It is What it is: A Hood Love Story

by B. , Ivory

  Nice turned to leave too when Nona grabbed at his arm. “Buy me something to eat, I’m hungry,” Nona said in a flirtatious childlike tone. “Buy you something to eat?” Nice asked incredulously. “Yeah nigga, you can’t do that?” Nice stared at Nona while rubbing on his goatee as if he were contemplating his answer. “You know what time it is right? Its way after 1am, that means the price for pussy gets discounted, slashed wit a red marker ma, 90 to 95 percent off straight up, so yeah I can cop you something to eat but that’s all you getting and you better be glad you getting that.” Los heard Nice from way across the street and couldn’t do anything but laugh his brother was a fool for that but that was Nice forever saying some ill shit. Nona playfully punched him in the arm, “Asshole,” she spat. Nice looked down at her with a smirk. He hadn’t planned on getting up with her that night, he was actually going to dip with a different chick after he grabbed something to eat. But since Nona was standing there thighs and ass on swole in some little shorts he figured what the hell. “A’ight I’m headed to Jimmy’s, be out there so you can get some breakfast and break out wit me afterwards to go to the room.” “Yeah I’ll see you there,” was her only response before walking off with her girls.

  Los and his people found a booth in the far end of the diner facing the front entrance so they could see everything coming and going. Nice sent both the younger men to go and get food while he and Los posted up surveying the place. Los looked around feeling slightly uncomfortable, he didn’t do crowded places like these often, it left way too much opportunity for someone to try and catch him slippin. Jimmy’s was a spot where a lot of shit popped off week after week. Despite the place being hot people kept coming back because it was the place to be after the club. Niggaz came to stunt and bitches came in hopes of hooking their next sponsor.

  Chilly and Rel were back at the table with trays full of food in record breaking time being that no one from Los’s team had to wait on line. Everyone at the table was helping themselves to food when Chilly spotted Nona. “Ayo son there go ya girl,” Chilly called out to Nice trying to be funny. Nice was standing off to the side talking to a dime Puerto Rican chick when he turned and spotted Nona and her crew. He groaned under his breath but kept doing him. The girl he was talking to quickly punched her phone number in his cell and walked off. She didn’t know if that was his girlfriend or not but she didn’t want any problems with the group of black chicks either. Nice walked back over to the table and started eating as Nona and her girls approached stopping every couple of seconds to talk and flirt. “Yup here Nona and her whole team come leaving a trail of feathers and bird droppins in their wake,” Nice said causing the table to fall out in laughter. Los and Rel were holding their stomachs laughing as Nona and her girls finally made it to their table. “What y’all laughing at?” Nona asked. Her question only seemed to get them laughing even harder. Nona sucked her teeth and waved at them dismissively deciding not to pay them any mind. “Ayo you wild for that right there,” Los managed to say after gaining some composure. Nona and her girls sat at a table right next to them. “I saw you talkin to that gwala hoe over there too,” Nona spat. “And, so what,” Nice shot back, not appreciating her tone or acting as if he had to answer or hide things from her. “You such a hoe,” Nona said with slight attitude. “Word?” Nice said coolly. “Ain’t that like the pot calling the kettle?” “Nigga please, I do what I want ain’t no ring on my ring finger. You gon put one on it daddy,” Nona said with a sexy wink and lick of her lips. Nice chuckled and shook his head “Ma whateva you was puffin or sippin on tonight stop that.” Both tables burst into laughter, even Nona had to laugh. “Whateva Nice, where my money at?” she asked standing up in front of him with her hand on her hip, letting all her weight shift to one leg putting her thick thighs on full blast. Nice caught the suggestive pose she was doing in front of him and couldn’t help but get stuck for a second before digging in his pocket and placing $20 in her palm. He watched her walk away towards the counter to order food, her phat ass literally hanging out the bottom of her coochie cutter shorts leaving absolutely nothing to the imagination. He could get him a good girl but he couldn’t understand for the life of him why he was addicted to these hoodrats.

  “What up son!” Both Los and Nice looked up to see Killa standing in front of them. “Los, I’m surprised to see you out here slumming boss. I thought a establishment like this was beneath you, nah mean? We all know you gettin it on that Tony Montana tip,” he chuckled. When he saw Los’s face remain stone he continued on. “Matter fact I was tryna link up wit you for some work.” Both Nice and Los looked up at Killa as if he lost his mind. Yes everyone and their mama assumed what Los did for a living but had enough sense not to make a fucking PSA out of it. Los took a deep breath exhaling loudly; Killa was from ‘The City’ aka New York. He was loud, flashy and talked way too much, definitely not Los’s caliber of nigga. He moved down from Harlem about a year ago and had become real cool with Chilly that’s the only reason Los tolerated him and let him eat down in Philly. Killa was definitely stuttin for either these hoes who were sitting at the next table drooling at the mouth over all the flashy jewelry he was rockin or the two dudes that was with him.

