He Got That..

**Sorry to the people who have already read this on Elite, I’ve changed a couple of things and this will be the last chapter that you’ve read already.

Nicki sat at the lunch table, while other kids were eating, she was filling out forms for Welfare. Once upon a time she had too much pride, but now it was out of the window and if this is what she had to do to provide for her son then that's what she was going to do. Having to do it by herself wasn't easy, but she's managing. To most people around the school she was misunderstood. Her father being one of the top lawyers in the tri-state area and her mother in real-estate, what would she need with Welfare forms? Answer is simple:With parents who couldn't give two shits about you and didn't want you ruining their image kick you out on your ass, you do what you gotta do.

"Oops." Nicki jumped back as one of the girls walked passed her table and poured milk all over the papers and her bag. Nicki gritted her teeth and picked the soaked papers up before glaring at her. Brittany. Once upon a time Nicki called her, her bestfriend. But now she's her worst enemy. "I'm so so sorry Onika. Will you ever forgive me?" She clasped her hands together in mock pity.

"You bold legged, turtle lookin, pig feet ass breath havin Bitch!" Nicki screamed while shaking off her jacket.

"Now Now Nicki, is that anyway for a mother to be talking?" Brittany asked with an authoritative voice. There was now a crowd forming around the table. Nicki sat back in her chair and fixed her shirt. "That's what I thought Bitch." Brittany snarled and Nicki just chuckled to herself. At least she's not the one with Syphilis. This kept Nicki contempt as the disappointed crowd simmered down. They were going to talk whether she fought Brittany or not, so it didn't matter. After lunch Nicki got the rest of her classes done and out the way, and at 2:45 she was rushing out of the door, sprinting to the bus stop, to get all they way back to the other side of town to pick up CJ.


- - - -


Nicki stood in the chicken shack ordering her and CJ's dinner because she was entirely too tired to cook anything. She hoped he would eat and go right to sleep, which rarely ever happens. CJ stood next to his mother, arms wrapped around her leg. Nicki's phone began ringing in her pocket, she shook off nerves as she read the screen. She answered and put it to her ear. "Hello?"

"Hello. Am I speaking with Onika Maraj?" The lady on the opposite end of the phone asked.

"Yes." Nicki answered as CJ began to tug on her pants, pointing to a bird outside.

"You called for the secretary position.." Nicki held the phone as she peered down at an anxious CJ.

"I see baby." She whispered before going back to the phone. "Yes, I did. Is it available."

"That depends on what hours you're able to work Ms. Maraj." The lady answered. Nicki bit her bottom lip as she thought about it. She needed a job, because cleaning up the bodega on the weekends wasn't cutting it anymore.

"Anytime after 3:30." Nicki answered.

"On the application, you applied for the daycare." The lady pointed out. "How old is your child?"

"He's 2." Nicki answered, now shaking with hope.

"He's 2, and how old are you again?" The lady asked and Nicki sighed feeling the judgement already happening.

"I'm 17." The lady on the line was silent for a while so Nicki decided to interject. "Please, I really need this job. You don't understand. If you just give me this chanc-"

"Interview next Monday at 8, don't be late." Nicki smiled and held the phone close.

"Thank you. Thank you! I'll be there."

"See you then Ms. Maraj." The lady said and Nicki knew she was smiling. Nicki hung up the phone.

"CJ, Mommy might be getting a jo-" Nicki's heart dropped as she noticed CJ was gone. Her heart now beating at a rapid rate she looked around the small shack before rushing out front looking around the block filled with people. "CJ!" She yelled and onlookers began looking at her as she frantically searched for her son. "Caleb!" She screamed, tears now coating her eyes. She grabbed a handful of her hair as she turned, looking all around her. "Caleb!" She screamed standing in position. She pulled out her phone ready to dial 911.

"Fly!" She heard the familiar voice and her head snapped to the end of the block where she saw CJ bending down watching one of the birds. On that same corner stood tall men, watching him, which scared Nicki. She rushed over to him and scooped him up.

"Boy! You know better than that!" She searched his body to see if anything was out of place. "Don't you EVER leave from my side EVER." She held his face as she looked into his eyes. "Understood?" He nodded his head.

"He was coo." Nicki heard and she turned slowly and peered up at him. Damn. Nicki picked up Caleb and peered at the fine ass man.

"Thanks for watching him." Nicki said with a small hint of sarcasm that the man caught as he licked his lips, making Nicki gush. A feeling she hadn't felt in so long.

"Keep an eye on him, ma. " He nodded to Caleb who was watching the birds over his mommy's shoulder. "It's dangerous out here." All the guys on the corner began laughing because he was the most dangerous one on the block.

"Th- thanks again." Nicki stuttered.

"No problem." He looked her up and down, licking his lips. A habit Nicki just learned to love. He obviously like what he saw cause his eyes lingered a little longer than necessary. Nicki walked away from him and she knew his eyes were glued to her, she could feel it.

"Bitch fine ain't she?" Nicki swiftly turned around, she took disrespect from no one. At school it was whatever , cause she had no time to get expelled, but this was different. She looked at the guy responsible for the comment.

"You know wh-" The lightskin beauty raised his hand silencing Nicki, to her surprise. Why did she stop talking because he raised his hand? He exuded so much power and confidence.

"Apologize." He simply said. The tatted offender looked at him like he was stupid. "You got 5 seconds." The tatted guy sucked his teeth before turning to Nicki like some scolded child.

"I apolo-"

"I'm sorry, what's your name?" Nicki was kind of taken aback but she looked up at the man and answered.

"Nicki."

"Drake" He introduced himself. "Go ahead Ghost, apologize to Nicki."

