Cameron

by Jade Jones

  “So are you going to work tonight?” Silk asked after retrieving a cheddar biscuit.

  “No. I don’t think so. What about you?”

  “My nigga, Klimaxxx invited me to Toledo for a show,” he answered with a mouthful of bread. “So why you ain’t going to work?”

  I shrugged my shoulders as I reached for a biscuit. “My legs are kinda sore.”

  “Well pop a fucking Tylenol or some shit.”

  I was instantly caught off guard my his brash remark.

  “If I’m getting money, yo’ ass should be getting money too. Feel me?” he asked. “Flat the fuck out, I’m not about to be paying for yo’ tuition and shit if yo’ ass gone be lazy. You hear me?”

  My good mood had quickly faltered as I slowly replaced the biscuit. Suddenly, I wasn’t so hungry anymore. I was sick of Silk’s dominant ass attitude.

  “I said you hear me?” he asked in a stern tone.

  I sighed, “Yes baby. I hear you.”

  He opened his mouth to say something but was quickly interrupted when his cell phone chimed.

  Saved by the bell, I thought. I really didn’t want to be chewed out by him in public.

  “This Klimaxxx’s ass texting me now to see if I’m still going,” he said reading the message. “So you going to work tonight?” He wanted to verify that I had gotten the point.

  “Yeah,” I answered nonchalantly. It wasn’t like he was giving me much of a choice.

  ***

  “I don’t see Pure Seduction here tonight.” Poca slipped into a tiny black thong with rhinestones embedded along the hem. “I doubt she will ever be coming back after that ass whupping.”

  I pulled the straps to my full lace body suit over my shoulders. “Good riddance.” Looking at Poca through the vanity mirror I said, “Now your ass know that thong is too damn little.”

  She turned to face me and tugged on the strings to her thong. “I know,” she smiled. “But doesn’t it make my pussy look fatter?”

  Rolling my eyes, I said. “Alright now bitch, your ass gonna get a damn yeast infection.”

  “And I’ll still be in here shaking my ass on these niggas.” She did a little booty popping dance for good measure.

  I burst out laughing. “Ugh, bitch that’s nasty!”

  Poca then ran a hand along her toned tummy. “I been thinking about getting the fat sucked out my stomach and put in my ass,” she said.

  I cut my eyes at her. “You mean ass shots?”

  “Yeah, what you think?” she pinched her stomach then cupped her butt cheeks.

  “Girl, where are they gonna suck from the fat from in your stomach? Your stomach’s flat as hell.”

  “It could be flatter,” she argued.

  Poca’s eyes had to be playing tricks on her. The girl damn near had a six pack. “Your stomach looks great. Especially for having a kid.”

  Pocahontas opened her mouth to say something but stopped when X-Rated walked into the dressing room, carrying a mound of bills in her hands. Some singles fell off the top and littered the floor as she approached us.

  “Damn, the weather lookin’ like that out there?” Poca asked.

  “Hell yeah,” X answered. “Boobie and his niggas out there!”

  Raising an eyebrow in confusion, I asked, “Boobie?”

  X-Rated took a seat next to me at the vanity and poured the bundle of single in front of her. “Yeah. Boobie. As in Boobie Gibson. The nigga who play for the Cavs. Keyshia Cole’s man.”

  Poca’s clear six inch heels click clacked as she ran out of the dressing room with a quickness.

  “I never knew it was possible to run that fast in them heels,” I said.

  Looking back over at X, I immediately noticed the solemn look on her face. She was staring at her reflection as though she were in deep thought. What was going on with her, I thought.

  “What’s up, X?”

  She sighed before she peeled the few bills out of her garter belt and threw them into the pile of money.

  “I love this money, don’t get me wrong Cam...,”she paused. “But I just don’t feel the same about this shit like I used to.”

  I took a seat beside her. “What? Stripping?”

  She turned to face me. “Girl, this shit is dead to me. I been feeling this way for a minute too. I just....I gotta better myself for my son, you know?” she said. “I been thinking about just getting a regular job and then maybe taking some classes.”

