She watched as the rain belted down on the window of the car. She watched as they drove through the familiar rugged neighborhood.
However, the piss on the sidewalk and broken bottles were replaced with greenery and large upscale homes that she hasn't seen besides tv. That's if, her mother let her watch it.
She looked on in amazement at the new strange neighborhood, she then looked over at her mother whose hands were gripping the steering wheel and her face painted with determination.
She scanned over her matted up black hair, wide eyes that were darkened underneath with bags. She looked over her dirty ripped clothes that she wore. She watched on as her mother fidgeted in her seat and scratched at her skin.
This wasn't the first time her mother and her took late night rides like this. She was used to sitting in an alley or empty parking lot while her mother was accompanied by others. She was used to staying so long that she would fall asleep in the car or having to go in the room to go get her mom.
There she would find her unconscious on the floor or on pissy mattress or other times she found men fondling her mother or her performing oral sex in exchange for her habit.
Crack cocaine.
She knew better than to ask her mother questions as she didn't want to agitate her but this was a new scene that she was unprepared for.
"Mama where are we going?" She looked over with innocent eyes.
Daisy glanced at her child. She desperately wanted to answer her and even turn the car back around but the habit that she had for years now was winning and she could no longer fight the monkey off her back.
"Be quiet, we're almost stopping now. Now sit back and hush up" she dismissed her daughter.
She did as she was told and waited patiently for a sign as to where she was going.
Almost 20 minutes later and her mother was pulling up to a gated house. She rung the buzzer on the box. As she pulled up into the gate, her young daughter was amazed. The driveway was lined with bushes and lights. There was a lit fountain that perched in the middle of the lawn. Her mother had to circle the fountain to avoid it. Once they pulled up to the house, her mouth was further gaped. She admired the beautiful home as it stood on top of the slight hill. This was different compared to the neighborhood she was from, and the multiple places she was forced to sleep.
When her mother, exited she didn't hesitate to exit out either and skipped next to her. She was so excited to see what the new place had in store for them. She was tired of sleeping in the car, motels, or over at her mother's friend's houses. She was hoping this was their new home as she dreamed of escaping her reality and being like those princess she seen on tv or read about.
"Ma, is this our new house? It's beautiful" she beamed.
However, her smile faded when she landed her eyes on the familiar face. She seen this man before, she would never forget his face. His presence is something like darkness and it captivates you. He's like a bad car wreck, you want to look away but can't. He's dark as night, tall built and was muscular. His dark eyes had a look that scared even the most gangster man in town. His right eye had a scar right below it. His teeth was all white, but you rarely saw his teeth.
If you did, run.
The young girl backed away from him with a gasp and held on to her mother's leg. She was afraid.
He gave her a smirk and waved at her.
"Hello little one" he tried his best to be civil.
She held onto her mother, burying her face.
"I don't think she likes me much Daisy"
"It doesn't matter, she'll get used to you. You got my shit?" Daisy dismissed his comment.
He chuckled.
"Some people don't deserve to be parents"
She flicked him off as she waited in anticipation for what she came here for.
"PEACHES" he exclaimed toward the door.
He threw a plastic bag toward Daisy. Within it were smaller bags of the crack rock. She clutched the bag as if it were precious to her as her daughter clutched her leg.
"What?" A woman appeared at the door.
"What the fuck are they doing here?" Peaches asked with her arms folded.
Rodrick never brought his business into their home. Never brought customers here, he left that to the streets. Therefore, he would have solitude at his home as well as if the feds were sniffing, they would never find anything in his home to implicate him or his precious peaches.
"Peach, say hello to your new daughter" he smiled at her.
"What the hell?" Peaches said.
That's right Daisy, the girl's mother sold her 8 year old daughter for crack rock.
~
17 years later
PRESENT DAY
"Hello"
"Hello"
"Are you fucking listening?" Natalie waved at her friend that was daydreaming.
Her friend adjusted in her seat just opposite of her and cleared her throat.
"I'm sorry girl, I was in my head again for a moment there"
Which is something she often does when she is triggered with thoughts of her mother.
"So are you going to do it or what?" Natalie asked again.
"Do what?" Tayler sipped on her water.
"So you weren't listening? Look, I need you to come on this double date with me"
"A double date? Hell no, not going to happen. Next case please" she scowled and folded her arms.
"Aweee come on Tay please, this guy could be a complete psychopath" Natalie reasoned.
"Oh yeah, let me come with you so we both can get killed by him and his friend. Good job Nat, I should've thought of that" sarcasm oozed from her words.
"Pretty please" Natalie pleaded.
"No uh, you can beg. I don't care, remember the last time you hooked me up?"
"I don't recall" she sipped on her mimosa.
