It is What it is: A Hood Love Story

by B. , Ivory

  “I shoulda known this pretty nigga dragged you in some stores. He stay shoppin,” Nice teased with a laugh. “Stop tryna play me. You the one with the shoppin habit. Aint none of this mines anyways this all baby girl’s right here.” Nice raised an eyebrow showing slight surprise. Then again he saw how much these two seemed to have an immediate connection. “Let me grab those for you ma,” Nice offered being a gentleman as Lucky stepped off the escalator. Lucky smiled handing over the bags. “Ayo they already got the car out front,” Nice told his brother as he fell in step beside him. Lucky went to walk next to her cousin leaving the men behind, but slowed her stroll when Nona shot her a nasty look, rolled her eyes and rushed towards the exit. Nona’s anger was misplaced she shouldn’t have been mad at Lucky, she should’ve been mad at herself. If she didn’t take herself seriously no man would. It wasn’t Lucky’s fault Nona had once again played herself.

  Once all three of them got outside Nona was already sitting in the passenger seat of the running truck. Both Nice and Los went to the rare of the truck to throw the bags in. Lucky was just about to get in the backseat when Nice hopped in instead “Ayo Los drive, I’m tired as hell right now.” Nona sat there in the passenger seat as if she had no plans of moving. “Baby girl come sit up front wit me,” Los told Lucky. Nona hissed, pushed the passenger side door open with more force than necessary and jumped in the back seat slamming the door hard. Nice who was reclined all the way back damn near in a laying position head popped up when he heard the loud slam of the door. He glared at Nona like he was going to lay hands on her for slamming his truck door like that. “Fuck is ya problem yo?” he asked with anger. Nona said nothing instead she sat there with her face all screwed up, bouncing her leg angrily staring out her window. Lucky and Los locked eyes on each other with what the fuck? expressions on their faces.

  The rest of the ride back to Lucky’s campus was pretty uneventful. Lucky couldn’t hide the fact she loved being in Los’s company. His aura was powerful, damn near over bearing, at the same time he was a complete gentlemen. Aunty aint raise no fool though, something told Lucky that just like an onion this fine ass man sitting beside her had more layers to him than the one he was currently showing. Still she was drawn to him like a moth to a flame. Caution resonated in the back of her brain though, she had to be careful or else she might get her ass burnt.

  By the time they made it back to campus it was a little after 2am and Lucky had fallen to sleep. Looking over at her Los was hesitant to even wake her. She looked so peaceful and even prettier as she slept. “Hey, hey baby girl we here,” Los said placing his hand on her thigh, shaking it gently but firmly. Lucky stirred awake looking a little dazed before she came to her senses. She noticed they were pulled up at the entrance gate to the student parking garage which was now closed due to the hour at night it was. Lucky fumbled through her purse, handing over her student ID to Los so he could scan it to lift the garage lever. Before swiping her student ID he peered down at it and smirked, her government was different, it was pretty though, and definitely fit her. Lucky had almost slipped back off to sleep before feeling the truck come to a stop again. “Yo son we here?” Nice asked from the back seat in a groggy tone once Los threw the truck in park. Both Nice and Los seemed to hop out of the truck simultaneously. As soon as Lucky opened her door the chill from the night air slapped her face waking her up a little more. That’s exactly what she needed for her 20 minute drive home. Nona remained in the car, knocked out with her head to the side and her mouth slightly open. “Lucky pop ya trunk,” Los called out from the rare of the truck. Lucky popped her trunk from her key chain and Los went about loading her shopping bags into her trunk. “How far do you live from here?” Los asked peeping that Lucky still looked tired. “Like 20 minutes away,” Lucky responded through a yawn that she had tried so desperately to hold back. “Ayo you know we aint gon just leave her out here,” Los called to Nice who had just hopped in the driver’s seat and was fiddling with his stereo. Nice turned to Los giving him an offended look. “Hell nah we ain’t gon leave her out here. I thought we was gon follow her out to her crib, make sure she get there safe.” “You sure you straight to take that drive? I can drive if you want me to,” Los offered. Lucky surprised herself when she tossed her keys to him without a second thought. After running her address by Nice and watching him plug it into his gps system she rushed back to her car to get away from the night air. Carlos smiled inwardly when Lucky leaned over the counsel to push the door open for him. Just as he attempted to hop in he was stopped dead in his track when his knee nearly hit the steering wheel. He bent down to adjust the seat before hopping in, then had to adjust it again once he got in. “Damn ma, how the hell you drive on the steering wheel?” Los asked with a smirk. “And how the hell do you drive from the back seat?” Lucky teased. Even though, she couldn’t front, he looked good sitting there with his seat leaned all the way back, hat cocked to the side and one hand gripping the steering wheel. Los chuckled at her little comeback as he pulled off. He was surprised at how well the car handled despite the fact it didn’t carry the heavy price tag as its fellow Benz’s. Lucky had preprogrammed the gps to take her home so she wouldn’t have to call out directions as he drove.

