The Double Cross

by Anna J.

  Surprisingly, my sister was at the party too, her bathing suit just as stunning in navy-and-silver zebra. Unlike me, she was really there for the music and scenery. She refused to let any man distract her from her goals. She never really got over the heartbreak from the last boyfriend, so her factory was shut all the way down. We offered to “handle” him for her, but she respectfully declined, so we kept it moving.

  We were looking like a pack of Doublemint gum while sitting poolside. Most of the people present grew up with us, but we still kept getting the double take every time they walked by. We were cute kids, but these grown woman bodies we now had were everything. Curves in all the right places, and a pretty smile to top it all off. They all fantasized about us, trust me. Too bad we weren’t beat for the bullshit.

  We were sitting side by side, so maybe all that time, he was really looking at her and not me, but since I was the aggressor, he chose me out of default. So many scenarios raced through my head in hindsight, but at that moment, I was simply living in the moment. When our song came on, we hopped out of the pool and found a space on the side to dance with some of the other partygoers. We really enjoyed ourselves that night, and before we left, I made sure to put my number in his cell phone when we saw him waiting by the exit. He just gave me a knowing smile, and we kept it at that.

  It took him a few days to call me, as it should have. He knew that had he called too soon, it would have shown desperation, and I would have been completely turned off. Waiting too long would have had him dismissed, so he played his cards well with the morning coffee and random flowers until he was ready to make his first move. He was definitely playing chess, and I was just as ready to claim the crown.

  “Oh, we in there! I got the perfect dress for tonight, too,” I responded, excited as we made plans to secure my future with Chase. I was actually looking forward to getting to know him, and I was secretly hoping that he ain’t have some big bitch hidden somewhere claiming to be his baby’s mom. Chicks came up from a thousand years ago as soon as they smelled they ex happy with someone else. She didn’t want him, but she didn’t want anyone else to have him.

  By the time we were done with lunch, we had convinced Vice to come also and was ready to really turn up.

  I could barely concentrate when I got back from my break, my mind frequently slipping into daydreams of Chase and me. I wondered what kind of man he really was, and was he really worth my while. He seemed chill every time I saw him out, not rowdy like the clique he ran with. I could clearly see that he was the H.N.I.C because of the level of respect he received from the people around him. They didn’t fear him, they respected him, and that was more important. I swear I couldn’t keep the smile off my face, and Cici kept teasing me, calling me Mrs. Flowers in reference to the roses I had gotten earlier in the week.

  I was packed and ready to go that day, unlike most days where I was dragging, barely making the clock out by the grace period. I had to make sure I was on point for real this time. I was on a mission, and step one was to make myself look irresistible.

  I texted Skye when I got back to my desk and was so hype she was able to squeeze me in before the party. There was no way I was showing up on the scene with week-old curls. I knew she would get me right, and I had spare time to get home and take my time with my face. That way, Vice would be able to do both of ours and not rush. I didn’t need a pound of makeup; I just needed to make sure these eyes were poppin’. There was no doubt in my mind that everyone in the hood was busting out their Sunday best, so I had to ensure I was amongst the best dressed. The way pics would be flying around on the internet the next day, there was no way I was not coming prepared to slay.

  When we got to the party, it was definitely lit. Everyone from around the way was there, representing properly. The scene looked straight out of that movie Paid in Full as one exotic car after the next pulled in front of the building. Women draped in jewels and men alike showed up to show out. Just standing in line was turned up, and I was happy that we decided to come out.

  I definitely came to slay, baby. I looked like someone dipped me in red and stood me up in the perfect pair of heels. I went with a form-fitting body suit that hugged me flawlessly and matched the red bottom of my shoe perfectly. Skye worked the hell out of these wand curls, and Vice had me beat to the gawdz. I stepped up in there like they were all waiting on me and not the birthday guy.

  The DJ for the night was killing the ones and twos, and even though I tried hard, I couldn’t keep myself from dropping it low on the dance floor. He was playing one jam after the next, and I hadn’t even had my first drink yet. The party was all the way live with a good mix of 90s rap and current music. When I say we were all tearing the dance floor up—not one wall flower to be seen.

