Theodore III



I don't know what's wrong with Jazmine lately but her jealous is really starting to show. But I don't know if it's just jealousy anymore. I knew she didn't like Lindsey because of Cashmere and I know she likes to pick fights with me all the time because of her jealousy but it's like she's constantly mad at the world, even when there's really nothing wrong with her. She's making money, her and Adonis are doing good and she's living for free in my house. I don't charge her or make her buy anything, so I don't know why she's always so upset.

Bu I really don't know why she threw this drink on Lindsey. I thought they decided to put everything aside while we were on vacation but I guess they can't put their differences away for two days.

Lindsey snatched her earbuds out of her ears as soon as Jazmine threw the drink on her.

"Oops," Jazmine smiled.

I could tell Lindsey was getting heated, just like how I could tell she was trying to be the bigger person by blocking Jazmine out but Jazmine just had to throw the drink on her.

"Please don't throw anything back Lindsey," Isaiah begged her.

I really wasn't in the mood to break anything up especially since we're in the small limo. There's no room for fighting unless we were all fighting with each other. It's too small. I don't even know why my Dad put Jaz up in a limo with Lindsey in the first place because it's not like they just started beefing. They've been beefing for years now so this was just stupid to put them together like they'd be able to get along for almost four hours.

Instead of stooping down to Jazmine's level, Lindsey reached across the bar and grabbed some napkins to wipe her wet face off. "Be glad we're in this small limo bitch, be glad," Lindsey said as she wiped her face off.

Jazmine smiled. "Like I already said, you can't do anything without your groupie to help you because you can't fight but you definitely wouldn't be able to take me on your own. You're a weak ass bitch."

Lindsey nodded her head. "Just like you. All the time we were standing outside, you could've stepped to me but you decided to wait until we were in a limo with four other people to do something because you know we can't fight in here. You're a weak, simple minded broad."

"Whatever," Jaz shrugged her shoulders. "At least I have a man that wants me. Where's Cashmere at by the way?"

"Damn, will you just shut up?" Adonis spoke up. "If I ain't know any better, I would've thought you were still sleeping with him. Stop bringing that nigga up all the time because he's not even important and he doesn't have anything to do with you. You gave him some dome, it was wack, so just let it go. Stop fighting over some shit that happened in the past."

Jazmine's eyes widened. "Are you talking to me?"

"Hell yeah I am Jaz. You're wearing me the fuck out with your constant badgering. You're being a bully right now. I'd condone you to beat ass and stand up for yourself any time but you're just being being a petty bully right now and it's really not a good look. Just drop it for now because I'm sure I'm not the only one getting tired of hearing y'all go back and forth with each other."

"Yeah, the shit has gotten old," I told Lindsey and Jazmine. "Fight any time y'all want but we gotta sit in this limo for the next four hours together so try not to argue or the two of y'all can get kicked out because I'm sure everybody in this limo is ready to put y'all out."

"For real," Isaiah agreed with us.

"Honestly, I don't even know why you're saying something to me Theodore. All I did was defend myself because of what Lindsey did to me."

I scrunched up my face. "And what exactly did Lindsey do to you today? Because she hadn't said shit to you since we got in the limo. You started shit with her by throwing your liquor on her."

"This dumb broad and her friend jumped me the other night at the club! Why the hell is everybody making it seem like I'm just acting this way out of anger? I'm defending myself since I didn't get a chance to when I got jumped the other night at the club."

I took a deep breath as I turned around to knock on the partition. I really hated to stop the limo but I needed to pull Jaz to the side to talk to her because she's losing her damn mind and it'[s obviously deeper than the whole Lindsey situation. It's something else. I knocked on the partition and the driver immediately pulled it open.

"Yes, sir?"

"Can you pull over for a minute? It'll be quick."

"Yes sir."

