Scarlett (2 page)

Two years earlier, Sheila’s mother had quit the family business to open up a barbeque rib shack. Sheila offered Scarlett her position, since she was taking over her mom’s lead position. Scarlett happily accepted it, since she’d been working at McDonalds for nearly four years and that position wasn’t leading to anywhere promising.

Scarlett looked around her house. It was modern and nicely furnished. She was proud of the things she’d accomplished at the age of twenty-five. She felt blessed to have been given the public housing voucher, or she’d probably be staying somewhere in the projects. They’d been living in her house for two years and she loved the community.

Most of the houses were brick with plenty of yard space, and she was almost certain she wasn’t the only one living in one of them off of a voucher. Her other best friend, Nina, lived in one just two houses down from her and she also had a voucher, so that’s how she came to that conclusion.

Scarlett got up and grabbed a bottle of water out of the refrigerator. She peeked out the window when she heard Sheila pull up in her driveway. Sheila blew the horn, just as Scarlett picked up her knock off Gucci purse and exited her house.

She nearly tripped over Anton as she turned to walk down the steps of the front porch. “Why in the hell are you sitting out here on the steps so early in the morning?”

“Minding my business,” he snapped.

“Well,
mind
them house chores today while I’m at work.” she snapped back, rolling her eyes at him.

“Whatever,” he responded.

She turned and looked at him like she meant business. “What did you say?”

Anton knew not to push things too far, because Scarlett could be a real bitch when she wanted to. She didn’t care about him being her brother, because she’d take it to his ass just as quick as anybody else in the streets.

“I ain’t say nothin’,” he mumbled. “I’ll clean up the house, gre’day.” He turned to walk back inside.

“I thought that’s what you said.”

Scarlett walked off and got in the car with Sheila. Sheila had a four door 2004 Lexus LS 430. This was her car, but she always drove something different, since her dad was in the business of fixing, towing, and repossessing. When people couldn’t afford to pick up their cars, he’d try to work out a payment plan with them. When that failed, he’d simply tow the car and resell it right away, or let Sheila and her baby sister drive them if they wanted. Eventually he’d sell them.

“What is Ant talking about this morning?” Sheila asked.

“Who knows? Ant is always talking out the side of his neck.”

“I’m surprised he’s up so early,” Sheila said.

“He’s just up to no good. Just like Gwen this morning. She had the nerve to yell at me about getting up, and then hauled ass right after. At least I know what she’s up to, unlike Ant. He’s Mr. Unpredictable.” They laughed.

“That’s a shame.” Sheila looked over at Scarlett as she drove down the road. “You’re looking real cute today.”

“Thanks,” Scarlett smiled. She always thought Sheila gave her compliments because she wanted to help boost her self-esteem, but it never worked. Scarlett would say thank you, but in her mind, she was thinking,
yeah right
. She only put on decent clothes because she worked in an office now and dressing nice was mandatory. The best thing she liked about McDonalds was wearing a uniform, because it was never hard to find something to wear.

Scarlett looked over at Sheila. “You look nice yourself.”
As always,
she thought. 

“Thank you, Scarlett. I’ve had this old thang for about six months. I just decided to wear it.”

Scarlett smiled, but on the inside, she frowned. “Why do you always say ‘
this old thang’
, when you just tore the tags off this morning?”

Sheila looked surprised, and Scarlett immediately felt bad. “I’m sorry, girl. You know I sometimes say things that I only should be thinking.”

“It’s okay, girl.” She tried to play it off. “That’s why I love you. You don’t ever care what you say, whether it’s good or bad. I just need to watch what I say to my bestie, because you know me better than anyone else. Now to others I can say,
this old thang,
but not to you,” she said and they burst out laughing.

They pulled into the
Grand’s Auto and Towing
shop parking lot.

“There goes my baby,” Scarlett said.

“Yep, I see they done pulled her inside the shop now. That must mean that your part is here,” Sheila responded.

Scarlett drove a 2001 red sport 2-door Cavalier with a rear end spoiler. It was the first thing she ever owned. Greg, Sheila’s daddy, had practically given it to her when the previous owner couldn’t keep up his part of the deal and pay off the transmission work that was done to it. It drove like a smooth running sewing machine, until someone put sugar in her tank and clogged up her motor.

