by Styles, T.
He looked up at Melody’s house door and saw it was closed shut. So he walked coolly over to the car, glancing back at his friends once. He smiled to let them know he wasn’t scared. He was inches from his ride when he reached out and placed his left hand completely on the car. His mission was complete plus he proved his point. He wasn’t a punk and he was still the kid that could be counted on to follow through on a dare. There was nothing else to be said.
And then he heard, “I knew you were scared!” Jason lifted his chubby arm and pointed in his direction.
What was the problem? He proved the exact opposite and yet Jason acted as if he’d done nothing. To silence him for once and for all, he moved back toward the car, leaned up against it and posed for thirty seconds. He was lifting his body preparing to move when Melody came out and saw him.
“What the fuck?!” He exclaimed as he jumped down three stairs at one time to get at him.
Cray leaped off his car and was about to take off running when Melody’s flunkies caught him. Markise and Jason stood in shock.
“Aye…he was just playin’, man,” Markise offered.
“Yeah,” Jason cosigned. “He wasn’t tryin’ to mess up yo ride.”
“Did I ask you lil dirty mothafuckas to talk to me?” Melody questioned. They shook their heads no. “Den why you talkin’?”
Without waiting for their answer, he glared at Cray. His flunkies had Cray up in the air by the hood of his coat. His legs dangled inches from the ground.
“Put the lil nigga down,” Melody instructed as he approached him. “You must got a problem puttin’ yo dusty ass on my ride.”
“Sorry, man.” Cray said, shaking his head. He was so scared he could’ve peed on himself.
“Fuck sorry! What’s ya problem? You think I want a dirty nigga like you leanin’ on my ride?”
By this time Grimy Mike, Corey who was called Charms, Justin Doles and James had gathered around to see Melody punk Cray.
“Yo got high waters on!” Grimy yelled adding insult to injury. He wasn’t nothing but an instigator. And because Melody had an audience now, he made things worse.
“I should pay one of these lil niggas out here to fuck you up! Which one of ya’ll wanna to get paid?” he asked as he looked around and grabbed his stack of cash from his pocket. Grimy Mike and Charms raised their hands. Doles stood on the sidelines laughing.
“I said I was sorry.” Cray kept his voice steady, trying not to show his terror. He heard of the things Melody did to people for less. He knew he had fucked up and fucked up royally. “What you want me to do? Damn!”
Jason and Markise’s mouths dropped.
“Oh you tryin’ to break bad?”
Cray didn’t respond.
“Yeah you definitely tryin’ to break.” He said as he cracked his knuckles.
Whop! Whop!Whop!
Melody punched him three times in the chest. Cray felt the wind flow from his body when he fell to the ground. Markise ran over to Melody and swung missing him terribly. He wasn’t even remotely close. Melody laughed the entire time as he bopped the hell out of his right ear. Jason didn’t bother getting up after seeing his friends spread across the ground. But then again, no one expected him too.
Instead of Cray running home, he stood up, dusted the back of his pants off, and faced Melody again. Now instead of being scared, he looked at him dead in the eyes. More people started crowding around and Cray recognized the faces of Jinx who stayed in trouble and Vic who smoked cigarettes all the time and lived around the way. They pretty much stayed to themselves even though people said they were thieves.
“Oh shit! Let me find out this lil nigga got heart.” Whop! Whop! Whop! Three more body blows.
This time Melody hit him a little harder. Although he wasn’t putting all of the force he could have into Cray’s body, he did hit him hard enough to do damage. Cray felt all sorts of pain ripple through his arms and chest. But the fighter in him wouldn’t allow him to bow down.
Again Cray stood up and again Melody gave him two body blows each session. The final time Cray could barely stand up straight, yet he looked him in his eyes and stared him down. He was bruised but no longer afraid. His friends looked at him in utter amazement. This surpassed the clout he ever could’ve gained from a mere dare or double dare. He had gained the respect of his friends on a whole notha level.
