Salem’s Interlude,

Letting yall know now, this will be a reaalll slow burn. The girls that get it, get it..

This will be more like a novel rather than a short story.

Updates will be at LEAST every other day.

Please excuse any mistakes and feel free to comment so I see them.

Enjoy, lol. Thank you guys for reading.

General TW - topics of sex, drugs, sa, childhood trauma, etc will be mentioned in this book. Please read at your own discretion.

" But I know when I'm done, I'll get what I want

I'll get what I want, oh

I"ll be in my crib, I"ll be ridin' in my Benz

Call it what you want but I'm just tryna be set up (Set up)

Set up, I'm just tryna be set up

Set up, I'm just tryna be set up (Set up)

Set up, I'm just tryna be set up

Set up, oh, ohhhh, " Summer Walker's voice blared through Salem's 2015 Gray Honda Civic.

The car was a gift from her dad back in 2019 for her 18th birthday and though it wasn't the newest or most expensive car, it was hers. She loved her car more than most people. She had even went as far as tricking it out with baby pink accents and heart rims. She prided herself on the one thing she could really call hers. No contract, No obligation. She learned early in life that a contract or " agreement " was nothing but a way to keep yourself in chains. No matter who the contract was with.

Her mind laid idle as she sat behind the wheel humming along to the music shuffling from her playlist.

Fuck, I need gas.. she thought as her attention was pulled to the E light, which had indeed been on since yesterday.

Her eyes darted between the light, her phone screen which contained her google maps trip time estimate, and the number on the clock which ready 10:47PM. She knew that if she stopped for gas she'd be late, but if she didn't she would simply be assed out.

" Damn it. " she thought. " I hate this damn job anyways, now I gotta get out and fumble wit these broke ass niggas at this gas station. Shit. How about I make a bet with myself, If they stop you, you owe yourself a spa day. " she chuckled to herself while pulling into the same 76 gas station off slauson, near the mall, where she purposely tries to avoid getting her gas.

The second she pulled into the pump she deemed closest to the door, her eyes were scanning the parking lot before she even dared unlocking her door. She knew the risks of being out so late dressed how she was dressed. Her hair in a 90's inspired updo her cousin Daijah did for her the night before, her face lightly beat with a naaasty mega lash set, still allowing her natural beauty to shine through, her favorite quality of her's. But the real issue was her dress. The dress.

Her body was laced in a skin tight, black body con dress, that stopped at about thigh length exposing and complimenting the ink on her brown skin.

Now, the dress wasn't the problem in her eyes, but she knew when she wore it she was definitely at risk for U.B.N.A. unwanted broke nigga attention. She had tested the theory multiple times and her findings proved her hypothesis to be true. She figured it was because her titties were jusst the right amount of out and her ass gave just enough peakage, it drove men wild. She knew she looked better than good, so she really did understand. What she didn't understand was why men in the city were so aggressive. She dealt with too many men daily to deem that feeling of being scared around men as an illusion.

She glanced over at a group of men near the entrance and mentally rolled her eyes,

" of course these niggas posted up..Let's see" she mumbled to herself and gained the strength to push her car door open and step out, being sure to double lock the car behind her.

The sound of her heels and the jingle of her bracelets seemed to over take the sound of the men speaking as she walked towards them.

" Ain't nobody got steal your car girl," a deep but melodic voice boomed from the group.

'"no this nigga didn't.." she thought

" Huh?" she finally questioned aloud while she also avoided eye contact, stealing a small glance.

Roman...well Jeremiah. She didn't even call him by his street name because she felt it was silly when he was still that same little boy to her.

" I said aint nobody got steal that damn car " Jeremiah chuckled and parted from the group, stepping in front of her to grab the door before her hand could reach it. This made Salem soften a bit. She couldn't stand men but she could tolerate Jer.

"Jeremiah, boy watch out ." she giggled, stepping into the store looking him up and down, being sure to sway in because she knew he would be looking.

And like clock work he was. His deep brown eyes had been glued to her since he saw her step out the car. He had always thought she was cute, but hell, puppies are cute. The girl he was staring at now was fine. Grown woman fine. The kind of fine he didn't mind making a fool out of himself for. Plus, he did always know how to make her laugh.

Jeremiah and Salem knew each other from way back. 7th Grade was the first time they officially met when Jeremiah was attempting to fight her bestie Keith, who the boys didn't like back then because he was a bit different and hung out with all the girls.

Jeremiah wasn't even homophobic but being a hard headed 12 year old who didn't know any better than to fish for approval from the other toxic little boys, he took the bait and used the moment to assert his dominance and claim his manhood. Salem entered the picture when she clowned him in front of their classmates in defense of Keith, which quieted his ego and toxic masculinity down quite a bit.

He couldn't stand her for about 2 years but after that, after that meaning when she started to become a bit more developed, he grew to like her. A lot actually, but he ended up moving back home to Houston for a bit due to his rowdy behavior back during junior year so he never really got the opportunity to talk to her outside of the occasional times at school when they sat or had class together, seeing her at parties at a party, or the few times they spoke on instagram to wish one another happy birthday. Last time they had really talked was when she congratulated him on his daughter, life obviously getting super busy afterwards.

It was one of those weird relationships from school where they weren't necessarily close but due to proximity for so long, they still considered each other some kind of blood..but not in a family way.

" what you need outta here?" he smirked, being sure to place his hand her back as he towered over her. Jeremiah stood at 6'4, something that drove the ladies crazy.

Salem looked up at him, licking her lips while she gathered her thoughts to speak. She had looked at Jeremiah before but it's been a while since she actually looked at him. His dark features sat perfectly on his face complimented beautifully by his curly edges poking through his thick dreads since it was time for a retwist, though his almost auburn colored hair still look well kept due to a recent line up. His full lips sat perched while he looked down at her. She found it cute that he looked so concentrated on her face while he waited for her reply.

