When It All Falls Down Chapter Five (Based On A True Story)

Jack sat in his car and sighed.
Damn… I’m gonna have to cancel the party. The building ain’t even ready.

Before heading home, he decided to swing by the shop.

As he pulled into the lot, his mood shifted fast—police cars, flashing lights, and somebody being loaded into an ambulance on a stretcher.

“What the fuck?” Jack muttered, stepping out.

Inside, he found his cousin talking to the cops. As soon as she finished, she walked over, shaking her head.

“What’s going on, cuz?” Jack asked.

“Mane…” she exhaled, already laughing. “Jackie showed Tisha a video of her baby daddy and her fucking.”

Jack blinked. “What?”

“Yeah,” she continued. “You know, Jackie is messy as hell—transgenders, love exposing the niggas they mess with. Tisha saw it, called her baby daddy, and told him it was over. That nigga pulled up and beat Jackie's ass in front of the whole damn shop.”

Jack rubbed his forehead. “Mane… that’s crazy. She gon’ get killed doing that shit.”

“Right!” she said. “She is always recording niggas and thinking she is untouchable.”

“Did they fuck up anything in the shop?” Jack asked.

“Nah, everything good,” she shrugged. “He just whooped that big bitch ass.”

Jack couldn’t help it—he laughed.

“Mane, cuz… You're funny as shit.”

“For real though,” she added, still laughing. “That nigga like 6'10 and in here hollerin’ like a bitch. I wanted to say, ‘Nigga, you a man—fight back!’”

Jack shook his head. “Mane… I ain’t messing with you.”

“So the party still on?” she asked.

“Naw,” he said. “I’m gonna have to reschedule. The building is not ready yet. I bought another building and got it under renovation.”

“Oh shit, I see you—big ballin’,” she teased.

“Aye, cuz, I’m out,” Jack said. “Gotta stop by Dollar Tree.”

“Aight. Talk to you later.” 

Dollar Tree

Jack pulled into the Dollar Tree parking lot, music blasting. An older lady parked beside him gave him a disgusted look.

So he turned it up louder—then chuckled when she pulled off.

Inside, he grabbed a cart and headed to the party aisle—cups, plates, napkins, decorations, all the basics.

At the end of the aisle, he noticed a woman shopping alone. He approached casually.

“Hey, how are you?”

She didn’t even look up.
“Sorry, I have a man.”

Jack nodded. “Oh. My bad.”

He kept shopping. A couple of minutes later, he saw another dude walk in—fresh Ralph Lauren head to toe. Dude walked right up to the same woman.

She smiled—and gave him her number.

Jack just shook his head.

After paying for everything, he packed his bags into the car. Just as he got in, he realized the same woman had parked beside him.

She stared at his car—clearly impressed now.

Jack started the engine, and she signaled for him to roll down the window.

“What’s up?” he asked.

She gave him a soft smile.
“So… to be honest, my man and I are really going through a tough ti—”

Jack held up a hand.

“Nah. Lemme stop you right there.”

Her smile dropped.

“You said you had a man,” he reminded her. “But you gave ol’ boy your number. I’m pretty sure ‘your man’ wouldn’t approve of that.”

She opened her mouth to speak, but Jack shook his head.

“Have a nice day.”

He rolled the window up and drove off.