by Nicety
“I just came to check on you, ma’am.” Pandora said feeling guilty for the real reason she wanted to speak to her.
“I was born at night but not last night, honey. So what you want? Money? I ain’t got no money. We barely paying the mortgage around here as it is and poor Keisha so big won’t nobody even hire her ass. I’m broke baby. I can’t help you.” Ms. Rita spat, shaking her head the whole time.
It was a shame that none of her family members would even come around to help her in her time of need. Ms. Rita lived off of her social security and, since Keisha couldn’t get a job, the little scrap they had left barely covered one of their bills. Often times they would make payment arrangements they couldn’t keep , which left them in dark or in the cold.
“Naw, Ms. Rita. I don’t want nothing from you. I’m good. I wanna help you out for a change.” Pandora said pulling the small baggie from out of her pink skimpy shorts pocket.
“Help me? With this?” Then she realized exactly what it was. “Awe, thank you, baby. I really appreciate it. I do.”
“Wait now,” Pandora said yanking it back before she could snatch it out of her hand. “I need a favor.”
“Mmhmm. It’s always something. Isn’t it?” Ms. Rita snarled.
“No, ma’am, not like that. You can have this one bag. Sample it and recommend to your friends. I need customers, Ms. Rita, and I wanna set up shop right here so I can have some place safe to do it. Don’t trip. I’ll do it out of the garage and not out in the open.”
Ms. Rita looked into her eyes to figure out what her angle was. She didn’t seem like a shiesty person and she was always a respectful girl when she was young.
“So all I get is this one bag?” Ms. Rita asked coyly.
“No, ma’am. You can get two bags a day. You need to take it easy cause you’re on those meds. But I will also throw Keisha some dough to save for the long run.” Pandora retorted.
“Deal. Do what you want. Now hand that over.”
Pandora put the bag in her hand and then kissed Ms. Rita’s forehead as she walked out the door. She reached the living room and stood behind the couch staring down at her couch potato friend who was laughing at reruns of the Jeffersons. The living room was cluttered with old pictures of the good old days when they had no hard times. It was a shrine to her daddy who had been locked down for fifteen years on murder, to when Ms. Rita was young and gorgeous and when Keisha was vibrant and energetic.
“Ay, Keish. Your mom’s says I can chill at your crib in the garage from time to time. Where the garage keys?” Pandora said extending her hand.
Keisha asked no questions. She reached into her pocket taking the key off the key ring and then handed it to her. Pandora tapped her on the shoulder as she headed out the door hopping back into the truck. She pulled around to the garage, taking out the three bricks of work and storing it underneath some blue tarp in the far east corner where no one would think to look. Her phone buzzed off the hook when she turned it back on. She had multiple messages come through and a few missed calls. They were all from Kojack.
“Hello?”
“Hey baby. I’m sorry I had my phone off because I was in the hospital visiting my friend’s mother. I missed you, though.” Pandora said.
“Yeah. You missed me, huh? Where you at, Diamond?” He said with the sly tone.
“You know I did. I’m just leaving Holy Cross Hospital. Why you sound different?”
“I need to see you, man, ASAP.” Kojack spat with the quickness.
“Um…okay…well where you want to meet?” Pandora replied equivocally.
“I’m at the King Center.”
“I’ll be there in ten minutes.”
Her mind ran rampant as she tried to figure out what was bothering Kojack. His voice was oddly different and strangely peculiar from his usual old self. He wasn’t happy or charismatic at all. The inflection in his voice was beyond unpleasant, sounding more like business all the way. She thought he might have been still shook over the Sun shit since none of the niggas in the hood would let it go. It seemed they would work to the death to find his killer.
Pandora bent the corner where the King Center sat and saw that the parking lot wasn’t as packed as it usually was for a weekend night. As she pulled in the lot, she could see Kojack’s car but he was nowhere to be found. She pulled right along side of his car to find him inside with a person she couldn’t make out. She exited her car the same time he did, reaching out her arms for a hug.
“Hey, baby.” Pandora said as she was cut short of her hug. Kojack grabbed her arms and gently placed them down in front of her.
