Wren
A FEW DAYS LATER
I stood there with my hip leaned into the counter of the desk with S.L. Partee’s book “Saved by a Mafia Boss” in my hand. Since I’ve been at work, I’ve gotten halfway through the first part. I cut my eyes at the clock on the desk and saw that it was close to closing.
Shutting the book, I placed it on the desk and stepped from behind it. There are still a few people in the library, and I needed to let them know we were about to close. They need to wrap up whatever they’re doing.
Stopping at the computer station, I tapped the guy on the shoulder and said, “Five minutes.” He nodded and I proceeded to one of the tables where I found a teenager studying. Lifting my hand in the air with all five fingers up, I alerted her of the five-minute warning.
I continued to search the rest of the library, letting everyone know that we were closing. By the time I made it back to the desk, the library cleared out. I locked the door behind them and straightened up everything.
As I took a break from cleaning, I ordered me and Uber to pick me up and take me home.
I still haven’t gotten my truck back or heard anything from the police about it.
It’s been taking everything in me not to blow those people’s phone up about my truck.
I’m trying my best to allow them to do their job, but at the same time, I’ve been searching for my truck myself.
I’ve placed ads online everywhere. People have been calling my phone, playing on it as if they knew where my truck was.
If I ever get it back, I’m gon’ have to change my number.
Once I was done straightening up, I gathered my things and headed for the door. According to the Uber application, my ride is pulling up.
Soon as I stepped out the door and locked up behind me, I saw a black sedan parked in front of the building.
They have some illegal tint on their car.
I checked the application to make sure it’s the right car before gripping the handle.
I pulled the door open and slipped into the seat.
A familiar scent tickled my nostrils. When I looked up, I saw Maniac sitting in the driver’s seat.
His hand was on the steering wheel with some black fabric tied around his wrist like a bracelet.
“How was work?” he asked me and pulled away from the curb.
“Where’s my Uber driver?” I questioned him, looking down at my phone to see that it was supposed to be some foreign guy who picked me up. His name damn sure wasn’t Jab.
“Can you just be appreciative?” He continued down the road in the opposite direction of the house.
“God, you’re kidnapping me again.” I threw myself against the seat and got comfortable. If I didn’t learn anything else, I learned to let this man do whatever he wants because ain’t nobody gon’ help me anyway.
“If you call taking you to dinner kidnapping, then fine.”
“Dinner?”
His eyes peered at me through the rearview mirror. “I ain’t want to eat alone and we haven’t been out yet, so I figured it was time.”
“So, in yo’ delusional ass head, this is a date?”
“Now you’re getting it. Sit back and enjoy the ride.
” He turned the radio up and Chris Brown’s “Feel something” blared through the speakers.
Before I knew it, this man is driving with one hand while holding his gun in the other hand with the barrel up to his lips, singing as if it’s a damn microphone.
“I need to feel something. I need to feel something, Wren. Oh, yeeeah.” He stuck the barrel in my direction, and I pinned myself against the seat. This man is about to take my head off. “Sing.”
This man really lost his fucking mind.
“Can you not point that in my direction? You might blow my head off.”
“Relax. If I wanted yo’ head blown off, I would’ve done it by now. I said sing.”
“I don’t know these lyrics.”
His face stiffened. “What you want to hear then?”
“I don’t know. Play some Mariah or Ella Mai or something.”
The song switched to Mariah the Scientist’s “Is it a crime”. “If you gon’ be with me, you gon’ have to loosen up. Now, sing.”
The barrel of the gun came back to my face. Seeing that he wasn’t about to let up, I parted my lips and sang my heart out.
“I fell, you fell in love a couple times. Tell me, what’s it to you? Tell me, is it a crime, to fall, to fall in love, in love a couple times?”
“That’s my girl.”
He removed the gun from my face and my heart rate slowed. Tyree wasn’t lying when he said this man was certified crazy.
We road for a couple more minutes ’til we ended up at Gold Rosé. I’ve heard of the restaurant before, but I’ve never eaten here. It wasn’t really my style.
Maniac shut the car off and got out. He opened the back door for me and waited ’til I got out and shut the door behind me.
“Hold up,” he said as I stepped up on the curb. I turned and faced him, and he was standing at the trunk of the car. He opened it and said, “Thanks for the ride.”
I saw a man’s head poke out and when he turned around, I gasped. It’s Jab. “I’m so sorry,” I apologized on the behalf of Maniac. He gripped me by the forearm and pulled me toward the door.
“Don’t ever apologize for shit I did. I ain’t sorry,” he said and opened the door to the restaurant.
Soon as we stepped inside, we were met by the hostess. “Two?” she asked as she gathered the menus.
“Yeah,” Maniac answered for us.
“Right this way, Mr. Saint-Mercier,” she said and stepped from behind the booth.