" uh...I came in here for some gas..and a lighter " she spoke softly, watching him pull his bottom lip into his mouth to bite before the grasp broke for him to speak.

" how much? " he asked, reaching his hand into the pockets of his crisp black nike shorts. He liked to keep it simple when he was outside hustling. He wore nothing but a fresh white tee, black nike shorts, and his white Air Force ones. His outfit was complimented by his glimmering chain and small accessories like his diamond earrings and his crisp baby blue Nike socks.

He didn't care to draw attention to himself due to his life style but he also never wanted to give bum when he stepped out. He was very humble but was a bit boujie. The king of boujie where though he didn't care enough to be a brand whore, he also wasn't the kind of dude to wear the same shirt more than 3x. Ghetto fab if you will.

His hand retrieved from his pocket with a rather thick stack of different bills that was folded in half and held tight with a rubber band. Each dollar, though perfectly lined with the next, almost clearly came from somewhere different. One wrinkled while the next two almost perfect and the rhythm continued.

" I got it." she refused, holding her phone up to her face to prepare her Apple Pay as she stepped towards the now free spot in front of the clerk.

"Man, move." He protested, quickly slapping $70 onto the counter. " $60 on pump 3 a pack of the vanilla good times and...this." he trailed off, looking through the lighters lined up around the left side of the counter, finally picking one with the playboy bunny symbol on it.

" You still work at that lil club?" he teased, watching Salem's movements while he waited for his wraps, handing her the lighter. " I might gotta pop out tonight and see you. Bring you lunch or something. "

" To the strip club?" she questioned sarcastically, playfully rolling her eyes while she began walking towards the entrance causing Jeremiah to rush to the door to open it for her.

" Damn I can't be chivalrous and shit? Fuck it, make me a drink then I guess" he shot back, not wanting to push too hard but also knowing how Salem was. She was a hard body and would bully him if he let her, and also was quick to shoot a nigga down. " You know I aint seen you in a second. we should catch up..and might as well do that shit while you getting paid." He joked.

" Negro if im sitting and talking to you how am I gonna be getting paid?"

" I got you. You think ima come see you at your job empty handed?" He snickered, pulling a 20 from the stack and jokingly slipping it towards her " shit, here go some OT"

" nigga....." she laughed swatting his hand away.

She didn't care to continue the conversation with Jeremiah. It wasn't because she didn't want to talk, but she didn't want to even entertain the idea of him coming to the club. She hated seeing anyone she knew in that bitch, and the last face she wanted to see was Jeremiah's looking back at her while she was half naked running bottles around in what could be seen as " strippa couture " as her and the girls called it. She also occasionally liked to jump on the pole once everyone got her riled up enough, and anytime she did she made enough to not have to go into work the next few days. However she never wanted to fully commit to dancing because she liked to feel in control of her body..to some extent.

She didn't say much while she watched him began to pump her gas for her. She honestly couldn't find the words. His veins poked through his muscular arm, laced in different tattoos he had gotten over the years. He was almost tatted to the point that you would assume he never even wanted a regular job; which wasn't a far off assumption.

She was practically studying him with her eyes again, getting lost in the journey that was him. His little mustache lined up so intentionally, His full dark eyelashes. Even a few freckles spread across his nose and cheeks. His broad shoulders. It was like she was staring at the same little Jer Bear, but now he had grown into his full form.

'Oh he's a man now..' she thought to herself.

" Aight, there you go. You want me to just meet you there?" he smirked. Closing up her gas tank and walking to her door to open it for her. She couldn't help but find his little antics sweet but her mind slipped back to his hoe days.

Before moving to Houston Jeremiah was somewhat of a player. A playboy him and the boys liked to call it back then. Salem wasn't mad it but after seeing how bad he did some of the girls in, she made a mental note to keep it cute with him. One thing about LA is it's a very small world. And the city talks.

" meet me there and ima have you arrested, " she joked, rolling her eyes, finally unlocking her car to let him be able to pull the handle. " that's the last place I wanna see you. And lemme guess you gon bring them?" she gave him a ' ain't no way ' sort of look, pointing over towards his group of friends who were watching the two of them like a group of hawks. " your little friends?"

Jeremiah's face scrunched up. " imma grown ass man Sa, ain't shit I do or deal with little. And you know me, I don't keep many friends." He said simply. Not feeling the need to explain any more.

Hell, it wasn't even that he didn't like the dudes he was with but it was true. Jeremiah didn't keep too many friends. It was either you're his acquaintance or his blood, and he'd ride for you til the wheels fall off. He was a certified crash out behind any and everything he cared about. He learned quickly in life that people are 'weird' and most didn't deserve the energy that came with him.

" I'll come alone." He gripped the top of the door while leaning on it.

Salem gave him a look that said ' tuh...anyways ' and looked him up and down with a stank face. His whole body was now casting a shadow over while he rested his sneaker against the frame of her door, leaning back a bit, trying to study the vibe she was giving off in the moment. He could tell she really wasn't going for it and though a crashout he respected her wishes, since the last thing he wanted to be was a creep. He stepped back and double checked her leg wasn't in the way before beginning to push her door closed.

" It's aight Sa. Just holla at me. "

He went cold. She thought, opening her mouth to speak but instead was met with the sound of the door closing before she could get a sound out.

Jeremiah wasn't mad but he wasn't going to waste his time trying to catch a fish that didn't want to be caught and he had to respect it. He respected her enough to leave it alone. Sure, he did come off cold, but he was cool as a cucumber.

She thought of honking the horn to draw his attention back as he walked back to the group but instead she figured it was best she wasn't any later to work than she already was.

Fuck it, lemme go make this damn money.

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CH. 2 coming soon