The driver pulled the partition close before pulling over to the side of the street. I planned on figuring out what was wrong with Jaz and if she didn't want to comply or tell me what's wrong with her then she was gonna have to leave. I'd give her money to find a ride back home but we're not too far away from Atlanta. Shit. We haven't even made it out of Atlanta yet so I know she'll be able to find her way back home. I'm done with this shit between her and Lindsey. It's already put a damper on the weekend that was supposed to be about me and Goldie.

"Jaz, lemme talk to you real quick."

Jaz smacked her lips as she climbed out of the limo behind me and closed the door behind herself. "What?" she asked as she folded her arms.

"Yo, what the hell is up with you? That shit you just did wasn't cool."

Jaz exhaled. "Are you serious? Lindsey and Danity jumped me the other night in the club. I got thrown out of the party I was hosting that night and I didn't even get paid my full amount because of their bullshit. I was already over the two of them but I'm fed up now that they're messing with my money."

"Wait, so this isn't about some nigga?"

"No," Jaz quickly replied, "Well not exactly. It's hard to explain."

"Well break it down so I can understand."

Jaz sighed. "It's not just about Cashmere. Yeah, I gave him head one night but I don't want him. Lindsey swears everybody wan--"

"Stop bringing her up and just say what the hell you need to say," I cut her off.

"I was trying to explain myself, damn. I don't want Cashmere the way Lindsey thinks I do. I gave him head that one night and that was it. I don't even communicate with him. And then there's Adonis. That's not my man but we're involved with each other and Lindsey is always up in our relationship like it has something to do with her."

"When has she ever been in y'all's relationship?"

"Stop trying to defend her!"

"I'm not! I'm just tryna figure out the issue between y'all 'cause based on what you're telling me, there's really no issue. It's just more petty girl drama unless you're not telling me something."

"She wants Adonis. It might not seem like it but based on what Adonis told me, he and Lindsey got a thing for each other and they have for years. I don't know why she wants my man but she needs to stop because that's her cousin. And then there's you."

My eyes widened. "Me? I don't have shit to do with any of the shit going on between the two of y'all."

"You do. You're like the biggest issue," she told me. "Lindsey acts as if no girl is good enough for her brother."

I scoffed. Damn. We're still on this? I thought Jazmine understood there was never gonna be an 'us.' "Jazmine, I already told you how I felt about you. I think we're better off as friends."

"But you know how I feel about you and for you to bring that other girl around the family vacation is insulting and it hurts. I understand that you don't feel the same way that I do but seeing Mya is like a slap in my face, especially since you were leading me on to believe you had an entire relationship with another girl and you were sleeping with some stripper bitch named Goldie. You had me thinking all kinds of crazy shit and you went back and told Lindsey that was really a crazy bitch, and of course she believed you. Now she thinks I'm trying to get with you, only because of what came out of your mouth. All of your family thinks I'm thirsty."

"I don't know what you're talking about Jazmine. I never said anything to my family about you and I never told Lindsey anything that wasn't the truth. I told them what was going on around the condo but I never made anything up. I only spit straight facts."

"Then why do they all think I'm trying to sleep with you?"

"Because you said you wanted to and I think that's all you want from me. I don't think you love me for more than a friend and I don't think you want a relationship with me because it's all physical with you. You just want to sleep with me and I've told you before that I'm not crossing that boundary with you because you're my friend. And as far as my relationships with women go, I did have a five year relationship with another woman but we're not seeing each other anymore. And what I got going on with Goldie and Mya are none of your business. My relationship status and what I do to the women I choose to be around have nothing to do with you so I'd like it if you stopped over analyzing the shit that's going on in my life."

"But what about how I feel though Theodore?"

"What about how I feel? You're making it seem like I'm supposed to drop everything and be with you when I don't have any feelings for you at all. You're a beautiful girl Jazmine but you're not my type and once you smashed the homie, you were off limits to begin with. You're too messy for my standards and I don't want anything to do with a female that disrespects my family and my shit. You didn't have to piss on that limo my Pops rented just to take us to this lake. You throwing that drink showed me your true colors and I don't think you should be doing this right now."

