Salty: A Ghetto Soap Opera (Drama In The Hood) (6 page)

Thirty minutes later, Jazz was walking into the kitchen with her mother.

"Hey, sweetie." Pam said to Jazz upon her entering the kitchen.

"Good morning, mom." Jazz replied.

"Jazz, I thank you for last night. But next time stay out of it. You could have gotten yourself hurt."

Pam’s eyes began to water thinking about losing her only reason for wanting to live life to the fullest. It has been so many times that Pam wanted to give up on life, but when Jazz came to mind she knew she was needed in this world. She knew Jazz only wanted to help, but she couldn't have that. It was her job to protect her. Not the other way around.

"And you couldn't have? Mommy you risk your life everyday by doing what you do. Mom these men have girlfriends and wives. What if you get a stalker? No, what if you have AIDS?”

Pam’s heart dropped. She wished all night that Jazz hadn't heard that part.

“
Mommy, you say you love dad. Then love just him. You have to leave all these different men alone.”

Pam was saved by the horn from the cab notifying them that he had arrived. Both Jazz and her mother gathered their things and headed out the door to the awaiting cab. When they got in front of the school, Jazz kissed her mother on the cheek, and before exiting the car she asked her to promise to take an AIDS test. Pam told her after she picked up her truck from the shop her next stop would be the doctor’s office. That put a hopeful smile on Jazz’s face. When the test came back clear, Jazz would ask her again to leave the men alone.

Chapter 3

Orientation was over; it went well. Jazz, Laurie and a few other girls they went to high school with decided that was the school for them. They couldn’t wait to start and enjoy the college life. Jazz lingered behind talking to two girls she knew, while Laurie walked ahead. Her brother had called and told her he was driving around looking for her. When she spotted his Benz she called out to Jazz.

"Hurry up, girl." Jazz, was talking to some of their other friends in the campus parking lot. Jazz said her goodbyes to the two girls she was talking to and ran to catch up with Laurie.

"Girl my impatient brother is taking us to practice. My momma got caught up at work." Laurie informed her.

"No problem girl I'm glad you called me, I didn't feel like hearing what they were talking about. They forever got Yay’s name in their mouths."

"What was they saying, girl?"

Jazz debated if she should tell Laurie or not, she knew if she did Laurie’s mouth would get a little loose. Laurie couldn't stand Yay and Yay didn't care for her either. Laurie looked at Jazz from the corner of her eyes.

"I already know Yay-Yay is a ho. So you don't have to tell me that part."

"Don't start." Jazz pleaded with Laurie.

“
I’m not. That’s your cousin. I don’t have to deal with her shady ass, but you do. I guess."

Jazz didn’t respond.

The girls approached the Mercedes, and Diesel, Laurie’s brother, got out to open their doors. He first opened the back passenger seat of the car door and Laurie got in. He then opened the driver back door and Jazz got in. Once they both were in, Jazz and Laurie looked at each other.

Who is the white girl?
They thought.

Diesel caught their expression and smiled exposing his deep dimples. Diesel looked in his rear view mirror as if reading the ladies’ minds, he spoke.

"Ladies this is my new friend, Savanna." He smiled at the two and they smiled back.  Both girls spoke and so did Savanna.

"Did you guys meet at school?" Laurie asked.

"No, I met him on my job." Savanna replied.

"Stop being nosey, momma," Diesel teased.

He turned the radio up. He knew his nosey little sisters’ next question would be where she worked, and the silly chick probably would have told them a strip club.  

Diesel is twenty years old; he attends USC on a full basketball scholarship. Word is he may be drafted before he finishes school. He'll find out in a few months. He and Laurie are also the children of the late Bones, a famous Jazz player who was killed in a car accident. Their father’s insurance money and royalties left them more paid than they already are. The Kenslow family always had money; their mother is a big time attorney. However, she doesn’t spoil the kids like Bones used to do. She made them work for what they wanted. Unlike most rich parents, she taught her kids the value of a dollar. Yeah they had maids and lived in a mansion over in Ladera Heights but they were far from the spoiled rich brats that Diesel chose to hang with. His mother couldn’t stand the kids D hung with; if their parents ran out of money they were destined for failure. D really didn’t like them either, but they were the only ones that accepted him for what he is: a handsome, blue eyed, biracial dude with money. People often said he looked like a mixed Justin Timberlake and had a body like Tyson Beckford. The girls love him, and jocks and the other dudes in his circle praise him. For one, he had skills on the court that kept their school winning ball games, and for two, it was because of him all the fine, sexy, and unattractive girls came around. Diesel is single and plans on staying that way. Thanks to his ex, Shannon; she left him for his once best friend. He promised himself that he would never mess with another black girl; she could be mixed, but not fully black. With the exception of his mother, he thought black girls were scandalous. He wasn’t trying to get serious with anyone anyway; he’s too young to settle down. He was a fool for trying the first time, now he’s about to get drafted; he was good. So why was he secretly admiring Jazz? It was just something about her that turned him on. Was it her sassy, but intelligent talk? Was it her perfect coke bottle frame? Was it the way she carried herself, sweet and neat, or was it the fact that she never paid him any attention? Most of his sister’s friends stayed in his face; they seem as if they only befriended his sister to get close to him. Not jazz; she was different.
That girl ain't no more than sixteen or seventeen. Plus she's my sister’s friend.
He thought as he held the door open for Jazz to exit the car.  
But damn she’s fine, an innocent fine.

