By the time I got to the shop I was 15 minutes late for my appointment with Rosie, a late-twenty's woman from the lower East side. Her family had immigrated here from Spain a few years ago. She'd transitioned nicely into American's culture, except for her heavy accent. I ran in the door, tossed my things into a chair and tied on my smock while waving her over.
"You are late," she told me as she sat down.
"I know, I'm sorry. I had a personal problem this morning," I said, beginning to section off her hair for her coloring.
Rosie was a quiet client who mostly kept to herself and read a magazine while I styled her hair, so that gave me some time to think. What exactly had Mike and Jonny shown up for? Was it some kind of message to Justin? They did tell me to tell them to call him. But why? It wasn't like they had no idea how to get in touch with him. Would telling Justin even be a good idea? I mean, the whole point of this is to get him out of that lifestyle. Talking to Mike and Jonny would only get him pulled back in.
Erika was eyeing me curiously as she trimmed the mustache of a gentleman client sitting in her chair. I knew she could tell that my mind was working on overdrive, and I knew she was going to ask me about it the moment she got the chance.
"What's going on with you?" She leaned her hip against the counter of my station.
Rosie was under the dryer and her station was empty.
"Nothing," I said. "Tired."
She eyed me suspitiously, crossing her arms over her chest.
"Tired?"
"Yeah."
I knew I shouldn't have been lying to her. Even if we were beefin', she was still my girl, and I still needed someone to talk to to get my head on straight. But, telling Erika would do more harm than good. She'd go and tell the girls, and start on her Anti-Justin thing again. That would just lead to more problems between me and her.
Erika looked over at Regina, another hairdressing renting a booth in the shop, and Regina gave her the same look back.
"Mmhmm," both women sounded.
"Look," I said, "I know you think it's something about Justin, but it's not. He'd great, our relationship is great. It's nothing, I'm just tired."
Erika looked me over, rolling her eyes.
"Fine. Don't say I didn't ask," she said, walking away from me.
I swear, sometimes she liked being hard to get along with. But, the fact that she'd come over to ask me what was on my mind showed that did still have genuine friend feelings for me. But not telling her the truth only cemented in my mind the fact that I should not tell Just either. I didn't want him backtracking on the progress he'd already made. He was already upset over the amount of his paycheck, this wouldn't help him.
I after a couple of hours I finished on Rosie's hair, and my mind was still racking with the incident with Mike and Jonny. I had to tell someone. I started cleaning up my station and looked at the clock, it was six o'clock and thought this would be a good time to go visit my Mom. I left the shop and hopped into my car heading towards my Mom's house, hoping that when I got there Michael wouldn't there, but I would talk to her either way. I knew my Mom wouldn't judge Justin because my Mom and I both knew that she wasn't dumb, and that she knew exactly what Justin did for a living, or atleast had a hint of it. But that's another thing that I loved about my Mom, she never judged anybody by want they did with their personal life, but who they were inside. She saw that Justin was a geniune person and he loved me.
Twenty minutes later, I was sitting in my car back in front of the shop. I didn't want to bother my Mom with my problems, and I didn't want her to start worrying about me either. It would just be best to not saying anything and hope that I didn't run into them again. I finally pulled away from the curb and headed to my apartment. I was going to go home and study a little, then cook Justin some food because I knew he was going to come over.
As soon as I got home I took a shower, and then went into the living room to study. Two hours passed before I knew it. I had stopped study about an half-hour before and was now cooking some Lemon Peppered Fish with Coconut Rice, which was cooked rice mixed with Coconut milk and some black beans. I was just finishing up the chicken and I turned to look at clock above the kitchen door.
"Justin should have been here by now."
Just as I said that, there was a knock at the door. I wiped my hands and went to the door, letting Justin in.
"Sorry I'm late," he said tiredly, kissing my forehead.
"It's all right." I closed the door behind him.
"I had to drop by my Mom's house and ask if she could loan me some money for rent." He flopped down on the couch and rested his head against the back.
I walked over and sat down beside him.
"I never ever ask my Mom for money. It was the hardest thing I've ever had to do." He looked over at me.