Jaz quickly frowned and I knew she was upset about what I just told her but I don't know how else to explain to her that I'm not feeling her the way she's feeling me. "What the hell are you talking about?"

"I don't think this boat trip is what you need to be doing right now. I think you need to just go back home and chill for the weekend to get your mind together."

"So you're just going to kick me off of the trip because of one small fight?"

"No because of all the other shit you and Lindsey been doing. I'm sick of it and so is everybody else, so the best thing for you to do is just go home and take Adonis with you," I explained. I didn't have anything against Adonis but if he was still trying to push up on my sister then I had an issue with that. They know they're cousins so whatever attraction they had for each other should've been dead years ago once they found out they were related.

"Wow," Jazmine laughed but I knew she was hurt. "If that's what you wanna do then that's fine but you're gonna regret taking her side. You know she's wrong but of course you can't stand up for me. Fuck you Theodore."

I scrunched up my face. How was I taking sides? I was trying to separate the two of them. "Man, fuck you too Jazmine." I walked around her and snatched the limo door open. "Donny, you gon' have to come up outta there man. You and Jaz gotta go."

Adonis quickly sat up straight. "Fuck is you talking about I gotta go? I was invited."

"Nah, you technically invited yourself, Jazmine and your Grandpa. Nobody invited y'all to this shit so with that being said, the two of y'all gon' have to leave."

"What kinda bull shit is you on Prince? You didn't have a problem with me coming since I am family and this is supposed to be a family vacation, so why can't I come?"

"Because this is the immediate Reed family, meaning my Mama, my Pops, their children, King and Charmaine. Other than that, I don't consider the rest of y'all lying, cheating sneaky ass mother fuckers my family and anybody who gotta issue with the shit I'm saying can get the fuck outta the limo."

"I gotta issue with that shit," Adonis said as he climbed out of the limo and stood in front of me. "I've had your back for years and saved your delusional ass from getting popped on multiple occasions. I don't know what the fuck you thought this was but I'm family on both sides little nigga. You and everybody else must've forgot I'm the grandchild of your Grandma's cousin and King's cousin. Don't down the shit I've done to help this family out because your dumb ass wouldn't be balling or living without me. So with that being said," he mocked me as he pushed me back, "fuck you and the entire immediate Reed family."

What Adonis said struck a nerve but him putting his hands on me was something he shouldn't have done so I shoved his ass back. Adonis saved my ass one time and that was the first lick we went on but other than that, I've had my own back. "You saved my ass one time but other than that I've been on my own because you're too busy chasing pussy to handle your business. I'm always alone Donny. I came out of my Mama's vagina alone, I hit every lick alone and I'm gonna die alone."

Donny pushed me back, causing me to stumble against the limo. "Nigga, you need me."

"Need you?" I laughed as I stood up straight. "You fuck on random prostitutes and run away when you gotta pay them, and you think I really need you? I run my own shit, got my own crib, car, clothes and anything I could ever want. You're fucking on prostitutes, strippers, Jazmine, your baby mama and now you tryna fuck my sister too! I'm surprised your dick ain't fall off yet."

"You know what, you really got a slick mouth for a nigga that's been fucking his step--"

I deaded Donny before he could even say some shit about Milan. I've never been afraid to throw the first punch so I decked him right in the mouth. The shit I got going on with Milan shouldn't even be getting aired because it's nobody's business but my own but now I see I can't trust Donny since he likes to run his big ass mouth. If he could so easily talk about Milan, then it makes me wonder what else he's been saying behind my back.

As soon as my first collided with his mouth, he stumbled back as blood leaked from his busted lip and my busted hand. Even though my hand was bleeding, I couldn't feel shit. I had too much adrenaline pumping through my veins to feel anything, not even the blow he delivered to my stomach.

"Hey y'all, break it up!" Isaiah yelled as he climbed out of the limo.

I could hear what he was saying but I wasn't processing it. The only thing on my mind right now was kicking his ass. Donny has some nerve trying to fight me because of the shit he and Jaz have going on. He should be checking her instead of me, but more importantly, he should be concerned about the bitches he's messing around with. He's 30 years old and he's still fucking around on bitches like he's 19. He needs to grow up and realize that shit's played out.