“Why you lie, Diamond? If that is your real name.” He said squinting his eyes looking down into hers.
His tall stature made it impossible for her to look him straight in the eye. Because she had to look up at him, it seemed as if he was scolding her like she was a four year old. She shook her head playing stupid to his question. Kojack looked furious, though. He meant business and she knew it.
"Lie about what?" She barked.
"What’s your real name? Is it Diamond or not?" He asked sarcastically.
She was stuck. No words bled from her mouth because there were none worthy of speaking to him. Her heart contracted fast as she prayed for a distraction, any distraction to get her out of telling him the truth right then. The wind was silent and the night seemed cold, even though it was still a simmering summer heat wave. Pandora’s palms grew even sweatier than the first day she met him. She lowered her head in shame and when she lifted it back up to come clean, Diamond popped out of the passenger side of his car with a smile on her face and slamming his car door. She headed over to them twitching her hips the whole way in her sky blue skintight shorts jumper. Her tits were propped up like she was getting ready to serve them on a sexual platter and the bright red lipstick spread across her lips pissed Pandora off. That was her color.
“Hey, lil’ sis. Glad you could make it.” Diamond spat wrapping her arms under Kojack’s.
“What’s going on here?” Pandora asked looking at the two of them simultaneously.
“What’s going on is you’ve been pretending to be me this whole time, huh? Tsk, tsk, tsk. You shouldn’t be playing big girl games. Isn’t that right, Pandora?” Diamond spat laughing hysterically.
“Kojack…I…” Pandora tried to explain.
“Why the fuck you lie? Did you think I wouldn’t find out? I’m texting you on the phone thinking you’re her, when all the time she was in front of me trying to boss me off. How do you think that shit made me feel?” Kojack barked angrily.
“But Kojack if you let me explain…” Pandora begged.
“Naw. You should’ve been explaining then. You bitches play too many games. Then you always say you want a good man. But when you get him, you play him. Man, fuck this and fuck y’all.” Kojack snapped getting back into his car, screeching his tires as he pulled off.
Pandora wanted to cry but her tears wouldn’t fall, not while she was in Diamond’s presence. If it weren’t for the fact that she was her sister, she would’ve stretched that bitch out right there just like Sun’s ass. Diamond stood there with a sly smirk on her face, swinging her arms back and forth waiting on her response to what had just happened. Pandora had none. She began to open the car door but Diamond grabbed her arm. She rolled her eyes, turning back uninterested in anything she had to say.
“What, Diamond?”
“Naw, P. Don’t get an attitude with me. You need to tell me what the fuck happened.”
“For what? He was mine and you fucked that up. Let’s just move on.” Pandora spat crossing her arms.
“Really? I could’ve sworn I had him first. That dick was mine, bitch.” Diamond rolled her eyes and smacked her lips.
“See, bitch, men are just pieces of ass to you. That’s all you care about. But to me he was more than that and I know I was more than that to him. Why the fuck do you think he staged this whole thing? Real men only do that shit for females they care
about. Not bitches like you!” Pandora snapped while poking Diamond in the shoulder.
“Fuck all that. He was mine and you broke the code. So you will feel shitty when I get him back.” Diamond yelled.
“Diamond, you are the dumbest bitch in the world if you think he ever wanted you. You ain’t even on his level.” Pandora retorted as she laughed getting back into her truck and started pulling off.
“Wait, bitch I took the car back this morning. I need a ride!” Diamond yelled.
“Worthless, pathetic ass bitch.” Pandora mumbled.
She had heard Diamond but she didn’t care. Her brain was still trying to wrap around the fact that Kojack hated her now. Her heart was heavy and vomit rose in her throat. It couldn’t end like that. She wouldn’t allow it. What they felt for each other was real and there was no way that fool was getting off that easy. One way or the other, he would have to forgive her for the stupid mistake she made. As she drove out of the parking lot, she tried calling his phone, but it went straight to voicemail.
You got Jack. You betta hope I hit yo’ ass back–BEEP.
