by J Peach
I started choking, water spilling from my mouth.
“Nuh-uh, gone now. Don’t be spitting in my cornbread. Blaze may think you sweet, but hell I ain’t tryna taste yo ass.”
The veins in my forehead felt like they were going to burst as I laughed and choked. After a few seconds I got myself under control.
“I was not gon’ spit in your cornbread, you too much.” Laughing, I shook my head. “I get what you’re saying. You right, I don’t have to and I do it a lot. But after today, not no more.” Which was true, sex had nothing to do with me being dumb, it was him. Just being with Blaze made everything seem fine. Sex was good as hell, but I could live without it as long as it was just us. Not no more though, I couldn’t keep putting him first when he was not doing the same.
“You say that now, but in the end you’re only his show piece,” Brandy said, coming into the kitchen. I forgot her ass was even here.
Who the fuck eavesdrops anymore?
“I don’t know why they always leave yo dumbass here. Don’t you got some friends or something?” Bianca asked her, which made Brandy roll her eyes. Bianca snapped her fingers and pointed at Brandy. “Perfect example here. Handle yo shit otherwise you’ll be stuck like her ass and angry at the world because you wanna leech off a nigga and now you’re stuck with no education and broke if he leaves you. Dumbass.”
My lips pressed tightly together as my eyes went wide. She was most definitely Blaze’s mom. Who talked about people like that in front of them?
“Ms. Bianca, don’t start with me.” Bianca looked at her then.
“Bitch, that’s what I’m sayin’. You in my shit. Now you best go take yo tired lookin’ ass in there and sit down or get the fuck out. I’m being nice. Coming in here tryna talk shit about my Boon, get yo ass fuck’d up,” Momma snapped at her, pissed.
I just fell in love with that woman. Why couldn’t my mom be like that?
“Get on now with yo hating ass.” Brandy rolled her eyes once more before glancing at me, rolling them again and leaving the room.
“What’s up with her? She been mugging and rolling her neck since I met her.” I wasn’t looking for any trouble, but shid, if ol’ girl kept it up, I was gon’ beat her ass.
“She one of those messy ass bitches, thinking everybody want Sam’s nappy headed ass. And she lonely as hell. I tried talking her dumbass into going back to school, but her damn nose is stuck so far up Sam ass, she don’t wanna do shit. Leeching ass, girl I can’t stand those types. And they be the main ones acting like they shit don’t stank when they dumbasses ain’t got shit to begin with.
“Fuck that, I gotda have my own. I can’t rely on no man and I’m married saying this. Marcus, I hear yo nosey ass,” she suddenly called out before she turned around. And sure enough, Marcus was walking into the kitchen.
It was crazy, she just called him out when she had been facing the opposite way the whole time.
“Hey, Peaches.”
“Hey.” Smiling, I waved at Marcus as he walked up behind Bianca, pulling her head back by her hair.
“Don’t try showing out because you got guests,” his other words weren’t heard as he whispered in her ear, making Bianca laugh.
I looked away from their intimate moment, still smiling.
They are cute.
“Why is that girl in my living room? Britt gon’ have a fit when she sees her,” Marcus stated, hitting Bianca on the butt.
“I don’t know, but I’ma talk to Boon about leaving her ass here,” she replied, turning around to give him a peck. “Where’s Britt at anyway?”
“Outside on that damn phone. You talked to Blaze about that car?” Marcus asked her.
I was really listening now.
Bianca rolled her eyes at the question. “His ass said no, he ain’t giving it to her. Talking about, she too young for a car. I almost slapped his ass. I don’t know why you won’t ask him.”
Marcus leaned against the counter, folding his arms. “He told me the same thing. Her birthday next week and we ain’t found shit else.” Marcus seemed frustrated.
Pouring the batter into the pan, I handed it to Bianca.
“Blaze!” Britt’s loud voice sounded as the front door slammed. A few seconds later, Brittany came bouncing into the kitchen. “Where Blaze at?” She asked, not noticing me sitting beside her. “I see his bike outside.”