"Pussy boy," Donny spat as I attempted to hit him again but he ducked.

I laughed. "I'm only a pussy 'cause I missed but I didn't miss the first time or now." I caught Donny off guard and hit him with a three-punch-combo. I got him twice in the face and once in the stomach, making him double over and fall on the ground but I went down with him. He grabbed a hold of my chain and pulled me on the ground with him, this time getting in his licks too.

"Stop! Stop!"

I could hear Lindsey yelling behind me but the sound of her voice just pissed me off even more. It seemed like I was always losing friendships and getting into fights with people because of her. It's her. I shielded my face from Donny's fist and kneed him in the stomach to get him off of me. Donny rolled off of me as he held on to his stomach but I used that as my opportunity to get up. I rushed up on Lindsey and slammed her into the limo.

"What the hell are you doing!" she yelled, trying to push me away but I held her against the limo by her neck. Lindsey and her childish antics always press my nerves. I can't stand her.

I slammed Lindsey's back against the window of the limo as I leaned down to her level and asked, "Why the fuck you always in some bullshit with these niggas? You always in some stupid shit!" I banged my fist against the limo with every word I spoke because I was beyond pissed off.

I could feel Lindsey's sharp nails digging into my skin but I just held on to her neck since it was the only thing keeping her in my grasp. I tightened my grip on her neck and turned her face so she was looking at me.

"What the hell is up with you?"

Lindsey opened her mouth to speak but no words were coming out of her mouth. Instead, she bought her hands up to my face and dug craters into my skin with her nails to get me away from her but a few scratches from her fake ass nails weren't gonna stop me.

"My nigga, what the hell are you doing?"

Isaiah pushed his way in between us to try to break us up but my hands were glued to her neck. I'm tired of Lindsey and her shit. She's always into it with somebody and she always looks at me to fight her battles for her. She's too damn old to be acting like this. Isaiah continued to pry us apart but the only thing that averted my attention from Lindsey is when I felt a blow to the back of my head. Of course that weak nigga Donny hit me when my back was to him.

"Get'cho fuckin' hands off of her nigga."

I fell down on the ground but I kept Lindsey in my grasp. As soon as Lindsey was on top of me, she wasted no time punching me all over my body. I don't know why they were all acting like Lindsey and I never fought like this when we were kids. Lindsey knows how to press my buttons and she does it on purpose. Lindsey rammed her fist into my face, never really hurting me.

"I fucking hate you!" she yelled but was soon pulled off of me by Isaiah.

"Look!" Isaiah yelled. "Y'all need to chill before we all get arrested out here. Adonis and Jazmine, I suggest y'all leave now and if y'all gotta problem with that then handle it with me," he said as he lifted up the end of his shirt to show off the 45 ACP he kept on his hip. "But y'all gon' have to leave. Get y'all's shit out the trunk but leave."

"This some bullshit and you know it nigga. Theodore's acting like a little ass kid."

"All of y'all are acting like little ass kids fighting in the middle of nowhere like we ain't all black in the middle of the south," Isaiah explained. "Y'all all need to stop acting so damn stupid."

