Anything But Royalty

ii.

Royalty Wilson|Brat

It's now Saturday afternoon, and Treasure and I are currently getting dressed to go to the park. I threw on a plain white tee, a pair of jean shorts, and a pair of white sandals. Then I did my hair in a simple puff.

I dressed Treasure in a white onesie, a pair of jean shorts, and white sandals. I packed her bag, then we left and made our way to the park.

Since the park is only a couple of blocks away, I lifted her up and we walked.

When we got to the park, I saw Aaliyah and her crew. That boy she came to my job with was there too. I didn't say anything—I just walked past them and went to the slides.

Treasure and I were playing on the slides, then she started playing in the sandbox.

Aaliyah walked over, starting s**t as usual.

"Hey lil hoe."

I looked up at her, but I didn't speak.

It's kind of hard to believe that Aaliyah and I were once best friends. After I got pregnant with Treasure, she switched up and went to school spreading rumors. Aaliyah, my mother, and I are the only ones who really know who Treasure's father is.

"So you gon act like you don't hear me speaking?" she asked, rolling her neck and flipping her weave over her shoulder.

"Nah lil hoe, I heard you. But I honestly don't respect you enough to converse with you," I said, making air quotations with my fingers when I said the words "lil hoe."

"b***h, you're acting like you're somebody. I'll spit on you."

"Yeah aight, Aaliyah. You like breathing," I said with an amused smile.

She made a hawking sound, then spat—but it didn't touch me. It went past me.

I got up so fast and snatched her by her throat. I started throwing punches straight to her face. She was swinging back, but she wasn't getting any good hits in.

I kept hitting her until I heard Treasure crying. That brought me back to reality, and I let her go.

I picked up Treasure, wiped her face, then walked away in the direction of one of the benches.

When I walked past the boy that came to my job with Aaliyah, I heard him say, "I told yo dumb ass to leave that girl alone, now look."

I can fight. I just don't do it often because fighting isn't cute. In all honesty, the only reason I fought her was the thought of that spit touching me. That b***h is mad disgusting for even attempting to spit on me.

When Treasure calmed down, I gave her her sippy cup of juice, and then we left the park to go home.

>.<

It's about 9:00 p.m., and I'm in the kitchen fixing Treasure a bottle when my mom walks in with one of her guy friends. Probably about to sell some ass so she'll have money for her and her boyfriend to get high.

They sat on the couch drinking and popping pills.

I walked past them and went into my room, locking the door behind me.

I gave Treasure her bottle, then laid down next to her. There's no TV in my room, so Treasure is watching cartoons on my school-issued laptop. We're connected to Ms. Rose's WiFi.

Treasure fell asleep, and I was on the verge of doing the same when Rhaine started screaming my name. I would ignore her, but I didn't want her to wake Treasure, so I got up to see what she wanted.

"What, Rhaine?" I asked, annoyance clear in my voice.

"Hey babygirl, how's Mommy's baby doing?" she asked, smiling at me.

Her guy friend was staring at me like he'd never seen a female before.

"Mommy's baby? Rhaine, cut the s**t. You haven't been my mother for years now. What do you want?"

She rolled her eyes, then spoke.

"How would you like to make us some money?"

I looked at her like she was speaking a whole new language.

I know this lady ain't asking what I think she's asking.

"I'd do it myself, but he said he didn't want me. He said he want a young thing."

I chuckled in disbelief.

I don't even know why this surprises me. She'd rob and kill for a fix. I guess I just thought she had at least a little dignity left.

"All that sounds like a personal problem to me, Rhaine. I'm not doing it."

I guess that made her upset because she got up from the spot she was sitting on and started yelling at me.

"You stupid ungrateful b***h! After all I've done for your hoe ass, and I ask you just this one time to do something for me and you can't do it!"

She walked closer to me and started pointing her hands in my face, which caused me to smack her hand down.

"I f*****g regret giving birth to your dumb ass! I should've swallowed you! Stupid b***h!"

With that, she slapped me—and I lost it.

