Started From the Top Now I'm Here 2

  Table of Contents

  Started From The Top Now I’m Here 2 | An Urban Tale Of Riches To Rags

  Started From The Top Now I’m Here 2 | An Urban Tale Of Riches To Rags | Chapter 1- Long Time No See

  Chapter 2- Swerve

  Chapter 3 –New Beginnings

  Chapter 4 – Time For A Come Up

  Chapter 5 – I’m Good For It

  Chapter 6 – Heed My Words

  Chapter 7 – Slow Ya Roll

  Chapter 8 – Making Up For Lost Time

  Chapter 9 – The Thirst Is Real

  Chapter 10 – Waiting To Exhale

  Chapter 11- Play Time

  Chapter 12 – Truth Or Consequences

  Chapter 13 – The Departure

  Chapter 14 – No Where To Run, No Where To Hide

  Chapter 15 – Where Ya’ Real Friends At?

  Chapter 16 – No Place To Go

  Chapter 17- Consequences

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  Started From The Top Now I’m Here 2

  An Urban Tale Of Riches To Rags

  Copyright © 2014 Midnite Love and Love Den Media Publishing

  All rights are reserved. No parts of this Book may be copied, transmitted, used or sold without the written permission of the Author Midnite Love or Love Den Media Publishing.

  The only exceptions to this clause are E-Book Samples which are provided at various online retailers and from the Author and Love Den Media Publishing. Brief quotes may be used in reviews

  Disclaimer:

  This is a work of fiction. Names, characters, businesses, places, events and incidents are either the products of the author’s imagination or used in a fictitious manner. Any resemblance to actual persons, living or dead, or actual events is purely coincidental.

  Started From The Top Now I’m Here 2

  An Urban Tale Of Riches To Rags

  Chapter 1- Long Time No See

  “Sonnet, what the hell are you doing here?” Kenterris grumbled while giving her an icy stare.

  He thought he had seen the last of this bitch and now here she was sitting up in his woman’s house.

  Before she could answer him Cheron chimed in, “she’s staying with me for a while baby.”

  She nudged him with her elbow and cut her eyes into him, she realized that they hadn’t talked about Sonnet staying with her, but it was still no excuse for him to be rude to her.

  “So, when did this little arrangement take place and how come no one told me about it?” Kenterris fumed as he looked around at all Sonnets’ belongings. This bitch had some nerve to be using Cheron for a place to stay, especially after all the shit she talked about her.

  “Last I checked this was my house and I didn’t know I had to “discuss” anything with anybody,” Cheron snapped, raising an eyebrow at Kenterris.

  She couldn’t figure out what had gotten into him. It wasn’t like him to be on some controlling bullshit. This was totally out of character for him.

  “I’m sorry girl, don’t pay him any attention.” Cheron offered apologizes to Sonnet in an attempt to defuse the awkward situation.

  Little did she know Sonnet was savoring every minute of her and Kenterris’ bickering.

  “It’s ok girl. I’m sure I caught Kenterris off guard. He probably thought y’all were going to be alone. Don’t let me stop y’all, I’ll go in my room.”

  “No, you won’t, stay put,” Cheron insisted.

  “Yeah Sonnet, you stay put. Fuck it, I’m out,” Kenterris replied.

  Sonnet sat back in her seat and smirked as Kenterris stormed past Cheron and headed towards the front door.

  “What the hell is wrong with you?” Cheron asked as she followed Kenterris out the door and to his car. “Why did you have to act like that towards Sonnet? The poor girl just got put out of her place and lost everything. I know you aren’t tripping off of me helping out a friend.”

  Kenterris hopped in his vehicle and slammed the door. He rolled down the window and listened to Cheron finish her rant before responding.

  “You right Cheron, that’s your friend. Do whatever you need to do to help her out.”

  With that, he slid on his shades, rolled up his window, and pulled off. Cheron stood in the middle of the sidewalk in disbelief at what had just transpired.

