by J Peach
“Thanks, who are you?” Britt asked as my eyes snapped to Blaze.
Peaches, he’s not even worth it. Neither is that bitch. Just breathe.
My right leg started bouncing up and down fast as my patience started to give.
“Blaze’s friend. He’s rude as hell sometimes,” Krystal answered.
“Okay. But why are you here? I mean, this is a family only thing, so I’m really not understanding what you’re doing here,” Britt stated as Krystal went to stand by Blaze. He didn’t look happy, but he didn’t try moving away from that bitch either.
“Oh, I didn’t know that. Blaze didn’t tell me—”
“Why would he? Like I said, this is family only,” Britt cut her off and the bitch had the nerve to look at me.
“Oh, I’m sorry, I’m crashing? Blaze, why you didn’t tell me that last night?” She asked, taking hold of his forearm.
See this hoe wanted me on that ass.
“Bitch, I didn’t invite yo stupid ass here, get yo dumbass off me,” Blaze snapped, finally jerking away from her.
Laughing, I shook my head. Ain’t no way he was gon’ talk to me like that and I would stay, following his ass around like a lost puppy.
“Britt, don’t you ever let a man talk to you like that. No matter how fine he may be or how much money he makes or how good his shit may taste, don’t let any nigga disrespect you. If he does, then he’s not worth your time,” I told Britt before looking at Blaze.
“You’re setting a great example for her, teaching her it’s cool for men to talk to women any kind of way.” The chick was slow or something. I didn’t give a damn how much I loved a man, he was not gon disrespect me, especially not in front of people.
Hell no, not happening.
If that was me, I would’ve slapped the fuck outda him, hell, punched his ass in the face for that matter. I would’ve showed his ass who the bitch was.
“Shut the fuck up, I ain’t showing her ass shit. Get the fuck off me, Krystal. Damn, take yo dumbass the fuck home,” Blaze snapped, pushing her off him. But she just stood there.
What the hell is wrong with this fuckin’ girl?
“You find something funny?” She asked me, I wasn’t even laughing this time. I didn’t even say nothing because I didn’t want to beat her ass and make it seem like I wasn’t over him.
“I don’t know who you are and I really don’t care whether Blaze invited you or not. If so, he shouldn’t have. I’m not tryna be rude or mean, but Krystal, this is a family only thing, so you need to go.” Britt told her and just like before she looked at me then back to Britt before turning her gaze on me again.
“What are you looking at?” I asked her.
“Just waiting on you to go as well. I mean, if its family only, why are you here? You ain’t family—”
“Bitch, she is family. Krystal take yo stupid ass home,” Blaze snapped, shoving her.
“Blaze, don’t be pushing on me, I ain’t did shit to you. I swear, don’t start that stupid shit because she’s here,” Krystal said, making it obvious she was talking about me for the simple fact that she pointed at me.
“Look, girl, you gotda go,” Britt told her once again and just like before she stared at me.
That bitch was gon’ make me beat her ass all through the fuckin’ park. Blaze’s ass wasn’t really doing shit and that alone was pissing me off. Yeah, he snapped at her, but if he really wanted to get rid of the bitch, he could’ve. Instead, he was just leaning on the bench in front of us, not dragging the bitch away or nothing.
Looking away from Blaze my eyes met with Krystal. When I got off the table, that was when Blaze decided to move.
“Chill, Tyson. She not worth it, bae, she tryna piss you off.” Blaze grabbed me and I pushed his arms off of me.
“Blaze, get yo hoe out my face before I beat the fuck outda her then you,” I finally snapped. That chick really had the nerve to look at me when Britt said that. Like what was told to her had to apply to me as well.
“Boon, no,” Britt whispered in a shocked voice. I didn’t want Britt to find out, well not like that anyways. But with that bitch still standing there next to Blaze like she was his chick, then…“Peaches, it’s not like that. Boon, tell her.”
Hell, I looked at Blaze. If he didn’t get that bitch outda there, I was gon’ knock his ass out.