  “I had no idea it was this late,” Lucky commented. “Uh oh, let me hurry up and get you home. I thought I heard you tell your man you was supposed to hit him up later or something like that. I ain’t mean to keep you out late, causing problems between you and ole boy,” Los said trying to bite back a smirk. “My man?!” Lucky said turning in her seat to get a better look at him. “Who you talking about Dre? That’s not my man. Dre’s the campus weed man, who get’s high off his own supply a lil too much, but he’s cool peoples so I look out for him at times by shooting him over notes and what not.” Lucky didn’t know why she felt the need to go into detail explaining herself but she did. A slight smirk spread across his face. “Oh, okay, I get it, you look out for him on the school tip while he look out for you on that greenery tip,” Los said through a laugh. “Absolutely not! You way off base. I don’t even smoke,” Lucky said through a smile showing she was clearly humored. Los raised an eyebrow, it was at that very moment he came to the realization that Lucky and himself were from two different worlds. She wasn’t tainted in any way shape or form by hood life despite being born and raised in Philly. Just like her virgin lungs, it seemed by all accounts she was a virgin to the grit, grime and filth of the streets. Looking over at her chinky eyes and bright smile, innocence seemed to exude her and he wanted to keep it that way. That’s why he knew that after tonight he couldn’t pursue anything further with her.

  Before Lucky knew it they were pulling into her condo complex. The complex she lived in was the type of neighborhood you knew automatically to turn down your car stereo in. Newer constructed condominiums were surrounded by perfectly manicured landscaped lawns and shrubs. “This you right here?” Los asked referring to the complex. “Yeah this me. You can take a left right here, keep going all the way to the back. I live in the last one on the right.” Lucky had him pull into her assigned parking space in front of her condo. All night conversation flowed between the two effortlessly, now an awkward silence fell between them. She wanted to see how this was going to play out, was he going to fuck up a wonderful day and first impression by trying to smash? Los looked in her rearview mirror for any sign of Nice. “Damn where this dude at?” Los muttered more to himself. Lucky looked over her shoulder to see if she spotted Nice coming as well, part of her hoped he would take his time getting there, she wasn’t ready for this night to end. “I…I had a really good time today, thank you,” Lucky said. “I had a good time too,” Los said as he gazed deep into her eyes. “Let me get these bags in for you,” Los said breaking their eye contact and at the same time pressing the trunk release button by the driver’s side door.

  She held her front door open as he carried her bags in. “You can place them wherever.” Carlos walked through the narrow hallway that led into her sp
acious living room. His senses were filled with a soft sweet smell of vanilla or sugar cookies, he couldn’t quite put his finger on it. Spying her place he was impressed, her little condo was pretty nice and tastefully decorated. Stylish Italian leather sectional, 50 inch plasma on the wall and the décor was classy. Not to mention she kept a clean house, being that her living space had an open floor plan he could see a partial view of her kitchen not one dirty dish in the sink or on her granite countertops. There wasn’t much of anything out of place besides a few text books that lay on her cocktail table. Yeah she was a good girl doing good things for herself; he couldn’t help but feel a sense of pride seeing a young chick that had her shit together. Nodding his head with approval he turned to her and said, “You got a nice lil spot right here.” “Oh…thanks,” Lucky replied biting down on her bottom lip nervously. It was obvious she didn’t know just how incredibly sexy that was to him. His better half told him to leave her alone; he had all intentions of doing just that until she bit on her bottom lip and gave him those eyes.

