Charm City Part 1 (Welcome to Bodymore Murdaland)

by S. L. Walker

  “Whatttuppp girl!” she yelled hugging me. Molly smiled closing the door and heading to the kitchen. “Happy 16!” Ashley laughed handing me my gift. We laughed and hugged each other tight and I noticed my dad coming around the corner. For a split second, I had forgotten what I had heard between him and whoever.

  “Hey Ashley, nice to see you again,” he said, hugging her.

  “You too pops,” she hugged back.

  “Hey honey, I will be right back, okay,” he told me. I smiled awkwardly as I gave him the thumbs up.

  “So, who’s here already?” Ashley interrupted my thoughts.

  “Oh, Mike and Sean are in the back,” I told her.

  “Oh my God, little Mike?” She made a puke face. Mike had messed around with her, but they actually had sex and she wasn’t happy about the outcome. He’s been little Mike ever since.

  “Yes, girl,” I laughed as we walked back to the backyard. She squeeled at how decorated the backyard looked and the boys instantly walked over to greet her with a joint rolled.

  We were smoking and dancing when Raven finally showed up.

  “Hello ladies! I’ll take those, Zara is in the back, just go straight that way,” Molly pointed towards the backyard. I was so happy to see them and they had come bearing gifts.

  “You guys made it!” I said, excited, running up to them and hugging them.

  “Happy birthday girl!” Angel said.

  “Happy birthday, it’s so nice out here. And you have heating lamps!” Victoria hugged me.

  “We all know Tori hates the cold, happy birthday chick,” Raven hugged me last.

  “You all look nice! Where’s Eva?” I looked behind them as if Eva would appear any moment.

  “Oh, she couldn’t make it,” said Raven. Angel and Victoria made a face towards each other. I wasn’t surprised but I couldn’t help but be disappointed. A part of me was hoping she would put her dislike of me to the side for my birthday, but her message was more than clear now.

  “Wow, she really hates me that much,” I said.

  “She doesn’t hate you, she really had something to do,” Angel lied.

  “Oh, well!” I shrugged, happy I had one less hater to worry about. “Come on over, let me introduce you to my friends,” I pulled Raven’s hands to follow me and the girls.

  Some time passed by and we were now joking and laughing, high off weed. We had just got done playing a card game and I wanted to spice it up a little more.

  “Ok ,ok, ok shhhh y’all! Who’s played I never?” I quieted everyone, turning down the party music.

  “Who hasn’t?” Sean joked.

  “I’ve never played,” Angel raised her hand.

  “Of course, the Angel!” I teased. “Okay, just follow along with everyone else.”

  I ran into the house as quick as I could and found a mop bucket and a bunch of pennies in our kitchen drawer.

  “So, whoever has done something, gotta put a penny in the bucket,” I explained.

  “I don’t know if I should play this game,” Ashley laughed.

  “I’ll go first,” said Sean. “I’ve never went down on a girl,” he laughed.

  “Awe, Sean!” Zara laughed.

  Mike threw a penny in the bucket and Ashley made a disgusted face.

  “I thought this was a drinking game?” Raven side eyed me.

  “All I have is beer left,” I shrugged.

  “Okay, well I have a couple extra joints left, so whoever puts a penny in has to take a 5 second puff,” Mike ordered.

  “Deal!” I shouted. A couple of the girls awed but were in it for me.

  “Okay, I’m next,” said Mike. “I ain’t never licked balls!” He burst out laughing. We all followed with laughs looking at each other to see who was going to put a penny in the bucket. No-one put anything in.

  “Ugh, Y'all are lame!” Mike folded his arms and pouted. “Guess I’ll be taking extra weed home tonight.”

  We shrieked with laughter.

  “Fine ,Fine. I’ve never taken a molly, coke, or x,” I livened it up a bit, plus I was kind of interested in seeing what kinda girls Raven and her friends were.

  Mike, Ashley, and Sean put a penny in the bucket.

  “You mothafuckas!” I shouted out. “What?!”