I knew it was hard for him to go to his Mother and ask for money, he was always the one that dropped by her house every other week and slapped a couple of hundreds in her hand. What Justin doesn't know was that his mother never spent any of it because she didn't feel right taking money from her son, especially in the amounts he gave her. She kept it in the bank, because like all Mother's know, there will come a day when your child will need it. And she knew that he would need it.
"I cooked you some food, baby." I rubbed his thigh gently.
"Yeah, it smells good in here." He turned his head and looked back towards the kitchen.
We both got up and I fixed us each a plate, and we sat down at the table in silence. He was dead-hungry and I was too, for once. We ate in silence, until he looked up at me after forking a pile of rice into his mouth.
"You got school tomorrow?"
I nodded, "Yeah."
"How long you go to your classes?"
"Three hours each class."
"Hmm."
He nodded and went back to eating. I sat there letting my mind wander a little bit.
"So, what did you do today?" He asked.
"I went back to campus today, because I didn't realize I bought the wrong book, so I had to go exchange it. Then I ran into-." I stopped short.
Shit. I almost let it slip out that I ran into Mike and Jonny this afternoon. It would have been the wrong time to tell him anyway. I didn't want him to tell him because I knew what he would do. Jump crazy, call Ray, and been out of here in two minutes like a bat out of hell. Who knew if and when he would be back.
"Into?" He paused in tearing into his fish to look up.
"Um... one of my classmates, and I asked them what pages we had to read. Then I went to the shop, did some hair, and came home to study."
He looked me for a second, which made me really nervous, and then he went back to finishing up his plate and I finished mine.
"That was really good baby."
He licked his lips clean and looked at the clock.
"I should be heading home. I got to get up a little earlier to drop off the rent in the morning." He rubbed his face as he sighed. Everytime he mentioned it I could see him visibly get stressed, and I didn't like that.
I nodded, getting up and putting the plates in the sink before walking him to the door. He turned around and looked at me, wrapping his arms around my waist.
"I'm so glad tomorrow is Friday, we got the weekend to relax." He smiled, kissing down along my neck and running his hands over my butt.
I couldn't help, but giggle.
"It's been two days since I hit that ass, and I'm gonna get it one way or another this weekend."
I playfully pushed him towards the door.
"That's if I give it to you."
"Shit, you gonna gimme that," he stated.
He leaned in and kissed me deeply, smacking my butt in the process. He pulled back and pushed my hair away from my face.
"I'll see you tomorrow."
I nodded, "I love you, Jay."
"I love you too."
He kissed me again, and opened the door letting himself out. I locked it behind him. After cleaning up the kitchen, I headed off to bed to get some good rest because I had class tomorrow.
When I woke up the next morning, it was raining outside. I hated when it was rainy and cold, it was the most awful weather possible. I hated starting the morning off in a bad mood, but I did. It was because Erika had come home late last night and I suppose her and Darrell had a good time whenever they went that night, because they came home still in the partying mood. I really hated the fact that the walls were so damn thin. So, as you see, I didn't get too much sleep last night like I thought I would. It wasn't until two in the morning that I finally fell asleep and Ii had to wake up at six.
Now, because it was raining meant that Justin didn't have to work that day which made me a little bit happier, but that didn't change the fact I had to go to class. I pulled my hair into a side ponytail again and put one of my large gray wool sweater. You know, the kind that was heavy, swallowed your arms, and came down to your knees. I put a black waist belt over it along with a pair of jeans and my black forces again. It was a cute outfit. I really didn't care though, because the weather was shitty.
I opened the door, about to walk out, and Justin was standing there.
"Jay? What you doing here? I thought you would be sleeping in." I said to him.
"I figured since I was off that I would take you to school, and we could kick back the rest of the day."
"Really? You don't have to baby, you can go sleep and I'll come over later." I rubbed his arm comfortingly.
"Nah," he waved me off, "I can sleep while you're in class."
I tilted my head as I looked at him with a smile. It was sweet to think that he would give up his rest to be with me. Without saying a word, he leaned over and kissed me on the lips. I got the feeling he understood what I thinking, and how I felt about him without my have to mutter a syllable. He took my backpack from me and followed me out to the parkinglot after I'd locked my front door.
