5. Baby
BABY
It’s been two days since that stuff went down at the mall, and my sister has barely been home. Normally, I would try to reach out, but since she claimed she’s grown, I’ll just stay in my lane. I had to wake up early today to see my Parole Officer, so I was already in a bad mood.
Seeing Jayda laid out peacefully had me heated. It wasn’t enough room in my twin bed, but we made it work. It’s not the first time we squeezed in it though, we always had sleepovers before I got locked up.
Shaking her arm, I tried to wake her up. She’s one of the few people I know that sleeps so damn hard.
“Stop, Baby. Leave me alone,” she mumbled, flicking my hand away.
She not a morning person, and usually, neither am I. But I’m not trying to get in trouble for being late on the first day.
“Get up, Jay. We got to go.” I shook her arm again, and this time she pulled the covers off her.
“Why you gotta go so early, Baby?”
I shrugged, not in any position to question their methods. I depend on these people to make my life easier, not harder.
I got into this mess protecting my sister, but I’ve never been a bad person, per se. I don’t have it in me to go back to prison. I just need to thug this out until the end of my sentence, then I’m never getting myself in a situation like this again.
I got out of bed and made my way over to my closet. I’m not even sure what I’m supposed to wear to this place.
Jayda grunted, before coming over to help me look.
Biting my lip, I scanned my eyes over everything I owned, and nothing seemed appropriate enough.
She tapped me on the shoulder, and when I peeked at her, I noticed her holding out a dress. I hit her with a look that clearly read, ‘I know you fuckin’ lying’.
I may not know what the hell I’m supposed to put on, but I know it ain’t that.
“Jay, you don’t wear a dress to a probation office. All of them niggas in there are fresh out, I might as well go naked,” I remarked. Snatching it from her grasp, I spun around and hung it back on the rack.
She shrugged nonchalantly while continuing to look. I feel bad now because I know she just wanna help. Nevertheless, I’ve been on the other side of things, so I know how this shit works.
I reached out to put my hand on her shoulder, “I’m sorry, girl. I’m just nervous about today.”
She threw me a small smile and told me she accepted my apology. We looked for a few more minutes before she handed me something else. Unlike the last time, I liked what she gave me.
It was a baby blue silk blouse I wore to church one time.
It’s got ruffled sleeves and dips a little bit in the back.
I took it with a smile and grabbed a black pair of skinny jeans right in front of me.
While I went to change, she found shoes for me to wear.
I’m not a girly girl by no means, but I do have a few heels in my closet.
After taking a shower and handling my hygiene, I walked out to see Jayda had already changed her clothes. She held my favorite pair in her hand, and I didn’t hesitate to put them on.
Afterwards, she straightened my curls, slicking it back into a nice ponytail. Mama blessed us with long pretty hair, and I swear we got Native American somewhere in our family.
I had a watch on my wrist, so when I looked down and noticed the time, I rushed her ass out the room. I don’t know how long it’ll take us to get there, but my appointment is in fifteen minutes. She was going in the kitchen before I stopped her, pushing her towards the front door.
“Damn. I can’t get water?”
“No!” I spat, tugging on her arm. “Bring your bald-headed ass on.”
She sucked her teeth but didn’t fight me when I moved to the side, letting her walk out first. I wouldn’t put it past her to try and turn back around.
I put the address into her GPS system as my mind raced with thoughts. I’ve always been an independent person, so it’s a different ballgame now that somebody else will have control over what I do.
Exhaling deeply, I said a quick prayer for everything to go okay. I don’t need any more problems, so I’ll do my best to cooperate and follow the rules of the game.
Jayda took her eyes off the road to shoot me a worried glance. “You okay, cousin?”
I cut my eyes at her. “I’m good.”
When the GPS indicated we reached our destination, I sat up and noticed we weren’t too far from my house.
“You need me to come with you?” she asked, her eyebrows knitted together. I was about to tell her yeah until I took in her maxi dress and slippers. I don’t need her going in there dressed like that.
