“Oh my God, are you serious?” Kali smiled from ear to ear. “I’m so proud of you.” She wrapped her arms around his neck and kissed his lips passionately. “Look at my man growing up.”
“I’m ready to get married and have some babies, ya feel me?” Bird admitted.
“I can’t wait to become Mrs. Kali Harris!” she squealed.
“Why wait, baby?” In one swift motion Bird dropped down to one knee and pulled a box from the bag he was holding. “Will you marry me, and be mines forever and a day?” He flashed a simple yet beautiful oval-shaped diamond engagement ring. A few days ago, he’d gotten the ring from a dopefiend who needed to settle her debt. He’d taken it to the jewelry store to get it appraised. When the jeweler said the ring was worth $3,000, he had it cleaned up and boxed.
“Yes, baby, I will be yours forever and a day.” Kali extended her hand then watched him slide the ring on her finger. It was a size seven and fit perfectly.
“Baby, I know it’s not much, but I promise when I stack a little more money I’ll get you the biggest diamond you’ve ever seen.”
“Bird, it’s not about the ring. Never was. I love you for you.” Kali wiped the tears that dropped down the side of her face.
“What’s wrong?” Using the back of his hand, Bird wiped her face.
“Nothing’s wrong. I just wish I could share this moment with my family, that’s all.”
“I know your parents don’t think much of me, but I swear I’ll prove them wrong.” Bird always felt he had something to prove to people like the Franklins. He knew all the upper-class people looked down on niggas from the ghetto like him, but he was a diamond in the rough. He had big dreams of being the CEO of his own company one day. Until then, though, he had to beat the block and get paid by any means necessary.
“Bird, don’t worry about them, or anyone else for that matter.” Kali placed her head on his chest. “I know what kind of man you are, and I believe in the man you’re destined to be.” Kali had seen Bird’s potential from day one. He was a good guy, just born into a bad situation.
“That’s why I love you, baby.” Bird kissed her forehead and thanked God one more time for placing her in his life. He didn’t know what he’d done to receive such a special blessing, but he was so glad she was his.
“Can we go out and celebrate tonight?” Kali pulled back from him and jumped up and down. “Please!”
“You need to study,” he reminded her.
“Baby, please, it’s one night.” Kali knew the exam coming up was worth 40 percent of her grade, but she needed a break.
“All right, shorty, tonight is your night.” He knew she couldn’t wait to show off her ring and tell her friends she was engaged. “We’ll hit the town for a few hours, but then it’s back to studying for you,” Bird said before pointing down at the law book resting on the dresser.
“Thank you, baby!” Kali kissed Bird one more time then grabbed her phone and sent a text to all her best friends. Tonight was going to be lit!
CHAPTER TWO
FLY GIRL
“So, are you going to let a nigga take you out or what?” some guy standing in front of the liquor store wearing a dingy white T-shirt and ripped jeans asked Hope Felicia “Fly” McDonald as soon as she stepped outside.
“I told you I got a man.” Felicia smiled while bypassing the familiar stranger who harassed her every time she shopped there. The tall yellow girl with red hair made all the niggas go crazy. She was a cute hood chick with crazy style.
“What your man got to do with me, redbone?” He laughed before taking a sip from the bottle he concealed with a brown paper bag.
“Is this nigga bothering you, baby?” a tall, caramel-skinned brother with chiseled features asked after stepping from a red Cadillac with dark-tinted windows.
“Who, him?” Fly asked while looking back at the wino. “No, he’s harmless.” She smiled, trying hard not to stare this fine-ass man up and down. Little did she know he was checking out her five foot eight inch frame too.
“Okay, just making sure. I told your brother I’d look after you and I’m a man of my word,” the guy explained.
“Forgive me, but what’s your name?” Fly knew all of her brother’s friends and this guy was not one of them.
“My name is Eric, but most people call me Chicago.” He extended his hand and shook hers. “I was your brother’s bunkie. Just got released two weeks ago. My grandmother lives around here so I told Q I would keep my eyes and ears open with regard to you. You’re Hope, right?”