  There was no way Killa was going to hit up Los for work, he didn’t have his weight up enough, Killa was still playing with baby money he wasn’t playing in Los’s league at all. Los had only dealt with Killa on a direct business tip one time and he swore that would be his last time. Los who was used to selling wholesale like Bj’s or Costco’s broke his rule to sell below what he was accustomed to when Killa first touched down in Philly on the strength of his cousin Chilly who said Killa was good money and just needed a start. It took Killa nearly two months to get up enough money for 12 bricks which he tried tirelessly to finagle and negotiate lowering the price till he was damn near blue in the face. After that Los knew he wasn’t fuckin with Killa no more, so for him to be standing here talking as if he and Los really dealt with each other like that was crazy. Los looked around making sure no one overheard this lame before he turned back towards him saying everything with just one look he gave Killa and the two dudes flanking him. “Ayo a’ight Los,” Killa said getting the point. He reached his hand out for a pound, Los looked down at Killa’s balled up fist for a long minute before he gave him a weak dap making his feelings very clear.

  Killa took the shade on the chin as he walked away, truthfully he didn’t like Los. He thought Los basically inherited the game from his father, he wasn’t out here grindin on street corners for days at a time doing fist to fist crack sells, building his way from the bottom to the top in the game, nope he basically inherited it. And for that Killa took points away from his G. He wasn’t saying Los was soft, he knew Los was about that life and knew he had let his hammer bang on a couple of occasions, not to mention he had a gang of shooters on his team who were loyal to the death. But so what, Los could still get it just like any other nigga out here was Killa’s sentiment.

  What Killa didn’t know was that nothing was handed to Los. When his father died everybody on his father’s team went for self. Men that both him and Nice grew up calling uncles had left his family assed out when they raided stash and trap houses and took reign over territory his father used to run. If it were up to any of them Los and his family would’ve starved. Both Los and Nice had to literally hit the streets and take back what they thought rightfully belonged to them. They had to strong arm the game, force old heads who were running shit into early retirement or early graves, either or it didn’t matter. At the end of the day the word got out that to survive the hostile takeover you would have to bow down to a younger more ruthless regime. Shit got ugly with some hustla’s who didn’t want to conform, so a war was the only way to settle things. The hood was like a jungle though and only the strongest survived and prevailed, that’s why Los and his team were still on top. But Every now and then some young stupid nigga got it in his brain that he could take Los’s position and Los would have to put an end to a
niggaz fantasies. It wasn’t hard to tell that Killa was one of those stupid niggaz.

  If Los thought things couldn’t have gotten worst they did when Nice elbowed him and nodded his head towards the door. He looked up just in time to see Shyanne walking through the door looking around as if she were looking for someone, that someone being him. Just as he was contemplating dipping low in his seat she spotted him and made her way over. Nice caught the look on Los’s face and he chuckled. Shyanne was officially on her stalker steez, how she knew Los was there that night was anyone’s guess, she probably rode through the city all night looking for either his cars or someone in his teams car.

  “Dayum!” Rel said damn near drooling at the mouth. Los followed Rel’s stare and boom his eyes landed on Lucky who was walking towards the counter with two other females. The trio was turning heads and demanding attention from both men and women alike. Dudes were watching like hawks straight thirsten. while chicks were hatin.

  Lucky had shed the school girl look completely; she was on her grown and sexy tonight. Her hair hung long and loosely curled with a part down the middle. The little black shorts with the big bow that tied at the waist showed off her sexy long toned legs. If there was one thing Los could appreciate it was a chick with a mean shoe game and Lucky’s shoes were on point. The five inch heels added that sex appeal to her outfit. The bright red three quarter length blazer Lucky had on fit as if it were tailor made. The two chicks Lucky was with were undeniably dimez too, which was a rarity, usually it was always a mudd duck out of the crew, not in this situation though all three were bad. Lucky was the baddest in Los’s opinion, hands down. Carlos automatically knew one of the girl’s had to be the cousin Lucky spoke so highly of, the girl resembled Lucky a great deal but she was super thick in the ass, hips, and thighs.

