God Don't Like Haters 2

by Jordan Belcher

  "If she was there, it could have been her in ICU instead of Gee."

  Ashleigh shrugged one shoulder curtly and started flipping through more pages as if she would've preferred that alternative. This was one of the only times I wanted to smack Ashleigh. Instead, I leaned back in my seat and loaded up The Site on my phone. I began responding to comments people were making on my page about Gee's welfare. People were showing him overwhelming support. I responded to and Liked as many comments as I could before I was interrupted.

  "Hi, Coras," said Kirbie.

  I looked up. My future wife had tears in her eyes.

  I quickly set my phone down and stood up and hugged her. She threw her arms around my shoulders and cried into my chest. She smelled like Mexican food. For some reason it was the best scent ever.

  "Is he gonna be okay?" she sobbed.

  "I don't know, Kirbie. Doctors haven't come out and told us anything yet."

  "I'm so sorry, Coras."

  "Nothing to be sorry about. This was my fault."

  I heard Ashleigh slam her magazine shut. I turned my head and saw her giving me incredibly wide why-are-you-still-holding-her eyes. I turned back into Kirbie's embrace, and not until another long moment of consoling did I let her go.

  We settled into our chairs, Kirbie and Ashleigh on either side of me. Ashleigh wrapped my arm within hers, leaning me closer to her side.

  "How long is she gonna be here?" Ashleigh whispered to me.

  "Probably until we find something out. Why are you so worried about her?"

  "We'll talk later," she said icily.

  I was concerned. She couldn't have known about the reason me and Monifa fell out, could she?

  "No, let's talk now. Wussup, Ashleigh?"

  "I don't want to discuss private matters in public. Especially not in front of that ho because I might lose my cool."

  "I can hear you," Kirbie said suddenly. "Keep them ho comments to yo'self."

  Ashleigh leaned forward, peering around me at her. "Ho, you need stay out of my conversation," she said, jabbing her finger in Kirbie's direction. "And what are you even doing here? I thought you quit."

  Kirbie shot to her feet and so did Ashleigh. I got between them, but they were still poking their chests out at each other.

  "I'm here for Gee, bitch!" Kirbie hollered. "If anybody shouldn't be here, it's you! You don't care about Gee. You're only here because Coras is here!"

  Other visitors were watching. It was late into the night so there were only a few people here to stare.

  "I do too care about Gee!" Ashleigh flared. "The only person I don't care about is YOU!"

  "I don't know why," Kirbie said back. "I didn't do shit to yo uppity ass!"

  "You've been trying to fuck my man since I've met you!"

  "Really?! That's the delusional side of you thinking that."

  It was getting harder and harder to hold Ashleigh back. But I was separating them for her sake.

  "No, bitch, I'm stating facts!" Ashleigh was raging. "You were kissing Coras in the studio and Monifa caught yall asses red-handed! So don't sit here and act like you don't want the dick!"

  Fuck! I thought. She knows. But how did she find out?

  I started to deny it. "Ashleigh, me and Kirbie never—"

  She smacked me. "Shut the fuck up with the lies, Coras! What is this then?" She shoved her phone in my face and I saw Monifa's Site profile on her screen. I didn't get a chance to read the whole status before she smacked me again. "Gee wouldn't even be here in the damn ICU if it wasn't for Kirbie trying to spread her legs for you all the damn time. And I'll deal with you later, Coras. Move out of my way so I can deal with that ho."

  "You keep calling me a ho but you're the one sleeping with somebody else's man!" Kirbie hollered. "I don't share men. Monifa's man came on to me!"

  Oh fuck! I thought.

  "People, please!" It was the doctor that interrupted us. He was walking our way in his white lab coat, his brow scrunched in either concern or shame that we were causing a commotion. For the moment we were all calm in his presence, and I was thankful.

  "Good news?" I asked.

  "He's going to survive," said the doc.

  We all breathed sighs of relief. Kirbie uttered an almost silent thank you and I instinctively put my arm around her. Then my common sense kicked in and I removed it. I patted Ashleigh on the back to be fair.

