The California Saga by Chunichi Read Free Book Online Page A

second to talk to a nice guy. But when he doesn’t want to holler at her, she will hate all night on the chick that can accomplish what she can’t.”
    â€œWell, I will let you know right now that I’ve never been turned down,” I said with plenty of confidence.
    â€œNeither have I.”
    We both gave each other a smirk.
    Just then, Sean Kingston’s “Beautiful Girls” started playing on the radio, and Jewel started singing to the lyrics.

    â€œYou’re way too beautiful
That’s why it’ll never work
You had me suicidal, suicidal
When you say it’s over”

    She sang like the song was talking about her specifically.
    I gave Jewel a playful shove in the head. “You ain’t gon’ have nobody suicidal.”
    â€œWhatever. We’ll see about that.” She rolled her eyes and neck in unison then said to me, “Tell me about yourself.”
    â€œIt’s not much to tell. My name is Calico, and I’m from Los Angeles, California. My pops was a drug dealer-turned entrepreneur. He had a hot li’l jewelry spot in LA back in the day, but when we had those riots back in ninety-two, he lost everything. For the first time, my father couldn’t provide for his family. He tried everything to get back on his feet. Everything, except going to back to the dope game. He’d promised my mother that once he was out, he would never go back to it. Eventually my father could no longer take the pressure of not being able to provide for his family, so he drank himself to death, and my mother slowly but surely picked up the pieces.
    â€œSeeing my mom struggle as a kid really fucked me up, so I decided I was going to be the man of the house. I automatically had respect on the streets because of my father’s street cred. After some good deals came through that put real money in my pocket, I stepped up to the plate and took care of the house. Still, my mother has never been the same. I can’t tell you the last time I’ve seen her truly happy.”
    â€œAny brothers or sisters?”
    â€œYeah, I have an older brother and sister. I’m the baby. I will let you know now, I’m a serious momma’s boy. Whatever momma wants, that woman gets.”
    â€œOf course, I understand. So you and Touch are good friends?”
    I felt like I was under interrogation as Jewel came at me with question after question. “We’re more like business partners, splitting the profits right down the middle.” I then turned the tables on her. “What do you do?”
    â€œRight now, I’m a ghostwriter full-time. Yesterday, I was a medical biller and coder. Tomorrow, I’ll be the girl of your dreams, and soon after that, I’ll be running that part of the business you have with Touch,” Jewel said without a doubt.
    I grinned. “Damn! You got big dreams, shorty.” I knew there was no way in hell she could ever reach any of those dreams she had set for tomorrow and thereafter.
    Jewel looked me directly in my eyes and gave me a seductive look. “It’s not a dream, baby.” She paused and gently caressed my chin. “It’s very, very real.” She ended the statement with a kiss into the air.
    I took a swallow in an attempt to break the trance she had just put me in. She watched and gave a slight smile, as though she knew what I was thinking.
    â€œSo”—my voice cracked, making me clear my throat—“do you make a lot of money ghostwriting?”
    â€œYes, you can. It depends on who you write for, and how many jobs you get. The job can be tiring at times, but I enjoy it.”
    â€œIs it hard?” I asked, really intrigued by her profession.
    â€œNot really, but I feel as if my job is never complete. I’m only as good as the last song that I wrote.”
    â€œSo why not just be a rapper? I thought everybody wanted to be a rapper.”
    â€œYeah, when they’re like