"I hate when it's like this," I said, watching the rain drops fall on the windshield.
Justin nodded, "I know. Makes me wanna stay in bed with my girl all day."
I smirked at him when he looked over at me, an evil grin on his face.
"So, how'd Ray take the whole rent thing?" I asked, changing the subject.
"He was a fuckin' dick about it at first. He's still pissed at me for getting out without saying anything to him about first, but that bitch can kiss my ass."
"But is he gonna start paying half the rent?" That was the more important question. I didn't give a damn about Ray's feelings, I cared about my man not be out on the street.
"He's gotta work double to come up with the money," Justin licked his lips, "We'll see where he's at in a couple weeks."
I made a face that he didn't see. I didn't like him going easy on Ray like that. I know they're bestfriends and all but, at some point you gotta start doing you above all others, you know? But if he was fine with that arraingement, then I was too, for the moment.
Justin's car pulled into the parkinglot in front of my school and I leaned over to give him a kiss goodbye.
"I love you," he said, giving me a peck on the lips, and then the cheek.
"Love too. Be good."
"Always."
I got out the car, walking slowing toward the building where my first class was held as I watched Justin's car make it's way back out onto the street. I smirked to myself, hoisting my backpack onto my shoulder. Justin and I had been through so much in past few months, and he'd continued to amaze me through all of it. From helping me pay my car note when I needed it, to buying me jewelry, the completely changing the way he lived his life for me. And with all of that going on, he still made sure to spend plenty of time with me, and to give me plenty of his attention. I was lucky.
My classes went by slowly. The teachers didn't really have much to say, because it was only the second day of school. One of my teachers was still going over the syllabus. I took a 15 minute nap in that class. Finally, at 3 o'clock, it was time for me to head home. I didn't have any clients today, since I had planned on just going home and studying. A few minutes before class had been dismissed, I sent Justin and text on my cell, telling him to come get me. So when I made it back to the parking lot, he was sitting right there in the front. Which was good, because it was starting to sprinkle, and my hair didn't do well with water. Justin had been in the phone when I started walking up to him, but he flipped it closed and rolled down the window when he saw me.
"Damn girl, what your name is?" He grinned.
I rolled my eyes. He was so stupid sometimes.
"Damn baby, you fine. Where you going? You need a ride? Come get in my car, I'll give you a ride."
Three girls standing by the curb watched me as I opened the passenger door and got into the car. I knew they were trying to decide if I knew the guy yelling out his window at me, or if I had just been picked up by a loudmouth stranger. Like I said, he was stupid.
"Hey baby girl," he leaned over, puckering his lips expectantly.
"You're weird," I told him, giving him a kiss.
"You like it."
I chuckled at him as he steering the car towards the street. He was right, I did.
Justin drove back to his house, and I could tell he'd just been here moments before because the TV was still on, along with the heater. I was glad about that, because it was freezing cold outside. I dropped my things on the floor by the sofa and looked at the television.
"Divorce Court."
"Yeah. That one with the black chick was on earlier." I could feel his presence behind me, and soon his hands started to massage my shoulders.
"You're shitting me! I missed it again?"
There was an episode I'd been meaning to watch, where some white woman was divorcing her white husband because he'd cheated. Not with a white woman, which she could have forgiven, but because he'd cheated with a black woman. From the previews I could tell Judge Mablean had ripped her a new one, but every time it came on, I was doing something else.
"Yep. I would have taped it for you, but I didn't know it was on. I caught it half way through." I felt his lips start softly on the back of my neck as his hands continued to massage my shoulders. I could feel my body start to get lighter and lighter.
"Well, it was on before, it'll be on again."
He made some noise that meant he agreed with me, and continued on with his kisses. His hands left my shoulders, and smoothed down my sides, squeezing my hips.
"You did this on purpose, huh? That's why you brought me to your place. It's some secret seduction plan." My head lolled back onto his shoulder.
I saw him smile quickly before his lips landed on my collarbone and his hands rubbed my stomach gently. I turned to face him, looking up into his eyes lazily. He put his hands on my face, rubbing his thumbs over my cheekbones. He leaned down, placing his lips over mine. Gently at first, but then they became more forceful, and his tongue slipped into my mouth. I started to remember exactly how long it had been since I'd last gone to bed with Justin, and now all that pent up frustration was bubbling to the surface.