“Oh, yeah. Chicago. Now I remember.” Fly smiled after recalling her brother having lots of good things to say in his letter about Chicago being a stand-up guy. “Everybody calls me Fly Girl or Fly for short.” She hated anyone other than her mother or big brother calling her by her first name.
“Can I ask a question?” The stranger smiled.
“You just did.” She smiled back while opening the bag of Better Made potato chips she’d just purchased. “Nah, I’m just playing. What’s up?”
“How did the name Hope turn into the nickname Fly Girl or Fly for short?” he mocked her.
“Because I’m fly as hell. Don’t act like you don’t see me shining.” Fly pointed from the crispy sew-in in her head down to the Jordans on her feet. She even pretended to brush dirt off her shoulders.
“Oh, please believe me, I see you.” Chicago smirked.
“Anyway.” Fly blushed. “I was named after my grandmother, who lived with us until she died. Whenever someone called one of us, we both answered. After a while that got old, so I started telling everyone to call me by my middle name, Felicia, and somehow that turned into Fly.”
“Fly-ass Felicia.” Eric laughed. “Q said you were something else.”
“Nah. But, for real on a serious note, how was Q when you last saw him? Did he look good?” She only heard from her brother when he sent letters and called home. He didn’t want her to see him behind bars, so he didn’t add her name to his visitors list. She hadn’t been able to lay eyes on him for nearly eight years.
“He looked as good as anyone can look behind bars, I guess.” Chicago shrugged. “Prison is a tough place, but Q is a soldier. He’ll be all right.”
“He should be home soon,” Fly said excitedly.
“Twenty-four months and twelve days,” Eric added, and then felt the need to explain why he knew so much. “See, we were supposed to get out on the same day, but I got approved for early release due to good behavior. Hopefully the same will happen to Q.”
“Yeah, I hope so too.” She nodded. “I miss my brother.”
“He misses you too. Believe it or not, you are all he talks about.”
“His big-head butt don’t miss me too much. He still didn’t add me to his list.” Fly was in her feelings. Before her brother left, they were extremely close.
“It’s pretty dark out here. Can I give you a ride somewhere?” Eric asked.
“I’m good. My house is right around the corner.” She pointed.
“Nah, ma, stay put. I’ll give you a ride.” Eric wasn’t taking no for answer. “Let me go play my grandmother’s number first,” he said before unlocking his car then heading into the store.
Fly wasn’t one to complain, especially when a fine-ass nigga was involved. Therefore, she politely got into the passenger seat of the Cadillac and waited patiently for him to return.
Buzzzzzzz. Her cell phone vibrated, indicating she had received a text. She looked down to see a message from her on-again, off-again boyfriend, Syris Washington aka Synful. She smacked her lips and rolled her eyes, already knowing it was an apology for him cheating on her with yet another bitch.
Can we talk? he asked.
Talk to that bitch, Fly replied.
Don’t be like that. I’m sorry, he texted back.
Yes, you are sorry!
Fly hit send, and another message came through. This time, it was her best friend Kali asking to meet at a college icebreaker going on tonight at
the Underworld, a popular club on the east side.
Hell yeah, I’ll be there! After sending her reply to Kali, she forwarded the invite to her friend Jamaica. Fly then slid the phone into her purse and waited for Eric. He was back within minutes.
“Sorry about that, baby girl. I seen my mans in the store.” He put the car in gear and reversed from his parking spot.
“It’s all good. Make a left up here, then turn at the light and my house is four doors down on the right.” Fly pointed as they pulled from the lot.
“So, what do you got planned this weekend?” Chicago made small talk.
“My girl just invited me to this party tonight. What about you?”
“I’m just kicking it with my grandma, that’s all.”
“Stop lying! Your ass is too fine to be that lame. I know you got some pussy lined up.” Fly laughed. She always said whatever was on her mind. It was a gift and a curse.
“I wish I were lying. A nigga dick been dry since I hit the bricks.” Chicago usually didn’t talk like that to females he just met, but since she came on him like that first, it was what it was.