“Britt, she knows it ain’t like that—”
“Then why the fuck is she here?” My hand went to my mouth as Britt cussed at Blaze, which she never does, especially not when she was mad. ”You promised, you a lying son of a bitch! You promised, Booney. I swear I hate you,” Britt snapped at him, pushing Blaze then Krystal before taking off.
She literally took off running.
Chapter 18
Peaches
“Brittany!” Blaze called, about to go after her, but I stopped him.
“Don’t, Blaze, just let her go. Get your hoe outda here.”
“You not gon’ keep disrespecting me like I’m not standing right here. It’s not my fault he don’t want you no more,” Krystal said.
Was that bitch serious?
“Bitch, you disrespected yo damn self when you brought yo tacky headed ass up here. Krystal, sweetie, I’m not fuck’d up about you, honey. I don’t want Blaze no more and you dumb as fuck for wanting him. He doesn’t respect you for one, but hey if that’s what you like, then fine by me. I don’t give a fuck.
“Now get yo hoe ass the fuck outda here. When I come back with her, yo ass better be gone. Otherwise, I’mma beat yo ass then his triflin’ ass. If you want it, then stay right here. Pull the razor from your mouth and get ready to use it, boss, ‘cause I’m gon’ beat the fuck outda you, sweetheart. And that’s a promise.
“Blaze, get yo hoe the fuck from up here.” Pushing past both of them, I went in the direction Brittany ran, towards the gym.
“Britt? Brittany?” I called as I got to the gym looking on the side first and not seeing her. I turned and went inside. “Britt?”
“What do you want?” She asked with an attitude.
“Look—”
“I’m not stupid Peaches and you don’t have to lie about it. I’m not a fuckin’ kid, you dumped him after you promise you wouldn’t. I knew you was lying. Now if something happens to him it’s your fault. Just leave me the fuck alone.” Britt never talked to me like that so I was kind of taken back by the attitude.
“Britt, you don’t have to talk to me like that. I understand you mad, but being a bitch towards me ain’t gon help. I didn’t dump him—”
“Bullshit, Peaches! You said you’ll give him a chanc—.”
“And I did, two different chances, Brittany. Just like I told you about not letting a man disrespect you, the same goes for me. I’m not gon’ let a man disrespect me. Believe it or not I want us to work, but I’m not gon’ force your brother to grow up and I’m not going to be played waiting on him either. Britt, I really hate that you had to find out like this—”
“I know, I’m sorry I snapped at you. He’s so stupid, I don’t understand him. Like, why does he do this? I just want him to settle down and be happy. These streets is either going to kill him or he’ll be sent back to jail for the rest of his life. I’m not stupid, Peaches, I know what my brother does even if he doesn’t want me to. Folks in Gary talk. Last week a woman came to my school pulled me out of class asking questions about him—” Britt started pacing back and forth.
I stood up and stopped her. “Wait, Britt, someone came to you asking questions about him? What kind of questions?” My brows rose as I thought about it.
Why would someone pull her out of class and just start asking about him? That didn’t make sense unless— They were police!
“Yeah, I don’t know how she knew to talk to me, maybe it’s because Blaze pick me up sometimes. I don’t know, but she was asking questions and showing me pictures of that dead cop. It was some woman and another man asking if I’ve ever seen them before.”
“Calling B
laze a killer, said he killed those people and it was only a matter of time before they got him. They said that if I knew anything but wasn’t telling them, I’m an accessory to murder. So I might as well tell them what I knew. Peaches, I didn’t know anything.
“They kept me in that office for hours asking me the same things over and over, showing me pictures of them dead people. I didn’t know anything and I can’t tell Blaze because what if he did then decided to do something stupid. They found me so how I know no one is following him?”
“You got to do something, you have to change him otherwise he’s going back to jail, Peaches they think he killed a cop. They will hang my brother without a care if they can prove he killed that man,” she spoke fast, saying everything in one breath.
Britt was crying and I felt so bad for her. They’d shielded her so she didn’t know how to deal with a situation such as that. But they shouldn’t have, especially given the work Blaze was into. He should’ve coached her for the possibility of this even happening.
