Before I go home, I stop at the bank and get a cashier’s check made for half my rent. Even though I had the whole payment, I’m hoping that my guardian angel was watching over me and paid my rent something. If not, then at least the building manager will grant me time to pay the second half in two weeks. He knew I was good for it. Though I’ve been late before I’ve always paid up when I set up an agreement to do so. If I paid the full amount, I’d only have one hundred seven dollars and thirty seven cents left, and though I have no problem slumming it I’d rather have some wiggle room knowing my car could break down at any moment. Ha maybe I can tell my billionaire boyfriend to buy me a new car and put me on the deed of his house. I shake my head at how silly I sound.
There’s absolutely zero chance of that shit happening. Channing seemed willing enough to do stuff for me at his home, but that shit could have been fake. I won’t believe it until he put on like that at work or something. His food was good as hell though. So good it almost made me cry tears when I pull up to the grocery store knowing I was about to be getting a shit ton of oodles of noodles.
After that I put gas in my tank and pray that the miles to the gallon miraculously increased and I didn’t need to fill up again. Again, highly unlikely. By the time I head to the house I’m praying to God that it’s not too late to give them this check. After parking, I go straight to my apartment to put my purse and groceries down so I can go drop the check off only get to my door and drop everything. Heart thumping, I snatch the menacing white note with bold red letters off my door and read it like it was fabricated. I stop myself from crumbling it in my fist.
“What the hell? Evicted? HOW!?” Groceries forgotten I run to the office bursting into the door and snatch my rent check from my purse and throw it on the desk.
“Devon, I know I’m late and this isn’t the full amount but if you please give me a chance I’ll get you the rest tonight and I’ll-”
“Angel, sweetie I was just coming to see you. I hate this had to happen, but this is above me. I can’t reverse the eviction notice.”
“No, you have to Devon! Call the building owner and tell them that I have the money. Tell them that I’ll pay. Come on I have half the rent right here and I’ll have th-” He held his hands up to stop my speech and shakes his head.
“I’m sorry Angel, but I can’t take that. You know if I could, I would but just this morning we were bought and told to decline any late payments of anyone who’s consecutively been late. Due to this strict late payment policy that was put into place I have to evict you or else I will lose my job. I’m sorry but I can’t afford that right now. You know Jerry and I have our weeding next month. Sweetie I cannot afford to piss off that sexy piece of chocolate ten-inch penis. Like I said, this is above me. The best I can do is give you the new management’s phone number and email and you can take everything up with them.”
“That’s bullshit and doesn't even sound legal. Where is our change of policy and procedure notice? You can’t just switch up on us like this.” I snap, not at him but at the situation in general. This is just wrong and uncalled for.
“Look I know how you feel. You’re my girl and I hate to do this to you and anyone else who came in today, but I cannot do anything but follow the rules.”
“B-but? What am I supposed to do? I don’t have anywhere to go.” The tears welled up and he came around the desk and hugged me.
“I’m sorry Angel. I wish I could help, but the only thing I can do is offer you a room until you get off your feet. Jerry wouldn’t mind I’m sure. He likes you.” Shaking my head, I wipe my tears and step away from his arms.
“No thank you. I can’t see myself imposing on you soon to be newlyweds. I’ll figure things out. Can you tell me how long I have to vacate the premises?” He frowned and rubbed my shoulders still trying to comfort me.
“A week.” Closing my eyes in utter defeat, I take a deep breath and try to get in control of my emotions. After leaving the office I run up the steps to my apartment feeling defeated and lost. Inside I look around not even knowing where to start. This is the only home I’ve known since I moved from Texas. Not to mention rent in LA is absolutely insane. This was one of the most affordable complexes that I’ve found, and it still cost me and arm and a leg to live here at over seventeen hundred dollars a month for a one bedroom one bath. As I sit on my loveseat couch, I think about what options do I have. I can’t leave my job and go back home.
I refuse to leave my brother hanging like that. Taking my phone from my purse I look for last minute places to rent. When I find places for a minimum of two thousand, I change tactics and start searching for flights back to Texas. There is absolutely no way I can afford that on my salary. God give me miracle because I don’t want to go back. My life here wasn’t the best but- the sound of my phone ringing put a halt to my thoughts. Not bothering to look at the caller ID I pick up hoping my emotions aren’t heard through the phone.
“Hello?”
“Angel? Baby what’s going on? I hadn’t heard from you yet and was starting to worry. How you doing suga.” Mama, oh no!
“Uhmm, sorry about that. I was a little busy this afternoon when you called. Did you get the money sent over to the school?” I wanted to avoid all conversation about myself if possible. My mama is a sharp one and had a weird third eye when it came to her family. She’s from New Orleans and let her tell it my granny and family over there dabble in voodoo and shit. She told me that it’s the reason why she moved to Texas, to get away from that but she still has a keen sense and her spiritual connection is just stronger than others’. It’s hard to hide things from her so I like to keep conversations with her as short as possible when I’m going through rough patches.
“That’s ok, I understand you were busy. Yes, I called, and they accepted the payment and the lady was nice enough to waive the late fee.”
“Wow, that was nice of her.”
“Mhmm, it sure was, so I why don’t you tell me what’s going on with you? I felt it in my spirt that something isn’t right over there. There is something a force in motion that’s making things difficult for you and I want you to know if you ever need to come home you are more than welcome to come back. I can take c-”
“Mama please stop. Everything is going good on my end. Thank you for worrying though.” This was is so embarrassing, she always knew when something was up with me. “It means a lot to me that you’ll let me come back if I need to but I’m okay. I am in the middle of something important so is it alright that I give you a call back sometime next week?”
“Alright I see you don’t feel like talking about it, so I’ll let you go. When you’re ready to talk I’m only a phone call away.”
“Yes ma’am.”
“Don’t let a whole blue moon pass before I hear from you okay?”
“I promise to call you talk to you next week and tell that knuckleheaded brother of mine that I love him and to stay out of trouble.” After hanging up the tears started pouring. I have nowhere to go, and even though she said I could come back I’ll be damned if I burden my mama by going back home. When my phone rings again I pick it up expecting my mama, but Channing’s deep voice comes though.