Sheila parked her car. The ladies looked at each other and in unison shouted, “Another day, another dollar!” They both laughed as they got out of the car.

Chapter Two

Sheila walked ahead of Scarlett as they entered the office work area. Sheila went directly to her desk and sat behind it. Scarlett of course, went over to take a payment from a customer who was already waiting. The only paperwork on the counter was for an oil change and tire rotation.

“So, this must be yours?” she asked.

The guy smiled. “Yes, that’s mine. They just finished working on it.”

Scarlett looked at the older guy with his gray goatee and smiled back. He was a decent looking man, but she knew he wasn’t interested in her. “That’ll be thirty-nine dollars.”

The man pulled out his wallet and handed her his debit card. She swiped the card and handed it back, along with the receipt for him to sign. He signed the receipt, but also wrote his number down on it. “Give this to your co-worker,” he said flirtatiously, smiling at Sheila.

Typical,
Scarlett thought. Nearly every man that came into the shop tried to hit on Sheila. She handed him his truck keys and the man exited the building.

“Did he leave his number for me?” Sheila grinned.

“And you already know this.”

Sheila giggled. “I saw the look in his lonely eyes. He wants a young bunny.”

“Well, he’ll stay lonely if he’s waiting for you to call him,” Scarlett chuckled.

Scarlett walked around the counter and straightened up the small contemporary office space. The layout was very nice, and she made sure it stayed clean at all times. The black leather sofa was spotless and the matching recliner leather chair was too. The glass end tables were squeaky clean, and the artificial dandelions in the glass vases added a little bright color. She turned on the fifty-two inch TV that hung on the wall and changed the channel to CBS so that she and Sheila wouldn’t miss
The Young and the Restless,
which aired at twelve-thirty.

Finally, Scarlett walked back around the counter and sat behind her desk. She sighed as she looked over at Sheila, who always acted as if she was busier than she really was. Sheila was in charge of all the finances, and made sure that the books were up to date. She entered all charges and kept receipts in the necessary folders. Sheila maintained a close eye on who was behind in their payments, because she got a thrill out of telling her daddy that someone was late and it was time to go get their ride.

Sheila looked over at Scarlett. “I don’t see a tab in my system yet, concerning the work being done on your car.”

“Damn Sheila, you keeping tabs on me like that? What the fuck?” she asked, getting defensive. “Yes, they are working on my car, but I work here, remember?”

Sheila laughed. “Girl, you know I’m just playing with you.”

“Right, you better be, because your dad is working out an under the table tab with me, so I can keep my shit,” she said, knowing that Sheila would jump at the chance to repo even her car.

“Here comes Jay,” Scarlett announced. She already knew he was going to enter the office and act like he didn’t see her, even though she’d just fucked his brains out the night before.

“I ain’t stun Jay,” Sheila responded.

Jay walked in with his Grand’s Auto Towing black button down shirt on. He had on his black Dickies, which fit him so nicely.

He looked over at Scarlett. “What’s up Scarlett?”

“Nothing much, Jay,” she answered, peeping out his fresh temple taped haircut full of waves and his sexy smile. Jay was the finest thing that ever put dick inside her, and she loved him for it.

Jay walked around the counter and stood in front of Sheila. “What’s up sexy?”

“Hey Jay,” Sheila responded. She did a double take because something about Jay seemed appealing to her for a change. “Your hair cut looks nice.” This was the first time she’d seen him since he cut his braids.

Scarlett was shocked. Sheila never said anything nice to Jay. She always pretended to be of a higher class than him.

“Thanks Sheila, I’m glad you noticed it. I got it cut just for you.”

“Is that right?” Scarlett muttered.

“Stay outta grown folks business,” Jay responded.

“Oh okay, grown folks business, huh? Nigga, don’t make me…” Scarlett was cut off before she could finish her sentence.

“Scarlett, chill out.” Sheila interrupted. “He didn’t mean any harm.”

Scarlett was surprised that Sheila came to his defense, but she looked in Jay’s direction to see his facial expression. He knew she’d bust his ass out, because he’d been around her crazy ass long enough to know.