“Brittany, it’s going be okay sweetie, I promise. Do you remember her name?” I pulled her down on the bleachers.
She thought about it for a few seconds before letting out a heavy breath. “I can’t remember, it was hard to pronounce though.”
“How about her looks, can you remember what she looked like?” My hand rubbed her shoulder and back, trying to ease her nerves.
“Um, brown skin, long black hair, she was about three maybe four inches taller than me. There was a man with her. He didn’t talk to me, he just stood back and watched. He’s about Blaze’s height, maybe a little shorter. Not as big as Blaze, he’s smaller than him. I couldn’t see his face, he stayed on the other side of the room the entire time so I didn’t get a good look at him,” she explained, wiping her eyes. This was some bullshit, literally. If I found that woman I was gon’ beat the hell out of her.
“You didn’t tell your mom or dad, did you?” I asked, getting up.
“No, because I didn’t want them to tell Blaze.”
“Okay, don’t tell them—” I told her and she cut me off.
“You going to tell him aren’t you?” Her eyes watered again with her question.
I had no choice but to. I nodded my head as we stood. “Yes, I am, Britt. They had no right to interrogate you without a parent being there. You’re a minor, they can’t do that. Next time something like this happens, I don’t care if it’s the smallest thing, you don’t talk to anyone. Tell them you want to call your parents or a lawyer.
“If you can’t get your mom or dad call Sam or Blaze. But don’t ever talk to anyone by yourself, do you understand me?” I asked her with a serious and stern tone. Britt nodded her head as I pulled her to me. “Everything’s going to be okay, I promise.”
“You can’t leave him, Peaches.” Letting out a breath, I stared at Britt and gave her smile. “I don’t want him to go back, he listens to you. He makes mistakes, but he loves you so please be patient with him.” Her eyes stared into mine pleadingly.
Why was it always about Blaze? Did anyone ever stop to think what Peaches might be going through with being patient? I seriously didn’t think they did. Whatever made her think Blaze’s ass would listen to a damn thing I said was beyond me.
“Britt, Blaze and I will be okay. I promise.” Grabbing her hand, we started walking to the gym doors just as they came open and Blaze walked in.
He stopped in his tracks and looked at his sister.
“You want your gift now?” He asked, not looking at me. I knew he said that as an excuse to get in. “What’s wrong with you? Why were you crying?” He asked her.
“Nothing’s wrong. What did you get me?” Britt asked instead, seeming okay.
“Britt—”
“Blaze, she’s okay. Now show us the gift, I want to know what you got her and if it’s better than mine.” Pulling Britt past him, we walked out of the door.
“So what you get me?” Britt asked turning towards Blaze and walking backwards.
“If you can figure it out I’ll give two hundred dollars—” He started saying, but I cut him off.
“He’ll give you five if you figure it out,” I quickly added.
Britt stopped in her tracks, looking from me to Blaze. “You’ll give me five hundred dollars?” She asked him and he looked at me like I was crazy.
“Hell n’all, I said two—”
“He’ll give it to you, trust me. Two from him and three from me. He’s paying, tho. If I were you, I’d start looking in the parking lot,” I told her. For a seventeen year old she was a kid at heart, it was freaking ridiculous how spoiled she was. It was gon’ be hard breaking her out of that.
“The parking lot?” She was excited as hell now. “The parking lot? Where is the parking lot?” She asked, literally bouncing.
Rolling my eyes at her, I pointed towards the parking lot. “It’s parked out there, go find it.” Britt turned to run off, but Blaze called her.
“Britt, this might help,” he said, throwing her some keys. As soon as she caught them, Britt started screaming so loud before jumping on Blaze.
“You got me a car! I knew you would! Ahhhh!” She screamed, let him go and started running towards the lot screaming her freaking head off.
“I thought you weren’t getting her a car, she has a bike, remember?” I asked, walking through the grass.
“She does and I wasn’t going to, but she asked so I had to,” he shrugged. Nodding, I looked down at the grass before stopping just as Blaze started talk. “Peaches…”
I already knew what he was going to say and to be honest, I didn’t even want to hear it or go through it with him again. My dumbass always end up crying and I didn’t feel like it.