I pulled away from him, and his eyebrows knitted together with confusion. I fisted the front of his baby blue tee shirt and started to lead him down the hall towards his room. He smiled brightly, undoing his belt and dropping it on the floor in front of his door before pushing me to lay down on his bed. He undid the black belt over my sweater, and then pulled the sweater over my head, leaving me in my bra and jeans. Then he moved away from me, pulling off his shirt before closing and locking his door.
Around 8 o'clock that night, Justin and I still hadn't left the confinds of his big bed. Justin had an overly active libido, like most guys his age, and I stayed in bed with him, making sure every ounce of his sexual energy was used up. I was way past exhausted when he fell onto his back on his side of the bed. From then on he just put his arm around me, holding me softly as the TV in the front room played the news.
"Are you getting hungry?" I asked. "I could make you something really quick."
Justin shook his head, his eyes closed.
"I'm cool. I'mma lay here, and take a nap, and then do it all over again."
I snorted. We weren't doing all that stuff again until I'd slept for atleast 5 hours. Unfortunately, about an hour into my sleep, Justin's cell phone started to ring, and woke me up. It woke him up too, and he wasn't pleased about it as his hand searched blindly for his phone on the nightstand before pressing the button and putting it to his ear.
"What?"
I could see him squinting in the darkness.
"Huh? Where are you, Ray?"
I rolled my eyes, pulling away from him and laying down on my side of the bed. It was only Ray, probably calling to try to get Justin to ditch me and head out to some party to look at half naked females. Jerk.
"I'll be there in a minute."
Justin hung up, and I felt the bed shift as he stood up.
"Where you going?" I asked, brushing my hair out of my face.
"I gotta pick up Ray."
"Why? What happened to him?" I cracked my eyes to see him stand up and pull his boxers on, before pulling a pair of sweatpants over them.
"Something about a females house and leaving his car, and then some dude showing up. I don't know."
I rolled my eyes again. That was dumbass Ray, out there fucking with other men's girlfriends. What happened to Tanya? Justin leaned over, kissing me deeply.
"You stay here and sleep. I'll be back in a few."
"Okay," I whispered, my eyes already closed and my body half asleep.
With Justin gone I grabbed his pillow, stacked it on top of mine, and let my head settle into the feathers. I let out a sigh as my extremities went numb and I drifted off into slumber.
Unfortunately, that didn't last long this time either, because soon there was loud, impatient knocking at the door. I lifted my head, trying to forc myself to wake up. It sounded like Justin's knocking.
"Jay?" I called.
The person pounded again. I let out a groan as my eyes rolled. That was Jay. I climbed out of the bed and grabbed one of his shirts off the floor. We'd seen all of eachothers body parts and all, but I wasn't about to be walking around his place naked, and his shirts came down to my knees anyway. I stumbled down the hall, rubbing my eyes as they adjusted to the dim room. the sun had gone down and now the street lamps were the only source of light.
"I'm coming!" I said when he knocked again. I turned on one of the living room lamps before beginning to undo the locks.
"Did you forget your keys or something?" I smiled, pulling open the door.
My smile quickly faded however, when I was met with two sets of brown eyes instead of one set of Justin's blue ones. Jonny's eyes slid down my body to my feet and back up again as Mike leered at me from behind dark black shades. I stood there, staring back at them both, my mind reeling with what I should do or say.
"Hi Aleena," Jonny smiled.
They kept staring and I knew that they were waiting for me to say or do something. for some reason, I don't know why, my reaction was to try to close the door. Putting them out of sight, would also put them out of mind, and I couldn't have to deal with them. but they reacted quickly, and since they outnumbered me, they had the advantage. The door was forced open and they strolled in, welcoming themselves into the apartment.
"Now, Leena, is that anyway to treat a houseguest?" Jonny asked, slowly walking towards me.
I was backing away from him, cautiously. Mike was at the door, securing the locks.
"What do you want?" I asked, my knees hitting the side of the sofa.
"You know what we came for, Leena," he said quietly.
"Justin's not here."
