Sidney Berry had her life planned out: after high school go to culinary school, become a world-renowned chef and marry her childhood sweetheart, Aiden. But after a tragic incident that shakes her world at the end of her senior year, her plans derail...
"I chose to be here. I know what I'm in." Frenchie addressed all of them in the room as they surrounded her. It was so quiet you could hear a pin drop. Her funny comments and crotch tugging were gone. Frenchie was serious. Sid was terrified.
"I've been a fuck up for a long while. It's my choice. But I know everybody don't choose this. You ain't choose what happened to your Pops. Phil, he ain't made for this shit and didn't choose it. I suppose ya'll didn't either." She threw her hand that was holding the cigarette out at Nixon and Chante who both averted their eyes. Sid knew what they were feeling. Like children that had somehow fallen into the lion's den after leaning too far over the rail. Now there was no way out but through the lion.
"How is he? Phil." Frenchie asked quietly.
"Had to have surgery but he's recovering." The reversal of roles wasn't lost on Sid. She remembered stalking Frenchie and begging her to put her in touch with Phil but here she was. His emergency contact of some sort. He'd been exiled from his 'family'. Things had changed so drastically so quickly. The quickness of it all made her head spin. She suddenly felt the need to take a moment. To halt this train that was barreling through the station on its own steam.
But instead, she thought about what Kru might be doing right at this moment. While she was here plotting his demise was he destroying another life? Or doing something mundane like napping or taking a piss? Sid could hardly picture him doing something so banal, so human. She looked at Frenchie who wore a pained expression across her caramel skin.
"He shouldn't have done that shit to Phil, man. That hurt me. Went too far with that. That's family regardless, you know?" Frenchie seemed to be convincing herself more than everyone in the room. Weighing whatever collateral she'd given Kru against the sheer devastation that he causes anyone who crosses him.
"I know you said he helped you...but people who use their help to control others are not helping. They're vultures. Kru is great at knowing when someone is at the edge of desperation..." She thought of her father wanting to run his own restaurant more than anything in the world. Of her, wanting to rescue Phil from Kru's grips and how he laughed. Smiled and enjoyed it. Made her do his bidding to get what she wanted. "He dangles exactly what they need. But he dangles it off the edge of a cliff. So as soon as you reach for it, you slip. And only he can reach out and save you."
Only the whir of the air conditioner could be heard in the room. Sid's own breath had leveled out, her head had stopped swirling as she spoke. Nixon and Chante were both statues on opposite sides of the room. Neither moving a muscle but everyone's eyes were trained on Frenchie. They watched as she pulled on the cigarette until her chest caved with the effort. The stream of smoke she released seemed to go on forever, curling around the room, touching each of them.
"I can't help you." She said as she took another drag. Sid felt herself deflate as the mountain in front of her suddenly seemed immovable. She was still in fighting mode though, determined to get this done by any means. She started to speak but Frenchie held up a hand to quiet her.
"I won't help you. But I'll make sure no one gets in your way." Sid couldn't help but smile at Frenchie. She went over to her and threw her arms around Frenchie's neck.
"Thank you. Thank you so much."
"Aight now, baby girl. Don't get something started you can't finish." Frenchie pulled Sid away from her and visibly checked out Sid's thighs in her jeans before shaking her head in satisfaction. Nixon started laughing and soon their whole hodgepodge crew was erupting in laughter. The sound seemed so foreign. Everything about them was mismatched, in this daycare surrounded by toys plotting to take down the neighborhood kingpin. But if Sid learned anything about the world, it's that you can only expect the unexpected to happen.
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ONLY 4 PARTS LEFT! We are in the final stretch good people. This story is connecting me with such great people on here in these Wattpad streets. The love is real and I'm so grateful ya'll love Sid and her messed up ass lmao! I'll have another part up on Sunday. ❤❤❤ALSOSALE SALE SALE! My novel "Say When" is available for just $0.99 today (11/27/2020) through Cyber Monday (11/30/2020) ! If you have been enjoying "All She Can Take" you'll probably like my other joint too so go give it a peek. Just search "Say When by Athena Hernandez" on Amazon and you'll see it POW right on your screen, lol. You can even read the first few chapters for FREE right here on Wattpad!You know you spend more than that on taquitos at 7-Eleven! Stop playing, lol! Love you guys and check it out if you can.
