Hoodwinked

by Desiree Granger

  We kept walking throughout the Underground, taking in everything like I was in the middle of a black fantasy-like dream I wasn’t sure I wanted to wake from. I watched this one guy draped in red Louis Vuitton down to his belt, and hat with black shades on, stand on top of a crate to yell.

  “Aye?! Anybody wanna flip they life, come see bout’ me! I can change ya life in one night! For my collectors, and buyers! I got that alpha and omega on deck! That ying-yang ya feel me?! Fully signed contracts!” He hollered out, showing a gold tooth in the front as he pointed at a few people he recognized. “What up playa!? How yo sista and em’ been?! Ol Troy outta prison yet or he still locked up?!”

  “We living, and you know that nigga! Hell, at this point he’d rather be in there than pay child support, ya feel meh?! How you?!”

  “You know, tryna live my damn self!” Only to focus back to the crowd. “Aye?! Anything y'all want! I can make it happen! From money, status, cars, clothes! I can flip yo life in one night! Come see bout me! Ya boy!”

  I paused to watch a guy with his hands stuffed into his pockets walk up to the man who stepped down from the crate to talk to him. Tallulah almost tugged at my arm before realizing I was watching the scene go down.

  “What is he doing?” I asked, seeing the guy suddenly nod and walk off.

  “Another nigga out here storyin’ and scamming for money. He’s not the real deal in that sense. Most of the time, they come to you. You never go to them…but some that are desperate, and seeking answers, go to greedy people like him. Thinking that’s the way when really, they’re just getting themselves into a deeper hole. Niggas like the one in the red prey on people like that. People who don’t know any better...shit!” She hissed as the man in the red looked our way through the shades, and smiled. Exposing the gold tooth. “Jasmine you was staring too damn hard---.”

  “Well, I didn’t know!” I panicked, trying to walk on.

  “Aye!? Excuse me?! Baby in the red! Hold up!”

  “Jasmine come on,” Tallulah laughed, grabbing my arm to keep me moving.

  We finally came up on a turn where there was a line wrapped along the walls just to get inside. Most of the men and women that stood outside eyed everyone else up and down. It was like Atlanta’s best, and worst dressed all together from girls who looked like they belonged in my brother’s rap videos, manufactured bodies and lace fronts with the high cheek bone makeup to girls wearing outfits either two sizes too small or weren’t dressed up at all. Wearing jeans, boots, and a nice top. The entrance to where the music was coming from opened, letting out all the noise, and chaos from inside the club before closing again as nobody stood at the door to watch guard. Just a single red rope draped in front of it with girls waiting patiently.

  “You see these girls here,” Tallulah pointed. “They’ll never get in. They think all you have to be is pretty, thin, or coke bottle shaped to get in a place like this. Nah,” shaking her head as the door opened again with a large black man stepping back out in a black tight shirt, and black pants. He pointed to a girl wearing a hoodie, and jeans for her to go in.

  “Nah uh! How the fuck is she allowed in, and not me?!” One complained with a pop of her gum. Whipping her blonde weave back from her face as she stood in her six-inch heels. “I’ve been out here waiting! You see how I look!”

  “This ain’t that kind of club!” The man barked, standing up against the wall. Tallulah looked at me with a told you so look as Delilah stood off to the side on her phone, waiting. Pia looked nervously around, sipping her drink while Indigo and Francesca came dragging behind us in a deep conversation.

  “I mean if she can get in looking like a bum! We should all be able to get in!” Another girl complained. “You leaving all the bad bitches out here! For whet!? Huh!? For whet!?”

  “So go home then!” The man yelled back, crossing his thick arms over his beefy chest as he got comfortable against the wall. “We’re looking for energy, not bodies! Why don’t you vibrate a lil higher, and you might get noticed!”

  A few girls snapped as they stormed out of the line but just as surely as they got out, the line moved forward with more coming in towards the end. Thinking it was impossible to just walk in, a few guys with a group of girls walked past and headed straight for the door. Slapping hands with the bouncer before being let in.