Adonis and Jazmine eventually got their shit out of the trunk of the limo and the rest of us got back inside. I plopped down next to Goldie while Lindsey sat on the opposite side of the limo looking just as fucked up as I did. We were both covered in dirt, blood and leaves since we were on the ground. Her hair was standing all over her head and their were pieces of leaves caught up in my beard but we didn't do shit about it. The two of us had a silent stare off for the remainder of the ride to Savannah, which showed me that we weren't finished. We'd finish the fight another time.

~~~

Mama shook her head as she and Pops watched Lindsey and I board the yacht. Still cut up and dirty, Lindsey and I didn't say shit to Mama and Pops.

"What the hell did y'all get into?" she asked as we walked past her but her and Pops pulled us back.

Pops eyes widened. "Were y'all fighting with each other?"

"Yup, they were," Isaiah ratted us out once he got on the yacht. "I had to break them up before they killed each other."

Mama sighed. "I can't believe you two. You're both grown adults and you're fighting each other like you're children. Lindsey, what happened to your neck? Why is it bruised up?"

"Because your stupid son choked me."

I scrunched up my face. "I didn't even apply pressure. I just had my hands around your neck 'cause you were getting on my nerves. You're always in some drama with everybody and I'm always the one to handle your dirty work."

"I never asked you to handle anything for me. You were just fighting with Donny and when I tried to break it up, you attacked me. You're insane."

"I hate you," I spat but she just shrugged her shoulders.

"I don't care. I hate you too. I hope your girlfriend likes your busted lip."

"Fuc--"

"Don't you dare say it," Pops cut me off, making me sigh. I know I'm supposed to be Lindsey's brother and respect her but how could I possibly have any respect for her when she doesn't have any for herself? "Acting like children is what y'all's children should be doing and who y'all should be taking care of, not fighting with each other. Theodore, you're supposed to look out for your sister regardless. As a grown man, you're a bitch to be putting your hands on her and I'll talk to you about that later. Lindsey and Isaiah, come with me so we can talk."

I kept a frown on my face as I watched Pops walk off with Lindsey and Isaiah. That's that shit I hate. He doesn't even get the full story and he automatically thinks it's all because of me. I probably shouldn't have put my hands on Lindsey the way I did but he doesn't even know what happened. He always takes her side, even when I'm not in the wrong. Just as I was about to storm off, Mama grabbed on to my arm.

"Theodore, baby, wait."

"Why? If you're gonna tell me the same thing as Pops then I really don't wanna hear it. All I'm tryna do is get my daughter so I can leave. I'm not dealing with this, this weekend." I tried to walk away from her again but she pulled me back again. I yanked my arm away from her. "What Mama?"

"I know you're mad but Princess doesn't need to see you like this. Look at yourself Theodore."

I took a deep breath and looked down at my clothes that were torn and the blood that was all over them. I sighed. "I'm sorry Mama, I'm just mad."

"I know you are. Come with me so I can get you cleaned up."

This time, I didn't fight with Mama. She grabbed my hand and pulled me to the other side of the yacht where the rooms were. She walked into the room I was sharing with Goldie and Princess and stopped once she saw the two of them sitting in there.

"Daddy," Princess squealed as soon as she saw me standing behind Mama. She tried to run over to me but Goldie stopped her.

"No sweetie, let your Dad get cleaned up first."

"Okay," Princess mumbled. "Daddy, are you okay? You look upset."

I sighed. "I'm fine baby girl. Can you do me a favor?"

"Yeah."

"Close your eyes and don't open them until I tell you too. A'ight?"

"Okay Daddy."

"Close your eyes."

"They're closed," Princess reassured me as Mama walked me into the room.

I don't give a damn about anybody else on this boat but I can't have Princess see me like this. "Your eyes still closed?" I asked Princess as Mama and I walked across the bedroom to get to the bathroom.

Princess smiled. "I promise they're closed."

"Can you do me another favor baby girl?" I asked once Mama and I were in the bathroom.

"Of course Daddy."

I couldn't help but smile. "Can you get me some more clothes out of my suitcase?"

"What do you wanna we--Daddy..." Princess trailed off. I sighed. I knew she wouldn't be able to keep her eyes closed. Princess climbed out of Goldie's lap and ran up to me. "Daddy, what happened to you? Did you get into a fight?" she asked as she touched the blood on my shirt.

I sighed. "Something like that. You gon' get my outfit for me?"

"Are you hurt?" she completely ignored my question.