  "But," he began, "after he leaves the ICU unit he's going to need rest in order to recover. He lost lots of blood. He's very weak right now."

  "When can we see him?" Kirbie asked.

  "I'm not clear on that, but not tonight."

  "Tomorrow?" I asked.

  "We're going to have to play it by ear. You can't put a time on health. Everybody's body is different. And Mr. Gerard Higgins's insides are ... at risk." Doc crossed his arms. "Does Mr. Higgins have a dependence on alcohol?"

  We all looked at each other. Of course Gee had a drinking problem. He had just gotten through puking up blood before the shooting. I told the doctor that, yes, Gee was an alcoholic.

  "I ask because he had an unusually high blood pressure for his age. We also found suspicious inflammation in his pancreas and early signs of liver disease. These symptoms can eventually become just as fatal as the gunshots he sustained." The doctor handed me a card. "When he gets better, I think it would be beneficial to have him give that number a call. The more encouragement he receives from friends and family, the better chance he has of overcoming his addiction."

  I looked at the card. It listed a company called First Call located in south Kansas City. First Call had programs that educated you on alcoholism. They also had technological solutions to help stop abuse. I knew this because I had given Gee this card before.

  Gee had torn it up then, and I knew he would now.

  Chapter 13

  Kirbie Amor Capelton

  I left the hospital first because I didn't want Coras having to choose between me and Ashleigh. I knew he would have picked, and it wouldn't have been the girl with the short-cropped hair who sang her heart out for him and didn't ask for shit in return but respect and couldn't even get that because he was too busy sleeping with—

  I stopped myself. I was rambling. Ashleigh was more important to Coras than me. And that was fine. No shade.

  I had my man. I was engaged.

  Archie looked over at me and asked, "Is he gonna make it?"

  "Gee? Yes, he's gonna pull through. But he's gonna need to get his alcohol use under control. The doctor said he could die if he continues on the same path."

  "Aren't you glad you weren't at that concert? That could've been you."

  "I know. I can't believe it."

  "That's just another sign that you made the right decision. The music game is getting more dangerous than the dope game."

  I couldn't tell Archie that what happened to Gee had nothing to do with music or drugs. Gee got shot because of jealousy. Monifa ran her mouth to her brother Milo and he sicked his dogs on my team—well, my ex-team. But I still felt obligated to do something for Gee. I would need to talk to Coras about it first, though. I knew he had some kind of retaliation plan in the works.

  All sorts of thoughts were bouncing around in my head as Archie drove us back home in our rental car. I was thinking about what marriage would be like, if it would be any different than it was now; I was thinking about the cocaine we'd dropped off in storage, how fast we'd be able to get rid of it; I was thinking about Gee and his health, and Coras and his contradictory bullshit-fake feelings for me. I was also thinking about taking Ashleigh and Monifa by the backs of their heads and smashing their dumb brains together. I was thinking about doing the same thing with Milo and a red brick.

  I was tired.

  Whenever my thoughts got crowded like this, I would try and turn it into a song. But I wasn't a writer anymore. My singing days were over.

  I closed my eyes and put my hand on my forehead, as I sank against the window.

  "What's
wrong?" Archie asked.

  "Everything," I said, eyes still closed.

  "Not everything. We got kilos to turn into cash and we got love that we need to make legal. It's that music life and all that came with it that's bothering you. Let it go."

  "I need to write."

  "No, you don't."

  "I'm not saying I'm going back to music. I just need to make these thoughts disappear."

  "Just do what normal people do," he said. "Drink vodka."

  I'm not normal then, I thought.

  My phone made a noise and I finally opened my eyes. Checking it, I was more frustrated than anything that Coras had sent me a message through The Site. From the one-line preview of his message I could tell that he'd sent me an apology. I stared at my phone for a while, brooding. But there was no point in sitting here acting like I wasn't going to see what he put. I was anxious. I clicked the link with my thumb to read the whole message:

  Coras Bane: I in no way shape or form want you to think that you were responsible for what happened to Gee. Ashleigh was just talking shit. Everything was my fuck-up. I'm sorry for how she acted. She tries to accuse everybody else of being ghetto but she got that shit in her too. If I find out anything new about Gee's condition, you'll be the first to know. Hit me up if you need anything or just wanna talk to me. You're still Swope Records, you’re still my nigga whether you like it or not.

