SUGAR - Chapter 19: Chapter 19

I stared at my screen in shock at what I was reading.
"What did they say?" Drew and Bria asked.
"They're not giving my scholarship back," I said softly as a tear rolled down my face.
"Well at least you can cover the fall semester," Bria comforted me, getting up from her seat to come over and hug me.
"How am I going to cover spring? The only reason I was able to cover fall is because Slim gave me the money."
"Whoa, hold up, you didn't tell me that," Drew said raising his eyebrow.
"The second time he came to the club I got $15,000. I can't even save the money my parents send me every month because I use that to pay bills. All of my club money went towards my tuition."
"Jo, maybe you should consider a loan," Bria urged.
"I can't, my parents would definitely find out. And what if I need to for law school? I don't wanna add an extra $41,000 on top of what I may already have to pay back."
"I won't have loans," Drew informed me. "I'll have a job secured as soon as I graduate. Once I start working, I can pay it back before interest kicks in."
"I can't ask you to do that, Drew. You're already trying to secure a future for us."
"So what are you gonna do?" Bria asked with concern.
"I'll have to go back to the club, at least for now."
"Hell nah, Jo, we talked about this. I don't want you in the club," Drew fussed. "Just talk to John, I'm sure he'll understand. You made it this far, maybe he'll help you out now."
"I can't!" I yelled. "Imagine thinking your perfect daughter went away to college on a full scholarship only to find out she lost it and had to take her clothes off to hide it from you! He's already about to be stressed about the campaign, I can't do this to him. Not now."
"It's okay, JoJo, breathe," Bria hugged me, calming me down. "Look, let's just go to the mixer and chill and worry about this another day. We'll figure something out, I promise."
I tried my best to compose myself so I could be in good spirits to not ruin their night but I knew I couldn't keep it up forever. I was going to have to do something and I was afraid regardless of the option I chose.
Later that night ...
"Man, hell nah," CJ yelled. "JoJo got an unfair advantage. Fuck that rematch!"
"Don't hate the player," I laughed. "I'll let y'all whoop everybody else but at the end of the night that ass is mine!"
I grabbed my drink, leaving the kitchen and heading out to the party to mingle with some students I had classes with as I spotted Tim walking in the door.
"Hey, you made it. The boys are in the kitchen playing beer pong," I said, pointing towards the kitchen.
"Cool. I hope you don't mind but I invited Slim. He don't really get out much so I thought it would be cool for him to come and hang."
"Yeah, it's cool," I lied. "There's drinks and food in the kitchen. Help yourself."
He walked away and I braced myself as Slim's tall frame appeared in the doorway. I turned and made my way back to the kitchen before he had a chance to speak. I stood as close to Drew as possible, feeling Slim's eyes on me as he followed Tim into the kitchen to watch the rest of the pong match.
"That's game, my boy," Drew gloated, shaking the loser's hand. "Come on, baby. Time to break that winning streak you and Bria cheated y'all way into."
He pulled me in for a quick kiss, slapping me on the ass as I walked to the other side of the table.
"I'm watching elbows all game," CJ warned.
"Need to watch the cups so the ball make it in," Bria teased. "Since we won the last game, we'll be going first."
She tossed the ball into the first cup, making CJ drink and just as last time, we played back and forth with no one missing a shot.
"I'm getting deja vu, man," CJ groaned. "Drew you taking this last shot. I can't watch."
"Take the last shot, JoJo. You won it for us last time," Bria said handing me the ball.
"You still gone love me after this?" I smirked at Drew.
"Hell nah," he laughed. "You beat us again I ain't fucking with you the rest of the night."
He focused his attention on the last cup, throwing the ball in before cheering with everyone on his side.
"You got this, boo!" Bria yelled as everyone on our side started the JoJo chant.
I closed my eyes to block out the noise before focusing on the last cup. I remembered MJ teaching me how to shoot years ago at my graduation party and copied his exact form, sinking the ball into the cup.
"SEVEN TIME CHAMPS, BITCH!" I yelled as everyone around me cheered. Drew walked over to our side of the table, giving me a congratulatory hug and kiss.
"I thought you weren't fucking with me?" I joked.
"You know I had to talk my shit," he laughed. My phone started ringing in my back pocket and I checked to see that it was my dad.