  “What determines if we can go or not?” I asked as she looked at me with those wild eyes blinking twice before smiling.

  “Being different or knowing somebody that’s different. Sometimes...it’s not about how you look, but how you carry yourself,” she said as we watched a heavy set girl wearing a sequin black strapless dress with heels walk. Short curly fro with a wide back, and knees that came together, she was getting stares, and gawks from everyone until the man stepped aside to let her in with a smile. “And sometimes, it's all in who you know.”

  “My bad!” I heard a loud voice say. “Nigga was giving me a hard time about the parking! Had to tell em, my baby mama finna cuss me out if I leave her by herself for too long. Yall ready?!”

  I turned to see Delilah’s boyfriend Ben, yank his jeans up with a janky strut of a walk towards his woman before draping an arm around her neck. Looking back at us with his braids swinging. Besides the fact that he sounds like something out of the corn fields in Mississippi, the tattoos on his skin seemed to be more noticeable under this light.

  “He’s the one to get us in?” I laughed, following behind the rest as Tallulah smiled.

  “No but it apparently helps to know someone like him,” she shrugged as the man opened the door for us. Just above the barrier was a blue neon sign that said Esme Lounge. Flickering on, and off as we stepped inside the dark, spacious layout. The crowd was packed with tables and chairs. Stools, and a bar that wrapped around with a stage that had a live band playing. Yet there were a set of stairs that went to the level below us, glowing bright red as Delilah turned towards us, holding Ben’s hand.

  “Yall be careful! I’m serious!” She warned, looking at me in particular. Nevaeh already started to find a place to sit and relax while Pia went straight for the bar. “Don’t take anything that isn’t directly from the bar. If someone is passing around drinks, do not take it. If you leave with somebody let us know so----.”

  “Yeah, yeah we know! Drinks from the bar only! We know!” Tallulah cut her off as she pulled me down to the steps. “We’ll be down here where the real party is at! Yall can stay up here with that old ass music!”

  “Wait for us!” Francesca laughed as the four of us, younger and full of a sudden burst of energy, rushed down the small black steps, hearing the rowdiness of the crowd in the basement before turning into what looked like a massive wave of people just having fun. Drinks high in the air from those small mason jars to large bottles. Francesca, and Indigo had long disappeared into the crowd on their own, but Tallulah pulled me along like a snake weaving and sliding in and out of the crowd until we got our drinks. Didn’t take much to get beyond intoxicated at this point despite none of these drinks having alcohol in them. I could feel the influence take over with ease.

  “Jasmine!” She called out, holding her phone out for a picture. I got behind her shoulder, sipping through the straw as we took pictures and recorded ourselves.

  “I’m in Atlanta! Ehhhhhh!” Sticking her tongue out as I danced behind her. “Real ass chocolate queens right here! Fuck you fake ass niggas who cheat, and lie! Go play with them hoes, boi! Don’t play with us!”

  “FUCK PERCY!” I blurted out randomly, but it felt so good to get it out of my system that I screamed it again. “FUCK PERCY MILTONNNN!”

  “What we bout to do best fran?!” She asked, still eyeing the camera as I flipped my hair over my shoulders, eyeing the row of men staring our way.

  “I’m trying to have the best sex of my life tonight, and to be in the arms of my future soulmate!” I yelled out as she turned to look at me with a gasp before we both laughed.

  “And guess what I’m finna do!?” Ta
llulah said into the camera. “As her best fran, I’ma make sure she get the best sex of her life, and find her future soulmate! Atlaaaaanuh! Wessssup!”

  “Wait!” I laughed, looking at her. “What about you?”

  “Oh bitch, I’m getting mine if you getting yours. I’m just making sure we on the same page! Eeeoooow!” She let out as I drew my head back with another laugh.

  “We finna take it old school! What y'all know about this!?” The DJ yelled as the familiar chiming sound of Knuck if you Buck came on. Entire basement began to jump as I watched one man in particular, light skin with brown eyes. He stood out easily in the jumping crowd as one of the only to stand completely still with his eyes wavering on me. I smiled. Looked behind me, and all around. Faking confusion before pointing at myself as he laughed. Nodding his head, I smiled and immediately leaned into Lu to do the same.