  I was in the groove with the music, but it wasn’t lost on me that Chase hadn’t shown his face yet. At first, I was getting concerned, but then I had to check myself. I didn’t want to seem desperate at a time like this. Nope, at this time, I had to make sure I wasn’t looking thirsty in these streets. It could ruin everything.

  I had to make myself go to the bar and hydrate myself. If I didn’t, I was sure to pass out soon. As Skye and I approached the bar with Vice and my sister in tow, I was greeted immediately with a drink.

  “From the gentleman at the end,” the bartender responded as he moved on to fulfill other requests.

  I found my guy looking extremely handsome at the other end of the bar with a smile on his face. There was a girl dancing in front of him, but he wasn’t giving her any rhythm as he looked past her and stared at me. I held my glass up in thanks and turned to sip before he could see me blush. This man was trying to have me open, but I wasn’t giving him the satisfaction that easily.

  By the time I finished my drink, I was pulled back out to the dance floor as another of my favorite songs blared throughout the building. I was extra sexy with my dance this time around because I knew I had a certain person watching me. My twerk game was vicious as I threw my ass in a perfect circle on the beat.

  This went on the entire night, with us going back and forth from the bar to the dance floor. I yelled in Skye’s ear that I was going to take a quick bathroom break, and that’s when I bumped into Chase again.

  Even up close, he was the shit. I felt my thong becoming soaked as I got lost in his eyes, and those naughty thoughts that I had been having about him raced through my mind again. I briefly fantasized about him pinning me to the wall in front of everybody and taking me right there. I was tipsy enough to let him do it, but I settled for basking in his dimpled smile instead.

  “You gonna make me keep chasing you, or you letting me in?” he questioned as he cornered me a little.

  My heart started to race with a little fright and a little excitement because he had never been this close. This man had me turned on in a serious way. His cologne wrapped around me like a snake and squeezed me a little, making my clit jump and pulse like a heartbeat. I had to pull myself together because this man was making me unravel fast, and I didn’t want to blow it.

  “You’ve been chasing me? I hadn’t noticed,” I flirted back. I was a little lit from the drinks, so I hoped it didn’t have me looking crazy.

  “I have, and I’m done. You’re mine now. Are we clear?”

  He leaned down so that we were at eye level, and I could see the seriousness in his face. I nodded my head up and down, suddenly losing my voice. Why did this man have me open like this? He leaned in and kissed my forehead, and I swear I almost slid down the damn wall.

  I pulled myself together enough to go to the bathroom before my bladder exploded and embarrassed me. I took a second to dab a cool paper towel over my eyes before rushing out to tell my girls what happened. I quickly scanned the room for him but couldn’t see him anywhere. Did that shit just really happen? Was I really Chase’s girl? I could hardly contain myself as I got back out on the dance floor and gave it up for the crowd one more time. I was really feeling myself and couldn’t wait to see where
this thing would go.

  The next morning, I woke up to my sister bringing me another bouquet to my room. This man was really showing off! I took the flowers and inhaled, taking in their floral scent. I completely missed the look of disdain on her face as I basked in these fresh feelings I was having for a man I barely knew—yet another moment in hindsight that I wish I had paid attention to.

  As I got up to prepare for my day, I knew if nothing else, I had to give him a call. Even if it were to simply thank him for the flowers. I was on cloud nine right now, seeing through rose colored glasses . . . all of the above. This man had me open, and now we all know what being open gets you. For now, I would just relish in this moment, because men like him didn’t come around often, and that’s how he caught me slipping.

  Vicerean Gray

  That’s My Best Friend

  Pause for a second. This is what I need you to know before we get any further into this bullshit romance you think you’re about to indulge in. I never fucking trusted Sajdah. Ever. Not since we were kids. She tried to play the innocent, naive twin, but I always saw through the bullshit. Off with her head! I’d been saying that shit from the gate. She had always been jealous of Selah, always a damn sabotager, always in this silent-ass competition. Why won’t she just die already?