“You’s a tough little mothaphucka,” Melody said as his flunkies agreed. “If your folks weren’t linin’ my pockets you coulda got hurt. Now get out my face befo’ I hit you wit somethin’ you won’t be able to get up from.”
Cray didn’t know what linin’ his pockets meant, and he didn’t care. He just walked off slowly. His body was inflamed and hurt all over. But it didn’t matter. He faced the beast and didn’t back down and everybody on the street were his witnesses. No one knew it then, but what just happened formed the beginning of a monster. Right before the crowd dispersed Jinx walked up to Cray.
“I like how you handled that shit. He always fuckin’ wit niggas.” Jinx said.
Cray just nodded like he was extra tough.
“I’ll get up with you lada.”
“One.” Cray responded.
Markise and Jason felt more powerful just by being around Cray. He was no longer the little dusty kid. Now he had clout.
“That was some crazy shit!” Markise said, holding his ear.
“I know!” Jason added.
“I told ya’ll I wasn’t scared.” Cray tried not to limp. “He bleed just like me.”
Tara Pleasant
Washington, D.C.
Trusted Friend
After dinner, when Kavon remembered he left something in his car, Tara took the time to talk to Shy in private. She knew time was of the essence so she had to be quick. The moment Kavon shut the door, she said, “Come here, Shy!” She grabbed him by the hand and led him to the kitchen.
“What’s up, baby?” he asked, noticing her excitement. “You a’ight?” He hovered over her. “Somebody fuckin’ wit you?”
“Nobody’s messing with me, Shy.” She giggled at his over protectiveness.
“Well what’s up?” He looked angered. Ready to unleash rage.
“I’m okay unless you consider being pregnant a problem.” Tara grabbed his face, calming him down instantly. His shoulders relaxed and his face softened. Her touch soothed the most savage of beasts.
“What?” he whispered, looking into her eyes. “You what?”
“I said I’m pregnant, honey. Me and Kavon are having our first baby!” She jumped in place as if she was ready to explode.
“Word?”
“Word.” She giggled.
He was silent for a moment until she said, “Are you gonna say somethin’ or just stand there lookin’ silly?”
For a second it looked as if he wasn’t happy about it.
Eventually, he picked her up and hugged her lightly. She smelled the Irish Spring soap he always used on his skin.
Placing her down gently, he said, “I’m ‘bout to be a godfather!” He beat his chest with excitement.
“Yes. Are you happy for us?”
“You know I am.”
He appeared enthused and she loved every bit of it. He was the first person Tara told because she didn’t have family in the United States. They disowned her after learning she sold herself as an internet bride to Paris for money. And even though she didn’t marry him, they never spoke to her again despite her constant letters. All she wanted was a better life in America, the place where dreams come true.
“He doesn’t know so you can’t say anything,” Tara whispered. “I’m gonna tell him next week.”
“Why you waitin’? I’m sure he’ll want to know he’s bout to have a seed. That’s all that nigga talk about.”
“Cause I know he’s gonna ask me to marry him next week that’s why.” Tara threw her head back and laughed.
“And how do you know that?” He leaned on the counter.
The look on hi
s face told her she’d gotten it right. But Shy had no intentions of confirming the proposal either which way and she didn’t expect him to.
“Cause he’s been running around here all week rubbing my ring finger for no reason, that’s why. Come on now, you know men aren’t good with hiding stuff from women.”
“Some men aren’t….but you’d be surprised in the stuff I can hide. I’m good at keeping secrets. You can trust me. Always.” He gave her a look that said she could trust him with anything that went on between them. Tara noticed the difference in the way he looked at her and felt slightly uncomfortable.
“I know, Shy. And I love you for it.”
“But forget all that.” He stood up straight. “Let’s talk about the fact that you let us smoke around you.” He walked toward her and rubbed her shoulders. “You liable to give the baby a contact. You can’t be around that shit, Tara!”
