by KC Mills
When You Know It’s Real
Streets vs Love
Yosiah and Nonie
A Novel By
KC Mills
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© 2016
Published by Leo Sullivan Presents
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All rights reserved.
This is a work of fiction. Names, characters, businesses, places, events and incidents are either the products of the author’s imagination or used in a fictitious manner. Any resemblance to actual persons, living or dead, or actual events is purely coincidental. Unauthorized reproduction, in any manner, is prohibited.
Nonie
“Nonie, look. Hustle Royalty is in the building.” My home girl Kizzie elbowed me in the ribs, totally fucking up my high.
I guess I should have been excited because if anybody from Hustle Royalty Crew was at one of our events, it meant that our shit was jumping. But I already knew that because our shit was always jumping. I also knew that HRC being present meant that Yosiah was somewhere around, and that was a problem I didn't need. You see, me and my girl, Kizzie, were what you called party planners. We threw functions for any and everybody, but on a low scale. We’re trying to take it to a higher scale, though.
Don’t get me wrong, hood parties were the shit, and banging as always, but we both wanted more than to host for the area ballers and bosses. For now, the money was good, and we had hood celebrity status, so life was cool. We were paid, and I really couldn't complain. Well not about my financial status. Now, my personal life was an entirely different story.
“Nonie! Damn hoe, did you hear me?”
Kizzie’s annoying ass high pitched voice forced me to open my eyes and look at her. We were currently leaning against the wall of the club that Johns had rented to throw his girl, Rena, a party for her twenty-first birthday. The price tag for this event was forty-two grand, plus our payment of fifteen grand right off the top. The typical rate for us should really be no more than 20% of the budget, but when you’re dealing with people who are hood rich and you’re making them happy, they tend to get real generous.
Johns didn't care, he had it to spend. Fifty-seven grand, not including all the shit he purchased for her, which included the brand new customized Range sitting out front with a lavender bow on it was a drop in the bucket. The funny shit was that he had also paid us to do the same thing in a neighboring city for one of his other women a few months back. Johns wasn't shit, but his women didn't care because a stack was a stack, and if you were associated with Johns, then you had plenty of them to spare.
“I hear you, Kiz. You know I don't give two fucks about anybody from HRC, so why you blowing my high to bring that to my attention? I wasn't really a smoker, but tonight I needed something to get me through. Johns was a pain in the ass, and I knew for sure that Siah was going to be at the party, so I got an early start. I wanted to make sure I had no worries by the time he finally showed his face.
Kizzie’s eyes were immediately on me as her lips moved to the side and she sucked her teeth. “Girl, tell that damn lie to a priest because he ’bout the only one who will believe it. You may not care about anybody in HRC, but you care about somebody in HRC, and that somebody is standing over there eye fucking your lying ass as we speak.”
What should have been the whites of my eyes, which I was sure were currently cherry red due to all the kush I had smoked, immediately showed as they rolled back in my head. I knew without question who Kizzie was talking about, and sure enough, when I looked up, our eyes met. Siah’s sexy ass let his tongue move across his bottom lip as a smirk spread across his face when he realized he finally had my attention. The trick on his lap had her back to me as she moved her hands up and down his chest, but she was too damn stupid to realize that he was lusting over me. That made me chuckle as I shot him a bird. Of course, his smile grew wider.
The sight of him annoyed me and turned me on at the same time. I hated that he did that to me, so I pulled my body from the wall slowly, being mindful of my balance. The heels on my feet and the Kush I had smoked had me barely able to stand, but I was determined to get as far away from Siah as I could.
“If you don't care, then why you running, Nonie?” Kizzie was right behind me as I made my way to the bar.
I really wanted to snap on her annoying ass because she was right. I did care, but it didn't matter. Yosiah and I were what we were, and that was complicated and unexplainable.
“Man, Kizzie, shut the fuck up with that. I’m not running, I just need a drink.”