“He’s not here—” I started, but she let out a squeak.
“I’ve been blowing yo inbox up! Who the hell posted that video? Girl, my friends hate you. Even though seeing it was Blaze had me getting sick, my brotha put it down. That’s what everybody saying anyways. I didn’t watch.”
Oh, my God, I forgot she was my friend on Facebook, but we’d deleted that video and the account got closed.
“We deleted—” Britt waved me off.
“You probably did, but they could’ve emailed it to whomever before it got deleted. And whoever they sent it to could’ve saved it to their phone or computer. Besides getting tagged, I had like three people emailing me the video. I saved it to in my gallery to show y’all.”
“I don’t even care no more.”
That bitch is childish as hell for putting that damn video online, but I’ma run into that ass sooner or later. Fuck being nice and tryna let that hoe off easy.
Crying about it wasn’t even an option anymore, I was pissed. I was trying to play it cool, but my body was literally shaking. I wanted to fight.
“Peaches, what’s wrong?” Concern was thick in Bianca’s voice.
I just shook my head, “Nothing, I’m fine,” I lied.
“What video, Britt?” She asked Britt who smacked her lips.
“Damn, you nosy, all in my mouth.” Britt’s reply, caused my shaking to stop as my hand went to my mouth.
Bianca turned around and whacked her ass with a wooden spoon.
“Ow! Mommy, I was playing. Dang, you ain’t even have to hit me that hard.”
“Don’t you have homework or something?” Bianca asked.
“You just mad because I ain’t telling you what you wanna know. But I’m gone, peace.” Britt walked out, but came right back. “Daddy, can I get twenty dollars? Ashley about to pick me up to go to the mall with her.”
“I don’t have twenty dollas,” he told her and she rolled her eyes before looking at Bianca who was shaking her head.
“You know not to ask my nosy ass.”
I laughed at Bianca’s reply and Britt looked at me. “Peaches, please. Blaze will give it back to you.” Laughing, I opened my clutch bag, but I only had four fifties and my card.
“I don’t have a twenty—” I began saying and she cut me off.
“What you got?” Again, I laughed before pulling out a fifty, showing her. “That’ll do. Thank you so much.” Snatching the money, she gave me a hug before running out the kitchen.
“Girl, you done lost yo damn mind giving her fifty dollas. Brittany!” Bianca yelled.
“She’s cool. So what else you want me to do?” I asked, going to wash my hands.
“Start peeling that corn.” Bianca handed me a bag and a bowl.
I sat at the table and started peeling the corn.
***
Bianca threw down and I was beyond full. She made cornbread, corn on the cob, greens and baked chicken.
“Bianca, girl those greens was good. I’m so freaking stuffed I just wanna go to sleep,” I boasted. As I said that a yawn left my mouth. I grabbed a pillow and curled up on the couch. “You don’t mind if I put my feet on your couch, do you?” I asked.
“No, gon’ head. I’m about to do the same thing,” she replied, cuddling up against Marcus’ side.
I did the same with the pillow as Marcus turned to the news…
“…Ronald Hicks was gunned down on 5th Avenue. Reports show he worked at the local Barber Shop up the street. Just a few hours from getting off, witnesses say a black Ford Crown Victoria pulled up on the side of Hicks and the driver flashed a light as if to blind
Hicks. Then proceeded to fire shots into his body…”
My mouth dropped as I stared at the man that had just done my hair that morning.
He’s dead.
“Damn, first the fire at that barn and now this. These mothafuckas crazy,” Marcus stated with a sigh.
“What fire?” I found myself asking, finally looking away from the TV.
“Some barn off of Martin Luther King Dr. was set on fire. I think it was two bodies in there, now this.” Marcus shook his head as he tapped Bianca on the thigh. Getting up, Bianca yawned with a stretch.
“Well, I’m going to bed, Peaches. When that son of mine gets here, tell him we need to talk.”
