“Shut your face, Kim. It ain’t what it seemed. That lil’ episode with me and Reggie… That just got out of hand, that’s all. You can have him. I promise I won’t bother him again.”
“And what about Eric Ascot…? I said I liked him and boom you all up in his face, kissing him and all that shyt.”
“Well I can’t help if niggas want me, bitch.”
“Yeah, first you set them up and then you fuck them. You’re nothing but a cheap-ass ho’!”
“I ain’t no studio ho, bitch! I just do me! You’re always with me when I’m doing my thing. So I guess that makes you one too, bitch!”
“Nah, I’m not like you, Tina. You just a crotch-grabbing-cum-filled-bag-of-nothing…!”
“Don’t hate cuz I’m beautiful,” Tina said, waving her arm.
“Nah, that ain’t all the way right. As a friend you’re dirty, rotten and shyt,” Kim said.
She allowed a handful of water to collect, and splashed it on a wide-eyed Tina then Kim walked out. Tina looked at herself in the mirror and stomped her heels.
“Shut da front door! No, no, no you didn’t bitch!” Tina shrieked and went back to fixing her makeup. “Hatin’ ass bitch!” she mumbled.
The tap was still running when Coco slowly walked to the sink. Checking herself in the mirror, she threw sideway glances at Tina.
“I wasn’t talking to you. So don’t be feeling like I was,” Tina said.
“I know, yo,” Coco sarcastically said while turning off the tap.
Tina glanced awkwardly at Coco for a beat. Clearing her throat, Coco checked her reflection in the mirror. The smirk on her face was all Tina needed to see. She felt compelled to speak.
“I don’t know what the fuck you heard. But I ain’t fucking with anyone up in here,” she said defensively.
“I didn’t accuse you of anything, yo. So I don’t see why—”
“Nah, nah, because you came on the tail end of what that bitch was saying. And I just wanted you to know that my man is a lawyer,” Tina said, turning to walk away.
“Whatever,” Coco said.
Scowling, Tina glanced back at Coco. The look on the teen’s face was enough warning to make Tina continue walking out the door. Coco walked to the recording studio. Deedee and Reggie were sitting closely and talking.
“Coco, the song sounds really cool. Reggie let me hear it,” Deedee said.
“Oh word, yo. He let you hear it, huh? I wonder who else heard it, yo?”
“Uncle E and I guess me, why Coco?”
“I’m just asking, yo. You gotta be careful of folks around here. Haters are all around.”
“Oh I know what you mean, Coco. They both just left, but they don’t matter,” Deedee said, looking at Coco.
“Hmm, anyway play that shit, yo.”
Reggie set the track up and the beat came blasting though the speakers. It vibrated the air, but Deedee could feel the tension in Coco. She watched while Coco held her head down and nodded in rhythm. Then all heads were nodding to the music, but Deedee sensed there was something wrong. They heard Coco’s voice take off, crescendo soaring above the beat. Her vocals rang through the speakers, but she sat in pensive silence.
She was still seemingly in a trance after the music stopped. Coco was preoccupied with her thoughts and didn’t hear Deedee’s question.
“Earth to Coco, come in Coco. Well, what do you think?” Deedee asked.
“Huh…? Oh it was good. I like it but I think it needs a better hook, yo.”
“As an artist, I’d say that it’s not completely finished. But as a lover of hip-hop music, I’d say it’s perfect for today’s market,” Reggie said. “Heads gonna be bouncing to this,” he continued and turned up the beat. “This gonna be pumpin’ in da clubs.”
“A’ight, a’ight, I heard it all, yo.”
“Coco, let’s go to the club with Reggie,” Deedee suggested.
“Nah, I think I’m a chill and write some rhymes. I should try to come up with a better hook, yo.”
“Coco you don’t wanna hangout? That’s a first. Next thing you’re gonna tell me you don’t wanna smoke some weed with us,” Deedee said. “Reggie got some—”
“I don’t give a fuck what Reggie’s got, yo!”
Her tone was worse than she intended, but Coco didn’t care. She was already out of the studio and hurrying to the lobby. Deedee looked at Reggie and he stared at the door.
