“What?” She asked him giggling. He continued staring at her and cracked a little smile.
“Nothing.”
Heaven smiled even wider, she couldn’t help it. She didn’t know what was going on with her emotions.
“Nothing? Then stop looking at me like that,” she flirted. He laughed lightly then picked up a throw pillow and threw it at her.
“Shut up.”
“Yall are crazy,” Shay said, reminding them that she was still there before they started tonguing each other down or something. G looked at Shay, who looked back at him letting him know she was on to him. He brought up a new subject.
“So what you reading Awakening of Intelligence for anyway? What happened to the love story type books yall chicks like to read?” She looked at him with a fake attitude.
“I read romance novels too, but I also read books like The Art of War and The Light in Oneself. I like all types of books. Reading is my escape.” Her last statement turned her mood serious as she thought of her reality. Tomorrow she will be snatched out of her fantasy and back to her life, which G would not be a part of. Just Khalil, her parents, and back to that horrible school where everybody knew her secrets. But she wasn’t ready to go back to that just yet, so she would make the most of tonight.
“I feel you,” he answered, while he kicked off his boots and took off his tee. As he laid his shirt on the arm of the couch Heaven took in his strong, muscular physique, his chocolate skin covered with tattoos, and the whiff of his cologne every time he moved.
He now sat with just his jeans, socks and a wife beater. He removed his watch and ring and sat them on the table. Shay flicked through the channels on the hotel television, completely ignoring G’s sex appeal. However Heaven was drowning in it.
“Man aint nothing on that TV, you might as well turn that shit off,” he joked with Shay.
“I bet you it is,” She countered.
“I bet you fifty dollars you don’t find shit, I already been checking.” Shay rolled her eyes.
“Nigga I aint giving you fifty dollars, I bet you fifty push ups,” Shay joked back. Heaven laughed at them.
“Alright,” he answered. A minute later, Shay found an old episode of Martin and G had to do fifty push-ups. Shay knew his ass was fronting when he acted like he aint wanna do them, that nigga was trying to get Heaven hot. She was glad she won though because if she didn’t, she would’ve definitely reneged; she was not doing fifty push-ups. He got on the floor and started doing push-ups swiftly and as his arms bulged, Heaven creamed. Every time he went down he looked at the ground and every time he came up he looked at Heaven. She couldn’t take it and neither could he. G wasn’t the type to beat around the bush.
“Yo Heaven, I aint trying to step on nobody’s toes, but that nigga Khalil is a clown ma. Fuck you see in him?” He asked this while still moving at a steady pace. Shay sat mouth opened just knowing that liquor and lust will make you say anything. She didn’t think G would just come out and say that shit, she knew G had no fear in his heart but his moves were usually strategized, sort of like a chess player. He must just have that ‘fuck it’ feeling going on like Heaven had. Heaven laughed, a little flustered.
“Do you always just say exactly what you feel?”
He did his last push up and then he sat up, breathing deeply. He looked straight in her eyes and paused before answering her question.
“Nah, not really. But I should.” They locked eyes for what seemed like an eternity and at that moment it was all definite. Even though throughout the course of the evening, the flirting, the games, had all established that there was something between Heaven and G. That last sentence that came out of his mouth let Heaven know that she had him; she just only wished that she could keep him.
…There’s No Place Like Home…
“Leave it alone, nigga.”
“Yea…you think I should?” G asked Loc, knowing that it was out of the question. It was Sunday night and him and Loc were at a pool hall in Linden, waiting on one of G’s workers to come and meet them. They had just returned from A.C. a couple of hours ago. G took another shot on the table and landed a solid ball into the corner pocket. Loc answered him, even though he knew the nigga was going to do whatever he wanted.
“Yea man. First of all, that shit fucks with business. No matter how small the nigga is, you can’t put anything past a nigga scorned. Especially a weak ass broke nigga like that. A dude like that will feel like they aint got nothing to lose. Love makes you do some crazy shit.” G shook his head defiantly before responding.
“But I aint worried about that nigga. That nigga is a nobody, Loc,” G said, taking another shot.
“Yeah, but G. That nigga is a nobody, but he’s in the circle of our business. He knows shit, he don’t really know shit, but he know shit, you feel me? Plus, it aint like you gonna really be with the chick. Yo, I know you duke. You gonna feel her for a minute, and then you gonna lose interest. Why make those problems for nothing? ” G remained silent as he contemplated what Loc was saying. This was the very reason that he didn’t deal with females that had anything to do with business, he didn’t even like messing with chicks that people involved in his business came in contact with. But he liked Heaven, he really liked that girl. But Loc made a good point, when you’re involving money, you want every aspect of your dealings to be smooth. And if it was one thing that G had learned from his business, it was to never underestimate the little niggas on the bottom, especially when dealing with emotions like pride. And when it came to females, with niggas it was all about pride. Plus he couldn’t be absolutely positive that he wouldn’t get bored and break the girl’s heart like he had done before. But on the same token, he couldn’t remember feeling a girl quite as much as he was feeling Heaven. For the thousandth time, he pushed that shit to the back of his mind and figured he wouldn’t even think about it. Maybe it was best to leave her alone. It was funny that whenever he wasn’t around her, it was always easier to contemplate just leaving it alone. But when she was in his presence, it was over, he had to have her. He laughed at Loc, as he took his third shot, he was beating Loc badly; Loc hadn’t even taken a shot yet.
