by Khadijah J
“Bitch, Kenzo? Zoe? La’Kenzo?” I asked.
“Yeah, ahh, man, don’t tell me you dated him?” She frowned.
“No, bitch, ain’t nobody dated him. That nigga crazy as fuck. But wealthy as hell too. You know his crew, who he run with? Bitch, Ken and Pierre. The Billionaire’s? They all paid out the ass, you would never know what all they got they hands into, especially Kenzo’s quiet, crazy ass.” I told her.
“Bitch, why you never told me you was talking to him?” Vash exclaimed. Brie frowned.
“I didn’t know it was a big deal.” Brie shrieked.
“Sis, you need to get back with him. If y’all was feeling each other, then he obviously like you. You know how many bitches that say he only likes his dick sucked, and he put them out and act like shit never happened? Bitch, but you the first woman I’ve seen that legs opened to him and on MULTIPLE occasions. Au’Brielle, bitch, yeah. You need to call him.” I took my glass to the head. Vash nodded her head in agreement.
“No, I’m good actually. You know, I don’t have time to be reading in between the lines, he’s a grown ass man. He can’t express himself to me, then we don’t need to be together.” She exclaimed. I nodded. Because after the shit Lucci told me, Kenzo ain’t really have no excuse to not be expressing himself. I saluted E’Mauri for being man enough to express himself to me. I was gon’ suck his soul out when I saw him again, just because of it.
“You right, sis. Cheers. To greatness.” Vash refilled our glasses, and we raised them up.
“To becoming wealthy bitches. To letting nothing come between us and our goals.” I added. Everyone nodded.
“To sisterhood, and letting nothing, or no one, come between that.” Au’Brielle added. I nodded.
“To ALLAT SHIT! I love you, bitches!” Vash yelled, and we all took our glasses to the head, laughing afterwards, as Brie ran to the bathroom. These were my girls, like Brie said, I was letting no one come in between this. This shit was genuine, priceless. Yeah, my circle was good.
Twelve~ Kenzo
“Hey, Kenzo. You alright?” Yanni came up to me asking, catching me off guard.
“Yeah, I’m Gucci. Damn, you just popping up on a nigga.” I chuckled, and she frowned.
“You sure you alright, Zoe?” She asked again.
“Yeah, Yanni, damn. Why, what’sup?” I asked.
“You ain’t been alright in a minute, and I love you like a brother. You can talk to me about anything.” She patted me on the shoulder. I went to grab a water out the fridge, before hearing little feet make their way to me. Today was the triplets birthday, and I was over here helping them pack shit up in the truck. Baby boy, Kendall, crawled up to me and I chuckled. These kids was always harassing a nigga. I scooped his bad ass up, before going to find his momma.
“Damn, when the fuck he wake up?” Trell asked, frowning. I chuckled.
“Shit, nigga, I don’t know. But his little ass got down and came and found me.” I told him.
“These damn kids, man.” He exhaled, and I chuckled.
“Oh, now it’s too many kids. I told you to get clipped, but no. You wanna talk about we gon’ have as many kids as God wants us to.” Yanni teased him, taking lil Kendall out my hands.
“I meant that. Shit, a nigga tired trying to get all this shit together. Y’all ready? Where yo t-shirt and tutu, nigga?” Trell asked. I frowned.
“Nigga, I told you, you tried to be funny, giving me that pink and white t-shirt, with the pink tutu. I’m not wearing that shit, bro.” I told him. My shirt was in the truck, but that tutu was a hell fucking no.
“Ohhh. Kenzie gon’ get you.” Yanni instigated, and Trell bust out laughing. Baby girl wanted me to match her, instead of letting me be like the rest of the men, and wear blue. She told her momma, her uncle Kenzo had to wear a tutu like her.
When I finally pulled up and we start setting shit up, Kenzie came up to me and looked me up and down. She started crying, and Yanni mugged the shit outta me. She talking about why her uncle didn’t want to dress up like her. She wasn’t letting up, so a nigga had to suck the shit up, and put on a fucking tutu for my baby girl.
The party went on, and niggas pulled up with their families. All these niggas kept cracking on me and baby girl, but shit, it was what it was.