  Carlos walked up to her with the smoothness of a lion on the prowl. His left palm touched her face gently as he pinned her body flush against the hallway wall. He wrapped his free arm around her small waist feeling her body tense up a little before he slipped her the tongue. A moan escaped Lucky’s lips only seconds into their kiss. Carlos kissed her with a passion she’d never experienced before. She kissed him back with the same intensity he kissed her with. Sparks seemed to shoot up her spine as their tongues danced in perfect sync. “Umm…” Carlos moaned against Lucky’s soft lips never breaking their kiss. Although he wasn’t the kissing type Lucky’s lips seemed to have been sending him invites all night, and they were as soft and sensual as they looked. What he couldn’t explain was the tingling feeling he felt running up his spine as he kissed her deeply. Lucky literally felt herself began to float. Reaching out she grabbed a handful of his cashmere sweater clinging on for dear life as her knees got weak while sucking on his thick tongue. With his hard body pressed against hers she couldn’t ignore the hard bulge pressing against her lower stomach. Carlos pulled away suddenly breaking their lip lock. He had to, if he didn’t he swore on everything things would’ve gone a whole lot further. Especially, when she started sucking on his tongue. Lucky’s eyelids fluttered as she stared up at him breathing hard trying to catch her breath, all she could do was think Wow what the hell was that? What she didn’t realize is that he was thinking the same thing.

  Beep! Beep! The sound of Nice tapping his horn swiftly broke them out of the matrix they seemed to have each other in. Carlos took his index finger lifting Lucky’s chin slightly to place a tender kiss on her forehead. “A’ight baby girl, lock these doors,” was the last thing he said before turning and walking out her front door. Lucky stood paralyzed momentarily before closing and locking her door while in a thick haze. She pressed her back against the door bringing her open palms to her face and slid down until her butt hit the plush carpet. That kiss had her speechless, never had she experienced anything like it before. Her mind was running wild with thoughts as she sat on the floor. What just happened? Why didn’t he ask for my number? Lucky why didn’t ya scary ass ask for his? Maybe he wasn’t all that interested,” She concluded. Then again, kisses never lie. And there was definitely something in that kiss.

  Oh What a Night!

  Los was leaving Karma nightclub a little after 2:30am with Nice, Rel and Chilly when they heard a female call out Nice’s name. All four men turned to see Shasona and a group of fellow birds. Nice grunted under his breath with aggravation. He’d been ducking her ever since the casino and that was nearly a month ago. Her number was preprogrammed in his phone to go straight to voicemail. “Oh it’s like that nigga? That’s how you really feel? I see how you do, Nice that’s real fucked up,” She said with her face turned up into an angry scowl. Nice knew what it was from the door; he didn’t want her to go into an angry bird rant outside of a crowded club, so he tried to pacify her. “What’s real fucked up?” “Nigga don’t play dumb you been ignoring me, looping my calls and shit.” “Nah, I ain’t been ignoring you, I been busy.” Nona rolled her eyes knowing he was with the bullshit. She threw a piece of tissue that touched his shirt before falling to the ground. Nice immediately looked down at himself and wiped at an imaginary stain. “I ain’t put nothing on ya conceited ass, I swear you and ya whole team so damn conceited.” Nona’s eyes shifted to the side and landed on Los, unconsciously she licked her lips. Yeah she had a thing for him, but he was always acting as if his dick had a conscious, he was too selective about the chicks he dealt with. Los ignored the thirsty looks Nona and her friends were shooting him. The only thing on his mind was food. Rel and Chilly young asses was all for it as they smiled back in them hoes faces, with intentions of sliding off with one of them later on.