“Her mother is not well,” Deedee said, rushing out the door.
Deedee returned alone a few minutes and sighed. Reggie walked over and embraced her. She let him hold her body against his for a few beats.
“I’m alright,” she said, moving away. “Luckily when we went shopping today, I bought her a phone.”
Reggie turned off the control and powered down all the equipment. Then he closed the door and met Deedee in the lobby.
“Did you call her?” he asked.
“Yes I did. She’s not picking up,” Deedee said. “Let’s go to the spot. I’ll chill there for a minute. Maybe by then she’ll call.”
Coco had disappeared into the night’s air. Deedee was left wondering why, while putting pedal to the metal, and racing to the club’s location downtown. Quickly they found parking and were walking inside the crowded nightspot. Reggie grabbed two drinks for them, and they chilled at the bar sipping.
“I don’t know what got under her skin. Earlier we were soo cool. I mean we went shopping and everything was all good between…” Deedee’s voice trailed. “I’m sorry,” she said, downing her drink.
“Let me get another drink,” she said to Reggie.
He smiled and ordered another round. The bartender served the drinks to Reggie with a wink of approval. Reggie put his arms around Deedee’s waist.
“Let’s dance,” she whispered.
They entered the crowded dance floor, grooving to the sound of Tribe Called Quest. Q-Tip’s voice was humming. Vivrant Thing was rocking and Deedee was buzzing from the drink. Reggie smiled as she turned and shook her thing. They laughed and he pranced around enjoying every shake of her hip.
Special girl, real good girl
Biggest thing in my itty-bitty world
Called her up and she made me feel right
Wish the bliss could never take flight
Sittin’ back with this mike in my hand
Spittin’ hot shit tryin to see grand
Imprinted on my mind every minute
Make my plans and you always in it, yo
You’re such a vivrant thing,
Vivrant thing, a vivrant thing
19
After paying the fare, Coco jumped out of the cab and walked into the hospital. Visiting hours were coming to an end for the day. As the last remaining visitors filed through the doors of the elevators, Coco slipped past security. Soon she was sitting alone staring at her mother, who was sleeping quietly with tubes and machinery monitoring her every breath. A nurse saw her and walked over to where she was.
“You can’t stay up here all night,” the nurse said. “You should go home and get some rest.”
Coco stared at her as if she was speaking a foreign language. The distraught teen said nothing.
“Did you eat?” the nurse asked.
Coco nodded. She glanced up at the older woman and could see the look of sympathy written all over her face. Her expression revealed an inner conflict, shaded by having knowledge of something grave displayed when she opened her mouth. Dressed in white, her frown of affluence was betrayed by the uniform she wore.
“Your mother has to stay for a lot more tests,” she said in a tone of sympathy.
“Is she gonna be a’ight?”
“After all the test results come back, you’ll have clearer answers to all your questions. I’ll give you another half hour and then you’ll have to clear out,” she said, walking away.
Coco was left with optimism and held on to it for dear life. She stared at her mother, wishing for the best, but also feeling the whole si
tuation was hopeless. There was a gnawing in the pit of her stomach. No matter how positively she tried to spin the situation, it remained the same. She couldn’t rid her mind of what she had heard coming out of the bathroom back at the studio.
Shoulders sagging, Coco walked to the lobby and got on the elevator. She wanted to tell Deedee what she knew. Then she struggled with the thought, walking outside the hospital. The night’s air felt good and she decided to walk home. All of Coco’s brainpower seemed to push her toward telling Deedee what she heard about Reggie. She needed time to think about it and decided not to tell Deedee right away. Things will work out, Coco silently thought. She was thinking of a master plan and a way to bring it up when she saw her cell phone ringing. It was Deedee. Coco pressed the ignore button.
“She’s still not answering?” Reggie asked.
“No she isn’t,” Deedee answered.