"We know. We saw him leave," Mike informed me, coming to stand on my right.
"I don't understand," I said. If they had beef with Justin, why would they choose to come to his apartment after he was gone?
"You didn't give him my message, did you, Leena? You didn't tell him about out little meeting." Jonny stepped closer to me.
They're little ambush you mean.
When I didn't answer, Jonny shook his head.
"See, I know you didn't, because if you had, I would have gotten a call on this right here," he held up a black Razr. "But he hasn't called. That hurts me, Aleena. You lied to me."
"I didn't tell you I would do anything, so I didn't lie to you. Now get out." I said.
I just wanted them to leave, to go. They were beginning to scare me with those devilishly glistening sparks in their eyes. I just wanted them to get out and for Justin to come back.
"Don't boss me around," he said, "I'm the man here."
"Get out." I told them more forcefully.
"Watch your tone."
"Get out!"
Jonny didn't say anything more. I felt a stinging pain across my cheek. My head turned to the side and my balance was thrown off. I put a hand to my cheek and looked back at him with hatred in my eyes. That asshole had just hit me. I couldn't help myself when I reached out for him, swinging and clawing at his face. No man put his hands on me, and now I was mad as hell. Everything was a blur and I swung at him again and again, screaming curse words at him. But I'd forgotten Mike was there, and he grabbed my arms, pulling them behind my back. Jonny huffed and puffed as he glared at me.
"You have a bad attitude Aleena," he spat.
I felt his hand swing across my face again.
"You need to learn your place."
"I like her," Mike said, his breath hot on the side of my face.
Jonny was quiet for a moment, and when he spoke again his voice was soft.
"Yeah. I like her too."
I was reminded of the fact that I was wearing only a shirt when his eyes started to roam over me. His hands reached for my thighs, sinking his fingers into my skin. He sighed to himself as his hands moved higher, slowly lifting my shirt.
"No-." I said.
Mike put both of my wrists into one of his hands, using the other to cover my mouth. I whimpered against his fingers, my eyes beginning to gloss over with tears. Thankfully his hands left my legs, and the shirt fell back into place. But his hands were still on me, slowly sliding up my sides to my breasts. I could feel Mike's hips pressing into my butt as he chuckled. I was the meat in a disgusting sandwich. They ignored my cries and tears as they continued to run their hands over me. I knew I was trembling uncontrollably. I knew the statistics about sexual assault against women, how 1 in 3 women would be abused at some point in their life. All of my life I had bee fearful of ending up on the other side of that statistic. Now here I was, outnumbered and grossly overpowered. Where they going to hurt me?
Jonny leaned toward me, his face going to my shoulder and tongue making a line from my collar bone to my jaw.
"This time be a good girl, Aleena. Give Timberlake the message," he whispered.
He kissed my cheek, and the Mike let me go. I wrapped my arms around myself, watching them walk to the front door and let themselves out. The store slammed behind them, leaving me in uncomfortable silence. What had just gone on here? What had just happened to me? I didn't even want to think about it. Reliving the feeling of his slimy hands running over me made me want to vomit, and I felt dirty and grimy.
I sank down to the floor, pulling my knees to my chest and letting the tears fall freely. I felt alone. I hadn't been able to defend myself, and no one had been here to help me. I wanted Justin to come back. To come back and put his arms around me and make me feel better. Part of me also wanted him to go out and kill those two for what they'd done.
I don't know how long I'd been sitting there, but it seemed like hours had gone by before I heard Justin's laughter in the hallway
"Yeah right Ray, that nigga was getting ready to kill you." He was saying.
Then the knob turned, and the door opened.
"I thought I locked this," he said.
He was still smiling, and Ray trailed in behind him, chuckling over something. I sniffled, and tried to wipe some of the tears off of my face before he saw me, but I was too late. His eyes landed on me as I sat on the floor by the hallway and his smile dropped.
"Lee?" He questioned, setting down his keys and jacket on the sofa before walking over to me.
"Baby? What's wrong?" He kneeled down in front me, pushing my hair away from my face.
I couldn't speak, I was still tramatized from my assault and I was still trembling. Justin took note of it and reached out, placing his hands on my arms.