“Whatever, nigga.”
“I’m for real. Aside from checking in with the probation officer, looking for a job, and taking care of my grandmother, I don’t have nothing else going on.”
Fly reached into her purse and pulled out a pen. “Look, if your grandma lets you out tonight, call me. I might find somebody willing to get rid of that dry desert dick for you.” She scribbled her number on a piece of paper she pulled from his cup holder.
“Is that right?” Eric smirked while bringing the car to a stop.
“Bye, Chicago.” Fly stepped from the car then tossed up the deuces. “Call me.”
With a laugh, Eric drove off just as a money green Dodge Charger pulled up taking his parking spot.
“Damn, Syn, I told you don’t be pulling up on me like that,” Fly said while rolling her eyes.
“Who was that nigga?” With much attitude, Synful stepped from the car. His hair was an unbraided mess, but even still the boy was handsome. Standing at six feet even, weighing a solid 175, Syris pulled all the hoes with his dark caramel complexion, Colgate smile, and charming personality. His long, thick hair and eyelashes didn’t hurt either.
“That was my brother’s friend. Why the fuck are you over here unannounced anyway?” Fly folded her arms. “I told you we’re done.”
“As long as you live you will never be done with me,” Syn stated as a matter of fact.
“Don’t count on it, nigga.” Fly started to walk away, but Synful pulled her back.
“Come on, ma, don’t walk away when I’m talking to you.” He licked his lips, something he knew drove Fly crazy.
“Go talk to Precious. That was her name, wasn’t it?”
“Look, my nigga, that shit you seen in my phone the other day was nothing. I love you, and that’s all that matters. These hoes know who’s got my heart, baby.” He pulled her closer. “I even got that shit inked on my arm, so you know it’s real.” He extended his arm to show her the tattoo with her name making a heart as if she didn’t already know it was there.
“Instead of having the tattoo on your arm it should be on your dick, so every time you pull it out, you’re reminded.” Fly shook her head. “Look, I love you, but this time I’m done for real.” She tried to walk away and again he pulled her close.
“Fly, baby, don’t do this to me.” Although Synful was a player, he loved Fly with all his heart. He knew from the moment he met her at a dice game six years ago she would be his wife one day.
“You did this to us.” Fly hit his chest. “How would you feel if I went out and did what you did? How would you feel if niggas came up to you telling you how good my pussy was? How would you feel if a nigga you knew slid up in this?” Fly paused and watched Syn get uncomfortable. “I’m done being disrespected.”
“Can I make it up to you?”
“I think we’re past that point.” Fly patted his shoulder. “I’ve got to go, but you stay safe out here. I’ll see you around.” Fly walked away just as Syn got a call from his boy Nutt, which he’d been waiting for all day.
“Look, ma, I gotta take this so I can’t chase you right now, but you already know what it is. Syn and Fly forever!” Synful hollered before answering the phone and heading back to his vehicle.
“Fuck you, Syn!” Fly hollered before jogging up the stairs to her dilapidated two-bedroom house.
Although the house was clean as a whistle on the inside, the outside definitely needed some work. Most of the paneling was missing, the roof had a few holes, and the steps to the porch had seen better days. Fly’s mother hadn’t had a real man at the house to do the outdoor work since Q went up top to do his bid. After paying for lawyers and putting money on Q’s books, there wasn’t much left for her to hire anyone to do the work either.
“Hey, Momma, I grabbed your Newports from the store.” Fly placed the bag down on the table. Her mother was sitting in the dark living room, crying softly. “What’s up? Did they cut the lights out again?” Fly hit the switch, and the lights came on.
“No.” Jackie sniffed.
“Thank God! I sure didn’t want to call Syn back over here to ask for money, but I would’ve.” Fly removed her jacket. “What’s wrong then?”
“Nothing, baby.” Jackie lifted her head, and that’s when Fly saw the bruises covering her beautiful face.
“Where is the muthafucka at?” There was no need to ask who’d done this, because it was the same lame-ass nigga who’d been doing it for the past five years.