  “That sounds like a good plan,” I added.

  She shrugged. “I just hope I ain’t too addicted to this lifestyle. You feel me? Like to the point where its too hard for me to quit.” She looked up at me. “On some real shit, Cam...Don’t be like ya girl, Poca. Don’t let this stripper shit consume you. This is just a job. Never a career,” she

  said. “I’m not tryna sound like I’m ya mom or whatever, but stay in school, girl. Get ya degree and shit. This is just a temporary hustle. Never nothin’ permament. You feel me?”

  I couldn’t see myself quitting stripping even if I wanted to. The money was just too addictive. But instead of telling her that, I simply mumbled, “Yeah.”

  “Shit, you better get out there and make it do what it do before Pocahantas try to steal all the attention,” X said.

  ***

  “Aye, what’s up? Ya’ll trying to go to Smoove’s again tonight?” Poca asked.

  “Girl, they’re not about to let my ass back in there after the shit that happened last night.”

  “Why the hell not?” X asked pulling on her blue pumps.

  “You ain’t tell her?” Poca smiled. “Last night Cam mopped the floor with Pure Seduction’s ass.”

  X’s mouth fell open as she gasped. “You fought Pure? No wonder her ass wasn’t here tonight.”

  Poca bounced up and down in order to get her skinny jeans over her shapely hips. “Stop trippin,’ Cam. They will let you in. You coming tonight, X?”

  X sighed. “I guess. I will just have to pay the babysitter extra for overtime.”

  “Cool,” Poca beamed. “We out then.”

  Chapter 6

  As expected, Smoove’s was packed much like it was yesterday. Me, X-Rated and Pocahontas strutted inside and I wasn’t surprised at all when the bouncer stepped in front of me before I could enter.

  “Ain’t gone be none of that bullshit that happened last night. Understand?”

  I smiled halfheartedly. “I promise you won’t get any drama out of me tonight.”

  He stepped aside. “Alright now. Gone in...with yo’ fine ass,” he smiled.

  French Montana’s “Shot Caller” was bumping and a brown skinned vixen with enough ass to donate was on stage making it clap.

  “Let’s hurry up and get dressed. I’m trying to get in on that money,” X-Rated said.

  After we changed into our outfits, X-Rated worked the bar until her turn on stage while Poca and I entertained the fellas in the pool room with a little girl on girl action. Nothing too erotic just a bit of fondling and nipple sucking.

  After our enticing act, Poca and I headed to the women’s restroom to count our money. Just as we were heading in the back, X-Rated stopped me and handed me her drawstring money bag.

  “Hold on to my money. I’m about to go on stage.”

  “Alright,” I agreed taking it.

  She knew what she was doing when she asked me instead of Poca to hold onto her money. Pocahontas was known for having sticky fingers. That fact was more than evident when she snagged Pure’s money bag last night.

  Once Poca and I were in the restroom, we dumped our bundle of money onto the floor and began counting what we made so that we could split it evenly. Oddly enough there were no twenties in the big stack of money. Call me crazy, but I clearly saw a guy toss two twenty dollar bills on me and Poca while we were dancing on each other.

  The rest of the bills were only ones and fives. If I was a petty bitch, I would’ve confronted Poca but I was not about to trip over forty dollars. I had yet to even go on st
age and I knew I’d make that little money back and then some.

  Just as I was handing Poca her share of the money, we heard the distinctive sounds of shouting and arguing coming from the bar.

  “Fuck you!” A man yelled.

  “What the hell is going on?” Poca was ready to be an onlooker and maybe even an instigator to the drama.

  I followed her down the narrow hallway that led to the bar, where the shouting match between two men got even louder.

  “Its always some shit”--

  Pop! Pop! Pop! Pop!

  Poca and I ducked down immediately, laying our bodies on the dirty floor to avoid being caught in the gunfire.