“I’m rocking this bitch though.” I cracked, with Kenzie in my arms. She put her hand over my mouth, and shook her head.
“Bad word, Uncle Ken.” She told me, and I nodded, everybody was cracking up. Even that nigga, Zeus, rolled through, with Zion and damn.
“What’s the word, kid? You got all these damn kids running round this bitch.” Zion joked with Trell, and they chopped it up. Zeus came up to me and slapped fives.
“Wassup, nigga? Oh, you in yo lil tutu.” He cracked. I stared at him blankly.
“This the biggest broad I ever seen in a tutu. I ain’t know they made them that big.” Zion added.
“Y’all niggas funny as hell. Wassup, Brie? When you gon’ fit me in on your busy schedule?” Lucci asked Au’Brielle. Just seeing her brought that undeniable feeling back to a nigga. She didn’t even make eye contact with me, like she was purposely ignoring me.
“Stop, all you have to do is make an appointment, Lucci.” She smiled, and that shit made me shake my head.
“This the tattoo artist all these niggas been ranting about? Wassup, I’m Trell, I’ve been wanting to get my wife’s name on my back for a minute.” Kentrell introduced himself. She pulled out a few of her business cards, and passed them out to all these niggas.
“Just let me know. That’s my social media handles, so you guys can check out some of my work. Just call the number and set an appointment, and I got you.” She smiled.
“We just stopped through to give the kids they gift and shit, man. You know we ain’t got no kids.” Zion laughed.
“You and shorty working on making some?” P asked.
“Who, me and Au’Brielle? Hell nah, man.” Zion added.
“Oh, fasho. I’mma definitely be hitting you up, beautiful, then.” Pierre licked his lips at her.
“Hello, Trell. We about to sing happy birthday, and you need to get June. He been acting a fool, and I ain’t got time for it.” Aliyanna came and interrupted.
“Well, we right on time to get cake. You need help with anything?” Au’Brielle asked.
“Actually, yes, I do. All these damn kids.” She fussed, and they walked off.
“She fine as hell, where you find her at?” P asked, frowning.
“She found me. She fine, man, but I don’t look at her like that. She’s like my little sister. Niggas been hounding her lil ass though.” Zeus chuckled.
“Okay, okay. So you straight if I shoot my shot?” P asked.
“Ball out, nigga, it ain’t gon’ bother me, but it might bother somebody else in this circle.” Zeus smirked, and niggas start looking around.
“Who?” Lucci asked.
“Shit, I’m trying to see too. I don’t know shorty, and I’m married.” Trell started.
“Y’all niggas sound like a bunch of owls. Just nosy as fuck. But they ain’t spoke up, so obviously, they don’t give a fuck, so go ahead and do yo shit, bruh.” Zion smirked, and dapped up Pierre.
“KEN!” Aliyanna screamed.
“Shit, I forgot. Y’all niggas try not to eat all the food.” He walked off.
As the party went on, I honestly kept trying to get Au’Brielle outta my head, and keep my eyes off her, but it wasn’t working. They kept roaming her way, she looked good as fuck. Her thick ass had on some tight jeans, and a black crop shirt, whatever the fuck, with some black fur slides. Her hair was pinned on the top of her head with some curls in it. Her skin was glowing, body was looking real good, and she looked happy as fuck. When the party was dying down, Lucci said we should get some liquor, drop the kids off, and play some spades or something.
“Yeah, that sounds like fun.” Aliyanna smiled.
“Shit, I’m with it.” Trell shrugged.
/> “Who crib we at?”
We settled on my crib, I ordered the food and shit. They all brought liquor, on top of the shit I already had and I was rolling up. I needed to smoke a blunt to mellow myself out, cause if Pierre was trying to get with my girl, I was gon’ let that shit play out, but my blood was boiling just at the thought of it. Everybody started pulling up and we was cooling. Zion came up to me and was trying to start some shit.
“Why the fuck you ain’t speak up? You just gon’ let P-” He started, looking toward Pierre, who was damn near drooling over Au’Brielle.
“Man, it is what it is. Hoes gon’ be hoes, my bro wanna fuck, and if she let him, that just let me know what type of female she is, bro.” I told him.
“You know damn well she ain’t like that, nigga, but alright.” He shrugged.