  By now, Sonnet was in her room peeping out of her window. She giggled at the sight of Cheron and Kenterris’ fairytale finally showing some cracks. After the way Kenterris treated her and kicked her to the curb like she was trash, she reveled in the thought of their union being destroyed once and for all.

  “Look at that bitch thinking she’s Miss Perfect,” she said to herself as she watched Cheron head back up the front walk.

  It was only a matter of time before she put Kenterris on blast for cheating on Cheron with her. All she needed to do was wait for the perfect moment to strike. She would lay out her list of demands to Kenterris, and if he still wanted to act brand new she would tell Cheron everything. Fuck it, if she couldn’t have him to herself why should they be happy? And while she was at it, she may as well get something out of the deal.

  “Kenterris thinks I’m a toy. I’m bout’ to show his ass how to get played.”

  Chapter 2- Swerve

  “Hey, can I talk to you for a minute?” Cheron asked as she popped her head in the bathroom where Sonnet was curling her hair.

  “Yeah wassup?”

  “I just wanted to apologize again for the way Kenterris acted.”

  “Girl it’s all good, he probably was just shocked to see me here,” she responded glancing at her through the mirror.

  “Shocked or not, there was no excuse for the way he acted towards you. I mean really? Asking you what the hell you are doing here? I don’t know what’s gotten into him.”

  Cheron was embarrassed and angered by Kenterris’ behavior. He always seemed to have some sort of agitation when it came to Sonnet, but she could never seem to figure out why.

  Sonnet turned and faced her friend.

  “Cheron, I told you don’t worry about it girl, you know how men be tripping sometimes.”

  “Yeah, but his ass was totally out of line. Did you see the way he stormed out of here, anyway, enough about him. What do you have on your agenda today? I was gonna go through the closet in that room you are sleeping in and see if it was some things that you might be able to use.

  I know she ain’t trying to offer me no damn hand me downs, Sonnet thought.

  “I don’t have anything planned, but you don’t have to do that.”

  “Please, I insist. It broke my heart to see the way people were starting to carry your stuff away. Besides I have a ton of nice things with the tags still on them.”

  It was true, even though Cheron’s style was classier and more understated than Sonnet’s, she still rocked the latest fashions at a more affordable price. The ironic part was the fact that she could actually afford to buy ten pair of red bottoms for each pair that Sonnet had to get someone else to purchase for her. She just felt like her money was better spent diversifying her portfolio with money markets, cd’s, savings bonds, and maxing out her Roth IRA.

  However, she was still a woman that loved to shop, and for that reason every closet in her house was packed to capacity with more clothes than she would ever get a chance to wear in a lifetime.

  There was no way she was going to sit back and watch her friend suffer while she lived in excess. She knew that Sonnet could be stubborn sometimes but it was time to let go of her pride and accept the help, point blank.

  “I also forgot to tell you that I was talking to a few of my connections over at IBM. I might be able to pull some strings and get
you in at one of the corporate offices. It will be entry level starting out of course, but the pay is good, and you can work your way up. It’s about time you put that degree to use anyway.”

  Cheron couldn’t wait to hear her friend’s response to the good news. Surely she would be excited.

  Sonnet tried her best not to let the displeasure show on her face. There was no way she was taking any handouts from Cheron, it was bad enough that she had to stay with her till she got on her feet. She wasn’t about to add wearing her mammyfied clothes to the list, she had to draw the line somewhere. And besides, they didn’t even wear the same size. And who the hell told her to be asking around about a damn job for her?

  Girl bye... this heffa is thicka than a snicka, how in the hell does she expect my petite frame to fit into anything in that closet? I gotta get the hell up outta here before she starts tryna’ play dress up Barbie with my ass. And I ain’t working for no damn IBM. She must have forgotten who she was talking to. I fuck CEO’s, not work for them! She needs to mind her damn business!”

