"Morgan you need to keep an eye on these kids of yours, I don't need them bringing any problems to my household" she turned away and left the kitchen. I wanted so badly to smack her but I knew that wouldn't end well for us. Only reason why I held my tongue was because I didn't need my family being out on the streets.

"Sit down Nayeli" my mother ordered taking a seat. I slid into the barstool next to her and kicked my feet back and forth.

"Talk to me. What's going on baby?" She asked looking at me through low eyes. I knew she was tired and I felt bad for waking her.

"I wasn't doing anything I ain't have no business doing" I usually told my mom everything but I didn't want to worry her with the events of today.

"I heard there was a shooting near your school" she spoke up. My heart began to race.

"Yeah I heard about that" I nodded attempting to keep my cool even though I was panicking on the inside.

"Nayeli I need you to stay out of trouble and stay focused on school."

"I am focused on school, it's just stressful and with dad being sick...I just feel like I have to work harder"

"You're the child, you don't have to worry about that. You just stay focused and set an example for your brother and sister" she stressed. Joel and Joie were my two younger siblings, they were both juniors in highschool. They weren't twins but Joel got left back because of his behavior and the bad decisions he made.

"I know but this is my family too so I wanna help, I want to do something so we don't have to be here any longer"

"If I have to work a third job in order to put you through school I will. You just focus on school and let me handle the rest." She smiled standing up.

"How was Dad today?" I asked. I wasn't able to see my dad today since I was so busy.

"He's feeling better than yesterday" she gave a faint smile and played with her wedding ring.

"God doesn't give us more than we can handle" I found myself saying out loud.

"I needed to hear that, sometimes through all the chaos I forget that. You should go get some rest, you've been gone all day, I know you're tired"

"Yeah I am, goodnight mom, I love you"

"Love you too"

___________

"Damn so what did your boss say?"
my best friend, Armani, asked as I laid across her bed. Armani was a beautiful chocolate girl, she had the look of innocence on her face but she was anything but that. Even after all these years of friendship, some of things that came out of her mouth shocked me.

"He said he's gonna have to let me go, so now I lost the one job that brought in the most money. Those little shifts at Friday ain't gonna help with shit" I frowned.

"I wish my class schedules and everything went with yours so I could always drop you off until you get your car" she frowned. When I was leaving school, Armani was already working at her other job but when she was off or worked another schedule she dropped me off where I needed to go.

"Right I wish I had a car, I'm trying to save up quickly"

"Why don't you come to my job?" She asked posing in the mirror.

"They need more bartenders?" Last time I checked those positions were filled.

"No but they need new dancers" she said casually.

"Dancers? Armani I'm not doing that stripping shit, my mom would kill me" I gave her look because she knew that was not even an option.

"Go try it out, you have the body for it" she shrugged as if stripping was a normal everyday job.

"If I didn't have my dignity, that would be the first thing I would try to do" I mumbled.

"I could get you the hook up" she suggested standing in front of me.

"Mani, I don't know, I would feel so uncomfortable being practically naked in front of a bunch of strangers.

"Yes but with that ass and that face, you'll be able to pay for college and help your mom out. Plus you don't have to be nude just pretend you partying with the girls" she explained making me actually think about this.

"When do you think you'll be able to get me in to see the boss?" I asked making a wide smile spread across her face.

"Tonight" she beamed running to her closet. I let out a breath knowing that this was going to be a long night.

"What should I wear?" I asked. Armani came out the closet with a cute spaghetti strapped beige dress and some matching suede peep toe boots.

"Do you think that's too much?" I asked.

"No, bitch you need to walk in there like you're that bitch. He likes girls that grab attention and you'll definitely be getting attention with this shit on with your outfit" she smiled tossing this blonde wig towards me.

___________

"You're not coming with me?" I looked at Armani as she began walking off.

"No, I have to go to the bar and he wants to see new girls alone, he's not huge pervert so I'm okay with leaving you to do the audition yourself" she blew me a kiss before leaving.