“Fuck you think, you some type of philosopher or something? You need to philosophize this game cause I’m whooping yo ass, cuz,” G laughed, while landing his third shot.
“Fuck you nigga,” Loc shot back. “Yo, speaking of A.C., what up with Angie? You aint fucking her no more?” G looked up from the table at Loc.
“What you mean speaking of A.C.? We wasn’t speaking of A.C, you just trying to find out if I’m fucking the broad,” G joked. “Why you wanna know nigga, you trying to fuck her?” Loc twisted up his face in disgust.
“Hell no! Yo she a bad freak and all but that bitch is intolerable. Plus her titties is fake, I don’t give a fuck what you say.”
“I never said they wasn’t fake. I just said I hit it with her shirt on from the back, so I don’t know,” G countered.
“So you still fucking her,” Loc assumed. G focused on his next shot before answering.
“Nah, I’m done wit’ it. That shit was garbage the last time.”
“So you did fuck her in A.C.!” Loc proclaimed, like he knew all along. G didn’t answer him, he just looked at him and took his final shot, landing the 8 ball in the side pocket.
“That’s game, nigga.” Then he put his hand in the air and motioned his man over to them. “Time for business.”
Heaven laid curled up on the couch watching television, but it was more like the television was watching her because she was deep in thought, thinking of G. The weekend with him was spectacular. Although she didn’t get a chance to see him much today, last night was incredible. It was just him, Shay, and her talking and laughing all night. Even when Shay fell asleep on the couch and it was just them two, the conversation just flowed. It was so natural. And the best part was that she didn’t get in trouble with Khalil because Loc called G when they were all on their way back to the hotel, and G w
alked Heaven back to her hotel room. She thought of how she stood there and stared at him, waiting for him to kiss her or something, but he didn’t. He just grabbed her hand, rubbed it a little, and then let it go. She couldn’t fathom the thought of a man not wanting sex, and G not seeming to be pressed, baffled her. Even when Khalil came to the room and passed out, Heaven was up all night, contemplating crazy things like tip toeing out of the room and running up to his suite. And when she finally did fall asleep, she dreamed about him, but it was cut short by Khalil waking her up to check out. She wondered about the next time she would get to see him. She knew it probably wouldn’t be anytime soon, and that killed her.
“Heaven. This steak is pink.” She snapped back into reality.
“Huh?”
“You heard me, the fucking steak is pink. I’m not eating this shit.” He threw his knife and fork down and Heaven got up to go and take the steak to cook it longer. However she stopped short when he threw the plate on the ground and glass shattered everywhere.
“Khalil!” She shrieked, a little scared. She never understood why small things set him off like this. She walked lightly to put on her slippers, and a sharp piece of glass went into her foot.
“Ouch!” She cried out in pain, as she limped back to the couch. He walked past her and grabbed his keys.
“Where you going?” She asked, not really caring.
“I’m going to get some fucking food.” Then he slammed the door shut. Heaven tried to pull the glass out of her foot but it was too small. She got close to the lamp next to the window and tried it with tweezers. As blood trickled down her foot, tears fell from her eyes. Why is this my life? Why am I stuck here? Although September was six months away, it felt like forever. And even when it did come, it wouldn’t mean she would have a different life. Nope she’d still be Heaven, with her fucked up family and not one single person that gives a fuck about her. She’ll just be in a different location. Nights like this, when she was left all by herself, was when she felt the most alone, and she’d usually break down and cry. She wished she could talk to G.
Although he had asked her a lot of questions about her childhood when they spoke, she stayed very general with him. She had a feeling he was a lot different than a guy like Ricky, but she still had trust issues with people. And she had good reasons for these issues, all through her life anytime anyone was kind or caring to her, it was for their own selfish benefit. Why should she believe other wise?
But deep down inside she wanted, no needed, to believe that G was different. She picked up her cell phone and dialed her new friend, her only friend.
“Hello.”
“Shay,” Heaven whimpered. It was noisy at the bar but Shay could tell Heaven was crying.
“Heaven, hold on one minute okay. I’m going to the back.” In about thirty seconds the noise turned to silence and Shay was asking Heaven what was wrong. She told her about the steak incident with Khalil, and although it wasn’t that big of a deal, especially since she had dealt with worse, it still had her upset. She cried and told Shay how much she hated her life right now and how she hated school and Khalil, but she never went into her family.
Shay listened and knew exactly what was wrong with Heaven. Heaven had been taken out of her environment and then put right back into it, and she was depressed. Before that weekend, Shay figured Heaven had been putting up with a lot of things, holding them in, thinking that this was the hand she was dealt. But this weekend, she was taken out of her element, she had fun, she felt beautiful, and she experienced life. And now that she had a taste of it, she wanted more and her hate for her situation was intensified.