  “Lady Luck what you wanna eat?” Ty asked. “Umm, at this time of morning nothing really, just get me one of those strawberry smoothies, a large.” “A’ight, but fuck that I’m getting me something to eat, I don’t care what time it is, I’ll pay the consequences tomorrow at the gym. I gotta put something on my stomach or that alcohol gon have me fucked up.” “Bitch you shoulda ate before you drank,” Lucky said with a laugh. “True. But fuck it, it is what it is,” Ty concluded. “Ty order me a cheese steak wit bacon and fries,” Keema said with her face screwed up in pain. “I hope they hurry up with that food too, cause I need to sit my ass down. These shoes is killin a bitch, girl I’m telling you in about two minutes I’ma take these muthafuckas off,” Keema complained. “And I told you if you take ya shoes off in public like some common hoodrat I’ma beat you upside ya head with them damn shoes,” Ty threatened. Both Lucky and Keema cracked up laughing at Ty’s threat but they knew she was dead serious. Real diva’s as their selves never stooped to the level of taking their shoes off and walking around barefoot in public no matter how bad their feet were killing them. Even when a bitch was committing shoeicide she played it off and walked straight till she got out of public then started limping.

  Lucky tapped her beaded black and red Giuseppe strappy sandals on the hard linoleum looking down at her phone purposely ignoring the hungry looks dudes were shooting her. She hated being in crowded places like these and all the attention it brought, although Keema and Ty seemed to thrive off of it. “Oh hell nah, I gotta sit down!” Keema spat walking over to a table that was full of dudes Keema didn’t know personally but knew of from the streets. She noticed how they gave her predatory looks as she walked over to them. “Gentlemen I hope y’all don’t mind but I’ma take a seat, a bitch feet is howling,” before they could object or accept Keema plopped her thick ass right in the one empty seat at their table.

  “Oh my god Luck did Keema take her crazy behind over there and sit at them niggaz table?” Ty asked with a laugh. “Girl yes she did,” Lucky answered while giggling and sipping on her smoothie. Just as Lucky turned her head to look at Ty she spotted Nice across the room. Lucky’s heart sped up, as she felt the oncoming of butterflies in her stomach. Her eyes shifted to the left of Nice and there he was, the man she’d been fantasizing and daydreaming about since the day she met him was staring back at her. Their eyes locked on each other and it seemed as if a whole five minutes went by with them staring from across the room. Lucky didn’t even hear Ty when she said the food was ready. Ty gave Lucky the side eye when she continued to stare off into the distance. Ty followed Lucky’s gaze and noticed Los, then she knew what had Lucky caught in the matrix. Lucky shifted her eyes to the chick who was sitting close enough to be sitting on his lap. Carlos was so caught up staring at Lucky he didn’t even notice Shyanne leaning in to kiss him on the side of his face. After giving the girl the once over Lucky couldn’t deny she was cute, The girl kind of resembled Lauren London but she was thick. Shyanne called Los’s name but he seemed to be totally transfixed on something. She followed his gaze and knew immediately what had him so stuck when her eyes landed on Lucky. Shyanne looked Lucky up and down trying to take her all in. The mystery girl who seemed to have Carlos mesmerized was a pretty brown complexion with a slim shapely figure, long dark hair and eyes almost the color of olive green that were big and innocent looking but chinky in the corners leaving one to wonder if she was half Asian, she was definitely a dime, Los’s type to the fullest. Both women seemed to lock on each other until Lucky broke the stare down and looked dead into Los’s eyes. Los felt a huge lump forming in his throat as she stared at him with distaste. Lucky boldly rolled her eyes before turning her head and walking away into the thick crowd of the diner. Los felt like screaming as he lost sight of her.

  Shyanne started calling Los’s name again finally gaining his attention. “What?” Los snapped turning towards Shy with annoyance dripping from his voice. “Yo Shy what the fuck do you want? And why you keep blowin up my phone like you crazy? Fuck is wrong wit you?” Los was shooting off questions in rapid succession. He was aggravated and couldn’t understand why she didn’t understand he didn’t want to be bothered. “Oh so you got a new lil girlfriend and now you gotta talk to me all greasy and shit? You got new pussy and now I ain’t shit to you!” Carlos wanted to be decent but damn this broad was making it hard. “First off, lower ya muthafuckin voice,” Los gritted. “Secondly, I don’t owe you shit, we wasn’t a couple ma, you was just something to get my dick wet you served your purpose now your dismissed,” Carlos said coldly. “I bet if I would’ve had your baby you wouldn’t be treating me like this.” Shy’s eyes were ablaze with emotion and something else Carlos couldn’t quite put his finger on. Her chest was heaving up and down as she tried desperately to keep herself from crying. By then Nona and her crew along with other people who were sitting close to Los’s table started ear hustling. “Ayo Shy do I look fuckin stupid to you? You wasn’t never pregnant give that shit up.” “Yes I was pregnant with twins! And they were yours,” “It was twins now, word?” Los said sarcastically. Shyanne was pressing his patience she had already caused a little scene and he was past trying to be civil, obviously she wasn’t getting it. “Shy fuck outta my face, on some real shit, go play in traffic somewhere before I dumb out and choke the shit outta you,” Los gritted with evil intent. Shy glared back at him challenging him for a quick second before she came to her senses. Finally losing her battle with her emotions tears escaped her eyes as she shot up from her seat all crazy like and rushed out the door. The way Shyanne was acting as of late, Los couldn’t put anything past her, he wouldn’t be surprised if her fatal attraction ass was waiting outside of Jimmy’s for him with a burner. Carlos shook his head with frustration Shyanne was beginning to be a real problem. Although her pussy was good and her head game was lethal, he was starting to see she wasn’t worth the trouble. He was going to have to find a way to get rid of her.