"Baby, why are you shaking?"
He looked me straight in the eyes and my tears started to fall again as I sniffed, trying to catch them, but they were coming to quickly now.
"Lee, come on now, what's wrong?" His face started to fill with worry.
Now Ray was standing behind Justin, concern and curiousity written on his face. I glanced at him, and then looked back at Justin.
"Wh-What took you so long?" As soon as I said that I burst into tears reaching out and clenching onto Justin. He wrapped his arms around me
"Baby, what the hell is going on?"
"I thought it was you at the door. I thought you forgot your key--," I stammered.
"What?"
"--And so I opened the door and it wasn't you and they just came in--."
"Who came in baby? Who?" He pulled away to look at me, searching for an answer. But I just continued to babble on hysterically.
"They got mad because I didn't give you the message, an--and they just started touching me Justin. They were touching me!"
"Who? Aleena, who?" He grabbed me a little more so I looked up into his eyes.
"Mike and Jonny!" I spoke.
Justin's look caused me to stop breathing. I'd never ever seen his face go blank and his eyes turned into fury in a split second like that before. His arms wrapped around me and he lifted me up off the ground.
"I got you baby," he whispered softly. But it wasn't soothing, it was stiff, and it creeped me out really bad.
He walked me into his room and laid me down on the bed. Ray followed behind us.
"Those slick motherfuckas!" Ray stood in the door balling his fists.
Justin stood over me without saying a word, looking down at me with a stony expressions. Then kneeled down next to the bed.
"Baby?"
I looked at him.
"When you said that they got mad for you not giving me a message did that mean they came to you before?"
I sat up and swung my legs over the side of the bed as Justin repostioned himself and took hold of my hands. I sighed as I look down, a little ashamed.
"Yeah. Remember the other day, while I was at school when I was returning my books that morning? They were standing outside waiting on me."
"Shit, how come you didn't tell me, Lee!?" He stood up, running his fingers through his hair in frustration.
"Because you were doing so good and everything was going great for you. You are doing so well Justin and I didn't want you to get distracted, or pulled back in, or anything like that." I watched him start to pace the room back and forth.
"What was the message, Lee?" Justin asked.
I lowered my head again.
"Jonny wants you to call him."
Justin paused in his pacing, "Call him. That's it?"
I nodded.
"We need to go handle these muthafuckas right now Jay. They're messing with your girl."
Justin turned on the light in his room, searching his desk for something.
"Jesus!" Ray gasped.
He was staring at me, and it caused Justin to stop and look over to me too.
"What?" I asked them both as Justin walked back over to me gripping my face, inspecting my cheek.
"Son of a bitch," he grumbled to himself. "Those muthafuckas hit you!? They hit my girl!"
The hallway lights weren't on, which is why they couldn't see the damage Jonny's hand had done to me before. I didn't even think about until now, when I was settled down enough to feel the throbbing pain.
"That's it, they're done. Ray, go get your shit, and call Chris and them. They fucked with me for the last time." He pulled away from me and started going through his closet as Ray left. I could hear him rambling in his room and talking on the phone.
"Justin, wait, what are you going to do?"
Justin continued to pull things out of his closet," Fuck ass muthafuckas, hitting my girl and shit, oh this shit is real done!"
I'd never seen him so angry, and I thought it would be wise of me to step back and Justin let him ramble on for a second. That was until he pulled out a suitcase from the back of his closet and laid on the bed, popping it open. It contained several various guns, which looked loaded and ready to go. I'd never seen Justin with a gun, let alone so many, and it scared me. I hoped he wasn't thinking about leaving me alone again tonight.
"Justin, wait."
He looked up at me and I walked over to him.
"No, no please, Justin, don't leave me."
"No, I'm not leaving you here. I'm taking you home."
I grabbed him, wrapping my arms around his body and squeezing tightly as my tears started to fall again. I could feel myself starting to shake again.
"Justin, please don't leave me, not tonight."
He sighed and slowly wrapped his arms around me, squeezing me and pressing his lips against the top of my head.
"Damn baby." He wrapped his arms even tighter around me," I never met for you to get hurt."
"I know, Justin."
He pulled back and cupped my face in his hands, peering down into my eyes.
