Real As It Gets (8 page)

I
'd been thinking about what Kennedi said all night. She was right. Something had to be done. And right now, I was the voice to get it done. But did I really want to get in that deep? I'd sent Sheridan a text saying I wanted to talk to her at lunch. I was going to get her opinion on what I should do. And while I was at it, I decided I was going to tell her about Travis and Angel as well, family or not. If it were me, I'd want to know. With everything going on with Lauren, I was just starting to feel like life was too short to be wasting time mad at friends. I was just going to tell her what was really going on with Travis and Angela and let the chips fall where they may.

I caught up with Sheridan before she went into the cafeteria for lunch. I'd seen Travis walk off toward the gym before I got there. He was probably going to play basketball during lunch. Good. I didn't need him around while I tried to tell her everything.

“Hey, Sheridan,” I said as I approached her.

“Hey,” she said dryly.

I frowned. “What's your problem?”

She rolled her eyes like she was exasperated with me. Finally, she took my arm and pulled me to the side. “Maya, you know you're my girl, but you are really tripping. I don't know why you are so dead set against me and Travis being together, but you need to get over it. We're going to be together and there's nothing you can do about it.”

First of all, where was this coming from? Secondly, I know she was not coming at me like that. I looked at Sheridan and had to struggle to keep from going off. But I decided to give her a pass due to her lovesickness, so I took a deep breath and tried to continue.

“Oooo-kay. I'm not sure what that's about, but I wanted to tell you—”

“No!” she yelled, cutting me off. “You don't need to tell me anything about my man.”

I bucked my eyes in shock. “Excuse me?”

She sighed as she shook her head. “Just let it go. Travis has made it very clear that he wants to be with me and you will stop at nothing to break us up. So, go somewhere with that garbage you're trying to bring me. Travis already told me.”

“He did?” I asked, raising an eyebrow. I couldn't believe he'd told her about Angel and she was still taking up for him.

“Yes. And I think it's foul.”

“Then, why are you acting like I'm the one who did something wrong?” I asked, getting an attitude.

“Because you're doing too much, trying to make something out of nothing.”

“Wait a minute. Are we even talking about the same thing?”

She folded her arms defiantly. “Yeah, the fact that you want to take something innocent and use it as a reason to try and break me and Travis up.”

“Oh, wow. Is that what he told you?”

She folded her arms and said with an attitude, “Yeah, he told me that he and Angel were studying and you came in there going off about how you were going to tell me. Well, you don't have to tell me. He did.”

I couldn't help but smirk. “He did, did he? He told you all about Angel, huh? Everything? And you believe him?”

“I trust my boo.”

I couldn't help but laugh at that. I didn't know when my best friend had become so dumb. “Really, Sheridan? He's my cousin. I know him better than you.”

“Really, I'm beginning to think you don't.”

It was my turn to take a woosah moment because I was clean about to go off. “All right, Sheridan, I'm gonna let you make it. Let's just end this conversation before you make me tell you about yourself.”

“You don't need to tell me anything. Worry about your own man and leave mine alone.”

I stared at her in disbelief and finally just said to myself,
Walk away
. I told her, “Whatever. You go ahead and live it up with Travis. Do you, boo.”

I flicked her off as I spun and stomped away. I'd lost my appetite and had only one mission in mind—to find my cousin. I headed in the direction that I had seen him go. I couldn't believe it when I spotted Travis outside the gym, standing there flirting with Angel. I stomped over, grabbed his arm and pushed him against the wall.

“What the—”

I jabbed my finger in his face. “Look here, I know you're family and all, but don't make me go hood on you and stomp the mess out you. Maybe that's what I need to do anyway so that you can understand that you're not about to play me!”

He looked flustered. Angel backed up as well. “Maya, what in the world are you talking about?” Travis said.

“I'm talking about this whole game you're playing with Sheridan.”

He gently pushed me away from him. “Chill out, cuz. I told you, it ain't even like that.”

“Don't tell me to chill out! How are you gonna tell Sheridan that lie that I'm trying to create drama by breaking you two up.”

He turned his lips up at me. “Are you or aren't you?”

“I'm not trying to break anybody up. No, I didn't want you guys hooking up, but if you wanna get with that slut bucket, then it's on you!” I pointed at Angel. She just rolled her eyes but didn't respond.

“Well, I just wanted to prepare her in case you decided to try and tell her. I don't need you getting her all worked up when it's not even like that.”

