“’Sup, J?”
“Nothing, why’d you bring Dana with you?” I asked then led them to my bedroom and locked the door.
I padded the bottom of the doorway so the smell of weed wouldn’t escape. Whenever something was burning, she’d pop up. She sucked her teeth and worked her neck.
“Don’t get stank with me, Jaden. I ain’t have to come and help you out. But Bria’s my girl, so I had to look out for you.”
I shot her a mean glance and she shut up. Now she was giving me the bedroom eyes. She was one of them chicks that looked like she’d be a lot of fun in the bedroom. She was round and loose where Bria was tight and shapely. Dana had watermelon-size knockers, too. The kind I’d suck sore! Bria was more petite minus the slightest hint of a spare tire, but it wasn’t like Dana had problems getting laid down. I got all riled up and had to shift my pants so she couldn’t tell how glad I was to see her. She smiled at me then licked her lips like she wanted some.
“Maybe another time, in another place?” I asked.
She smiled and looked away. Eric cut in, “What the hell y’all talking about? Look, anyway, I ain’t had no green, and you sound mad stressed. She’s Plan B, ya know what I mean?” He threw his arm up and smiled as he continued. “I came through though, didn’t I, nigga? I always come through!”
I gave him dap and found myself checking out Dana again. It hit me then that I’d have to watch what I said around her. I twisted up and hung my head out the window and advised them to do the same. I took three hard pulls and passed it to Eric.
“Somebody set me up, E.” I focused on him and added. “Somebody real close. All of a sudden, Coach started asking me if I’m juicing. I’m not even the type to try and cheat. You know that for a fact, E. I talked to mad schools and they’re pulling away from me like I got a murder charge. I already confronted him about the shit twice and it seems like he’s lying to me, E.”
Eric forced out a heavy sigh. “That shit is foul, J. All you need to do is go and bring it to him. You got evidence of this shit?”
“I’ve got him acting nervous.”
“Look, he ain’t got no reason to act nervous around his best friend. A nigga take the bread off my table like that… shit.” Eric pulled up his shirt and caressed the handle to the piece in his waistband. “I’d have to crack the nigga head open for that. You know your boy E is down to put in work for you.”
“I gotta go at this dolo.”
I grabbed the blunt from Dana and puffed.
CHAPTER FOUR
H.S. DREAMS
“Come on, Uncle Paul, isn’t there something that I can do? Put me on to mopping the floors or something like that.” I said to my uncle on the other end of the line.
“You know that I would if I could Jaden. I’ve hired a few new people recently. Give me a couple of days to figure things out. I’m not making any promises but I’ll see what I can do,” he answered.
“Uncle Paul. Hopefully you can hook me up somehow. Your nephew needs some paper, big time.”
Uncle Paul was making a killing out of that Cadillac dealership. It’s strange because I don’t see a lot of them moving off the lot. I left the apartment to meet up with Nick.
The backstabber was on Amsterdam, chatting to Chucky, a fiend. Digging my hands in my pockets, I slid my fingers through the pair of brass knuckles and threw the hoodie over my head. Nick pulled his baseball cap down. Then we closed in on our prey.
“We’ll split up. Hit that side of the street and I’ll cover the other,” I said fingering the brass knuckles.
“Listen, I’m gonna tell you for the last time, you midget motherfucker. I don’t want a fucking VCR for a bag.” Devlin was saying as we approached. “I got a fucking DVD player!”
“Come on, D! You know I need that shit! Last time you ain’t hook me up, I ran through Riverbank State Park n-n-n-naked! I’m a respectable fiend. You can’t do me like that, bro! Th-th-the DVD craze ain;t gonna last! Yeah! VHS is back!”
Nick and I closed the gap to a few yards around our target. We heard them babbling. I nodded and cracked my knuckles, ready to bash his face. Devlin turned his back and shoved Chucky on the store front glass to scare him. He was shivering all right but not because of Devlin.
“You got company, bro!” Chucky said pointing over the street pharmacist’s shoulder. Without knowing who it was, Devlin swung around and shouted, “What the fuck you want?”