I held my hand up as we approached the bar and waited. Kizzie leaned her back against the bar so she could have a clear view of me and the club, while I sat with my back to Siah so I didn't have to look at him with someone else.
“Hoe, please. Siah got your panties wet and you know it. Y'all be on some ignorant shit. You mad at him because he fucking with other hoes, he mad at you cause you fucking with other niggas, but then y'all dumb asses won't just stop with all the bullshit and get together. I don't get it, Nonie.”
“That’s because there isn't nothing to get. He can do him and I can do me.”
“Yep,” was all Kizzie said, but the smug grin on her face said a hell of a lot more than that.
“What can I get you, Nonie?” Densen asked when she approached.
“Let me get two shots of Patron.”
“Damn, mama, you doing it like that?” From the smell of his cologne and the sound of his voice, I knew it was Royce’s fine ass before I even turned around.
“It's that kind of night, baby.” I looked up at him and smiled, which was an invitation for Royce to move closer.
Our bodies were now touching and his hand moved to my ass. It felt nice, since I was partially still floating. I missed us being together, but my conscience wouldn't let me do it anymore. So aside from sex here and there, Royce and I were officially just friends.
“You need me to help you forget things?” Royce asked, leaning in toward the side of my face before he kissed my temple and then my jaw.
My horny ass was about to tell him hell yes, until I heard Jock’s voice. That meant the bullshit was about to begin. Siah had sent him and I knew it.
“Yo, Royce, let me holla at you for a minute.”
I felt my temple twitching because I knew exactly why Jock was interrupting, and so did Kizzie, which was why she was laughing. Poor Royce didn't have a clue. I looked up, and sure enough, Yosiah had his lips on the hoe in his lap, but his eyes on me.
“Hold up, Jock,” Royce said, still focused on me. He really didn't get that whatever he was thinking was about to be shut down, courtesy of Siah.
“Nah, right now, bruh. Siah needs you to make a run for him.” Jock wore a crooked grin as he balled up one fist and covered it with his hand.
Royce looked back at Jock with his head cocked to the side, trying to figure out why Siah was asking him to make a run.
If HRC was at the club, it meant that business was done for the day, so Siah asking Royce to do anything business related didn't make sense. Yosiah was serious about his business. There was a time and place for everything. If he let his crew chill at the club, it meant that they had earned it by handling all their business, and Royce knew that too.
“The fuck, Jock? We’re chilling tonight. Siah told me that himself.”
“Yeah, well shit changed, bruh. You can take that up with him. I’m just delivering the message.”
Royce looked at me and then over at Siah. He was beyond pissed. I knew him well enough to know that just by the look on his
face and his body language. “Yo, let me go see what this shit is about. I’ll hit you later, Nonie.”
He leaned in and placed his lips on mine, and just to be an ass, I kissed him back a little more than I should have. If Siah wanted to pull rank, then I could too.
“Yo, you got me hating to leave and shit, but don't sweat it. I promise I’ll hit you later.” Royce winked at me before he walked off to go see Siah, but Jock stayed.
“You know you wrong as fuck, Nonie. You knew Siah wasn't having that shit while he’s up in here.” Jock frowned at me and Kizzie laughed again.
“The fuck you laughing for? That’s your girl. You’re supposed to make sure she don't do no dumb shit like that,” Jock snapped at Kizze.
“Fuck you, Jock. She’s grown, and last I checked, Siah wasn't her man, so she can do what she wants.” Kizzie stepped to Jock and got right in his face, which made him laugh.
He grabbed her waist and pulled her into his body before he kissed her. She didn't fight it, but she punched him dead in the chest when he let her go, which made him chuckle.
“I’ll fuck with you later, Kizzie. And Nonie, keep these niggas out of yo face, Pretty, before you get somebody fucked up in here tonight. That nigga is drunk as fuck, and about to be high as shit. I don't have time to be into no shit because he wants to act a fool about you. You know he will, so behave, Pretty. Can you do that for me, please?”