"I sure can. The boy asked me for a ride AFTER the date was over"
"And you know what? When I asked him how he got there, he said his mom dropped him off Nat!"
"Wow so the man didn't have a car so what?" Natalie shrugged.
"His mother Natalie" she said more annoyed.
She giggled at her friend's dramatics.
"Then when I was nice enough to give him a ride, do you know that fool asked me for gas money so he could give to his mama. Talking about he short and he felt bad his mom had to drive him over there"
She laughed louder as her friend held a straight face.
"That was that one time"
"One time? Ok what about Paul, the married man. His wife showed up! And what about Chris-"
"Oh he was fine! You can't tell me he wasn't"
"Yeah he was, but I found him taking the silverware off the tables and taking napkins" Tayler added.
"That's not bad, I take extra napkins out of restaurants all the time"
"I saw the man try to steal out of my purse. IN FRONT OF ME" she loudly whispered.
Her friend just laughed more at her.
"Now that I'm thinking about it, you are a trifling friend and I don't even know why I associate myself with you" she shrugged.
"Because you love me and you'd do anything for me. Besides what about the bad date you stuck me with? Remember Jeremy" Natalie explained.
"Don't go there, Jeremy was a great guy. He had a job with benefits, handsome, comes from a wealthy family-"
"But he had a small dick" Natalie simply stated.
Her friend looked around to see if others were looking.
"Hey, I didn't tell you to be a tramp and jump him the first night, now did I?" Tayler asked.
"I mean he had all that you were talking about, so I just had to test him out and see what it was all about. Baby I dropped them pants, I was highly upset. Lord have mercy, it is true, all men don't have it all"
She giggled with her friend.
"I just told him to pull his pants back up and go home"
"That one wasn't on me" Tayler reasoned.
"Tay please for me" she whined.
"See all that stuff went down when neither one of us were present. If I am there then you won't have to worry about a guy stealing out of your purse and if he's a dud, I will help you leave myself" Natalie bargained.
"You promise" Tayler quirked a brow.
"Scouts honor" Natalie held up two fingers.
"You make me sick. I swear if this guy's a dud, I'm going to tell Jeremy you want another chance"
"A chance at what? To kick his ass for wasting my time"
The two continued to chat about the opposite sex and laugh.
"Seriously though, on the real. It's time for you to get back out there. I'm proud of everything you're doing at the firm, believe me I'm your biggest fan. But I know how lonely you are and how lonely you can get. Just please promise, you'll get back out there"
She knew her friend was right. She wanted to get back on the dating scene but she's been so busy at her job and just proving herself as the youngest public relations specialist that she gets sidetracked. But even that was a lie as she keeps busy to forget how lonely she really is.
It doesn't help that she was practically abandoned at a young age. Since then, she hasn't really established close relationships with others besides a few friends but she can only count them on one hand.
"I promise"
"And who knows you could meet Mr. Right" Natalie wiggled her brows.
"Yeah in this city? Yeah right"
"Ok well at least it'll be fun to get some dick" Natalie held out her tongue.
"Damn, is that all you think about?" She shook her head.
Her friend shifted her eyes, appeared to be in deep thought and finally spoke.
"Well yeah"
They giggled again.
"I hate you"
Meanwhile
"A double date? hell nah. I'm good Keith" Michael said.
"Aweee come on man"
Michael continued to shake his head in defiance. "Nuh uh, nope, no way. Hell no! What are we in 10th grade. I'm a grown ass man, I don't double date" Michael lifted his beer bottle and sipped from it.
"No man, it's just the girl I'm going out with she doesn't seem comfortable being alone with me and she wants to invite her friend but I can't have the girl third wheeling so here is where you come in"
"Oh yeah I'm supposed to take one for the team?"
"Come on man, I've never asked you to take one for the team. Besides-"
"You are so full of bull. You don't remember Stacy? I went out with her and the girl was sexually assaulting me the whole night. That chick bit her lip so hard, she started bleeding. I had to take her to the hospital after she saw blood and freaked out! And what about Amber, this girl brought a hunting knife to the date. And said I bet not play with her. And what about-"
"Ok damn, I get it bruh. But this is my last time. I promise if the girl is a grenade I'll get you out of there" Keith reasoned.
Michael sat in deep thought. He and Keith have been friends since middle school and he'd do anything for him. He always had his back, and that's why Keith knew he could count on Michael to be there for him. Besides, Michael was a good guy. He knew bringing him there would put the ladies at ease and make the night go smooth.
"Bruh, I promise, this is the last time. Just say yes"
Michael sucked his teeth. "The last time"
"My dude" Keith cheesed and clapped Michael up.
"Yeah yeah yeah but I promise the first sign that this chick is crazy I'm going home"
"No worries my friend"
Little did the two know, this blind date that was supposed to be for their friends, were actually for them.