“Aw baby, it’ll be okay. You’re a strong girl Heaven, you’ll get through it all. Whatever you do though Heaven, don’t let him take your soul. You have to promise me that.” Heaven sniffed.
“I promise.” There was a long pause and Shay felt something was coming next.
“Heaven, you still there?”
“Yeah.” Heaven contemplated sounding silly but she had to know. “Shay, have you seen G?” Shay sighed, and smiled on the other end.
“Oh my god, you two! What has it been, like not even 24 hours since you spoke to him?” Heaven smiled.
“No wait Shay, go back. What do you mean, you two? He asked about me?” Shay rolled her eyes and chuckled.
“Yes Heaven, yes I saw him. He was just here. And yes, he asked if I spoke to you. Happy?”
“Yes! What else did he say? Oh my god, he asked about me!” Heaven exclaimed, wiping her tears. Shay checked the bar area to make sure nobody was waiting for a drink, then she continued.
“Okay, he came in here to pay the guy that restocks the liquor and he asked me if I spoke to you since we got back. And when I told him no, he said that when I speak to you to tell you that he had fun with you, and to remember no checkers. But I don’t know what the fuck he was talking about.” Heaven knew exactly what he was talking about. When they were talking, G had told Heaven that he had been in some fucked up situations when he was younger. He told her that whenever she found herself in a situation, to always remember to play chess and not checkers. He said with checkers people are always looking to make a quick move and it’s usually wrong, they think they’re getting over but their not, it gets you nowhere in the end. But when you play chess, your opponent can be thinking he’s beating you throughout the whole game, but he doesn’t know what direction you’re coming from, and in the end, you’ll end up winning if you just have patience and tolerance. Your opponent won’t know what hit him. She looked at Khalil as her opponent, and he may have thought he was winning now but he was playing checkers, and Heaven was playing chess. In the end, she would be the winner.
“Oh my god Shay, tell him I had fun with him too.” Shay giggled, and then answered.
“Tell him yourself.” Heaven was confused.
“What? Shay? Shay? Shay, are you there?” Heaven was about to hang up.
“Hello,” a deep baritone spoke. Heaven cheesed a big grin.
“Hello,” she spoke back.
“What’s up ma? Shay said you wanted to tell me something.” Heaven sat there silent for a minute ready to kill Shay, but in a good way.
“Um, yeah… I just wanted to say that it was nice talking to you, and I had the best time this weekend. Thank you so much for everything.” G smiled on the other end, he felt good. He liked making her happy and he loved how genuine she was. If she had a good time, she’d tell you, and it didn’t take much for her to have a good time. Plus she was so appreciative, and that was rare for a lot of girls G dealt with, and he hadn’t even done anything for her yet. It just made him want to do more for her.
“It was my pleasure, and it was really nice kicking it with you too. You’re a stand up chick for real, Heaven.” She blushed hard as she walked into the bedroom and fell back onto the bed. She didn’t want the conversation to end.
“So, what you doing?” She asked, wanting to keep him on the phone. He started answering her but she was suddenly so frozen with fear that she couldn’t hear him.
“Who the fuck you talking to?” Khalil asked angrily. Before Heaven could answer he snatched the phone from her.
“Who is this? Who the fuck is this?” G ran his tongue along the inside of his cheek and as bad as he wanted to say something, he handed the phone to Shay. Loc’s advice flashed through his mind again.
“Hello,” Shay answered.
“Shay?” Khalil asked, feeling stupid.
“Yes Khalil, can you put Heaven back on the phone please.” He handed Heaven the phone back and left the room without saying a word.
“Shay?”
“Girl you are crazy, I didn’t know he was there.”
“He wasn’t,” Heaven whispered. Shay noticed the bar was starting to pick up.
“Oh, well listen Heaven, its starting to pick up here, you gonna be alright?” Heaven closed her eyes. She wanted to just say bye to him but she couldn’t even mention it because she knew Khalil’s super ea
rs were at work.
“Yeah, I’ll be fine. I’ll talk to you later.”
“Okay girlie, keep ya head up.” And with that Shay was gone and so was her connection with G. She hated that Khalil had to come home and ruin everything. She silently cursed him in her head, and then she replayed their short but sweet conversation. You’re a stand up chick for real, Heaven. She smiled. She didn’t really know what it meant, but she knew that she liked the way it sounded.
“You know, when I first saw you that day, I fell in love with you,” Khalil whispered to Heaven as they lay in bed that night in the darkness. He hadn’t said anything to her all evening but when they got in bed and turned off the lights, he began talking to her in a way that he hadn’t in a very long time. He continued while she remained silent.
“You were so beautiful sitting there, and you were so scared for your father. It was like when I looked at you and I saw how innocent you were, I wanted to protect you.” Heaven thought to herself how he figured he was protecting her by making her his live-in slave for four years and beating her brains out every other night, but she wouldn’t dare say that aloud.
“It was like I had to have you. And now… now I can’t even imagine living without you. I love you so much.” His words sent chills down her spine, but not in the way G’s words did. It was an eerie feeling, it was so uncomfortable and his voice didn’t make it any better. The way he was talking was just too peculiar.
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