“Okay, goodnight.” As soon as they left, I grabbed Blaze’s phone, but cussed because I didn’t know who to call. Sam had come to pick up Brandy and drop Bianca’s car off an hour ago. Getting up, I started pacing around the living room.
Who could I call?
What the hell was he doing that he couldn’t call me?
Dialing King’s number, I flopped down on the couch.
“What’s up?” King answered.
“Hey, it’s me—”
“I know who it is. What you want?” I rolled my eyes at his attitude.
“You still mad at me? King, you know I love you, always will, but you have to let me make mistakes. And if Blaze is one, then let me make this one and learn from it. I’m not mommy, Ha’Keem,” I explained. I didn’t want him mad at me, he was my brother and at the end of each and every day, I needed him. “King—”
“I hear you, man. I’ma let you handle this, it’s all you baby girl. But don’t be letting that nigga put his hands on you. I don’t give a fuck if it’s a push, hell a pinch, call me,” King stressed, making me laugh.
A smile stretched across my lips hearing him say that. “So we made up?”
King laughed at that which had me smiling wider. “Yeah, Peach, we made up,” he laughed.
“King, you know no matter what, I’ll always chose you. I was wrong for how I came at you, but if I really had to choose, even if I don’t want to, it’ll always be you. Even though I hate you, you’re my brother. You know that, right?” I asked him, wanting him to know that no matter what, in the end it would always be him.
“I know, Peach. I was outda line too, tho. Blaze my nigga, but you my baby girl. That shit fuck’d with me, knowing y’all were feeling each other on that serious level. I don’t want this fah you, man, but we gon’ see how it go. Aye, let me hit you back in a minute.”
“Alright, thanks, Ha’Keem. I love you.”
“You too, Peach. Yo—” The line went dead after that and I couldn’t wipe the smile off my lips or lower my cheeks from my eyes. I was just looking at the ceiling smiling like an idiot.
”Damn.” Until I remembered why the hell I was calling his ass in the first place. Dialing his number, it went straight to voicemail, making me groan. “Dammit.” After the fifth time getting the voicemail, I gave up.
Lying down on the couch, I let out a sigh while turning off the TV. In the darkness of the room, my mind wandered back to Ronald. Even though I didn’t know the man like that, it was messed up that he was dead. He had just done my hair earlier that day.
Letting out a heavy breath, I rolled over and closed my eyes, but they came right back open.
They set that barn on fire looking for Mark.
Chapter 7
Peaches
Blaze never came back and I over slept. So I was in Bianca’s bathroom, finger brushing my teeth after taking a quick shower.
This was what I was talking about, if it had nothing to do with Blaze, then he simply didn’t care. He knew I had to be at school that morning and at work right after. His ass didn’t even have the decency to call and tell me he wasn’t coming back.
I ran a comb through my hair a few times, then threw it into a messy bun, before I quickly left the bathroom. My book-bag was at Blaze’s place and I didn’t have a key to go there and get it.
Fuck, my homework isn’t even finished.
I snatched my heels from the side of the couch and put them on just as Britt walked in.
“Hey, Peaches. Blaze didn’t come back?” She asked and I rolled my eyes at that as I fixed my straps. “I’ll take that as a no. So where you rushing off to?”
“School, I have a class in less than fifteen minutes. Please tell me you have an extra note book and pen just laying around somewhere.”
“Yeah, I’ll be right back.” Turning around, Britt ran up the stairs.
“That damn boy, I’m going to kill him,” Bianca said, walking into the living room.
“You and me both,” I mumbled while grabbing his phone and putting it in my purse.
“Have you talked to him since he left?” Bianca leaned against the wall looking disappointed.
Shaking my head, I got up. “Nope,”
She let out an irritated sigh. “You wanna come help me make breakfast?”
Damn, I wasn’t even gon’ have time to eat. “I can’t, I have a class in ten minutes which I’m going to be late for—” The horn blowing outside had me rushing out the living room. “I had fun, Bianca. Hopefully we can do this again. Bye.” Waving, I pushed the screen door open and started running towards the cab.