I leaned in again. “Your girlfriend may be stupid, but I'm not.” I threw my hands up in disgust. “But you know what. You and Sheridan do what you have to do. Dog her out for all I care.”

I turned to leave, but Travis grabbed my arm, stopping me. “Come on, Maya, can we have a truce? I wasn't trying to throw you under the bus. I just don't want to hurt Sheridan and I didn't know what you were going to do.”

“So, you just lie to her?”

He sighed. “I'm sorry, okay? I don't like fighting with you.”

“Whatever.”

“I'm just saying, you have your love life, I have mine. I'm not getting all up in your business with Sammy, so give me some of that same respect. There are a bunch of questions I could be asking you about him, but I stay out your business.”

“First of all, you're the one who fixed me up with him. But whatever. I'm so sick of you and your stupid girlfriend.”

I was so irritated, I couldn't do anything but shake my head. “So, you're right. Do what you want to do.” I looked over at Angel and ran my eyes up and down her skanky behind. Angel was nicknamed knob at school because, as the jocks joked, everybody got a turn. I used to think that was the corniest line I'd ever heard, but it fit her perfectly. The sad part was she was pretty and rich, so she didn't need to be a tramp, but she was and now she was tramping with my cousin. “Or shall I say, do whomever you'd like. Just make sure you remember, nasty dogs carry fleas.” I didn't give either of them time to respond. I just turned and stormed off.

W
hen the WSVV receptionist told me Alvin was standing out front waiting to see me, I almost didn't come. But I had my own man, so I needed to get over my issues with Alvin and go talk to him.

We spoke, but I have to admit it was dry and I could tell his feelings were hurt.

“So you're really mad about Marisol?” he asked, once I'd stepped close to the lobby door, and away from the receptionist, to talk to him.

“I'm not mad,” I said. Maybe I wasn't mad, but I definitely wasn't happy, which was why I had been ignoring his calls.

“You're not mad, but I can't get a callback. I can't get you to pick up when I call. You think I don't know you're sending me straight to voice mail?” he said. “What I don't understand is why.”

Me either
, I wanted to tell him. I shrugged. “I don't know what to tell you except I'm not trippin' over you and your girlfriend.”

“Marisol is not my girlfriend. She's just someone I was hanging out with.”

“Umph.”

“Look, Maya. You know I would much rather be hanging out with you, but I don't fit your image. So, you won't give me a chance—yet.”

That made me smile. “Yet?”

“That's right. Yet.” To be such a nerd, Alvin was definitely cocky. “Because I'm going to get you. Some way, somehow, I'm going to get you.”

“My, aren't we the confident one?”

“No. I'm just keeping it real. I get that you don't want me yet. But I figured it out. It's because you don't know me.”

“I do know you.”

“Nah, you don't know me like that. But that's gonna change.” Then Alvin leaned in and kissed me on the cheek. “Marisol is my ‘in the meantime.' You're my destiny. Have a good day.”

Then, with that, Alvin left and left me standing there with a “what just happened?” look on my face.

I don't know how long I was standing there in the lobby just staring at the front door after Alvin walked out through it, but the receptionist's voice snapped me out of my daze. “Maya!”

I jumped and turned to her, wondering if she had been calling me a minute. I shook my head. I couldn't believe Alvin was getting in my head like that.

“Oh, sorry. What's up, Sybil?”

“You have a call on line one,” she said.

I frowned because Sybil knew I usually didn't like to take calls directly. I got all kinds of crackpots trying to contact me, and most of the time, it wasn't any information I could use.

“Who is it?” I asked.

“That's just it,” Sybil replied. “The caller won't say. But she said it's about the K2 craze. She said she has some info you may be interested in.”

I definitely snapped out of my daze then. “Give me a minute to get to my office, and then put her through.”

She buzzed me back, and I raced to my office and picked up the phone. “This is Maya.”

“Maya Morgan?”

“Yes? How may I help you?”

“Ummm, well, I see you've been doing stories on celebrities that are hooked on K2. I have some information that might interest you,” the caller said.

I sat down at my desk and immediately grabbed a pen and paper. “Okay. Go ahead.”

“Well, I'm not going to tell you who it is, but she's pretty big,” the caller continued. “But she's started taking K2 and I've already seen the damage it's causing. She's not going to be happy till it kills her. Because of who she is, she's getting her drugs straight from the top.”

