Shantii
I pulled out a few pots and pans to cook. I heard Keshina and Quinn in the living room asking for food but I ignored them, they know that if they're in my house, they'll be fed. I wasn't all that hungry myself, seeing Quinn and Keshina together made me lose my appetite quickly.
They rarely argue and when they do, it never lasts for a whole day. Jaylon and I, however, are always in an argument. The things he does, the way he acts, it shouldn't be this damn hard to keep a relationship healthy. I want him with every part of me, but my needs outweights my wants.
I feel like if you can go a day without talking to me, and you're wrong, that says a lot. Almost everyday now I feel under appreciated, and this isn't something I plan on getting used to. I know what I deserve, so if he can't step up to meet my standards, love or not, I'll have to leave.
I understand if I was asking for much. But I'm not. I'm simply asking to be treated as his equal, to be loved. That can't be that hard.
Pushing that to the back of my mind, I reached into the freezer and grabbed two packs of thawed chicken wings and drumsticks. It was about fifty pieces so I pulled out a big silver bowl and tossed all of them inside. I pulled out my seasonings and a bag of flour and started cleaning the chicken.
I seasoned them with a little salt and pepper, and several coats of lemon pepper. I placed them in the oven on 375 degrees for about 40-45 minutes and then placed them under the broiler to make them crispy since I didn't feel like frying them.
When the wings finished, I tossed in some pre-cooked seasoned French fries. While those finished off, I prepared Keshina a fruit salad. I topped it with grapes, pineapples, strawberry and bananas, whip cream on the side for dipping.
"Shantii you taking forever man, I smell food!" Keshina yelled and I rolled my eyes. She is always so hungry, this baby has her craving foods that she knows she can't eat.
I walked out to the livingroom and handed her her fruit plate. "The fuck is this? Oh hell no, I smell chicken but I'm getting this?" she snapped and tried to get up. "Doing too much," I pressed her back into her seat.
She grabbed it, and very reluctantly, started eating. I walked off into the kitchen and waited a few minutes before calling Quinn in. I handed him half of the wings and gave him some of the fries. I took my half and started dipping the wings in bleu cheese.
"Where you learn to cook?" he sat down and ripped the meat off of the bone. I laughed and poured me a cupful of pineapple Fanta. "Where y'all at? Why'd y'all just leave me?" Keshina's voice was muffled with tears.
"Bae I'm in here," Quinn stuffed his chicken down his throat. "If you choke, I am not taking you to the hospital," I creased my forehead. "Nah 'cause if she sees this food, she gon' be begging for some and you know she can't be eating this type of food," he wolfed down his fries.
"True," I spoke but refused to eat any faster. It was true, Shina would have a fit if she saw us eating but as a mother now, there would have to be sacrifices, she had to understand that.
Shina started paddling her little ass into the kitchen and stared at us. She looked down at her plate of fruits in her hand and stomped over. "How the fuck yall gon' be munching on wings and shit and gon' hand me some fruits. And it's lemon pepper too!" she crossed her arms.
"Because we aren't pregnant," I laughed. "Man fuck you," she slid into Quinns lap to beg for food.
"Please."
"No."
"Just one."
"No!"
"Okay, a bite?"
"NO," he yelled in her face and moved her out of his lap. I laughed behind my hands, surprised. To convince him, she started grabbing on his jeans and that was my cue. "Alright, I'm out," I finished my last wing and headed to my room.
I missed Jaylon a lot but it seemed like my feelings wasn't a priority to him. I knew he was in his hospital bed all alone and I felt terrible for leaving him when he needed me. Even though he told me to.
I shook my head and put on a black Tupac T-shirt, distressed blue jeans and all black Huaraches. I threw a black leather jacket over my shoulders and prepared to leave. I sweeped my hair up into a messy bun and glossed my lips before heading downstairs.
Immediately, the sound and stench of sweaty skin smacking together echoed around me. "Oh hell... I pray you are not doing that on my mothers table!" I yelled, midstep. They froze. I covered my eyes and walked towards the door, "All I know is it better be clean when I come back," I rolled my eyes in disgust and slid out of the door.
I slid into my silver KIA and made my way to the hospital. I made a stop at a local gas station to fill up the gas tank and to get Jay a few snacks. I knew just how disgusting hospital food was.
I paid for the snacks and gas before heading back to my car and driving to the hospital lot. I slid out of my car and headed to the check in booth. I asked for Jaylon Reckley.
"Oh yes, it says here he was supposed to be released today but no one came for him?" she looked up from the computer. "He's eighteen, he can't check himself out?" I raised an eyebrow. "We are informed of that, but on crutches and no vehicle? How is he to get home?" she asked, her voice full of attitude. "Whatever, what's his room number?" I placed a hand on the counter. "302," she sipped from her latte.
I ignored the way she said it and focused on getting there instead. I counted the rooms as I rounded the hallway.
238........
251.....
276............
290...........
301..........
302. When I reached the door, I walked inside without knocking. I looked around the room once then twice to confirm that no one was really in here. I rolled my eyes. I hope this bitch didn't give me the wrong door number.
I walked further into the room and noticed his phone on the bed side table. So this was his room, but where was he?
I heard a toilet flush and turned just in time for the bathroom door to open. There he was, looking just as fine as he wanted to be. It was so hard to be mad at him in person, especially when he had on crutches and was limping terribly.
I winced and helped him out. "Hey baby," he kissed my cheek. I nodded, a little disappointed that it was my cheek but we weren't all the way cool yet. "Lay down," I helped him get settled under the covers before sitting down in the chair.
"You okay?" We locked eyes as he spoke, "Yeah, I'm just ready to leave." I nodded. "I know baby, what about your parents? How come they haven't checked you out yet?" I asked. "Parents? Shantii they don't give a fuck about me. I could be dead, rolled over in my grave, and they still wouldn't come see about me," he shook his head.
"Yo don't say that, how do you know they were even notified about you being in the hospital?" I asked. "Because they called, asked me was I okay and would I die. I said no and they hung up. The fuck type shit is that, it was hi and bye like the fuck? I don't claim them as parents," he said it in a way I knew he was hurt.
"Damn. They're your parents, they're supposed to be by your side, why the fuck they aint here?" I raised my voice. It made me mad that he was getting neglected at a time like this. Especially by his parents. Under no circumstances is that okay.