“Sure, if you can do me a solid,” I said with a grin.
“What's that?”
“Tell Siah I said I’m not his girl and to stay the fuck out of my business.” I turned and walked off but heard Jock behind me.
“I’m not telling that nigga shit, Nonie, ’cause we both know what’s up. Now have fun, but keep them niggas at a distance.”
I heard Jock chuckle, but I kept moving until I got to the bathroom. I was mad as hell, but knew it didn't matter. Siah did what he wanted, and if he wanted to run off any man who had balls enough to get in my face, he would.
Never mind the sea of hoes that were around him right now, but I wasn't about to have him show out on me tonight. I knew he would because Siah was a few screws short of completion. Simply put, he was crazy, and I wasn't about to have an episode with him. I sucked it up and mentally prepared myself to get through the rest of this event and my night without having to deal with him.
“Nonie, you chilling with Royce after we leave here?” Kizzie asked as I took a mental note of everything that we needed to handle before we called it for the night.
Johns had already paid us in cash and settled up on the bill for the club, so we were pretty much in the clear to leave. I just liked to make sure everything was under control before I left one of our events.
“The heck if I know. Siah is probably going to have him tied up all night doing some irrelevant shit that could have waited. He only pulled that little stunt to make sure he wasn't around me.”
I looked across the club and caught sight of Siah, who had two new hoes wrapped around his body. True to form, he was high as a kite, but still puffing. I swear he just didn't care. That was good for me because it meant that he was likely going home with a few of the tricks that were around him. At least he wasn’t likely to pop up on me.
“Girl, I don't get it. Siah don't want you with nobody else, but he won't act right to save his life. You know what I say, fuck him. Oh, wait, you already did, and that’s why he be blocking your ass like Serge Ibaka be blocking shots for OKC.” Kizzie laughed at her own joke, but I shoved her in the back and she almost fell over.
“Damn, hoe, don't get mad at me ’cause you gave that crazy man your cookie and now he acts like you belong to him.”
“It's not that simple, and you know it, Kizzie.”
“Whatever, I’m too damn tipsy to have this conversation with you right now, so let's just call it and we’ll do this shit tomorrow when we’re both sober.” Kizzie threw her arms around me and kissed my cheek.
“You good to drive home, boo?” I asked after she released me.
“Yeah, I’m cool. What about you, love bug?”
“I’m Gucci, boo.” I smiled at Kizzie before tucking my purse under my arm and looping mine through hers.
We strutted to the front of the club, catching the attention of men and women, pulling in both positive and negative energy. Females hated us and men wanted us, but we were used to it. It had always been that way, and it wasn't about to change now.
I climbed in my Benz and started the engine, then pulled my phone out to check my messages before I left the parking lot. I had a text from Royce telling me that he had to drive out to Hawthorne Ave, and would be there all night, so he’d catch up with me later. That pissed me off because I knew Yosiah did that just to make sure I didn't kick it with Royce after I left the club.
He was good for shit like that. Royce was on his team, but I knew Royce before I knew Siah. Actually, Royce was the reason I even knew Yosiah. He took me with him once to pick up money and deliver it to Siah. He left me in the car, but Siah walked him out, and that was the first time we laid eyes on each other. Siah was the kind of man who went after what he wanted, and at the time, I was want he wanted. He tracked me down and pursued me until I finally gave in, and now here we are years later in our dysfunctional cycle.
Yosiah ran New Jersey, but most of his set ups were in the hood. I grew up in Elizabeth city, which technically was away from most of the areas that Siah ran. So, until he pursued me, I had never even heard of him. Royce was actually the first dope boy I had ever dealt with. I wasn't your standard good girl or anything like that, it just wasn't my thing.
I met Royce at the mall, and I had no idea what he did. Royce was a pretty boy and preppy looking, so when I found out he was a dope boy, needless to say I was shocked. Siah, on the other hand, was the complete opposite of Royce, and the second I laid eyes on him it was over. He was cocky and confident, a chocolate dream, and I knew I was going to have him.