"It's Daddy, I'm gonna take this outside."
"Alright, stay in the light where people can see you," he said, noticing Slim sitting across the room. "I love you."
"I love you, too," I replied, heading for the front door.
"Hey, Daddy," I answered.
"Hey, baby girl. What's that noise in the background?"
"Back to school mixer at the frat house. What's up?"
"I was just calling to let you know DJ should be there sometime tomorrow afternoon so be on the lookout. And I got some information on your friend."
"How bad is it?" I asked, getting in the car for more privacy.
"Nothing I didn't expect. A few possession charges that got dropped somehow. What surprised me the most is the stalking and aggravated battery charges that got dropped too."
"Aggravated battery?" I asked surprised.
"A girl he was stalking pressed charges and got a restraining order. Obviously he didn't like that so he beat her up so badly she needed stitches across the back of her head."
"Oh my God, are you serious?!"
"My source is legit. I told you I had a weird feeling about him. I saw how he watched you every time I saw him over. I don't have anything to worry about, do I?"
"No, everything's fine. Drew is very protective and he wouldn't let anything happen to me."
"Drew can't do what I'll do if anything happens to you. You're my only child. I'll tear Houston up if that's what I have to do."
"I promise, everything's fine."
"Okay. Just calling to check on you. Call me when DJ makes it there. Love you, princess."
"Love you more, Dad," I replied hanging up the phone.
A knock at my passenger window almost made me jump out of my skin.
"What now?" I asked rolling the window down as Slim leaned against the car.
"Unlock the door. I wanna talk to you."
"We're talking now. What's up?"
"Have you thought about my offer?"
"I thought I made it clear that I wasn't interested."
"I'm not sure if you've realized by now but you really don't have a choice."
"So you're just going to stalk me until I give in?"
"Stalking is a bit dramatic, don't you think?" he smirked. "As much as I'm enjoying our game of cat and mouse, eventually it's going to get old."
"And when it does?"
"I'd hate for you to have to find out."
"Hey, bro, move around," Drew shouted walking up with CJ, Bria, Tim and a group of his line brothers. "You good, baby?"
"I'm fine," I said getting out of the car to be by his side. "Everything's good. Let's just go back inside."
"Nah, I told you I'd handle this if it got out of hand. That's what I'm doing," he said, moving me behind him. "You gotta roll out, my nigga."
"For what?" Slim chuckled. "Talking to your girl?"
"Exactly that. I let you slide in Charlotte but shit different here."
"Drew, stop," I pleaded softly, grabbing his arm before he pushed me back.
"I ain't stopping shit. Buddy gotta go. Now."
"Hey, man," CJ chimed in. "It ain't gotta be no issue. Just bounce before shit go left."
"I'll leave if Jordyn asks," he stated looking past Drew at me.
"Please leave," I said barely above a whisper.
He chuckled as he moved his gaze from me to Drew.
"Aight, ma. I'll catch you later."
"Nah, you won't come near her again," Drew said, stepping forward.
Slim reached behind his waist, pulling out a gun.
"JoJo, go in the house!" he shouted as 3 of his line brothers also drew their guns.
"I'm not leaving you!" I yelled, breaking away from Bria's attempt to drag me back towards the house.
"Man, you tripping!" Tim yelled, moving towards Slim and lowering the gun. "Get outta here before the cops get called."
He smirked at me one last time before he walked away with Tim.
"We'll be in touch, JoJo," he called out as he walked away.
"Man what the fuck is going on?" one of Drew's line brothers, Larry, asked placing his gun in his waist behind his back.
"We'll talk about it later. Make sure nobody saw what just happened. I don't need the cops getting called," he demanded, keeping his eyes on Slim until they pulled off.
He grabbed me and pulled me into a strong hug as everybody walked back towards the house.
"I'm sorry I didn't listen to you," he whispered as he kept me close. "I promise I won't let him near you again."
"He won't stop," I cried into his chest. "He's done this before. Daddy looked into him. Drew, I'm scared."
"I'm not letting you out of my sight. I'll die before I let anything happen to you," he said, kissing the top of my head. "Let's go back inside. We'll figure something out later."
We began walking back towards the house when a text came through, stopping me dead in my tracks.
Make a decision or I reveal everything. Thank your little boyfriend.