I grabbed him by the collar and punched him in the gut. He folded over. I dragged him over to his car and slammed a jab into his ribs that made him curl up. We had his undivided attention. Devlin coughed and drooled, desperately trying not to show weakness.
“This ride’s yours, right?” I asked squeezing his neck. “Answer me! You don’t wanna answer? I’ll just put your head through the window.”
“Fuck you J! You only tough cuz your boy is backing you up!”
“Nah, Open the fucking door! Do it now!”
I turned into some kind of threatening, spitting beast in the span of a few seconds. A cop car turned onto the block and passed through. He didn’t seem to care. Adrenalin fueled my anger and clouded my senses. Devlin hit the remote and we tossed him inside.
I felt a surge of power when I slapped him so hard, my hand hurt. I slid the brass knuckles on and bruised Devlin’s face with a right cross. My blood got hot. Seeing Devlin’s blood trickle from his face brought me thrills. The rush was so overwhelming, I needed more. Devlin’s skin turned red in a couple spots.
“Ah shit! I’m gonna seriously fuck you up for this! I’m a fuck you up for this!” He whined trying to stop the bleeding. I shook him by the shirt until it ripped.
“You fucked my whole life up, motherfucker! I had a full ride to mad schools and you fucked it up! You were the one hitting the needle! When do you plan on compensating me?”
Devlin laughed, spitting up blood and all. He licked some off his teeth before saying, “You need to get over that shit, asshole. Ha, ha! I can hook you up with a pack. That’s all I can do for you. And you better pay me off the pack too, nigga.”
“I want my fucking life back, Devlin! Can you give that back?”
“Nah nigga, shit’s over with,” he replied, laughing. “No sense in crying over spilled milk. Way I see it you got two options, get a job or push crills. You see I’m grinding. Go hard or find God, bitch-ass nigga.”
“You’s a bold-ass snake, D. You owe me big and that debt is building interest as we speak.” I patted Devlin’s pockets and snatched his money clip. It was packed with so many $100 bills that it bent from the strain. “Figure out a way to pay me, devil, before I do. We’ll talk real soon.” I popped him on his chin and walked away with him breathing hard and bleeding on his own leather upholstery. His pride stung more than the wounds on his face. Devlin hung his head out of his ride to get the last word.
“I’m not gonna forget this, Jaden! You don’t put no fear in my heart, nigga! I’m bigger on these streets than you, nigga! You run shit on the football field! I run shit in the streets!”
I stopped and stared as he hurriedly peeled off.
CHAPTER FIVE
REALITY CHECK
Mom read me like a book when I got back home. She grabbed my hand and turned it over and some parts of my knuckles were swollen, other parts were bruised.
“You’ve been fighting again, Jaden? What did I tell you about fighting? Are you going to just throw your chances away at making something out of yourself?”
“I had to handle my business. I don’t go looking for brawls. This dude in particular is trying hard to ruin my life, mom. He’s not gonna just run me over without getting his.”
“So that’s how you’re gonna live life? Seeking revenge whenever someone wrongs you? The Bible says when…”
“Someone slaps you on one cheek, turn and give them the other, right? Well he slapped me a little too hard, okay? This dude is so jealous of me that he set me up! Put something in my in my drink the night before practice, then I ge
t called in for a piss test! And I failed it, mom!”
I watched her jaw dropped. I tugged off my sweat soaked white Tee-shirt before continuing.
“I’ve been calling schools and they pulling back cause they think I’m juicing! You know how hard I worked for it? I’m the last dude to juice up!”
My breath was coming so hard I could feel my chest rising up and down. I felt rage and slapped everything off my dresser. Cologne bottles, empty cups and a bowl smashed across the bare floor.
“He messed with my future, mom! Our future! The future I worked hard for! When everyone was out partying, I was in the park doing drills! Jogging up and down the stairs on 143 and St. Nick till my dinner and breakfast came up! Pumping weights till I could barely move! It was our chance to get out of this place and enjoy life! And on top of that you’re sick. Even with that insurance it’s gonna cost mad G’s!”