Yosiah was just sexy in a rugged kind of way. He was as hood as they came, but still classy. Siah was tall with a slim, muscular physique, which was perfectly cut and toned. His dark eyes and jet black hair gave him that ‘don't fuck with me’ kind of vibe. Siah also had two scars on his left jaw line from where he had been shot when he was a teenager, but it only added to his appeal. It was hard to be scared of a light skinned dude, so Royce and Siah were an interesting contrast.
From Siah’s perfectly toned arms and chest that were graced with the right amount of body art, to his slightly bowed legs, that I’m sure was due to the blessing that was between them, everything about this man screamed living, breathing, addiction. It was evident in the way he walked, talked, hell, simply the way he breathed, and I was an addict. Yep, my ass was sprung the second I laid eyes on him, but little did I know, Siah would end up being my worst headache.
He had tracked me down and forced his way into my life, not really giving a fuck that I was with Royce. I couldn't do Royce like that, so Siah and I kinda kicked it on the low, even after I finally walked away from what Royce and I had. Siah hated it, but he did it out of respect for me. I had damn near begged because Royce was cool, and he had always been square with me. But Siah was a drug, and after my first hit, I was addicted. Siah was trouble, though. Every female wanted him and every guy hated him, which was one reason why I never let anyone know that we were kicking it.
I knew he would never be with just me, so my way of coping was to let him live his life while I lived mine. Only difference was that Siah felt like I was his, and no matter how much I pretended, I wasn't actually living my life. He hated me being with anybody but him, even though he had hoes on top of hoes day in and day out. I couldn't count the number of times he had rolled up on me and shut me down from kicking it with the next man. I eventually learned to live with it, but it annoyed me that he could do whatever he wanted and I had to play by his rules. Problem was, half of Siah was better than no Siah. I needed him. Crazy as it sounded, I accepted his terms because I ne
eded him.
Royce and I weren't together anymore, but we still kicked it occasionally. He was a good substitute when Siah wasn't around, but he wasn't Yosiah. I made it work, though, because Royce was A-1 too. He kept me satisfied, it’s just that my heart wasn't with him the way it was with Siah. Crazy, I know, but some things we have no control over, and my addiction to Yosiah was one of those things.
Yosiah
“Yo, you wrong as fuck for sending him out to Hawthorne like that. You know that nigga cussing your black ass for days. Ain't shit going on out there, ’cause Hollis be on point with his, and you sending Royce out there to check on him is gonna piss him off.”
I chuckled. “Man, fuck Royce. That nigga wanna keep his job then he’ll go wherever the fuck I tell him to go. I already hit Hollis up and told him to keep that nigga busy for a minute.”
I let my head fall back and my eyes closed. I was high as fuck, as Jock pulled away from the club. I sent Royce on a pointless trip to check on a few things, just to make sure he didn't show up at Nonie’s crib. I was good for that shit, but I could do that. Royce and Nonie used to be solid, but she eventually let him go after we started fucking around. It wasn't that I ever really intended to fuck up her relationship, but once I had Nonie, a nigga got possessive as a muthafucker.
I should have felt bad for scooping her up like that, but Royce wasn't for Nonie. He straight, I guess, and probably better for her too. But Royce wasn't me. He couldn't handle somebody like Nonie. Besides, she was mine from the second I laid eyes on her. We kept that shit on the low, though. That was her thing. She didn’t wanna hurt that nigga’s feelings, even though I didn't give a fuck how he felt about it. I only went along with it ’cause she asked me to, and Nonie got what she wanted from me… well almost anything. Commitment wasn't in the cards, but everything else she was good for, so the only people who really knew about us was Jock, and Kizzie. The way I was blocking her ass with other niggas likely had people assuming, but nobody questioned me on anything I did, so that shit was just that, assumptions.