My heart was actually racing. “And who would be at the top?”

“I can't tell you his name,” she said.

A lot of good that's going to do me,
I thought as I threw my pen down.

“But if you find one of his suppliers, they might lead you to him. You'll be stunned at who's at the top.”

That piqued my interest again. “Usually, it's some high-level drug dealer.”

“Usually, but in this case, it's a former A-list actor.”

Now, she had my full attention. “What? What actor would throw away his career fooling with drugs?”

“One who can make more money selling drugs,” she said matter-of-factly. “One who is getting older and knows his days are limited.”

I wondered why this caller was giving me the story and not someplace like
Dateline
or Oprah
.
I thought about it, and decided this sounded seriously dangerous. Telling someone's business was one thing. Exposing something that could get someone killed was another.

“Who is this person?” I asked.

“I told you I can't tell you his name.”

“What am I supposed to do with this information, then?”

“Get to his suppliers, his workhorses, and they'll lead you to the man next to the man. I watch you all the time. Matter of fact, you're the only thing I watch on TV. This story will make you even larger than you already are. I promise, look into it. It'll be worth it in the end.”

She hung up the phone and left me sitting there trying to process everything she had just said. I didn't know about this. This sounded like a whole lot more than I was bargaining for. But if she was right, and a huge celebrity was behind this, I could use my voice to make a difference
and
boost my ratings? Oh, that sounded like a perfect combination!

T
he caller's words were still weighing on my mind. I hadn't even been able to concentrate in class today because I was thinking about what she'd said. If she turned out to be right, that could be major. I'm talking
Today Show
and
Good Morning America
—Oprah might even feature me on her
Oprah Presents
show. But I didn't mess around in that underbelly world. It didn't take a rocket scientist to figure out that those folks could be dangerous, and the last thing I needed was to be caught up in some danger.

But if I played my cards right, kept the cops on speed dial, and just did what I do—report the story—it shouldn't be a problem. After all, reporters exposed stuff all the time.

But where would I start?

“Miss Morgan?”

I jumped as Mrs. Williams slammed her hand on my desk. “Is my class interrupting your thoughts?”

“No, ma'am. I'm sorry.”

She pointed to the chalkboard. “So then, can you answer the question?”

I stared at the board, and I swear, it was a bunch of jumble with historic dates and arrows pointing everywhere.

“Uh, I'm sorry, can you repeat the question?”

“No, I cannot,” she said, glaring at me. “I need to see you after class.” Then, she walked away to go harass another student.

I sighed. I so did not need this right now. I waited and let all my classmates file out; then I walked up to her desk.

“Yes, ma'am, you wanted to see me?”

She looked up at me over her wire-rimmed glasses. “Miss Morgan, I have been more than lenient with you, have I not?” Mrs. Williams said.

“Yes, ma'am.”

“You turn in substandard work, you miss crucial tests, don't turn in homework, and you half come to my class. Now, I understand that you're a ‘superstar.' ” She used her fingers to make quotation marks. I wanted to ask her what the heck was that supposed to mean. But I didn't say a word. “But let me be very clear,” she continued, “even superstars flunk the twelfth grade.”

My eyebrows raised in horror. Would she really flunk me?

“And if you think that I won't flunk the great Maya Morgan, you are sadly mistaken.”

I wanted to protest, speak up in my defense, but I knew Mrs. Williams and just stood there and took her verbal lashing.

“Have you studied at all for next week's exam?”

Really? Next week, as in a whole seven days away?
Of course I said, “Yes, ma'am, I have.”

“This test is do-or-die for you. I would suggest you devote as much time to your coursework as you do to exposing other people's secrets. Get it together, Miss Morgan.”

I nodded. “Yes, ma'am.”

“Good-bye, Miss Morgan.”

“Good-bye,” I said before I turned and walked out of the room.

I wanted to tell her what I really thought about her and her stupid test. But she was right. She had been lenient with me, so my best bet was just to keep my mouth closed.

Sheridan greeted me just as I walked out her classroom.

“Hey, are you in trouble?”

I shrugged. Sheridan had been trying to act all cool with me and as much as I tried to stay mad at her, she was my BFF, so it was hard. “No more than usual. Mrs. Williams was just getting on me.”

“What did she want?”

“To complain. She says I don't pay attention in class, I'm too focused on my job, yada, yada.”

