9. Baby
BABY
I can’t go a minute without Love being on my mind. I wondered what he was doing and if he’s somewhere thinking about me too. Being cooped up in this house was driving me insane, and I needed to get out, asap.
I needed a distraction and used my auntie’s phone to call Jayda. Since it’s so close to Valentine’s Day, she insisted I get something done with my hair and said it’s her treat, even though she bought me shoes already.
“Bitch, you ready? We finna get Beyonce fine!” She twerked her ass, sticking her tongue out.
“No, hoe. You finna have me looking beat the fuck up.” I tried to bargain with her, fluttering my lashes bashfully. “Can you just buy me lunch or something?”
She didn’t take the bait.
“Girl, no. Relax, Baby. I’mma make sure you straight.” She grabbed a piece of my hair, barely holding it between two fingers like she’s disgusted by it. “You definitely need these ends trimmed.”
“Bitch, fuck you. My shit looks good.” I grabbed a piece of my own, inspecting it closely. Movement up ahead caught my eye, and I saw a familiar face at a booth not too far from where we sat.
“Nope. No fucking way,” I spat, pointing to the person in question, while narrowing my eyes towards Jayda. “You brought me to this bitch shop.”
“Okay, keep an open mind,” she suggested, touching my hand. “She’s changed a lot since you been gone, Baby.”
She tried to talk me off the ledge, but I was finna get up and walk out. She knows damn well that girl doesn’t like me, and she’ll probably fuck my hair up on purpose.
Me and Tiffani were in the same classes from freshman, all the way up to our senior year. Every chance she got, the bitch made smart comments my way. I had to dog walk this mutt a few times, and now I’m supposed to let her near my head.
On purpose?
Nah, Jayda out her fucking mind.
“You can’t be serious,” I mumbled, tryna get up and leave. I didn’t make it two seconds before she pulled me back. “I’m not doing this. I’m sorry.”
She rolled her eyes. “She really is a different person. You know I wouldn’t bring you around nobody that’s tryna harm you, Baby.”
I sighed, and studied Tiffani. I was tryna see what Jayda saw, but I couldn’t. I know I been gone a while, but people just don’t change like that. At least not where I'm from.
Jayda started sulking beside me, and that’s the only reason I decided to give her a chance.
“Alright, fine.” Right after the words left my lips, Jayda started jumping up and down. “But if she even looks at me like she gone try something, I’m beating the bitch up.”
She latched her arm around mine. “You got to stop choosing violence, Baby.”
I narrowed my eyes and she just smiled. It took a few more minutes for somebody to come and take us to our chairs, and when they did, Jayda sat right beside me. No doubt making sure I didn’t try anything.
“Baby,” Tiffani called my name. “I heard you were out.”
She grinned at me, but I couldn’t decide if it was real or fake.
“Tiffani,” I acknowledged, but gave nothing more. Jayda reached out and tapped my arm hard.
“What?” I mouthed, confused.
Tiffani moved behind the seat, peering down at me.
“What you getting today?”
I don’t know how Jayda expect for me to sit here and not be jumpy around this bitch. She bit my ear in a fight one time, and I still got the scar to prove it.
I looked towards Jayda, so she’ll answer, because I have no idea what she’s tryna do to my hair.
“Oh. Just give her something nice. Cut the ends, maybe add some color.”
I groaned out loud to show how uncomfortable.
“Relax, Baby. I killed that beef a long time ago,” Tiffani said after noticing how tensed I was. “I got a family now, a baby girl. We too old to be out here fighting each other.”
“You bit my ear,” I reminded her, frowning.
“Sure did.” Tiffani chuckled with a small smile. “But that was after you pulled out all my edges.”
She pointed at her hair as evidence.
“True, True,” I admitted, while nodding. “Okay, I’m ready.”
I sat up higher in the seat, throwing a grin in Jayda’s direction. She looked at me like I had issues.
Tiffani started by washing my hair, while a lady came over and handled Jayda. She sat me under the dryer afterwards, before cutting the ends off like Jayda suggested.
I can admit, I got nervous when she was picking through all the colors she had. I thought she would pick something wild, but when everything was finished and she turned me around, I loved what she did with it.
I had light brown highlights on the ends that matched my eyes, and she silk pressed my hair to the Gods.
Running my fingers through it, I couldn’t believe how different I looked.
More like the me I was before I went away.
It stopped to the middle of my back; my time in prison gave my hair the time it needed to grow.
“Thanks, girl. You hooked me up, for real.” I glanced at her through the wide mirror. She had a proud smile on her face, and you can tell she’s good at what she does.
“Welcome home, Baby. This one is on the house,” she declared, and I reared my head back in shock.
I wasn’t expecting her to do me like this, and I felt kinda bad for judging her. Jayda was done with her hair too, and of course she looked good with her dark grey deep wave installed.
“She says this free, girl,” I chimed in happily, giving her a look. “I don’t know why you was judging her, Jayda. You dead ass wrong.”
I threw accusations her way and all she did was laugh.
“You are so fucking retarted. Come on,” Jayda said, reaching across me to give Tiffani a hug. I did the same, telling her I'll be back again soon for a touch-up.
We stopped to get something to eat at a seafood spot and didn’t make it back to the house until late. I loved hanging with Jayda, and every time we linked up, neither of us paid attention to the time.
Once we said our goodbyes, I hopped out and make my way up the porch steps. I noticed Leah’s car wasn’t in the driveway, but my Auntie’s was. She was on the couch with a cigarette in one hand, and a glass of wine in the other. When she heard the door opened, she glanced at me over her shoulder.
“Hey Baby. You look pretty, boo,” she complemented. “Your parole officer called for you... said to call him back when you got in.”
Butterflies flew in my stomach. I know he was probably just doing his job and checking in, but my heart didn’t get the memo the way it’s thumping against my ribcage. I was nervous at just the thought of hearing his voice, and I don’t know how long I can keep pretending I didn’t want him.