  Lucky watched from across the room, she couldn’t hear the conversation between Los and the chick he was with but from all accounts it didn’t look like it went too well for ole girl as she rushed out of Jimmy’s in tears. Carlos eyes started searching the
restaurant and Lucky had a feeling he was looking for her. She turned and dipped her head low discreetly trying to avoid him at all costs. “Hey, Ty you ready?” Lucky asked. Ty was busy flirting away with some dude she just met, and wasn’t ready to go at all but she had a feeling Lucky wanting to leave all of a sudden had all to do with seeing Los. Over the past month Ty had to hear Lucky stress over the possible reasons Los ended their date the way he did. After seeing him in Jimmy’s with a chick practically on his is lap the reason seemed pretty clear to Ty. They got up to leave but instead of leaving out the exit Ty made a beeline and headed across the restaurant towards Nona and Latoya.

  As Ty diva strutted past his table Nice couldn’t help but do a double take, “Damn,” he muttered under his breath. There weren’t many times Nice was rendered speechless but this was definitely one of those rare moments. Ty was beautiful and her body in that short romper with the keyhole cut out in the back was insane. Nice couldn’t help but be at a loss for words. Lucky stopped short of following Ty all the way to Toya and Nona’s table. She stood back feet away avoiding walking past Los’s table as if she were scared the Boogeyman himself might jump up and snatch her. She could feel Los’s eyes burning a hole through her as she stood there with her arms folded across her chest avoiding eye contact. Lucky could see him from the corner of her eyes sitting with his arms spread across the back of the booth and a cocky smirk plastered on his face like he was King Titan or some damn body. The smirk was a non verbal challenge for her to come closer, which he knew she wouldn’t take.

  “Oh y’all broads can’t speak to your own blood?” Ty asked knowing Nona intentions were to look her dead in the face as her and Lucky were walking out and not say anything. “What up Ty?” Nona said dryly. Ty pursed her lips together deciding not to even address the dry greeting she got. Toya jumped up genuinely surprised and happy. “Hi Ty!” Toya sang. Toya looked over Ty’s shoulder as they hugged and spotted Lucky standing off to the side, she let Ty go and rushed over to Lucky and hugged her too. “Oh my god, look at my baby cousin, get em!” Toya exclaimed taking a step back to take Lucky in, she was gorgeous. “I haven’t seen you in a minute, you on summer break?” “Yeah, I had my last class yesterday.” “Then we gon have to hang out, get into some shit.” Get into some shit? Awe hell nah we ain’t, Lucky thought to herself. Toya grabbed a hold of Lucky’s hand and pulled her towards her table, not understanding why she was standing so far away in the first place. As Lucky passed Los’s table she could still feel his eyes on her even though she kept her head held high and eyes straight continuing to ignore him. She had almost made it by his table without incident when she heard a deep male’s voice say, “Oh it’s like that baby girl? You don’t know nobody?” Lucky looked down at the table and smiled when she realized it was Nice who’d said that. He got up from his seat and gave her a hug, as he hugged Lucky he caught Ty glaring at him like she would cut his ass if he tried anything funny. Nice released Lucky immediately, making a show of throwing his hands up in surrender and backing away slowly with a smirk. He got the dynamics of their relationship instantly, Ty was Lucky’s protector. Lucky turned around to see what had spooked Nice and caught the look Ty was giving him; she couldn’t help but crack up laughing. “Oh ain’t you being nice,” Toya accused giving Nice the side eye while leading Lucky over to her table. “Everybody this my cousin Ty and my baby cousin Lucky” Toya exclaimed in a proud braggy type of way. The silence and eye rolls from the chicks sitting at the table including Nona said everything their mouths didn’t say. “Nona how is lil Noot?” Ty asked genuinely interested in how Nona’s son was doing. Nona shot Ty the dirtiest look feeling as if Ty was trying to throw shade by bringing up her son in front of niggaz. “He straight, he wit his father’s people,” Nona said with a hint of attitude. Yeah bitch as always, when do you ever have that little boy? Ty thought to herself. “Umm Lady Luck let’s get outta here. Toya I’ll check you later sweetie?” Ty said before hugging her again. “Yeah girl c’mon let’s go, please,” Lucky said.