  “Shit I ain’t tellin’,” Mike zipped his lip.

  TINK!

  Raven sat a penny in the bucket. Everyone looked at her.

  “Just pass the weed, man,” she shook her head and smiled. Angel and Tori’s mouth dropped!

  “Vee?” Tori questioned, half smiling and half shocked.

  “I had a molly one time. My brother let me try it. Overrated,” Raven shrugged.

  “Good shit!” Mike high-fived her and gave her the joint to spark up.

  “I had a molly too,” Ashley confessed.

  “I had an E pill,” Sean admitted.

  “Well, at least you guys didn’t get into cocaine, yet,” I teased.

  “Well, well, well, there is just way too much excitement going on here,” my dad entered the backyard, interrupting our game and scaring the hell out of me. By the look on his face, he didn’t hear the conversation we were having.

  ”Time for the birthday girl gifts and I get to go first,” he said. “Follow me, please.”

  We all hopped up and followed him to the front yard where a brand new black 2000 Mercedes Convertible SLK with a pink ribbon decorated on the top of it, sat in the driveway. I looked at him and then freaked out with excitement, hopping up and down. Everyone gasped at the new car. Angel, Raven, and Victoria looked at each other with amazement.

  “Papi! You didn’t! You didn’t!” I yelled, opening the doors, sitting in the seats. Ashley ran over and hopped in the car and awed over the leather seats and rims. Even Sean and Mike had to check out the convertible top.

  “Who just gets a brand new car for their 16th birthday?” Angel smiled, curiously.

  “A rich girl,” answered Victoria.

  “Rich indeed,” Raven added, looking at my dad who was smiling and holding the keys.

  EVA

  I walked into Petey’s sandwich shop a little jealous that I hadn’t gone to Zara’s party, but I refused to be around someone I didn’t trust. I ordered a sub sandwich and milk shake and sat on the diner benches for my name to be called. In walked the man of my dreams in an all grey Nike sweat suit and sneakers. I wouldn’t have even known it was Professor Heart if he hadn’t taken off his hood. I immediately began fixing myself. I hadn’t planned to see anyone and had my hair tied in a messy bun. I also realized that I had on my favorite bleached stained pink sweatpants and quickly tried to cover it with my purse.

  “Uhhh, let me get a grilled cheese and fries. Large Coke, please,” he told the cashier.

  “Sub and vanilla shake!” My order was announced. He instantly turned my way and we locked eyes.

  “Hey!” He smiled, surprised.

  “Hey Professor Heart,” I said awkwardly rubbing my edges up where I just knew hair was sticking out.

  “Oh no, you can call me Steven outside the classroom,” he gorgeously smiled at me. My eyes traced down to his sweatpants.

  “Oh okay, Steven,” I laughed. I couldn’t believe how stiff I was. I grabbed my food from the lady at the counter. “You eat here a lot?” I asked him.

  “Sometimes,” he said moving out of another customer’s way that was entering the diner. He focused his attention back on me.

  “I just want to say thanks again for helping me with the project,” I told him. I wasn’t sure if I should leave or stay and talk with him.

  “It’s my job. I care about you guys. I want you guys to pass and graduate, you know. No reason why I should see any repeats. My door is always open,” he assured me.

  “Okay, well,” I hesitated. “See you on Monday,” I turned too quick and dropped my milkshake. My whole face flushed with embarrassment. “Shit!” I said scrounging for napkins.

  “It’s okay, miss we clean up for you,” the man beh
ind the counter came out with a mop and yellow wet floor sign.

  “You okay?” He asked me. They yelled out his order for pick up.

  “Yeah, yeah, thanks,” I said, moving out of the way so they could clean up my embarrassment.

  “Can we get her another vanilla milkshake?” He asked the girl behind the counter and taking out his wallet.

  “Oh no, it’s okay, I shouldn’t be drinking that anyway. Gotta keep my figure,” I joked.

  “Your figure seems fine to me,” he looked me up and down. I laughed it off. “One vanilla shake,” he repeated to the cashier handing her cash. He took his food and headed outside. My milkshake was quickly made and I followed him.