I grabbed a fistful of her hair and started throwing wild hits. I didn't care about any of the damage being done. I didn't care that she's the one who gave birth to me.

I just didn't care about anything.

I started releasing all of my anger and frustration on her.

I kept hitting her until I felt myself being lifted off of her. It was the guy she wanted me to have s*x with. He pulled me away and held me back.

"You stupid b***h! You and that bastard child get the f**k out of my house! Get the f**k out now!"

"I f*****g hate you. You can die tomorrow and I wouldn't even f*****g care. I didn't respect you before, but now you're as worthy as f*****g dirt to me," I spat as tears rolled down my face.

I went to my room and packed a bag with clothes for me and Treasure.

I threw our toothbrushes, toothpaste, and deodorant in the bag. My laptop. The $1500 I had saved from my job. And I grabbed my school backpack as well.

I woke Treasure up and dressed her in some warm clothes because I knew it would be chilly outside.

Then I looked at the time.

It's 12:00 a.m. on the dot.

I looked around my room one last time, then grabbed Treasure and our bags and walked down the hall to the living room.

Rhaine was getting her bruises cleaned up by the dude she was with.

I walked past them both and out the apartment door.

We took the stairs down because the building elevators don't work, then walked out into the chilly air.

We walked and walked until Treasure's feet got tired. Then I lifted her up and continued walking.

I honestly don't know where I'm headed.

To make matters worse, it started raining.

I couldn't take it anymore and started crying all over again.

Then a truck pulled up beside me.

I started speed walking, and he drove to match my speed.

"Aye, you need a ride?"

"No," I said, my voice cracking a little bit.

"Come on, man. It's 12:15 a.m. and you're out here walking in the rain with a baby and bags. Just let me give you a ride."

I thought about it for a second and decided to just take the ride.

I put the bags and Treasure in the backseat, making sure to strap her in, then I got in the front seat.

"Where you headed?"

"I—I don't know," I said, breaking down once more.

He sighed and pulled off.

We rode in silence for a while. Tears streamed down my face until I finally sucked it up and dried my face.

I finally took the time to look over and see who the driver was.

It's the guy Aaliyah came to my job with.

We drove for a few more minutes, then pulled up to an apartment building on the complete opposite side of town.

These buildings were upscale, and you could tell they cost a pretty penny.

He parked in the garage and we got out. He grabbed a sleeping Treasure and the duffle bag with our clothes, and I grabbed my backpack.

We took the elevator up to the 12th floor, then walked down the quiet halls to his apartment door.

The hallways in this building are fancy. I could only imagine how the inside of the actual apartments look.

He opened his door and allowed me to walk in first, then he came in and closed the door behind him.

"Uhh... make yourself at home. Follow me so I can show you your room," he said as he walked up a flight of stairs.

I followed him, and we walked down the hall to a room.

He opened the door and walked in, placing Treasure down on the bed.

"This is where you guys will sleep. Bathroom is right through there," he said, pointing to a door.

"If you need anything, my room is the one at the end of the hall," he said, making his way to the door.

"Thank you—"

"Beast."

"That's not the name your momma gave you."

"But that's the one you need to know for now, ma. What's your name?"

"Royalty."

"And babydoll's name?" he asked, looking behind me.

"Her name's Treasure," I said, looking back at a sleeping Treasure and smiling a bit.

"She's your daughter, right?" he asked with uncertainty in his voice.

I nodded in response.

"Aight, ma. It's late, and I got some stuff I need to handle early in the morning. So I'm about to go catch some Z's. Try to get some rest."

"Thanks again, Beast. It really means a lot. I'll be out first thing in the morning."

"Don't mention it, shawdy. You and babydoll can stay as long as needed."

I smiled and nodded.

He turned around, walked out, and closed the door behind him.

I stripped Treasure out of her wet clothes and placed some dry pajamas on her. Then I stripped out of my wet clothes and put on a pair of pajama shorts and an old T-shirt.

I turned off the lights and laid down next to Treasure.

Before I knew it, I was knocked out.