  “Do you see him?! Do you see him?!” I freaked in a drunken manner. “He’s staring right at us!”

  “He got fine third wheelers too. Be cool! Be cool!” She laughed just as he walked over towards us with two of his friends. One dark skinned with dreads eyeing Tallulah like a meal, and the other brown skinned, perfect blend of the two with curly hair that was tapered.

  “Yall need one more beautiful girl to make it even for us!” The dark skinned one said playfully while the one who caught my eye never stopped staring. He leaned in close with his hand brushing up against my waist as my chest unintentionally poked out towards his. “You know you made a mistake coming here tonight!”

  I pulled back while playfully sipping another Honey Jar, and openly eyed him up, and down.

  “Why is it a mistake?!” I asked over the music as he leaned in again.

  “Because I know your fiance is probably at the house probably going crazy thinking about all the things you’re about to get into, tonight!”

  I pulled back, eyes wide with innocence as he gave me a smug grin. I didn’t have my ring on, and nothing gave off that I was engaged so how would he know? He suddenly leaned in again with a lick of his lips against my ear.

  “You’re too beautiful not to be tied down. What’s your name for the night? Girls always give fake names in the club, so what’s yours?”

  “Imani!” I blurted out, stupidly giving out my middle name. “Yours?!”

  “Tsul!” He said as my brows came together. “Cherokee name,” licking his lips as Tallulah blurted out.

  “Nigguhh, Indian where?!” She laughed. “Talm’ bout Cherokee,” deepening her voice before bursting out in laughter as the other guy pulled her attention away. Tsul leaned in close with a possessive arm around my waist. Ignoring Tallulah’s antics that just made me want to laugh when he finally spoke, “you’re mine for the night, come dance with me.”

  I nodded, putting my drink down only to grab another that was readily available at the bar, strangely free of charge. Tallulah was a step behind as her guy grabbed her hand to pull her to the dance floor, and we both began to dance to...whatever song was playing at the time. I could hardly hear as I felt his chest against my back, arms around my waist. My eyes were struggling to focus as the basement began to slowly spin in a winding circle. Swirling like one big blur as I tried to latch on to face after face. Looking into the spinning crowd only to see one, in particular, stand out. Standing straight ahead with a shove of his gold-rimmed glasses.

  “Percy?” I let out, trying to stop the spinning. I whipped back, feeling off-balanced, trying to find that same stiff caramel brown face in the crowd once more. Reaching out for Lu who was dropping it low. Hands on her knees while the men fought to be behind her until I felt my feet… Wait a minute…

  My heels slowly began to lift off the floor. Barely hovering, and floating in mid-air when I called out to her. Damn it...where was my dildo? Where was my drink? Was that even Percy or just my imaginary… Imagine…. Imagery… Imagination!

  I needed another drink.

  My mouth was dry, but I could feel the cool breeze of the night air suddenly on my skin as my arms felt heavy around the man’s neck.

  “You passed out,” the light skinned man said…. I looked up at the night sky, seeing the skyrise buildings of downtown Atlanta. Only it was quiet. As if we were the only ones in the city. Not even the sound of a car or bus going by before hearing Tallulah’s laughter behind me.

  “I passed out?” I repeated in question. I don’t remember that. He looked at me with a nod.

  “You were dancing so much. I’m taking you out here to cool off for a minute,” putting me down as he held on to my body still. Claiming me like I was his. I looked up at Tsul who was calling out to his friends. So manly, so street, and direct. Nothing like what Percy thought he was.

  His skin was so soft, and chest was so...ripe...and full. I pressed my nose against the center of his shirt and inhaled. He smelled like romance, eternity, and sex….I felt myself attempt to take a bite, a gentle bite at his peck as my entire body throbbed.

  What is wrong with me?

  “Forget the hotel, we can just go back to my place! No problem! I got my own spot, we don’t need a stupid hotell room!” He boasted before looking down at me with a smile.