I bent down and grabbed her hands. "Princess, I'm fine baby girl. You gon' lay my outfit out for me?"

She nodded her head. "Yeah, I can but I don't want you to be hurting Daddy."

I smiled for her. "See, I'm smiling. I'm fine."

"Are you sure?"

"Of course. I wouldn't lie to you. Would I?"

She quickly shook her head. "Never."

Princess eventually took my smile as me being all right and let Mama get me cleaned up. I sat on the side of the tub as Mama wiped down my face.

"I don't think you were right to put your hands on your sister," she said as she picked the leaves out of my beard. "You could've went about that another way but Lindsey needs to stop depending on you to fight her battles. Teddy and my Dad always take up for her shit and she needs to be a grown woman and a mother and fight her own battles. And if she can't then she needs to stop running her mouth so much."

"That's what I was tryna say but nobody ever listens to me."

"You know how your Dad gets about Lindsey since she's his only daughter. He always feels like she can do no wrong but I see straight through the shit she's doing. She needs to be worried about her son instead of men and what the next bitch is doing."

"How come you never said that to her?"

"I have but she doesn't listen to me so I just stopped wasting my breath. Lindsey doesn't want to listen so she's gonna have to learn the hard way and you're gonna have to take this situation as a lesson to pick your own battles. Always have your family's back because you only have one family but learn to pick your battles because you gotta look out for yourself and that little girl sitting in the other room. Princess is your only priority at this point. Nothing else and no one else matters. Do you understand me?"

I nodded my head. "Yeah, I got it Mama."

Mama pulled my torn shirt over my head and sighed. "Look at you baby. I know Isaiah said you fought with Adonis. Did you at least win?"

I shrugged my shoulders. "I wouldn't even call it a fight. We were just punching each other but there was no winner and we were fighting because of Lindsey and Jazmine. Donny's like a brother to me. I shouldn't have let my anger take control of myself."

"You been taking your medication?" she whispered since she was the only person I told I was taking medication or that I had 'issues.'

I sucked my teeth. "Mama, I told you I stopped taking that crap a few months ago because I don't like what it does to me. I know I need something to control my emotions but it suppresses my feelings to the point where I don't feel anything."

"I told you it's nothing wrong with having anger issues. I take my medication everyday."

I shook my head. Mama was partially right. She had started taking medication to help her Paranoia and Neurosis years ago, which is why she's been so normal but I don't like the way the medicine made me feel. And I'm not crazy. I don't need medication to keep me calm. People test me, therefore I get angry. "Because your issues are different than mine. I don't like my emotions being controlled."

"I know but it's just something to think about. I won't bring it up again. Who's that girl out there with Princess?"

"Mya."

Mama smiled. "Is she your girlfriend?"

"No, we're just kicking it right now Mama but she will be eventually."

"Why are y'all just 'kicking it'? Whatever that means."

"It means we're not in a relationship but we're working towards one but on our own pace."

"So she has a boyfriend or you're involved with other women, is what you're trying to cover up?"

I sighed. "It's not even like that Mama. The guy she's with is treating her badly. I know I shouldn't be messing with her but I like her a lot Mama. She accepts me and she's good with Princess. She's not like the other girls I've been with in the past."

"Well she seems nice but Majesty and Tee Tee were nice at first too."

"Majesty and Tee Tee were hoes Mama. Mya's not."

"I'll be the judge of that. Don't get too caught up in these girls," she warned me. "They all seem genuine at first. She seems like a sweet girl but she needs to end her relationship with her boyfriend before she does anything with you because I don't want you getting hurt because you're messing around with a girl that's in a relationship. I don't have a good feeling about this girl or this whole boyfriend situation Theodore."

"What do you mean by that?"

"Watch your back because snakes can come in many forms, including women."

~~~

Comment. Vote. Add to your Reading List. Share.

300+ Comments.

I know it's kind of short but how was this chapter? How do you guys feel about Theodore kicking Jazmine and Adonis off of the trip? Were Adonis and Theodore wrong to fight each other? Was Theodore wrong to put his hands on Lindsey? Was Teddy wrong to take Lindsey's side? How do you guys feel about Victoria not trusting Goldie? Is Goldie a snake?

I changed Theodore's character by the way.