We followed her toward the back of the restaurant and into one of the rooms. There weren’t that many tables back here. Maybe six at the most. I’m not understanding why we weren’t out there dining with everyone else. We were the only people in here.
“Your server will be with you soon,” she made known and placed the menus on the table in front of us and then walked off.
I stared over at Maniac who didn’t even bother to touch his menu. He gawked at me and licked his lips.
Picking up the menu, I turned my attention to it to see what I wanted to drink. “Have you heard anything about my truck yet?” I questioned him, keeping my eyes trained on the menu. Looking at him made me uncomfortable.
“No. I’m still working on it,” was his response.
“I don’t think I’m gon’ get it back.” All the hope I had in getting my truck back was gone.
If it’s been missing this long, it’s probably not even in the city anymore let alone the state.
What angers me is the fact that sometimes, it doesn’t even be wanting to start for me, but it started up for them to steal it.
Out of all the vehicles in the parking lot, they chose my truck.
I’m sure there were some nice cars out there that they could’ve taken.
I can’t stand when they mess with people who works hard for their things.
“You’ll get it back,” he assured me, but I wasn’t so sure of that anymore.
“Can I get you two started with something to drink?” the waitress asked when she approached the table.
“I’ll just have a glass of white wine,” I told her and searched the menu for something that I wanted to eat. Everything was so expensive, hence, why the restaurant wasn’t my cup of tea. I knew my tax bracket and stayed within my means.
“Remy on the rocks,” Maniac told her.
“I’ll be right back unless y’all already know what you want to order.”
Looking up at her, I said, “I need a few more minutes.”
“Just come back,” Maniac spoke, and she nodded.
Once she was gone out of the room, I finally spoke, “Why is the food so expensive here?”
“Why you looking at the price?” He relaxed back in his chair and folded his arms over his chest as he mugged me as if my question was an insult.
“I’m sorry, but it’s something that I’m used to doing when I’m paying for something.”
“Ain’t nobody said anything ’bout you paying for shit. Whenever you with me, yeen got no reason to be touching yo’ purse. In fact, all you need is yo’ lip gloss and ID. Get what you want and stop looking at the fucking price.”
Excuse me.
Turning my attention back to the menu, I stopped on the stuffed chicken and decided that’s what I wanted to try. You can’t go wrong with chicken.
The waitress came back with our drinks and placed them on the table. “Are you ready to order now?”
“I’ll take the stuffed chicken with the loaded potatoes and asparagus.” Shutting the menu, I handed it over to her.
She turned her attention to Maniac. “The parmesan crusted lamb chops and mashed potatoes,” he told her, not ever looking at the menu, which let me know that he’s been here quite a few times.
“I’ll be right back. Let me know if you need anything else.” She took the menus and left the table. The way Maniac eyed me from the other end of the table, she should’ve took me with her.
Shifting in my seat, I asked, “Why you be looking at me like that?”
“I’m just staring at God’s masterpiece. Something wrong with that?”
“No,” I replied, barely audible with my eyes lowered.
I knew that I was far from ugly. Men let me know that I was pretty all the time.
I just take the comment and gone about my business.
Maniac was staring at me like he wanted to take me and lock me in a room to admire for the rest of his life where no one else can experience me.
I’m not sure if I should be flattered or scared.
We sat there in silence ’til the waitress came back with our food. The chicken and potatoes were delicious. It’s something that I’ll order again when I come back.
After we were done with dinner, Maniac paid the tab, and we got up from the table.
He gripped me by the hand, catching me off guard.
I almost snatched away from him, but I can sense that he’s the type of person that was used to always getting his way.
I let him have his lil moment as he led us toward the exit.
Women stared at us as we made our way through the restaurant.
I don’t know if they were looking because of my outfit, or him.
Either way, I’m not sure how I felt about the extra attention.
“Do I need to order us an Uber?” I asked him as we made it to the door, and he chuckled. “What’s funny?”
When we got outside, I saw his Ferrari parked as if he’d drove it here. He opened the passenger door for me and I got inside.
Maniac took me to my trailer. “Thanks for dinner,” was all I said before climbing out of the car. It’s the least I can do.
Taking the steps, I unlocked my door and entered the house. Soon as I got in there, I noticed the broken cabinet in the kitchen was no longer hanging by a thread. Stepping to it, I opened the door, and it looked and worked like new.
“That’s strange,” I said a loud. I’d mentioned that I was gon’ get Uncle Trayvon to come over and fix that. It’s been a few things wrong with the trailer that I need to get worked on, but I never got around to doing it.
Exiting the kitchen, I headed down the hallway and noticed that it was brand new gray wood on the floor.
All the old brown wood was taken out. I scratched my head as I stepped into the cats’ room and found them lying around in brand new beds.
The only person that could’ve done all this had to be Manaic.
I’m not sure why he’s being so nice to me, but I guess I’ll take it.
Removing my phone from my purse, I went to his name and sent him a text.
Me: Thank you.