SUGAR - Chapter 20: Chapter 20

"So what we doing bout this nigga?" Larry asked, placing his gun on the counter. We stood around the kitchen island mafia style as we discussed the events that took place earlier tonight.
"I'm not even sure, bro," Drew said rubbing his hands across his face. "I shoulda took care of this shit back in Charlotte. That's on me."
"Yeah we knew that nigga was weird but this shit getting wild," CJ chimed in. "I'm looking at that nigga Tim kinda sideways too."
"Nah, he innocent for now. He didn't know buddy was on that type of timing. I'm sure he know now."
"At this point it's up to JoJo," Larry spoke up. "If you ask us to spare this nigga, you got that. If you want this nigga gone, you got that too."
Everyone looked at me, waiting for me to speak up for the first time since the incident.
"You putting too much pressure on her," Drew said, moving me in front of him and putting his arms around my waist. "Whatever decision she makes ultimately affects her more than us."
"Well you know how we coming behind her, Prez. She get the same respect around this motherfucker as you," Larry said. "Whenever she decide, whatever she decide, we got her."
"I appreciate that, Vice. Ima get her home and make sure she straight and I'll call you if I need anything."
Everyone exchanged goodbyes and we made our way outside to the car. In the distance, we could see Tim walking up.
"I had no idea that shit was gone happen, I swear," he pleaded to Drew as he walked up.
"You good, man," he replied, dapping him up. "I can't even hold that against you."
"Yeah, son tripping. I dropped him at the crib and came right back to straighten this out."
"Where that nigga stay?" Larry asked.
"Vice, not tonight," Drew warned him. "Wait for the word before you do something I can't get you out of."
"I feel responsible for this so if you need me for anything, hit my line," Tim added.
Drew walked me over to the passenger side before getting in and starting the car.
"You haven't said anything in a while," he said concerned, rubbing my thigh. "Talk to me."
"I have to tell my dad," I finally said in a soft voice.
"If he knows you're in danger, you won't get to decide if someone's life gets spared. You know that, right?"
"You could've been hurt tonight or worse and it would've been my fault. You don't know what he's capable of."
"If he was going to shoot me, we wouldn't be having this conversation. Nothing is going to happen to me and I'll die before I let anything happen to you. Let's just get you home so you can feel safe and we'll talk about it in the morning, okay?"
The next morning ...
"Good morning, baby girl. DJ made it okay?" my dad answered.
"He's not here yet. I actually needed to talk to you about something important."
"Go ahead, I'm listening."
"I think it's best we talk face to face."
"Give me 4 hours," he said before ending the call.
"You sure you ready to do this?" Drew asked as I laid back down next to him.
"No, but what choice do I have? It's either I tell him or he finds out. I'd rather not include a third party in the disappointment."
"I don't think you give John enough credit. All he's ever wanted is for you to have a good life and be happy. Even if you decided to give up on school, he would've loved you no less."
"I think you're giving him too much credit," I laughed. "Dropping out is one thing, stripping might send him to an early grave."
"Remember the day you finally told me you had been dancing?"
"Unfortunately, yes."
"I wanted to strangle you."
"You better be making a point, Andrew," I side eyed him as he laughed and continued rubbing my back.
"I wanted to but knowing how much courage it took for you to finally tell me is something I admire about you to this day. I still remember the day I met you. Shy, quiet, just there. But something about that experience was necessary to make you the woman you are today. You speak up for yourself, your personality is more outgoing. Shit, you walk around the frat house like YOU chapter president," he laughed.
"A lot of things change once a bunch of strangers see you naked," I joked back.
"And I understand that now. I know I wasn't as supportive of you as I should've been and I'll spend the rest of my life righting that wrong if that's what it takes. I love the person you've become this past year. Even with the shit going on now, you could've gave in but you didn't. Your dad may be disappointed at first but once he sees how strong and mature you've become, it won't be as bad as you think."
"I'm sure with everything else I'm about to tell him, that'll be the last thing on his mind. Or at least I hope it will."
Later that day ...
"I got here as fast as I could. What's going on?" my dad asked as he walked inside my apartment.
"You might wanna sit for this, Mr. J," Drew said motioning to the couch.
"Drew, if she's pregnant you got a 10 second head start," he said sitting down.
"Daddy, I'm not pregnant."
"Then what's so important I had to fly 2 hours here?"
"There's something I need to tell you and I think it's best that it comes from me. Please just listen to everything I'm about to say before you react."
Drew grabbed my hand to comfort me as I took a deep breath.
"I lost my scholarship sophomore year. I didn't want to disappoint you and mom so I started stripping to pay my tuition out of pocket until I was able to appeal it. I met Slim while I was working in the club. Everything was sort of calm until I came home this summer. Once he followed me to Charlotte and saw that I was with Drew, he became really aggressive towards me and began threatening me. Last night after you called, he and Drew got into a heated exchange and he pulled a gun on him and threatened to expose me if I didn't do what he said. I didn't want you to find out from someone else and I'm sorry I kept this from you for so long but I need to tell you now before things get even worse than they already are."
The air in the room got heavy as my father and I just stared at each other in complete silence.
"Daddy, please say something," I cried softly as tears began to run down my face.
Without saying a word, he stood and walked out of the front door, leaving me and Drew sitting on the sofa.