Chapter 8- No Sister of Mine
Lexi walked in the house the next morning after being missing in action for three days straight. Her hair was in disarray and clothes were wrinkled and filthy like she had been sleeping on the streets the entire time. Pandora and Diamond were not speaking and didn’t even speak to Lexi as they watched her plop down at the table and grab some bacon off of Diamond’s plate. She looked beat up, like she had been to hell and back, yet superficially happy. They could tell she was gone off them Yompers again.
“So, what you bitches been up to?” She laughed as Diamond continuously slapped her hand away from her plate.
“Shit.” Diamond spat. “Except this bitch stole my man.”
“I couldn’t steal what you didn’t own!” Pandora yelled.
She was sick of Diamond’s shit. She picked up her plate and launched it at Diamond’s head. Diamond returned the favor but they both missed each other. Lexi laughed as she got in between them, strong-arming both of them. For a high chick that had barely drug herself in the house, she was surely full of energy and strength.
“Diamond, I knew the whole time bitch. I saw them leave off the block together one day. You ain’t want him anyway, bitch. You just wanted to fuck and you know that. Pandora, you was foul, still. Now let’s pick this food up and eat, shit.” Lexi said attempting to deaden the issue.
“Right, she was foul.” Diamond barked.
“So what? You don’t deserve him. He’s mine. When I get him back, I hope you get over yourself.” Pandora snapped.
“You ain’t getting him back.” Diamond retorted.
“Watch me.” Pandora barked, crossing her arms with a clever grin on her face.
Lexi sat back down, picking up the thrown food from off the table and tossing it in her mouth. She didn’t even look up at them. She figured that she had done her job and if they still wanted to kill each other then at least she came home to some action. Diamond hated who Pandora had become in such a short period of time. She didn’t know who she was anymore and their close-knit relationship was quickly diminishing.
“I’m outta here.” Diamond spat leaving the kitchen.
“Yeah bitch and take your shit with you.” Pandora yelled as she headed off to her room slamming the door.
“HA!” Lexi laughed as she continued her meal.
****
“Ay, yo’. Can you come get me? I’m on the Cermak/Chinatown Red Line stop.” Diamond said.
“Man, who the fuck is this?” Kojack asked clearing his eye boogers to focus in on the time displayed on the alarm clock near his bed. “You better be bleeding ‘cause it’s 9:07 in the fucking morning.”
“It’s me…Diamond.” She hesitated.
CLICK.
A part of her knew that was coming. She lowered her head knowing that Pandora was right. He never liked her and was all into her sister now. It pissed her off that he was the only man she couldn’t manipulate into giving her what she wanted. She only had one other person to call and she really didn’t want to call him. As her fingers dialed on her iPhone, she swallowed her pride and cleared the frog from her throat.
“Yo’.”
“What’s good, baby?” Diamond spat playfully.
“Who’s this?”
“It’s that fire ass pussy from the other night, nigga. Now wake your big dick ass up and come swoop a bitch.” She spat.
“Where you at?”
She gave him the location and then focused in on the noise in the background. He had had a few bitches in his bed already and they were all apparently up getting their wake and bake on. It pained her to even call this nigga knowing the type of shit he was on but she had no choice. She was assed out with nowhere to go and she refused to spend the few hundred dollars she had left in her pocket on some crummy ass motel room. There was no way she was asking Pandora for money and she figured Lexi probably blew all of her money on Yompers.
“Aight, I’ll be there in an hour.”
“An hour?” She asked worriedly.
“Yeah, I don’t stay in the hood, baby. Plus, I got shit to handle before you. Just sit tight. A nigga will be there.”
She hung up the phone disgusted by his remark. She had to post up for an hour at a stinky dirty “L” station with two big duffle bags full of clothes. Homeless people slept on the benches in the early morning hours and nothing was open this early on a Saturday, at least nothing close by. Diamond went downstairs to the piss-infested corridor and stacked the two bags on top of each other and took a seat on them. Passengers gave her the side eye as they made their way past her to pay for their fares and go up to the train. They figured she was another homeless runaway and steered clear of her.