We were at the table playing Black Card Revoked, or some shit, and the shit was funny as hell. I was chilling, but this nigga P was overdoing the shit. Nigga acting thirsty, I could see it in Au’Brielle’s body language. She was uncomfortable as fuck, but kept trying to laugh, and pull away from this nigga nicely.
“You need to relax.” I heard her tell him. Everybody else wasn’t paying them no mind, but I heard her tell him that. P smacked his lips, and whispered something in her ear, and she stood straight up.
“I’ma head on out, you guys. It was nice meeting everyone, but it’s getting late, and I need to get home.” She smiled, before finally glancing in my direction before quickly looking away.
“Let me walk you out.” P stood.
“No, thank you. I’m fine.” She told him.
“Nah, it’s killers and shit out here.” He stood, and was about to try and walk her out.
“Nigga, she said she good.” I spoke, and P’s head snapped back, as he smirked. He put his hands up and sat down.
“You got it, my nigga.” He chuckled, looking at Trell, as everybody looked confused. She walked off to the front door, and Zeus got up to make sure she was straight. We continued on like ain’t shit happened. As soon as everybody left, and it was just Kentrell, Yanni, and this nigga, Pierre, he instantly clowned.
“Nigga! That’s her,” P joked. Trell stood there looking confused.
“That’s who?”
“His shorty he was head over heels over last year. I knew she looked familiar, but I only got a glimpse of her that one time they was out together.” P told him. I just poured a glass of Hennessy.
“Stop lying. I thought you said this nigga was lying about that shit.” Trell joked.
“Right, now who the liar? You see how swole his chest was the whole day. I never thought I’d see the day.” P egged on.
“Y’all can leave my crib any minute now.” I shrugged.
“Why you break up with her, bro? She cold, and from when we talked, she educated.” P asked.
“Nigga, I ain’t break up with her. She cut me off.” I told him.
“Wowwww.” Trell had his mouth wide opened.
“I’m telling you, nigga ain’t been right since. I told you! I told you, Trell.” P told him.
“Bro, you was in love?” P asked.
“Right, keep it a buck, bro.” Trell added.
“You ready, babe?” Yanni walked in after using the bathroom.
“Damn, you done blowing my nigga bathroom up?” Kentrell joked. I bust out laughing as she scowled at him.
“Boy, whatever. What y’all in here talking about anyway? I heard yo loud mouth all the way upstairs.” She pointed at P.
“Au’Brielle. You met her, right?” P started.
“Yeah, she was so pretty. Kenzo, y’all would make a good couple, she was so sweet. She could get inside that cold heart of yours.” Yanni spoke.
“She already did, sis! That’s why he was mugging me the whole night.” P told her.
“You run yo fucking mouth like a bitch.” I spat.
“Whoa, wait a minute, what happened? I need the tea, Kenzo.” Yanni smiled hugely.
“Ain’t no damn tea, sis. Now, y’all can bounce up out my crib.” I walked off and upstairs to smoke a blunt.
The next day, I went for a jog trying to clear my mind. Lately, all the shit I been through been going through my mind like crazy. I ain’t know what the fuck to do, I was smoking like a fucking weed head. I knew I fucked up when I let Au’Brielle go, but I just couldn’t give her what she needed. So I thought at the time it’d be better to just let her go, rather than get caught up and shit. I went to the gym and worked out. Afterwards, I was leaving, but saw that Shianne and Aliyanna was in there sitting down. I walked in that bitch to say what’sup.
“Am I late?” I strolled in. Shianne busted out laughing.
“Oh Lord. You got moves, Kenzo?” Yanni cracked.
“I ain’t got the moves. I am the move.” I told them.
“Yeah, alright. I guess.” Shi smiled at me.
“So, what brings you by? You want some advice on how to get your boo back?” Yanni joked.
“Oh wait, a boo? Kenzo? I ain’t know you was out here boo’d up. I heard you just be fucking and ducking.” Shi added.
“Girl, she’s really pretty and nice too.” Yanni smiled.
“You need to chill. I ain’t got no damn boo, none of that. I’m just chilling, day by day. A lot of women think they can get with me and lock me down.” I started.