"You should have told me baby. You know you don't keep shit like this from me. Ever."
I nodded. That was all I could do.
"Come on, let's clean you up."
He grabbed my hand and pulled me into the bathroom. That's when I took a look at the side of my face. It was warm, red, and starting to bruise up real bad. Justin grabbed a wash cloth and wet it, then he gripped my hips, lifting me up onto the counter and starting to work on cleaning up my eye.
"Can't believe they put their fucking hands on you," he was muttering quietly. "I'll fucking kill them."
Ray came into the bathroom, looking at me.
"They're ready to move when we are, Jay."
He sighed while wiping my face softly, and placed the cloth down next to me.
"I'll be right back."
I nodded, and watched as he left the bathroom and walked out into the hall with Ray, but I could still hear their conversation because the house had gone dead quiet.
"We ain't going to do anything tonight, we will talk about it in the morning."
"Yo Jay, but--"
"I said we will talk about in the morning. I can't leave Lee by herself, she's still shakened up."
"Jay, this shit can't handle itself. We need to take care of this shit now."
"No, they're going to be expecting us tonight. We'll talk about this in the morning. Lee needs me right now. I got to take care of my girl."
I could hear Ray sigh. He was disappointed that nothing wasn't going to go down tonight. He lived for the action, I think. Personally, I would have loved for Justin to go out and kill them bastards, but I didn't want him out there tonight. I wanted him by side because I was still freaked out. I could still feel their hands all over me and it caused me to shiver. I slid off the counter and walked back into the room as Justin was cleaning off the bed. He turned off the light and closed the door.
"Get in bed," he whispered.
I walked over to the bed, crawling underneath the covers as Justin pulled off his shirt and jeans. Then he walked over to the bed and slid underneath with me. I scooted down and into his arms, some of my tension leaving when they wrapped around me. I felt so much safer when his arms where holding me tightly, and I could feel the soft kiss of his lips against my forehead.
"I'm sorry, Aleena," he whispered softly.
"I know, Justin. I'm sorry too, I should of told you." I nuzzled against his chest.
He reached down and lifted my chin up. I could see the outline of his face.
"You were looking out for me baby, I know you were, so don't apologize. I just want you to know that they won't hurt you again, eve. I promise you, Lee."
The thing was, I knew they wouldn't mess with me again, because Justin was going to put a stop to this once and for all. I snuggled up to him again and closed my eyes; feeling the warmth of his body and the beating of his heart put me at ease. I knew Justin wasn't going to sleep tonigh, he was just going to lie there and hold me with the wheels in his head churning. I fell asleep shortly after while Justin lied awake.
Justin woke me up the next morning, so that I could get ready to go to work. During the course of our relationship, things of mine had been left over at his place, so I had things to wear and get ready with. I got up and took a shower as Justin fumbled around with things in his room. He did that when he was thinking. I took a long shower to calm my nerves a bit, still replaying last night as far back in my mind as I could put it. I exited the shower and slipped on my pink Rocawear sweatsuit and put on my sneakers. I stood in the bathroom, room fixing my hair as Justin came in.
"I'm taking you to work today." It was a statement, I wasn't expected to argue, and I didn't.
I looked over to him as he putted on his shirt.
"Okay."
"You ain't going to be the only one there, right?"
"No, I think everyone was going to be in the shop today."
"Aiight, I don't want you going no where by yourself right now. If you go anywhere, even next door, take someone with you."
"Okay."
I decided to pull my hair back into a ponytail again today, because I didn't feel like being bothered. I turned my attention back to Justin as he leaned against the doorway looking at me. I turned off the bathroom light and I walked out with him. He sat on the edge of the bed and started to put on his shoes. I leaned against the wall, crossing my arms and looking down at the ground.
"So, what are you going to do?" I asked.
He laced his shoes up with aggression.
"It's one thing to mess with me and my crew."
He looked up at me with the hardest look on his face.
"But to mess with my girl, my world, I take that shit real personal."
Right then I knew from the look on Justin's face that the next encounter he had with Mike and Jonny was going to be an all out war. This was going to be a new side of Justin that I had never seen before, and now I wished I didn't have too.
Email: Coffee