They had started dancing to Vivrant Thing then grooved to the music of Slick Rick the Ruler. Deedee let herself go, having fun booty shaking. Moving her body, she pranced to the beat on the dance floor. As time flew by, Reggie and Deedee became friendlier and soon they were slow dragging. His arms were all over and she didn’t mind when their lips momentarily touched. Floating in Reggie’s embrace, he was guiding her every move of her hips grinding against him. She felt his lips on her neck and chills rushed through her body.
Deedee was offering no resistance to Reggie’s advances and flirtingly gazed into Reggie’s curious eyes. His six-foot frame collapsed on her and their lips locked. Deedee felt his tongue probing inside her mouth. Clumsily she tried kissing him back. Their bodies stayed glued together until the lights came on. Still in his embrace, Deedee exited the nightspot.
They walked out together, holding hands and laughing. It had been a good night despite Coco’s behavior. Deedee got inside the car with Reggie trying to kiss her. Ducking under his arms, she opened the car door and jumped inside.
“Thank you, Reggie,” Deedee said. “But I’m afraid that’s all the kissing we’ll be doing for the rest—”
Reggie reached across, silencing Deedee with a kiss. Lips puckered together, they stayed that way for a few beats.
“Okay, okay, you proved your point. I get it. You like kissing,” Deedee said, pushing Reggie away from her.
“I don’t like kissing, I like smooching with you,” Reggie laughed.
“Yeah right, nice line, I bet you tell all the girls that.”
“Nah, my lips are something I share only with you.”
She drove slowly, navigating the city’s early morning traffic. Reggie was sitting close but Deedee’s thoughts turned to Coco again. She dialed the number and listened as it rang. Deedee heard the same outgoing message, informing her that the subscriber had not setup her voicemail.
“It’s three in the morning, Dee. Coco’s probably asleep or getting some,” Reggie said.
“No, something’s up. I know it,” Deedee said, glancing at Reggie.
The ride ended and Reggie again tried to kiss Deedee’s lips. Her mouth remained closed and Deedee puckered her lips.
“Good night,” she said.
“Good morning,” Reggie said. “You can come upstairs if you wanna chill for a minute or so.”
“No, I’ll take a rain check on that one,” Deedee smiled.
He got out of the car and walked away. Deedee rejoined traffic and moments later she was parking outside Coco’s apartment. She saw the same group of people milling outside the building. Checking her Louis Vuitton handbag, Deedee made sure she was strapped. Then she stepped out of the car and strutted across the street.
Their eyes were focused on Deedee, coming toward them. Dressed, in black jeans and matching denim top, Deedee’s Louis Vuitton, six-inch heels clicked. She recognized the guys standing around were the same group she beefed with before.
“Hey, girl,” a kid said.
Deedee said nothing and kept her handbag close. She remembered Coco telling her always, “Be yourself around them. They can smell fake asses, yo.” Following that rule she tried to ignore him.
“Hey you Coco’s friend, that model chick,” he continued.
“Hi,” Deedee said, without staring at him.
“Yeah, you fine girl,” the kid said and walked away when she reached the entrance.
Their eyes were still following her when she walked inside the building and ran up the stairs. Deedee reached the third floor and was banging hard on Coco’s door. She could hear the rustling coming from inside.
“Who da fuck is it?” Coco barked.
“It’s Dee.”
“Dee who?”
“Deedee, dammit Coco!”
“Don’t be acting up or your ass will be yelling at me from outside the door.”
The locks were clicking and Deedee saw the door opened. Coco was standing in the doorway in T-shirt and boxers, looking at her suspiciously.
“Why don’t you answer your phones?”
“My phones…?”
“Yes, your cell phone and house phone.”
“I didn’t hear them ringing, yo.”
“Aren’t you gonna invite me in?” Deedee asked, brushing by Coco.
“You already in… He with you…?” Coco asked, looking up and down the hallway.
“Who…?”
“You know, your new boyfriend, yo.”
“Oh, you must be talking about Reggie. I mean he’s kind a cute and all, but we just like checking each other out for now.”
“You and everybody else, yo,” Coco said, closing the door.
She put the locks back on and walked toward the living room. Deedee followed her and sat down when they got there.
“What are you talking about, Coco?”