“Can we not do this again, please?”
Blaze let out a breath as his hand ran over his face.
“I fuck’d up, huh?” I nodded my head in reply. Blaze shook his. “Damn, you couldn’t lie and say no?”
“No, what would a lie solve?” I asked him. He licked his lips and took a step towards me. “Blaze, don’t, okay.”
God, why do I have to love him so much?
I wanted to be so stupid and forget everything that had happened just to spend a moment with his arms around me. I wanted to feel his callused hands rubbing against my lower back, to feel his hard muscular chest pressed into mine as he held me tightly. Only for a moment, a second.
He made me so weak. I knew he hurt me, but I didn’t want to care about what he was doing. It wasn’t that bad, was it?
Blaze’s hand came to my side before slowly moving around my waist, resting on my lower back as he came closer.
“Peaches, I fuck’d up, keep fuckin up, I know—” That was what I was saying don’t do. Blaze would apologize but wouldn’t do anything to change. So what was the point of the apology? He always did something stupid then apologized like that was supposed to make everything alright.
“Yeah, Blaze, you’ve been fuckin’ up, so much so you’re being dumb. Your dick is not a brain you can think with. I’m taking a leap here, but I’m assuming, your other hoe from the other night—”
“What the hell is you talkin’ bout now? What hoe?” Blaze asked, cutting me off.
“That chick from The Suga Shake the other night who you thought was a cop. Am I refreshing yo memory now, Blaze?”
“The stripper bitch? Boss, I didn’t even fuck with that bitch like that and she didn’t suck my dick, Peaches,” Blaze said, letting me go. “Why the fuck you even bring that bitch up? I ain’t seen her.”
“I’m assuming the reason you haven’t seen her is because she’s been too busy harassing Brittany.” As soon as the words left my mouth, he took hold of my arm and pulled me down to the beach, farther away from everyone.
“What the fuck is you talkin’ about? Who fuckin’ with Britt?” Blaze looked genuinely confused as to what I was talking about.
“Blaze, the chick from—”
“I know who the fuck you talking about,
but what she gotda do with Britt?” He asked me.
“I don’t know if it’s her, but from the description Britt gave, I’m just guessing. She went to Britt’s school…” I replayed everything Brittany said to him. Once I finished I sighed. “Blaze, Britt’s not dumb and she’s scared for you.” The last bit came out in a whisper because she wasn’t the only one scared for him.
“Why the fuck she ain’t tell me when the shit happened? What the fuck is wrong with her stupid ass? That’s why she was crying? Man, where the fuck she at?” He quickly turned away from me and started to walk off.
Chapter 19
Peaches
“No, you don’t. Blaze, stop.” Snatching Blaze back, he jerked away from me. Facing me, he glared hard. “You can’t go yelling at her because she didn’t know. She was scared, Blaze, scared of what you might do if she said anything. It’s not her fault your lifestyle isn’t hers—”
“It ain’t gotda be, its called common fuckin’ sense. I don’t give a fuck how scared she is, you don’t ever not say shit. Knowing her ass didn’t say anything, they could keep coming at her—”
“Blaze, calm down and stop yelling. If you want to blame some damn body, blame yoself because you should’ve taught her, coached her on the possibilities of this bullshit happening. Nigga, yo ass is not invincible. What you think, because you got cops in yo pocket shit doesn’t apply to you?
“Blaze, you have some, not all. For a street nigga you dumb as fuck. I don’t give a fuck how many cops you fuck with, their asses can’t be trusted and half of their asses are on a need to know basis. Don’t blame Britt because it’s not her fault they want you,” I told him.
“I’ll handle it, don’t worry about it.” He nodded his damn head as he seemed to zone out. I could already see his mind running and I didn’t like that.
Not at all.
“Blaze, you gotda be careful, be smart, please don’t do nothing stupid. Doing so is only going to make shit worse. Do you hear me?” Looking away from me, Blaze let out a breath.