“He’s asleep, Hope. Don’t go in there starting nothing. Please just leave him alone.” Jackie had already gone one round with Holyfield; she didn’t have enough strength to do it again.
“Fuck him!” On impulse, Fly stormed into the bedroom and punched her stepfather square in the dick.
“What in the hell is wrong with you?” Ray’s bald-headed ass jumped up from his sleep.
“Nigga, I swear to God if you put your hands on my momma one more time I will shoot your bitch ass!” Fly screamed at the top of her lungs. She was so angry that her usual yellow complexion was now fire engine red.
“Fuck you and your momma,” Ray hollered, trying his best to stand from the bed.
“Get the fuck out!” Fly pointed at the door.
“You know what? That sounds like a good idea.” Ray began grabbing items from here and there to make a show. “I’m leaving and I ain’t ever coming back!”
“There is the door, my nigga!” Fly pointed again. “Get to steppin’,” she said in her Martin voice.
“Ray, baby, don’t leave,” Jackie spoke through her swollen lips.
“What do you mean, don’t leave?” Fly was bewildered. “This nigga just gave you lumps, bruises, busted lips, and two black eyes, and you got the nerve to say don’t leave?” She was hot. How could her mother be so stupid?
“Baby doll, you wouldn’t understand.” Jackie shook her head before getting off the couch and walking over to Ray.
“I understand completely. You’re just a weak-ass bitch!” Fly spat. “You’re just a weak bitch, plain and simple.” She really didn’t mean to disrespect her mother like that, but the truth was the truth. Over the years, she’d watched Jackie be the punching bag for many men. The only difference was she married Ray and had a baby by him.
“Fuck you, Felicia!” Jackie spat. “You don’t know shit!”
“I know if Quincy were out, this nigga would’ve been dead by now.” Fly’s big brother Q was legend on the streets of Detroit. He was already serving the last part of his ten-year bid for armed robbery, and assault and battery. She knew bodying this bastard was nothing to him.
“Get out, Felicia,” Jackie screamed.
“You got me fucked up, momma.” Felicia shook her head. “As long as I pay most of the bills around this muthafucka, I ain’t going anywhere,” she stated as a matter of fact. More times than not she used the money she
’d earned from her job at the nail salon and the money Syn gave her to keep the lights and gas on around this bitch. Therefore, she wasn’t going anywhere.
“We don’t need you or your money making trouble around here anyway.” Jackie pulled Ray over to the couch. “Get your shit and leave us alone.”
“Are you serious?” This time Fly asked the question with a lump in her throat. She and her mother always had a rocky relationship, but never had Jackie told her to leave the house.
“Felicia, please just go, all right?” Jackie used the back of her hand to wipe the blood drying on her chin.
“All right, I’ll leave, but I’m taking Braxton with me.” Without waiting for a response Fly walked over to the bedroom she shared with Braxton and opened the door. He was asleep in her bed.
“You ain’t taking my son nowhere!” Ray and Jackie said in unison.
“Get up, Brax.” In one swift motion, she leaned down and picked him up.
“Put him down!” Ray ordered.
With her eyes fixed on him, Fly reached between her mattress and box spring to grab her .22 handgun. It was given to her as a gift one year by Syn.
“Try me if you want to, and the coroner will be around shortly to get both of y’all.” Fly wasn’t one to be fucked with, especially with regard to her baby brother. She cared for and protected him the way she wished someone cared for and protected her. Back in the day, Q was that person, but then he got too busy in the streets, and before she knew it he was gone to do his bid.
“Hope, put the gun down,” Jackie said from behind Ray.
“Momma, you’ve stated your piece, and I respect your decision. You can sit around here and get your ass beat all day long if you choose to, but Braxton will not be a part of this. Call me when you get some common sense.”
With her gun pointed at the couple, she slowly backed out of the house. Once she was outside, she walked with Braxton over her shoulders as fast as she could. Fly didn’t know what she was doing or where they were going, but it didn’t matter as long as they were together.
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