“Ugh.” Diamond moaned as an hour passed and there was still no sign of her ride.
She began to believe he had stood her up. Her bags were beginning to sink down and she was becoming impatient. She snatched up her bags and headed out of the door and down the street. At the end of the block, she was damn near ran over by a red Beamer that had pulled up in front of her blasting some unknown local rap artist. Diamond recognized the car reaching for the door handle but was stopped as the door popped open by itself, rising straight up in the air.
“What up, shawty?” Tino said, turning the music down.
“You what’s up, nigga.” She replied as she slid her eager ass in the passenger seat. “Thanks for coming.”
“You homeless girl or what?” He spat.
“Naw, I left my crib and now I wanna bunk with you. Is that cool?” She retorted snotty like.
“Shit that’s cool but we need to get a few things straight. One, we ain’t together so don’t be jocking me when I bring bitches home. Two, you ain’t about to be lounging doing nothing.” He said raising his fingers in the air. “You gots to get up and do something. Cook, clean, or do something, shit.”
“I know what I’m supposed to do, nigga.” Diamond spat, rolling her eyes and laughing. “But you forgot, you need to be satisfied. So I will fuck you right when the rent is due.”
“In that order.” He replied as they rode off hopping back on the expressway north to Schaumburg.
****
“Ay, get up.” Pandora barked while kicking Lexi’s footboard.
She walked around to the side and sat down as Lexi rolled over. Lexi rubbed her eyes and pulled the covers over her head.
“I’m up.”
“Now that Diamond’s gone, it’s just me and you lil sis. I love both of you but until she gets it together, I’m done with her.” Pandora said.
“We sisters, P.” Lexi said sluggishly.
“I don’t give a fuck. Now listen, I got this shit going and if you want in to make you some money then I can put you on. You be on the block anyway so I can use your help.” Pandora spat.
“Money? What the fuck do I need with money? My big sister supplies everything I need and my friends s
upply everything I want. Fuck money, but I’ll help you ‘cause that’s what sisters do for each other.” Lexi sat up to hug her sister genuinely. “I love you, P.”
“I love you back, chick. Now let’s get this money. Get dressed.” Pandora ordered as she slapped Lexi’s protruding backside when she turned over trying to get back to sleep. “Give me some of that ass, girl. I need a little bit.”
“Girl, bye. You wouldn’t know what to do with all this ass. Ay, ain’t you still pure, P?”
“Yeah, I’m pure. But that would’ve been a distant memory if Di hadn’t fucked that up.” Pandora replied.
“You was wrong, Pandora. Period. But I don’t wanna talk about that shit.” Lexi said walking over to her sister as she grabbed her tits forcefully and licking her lips.
“Bitch, what the fuck are you doing?” Pandora spat pushing her away hard.
“Stop. Just be cool. I just want to see something.” Lexi said walking back up to her and sliding her fingers in between the crotch part of her yellow mesh booty shorts.
She fingered Pandora’s soft clitoris, quickly watching as her body trembled and shook profusely. Lexi reached up, putting her lips gently to Pandora’s. The she opened her mouth and forced her tongue inside of Pandora’s. Oddly, Pandora reciprocated. She didn’t know what the hell was happening but it felt better than when she did it herself.
“Ahh!” Pandora moaned as Lexi rubbed her nipples to get them nice and hard.
“Pull those titties out, bitch. Let me see those big pretty brown nipples.” Lexi spat rubbing her mouth against the outside of Pandora’s shirt.
Lexi was no stranger to sex with girls and had crushes on her twin sisters for the longest. Her fantasies involved Pandora more than Diamond because Pandora was pure, untouched. Diamond got around a lot but she also kept turning Lexi down. She wanted them so badly that she could taste their pussies in her sleep. But she was always too afraid to pursue it. Yompers gave her courage every time she wanted to do anything else so she seized this opportunity. As she massaged Pandora’s clit tenderly with her thumb, she attempted to slide her finger inside of Pandora’s virginal opening. Pandora opened her eyes from the ecstasy, jumping back in fear.