“Oh really? Is that what it was? She thought she had you on lock?” Shi asked.
“Nah, you lying, bro. I’m not gon’ sit here and let you do that. I saw how you was watching that girl. So, what happened? You ain’t gotta be hard all the time.” Yanni told me.
“Right, love is a beautiful thing. It’s okay to be in love and show your woman love and affection. Ain’t nothing better than her knowing you love her by showing her with your actions.” Shi cheesed. That shit hit right on target. I stood there contemplating a lot of shit. I fucked with Yanni and Shi, so it was natural for me to open up a little bit to them.
“I don’t know what love is.” I admitted.
“Love is a powerful word. Love is something different, man, I can’t even explain it.” Shi smiled. Yanni looked me dead in the eye.
“Love is knowing that your significant other isn’t perfect, but accepting that, and loving them anyway. Love makes you uncomfortable. Has you doing stuff you never done before, acting differently, but as long as you’re comfortable with that person, that’s all that matters. Love is being able to deal with the same person day in, day out, and never getting tired of their annoying laugh, or how they leave the toilet seat up, even after you’ve fell in the toilet a million times in the middle of the night. Love is amazing, and to love, and be loved, is a magnificent feeling.” Yanni expressed. I sat there lost in my thoughts.
“But how you know you in love?” I asked.
“After all I just said, who was the first person that popped up in your head?” She gave me a small smile. Damn.
“Dang, Zoe? I ain’t know it was this deep. If you this gone off her, why are y’all not together?” Yanni asked.
“Right, cause I swear you zoned the fuck out on us.” Shi spoke.
“I been through a lot of shit, man, and I just can’t go there with her, knowing how it’s gon’ play out in the end.” I told them.
“You don’t know how it’s gon’ play out in the end, boy. If the feelings are already that strong, you just have to let go of the past, and tell that girl you love her, and you can’t live without her!” Shi exclaimed. Yanni and I both looked at her, before we all busted out laughing. We put the chairs up before heading out. Yanni pulled me to the side, before grabbing her phone.
“You say you been through a lot, and I can see that in your eyes, brother. Maybe try seeing a therapist. Before you object, just know it could really help you. Maybe you need to talk about your past in order to heal from it, and get your girl before it’s too late.” Yanni told me. I stood there listening to her, before finally agreeing to schedule an appointment. Maybe she was right, maybe I needed
to talk about all the fucked up shit in my past, in order to overcome it and become a better person. Only time would tell.
Thirteen~ Au’Brielle
“You look amazing, Au’Brielle. Yass, work it, honey.” The photographer yelled at me on my solo shots. A year had come and went. A lot had changed, and I was grateful for it. I had grown as a tattoo and piercer artist, and so had my clientele. I felt like I was biting off a lot, but I felt like I was destined to be everything I was becoming. I had been tattooing almost two years, and piercing for almost a year. I had even gotten my own ink done, a half sleeve on my shoulder and arm. I loved it, and Zeus had done it for me. But I drew it up myself, when I was going through my heartbroken moment with Kenzo.
Seeing him for the first time in a while had a lot of thoughts running through my head. It was like everything I had coached myself to believe, was knocked down when I made eye contact with him briefly. But when he let his homebody blatantly disrespect me, and pursue me, I knew he didn’t give a fuck about me. I went home and cried my eyes out, the pain still there. I picked up the pieces all over again, and I’ve been trying to remain normal. But it wasn’t a day that went by that he wasn’t on my mind. I just pushed him way to the back.
“You look beautiful, Au’Brielle.” A deep voice boomed. I smiled at him, before finishing up the shoot.
“Alright, let’s take five.” The photographer spoke. I looked up at my handsome friend, Don. I walked up to him, giving him a hug, and he picked me up slightly.
“Aww, flowers for me?” I smiled.
“Of course, anything for my rollie.” He cheesed, as his grill blinded me. Done had come to me to get tattooed, and the more we talked, the more we had a lot in common. He was just a cool dude, he didn’t even ask to take me on a date, he just wanted to hang, and be around someone genuine for once. We went bike riding one day and instantly clicked. He was a joy to be around. He called me his rollie and I called him my rollie.
“What brings you through this side of town?” I asked, as we walked to the back to my dressing room.