  Los turned to continue walking towards Nice’s truck when he turned around suddenly. “Yo how ya cousin doing?” “Damn daddy I should be the one asking you that question, you should know after all that paper you dropped on her ass. You should know her government, date of birth and social,” Nona cackled with salt dripping from her words. The statement got a few laughs from the small group they were standing in. “Nah fam, say it ain’t so, I know you ain’t out here trickin off on these hoes like that,” Chilly said with disappointment. Nona shifted uncomfortably once she saw the icy glare Los fixed her with. She knew she had probably put her foot in her mouth, He had fucked people up for a lot less than what she had just did in trying to play him. She knew his reputation to be on beast mode at any given moment. “No sah Los, you know I was just playing. She’s fine I guess, I haven’t really talked to her since we went out. The last time I spoke with her she was talkin about being busy wit finales because school was about to be out. She usually stays in Philly when she’s on summer vacation so I’m sure you’ll run into her, if not, I don’t know. I really don’t fuck wit her or my cousin Ty like that.”

  The salt in the last bit of her statement didn’t go unnoticed, Nice finally asked the question that had been burning him ever since they went out. “Ayo if that’s ya peoples why you be acting funny style with her ” “Act like what? It’s not me that acts any type of way, its Lucky and my cousin Ty who act like they better than people, that’s why we don’t really get along,” Nona snapped at Nice. He chuckled at how heated she had suddenly become obviously this was a very touchy subject for her. “And a little word of advice Los, I wouldn’t fuck wit Lucky if I were you.” “Why not?” Nice asked before Los could even say anything. Los who was just about to walk away stood still waiting on her explanation curious to know what was wrong with Lucky.

  “First off, she’s a lil ass girl trapped in a grown woman’s body,” Nona said with a roll of her neck. Her comment got a few laughs from her girls. “Secondly, from what I heard she still real inexperienced, and can’t fuck for shit. The last dude she messed with on some exclusive shit was over 2 years ago. She used to fuck wit that nigga Cutty. His young ass got rocked and she ain’t been the same…” “Cutty who Kwan brother?!” Nice interjected kind of shocked at the news. “Yeah, Lucky and him was messing with each other hard,” Nona confirmed. All the dudes out there knew Cutty. He was a youngin who made a little name for himself while trying to bubble and get his weight up before his untimely death. Although he was a lil dude still hugging the block, Los saw a lot of potential in the kid, and knew if he wasn’t gunned down he would’ve been a problem for a lot of niggaz out here. On occasion Los had even crossed paths with the youngin, being that they were both in the game they knew of each other but didn’t know each other personally.

  Everyone knew who Los was because his father was a hood legend. Before he was killed, Carlos Sr. Aka Showtime was one of the biggest suppliers on the east coast. Once he passed it went without saying that Los and Nice had stepped into their father’s shoes. Although, Los was a lot more low key and introverted than his late father was, who lived up to his moniker to the fullest.


  Los was looking at Lucky in a whole new light now. Here he was thinking she was this innocent unassuming college girl who didn’t know shit about the streets, obviously she knew more than what she led on. If she messed with a D-boy she had to know all about the late nights, slow money and risks that went into hustling. Not to mention the women that came with the territory of being a young dude out here gettin it.

  “What everybody don’t know is they were headed to splittsville right before he got rocked, they were beefin cause she wouldn’t give him head. Now how fuckin childish is that! They were wit each other for a good minute too and she just refused to do it. That goes to show you how young minded she is,” “Shit that’s probably what got that nigga murked. He in these streets stressin bout not getting that sloppy toppy, had him slippin,” Chilly commented. “Hell yeah, you gotta be relieving niggaz of stress you can’t be leaving them like that,” one of Nona’s friends said. “Preach!” Chilly co-signed inching closer to the girl who just made the comment.

  Nona not feeling an ounce of remorse for airing her cousin’s business out kept going in. “She real clingy, so be careful, cuase if you hit her off with some good dick you’d probably have her all fucked up in the head chasing after you like a lost puppy.” That last comment had everyone laughing except Los and Nice who both looked at each other with knowing expressions, Shasona was hating hardbody that much was obvious. “Go head wit that shit you just jealous of that girl,” Nice said. “Jealous! What the fuck I gotta be jealous about?” Shasona shot back defensively. “A lot.” Was Nice’s two word answer. Nona’s high yellow complexion became damn near beet red with anger. “My sister ain’t jealous of nobody,” Toya chimed in defending Nona. “I look better than her anyways what the fuck I gotta be jealous about?” On that note both Los and Nice burst out laughing. Los shook his head, he was out; he’d had enough of her angry bird rant, it wasn’t making no sense like drunk texting.