  “Can you kiss me?” I asked softly, wishing Percy were here to see this, but Tsul leaned in for my neck instead and placed the most...Whatever was in my hands dropped as my eyes closed, feeling his tongue, and lips close down on my skin. I let out a soft moan that seemed to harden his body at the sound before he pulled back to look down at me with those brown eyes. Flicking from side to side.

  “Wassup?” He asked, voice deep in question as he stared at my lips. I simply smiled, eyes barely open. Hearing Tallulah laughing.

  “Your name...is lust spelt backwards, isn’t it?” I asked just as he grinned. Licking his lips, he reached up with the palm of his hands and gently pulled my eyes closed, brushing his hand down my face before gently tugging at my lower lip with his thumb.

  “W-wait...wait a minute..” I muttered incoherently.

  Percy Milton

  “We finna take it old school! What y'all know about this!?” The DJ yelled in the packed basement club as I felt bodies move all around me. Jumping from side to side while I kept still. Taking another swig of my drink. I wasn’t sure what they were called, Honey Jars, Monkey Bars? Whatever. It was too sweet for my liking, could hardly taste any alcohol, but I was on my second one, and counting. Keeping my eyes on Jasmine who stood across the way by the bar. Adjusting my t-shirt, I glanced at my phone seeing Nasia text me, asking where I was. Instead of spending a wonderful night in the bed having great sex, I was wasting my time here. Stalking my fiance from the moment she walked down the stairs. Waiting for her like a hawk in this sweaty pit of weird people. Never seen a club full of diverse bodies, looks, and style of clothes. The line was so long just to get in, I started to turn back. Thinking there was no way Jasmine couldn’t get in. Not compared to those that were allowed to just walk in, but to my surprise I was even pulled out of the line, and able to walk directly inside, as if chosen. Jasmine arrived not too long after me with her friend, and now here we are…

  “Shit,” I coughed, taking in the drink a little too fast before holding up the small glass, seeing the melting cubes. Just as soon as I held it up, another server came from behind me to replace it. Beautiful light skinned woman wearing little to nothing smiled at me with a wink before blending back into the crowd and heading to a back room.

  “What kind of place is this?” I muttered strangely before taking a sip of the now blue drink, feeling that dose of addictive sweetener kick in like a wave. Every woman around me started to move to their own beat, to my pulse as their bodies rolled. Sweat dripped down the back of their necks, and between their breasts. Something I shouldn’t have been able to notice in the club, but this felt like my senses were on a thousand as I watched legs part. Men grind, women flip their hair, and rub on one another like my own personal fantasy being played out.

  Strangely, I took my glasses off, wiping my ey
es before opening them in the packed club. Realizing my sight was just the same as it was with the glasses on. Looking at the drink in great detail, I shook my head before slipping the glasses in my pocket and looked around again for Jasmine. Watching her lean over the counter to grab another drink with her friend as she whipped her hair back from her face. Legs stretching for miles, showing a peek of her chocolate thighs…

  “Aye, bro!” Someone yelled from behind me. Randomly pointing above my head in my direction. “Another one!”

  “YERRRRR!” Someone screamed. Annoyed, I stepped aside, away from the screaming, and just kept my eyes on Jasmine, taking another sip of my drink. Wishing I wasn’t almost done with it. Suddenly felt a clamp on my shoulder as I looked to my left seeing a dark skinned man with dreads lean in.

  “You got girl in the red, I’ma take lil baby girl beside her with the body,” he said as I smirked at the challenge, the fool had no idea she was mine by default. “Unless you want me to get em both----.”

  “Nah, nah,” another said as I looked to my right, seeing another man, with an even brown complexion, stand to my right with his eyes on the same thing. “How you get to keep em both. You’on even know if this nigga can get ol’ girl in the red, let alone you----.”

  “I can get her,” I said, staring Jasmine down. “She’s already mine. I’m engaged to her.”

  “We know, shit everybody knows, the way you looking at her. I’m saying though,” he urged. “She clearly know, not with the way she’s looking at you. She thinks you this lame ass nigga who plays games and does nerdy shit. Thinks you’re boring----.”