  “You got somewhere to be?” He startled me . I looked over to him sitting at one of the outside tables under the small heat lamps.

  “No,” I responded stopping in my tracks.

  “What was the rush out the door?” He asked opening his sandwich. “Care to join?” He pointed to the empty seat in front of him. I looked around as if I was doing something wrong and walked over and sat down. This felt like a dream come true, but at the same time, I was nervous and the butterflies were the real deal.

  “I usually only come here when I really don’t know what else to eat or I’m bored. You would think I’d have something better to do on a Saturday night,” he said taking a sip of his drink.

  “Yeah, me too. I was supposed to go to this birthday party with Raven and some friends but,” I stopped.

  “But what?” He asked.

  “I don’t really like the girl. They all think I’m jealous or whatever, but we’ve all been close since we were young, it just feels weird befriending someone else, I guess,” I told him unwrapping my sandwich. It was then I felt like I was talking like a teenager.

  “There’s nothing wrong with making new friends, Eva,” he told me. I watched his straight white teeth bite down onto his sandwich and his lips followed towards his canned soda. “You should at least try and give her a chance,” he told me.

  “I know, sometimes I want to, but, I don’t know, I feel like someone should at least have their eyes open,” I told him sipping my milkshake.

  “So, have your eyes open but still watch your friends back,” he told me. It made since. I looked at him and smiled.

  “Look at you giving me advice,” I grinned.

  “It’s natural,” he said.

  “So where are your friends? Steven?” I teased. He chuckled.

  “Out with their women, kids, on the couch watching TV. You name it. When you get older you realize you don’t need a lot friends. You keep a good two or three close and call it a day. Hopefully your friendships will stay throughout your life and no one changes,” he said.

  “Nah, we are always gonna be close. No matter what,” I took another sip of my milkshake.

  “Cheers to that,” he put up his soda and we both toasted.

  VICTORIA

  The party ended at a decent hour. We were going to spend the night but changed our minds. Angel’s mom picked her up and I had road home with Raven. Once we got to Raven’s room, I couldn’t wait to bring up Zara’s car.

  “So, what the hell? A brand new Mercedes?” I burst out as Raven was changing into her PJs.

  “I know, dude,” Raven added. “I mean I know her daddy got money, but Mercedes money?”

  “What does he do? Did she tell you?” I asked her, also taking off my tight sweater and changing into a baggy white tee. After all, this was Raven’s friend and she had to know something.

  “Nope, just that he was some investor,” she answered pulling a hoodie over her head.

  “Hmmmm, I wish Alex would at least help my mom with the bills, let alone buy me a car!” I told her.

  “Someone sounds jealous,” she looked at me, pouncing on her bed.

  “Come on now, you’re my best friend you should know me better than that. I’m just curious,” I told her throwing my jeans in the corner.

  “You have a point though,” she said. “Some kind of investor.”

  “I got an idea,” I said running over to her computer. I typed in investor makes lots of money and searches for stock markets and how do investors make money popped up. I clicked on one of the links.

  “The easiest way to make 1 million in the stock market,” I read. “Compound returns are money you make off the money you make. The more money you make, the more money your money makes off the money your money makes. What?” I read more inside of my head.

  “Sounds confusing. Maybe that’s what he does. Compound returns,” Raven leaned on her elbows.

  “Maybe we need to get into that shit,” I told her.

  “Fool, you need thousands of dollars to invest money. Or else how you gonna make more money back for your money. You can’t invest like twenty dollars and think you’re gonna be a millionaire,” Raven said.

  “So, we will find out how to make money,” I said sitting next to her.

  “You’re crazy,” Raven brushed me off.

  “Oh, that reminds me, since I’m broke, you trying to hit the mall soon. Think it’s time to do some shopping,” I told her. We hadn’t boosted since before school had started and my fingers were itching.

  “Yeah, I do need some new sweaters. Next weekend?” She asked me.