  I read it three times. And though it was a nice message, I hated him more for it. Eat my pussy and asphyxiate on the juice, you game-running nympho—that's what I wanted to type in response. But instead, I decided not to reply at all. I pressed the "back" button on my phone to exit out of his comment and I was about to browse my newsfeed, but below Coras's comment box was a message I had forgotten to finish reading.

  It was from a person named Sundi Ashworth.

  I clicked the message.

  Sundi Ashworth: Hello, Kirbie, my name's Sundi Ashworth (A&R) and I'm sending you this message in regards to my interest in your musical talent. I'm a representative of a major record label, and I think you and your voice have the potential to become one of the biggest artists this industry has ever seen. This is not spam. This is for real. My profile page will confirm my authenticity. If you would like to further your career and become a household name, please reply as soon as possible. I look forward to hearing from you. Thank you.

  I came alive so fast that my whole body started shaking. I could barely hold my phone. I couldn't remember who Sundi Ashworth was the first time I checked this message, but now it was very clear. This was the A&R for Mount Eliyah ENT, the biggest hip-hop label on the planet!

  I managed to steady my thumb long enough to check to see if her profile page was authentic. And it was real! It was Site-verified!

  "Oh my God!" I shrieked.

  Archie flinched, looked at me crazy and then back at the road. "What the fuck happened?"

  "I just got a message from Sundi Ashworth!"

  "Who is she?"

  "She works for Mount Eliyah ENT as an A&R. But way before that, she got famous for having an affair with La'Renz 'Buddy Rough' Taylor, who later killed his wife, Jazzmine Short."

  "How do you know it's really her?"

  "Her page is Site-verified, Archie! It's really her oh my God this is crazy oh my God!"

  "What did she say?"

  "She heard my music and wants to talk to me. She literally said I have the potential to become one of the biggest artists this industry has ever seen."

  Archie was quiet for a moment. I couldn't understand how he could be this calm. Then he said, "I thought you weren't doing music anymore."

  "This is a once in a lifetime opportunity, Archie!"

  "It could be a scam. Did she ask for upfront money?"

  "No!"

  "I still wouldn't trust it."

  Archie was killing my joy. I needed to think this through with somebody that would be just as excited as me.

  I needed to talk to Coras.

  Chapter 14

  Andre "Coras Bane" McDougald

  We argued the whole way. Ashleigh even tried to slam the door on me as I followed behind her into her Olathe home.

  My forearm stopped the door from smacking me in the face.

  "Ashleigh, be reasonable," I said.

  "Be what?!" She swung her purse at me and I let it hit me in the shoulder as I blocked my head. "Kissing Kirbie was the ultimate disrespect! I'm done, Coras. I'm fucking done with you!"

  "I didn't kiss Kirbie."

  "Well what was Monifa's status about then? What other bitch did you have in the studio?"

  "There was nobody. That's what I've been trying to tell you but you won't listen."

  "Because I don't wanna hear what bullshit lie you tell me."

  She took her heels off one at a time, and I thought she was about to hit me with them but she just tossed them aside and they clattered into the corner of the foyer. She turned and stalked off. I caught up with her before she reached the steps, grabbing her arm. She pulled free and stormed up the steps.

  "Get out of my house!"

  I knew she didn't really want me to leave or she wouldn't have driven me here. "Where am I gonna go?"

  "I don't care. Go back to hustling out of hotel rooms where I found you."

  I started mounting the steps to catch up with her but she hurried into her room and slammed the door. As soon as I grabbed the knob I heard the lock click. I jiggled it anyway.

  "Ashleigh, fa-real? You gon’ lock me out?"

  "Leave me alone!"

  "I'm sorry, okay. Even though I didn't do anything, I'm still sorry."

