by Lady Lissa
Our team was winning by fifteen points in the second quarter. I was cheering for Onyx so hard, I almost missed the cutie who keeps trying to block him. He’s a bit shorter than Onyx but he is so cute. He’s a beautiful mocha complexion, has pretty eyes, sexy lips and a fabulous smile. When the buzzer rings for half time, our team heads to the locker room. The team from Carver sits in the bleachers to watch the halftime show. I hate that Mandy is on the floor with her bitch ass, so I don’t look that way at all.
The dude that I was checking out on the floor sits only a few bleachers down from where I’m sitting with my teammates. He looks my way and smiles. I smile back. I mean, why wouldn’t I? He’s choosing to look my way instead of at the cheerleaders, yea he’s someone that could be special. The thing that surprises me the most is when he moves up a couple of bleachers and motions his head for me to come sit next to him. I slide down until I reach where he is sitting and smile.
“Hey,” he greets me.
“Hey,” I say, pushing a strand of hair behind my ear.
“What’s yo name?”
“Starr,” I respond.
“Star, S-t-a-r?”
“No, two r’s. What’s yours?”
“Freddy,” he responds.
“Nice to meet you,” I say.
“Yea, very nice to meet you. You go to school here?”
“Yea, I’m a junior.”
“I’m a senior at Washington. I think I’ve seen you before,” he says.
“Yea, I play for the girls’ basketball team here,” I say.
“How long you been playing ball?”
“For as long as I can remember,” I respond.
“You got a boyfriend Starr with two r’s?”
“No, I’m single,” I say smiling even harder now.
“Oh okay,” he says.
“You got a girlfriend Freddy?”
“Nah, I just got friends,” he says.
“Friends with benefits?”
“Something like that,” he says.
Well at least he’s honest about his friends.
“Maybe the two of us can shoot some hoops some time,” he says.
“Yea, maybe.”
The halftime show comes to an end so he looks at me and says, “I gotta go but I wanna holla at you before you leave. I wanna get your number so we can shoot those hoops and hang out.”
“Okay,” I respond.
He leaves from his seat and heads back on the court at the same time our team returns to the floor. I go back to sit with my friends as we watch the rest of the game. Now that I know Freddy, the game is even more exciting. Of course I am cheering for our team and every time Onyx hits a bucket shot, but I was also secretly cheering for Freddy. I say secretly because of course I can’t cheer for him in front of the others. What would I look like cheering for both teams? I know for a fact that I would look disloyal if that were to happen.
Even though the game was super close, our team prevailed with a score of 67-63. I hang around after the game so I can exchange numbers with Freddy. When he finally makes his way over to where I am standing, I cannot stop smiling.
“Hey,” he says.
“Hey. Sorry y’all lost the game,” I say with a smile on my face.
“No you’re not. You know you’re happy your team won,” he says.
“Yea, you’re right but I was still cheering for you,” I say.
“Yea? Well thanks. So you gonna give me your number so I can hit you up?”
“Yep,” I answer as I rattle off my number as he enters it into his cell phone. He also gives me his number and I do the same thing. I look up and Onyx is heading our way.
“Wassup Fred,” Onyx greets.
“It’s Freddy. Wassup,” Freddy says.
“Hey Onyx, that was a great game you played,” I tell him as I give him a hug.
“Thanks baby girl. What are you doing with Fred?”
“I just met him,” I say.
“Yea, Starr is pretty cool so we exchanged numbers. I think it’s great that she shoots hoops too so we’re gonna hang out some time and play ball,” Freddy says with a huge smile.
“Oh, is that right?”
The look on Onyx’s face definitely does not reflect one of happiness. I wonder what his issue is with Freddy. The two seem to have history of some sort because they do not seem to like each other one bit.
“Yea, that’s right.”
“Well Starr, are you gonna ride back with me or is someone on their way to pick you up?” Onyx asks me.
“You two ride together?”