“She is so lame. She wishes she had your job. What does she make, seventy-five thousand dollars a year?”

I cringed. “Isn't that poverty level?”

“I bet she's on food stamps.”

We busted out laughing as we walked toward the parking lot. I was glad I'd made up in my mind to leave her and Travis alone. I missed my girl.

“Hey, there's that girl that was with Lauren at the club,” Sheridan said, pointing to some girl leaning against a railing, smoking a cigarette.

“Who?” I peered, trying to see who she was talking about.

“You know, Piper's friend.”

“Who the heck is Piper?”

“You know, from that night at the club when Lauren passed out. The one who went to the hospital with us,” Sheridan said.

My mind started racing. I hadn't been able to get in touch with Lauren to try and get next to Piper, but this girl could connect me with her.

“Come on,” I said. “Let's go talk to her.

Sheridan paused. She had a look like she knew she was about to make me mad. “I can't. I'm about to go meet—”

I held my hand up to cut her off. “Whatever. I'll talk to you later.”

I darted over to the girl. “Hey!”

The girl stopped smoking and looked around, trying to be sure that I was talking to her.

“Jodi, isn't it?” I said, stopping in front of her.

“Yeah,” she said, eyeing me skeptically.

“When I saw you at Shaq's party the other night, I thought I'd seen you before,” I said. “I didn't know you went to Miami High.”

She continued looking at me strangely. “Yep, all four years.”

“So, what's going on?” I tried to appear casual.

Her eyes darted around again, and she seemed to be waiting on some surprise to pop out. “Ummm, nothing.” She was speaking really slowly, as if she was expecting me to do something.

I know she was wondering why I, of all people, was coming to talk to her because I'd never said a word to her in our entire time at Miami High.

“Where you going?” I asked.

“Umm, home.”

“Well, look, I wanted to ask you a question. You know the other night at the club when you were with Tabitha, Lauren, and Piper?”

“Yes?”

“Well, I know you guys were kind of indulging ...”

Now, she looked a little nervous. “I don't know what you're talking about,” she said, sounding guilty as all get-out.

“Chill, I'm not the cops. I'm not trying to get anyone in trouble. I just need a little something to take the edge off myself. Me and Lauren go way back, so I know everything. I just wanted to get a little something for myself.” I hated having this girl thinking I was into drugs, but I didn't know how she'd react to me saying, “Oh, I'm trying to do an exposé on druggies and the people who supply them with drugs.”

Jodi just stared blankly at me.

I continued. “So, just between you and me, where can I find some K2? I don't like dealing with middlemen because you know I have a whole lot of money and I need to keep things on the low-low.”

“Again,” she said, slowly, “I have no idea what you're talking about.”

“Look, Lauren is one of my best friends, so I know what's up. You don't believe me, ask her. She knows I'm legit, I just need a little something to keep the edge off.” I didn't know how drug addicts acted when they were trying to get high, but I rubbed my arm for effect (I'd seen that on TV).

She studied me for a minute, tossed her cigarette, and said, “Wow, I didn't know you were into that.”

I forced a smile. “That's the way it should be. Nobody should know your business, right?”

Jodi finally relaxed. “K2 will definitely do that, but it'll also have you trippin'.”

“Can you hook me up? You know, tell me where you get yours from?”

She shook her head. “I don't know where we get it from. Piper is the one that gets it.”

“So you don't know where Piper gets it from?” I asked.

“Nope. She just shows up with it and I don't ask questions.” That was so freakin' ludicrous to me. How are you going to just take random drugs without even trying to find out where they came from?

“Well, can I get Piper's number?” I asked.

She looked at me like I was crazy.

“Okay, can you text Piper?” I suggested when I saw how she was looking.

She didn't move.

“Come on. Just ask her to call me, Lauren's friend that was at the hospital with her.”

Jodi sighed, then took the phone out and tapped. “A'ight, I texted her.”

“Thanks a lot.” I turned to leave.

“Hey, Maya,” she said, stopping me. “I don't like to tell people what to do, but be careful with that stuff. It ain't no joke. I'm sticking to the basic stuff after what happened to Tabitha. That K2, that's a feeling I don't ever need to experience again.”

I nodded. “Thanks a lot.” She just didn't know I knew how dangerous it was. That was why I was determined to bring attention to the drug and, hopefully, shut the K2 ring down.