 
"Thanks D for the ride." Jazz said and walked toward the studio.

"You're welcome." He called out behind her.

It was the smile in his voice that made Jazz turn around and smile one more time at him before entering the doors of the studio. Laurie felt the vibe but kept it to herself. It was innocent flirting she assumed.

The entire ride to Savanna’s apartment, Diesel was thinking about Jazz’s young ass.

"Thanks for a good time.” Diesel told Savanna as they pulled up in front of her place.

He had met her early that morning at an after hour. One thing lead to another and they ended up getting their freak on. He would have been dropped her off, but he had an emergency meeting at the college and after he had to pick up Laurie from orientation.

"You're welcome. I hope this won't be the last time I see you."

Diesel smiled.

“
Nah, I'll be back up there real soon. As a matter of fact, my boy’s leaving to go play football in Arizona in a few weeks. We’re giving him a going away party. Gather some of the girls from the club and come do the party." 

She didn't have anybody to do the party with, she didn't fuck with none of the bitches at the club, and the one friend that she had was dead. But she wouldn’t tell him that. She was trying to see him as much as possible. There where dollar signs written all over him. She was going to find somebody to do the party with her.  

"Alright just let me know. I still hope you use my number before then."

She got out the car and headed for the house. Diesel pulled off, heading back to the dance studio with Jazz on his mind.

Normally when Diesel had to pick his sister up from dance he'd either come back when it was over or wait in the car. Not today, he decided to go inside to watch Laurie and her friend do their thing. Damn she's good, Diesel thought as he watched Jazz lead the group. The way she moved her body to the beat and the moves she mastered, she could easily become the most desired choreography in the industry. Debbie Allen’s studio housed some great dancers, but Jazz was beyond hot; she was bad. One of the dance instructors noticed Diesel and went over to introduce herself. She knew who he was, Laurie’s fine ass brother but he didn't know who she was. She was the Latin cutie that could make him love again. Laurie told her all about the girl that broke his heart.

"Hey, guy." She said stealing Diesel’s attention from Jazz.

"Hey, yourself." Diesel replied eying the physically fit but not too cute admirer.

***********                     

Pam could not stop thinking about the lady confronting her about giving her and her husband AIDS.
Who the fuck was the bitch?
Pam thought.
Did the bitch follow me, how did she know where I lived?
  Why would she assume I gave it to him? Pam didn't get that part. Pam looked at the clock on her Infinity truck. Jazz would be coming out any minute. She had to pull herself together. She went in her purse, pulled out a pill bottle, took a piece a paper out of her glove compartment, and poured a little of the white product on it and sniffed it all in two sniffs. She leaned her head back and let the product do what it was supposed to do: erase problems. Since the product was pure, meaning uncut, it only took a few minutes for it to take effect. Pam lifted her head up just in time to see Jazz saying her goodbyes to Laurie. She smiled at the guy who couldn't take his eyes off Jazz.
Look at my baby flirting
, she thought as she watched Jazz smile and wave bye to Diesel, and then she had the nerve to put on a cold walk. She gets it from her mommy, Pam said aloud.

"Hi, beautiful." Was the way Pam greeted Jazz.

"Hi, mommy." Jazz replied, and shut the door.

Pam couldn't pull off good before Jazz hit her with the question...

Jazz wanted to know if she had taken the AIDS test, she told her that she did and the results would be back in 72hrs. She also insured her that she wasn't infected.
When will I ever get the guts to tell her the truth
? 

Pam looked over at her daughter; she could see worry written all over her face. She had to cheer her up.

"You feel like shopping?"

Jazz’s eyes got big and so did her smile.

"Of course, diva." She said.  

They both laughed.

"Divas rolling." Pam cheered as they pulled off en route to the South Coast Plaza.

******

A few hours later

Jazz and Pam where leaving out the mall when her cell phone began to sing Soldier by Destiny’s Child. Her hands were full of bags so she couldn't answer it.

"Yay-Yay is going to be mad that we went shopping and didn't tell her. Pam said.

"How you know that's Yay-Yay?"

"The ring tone, duh!”

"You think you know our life?" Jazz teased and they both laughed.

By the time the two reached Pam's car and put the bags into the trunk, Jazz’s cell rang again; it was Yay-Yay again. This time Jazz was able to answer.

"What, chick?" Is how she greeted Yay-Yay.

"Bitch where you at? You come the fuck to Peter’s house now!"

“
What’s up? I'm with my momma; what happened?"

Pam looked at Jazz. She wondered what drama her niece had going on today. Yay was always getting herself into some mess and just like her momma; who called on Pam to help her out of a bind. Yay called on Jazz. Yay-Yay was going on and on about some bitch being over Peter's house talking shit. And how she believed she was fucking Peter; that's all Jazz needed to hear.

"Peter's house." She told her mother.

What bitches Peter got over here now?
Jazz thought.
If it ain't one thing it’s another.

"What happened?" Pam’s question pulled Jazz away from her thoughts.