"I apologize Nicki." Everyone on the block snickered, but Drake kept his face as he looked at the young boy.

"For?" This caused everyone's snickers to turn into laughs.

"For calling you a bitch." Ghost said lowly and Drake nodded.

"Now apologize to little man, for disrespecting his moms." This caused Nicki to laugh a little as Ghost looked at Drake with pleading eyes. He didn’t want to get embarrassed more than he already was. "5...4..."

"I apologize little man, for callin ya moms out her name." Ghost said and Drake nodded. Nicki smiled and Drake winked at her before turning to talk to the boys on the block. Nicki smiled walking into the Chicken shack. She needed herself a Drake. Wait, what was she saying? She didn’t want him. He’d only bring drama to her and Caleb life and she didn;t have to gues what he did for a living. That wouldn’t be a wise choice for her or Caleb.

Just Gotta Make It

"Come on monkey." an exhausted Nicki stood in her bedroom that doubled as a nursery for her son. With his fusing it was almost impossible to get the green shirt over his head.

"Pickle!" The 2-year old yelled pumping his fist in the air. Nicki grabbed a near-by toy and gave it to the toddler to occupy him as she got him dressed.

"After you get dressed." Nicki pulled the small arms through the arms of the shirt before sitting him back inside his crib as she went to get her bookbag and books from her bed. The small room gave Nicki little privacy and very little rest. Slinging the bag over one shoulder she grabbed the sky blue baby bag from the door and slung it over the other arm. She picked up CJ from his bed and placed him on her hip before grabbing the two text books. Balancing it all she bumped the light switch with her elbow and left out of her room.

"Pickle!" CJ yelled once again.

"Cereal!" Nicki smiled at her son trying to change his mind as the two walked out of the one bedroom apartment. He shook his head.

"Pickle!" Nicki laughed as she turned to lock the door to the place she called home.

"Fine." Nicki smiled giving in, like always. Walking out of the apartment building she became nervous walking down the street. She held CJ close as she was stared down by men on the block. Nobody compared to Nicki's beauty, nor her innocence,. The streets of SouthSide Jamaica Queens were always packed with the drug dealers, wanna-be's, skanks... You name it Nicki saw it.

"I did it." CJ suddenly said and Nicki's eyes widened as she felt moisture on her side. CJ smiled thinking he had done a good deed when in all actuality he had ruined Nicki's outfit and made her late for school...Again. Nicki let CJ down to his feet as she looked at his soaked pants and her shirt. "I did it." CJ repeated.

"No baby. You supposed to go in the potty." Nicki looked at her shirt and looked up to see she just missed her bus. Great. Just great. Nicki picked up CJ and power walked back to the apartment. Potty training is the hardest thing right next to the teething faze.


2 hours later, after Nicki's shower, bathing CJ , feeding him breakfast and catching the bus they were finally infront of their first destination. Nicki knocked on the door as CJ lay on her shoulder sleep. "Who is it?" Nicki heard the voice say behind the door. That distinctive smokers voice.

"Onika!" Nicki yelled into the steel door as her foot tapped impatiently. She heard the deadbolts being unlocked and then seen the 45 year old face starring at her with a packet full of newports in her hand. She hated that CJ had to be around that and if she could, she'd stay home with him just so he wouldn't have to. Nicki nudged CJ waking him up, and he wrapped his arms around her neck not wanting to be put down.

"Now Onika --"

"I know Ms. Jackson. He had an accident this morning. He should be fine though, I fed him breakfast." Nicki tried to explain as Ms. Jackson lit a cigarette and scolded the 17 year old. "He has his inhaler in his bag." Nicki tried to remind the lady that her son had asthma subtly. She didn't seem to catch the hint as she took another puff.

"Onika, I'm not one of your friends, or your auntie or uncle. I'm running a business here not a charity case."

"I know.". Nicki responded.

"You got my money."

"Please just give me today and I promise I'll have it by tomorrow, first thing." Nicki pleaded as CJ wrapped his legs around her. Ms. Jackson studied the young girl. "Please, just one more day." Nicki pleaded.

"Let this be the last time." Ms. Jackson finally gave in. Nicki kneeled down and CJ immediately began to whimper as they went through this every morning.

"C'mon baby. Be a big boy for Mommy." Nicki looked into her son's face as the tears sat in his eyes, breaking her heart.

"I no wanna." He shook his head feverishly.

"I'll be back, like always." Nicki said. "And we can eat pickles." CJ raised his head at the sound of his new favorite snack.

"Pickles?" Nicki chuckled.

"Yea. Pickles" She nodded. CJ wrapped his arms around her and she patted his back. She heard the other kids in Ms. Jackson's house playing around, she wondered how many of their parents had to go through this heartbreak everyday like she did. "So are you going to be a good boy?" He nodded. "And mind Ms. Jackson,." He nodded again, "Smooch?" Nicki puckered her lips and received a kiss from her son before she rubbed his head full of curls and handed him off to Ms. Jackson. "Love you." She blew him a kiss and he caught it bringing it to his lips.

"3:00 Onika." Ms. Jackson said firmly.

"Thank you so much." Nicki said handing her the babybag and rushing off the steps to school. A place that she knew she had to go to for a better future but that didn't mean she liked it. Getting pregnant Freshmen year doesn't exactly put you at the top of the social chain. Nicki fished through her pockets pulling out $1.50 when she spotted her bus. After paying Nicki sat down knowing she missed 1- 3rd block already. She leaned her head back as she took the ride to school. With the parents leaving her pregnant and on the streets, rides where she could atleast pretend to be a normal teen, helped her keep her sanity. She loved CJ to death but sometimes she wished she wasn't so Naïve and caught up in a fairytale, that turned out to be a nightmare.