  Don’t get me wrong. Sajdah may have very well had the qualities that she partially exhibited. Shy. Naïve. Quiet. Focused. Yep, all of the above. But you know what else she was? Sneaky as shit. Like a fucking cat that wouldn’t stay on the damn floor, and you always caught it on your dining room table when you walked in the room. I didn’t like that bitch, but I gave her respect because her sister just happened to be a dear and true friend of mine. I tried to love Sajdah the same way I loved Selah, but she made it so hard for no real reason. I’d been banging my head against the wall for years trying to figure out what this bitch beef was with me, and for the life of me, I just couldn’t call it. Clearly, I was missing something.

  I even tried to put myself in her shoes for a second. Maybe, just maybe, Chase took a shot at her. Fuck, he was a nigga. That’s what they did. Her only job as Selah’s sister was to cut that shit completely short and let her sister know the deal so that it could be dealt with accordingly. We all knew Selah would have never chosen dick over the love of her life. She adored Sajdah and oftentimes told us how much she looked up to her even though they were the same age. Sajdah did this shit on purpose. Point. Blank. Period. No one could convince me otherwise. What shit? Oh, we getting to that, so don’t worry your pretty little head about it. Just know that trust is a hot commodity. You can’t trust a damn soul breathing. Don’t say I didn’t warn you.

  Because I knew how crafty men could be, I almost felt sorry for Selah, but some shit you just needed to find out on your own so that you could move forward appropriately. He was too squeaky clean for me anyway. We couldn’t find shit on this dude, and trust me, every damn body had some shit they were trying to hide like a taco in a purse belonging to a fat bitch on My 600-lb Life. I didn’t even trust myself around myself because I knew what I was capable of. I had some shit I couldn’t say to nobody but Jesus H. Christ, and even then, I may not be able to voice it. I couldn’t find a damn thing on homeboy, but that didn’t mean I would stop looking. Not until every damn stone was accounted for. That’s the type of loyalty I had for Selah. That’s the type of loyalty she had for me.

  Mr. Warren . . . he was a damn magician. Skye and I searched hard, but nothing came up. I even contacted my people in Queens to see if his name struck a bell. Not saying he was from Queens, but New York was just like Philly. It didn’t take much to hold a reputation. If you made some noise in South Philly, trust we heard about it in Mt. Airy. My connect had nothing for me. He was either a really good dude, or people just weren’t talking or too scared to. However, no matter how you painted a zebra, they always showed their stripes. Sometimes you just had to sit and wait patiently for what you needed to come to you, like UPS on a Saturday.

  I decided to let Selah be great and have her love story. Shit, we all wanted it for her, especially after what happened with Kev, but we won’t speak on that right now. Just know that the kind of heartbreak she felt from that definitely had us on his ass. They still can’t find the body, and now they won’t be able to find Chase either. Sucks to be both of their dumb ass.

  It was weird how I got the scoop on Chase and Sajdah. I was just on the stoop chillin’ on a nice fall night. You know how it is when the weather is warmer than it should be for the season. It brings the hood outside. I decided it was a good time for some Lincoln fried chicken with a side of mac and a buttered roll, and the closest one was located on 40th and Lancaster Avenue. It didn’t take much convincing to get one of the guys out there to drive me, especially since I was treating. Since I was the only single one in the crew, I was really just hanging with the hood that night. Skye and Selah were boo’d up, or so I thought.

  I was enjoying the night breeze while shooting the breeze with my ride, contemplating if I was gonna let this lame give me some head or not. He was really feeling the kid, and honestly, I ain’t have shit else to do. He had a tongue. That’s all that was required for this mission. While we were talking, it looked like I saw Chase’s car pull up across the street in front of the chicken spot. Nobody in Philly had the same car as Chase. He had some custom type paint shit on it that changed color in the rain or some shit, but when it was dry, it was like an electric blue that seemed to glow at night. I was a hundred percent sure once I saw the black-and-yellow license plate. I didn’t want it to seem like I was spying, so I entertained my guest as I peeped the scene at the store.

