Chapter 4.

shift was over and she was truly grateful for that. Them folks round here looking up in your face like they on some inspector type shit. This right here bothered her.

She turned off the register and she wiped down the counter, Cyn gave Reena the money she had made all in all today and packed up the stuff resting them into the basket for Reena to carry back.

"You gone be alright?" She asked.

"Yea I'm gone be just good. Thanks." She told her and she nodded.

Reena was a good friend whenever needed. She was always there for Cyn and she looked out for her. With a woman who got two girls of her very own Cyn knew why she looked out for her the way she did.

Cyn gave her a good-bye and she gave her the shop keys and started walking home. Out here was dark especially since the majority of the lights were busted out. So in other words any type of shit was bound to happen around here; Cyn didn't fear this, she thought of herself as some type of realist, she accepted shit for what it was.

Cars passed her one by one, but it was a particular car that caught her attention as it slowly rode up to her.

She felt her heartbeat quickened as she got ready to take flight but stood still as her lips parted and she was lost for words. The man looked at Cyn intensely and she recognized his face.

He cocked his head to the side and looked taken back until the look of confusion faded.

"Cyn." He chuckled, she looked at him weirdly before opening her mouth

"I don't kn-" she started

"Rodney." And she remembered it as clear as day.

"Why you ouchea so late ?" He asked her.

"I had just got off from work." She said softly looking at the ground.

"Where you live?"

"Kimbrough."

"Them apartments ?" Cyn nodded.

"Can you look at me when I'm talking to you?" She slowly raised her head and looked at him, his face went straight and it showed no emotion what-so-ever.

"What happened?"

"Its nothings ." She said trying to avoid eye contact.

"It's definitely something'." He said sounding bothered as it grew quiet for a minute

"I asked you a question." He looked her in the face and it wasn't one of those apologetic looks either.

"I fell alright."

"You lying, what happened?" He asked more sternly.

"I told you I fell." Cyn forced as he got out of the full black Escalade.

"You think I believe you?"He said stepping to her as she took a few steps back.

"I really don't care if you do." He looked around then back to her.

"Listen alright, I don't take much disrespect, and you really pushing my buttons." He said sternly.

"Lets go." He said.

"Go where?"

"I'm taking you home now bring your ass let's go."

"I-" He cut her off by giving her a stern look as she rolled her eyes in aggravation.

She studied his ride. Black Escalade sitting on 24"s whips like these were driven by niggas with dough around here; niggas who mainly did dirty work.

He opened the passenger door and Cyn looked at him, he gave her an assuring look before she got in.

Rodney finally got inside and she was more than happy cause she was feeling a bit uncomfortable although she still did.

As he started to drive Cyn sat in the back seat trying to hide the paranoia, she looked out of the window hoping to burn my time and hoped that this ride would soon be over.

"You really be ouchea late as fuck." Rodney said making small conversation.

"I gotta take care of me." Can said to him as he nodded.

"I feel you mamas..." She watched as he drove effortlessly. Like this was something that he was used to.

"I gotta make a stop first." He announced, when they had came to a stop Cyn realized that they weren't even on the west side but they were right on the border. This was awkward to her, her mind took a swing and confusion kicked in on her.

Rodney got out and walked into a house you could've sworn thought was vacant. It was run down and paint chipped from the partially painted building.

Guessing by all the things Cyn had came across tonight she was sure he was some type of dealer and not one of those playful ass pieces of shits either. There was no surprise though, with looks like his and whips like these, it gave him away.

You'd never catch a nigga in west Oak who can honestly say that they got some type of standard education, this was they're option. Some females got it, but it didn't take them very far. They get tied down with some bum nigga and got loaded and by time as she's twenty she already got four of kids each havin' a different daddy.

Cyn was graduating in the next two months and she didn't know what she was gone do maybe look for an apartment, but she knew for sure that staying around Wendell and Debra wasn't gone cut it.

Cyn watched as Rodney walked out of the building and back to the car.

"You good."

"Yea." She answered quietly.

He drove back on Cyn's side of town and he made it to the trailer park.

"Thanks." She tried to hurry and get out but he stopped her before she could've made it any further.

"Which one do you live in?" He asked.

"C7." She said and he nodded.

"You going to work tomorrow?"

"No, I'm off." She looked at the ground then back at him.

"How about Saturday?" He sounded convincing.

"Yea twelve to eight." He nodded grabbing his phone and tapping in a few things throwing his phone on Cyn's lap.

Sighing and rolling her eyes she typed in her number and got out walking to her place, Cyn raised her fist to knock on the door, but she decided against it. She walked to Travis' building and knocked on his window. He slid it up and pulled her in.

"Where you been?" He asked.

"To work Travy."

"You're an hour late Cyn." He said looking at her.

"Trust me it was nothing." He didn't bother to push the conversation instead he let it go.

He was the only one that really cared for Cyn, he made sure that she was straight, he looked out for her; and she knew it in herself that she was taking him for granted...