“Peaches, here,” Britt called, running behind me with the notebook and pen that I forgot all about.
“Thanks, girl. Bye, Britt.” Slamming the taxi’s door I told him I was going to IUN.
***
Fuck, I’m late.
Grabbing my notebook, I gave the driver a fifty, not even closing the door all the way as I took off running. IUN was big and my class was in the back so it was gon’ take me a few minutes just to get there. But I was gone, not even those damn heels were slowing me down.
By time I made it to my English class I was out of breath and panting. Fixing my shirt and shorts, I opened the door. The whole class turned to look my way, making me groan. That was my first time ever being late.
“Ten after my door is closed and no students are allowed in,” Mr. Yancey said. He was always a bitch.
“I’m sorry, my car wouldn’t start. I promise it will never happen again,” I explained.
Mr. Yancey looked up from his papers to me. “Ms. Johnson, this is your first time so I’m going to let you slide. Put your homework on my desk and take your seat.” He pointed to toward the seats.
Again I groaned. “I left my homework at home.”
He leaned back in his chair, still staring. “Not only are you thirty minutes late, but you don’t have your work either. Then you can redo it now, as well as the work for today.”
“Can I just bring it back later on today?” It was crazy for me to redo work that was already done, well almost done anyways.
“If I don’t have it by the end of this class, I’m marking it.”
I didn’t even have my fuckin’ book to redo the damn work. Nodding my head, I walked to my seat, opening my notebook. I started copying what was on the white board. As I was writing, the dude behind me flicked my shoulder, causing me to look at him.
“I swear I can kiss you right now. Thank you,” I whispered, taking his book. He let out a chuckle before giving me a slight nod. Turning back around, I started doing the homework that had already taken me three days to complete.
***
I was the only one still in class, everybody else had left twenty minutes prior when class ended. Sitting my work on Mr. Yancey’s desk, I finally left.
“Peaches,” my name was called.
I turned around to see Sean running towards me. Sean was cute. Pretty hazel eyes, caramel skin complexion, full pink lips.
Oh, wow. He has deep dimples.
Once he made it to me, I handed him his book.
“Thanks again, you saved my ass,” I told him as we walked to the parking lot.
“No problem. I’d hope you’d do the same.”
Nodding my head, I replied, “I will now.” He laughed. “I’
m serious.”
“I’d appreciate that. Hey, a group of us are going to the café up the street to study, we always meet after class on Tuesday, Thursday, and on Friday’s. You wanna come?” He invited me.
It would’ve been nice to actually associate with my class mates sometimes.
“I’m sorry, I can’t—” I started saying slowly.
“I’m not asking you out or anything, I just never see you talk to anyone, so I figure, why not,” he finished saying with a nervous laugh.
“I work.” His rambling was cute. “It’s good to know you’re not asking me out, but I can’t come because I have to be at work right after class. Now, actually,” I explained with a small smile.
He laughed and rubbed the back of his head. “Oh, well, um,” he laughed again, it was really cute.
He was nervous and it was a nice look, different. I never really met a guy that had been nervous around me.
“A few of us meet after chemistry, we eat and study. We stay no longer than two hours,” Sean said, pushing his book-bag up his shoulder.
“I’ll see, thanks for the invite.” I went to walk to my car only to stop and groan.
“What’s wrong?” As he asked there was a loud whistle that seemed to catch everybody’s attention.
Looking away from Sean to the parking lot, there Blaze stood leaning against his truck. Staring at him, I rolled my eyes before looking at Sean.
“That’s my ride, thanks again. And I’ll think about meeting up with your group later.” Before I could walk away, he grabbed my notebook, writing on the front page.
“Call if you can’t make it.”
“I can just tell you in chemistry,” I told him.
“Oh, right. Alright, Peaches.”
Laughing, I waved as he walked away. Making my way over to Blaze, I rolled my eyes again.
“So you didn’t see me standing here?” Blaze asked and I just wanted to hit him.
“No, I didn’t,” I replied, to which Blaze smacked his lips.