  At first glance, it looked like Selah getting out of the car after Chase came around to open the door. She got out and kissed him before he leaned in and grabbed her ass as they walked into the store. I smiled at the happiness my friend had found, but something just didn’t sit right with me. Selah told me she was under the weather, and chicken was not enough to get my friend out of the bed, no matter how good it was. If anything, she just would have sent Chase to get it for her while she rested. This shit was looking fishy, and I had to focus.

  Totally tuning out dude I was with, I waited for Chase to come back out of the store. I took them a while, but just as I thought, that was not my lovely friend with her man. It was her twin sister instead. If you didn’t know them, you would think she was Selah, but I could clearly tell them apart, and that was not appropriate behavior for the way those two were acting with each other. I tried to grab my phone so that I could zoom in and snap a pic right quick, but I was only quick enough to get a half-ass blurry pic of him getting in his car on the other side. I was steaming on the inside. How dare both they asses try to play my fucking bestie.

  I knew with Selah I would need rock solid proof before I went to her, and this blurry-ass pic wasn’t it. I needed a definite action pic. The shot I got wouldn’t be enough for Selah, but it was unquestionably enough for Skye. I sent her a text, letting her know it was an emergency and to meet me on the stoop in fifteen minutes. My ride and I gathered our food, but him pounding my pussy that night would have to wait. I had a more pressing issue that needed my immediate attention. I promised him we would reconvene, though. I would definitely need a good nut after this shit.

  “So, what the hell happened?” Skye questioned when I got back to my house. I was so mad I was turning red. I wanted to call Selah immediately, but this was a delicate subject that could possibly ruin our friendship if not played correctly. Selah loved us, but her love for Sajdah would have you six feet under if you weren’t careful.

  “This motherfucker was at Lincoln hugged up on Sajdah. He kissed her in the mouth and grabbed her ass and everything,” I explained to Skye as I paced back and forth, wearing my carpet out. My head was pounding so bad from the frustration I was feeling at the time. I was ready to go hunt this dude down and body his ass that night. I had to pump my damn brakes and remember this wasn’t my situation directly; I was just
involved because I saw this shit.

  “When did they start hanging out?” she asked as she stared at the pic on my phone.

  “Bitch, I don’t know. I thought maybe they were there to get Selah some food, but they were too damn intimate for my liking. They fucking, bitch. I put my life on that shit.”

  Skye looked like she was ready to snap. We took Selah personal. We’d been ride or die with her A-1 since day one. We also learned from experience with her that we had to come correct, or at least lead her in the direction she needed to go to see what she needed to see. That one was a ticking time bomb waiting to explode, and it didn’t matter if you were family or not. Once that gun started smoking, it was only right for it to shoot. Sajdah knew this, and it confused us as to why in hell she would stab her sister in the back like she did. She would definitely pay for this; we just had to get a plan in action.

  I had been waiting to get her ass for years! Now it looked like I might be getting my chance finally. Yeah, I knew it was horrible to want to kill my best friend’s sister, but she was as slimy as they came. People like that needed to be disposed of properly. Fuck every last one of them walking the earth.

  “Let’s not say anything to Selah right now until we have something more concrete. Now we have to put a plan in action for her to catch their stupid asses. You know how Selah is. This shit has to be solid. She won’t just take our word for it.” Skye spoke as she set my phone on the table.

  This was some horrible shit indeed, but it had to be done. After making sure she was safely in her car, I checked to see if my little honey dip was still on the stoop. I needed a distraction before I spilled the damn beans.

  Chancing a peek out the window, I saw him out there in some other bitch face, but I wasn’t fazed by that shit. I was getting that dick that night, whether she knew it or not. Checking my stash to make sure I had some condoms, I made sure the crib was tight before walking Skye out to her car. I leaned over in her passenger-side window, rocking my ass back and forth like a python hypnotizing him and ready to strike. He couldn’t even concentrate on the wack-ass conversation he was having with old girl. It took everything not to laugh in her damn face. I was about to get that nut tonight. Sorry, sis.