“Yea, we live next door to one another.”
“Oh okay. Well I’d better get going too before the bus leaves without me. I’ll be calling you real soon Starr. Onyx,” Freddy says as he heads outside.
“Why are you thinking about hanging with that clown?” Onyx asks.
“He seems really nice and he shoots a mean game of b-ball,” I answer.
“Whatever. That nigga is lame as fuck yo,” he says.
“Well I don’t know him that well yet but I plan to call him,” I say.
“Your life,” he says as we walk out to his car.
As we’re riding on the way home, I can see the tension in Onyx’s jawline.
“Onyx, what is it about Freddy that bothers you so much?”
“I just think he’s lame and fake, that’s all.”
“Are you sure? It seems like more than that,” I say.
He is not telling me the whole story. I know that something else must have happened between them for Onyx to feel the way that he does. I’ll just have to ask Freddy about it. Onyx pulls into the driveway of his home and park the car in the garage. We exit the vehicle and he watches as I cross the yard and inside my house.
Freddy did call me the next day and we shot hoops that weekend at the park.
CHAPTER TWELVE
Onyx
Three months later…
When I see Starr coming down Peachtree Road with her boyfriend, Freddy, my heart immediately skips a beat. I can’t believe after all this time, my heart still thumps like crazy when I see her. Even though nothing has happened between us since that night at my house a few months ago, I can’t help how I feel. Starr has been dating this clown Freddy ever since they first met that night after the game. I don’t know what the hell she sees in him. I never did like that nigga and not just because we play for rival basketball teams either. When she spots me, I see a huge smile spread across her face also. I know it’s because she is just as happy to see me as I am to see her. As soon as she’s within arm’s reach, she jumps in my arms, throwing her arms around my neck. I hold her tightly because it’s been a couple of days since we’ve seen each other.
Since my graduation and her ring ceremony are both right around the corner, the two of us have been really busy. I’ve had to take pictures, visit the colleges, not to mention keep up my grades. And since I only go to school for half a day now and she goes the full day, we really don’t see each other as much. I guess old boy doesn’t like seeing her in my arms because all of a sudden, he starts clearing his damn throat.
Now I’ve only seen the dude a couple of times since they started dating. I think they’ve been dating for about three months or so. Since Freddy doesn’t attend the same school as we do, he obviously doesn’t know how I get down. If he knows what’s good for him, he would want to hold his “Ahem” for someone who gives a fuck because this nigga right here doesn’t give two shits about his ass.
“Ahem,” he clears his throat again.
He finally gets Starr’s attention, but does not look happy when she turns to face him. “Oh, I’m sorry baby. It’s just that I haven’t seen Onyx in a couple of days and I miss him,” Starr gushes.
“Wassup man. You know, you really ought to get that throat checked, especially since they have so many viruses going around. Ssshhhiiiddd, you might even have Ebola,” I said as both Starr and I break into laughter.
“Yea, whatever nigga,” Fr
eddy says.
“Where are you coming from?” Starr asks me as I’m giving Freddy the evil eye.
Man, I don’t know what it is about that nigga but I don’t like his ass. He looks shady and suspicious as fuck, if you ask me. I wonder why Starr is still with his dumb ass. I hope she ain’t fucking his stupid ass, especially since she wouldn’t give it to me. I was hoping that she would realize that I’m the best guy for her. I mean, I’ve been knowing her longer than any of those guys she chooses to date so that would make me the better guy for her.
I hold up my shopping bags and say, “I was just doing a little shopping.”
“Really? Is there anything in those bags for me?” Starr asks as she makes an attempt to peek inside my bags. I hold them above my head since I know she won’t be able to reach them because of our differences in height. I’m 6’4” and she’s only 5’6”, so I’m sure to strangers walking through the strip mall, we look pretty silly.
“Maybe. Maybe not. Where are the two of y’all headed?” I ask once she finally calms her butt down. I don’t give a fuck where that nigga is going. For all I care, he can go step out in five o’clock traffic.