“Damn, Scarlett, I was just playing. What’s wrong with you? You can’t take a joke this morning?”

Scarlett rolled her eyes. “Le’me go out in the shop and give you two some alone time before I show my true colors.” She rolled her eyes and walked out into the shop.

Greg was the owner of the place, but he got his hands dirty just as much as the employees did. He was always under somebody’s car or hood. He loved being hands on. It made him feel good to please his customers.

Scarlett spotted him jacking a car up in the air and walked over. “Hey Greg,” she said, with her bright eyes smiling at the sight of him.

“Hey Scarlett, you always look so good with that black skirt on,” he complimented.

“Thanks Greg,” she blushed.
Glad you notice it, since I wear it at least twice a week,
but with a different shirt, of course.
Greg always made advances at her, but she never took them seriously until her car broke down. She knew she had to do whatever it took to make sure she got her car fixed, even if it meant betraying her best friend’s mom.

“You see Stanley is taking your motor out of your car.”

“Yeah, I see you meant business.”

“I told you that if you have my back, then I’d have yours.”

“Well, say no more. I got your back,” she responded with a flirtatious smile.

“Hey Scarlett, you’re looking good today,” Stanley said, looking Scarlett up and down. 

“Hi Stanley,” Scarlett spoke back. She liked Stanley because he was always sweet to her and never made any advances, like every other man who had no good intentions up their sleeves. They never cared about how ugly she was, they only cared about her nice legs and plump ass. She turned to walk back into the office.

“Your car will be ready by tomorrow. I’ma work on it all day for you.”

“Thanks Stanley, you’re the best.”

Greg winked his eye at her and she winked back. “Alright fellas, I’ll be back out in a few hours to order y’all some lunch.”

Once she got back inside the office, she sat down behind her desk. Jay was sitting on the edge of Sheila’s desk, still talking to her. Scarlett had never seen Sheila show that much interest in him. She knew there was something up, but kept it to herself. She acted like she was busy working, and paid them no attention.

About thirty minutes passed and Jay was still sitting in Sheila’s face. Scarlett was getting utterly annoyed as she looked over at them laughing at each other’s crazy jokes.

“Damn Jay, don’t you have work to do?” Scarlett asked.

“We’re not that busy today, Scarlett.” Sheila spoke up without letting Jay get a word in edge wise.
Are you serious?
Scarlett quickly thought. She rolled her eyes, grabbed her purse, and walked into the restroom.

How the hell could he treat me as if I don’t exist?
She asked herself, looking in the mirror. She opened her purse and pulled out her pill bottle. She popped another Xanax and cupped the water in the palm of hand from the sink as she swallowed it. “Fuck this shit, I ain’t sitting here today.” She walked back out of the restroom and stood directly in front of Sheila’s desk.

“Give me your keys. I’m going home because I don’t feel well.”

Sheila looked up at her. “Scarlett you still have work to do. Who is going to do it if you’re gone?”

“It’s only two of us who work in this office, so you do the math.” Sheila knew something was clearly bothering Scarlett, and didn’t want her to flip out on her, so she handed over her keys.

“Well, call me when you get home and tell me how you’re feeling.”

“Yeah, I’ll think about it,” she responded, snatching the keys and walking toward the door. “Oh yeah, tell your daddy that I’m gone for the day. He shouldn’t mind since we’re not busy.”

Scarlett exited the building and got in Sheila’s car. She turned the radio up, blasting the music as loud as it would go, and backed out of the parking lot. Sick thoughts of Jay and Sheila fooling around occupied her mind as she drove home.

The sight of Gwen leaning down in a car that was pulled up by the curb in front of her house, greeted her as she pulled into her driveway.
I know good and well she ain’t got her ass out here in front of my shit getting drugs.

Gwen looked up, a mixture of guilt and alarm painted her face as she tried to walk away from the car quickly.

“No Gwen, don’t walk away now. Who in the hell are you talking too?” She walked quickly over to the car to be nosey.

Gwen just stood there with her mouth partly open. “Scarred, don’t come over here with that bullshit.” Gwen said nervously. “Just pull off before she acts a fool.” Gwen urged the driver of the car.