If I Did It Prove It

by Valarie Deshazier

  Anyway, I finished out my senior year with straight A’s like I knew I would. Shantrice and I had gotten so close that she and I went to the University together. She became a Detective/Criminal Investigator, and I became a Physiologist. I also received my degree in the most important piece of information about myself, Psychology. My plan was to go back home and work with kids that have or is being bullied. I wanted to help keep other kids from doing what my cousin did. So, in honor of Shannon, I started a program and named it Live Mind Strong. I named it that because even though Shannon is not with me in person, I know she lives on through me because she will forever be a part of me. So, I packed up and headed back to Crawfordville. I stayed with my mom for a month or so before I founded my own place. I had found me a building for my program that I was so ready to get started with. To ensure that my program would be a success, I changed my name to Porsha Lane.

  Chapter Three

  It had been two years that I had been back in my hometown. I was really feeling good about the work that I was doing with the kids. I was really being low-key for a reason. From time to time, I would slide back down to Miami to kick it with Shantrice. Yeah, we had become best friends. I don’t think I would have made it without her. She was my sister from another mother. She would also come up and talk to the kids. Anyway, I was at this convention when I saw Nikki’s bitch ass. She looked dead at me, but she had no idea who I was. It got even better when she walked up on me.

  “Excuse me, aren’t you Ms. Lane the one that runs the youth center off 8th Avenue?” Nikki asked.

  “Yeah that’s me.” You should have seen my face. I was looking like, why what is it to you?

  “First, I want to say that you are doing such an amazing job.”

  “Yeah I know, but what can I do for you?” Yeah I was ready for whatever she wanted to bring.

  “I have a kid in my class that I really would like to sign up for your program.”

  “Is that right?”

  “Yes, he is such a sweet boy, but he is having a hard time in school. There are some kids that are not so nice to him.”

  “Really and you are concerned?” I quizzed with one eyebrow up.

  “Yes, most definitely. I don’t want to see no kid being bullied.”

  I wanted to slap her ass when she said that. This bitch used to fuck with me and my cousin every day. If it weren’t for her my cousin would still be here.

  “Yeah, bullying just does something to me. I wouldn’t want anyone to go through that. It causes kids to want to take their own lives.”

  “It’s so sad that kids would do such a thing to another kid.”

  Yep, right at that moment I wanted to punch her in the damn mouth. I knew I was hearing shit, because the biggest bully of all time was standing in my face talking about how sad it is. I started to tell her who I was, but I chose not to. I knew this was going to be my chance to get back at the ringleader who made my life pure hell, causing me to have to move away. So yeah, I told her to come by and we could talk about just what we need to do to help her student. She thanked me and went on her way.

  Don’t get me wrong I was going to help the student out, but something in me snapped again as I watched her walk away. It was like everything that she had ever done to me and Shannon just came back to me full force. A part of me just wanted to run behind her and snatch her by that wig she had on her head. I needed to get out of there and fast before I did something that I wouldn’t be able to take back. I didn’t want to do anything that would mess up what I had going, so I just left.

  It did amaze me that the bitch didn’t even know who I was. I knew I had changed a lot, but I didn’t realize just how much I had. However, it was time for me to really test the waters on just how much I had changed. Like I said I had been laying low, but after seeing Nikki I knew I didn’t have too anymore.

  A week or so had gone by and I hadn’t seen or heard anything from Nikki, which was a good thing for her. However, I was out having lunch with some investors when I looked up and saw Nikki, Lisa, Asia, and Jasmine walk in. I’m already black so I guess I couldn’t get any blacker. But I must have turned white or something because the people I was sitting with noticed a change in me.

  “Ms. Lane, are you okay?”

  I assumed they called my name a few times because I felt them shaking me.

  “Yeah, I’m good. I’m good.”

  “Are you sure? Do you need some water or something?”

  “No, I’m fine. Let’s do this another time. I need to get home,” I said standing up to leave.

  “Okay that’s fine, but are you sure you are okay?”

  “Yes, I’m okay, just need to go home. I will reach out to you soon and see if this is something that you are willing to invest in.”

  “There’s no need for that. We are in. You just take care of yourself, and in the meantime we will draw up the papers for you to sign.”

  “Thank you so much. I look forward to working with you.”

  We shook hands and I rushed out but not before I made eye contact with girls that made my life a living hell as a kid. When I got home I quickly took me a shot of Grey Goose and jumped in the shower. After I got out of the shower and was dressed I called Shantrice.

  “Bitch you are not going to believe what just happened to me today.”

  “What bitch?”

  “Well, you know I told you how I saw Nikki, the bitch that bullied me and my cousin the other week.”

  “Yeah okay.”

  “Well today I was having a meeting with some investors and in walked Nikki and her crew. Girl I don’t know what happened, but I blanked out and saw nothing but red. I wanted to walk over to their table and fuck all of them up.”

  “Damn, so what did you do?”

  “Nothing, I was just stuck. But my mind was telling me to do a whole lot of shit, just my body wouldn’t or couldn’t move.”