“I’ll be fine. Don’t start acting all funny on me, Shy.” She looked serious. “Keep callin’ me a knucklehead and all that other shit you say out your mouth. Besides, I’m only three months.” She rubbed her slightly plump belly. As thin as she was, her stomach looked more like she was full than that she was pregnant.
“I’ll treat you as if you never said a word to me.” Shy smooched her head a little. “You can count on it.”
“Good.” She kissed him on the cheek. “Did I tell you I’m so grateful for everything you did for me? With bringing Kavon into my life and saving me?”
“Yes, but I keep tellin’ you it’s all good.”
“I know, but I’m serious. If it wasn’t for you, who knows where I might be right now.”
“Somebody woulda scooped you up. If it wasn’t Kavon, it would’ve been me.”
“We would’ve gotten on each other’s nerves.”
“We’ll never know now will we?”
“No. We’ll never know.” Tara touched his face. “Are you truly happy for me?”
“Yeah. I am. Kavon’s a good dude. He loves you.”
“What ya’ll doin’ in the kitchen?” Kavon questioned opening the front door closing it behind him. “Fixin’ his big ass anotha plate?”
“Naw, man. I’m tryin’ to get her to dump your ass and run away with me.”
“You must be a glutton for punishment.” He laughed. “Naw. For real I’m tryin’ to get her to let you roll with me to Curtbone’s cabaret tonight.”
“Well, what she say?” He smiled, marching into the kitchen.
“You can go,” Tara said, pleased Shy had a lie available although it would mean not spending a night at home with her man. He walked up to her and wrapped his arms around her waist. “Just as long as you come back to me tonight.” She gripped his dick before kissing him passionately. “That’s all I care about.”
“There’s no place I’d rather be, girl. You know that shit.”
“Well, have fun.” Tara released her hold on him. She smiled, good-naturedly at Kavon.
“I guess I’m rollin’ wit’ you then.” Kavon hugged Tara again but studied Shy quizzically. There was something in his eyes that he didn’t like.
“Well get dressed, B!”
Kavon Cartier
Largo, Maryland
Taste Like Candy
The Largo Mansion in Mitchellville, Maryland was packed with all the heavy hitters of the industry for the All White Affair. Although it was a cold winter day in January, the air wasn’t as brisk as it had been earlier.
Curtbone’s cabarets always brought out the hottest females and the richest niggas on the scene. And the moment Kavon and Shy hit the doors, their shoulders dropped and they strolled in like players. They were among their element so for real, it was nothing but a thang. L.L. Cool J’s “I’m Bad” roared through the speakers. They took a quick picture together to capture the moment and went on about their business.
“Can I get you gentlemen some champagne?” a beautiful white woman asked who was standing by the door with a bottle of Moet on ice in a gold bucket.
“Yeah,” Shy said as he lifted two champagne glasses with 14k gold on the rim.
He handed one to Kavon who was too busy scoping the scene, that he didn’t see him with the drink. It was so crowded inside the hall that you could barely move. But with all the thick asses rubbing up against them, who cared? But being majors meant that a special VIP section awaited them in the back of the cabaret.
“Nigga, take this shit.” Shy said getting his attention.
“My bad. I zoned out.”
Shy laughed. “It’s a whole lot to give up ain’t it?”
“There you go. Let’s just enjoy the party.”
Kavon finally accepted his drink as they moved through the crowd kicking it with a few dudes they knew.
With every pound or handshake he gave Kavon was beginning to wonder if getting out of the game for Tara was a good idea after all. He loved women, fast money and his freedom. But if he married Tara, all of that would change. What the fuck I’m gonna do besides hustle? He thought. Sure the real estate business was lucrative but it would mean learning the business from scratch and he didn’t have anything outside of an eighth grade education.
I can’t think about this shit right now. He thought as he sipped on his champagne and eyed a few women in their skimpy outfits.