  Glass shattered and screams filled the club as people ran about frantically in attempt to get out the bar. Suddenly, a stripper ran past me and stepped on the back of my hand with her six inch heel. The combination of fear and adrenaline had caused me to not feel the pain immediately.

  My heart thumped wildly and all I could think about was dying right here tonight. A few people hopped over the bar and ducked down for safety while others fled to the poolroom.

  “What now, mothafucka?!”

  Pop! Pop!

  From the ground, I saw a heavyset man wearing a red jacket dart out the front door. Apparently he was the one who had let off the shots.

  The few people that were still in the club stayed hidden for several more seconds, fearing the armed man might return. When we finally did peel ourselves off the ground, we noticed a few people gathering around a motionless body. The bouncer was lying in the middle of the floor in a large pool of his own dark red blood. I felt sorry for him but I was however, grateful that it neither me nor my girls.

  My hand throbbed as it swelled from being stepped on. The pain had finally surfaced and I was positive it might have been broken.

  ”Something told me not to bring my ass down here tonight,” a random guy complained.

  “Oh my God!”

  My mind was in such a state of panic and confusion that it took my brain several seconds to register the scream came from Poca.

  When I turned to see what Pocahontas was staring at, I could have fainted. The sight of X-Rated lying face down on stage with her right arm dangling over the edge was just too unbearable.

  Poca and I ran towards the stage and when I reached her I noticed a dime sized hole in her upper back. Sitting down beside her, I gently turned her over to see if she was breathing. Tears slid down my cheeks and dripped from my chin landing on X-Rated’s expressionless face, her eyes were slightly open.

  “Somebody call the fucking ambulance! Fuck ya’ll standing around for? Get help!” I turned my attention back towards X-Rated. “You’re okay,” I said in clear denial. “It’s alright. We gone get you some help.” I knew she was dead but I still screamed, "Where's the fuckin' ambulance?! She needs help!"

  Rocking her head back in forth in my lap all I could think about was her son and the fact that we were all just kicking it yesterday without a care in the world.

  "It's gonna be okay," I kept repeating over and over.

  "Cam, she's gone..." Poca said softly.

  Chapter 7

  I was so fucked up about X-Rated being shot and killed that the doctors had to beg me to treat my sprained hand. When I was finally discharged a few hours later, I left the hospital with my left hand in a white bandage and one friend less.

  Pocahontas drove me back to the dorm in silence and for that I was grateful. I didn’t have anything to say. My thoughts fought with my emotions and I wanted nothing more than to just curl up in my twin size bed and cry.

  When Poca pulled up to the intersection of 22nd and Euclid Avenue, she opened her mouth like she wanted to say something then quickly closed it. After a few seconds she finally asked, “Are you gonna be alright, Cameron?”

  My mouth was dry but I still managed to swallow the lump that had formed in my throat. I gave a slight nod before climbing out the car. Poca sat parked at the curb for several seconds and watched me walk inside Viking Hall before finally pulling off.

  ***

  For the next three days, I stayed secluded in my dorm room. I ignored all phone calls and text messages. I even missed class since I felt like I could not focus with my friend’s death on my conscience.

  As I was lying in bed watching old reruns of The Parkers, there was an unexpected knock at my door. I figured it was Tiffany and honestly I didn’t want to be bothered with her either so I stayed planted right in bed, hoping that she’d get the point and just go away.

  “Cam, it’s me. Open the damn door.”

  I slowly sat up in bed, surprised at the sound of Silk’s voice on the opposite side of the door. Dragging myself out of bed, I made my way over to the door and opened it for him. He was holding a bag of food from Rascal House Pizza.

  “How did you get up here?" I asked. “The people at the front desk weren’t tripping?”

  “Damn. No ‘hey, how you doing’? Not even a hug for yo’ man?” Silk opened his arms and I slowly fell into his embrace. Inhaling the scent of his Axe Anarchy body spray, I realized I really did miss him.

  After we stepped into my dorm room, he took a seat at the desk and placed the food down. “I got you something to eat.”

  “Thanks,” I muttered.