  “Bet,” we high-fived each other. I usually cased the store I wanted to jack before hand and I had my eye on a few things already. Raven was my right hand bandit. She was the lookout and I was the brains.

  EVA

  Professor Heart and I decided to walk the city for a bit after our meal. I felt right at home walking next to him, passing old town shops and diners. His cologne was sweet and sultry and I kept trying to guess if he was wearing Polo or some exotic fragrance I had never heard of.

  “Your cologne smells nice,” I said, smiling as we walked past an old couple holding hands smiling back at us as if we were a couple.

  “Thanks, it’s Polo. My favorite,” he said.

  “I knew it,” I grinned.

  We stopped at a local coffee spot.

  “I’m freezing, you want some?” He pointed at the coffee shop.

  “Yeah, sure,” I said following him inside. The fresh fragrance of brewed coffee instantly filled my nose along with soft sounds of Jazz. It was a little crowded with young teenagers like myself and older people tucked away with their nose in a book or newspaper. I heard Professor Heart order a large coffee with no sugar or cream.

  “And for you?” He looked back at me.

  “Oh, a small hot chocolate is fine,” I told him. “Thanks.” I still couldn’t believe we were in this coffee shop together. It almost felt like a date.

  The barista handed us our drinks and we looked around for seats that barely were available.

  “You want to keep walking?” He asked me.

  “Of course I do,” I smiled.

  “So, what’s your Thanksgiving plans?” He asked me. We walked outside and continued walking past shops. His question brought me back to moving to Philadelphia and my dad asking me to finally meet my sister.

  I had forgotten all about it. He must’ve noticed a change in my face.

  “What’s that look?” He asked me.

  “My mom got a new job out in Philadelphia. She travels back and forth right now and it’s kind of up in the air if we will be moving there. And…well, I don’t really have a relationship with my dad but he’s been asking for me to meet my step-sister who is around my age. It’s just all a lot of bullshit right now. It won’t feel like Thanksgiving,” I said sadly.

  “I’m sorry to hear that, Eva. I’m sure whatever your mom decides will be what she feels is best. And as for your stepsister, I mean it’s great having a sibling. I have an older stepbrother who I bond with just fine. You never know until you meet her,” he said. I was falling in love with him by the second. He was so nurturing and confident in everything he was saying. If this is what it was like dating an older man, sign me up.

  “But then me mo
ving to Philadelphia would be leaving my friends, Baltimore, you…” I slipped and said. He looked at me but surprisingly not in shock. “I mean as a teacher. I was gonna take your class my senior year,” I quickly fixed it.

  “It’s fine. I would miss you, too. You’re really smart, Eva,” he chuckled. Butterflies formed again. We continued to walk until we came to a small bagel shop. We sat on the bench in front of it.

  “Thanks. You’re the only teacher I like,” I told him, taking a sip of my hot chocolate. “But, I guess all the students do since they come to you after school,” I hinted about the girl I saw when I had walked to his class.

  “Oh, really?” He smiled, catching on. “Nicole is smart but when it comes to Biology, she just doesn’t get it. Like I said, I don’t want my students failing.”

  “I see,” I took another sip.

  “But you, you are special. You didn’t need my help as much as you think you did,” he said tapping my chin with his finger. “And Nicole don’t bring me chocolates,” he joked. My eyes met his and I melted like butter. I no longer was cold or saw all the people walking around us and something told me he didn’t either.

  “Well, I just wanted to show my appreciation,” I said slowly. He caressed my left cheek, looking into my eyes.

  “I got it,” he said, never looking away. My heart pounded. Energy was pulling us closer. “You really are a cutie,” he looked into my eyes and then he did it. He pulled me close and with all the electricity in the world, our lips touched and his tongue touched mine. I let my body heat up with seduction, the same temperature as my hot chocolate.

  RAVEN

  It was cold as hell today outside; Baltimore was definitely approaching winter season. I was the first to meet in the front of the school. The girls wanted to meet at the shack today to catch up. We hadn’t really talked much since Zara’s party. Everyone was so caught up in their own problems.