I took a deep breath and smoothened out my dress and my hair. His office was a locked red door down the hall. I took a step forward and began walking down. Even though it was a short hall, the walk felt long. I raised my hand to knock them I stopped.

"I can't do this" I mumbled turning around almost bumping into someone. "I'm so so-" I began to speak but I stopped when I noticed it was that guy Reese.

"Last place I expected to see you" he smirked giving my body a once over. I felt myself shift uncomfortably under his gaze as he shamelessly kept his gaze on my breast."I didn't take you for the kinda bitch to shake your ass in front of strangers"

"I'm getting really tired of you calling me out of my fucking name, you don't know me so stop assuming shit about and saying slick shit, that's a bitch move" I snapped pushing him out of my way. He arms reached out and yanked my arms back so I was standing in front of him again.

"I don't know what niggas you be fucking with but touch me again and we gonna have problems" he growled before flinging me away from him. My body slammed against the wall and I fell.

"Nigga fuck is you doing?" I heard a voice call out from down the hall.

I looked up and saw Marcellus was walking down the hall. He helped me up and I attempted to swing on Reese but he pulled me back.

"Chill shawty, you too pretty to be wildin out like this and yo you ain't have to push her like that"

"Tell that bitch don't bump me next time, she lucky I ain't lay her ass out" Reese said before knocking on the door of the office. A man who looked to be in his late twenties opened the door and dapped him up.

"Wassup man" Marcellus left my side and dapped him also. I stood awkwardly not knowing what to do.

"You're the girl that Armani was talking about?" The guy asked looking me over.

"Uhh yeah" I answered. I was planning on leaving and forgetting I even came but now I didn't know what to do.

"I'm on a time crunch, I've been waiting a while for you"

"Oh I'll wait until your done with them" I said trying to buy myself some more time. My nerves were really bad and I was close to having a panic attack. He looked at me for a second before laughing then stopped.

"They co-own this place, you have to audition in front of all three of us" he smirked slowly taking his eyes up my body. Yeah he's really not a pervert I thought sarcastically. A shiver of fear went down my body. Suddenly I felt under dressed and I just wanted to leave.

"She's the girl?" Marcellus frowned looking at me.

"You mad your little girlfriend wants to shake her ass for other niggas" Reese snickered and went into the office to take a seat.

"Let me talk to you for a sec" Marcellus said walking off into some other hallway. I followed him and rocked on my feet as he stood quiet.

"What?" I spoke up first since he didn't say anything.

"Yo you don't need to be working here"

"I really don't need some talk about me having other options" I sighed.

"Look most of these girls in here that make a lot of cash put in extra work. They got regular loyal niggas that ain't gonna just start flocking to you cause you new"

"If I have to be here everyday that I don't have class then that's what I'll have to do" I shrugged.

"Nah I'm mean extra work" he nudged me and look downwards. I scrunched up my face in disgust when I realized what he meant by extra work.

"Eww and you condone that?" I asked.

"Hey if a girl wants to be a hoe, who am I to crush her dreams." He shrugged before laughing when he saw my facial expression.

"Yeah I'll pass on the job then, guess I'll just go job hunting tomorrow" I said feeling defeated.

"I got a job for you if your interested" he said making me squint my eyes.

"What kind of job, I'm not one of them little hoes" I made sure to say so he wouldn't suggest something crazy.

"You like kids?" he asked throwing me of guard.

"Yeah I do why?" I asked looking at him funny.

"Chill I ain't saying nothing wild, I got a four year old daughter and I need somebody to watch her while I'm working"

"Hmmm so you're willing to let a complete stranger that you know nothing about, watch your daughter"

"You could've ratted me and my brother out but you didn't. Plus, I get vibes from people and I don't get no bad vibes from you, you interested or nah?" He asked looking me in my eyes.

__________

How was this chapter?💭

Seriously though, leave feedback because a lot of my readers, even though I love them, they don't comment ever...

Don't forget to Vote, Comment and Follow me for updates💕

Naya😛🤘🏾