  He opened my Communications text book, flipped through a couple pages and tossed it back down. “I’m sorry about what happened to yo’, girl.” He shook his head. “That was some fucked up shit.”

  I picked up the rattail comb that I kept handily by my side. Using the tail of it, I scratched my hand underneath the bandage.

  “How long they say you gotta wear that thing?” he asked.

  “Just two weeks,” I mumbled.

  He whistled. “Damn.” He then stood to his feet, walked over to the bed, and took a seat beside me.

  “I went up to yo’ job asking about you since you been giving me the cold shoulder and shit.”

  I turned my attention back to the show. “I just been needing some time to myself.”

  Silk stood to his feet, walked over to my flat panel television and turned it off. “Trying to cope alone ain’t gone help nothing, Cam,” he said.

  I shrugged and looked out the window. A long line had formed at the club, Peabody’s as people anxiously waited for the doors to open.

  Silk cupped my chin in his hand and slowly turned my head in his direction. “Look, I know I ain’t always the man you need me to be. And I know shit’s been lightweight rocky between us lately. But bay, I want you to know I’m here for you. Alright?”

  I nodded my head and looked down, not wanting him to see the tears pooling in my eyes.

  Silk gently brought my face towards his and placed a soft kiss on my bottom lip. He tried to slip his tongue inside my mouth but I quickly turned my head away. Honestly, I wasn’t in the mood. My best friend had been murdered less than seventy-two hours ago and the last thing on my mind was getting “dicked down”.

  “Baby...”

  “It’s cool,” Silk said. “I understand.” He stood to his feet. “Well, I just wanted to see how you was doing. And bring you something to eat.”

  Forcing a smile, I said, “I appreciate it.”

  He leaned down and kissed me on the forehead.

  “Love you, bay,” I told him.

  “Love you too,” he said before leaving.

  ***

  I awoke to the sound of Nicki Minaj’s “Beez in Trap” as my cell phone rang on the desk. After eating the chicken tenders and French fries, I had fallen right to sleep. Glancing out my window, I noticed the sun was finally setting.

  Dragging myself out of bed, I picked my cell phone up and examined the number. “What’s up, Poca?” My greeting was nonchalant.

  “Girl I been worried sick about ya ass and all you can say is what’s up?”

  “I just needed a couple days to myself, you know?”

  “I feel you,” she said. “Look. I was just calling to tell you X’s funeral is to
morrow morning. I’ll be there at ten to come pick you up.”

  I sighed into the receiver. Funerals were something I just did not do. Even though I was only nine when my parents passed away, I could still remember the funeral vividly. All of the screaming and self-blaming were things I just could not deal with. However, for the sake of my girl I had to put all that behind me.

  “Alright. “I’ll be ready.”

  Chapter 8

  “Girl, what the hell are you wearing?” I asked the minute I climbed in the car.

  Poca attempted to pull her black shorts down but was unsuccessful.

  “What?” she asked innocently. “You’re supposed to wear black to funerals, right?”

  I took a moment to observe Poca’s outfit. This girl had the nerve to be wearing a pair of black hip hugging shorts, black stockings underneath them, and a black lace top with her black bra clearly exposed underneath.

  “Girl, hell no. You coming with me upstairs to find you something to wear.”

  Poca shifted the car into Drive and pulled off. “We ain’t got time for that. Besides, my girl would’ve wanted me to come as I am.”

  I snorted. “Yeah, well, I‘m sure her family won’t.”

  Poca and I arrived late and of course missed the wake. As expected, the minute we traipsed into the funeral home, everyone craned their necks to see us. Most squinted their eyes while others frowned at Poca’s unacceptable attire.

  Naturally, I decided to take a seat in the last row. X’s aunt was at the church stand giving a heartfelt speech while reminiscing about the days when X-Rated used to be a child...well before the stripper lifestyle had consumed her.

  I was all into the speech up until Poca pulled out her wig brush from her Gucci purse and began brushing her weave. The noisy sound it had created caused a few people’s head to turn in our direction.