“No, I’m alright. You can wait here. I won’t be long.”
I didn’t really know that, but I’m guessing it’ll be at least an hour. I’ll have to sign paperwork, and I’m assuming whoever I’m assigned to will go over rules and shit to try and intimidate me.
“Good luck, cousin,” she muttered with a tight smile. I can tell she’s nervous for me, but she can’t be as nervous as I am.
When I opened the door, it was one dude sitting in the corner. His gaze locked on mine, before he licked his lips and ran his eyes over my body lustfully. He gave off an eerie vibe, the kind that told me he was somebody I should stay away from.
I shivered uncomfortably, and avoided making eye contact.
This was the bullshit I was telling Jayda about, and I’m glad I had her stay in the car.
I wrapped my arms tightly around myself, walking up to the counter.
A lady was sitting on the other side of the window on her cellphone.
She had to have felt my presence with how close I’m standing, but she didn’t look up once.
I cleared my throat, hoping it’ll make her look my way. It’s too early to be snatching weaves, and she lucky I was tryna do right this time.
I brought my hand up and hit the call bell twice with my palm.
“Good morning, my name is Baby Wilcox, and I’m supposed to meet my parole officer,” I said in an attitude.
She twisted her face, and I’m not stupid enough to say I wasn’t expecting this reaction. I knew what my life would be like once I was released. I’ll always be a criminal in other people’s eyes.
I can feel my blood starting to boil, so I exhaled slowly, tryna stay in control.
“I’m Lauren. You can have a seat,” she replied emotionlessly. “He’ll be right out.”
I bit down on my tongue and gave her a curt nod. I wanted to curse her ass out for treating me like I’m less than but decided to bite the bullet and do what I’m told. I can’t get mad every time something like this happens.
I made my bed and no matter how hard it may be, now I gotta lay in it.
I grabbed one of the magazines from the coffee table to look through while I waited.
I wondered if Leah could take me to look for a job when I'm finished, since I’m already dressed for the occasion.
I’m not used to sitting on my ass all day, and this was a change in pace for me.
I’ve been working since I was fifteen, got my first job as a freshman in high school.
Although auntie Misha made sure we had the necessary things, like food and a roof over our heads, I paid for everything else. I made sure Leah rocked all the latest shoes and shit like the other kids, not wanting her to feel like an outsider, like she wasn’t worthy of having what they had.
“Miss Wilcox.” A deep baritone voice stopped my train of thought.
Goosebumps grew on my arms, butterflies fluttering wildly in my stomach at the sound of his voice. He called to me like a siren, and had me stuck the minute I laid eyes on him.
Fuck me, he was fine.
The kind that caught you off guard. The kind that made you reassess every decision in your life that led you to him.
He leaned against the doorframe, with one ankle crossed over the other, and his hands stuffed in his pockets.
I never knew grey slacks could look so good. And I'm lowkey mad that he’s got on a turtleneck, because the way his muscles rippled through it, he’s no doubt covering up something delicious under there. His beard was thick and well-trimmed, like he took his time getting it exactly how he wanted it.
By the growing smirk on his face, he knows damn well how fine he is. My pussy pulsated at the thought of him between my legs. I hurried up and squeezed my thighs together, like somehow, he’ll notice how wet my panties were.
“Miss Wilcox,” he repeated.
I blinked hard, realizing he may have caught me staring at him like a creep.
“Yeah,” I whispered in response, throwing the magazine down. I stood up on shaky legs but hesitated to move my feet.
I hope he’s just here to take me to my real parole officer. I can’t get my life together if I’m in the same room as him multiple times a week. He’s a distraction, one that I didn’t need right now.
“I’m ready for you.” He smiled softly, uncrossing his feet to stand up straight, but kept his hands in his pockets.
I swallowed hard at his statement. Because he may have been ready for me, but I wasn’t ready for this.