  “How are you going to deal with seeing them around town? You can’t do anything that will cause you to mess up what you have going on. Plus, I can’t believe that she doesn’t know who you are.”

  “I can’t either, but I have changed a lot over the years. I’m not that fat scary kid anymore.”

  “No, you are not.”

  We talked for a while and then we hung up. I knew I had to get myself together. I couldn’t be freaking out like that. I had shit to do, and I wasn’t or couldn’t allow the Too Fly Girls to throw me off my game. I had come too far to turn back so I needed to put on my big girl thongs and stand firm. I had to remind myself I wasn’t that little girl anymore. I was a grown ass woman.

  Chapter Four

  For about a month it seemed that every time I turned around I was looking in the face of Nikki and her sidekicks. I was really getting sick of seeing them, but it was funny that they didn’t know who I really was. However, I was attending this benefit party/convention on preventing bulling. It was just a group of people there that was trying to come up with ways of helping kids that were dealing with bullying and getting information out to parents on what the signs were of a child being bullied.

  However, I was standing off talking with someone about my center, when out of nowhere Nikki walked up to me. She started talking to me and asking me if she and I could work closely together in finding better ways to getting bulling under control around town. I wanted to tell her hell naw, but something inside me told me that working closely with her could be beneficial for me in the end.

  “Sure, I would love to work with you. I think the two of us could do wonderful things together in dealing with bullying.”

  “Great, I think so too. Here is my number. Give me a call so we can meet up and get to work,” she smiled as she handed me her card.

  “Great, I will be calling you real soon.”

  “I look forward to your call,” she said before walking away.

  I just stood there thinking that she just didn’t know just how much work we were about to get done. I didn’t have an idea as to how I was going
to get her back, but I knew it would come to me.

  I didn’t call her right away because I needed to do some homework, so I hired someone to run the center while I made moves on getting my revenge on the bitch crew. It didn’t take long for me to learn that not much had changed when it came to the Too Fly Girls. They still were all best friends and lived in the same community. Their kids all played together, and everyone was married but Jasmine. I just needed to find a way for me to get in close with all of them. One thing I did know and remembered, was that Nikki was the ringleader which meant whatever she said the others were going to follow.

  So, after about two weeks of doing my homework on them hoes I made my call.

  “Hello,” Nikki spoke into the phone.

  “This is Porsha Lane. I’m sorry it took me so long to get in touch with you, but I’ve had a lot going on.”

  “No problem, I’m just glad you called.”

  “So, when would be a good time for us to meet up and talk. I remember you telling me about a kid being bullied that you was a little worried about.”

  “Well, I’m having a dinner party this weekend why don’t you come through. It’s going to be a few other people that I know for sure that would like to get in on it. Then I can give you a little background on the young boy I told you about.”

  “A dinner party, at your house?”

  “Yes, is there a problem with that?”

  “No there isn’t a problem at all. I would love to come.”

  “Great. I will text you the address and time and I will see you then.”

  “Sounds great, I look forward to it.” We ended the call, and I quickly made another call. I needed back up and I knew just who to call to get it.

  * * * * * * * * * *

  It was finally the weekend and Nikki’s dinner party. I wasn’t sure as to what I was going to wear. I knew that there was going to be a few husbands there, so I made sure I was dressed to impress…the men that is. When we pulled up to Nikki’s we sat in the car for a second.

  “Are you sure you’re going to be able to do this?”

  “Yeah, I’m sure. I’m not doing this just for me, but for Shannon.”

  “Okay, well let’s do this.”

  “Yeah lets.” We got out of the car and both of us was red carpet ready. No, we weren’t dressed like stars, but we were dressed in a way to let everyone there know that we were very much single. We walked up to the door and rang the doorbell; waited about twenty-five seconds before someone came to the door.

  “Hey, I’m glad you could make it,” Nikki greeted us when she opened the door.

  “I hope you don’t mind that I have a plus one.”

  “No, not at all. Come on in.”

  “Nikki this is Shantrice, a good friend of mine,” I stated as we walked in.

  “It’s nice to meet you Shantrice.”

  “Nice to meet you as well,” Shantrice replied to her.

  “Well, everyone is here so come on back,” Nikki smiled as she closed the door behind us.

  “You have a nice place here,” I said as I looked around.

  “Thank you. I grew up in this house. After my parents passed away I didn’t want to sell it, so I moved back. It kind of makes me feel close to them.”

  I was looking around noticing all the art that was hung up on the wall. I happen to see a photo of Nikki, Jasmine, Lisa, and Asia together from high school. I almost ran up out of there, but something deep inside me told me not to run. When we walked into the living room area where everyone was, it became my biggest test of all time.

  “Everyone I would like you to meet Porsha Lane. She runs the center I was telling you all about. And this is a good friend of hers, Shantrice.”

  Everyone spoke at once and Shantrice and I spoke back. My nerves were tested too fast for me when they all walked up on me.

  “Porsha I really want you to meet my long-time best friends Lisa, Jasmine, and Asia. I have told them so much about what you are doing and how we are going to be working together on stopping bullying.”