“We’re on our way to the Coach store. Mama’s birthday is coming up so I want to get her a handbag and wallet from the Coach store,” she says with a smile.
“Oh, I totally forgot about your mom’s birthday. I’ll be sure to get her something special for her birthday,” I say.
“That’s nice of you Onyx. I know she will appreciate it because she always loves your little gifts,” she says.
The dude is standing beside her, mean mugging me like some lil bitch. I really want to know what his fucking problem is, but for Starr’s sake, I’ll let it alone for now. But, I will tell you this, if that nigga don’t watch his step, he ain’t gonna get too many passes to act right.
“Yea well, your mom has expensive taste and so do I, so it doesn’t take a genius to know that I need to give what I get. I’ll just pick out something for her that I would pick out for my own mom. Are y’all doing something for her on her special day? I know how your dad likes to fire up the grill.”
“I’m trying to throw her a surprise party but her birthday is only two weeks away. There’s no way I can pull a surprise party for her in such a short period of time,” she says.
“Oh, well if you need some help, I’d be more than happy to help you,” I offer.
“I’ll help you baby. All you had to do was let me know you needed help,” Freddy says.
“I did tell you I needed help baby. Remember? You said that you had too much going on with graduation plans and everything,” Starr says looking at him. Yea, he’s a senior also but if I have time to help her, he should have time too. I mean, he’s her man and all.
I can tell that she pissed him off when she said that. Like he didn’t want me to know that she had asked for his help but he had turned her down. He probably really didn’t want me to know, especially since I just offered my help.
“Well now I’m telling you that if you need my help, I will help you,” he said.
“Thanks babe, I appreciate it but its’ cool. Onyx offered to help me and he knows my mom’s taste better. I know that if the two of us work together, Mom is bound to have a great party,” Starr says.
He didn’t respond but I could tell from the look on his face that this nigga is definitely not happy at all. I can see the heat rising from his neck and face as it grows redder by the minute; hell, I can even feel the heat radiating off that nigga.
“Great. Well let me get outta here. I will call you later so we can get started on your mom’s party plans. Maybe we can get together next weekend,” I tell her.
“She’ll be busy later and next weekend,” Freddy said.
“Dude, what the hell is your problem? This is an A and B conversation, I’m sure you know the rest,” I tell him.
“My problem is with you. You know that Starr is my girl, right? So why the fuck you keep trying to push up on her?” Freddy asks me as he steps all up in my personal space.
Now I don’t know about y’all, but where I’m from, a nigga steps in your personal space, he asking to get his ass beat. I don’t give a nigga too many chances to stick themselves in my face.
“Muthafucka, seeing as how you don’t know me, you don’t know what I like and don’t like. So let me school you in on a lil’ something, I don’t like people in my fuckin’ face. So what I’ma need you to do is fall the fuck back. Now you have two seconds to fall back before I make you get the fuck back,” I tell him as I look down at his ass.
Yea, that’s what I said, I’m looking down at this insecure piece of shit. That is what I thought of him as I tower over his 5’11” figure. In case I didn’t mention it before, I stand at 6’4”; so I’m a pretty good height. Anyway, as I stare at this nigga, I think, ‘this nigga must got me fucked up’. I’m also hoping that he will take my advice and fall back because if he don’t, I swear that it’s about to be a whole different kind of situation out here. I tried playing the nice guy because Starr is my best friend, but I have had all I’m gonna take from this nigga.
“Guys, this really isn’t necessary. Y’all don’t have to argue about this,” Starr says trying to squeeze between the two of us. She puts her hands on my chest and lightly pushes me back a little before turning to Freddy.
“Babe, what is this really about? Are you really that mad because Onyx is going to help me with my mom’s birthday party? You don’t have to act like this because it’s not that serious,” she says, trying to calm his ass down.