I threw myself down on the bed. Two streaks of tears came rolling down my face. Mother hugged my shoulders.
“Don’t you worry about me. Just focus on keeping your head on straight. God doesn’t give us more than we can bear, sweetie. You’ll see.”
I hugged her, kissed her on the cheek and looked into her eyes.
“There isn’t time to wait for his answer, mom. God helps those who help themselves, right?”
CHAPTER SIX
THE SETUP
Not too long ago, my football career was a sure thing. I was the top high school running back in the Northeast. In school, Devlin was my backup. At 6’1” and 185 lbs I earned a reputation as a durable runner. The Lincoln High School offensive line, receivers and quarterback were having career years. It made me proud to be a part of the program. I broke three school rushing records. Coach Wilkins never enjoyed a better season.
As the regional finals drew near, our success became imminent. Then things started falling apart. I had received more than a dozen of school offers. Devlin wasn’t so lucky. He was one of the top second-string running backs but the college ranks were filled with high school starters who rode the pine. His career chances went from slim to none. Devlin had good instincts but questions of his toughness dogged him and nagging injuries hampered his performance. I was living in the spotlight while he was in the shadows. It ate him up inside. Devlin was frustrated and jealous.
Right after we won the regional finals, Devlin and I hit the club and partied the night away. He saw me differently telling me I was smug, arrogant, self-interested, leech. I thought he had too much to drink.
“You look like you about to go up in flames, J! Cool off with this!” He snatched the hand of one of the young ladies from me. “Fair exchange, nigga!”
I chugged the shot down and smacked my lips. There was something funny about the way it went down. It tasted like that chalky medicine I used to drink when I was a kid and had bronchitis.
“I want my Hennessey straight next time, ahight?”
“Why, what’s wrong?”
“It tastes like the bartender served me in a dirty glass.”
“Don’t stress it. It’s liquor. Ain’t no germs surviving that shit, J.”
The next day after practice started, I noticed Devlin chatting to the coach on the side while eyeing me shadily. After drills, coach called me over.
“You’re aware that steroids aren’t allowed, right, son?”
I was stunned. Being the team captain, the most talented and hardest working player on the squad made me think coach was talking about some other player.
“Of course,” I said removing my helmet before continuing. “Who is it? I mean, why are you asking me this, coach?”
“I have reason to believe that you’ve been using, Jaden. Is this true?”
“Look coach, I don’t need drugs to do what I do. You know better than anybody. I show up earlier and stay late every day we practice,” I said waving my helmet.
The light scrimmage stopped. Players circled us as our voices rose.
“You still haven’t denied it, son.”
“Coach, I don’t need to deny a damn thing!”
“You best tell me if you’re using or not.”
I angrily got in Coach Wilkin’s face.
“No coach! I ain’t using! Look at who you asking!”
Spinning my body, I tossed the helmet several yards before angrily heading to the locker room.
Coach gave the players a look so grim that they all bolted and resumed running drills. He yelled at them anyway.
“Well?! We still have a game to prepare for, don’t we, ladies? Get back to the scrimmage! We might have to go to the air a little more, Kerry! That means you’ll have to catch the ball! Same goes for you, Collins. Move it!”
One of his assistants took over practice and coach stomped his way into the locker room. We did more barking than talking. Coach tossed a chair to the wall. It smashed into pieces.
“Goddamit Jaden! Just tell me if you’ve been using or not…?”
“I already told you, man! Give me a piss test, if it’ll make you happy. It doesn’t matter to me. I’m clean. As a matter of fact, I’ll take a piss for you right now.”
Coach sighed and wiped his wrinkled forehead.
“Let’s go.”
The walk from the stadium to the school building was the longest I’d ever taken. Coach was questioning my integrity. I was the same player that he boasted about to the freshman. I dragged worn-out car tires strapped to my waist up the steep steps in Jackie Robinson Park on 145th Street twelve times a day, four days a week, throughout the football season. I did knuckle push-ups until my fists split. I worked on my abs until what was left of the last night’s dinner came up. I made sacrifices.