  “You know what girl? I forgot I did have some errands that I needed to run today,” Sonnet responded, hoping to divert her friend’s attention away from her original plan.

  “Oh well that’s fine, but have you been listening to anything I just said? I might be able to get you in at IBM.” Cheron replied with excitement in her voice.

  “Yeah, I heard you the first time... I really didn’t need you to do that. Damn Cheron, can you please mind your own business?”

  The agitation was now showing plain as day on Sonnet’s face and in her attitude.

  Cheron was taken aback, “well excuse me Miss Thang for trying to help. Whatever... we aren’t done with this conversation. So you need me to drop you off anywhere?”

  “Nah... I might be out for a while. I was hoping I could use your other car though,” Sonnet asked.

  “Uhmm well I haven’t really been driving that car because I’ve been lazy about getting it tuned up, but I guess it would be ok if you aren’t going very far.”

  The other vehicle that they were speaking of was a Ford Festiva that Cheron’s parents bought her when she graduated high school. She never drove the car but she held on to it for sentimental reasons. Plus it still had a good engine under the hood and came in handy whenever she needed to have work done on her main whip.

  “I’m not going far at all, I promise. I wanna go check up on my family, then after that I’ll pretty much be in the neighborhood.

  “Alright well lemme’ go grab the keys,” Cheron replied.

  Upon returning and handing Sonnet the car keys, she reminded her to take it easy on the ride and informed her that there was pretty much a full tank of gas.

  “I have barely driven it since I filled it up. Hopefully it should be enough to get you around for the day. I can give you a few more bucks if you want to fill it up all the way.....” she responded as she pulled out her wallet.

  “Cheron no, I’m sure it will be more than enough gas. Plus you have done enough already. I really appreciate this girl, I’ll catch up with you later.”

  With that Sonnet snatched up her purse and headed out the door. This would be one of many times she would dodge Cheron when the subject of getting a job or taking handouts were concerned.

  Chapter 3 –New Beginnings

  “Who is it?” Lexi asked angrily after responding to the knock at the door but not seeing anyone when she looked out the peep hole. “That better not be them bad ass kids from next door.”

  Just as she was about to walk away the person knocked again. This time she was able to catch her neighbor’s eight-year-old son jumping off of the side of her porch.

  “Imma whoop his lil’ ass,” she snapped as she yanked the door open.

  “Javon! Boy come back here.”

  “Yes ma’am.... hi, Miss Lexi,” the child replied, sensing he was about to be scolded.

  “Javon why are you knocking on my door and running, yo’ momma know you over here horsing around?”

  Who the hell am I kidding, that bitch probably don’t even know where this child is at.

  It was a damn shame how much weed she smoked in front of her kids. They little asses stayed high. Verdell was a 23-year-old, mother of two boys, Javon, who was eight, and his little brother Justin who was three.

  Lexi was the last person to judge anybody for getting they smoke on but at least she waited till Quantez was asleep. The chick’s house next door damn near looked like it was on fire because so much smoke came out her windows.

  Hell the one and only time Lexi did step inside her house to talk to her she got an instant contact. The boys couldn’t help but inhale that shit. The three year olds eyes stayed low.

  And to make matters worse this heffa stayed borrowing something. Every other day she was sending the kids over for sugar, flour, cooking oil. Whatever her lazy ass didn’t feel like going to the market for. Lexi had half a mind to cuss her ass out. The only reason she didn’t was because she felt sorry for the kids, but this shit had to stop.

  “My momma sent me over here,” he replied.

  I should’ve known, Lexi thought. “So why are you playing around? What does she need?” I know her begging ass needs something.

  “My momma wanna know can she borrow a roll of toilet paper?”

  “Borrow.... a roll of toilet paper?” This trifling bitch.

  Lexi let out a deep sigh. “Yeah, Javon come on in while I grab it.” She had never in her days of living in the hood seen a chick that stayed begging.