  The three bitches spoke and against everything in me I spoke back.

  “So, Porsha what made you come here and open up your center? I hear you are from Miami,” Jasmine asked.

  I wanted to tell her because of you bitches, but I didn’t. I looked at Shantrice and took a deep breath. Well, we both did.

  “Well, I read in the paper a few years back about a young girl who killed herself here because of bullying. I thought why not start here in Crawfordville.” I could tell on their faces that they knew just what I was talking about.

  “Well, she’s here now and is doing a good job at working with kids,” Nikki chimed in.

  I looked at Shantrice and she was standing there with an unpleasant look on her face. I had to bump her a little bit just so she could snap out of whatever she was thinking. She looked at me then rolled her eyes but in a way of letting me know that she was rolling her eyes at them and not me.

  The dinner party went well. I picked up on the fact that Nikki and her husband is not in a good place, plus it was her son that was getting bullied. What goes around will come back aground for sure. Now what really got me, was the fact that Jasmine and Nikki’s husband seemed just a little too close. Lisa and Asia both had one kid and no man. Now Asia’s kid, she doesn’t even see because the baby daddy has him in L.A. I did pick up on the fact that she was a drunk. Lisa on the other hand wasn’t even sure who her baby daddy was. They all have okay jobs, but Asia. Lisa is an accountant at some company where she has damn near slept with every dude that works there. Asia is just what I said, a drunk who is living off the money her parents left her. Jasmine, I didn’t catch just what she did for a living at the time. I did learn that she didn’t have any kids, but there was something about her that just didn’t sit well with me. I wasn’t sure just how I was going to play-things out. But I knew whatever I did had to be something that would cause all of them to suffer. However, I did know that it was going to be Nikki’s kid that would open the door for me to get back at all of them.

  Shantrice hip me to the fact that there was some female there that kept watching Nikki and Lisa. I didn’t know who the lady was, but I sure was going to find out. Whoever she was didn’t mingle with everyone. She just stayed off to herself. Shantrice and I agreed that it was going to be important that I find out who the mystery woman was. Somehow I knew she was going to be an especially important piece to my plan, but at the time I just didn’t know just how important.

  Trust I was taking lots of notes mentally on everyone there. If I missed something, Shantrice was there making sure that I didn’t. We were giving each other the eye and tapping each other when we felt like it was something that we needed to make note of. One thing for sure, what looks good on the outside is not always good on the inside. Which was a win for me.

  Chapter Five

  We had all agreed during the dinner party to meet up for lunch one day. It was at least two weeks that had gone by before we made plans to do so. So, the day had come for all of us to meet up for lunch, but being that Crawfordville wasn’t that big and was a little country, there wasn’t many places to meet for lunch at. However, there was this little shotgun diner that was okay, so we met there.

  Now because of my mission that I was on and the fact that I didn’t trust their asses, it caused me to be there super early so that I could see what everyone was driving. It was information that I knew I was going to need later when I put my plans in motion. So, as I was sitting there waiting, scrolling social media, I noticed a car pulling up with tinted windows. It was just sitting there with the car running so I was really looking trying to see who it was and what they were about to do. After about five minutes the driver’s door opened and some dude that looked like he just jumped off the cover of Jet Magazine got out and walked around to the passenger side door. It was Nikki’s ass getting out of some dude’s car and then gave him a kiss before he left. She walked over to what I gathered was her car which was a money g
reen Honda Civic. I took down the information that I needed to find out just who her mystery guy was. It was going to be imperative that I knew just who he was.

  Not long after that, Jasmine pulled up in a black Lincoln SUV. The bitch was nice, but the tag read “I KILL” and right away I thought about my cousin Shannon. I was red hot and wanted to kill her ass at that moment. I was about to get out of the car when another car pulled up. It was an all-white Jaguar which was Asia. Then Lisa pulled up in a silver BMW. They all were standing there talking and I was trying to hear what they were saying but I couldn’t. I was trying to read their lips, but I couldn’t because of how they were standing. I waited for them to go inside before I got out of my car.

  When I walked inside I spotted them sitting in the back of the diner. As I walked over to them, there was this voice telling me to shoot them all and just walk out. Oh yeah, I forgot to tell you that I carried my Glock .45 with me everywhere I went. I think it had something to do with the fact that I lived in Miami and you had to be ready for anything at every given minute.

  “Hello ladies,” I said as walking up to the table.

  “Hey Porsha,” Nikki replied all excited and shit.

  A dry ass hey was all I got from the others. They acted like the really didn’t want me to be there or something, but they were going to have to get over it, because I was. However, I sat down at the table next to Asia. It was a booth so clockwise it was, Lisa, Jasmine, Nikki, Asia, and me.

  “So, it’s Porsha right?” Jasmine spoke.

  “Yes, my name is Porsha,” I replied with a little snap in my neck.

  “I’m having a hard time wondering why you would move here to start your little center, being that you are not from here,” Jasmine stated.

  I started to say something that would have made her head spin, but instead my head did the spinning.