“Nah yo. This nigga is totally disrespecting me and our fuckin’ relationship. This nigga needs to know his place! I’m your fuckin’ man and this nigga is crossing so many fuckin’ boundaries right now yo!”
“Starr, you really need to get ya man, baby girl. It’s only so much I’m going to take before I lay his ass out,” I say as I open and close my fist over and over again.
“Well what you wanna do nigga? I’m right here,” Freddy says as he pushes Starr out the way. As she tries not to fall, she loses her balance. She falls on the sidewalk and lets out a scream. That is all the ammunition I need to fuck this nigga up. How dare that muthafucka not only put his hand on Starr and throw her to the ground, but he doesn’t even check to make sure she’s alright. It’s all good though because I will teach this nigga a lesson he won’t soon forget. That way next time his bitch ass sees me coming, he will move the fuck back.
He steps up to me again, asks what I’m gonna do and bumps his chest up against me. When he does that, I haul back, really far back, and punch the fuck out of that son of a bitch. I must have surprised or shocked his ass when I did that because the nigga lost his balance, even while he’s trying to keep himself from falling. I look at Starr as she tries to get up but her right knee is skinned and bleeding, so she sits back down on the sidewalk. She has tears flowing down her cheeks from her pretty light brown eyes as she looks at us.
Freddy finally recovers, stands up and tackles me by wrapping his arms around me, trying to throw me to the ground. I am an athlete so this move he is doing is pretty common. But since I’m no stranger to exercise and shit like that, I can take this nigga. He would actually be funny as fuck, if we weren’t in the middle of a fight. I lift my fists up and bring them down hard on his back. He’s still holding onto me so I repeat the motions again, three more times until he falls to the ground. At this point, he’s on the sidewalk screaming in agony. I know for a fact that this shit hurts but fuck him. Once he’s down, I give him a swift kick to the gut before leaning down to ensure that he hears what I have to tell him.
“Watch yo’self next time muthafucka because next time, I won’t be so nice about it! But I bet you will think twice before you fuck around in my space again,” I tell him as I turn to check on Starr. I rush over to where she is sitting and bend down to her level.
“Are you okay?”
“Yea, I’ll be fine. My knee just hurts, but I’ll be okay. Can you
help me up please?” she asks.
I grasp her hand, put an arm around her waist and lift her up from the concrete sidewalk. She holds on to me for a moment, until she is able to balance herself on her own. Freddy is still rolling on the ground in pain, but that’s what the fuck he gets for fucking with a real nigga. He should know his fuckin’ place and stay in his damn lane. I mean, where did he learn to fight like that anyway; in grade school? This dude fought me like a preschooler had showed him how to fight. If I didn’t know better, I would have sworn he was trying to give me a damn bear hug. Stupid muthafucka.
Once I help Starr up, she smooths her clothes before she heads over to check on Freddy. I don’t know what she gotta check on his ass for. I mean, the bitch got what he deserved. That will teach him that I ain’t the nigga to fuck with, especially if we ain’t cool like that. I asked that nigga more than once to fall back and he continued to invade my territory and space. Next time he sees me coming, he will know to move out the damn way.
“Babe are you okay?” She’s asking him. Why is she so concerned about that nigga? Fuck him!
“Does it look like I’m okay? I’m pressing charges on that muthafucka,” he says, looking over at me. Oh wow! He wanted to go toe to toe with a nigga and now that he got his ass whooped, he wants to press charges. What kind of bullshit is that? This nigga not only a bitch, but he’s a snitch too.
“Go head homie. I’ll tell them you hit me first and that I was defending my damn self. I’m sure I can find several people around here who will agree with me. So, be a snitch if you want to. I promise you, you will have to watch your fuckin’ back forever nigga.”
What the fuck? A few minutes ago, he wanted to act all hard and shit, but now he wants to call the cops and be a snitch. I will fuck him up if he do that shit! He ain’t got no idea the hell I will bring to him should the cops come question me about his ass whooping.