After dropping off the urine sample, I confidently strolled back to the practice field. Thoughts of the incident wouldn’t leave my mind and got me flattened time and again during running drills.
“What’s wrong, Jaden? Lost the twinkle in your toes?”
A defensive player got real personal after dumping me to the turf for the third time.
The QB delayed the hike so everyone could share the laugh. They all knew Devlin was babbling. I cursed under my breath when I saw him on defense.
“Hike…!”
The tension on the field was so thick, every player on offense and defensive jumped off the line two full seconds late. It felt like an eternity between the hike and snap. I cradled the ball like a baby. With elbows poking out, I attacked the line of blockers’ shoulders, going straight at Devlin with full speed.
We collided and plastic popped in the air like a car accident. His two-fisted hold of my jersey didn’t help Devlin bring me down. I hit him with a stiff arm to the helmet. He ate grass and it was clear sailing to the end zone. I dashed back to Devlin and took off my helmet. He did the same and got rewarded by a punch to his chin.
“You fucking set me up, asshole!”
“Get him, J! Fuck his jelly-bastard ass up!” Someone screamed.
Devlin hit the floor but jumped back to his feet and tapped my chin. We both threw a few more punches before it turned into a wrestling match. Seconds later, the assistant coach jumped in and ordered us to break it up. Two huge linebackers dragged us away from each other. We struggled to free ourselves, acting more like toddlers than teens.
“I’m a see you about this Devlin! Mark my words!”
“I ain’t do nothing, motherfucker!”
“You a liar, D! You got that twitch over your eyebrow! That same one you got whenever you lie!”
Two days later, my life fell apart. Coach called me in the next day and told me the bad news. I flipped slapping a high stack of coach’s paperwork off his desk. It hurt more that he’d pull me out of practice and put me on blast. My future was up in the air.
I let the anger simmer for a day. Then I hit Nick for the info on the quickest way to make a buck. Nick hardly paid me any mind, banging button and turning dials on his mixing board. He spared a second to squint at me.
“The fastest way to get paid is to tak
e the money, J. You know that for a fact. Oh, hold up. You trying to stick a nigga up, J?”
“It’s been in the back of my mind.”
Nick nodded and smiled when he found the sound he wanted.
“That some Pharrel shit. You know, the one where Kanye is like You don’t be all up on MySpace, eh, eh, eh!”
“You right. I can speed it up a little. Back to what we were talking about. You still got hope to play football somewhere, J. I mean, you’re still practicing and playing, right?”
“Yup, that’s only so Lincoln High can get a shot at the championship. I don’t have any other options after the season is over. It seems like the schools that wanted me are pulling back one by one.”
Nick was hurt. He made it a rule not to drink when he’s mixing music. He broke the rule when I showed up with a six-pack, stressing.
“Nick, I want some advice.” I told him.
Nothing was farther from the truth. I didn’t want wisdom from an outside source. I wanted the answer I was looking for. Nick would supply it once enough alcohol flowed through his veins. Nick held his liquor the worst out of the crew and most of his fights in his young life came after drinking.
“J, if I was in your position, I wouldn’t risk it. But with about four Heinekens in me like I do now, I might think about that shit.”
“You think I could pull it off? I mean, just one time?”
Nick saved his work and shut the mixing board down. His lower lip was glossy with barley as he spat.
“Ha, ha! Anything can happen just once, nigga! OJ got away with murder once, didn’t he?”
“Maybe you have a point. Look, I gotta go handle some business.” We exchanged pounds. “I’m a hit you up later.”
“Ahight J, Keep your nose clean my brother. A wise man once said if you want something different, you’re gonna have to do something different. The people that succeed in this world ain’t the strongest or the smartest. It’s the hard-headed people. They committed. So when you find something to commit to, stick to it even if it ain’t football. You feel me?”
Hustle Hard Page 3