  "You never admit when you're caught, Coras. You always lie and never fess up to your bullshit. When you're ready to tell the truth, I'll let you in."

  When I put my ear to the door, I heard the covers rustling. She was climbing in bed.

  I spoke through the door louder. "Ashleigh, this is what happened. No bullshit. Me and Gee were in the basement and he had one of his females in there with us trying to impress her with all of his studio equipment. Monifa came down and she automatically assumed the bitch was mine because she was cute. She got all upset and tried to fight the bitch, and me and Gee held Monifa down on the ground." I listened for a response. Ashleigh stayed quiet. "Ashleigh," I called out.

  "That's not the truth!"

  "It is too, baby. Kirbie was never there. It was Gee's girl. You know Gee's females all look remedial. So of course Monifa thought the cute one was mine." I listened to see if I could get a laugh out of her. I heard her crying. "Ashleigh, that's the honest truth. Monifa made that post up about me kissing somebody in the studio. She made it up so she'd have a good story to tell her brother. That's why Gee got shot. She lied to make it look like he manhandled her. But you know Gee is the nicest person ever to all women, even the ratchet ones. Monifa is a liar, c'mon you know that."

  I still heard the sobs. So I paced over to the hallway bathroom and snatched open a drawer, grabbed a bobby pin. I stuck it in the keyhole under the knob of Ashleigh's room and kept twisting it and bending it until I heard the right tic sound. In my teens, I did this type of shit all the time.

  I turned the knob and slowly pushed the door open halfway, then stepped inside and just as slowly closed it behind me. Ashleigh had the covers over her head; her frame was trembling underneath as she wept. Her dress was on the floor so that meant she was down to her panties and bra. When I took off my shoes and my pants and climbed in bed with her, I found out I was wrong about the panties—she was wearing a thong.

  Even better.

  She was laying on her side. I cuddled up next to her from behind, after adjusting my jock so my undershaft would fit neatly within the breach of her cozy butt crack (I still had my boxers on, for now). Her hair was long and brown, winding down into spiral curls that were dip-dyed into a lighter hue of hot toffee. I put my arms around her and she cringed.

  "I so fucking hate you, Coras."

  "No, you don't."

 
"When are you gonna be done with the bullshit? I can't do this anymore."

  "I'm tired too, Ashleigh."

  She flipped over, facing me. Her expression: confusion, pain, and self-pity. "You're done with Milo and Monifa, right?"

  "Milo texted me."

  "Fuck his text."

  "He said he apologized for what happened, said it wasn't supposed to go down like that."

  "What would Gee want you to do? Would he still want you fucking with Milo?"

  "No. But I kinda need that nigga Milo until my rap career takes off. His hand feeds me. Feeds me good."

  "What if you never make it, Coras? Does that mean you're never gonna leave Monifa and be with me exclusively?"

  "Don't think like that," I said.

  "You need to think like that!"

  I stared at her for a long moment.

  She turned back over in an abrupt spin. I tried to put my arms around her again but this time she pushed me away.

  "Can I tell you something?" I asked.

  "No."

  "I'm done with Monifa and Milo. I was just messing with you, girl. You know I wouldn't fuck with either one of them after what happened to Gee. That shouldn't even have been a question."

  She was silent, and even though I was staring at the back of her head I knew she was smiling. She said, "Coras, stop messing with me. Now is not a time to play."

  "I'm serious. You're my one and only now. No more Milo. And definitely no more Monifa."

  I reached down with my fingers to remove the cotton crotch of her thong but she grabbed my wrist, squeezed, then tossed it away like waste.

  I said, "C'mon, let's celebrate, Ashleigh. I just wanna put the head in. Please? You fell for that before."

  "No, Coras."

  "Let me eat it then. Give you some terror dome." I stuck my tongue out at her even though she wasn't facing me—but she could still hear the throaty ah-la-la-la-la sound I made as I wagged my tongue in and out. "That's all I wanna do to it. Liquefy it."

  "I went from side chick to main chick. But Kirbie has graduated to side chick. That's not something to celebrate."