2. LET'S MEET I

I got to my apartment as late as three in the morning and I was so exhausted that I could hear my bed calling my name the closer I got to it. It took me a while to find my keys in my purse, seeing as it was full of money but I got it and went inside. I could hear some noises coming from my small living room and it sounded like moaning. I immediately knew who was making the noise and when I switched the lights on, what I saw was not fit for anyone’s eyes.

“Ken, how many times have I told you that if you want to suck your boyfriend’s cock in my house, to do it in your room?” I shielded my eyes from seeing it.

“So sorry, Cherry. I didn’t think you’d be back today,” Kendra replied as she got off her knees and wiped the spittle from her lips.

“Just because you didn’t think I’d be back today doesn’t make it okay for you to mess up my couch…again! Do you have any idea how much it cost me to get that shit off the last time?”

“Maybe it’s best if I go, babe,” Lardon said as he did the zipper of his pants.

“Yeah, get the hell out of here, Lard,” I yelled at him as he scurried out of my house.

“You didn’t have to be so mean to him,” Kendra told me.

“You know how I feel about Lardon. I don’t understand why you’re still seeing that deadbeat. You keep going back to him when anyone with a brain cell can see that he’s bad for you. What is he offering you that no other guy can?”

“He’s very skilled with his tongue,” Kendra joked but I didn’t find it funny.

“Well, when he breaks your heart again, don’t come crying to me,” I said and made for my room. My bed was still screaming my name and Kendra’s messy life and awful decision-making skills weren’t going to spoil my plans for a long-lasting sleep.

“Our relationship is a lot more serious now,” She claimed.

“How many times have I heard that before?” I asked rhetorically as I entered my room.

“How was work tonight?” She asked.

“I’ll tell you when I wake up,” And I slammed the door behind me.

Like a speedster, I took off my tight clothes and uncomfortable heels and jumped into bed. I just needed to get some rest and after that, I could worry about everything else.

You’re probably wondering who Kendra is and why she’s staying at my apartment and you’d be right to. When I first moved to this city six years ago, I didn’t know anybody and I didn’t have any money. I would have been sleeping out in the streets if it wasn’t for Kendra. She gave me a place to rest my head and found me a job. It was a crappy job but at least, it put food on the table.

Kendra was an eccentric character when I first met her. If I’m being honest, she still is. But, disregard her flaws which include her excess use of hard drugs, her lack of decorum, class and basic manners, and the fact that she has probably sucked all the dicks in Manhattan and you’ll grow to love her just as I do because she’s a pretty great gal. She’s a loyal friend and she has a kind heart. She just needs to get her life in order and that idiot Lardon wasn’t helping matters at all.

I bunked it out with her for an entire year until I met Cookie and decided to become a stripper. I started making real money and after only a few months, I had enough to get my own place and I moved out of Kendra’s. It didn’t take long before her messy life spiraled beyond control and she was evicted from her place. She came to me for help and of course, I told her she could stay for as long as she needed to figure things out. I probably shouldn’t have told her that because it’s been almost five years now and she’s still here but, you know, I’m not complaining; I love her company. One thing I would say that I don’t like is the fact that she’s turned my home into her personal whorehouse. I can only hope that she gets her shit together before I lose the little patience that I have left.

*********

The next day, the smell that woke me up from my intensely deep sleep felt unreal because it was wonderful. I could tell that it was food but there was no way that it was coming from my kitchen because the only other person that could be in there was Kendra and she doesn't know how to cook. Right?

I got off my bed and went to look. What I saw was truly the most shocking thing that ever happened to me.

"Ken, what are you doing in here?" I asked drowsily, almost completely certain that I was dreaming.

"What does it look like, sleepyhead? I'm making you some breakfast," She said cheekily.

"When did you learn how to cook because all of this smells amazing?" I took a seat on one of the kitchen stools.

"I've always known how to cook, Cher, I just don't like doing it," She answered.

"Then, why are you doing it now?"

"Consider it a peace offering. My little way of saying sorry about Lardon last night,"

She placed a plate of pancakes, bacon and eggs in front of me and I just couldn't believe my damn eyes. It smelled good and it looked good also; I just couldn't believe it.

"Go on! Dig in," Ken said with a weird smile on her face and that’s when I knew that she was up to something.

I wanted to call her out and ask what it was that she really wanted but I was too hungry to do that and the food smelled too damn good. I grabbed a fork and dug into that plate with so much commitment, you’d think I was starving.

“It’s good, right?” Ken asked and leaned in closer.

“It’s great! Now, spit it out. What do you want?” I finally caved.

“What?!” Kendra pulled back and began laughing nervously, “I just made you some breakfast. What makes you think that I want anything?”

I stared at her without blinking for about ten seconds and that weak shit broke like the weak shit that she was.

“Fine! If you must know, I would like your help concerning a little something,”

“And what’s that?” I asked with a mouth full of bacon.

“Two hundred dollars,” She said and held out my purse.

“What are you doing with my purse?” I asked and snatched it out of her hands.

I asked what but truthfully, I already knew what the answer was going to be!