“I ain’t talking ’bout nothing.
They sat in an uncomfortable silence for a couple beats. Sitting in the living room Deedee stared quizzically at Coco trying to figure out exactly what was going on. Coco walked to the kitchen with Deedee following closely behind her.
“So you gonna keep following me around, yo?”
“Yes, why don’t you tell me what you want to…?”
“How’d you know I’d be here, yo?”
“I know you, Coco, and I know how you think.”
“Well you should know I ain’t no snitch. But I overheard some shit about your new boyfriend, yo.”
“Like what…?”
“Like he might be getting it on with Tina, yo,” Coco said with conviction.
“You mean Tina and Reggie…?” Deedee asked, leveling her eyes at Coco.
Her response was in such a blasé tone that Coco thought for a moment that Deedee didn’t really care. Coco’s expression revealed her doubt about the situation, but when she spoke it was clear.
“Yes, or that bitch Kim. He all up in one of them ghetto girls’ ass, yo,” Coco said.
“And you know that for sure or…?” Deedee laughed.
“I don’t know anything for sure. I just caught the tail end of the convo between them two skanky, ghetto-ass bitches at the studio.”
“Don’t let your emotions run away.
“He probably in them tight jeans, and wack sneakers doing them right now, yo,” Coco said. “So keep laughing, everything is funny now.”
“Coco, you are bugging. Me and Reggie were at the club until a few minutes ago,” Deedee said, still laughing. “And those sneakers are Asics. They are nice.”
“It’s whatever then…! Keep doing you, yo. I don’t even care about his wack sneaks. Them shit’s never match his tops. You’re caught-up in his game and I’m really celibate and don’t give a fuck, yo.”
“Stop shouting before you blow a blood vessel.”
“That’s the same shit madukes tell me. Her ass in the hospital laid up right now.”
“Is that really what’s bothering you? Because as far as me and Reggie are concerned, there’s nothing serious. I haven’t done anything, but if you know something for sure then—”
“Nah, I don’t!
I’m sorry I even mentioned that shit, yo. Just forget it, yo.”
“Coco, we cool and all but you cannot let your fears rule you.”
“My fears?”
“Yes, your problems with Kim and Tina lead to certain fears. Then these fears are translated in your behavior toward them. If Reggie wants any of them, he’s grown. But why would he mess with two zeros when he could hang with dimes…” Deedee smiled at Coco.
“I’m glad you see it that way. I gotta get some rest, yo. You wanna sleep in my room. I’ll sleep in madukes’s room.”
20
“My fears, huh…?”
The girls had awakened the next morning and the topic was still the same. They had chitchatted about the day’s activities and Coco had just finished with the bathroom. Deedee was sitting in the living room waiting on her.
“Coco, let it go already,” Deedee said. “What’s the matter? You woke up with a stick up your ass or sump’n?” Deedee laughed.
“Yes, I did. This nigga ain’t no good. I’m saying, yo.”
“No you’re sounding like your madukes,” Deedee laughed. “This guy is twenty-two. He’s a senior at City College. He plays chess and runs track and field,” Deedee continued.
“Oh, I see you read his resume? I’m glad. But he’s all about running alright… Up in all them asses…”
“Coco stop spazzin’ on me. Let’s go so I can shower and change—”
“Oh, so you can’t shower here? My place is not good enough, yo?”
“No, it’s not that, Coco. It’s because I have no clothes here, and I wanna change my clothes. That’s why I take a shower.”
“Oh, so you only take showers when you wanna change clothes, yo? Not because you wanna wash your ass?”
“Coco…!”
“It’s only a question. You don’t have to burst a blood vessel screaming at me, yo.”
Later Coco locked the door, and they walked out together. Coco and Deedee strutted across the street to where the car was parked. There was a ticket on the window and all four tires were missing. The girls stared at each other for a beat then looked around at the people standing in front of the building.
“Shit!” Deedee shouted.
“Oh shit! This fucked up, yo…” Coco’s voice trailed. She turned around and walked back across the street. Then she shouted at the people in front of the building. “Ain’t nobody know shit, right?”
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