He was still thinking about how much different his life would be when he saw Candy, his ex-girl. You see, Candy wasn’t any ordinary girl. She was the one woman who captivated his heart, cracked it, and threw it away. Although she couldn’t touch Tara in the looks department, her Fuck Game ran rings around Tara’s.
She strutted toward Shy and Kavon, pushing a few people lightly to pass them. The moment Shy saw her, he almost choked on his champagne. Her hair was hard curled in a mean asymmetric and her gold earrings highlighted her chocolate brown skin.
When she finally came into view, Kavon saw the Le Coq Sportiff one-piece dress she rocked. Even though it was a little sportier than what everyone else was wearing, her large breasts, thick ass and flat stomach suddenly made it acceptable.
“Kavon, Kavon, Kavon,” Candy sang, seductively, grabbing one of his arms and wrapping it around her waist. “I see you still lookin’ good.” She pushed her breasts against his muscular chest. Suddenly it was as if they were alone.
“Good gawd!” Shy gawked, eyeing her body. “Damn, Candy, is it sweet?” he said loud enough to be heard over the music. “’Cause it sho look good.”
“I don’t know why you worried about it,” she informed him, glancing at him only briefly before returning her sights to Kavon’s fine ass. “You never got a lick or taste of this pussy and you ain’t gonna. Go sit your beastly ass down somewhere.”
“And you mean!” Shy laughed, stealing one last look. “On that note, I’ma find me somethin’ I can get into.” He gave Kavon dap, then shook head at how sexy Candy was again.
Kavon felt his heart beat increase slightly. Candy did something to him. And although he tried to hide it, not a lot had changed. He even caught a few niggas checking her as she played him close.
“How you been?” He inhaled her apple-smelling perfume.
“I’m good,” he said as he wrapped both of his arms around her waist and looked into her eyes. He was doing this in an attempt to gain some control over the situation. “I see you still sexy as a mothafucka.”
“Whateva, boy. If I’m so sexy, you wouldn’t be with that Spanish bitch.”
“Brazilian.” He winked.
“Whatever.” Her tone was sharp and he could tell she didn’t like Tara being thrown up in her face. But if she hadn’t fucked up, they would still be together. “You know I was trying to get back with you, K.”
“I know you tryin’ to play games that’s about it.”
“I’m serious, K!” Candy hit him lightly on the arm, never removing her body from his. “I tried how many times? You act like you don’t even know me no more. What, you in love or somethin’? Just tell me and I’ll stop callin’ you.”
Maybe this is a test. He thought. If he fucked Candy one last time and he still wanted to marry Tara, then he’d know his love for Tara was real.
“Stop fuckin’ wit me, girl.” Kavon pulled away to get the waitress to bring him two more glasses of champagne, one for him and the other for Candy. When he got them he placed his empty glass on her platter. “You like playin’ games.”
“Well, what I got to do to prove to you I’m not?” Candy licked suggestively on the edge of the glass with her pink wet tongue.
“You tell me.” Kavon gazed right into her eyes. He wanted to fuck her on the dance floor. As they stared at each other, money started falling everywhere. A few ballers thought it would be a good idea to waste cash just because they could.
“I’m tryin’ to be with you tonight.” A fifty dollar bill fell on her breasts and he tucked it in her cleavage. “So what you tryin’ to do?”
“You wanna bounce or what?” Kavon suggested no longer able to hold back.
When she caught the glimmer in his eyes, Candy said, “You ain’t said nothin’ but a word. Wait right here. I’ll be back.”
She sashayed away fast enough to get wherever she was going, but slowly enough for him to check her body out as she moved. She made sure her hips swiveled and swirled with each step. When she was completely out of Kavon’s sight, he looked for Shy. He had to tell him he was gonna get up with him later and the way he ogled her juicy ass, he knew he’d understand. He spent five minutes looking for Shy but couldn’t find his ass nowhere.
Where da fuck this nigga go so quick? He wondered.
He had given up his search when he saw the reason for his exit approaching him.