  It was her own fault, Darius tried to tell her long ago not to start anything she didn’t want to have to keep up, and damned if he wasn’t right.

  As Lexi made her way to the laundry room to grab a roll of tissue Javon followed close behind her.

  “Miss Lexi...”

  “What is it Javon?”

  “My momma said while you getting the toilet tissue can she borrow an incense and a light bulb too?”

  “Aww hell naw! This ain’t damn Walmart. Tell your momma this is all I have. If she needs something else tell her to come and ask me herself,” she replied as she saw Javon to the door.

  After sending Javon on his way, Lexi hooked up a quick meal of fried tilapia, French fries and Cole slaw. She had to cook for her and Quantez, but she also wanted to make sure that Darius had something to eat in case he stopped by after work. Normally it would just be her and Quantez eating alone however by now Darius was practically spending the night every other day. It was to the point where she had given him a key.

  So much had changed over the past few months. She hadn’t spoken to Sonnet since she called to tell her she had been kicked out. Despite any differences they may have had, Lexi had to admit that she missed her friend. Part of her felt bad about not coming when Sonnet called her for help but the truth of the matter was she was tired of being used.

  Still, Lexi couldn’t help but wonder and hope she was ok. Knowing Sonnet she was most likely laid up in one of her nigga’s cribs figuring out how she could hit some switches. No matter how many times Lexi wanted to pick up the phone and call Sonnet she couldn’t bring herself to do it. Despite Darius’ persuading she was determined that Sonnet would have to call her first and apologize for how she clowned on her about the funeral. Hell she didn’t mean to set it off at her granny’s service but Sonnet was about to get her ass handed to her by her cousins. If anything she should have been glad she was there to help. This was truly a lessoned learned. Friend or not, from now on she was staying out of family business.

  Just as she took the last piece of fish out the hot grease, Darius walked through the door.

  “What smells so good up in here? You frying fish?” Darius asked as he made his way to Lexi to get some suga and give her the surprise he had for her.

  “Hey boo, how was your day?”

  “Long as hell, but I’ll live. Here you go.”

  “What is this for?” Lexi asked as she counted the stack of $20.00 bills Darius had
just handed her.

  “It’s for you, buy yourself something nice bae.”

  “Are you sure?” Lexi squealed with excitement but couldn’t help being a tad bit suspicious.

  True enough Darius was doing a damn good job of holding down his position at the plant. But she couldn’t understand where he would get an extra $500.00 just to blow. She secretly prayed that he hadn’t started trappin again.

  “Of course I’m sure, you deserve it,” he responded as he made his way to the living room and kicked off his shoes. Darius beamed with pride at the fact that he was finally able to do something nice for Lexi aside from paying child support and catching a few bills.

  “Oh, I know I deserve it,” she chuckled. “I just wonder where....”

  “Wonder where what, Lexi?” Darius snapped with a frosty response. “Where I got the money? Can’t a man do something nice for his woman without being questioned about it?”

  “Look nigga I’m just keeping it one hunnit. It ain’t like you got the best track record. I know you been working and all. And believe me nobody is more proud of you than me.”

  “Damn right I have been working, like a damn slave. So what’s the issue again? You think a nigga back in these streets?”

  Darius was beginning to get vexed at the fact that Lexi didn’t trust him to keep his word and not start hustling again.

  “Look Darius, I’m just scared ok. I mean things are really going good between us right now, plus your probation will be over next month. I just don’t want you doing anything to mess it up. Quantez likes having his daddy around and well, so do I,” Lexi responded with a bit of disappointment in her voice. The initial excitement she had from seeing the money was quickly fading.

  “Lemme tell you something baby girl, I worked for every last dime of that money. I got that foreman job that I put in for.”

  “I’m so happy for you baby! When did you find out?” she replied as she threw her arms around him. He was damn lucky to even have that job based on his past record, and now he was being promoted. This was wonderful news.