“Me too!” she squealed. “I’m sorry. I don’t have many friends here. It’s my freshman year.”
We walked toward the building as we continued to talk. “Wait, you’re a freshman, and you have an apartment? You didn’t want the dorm life?”
She hiked my bag over her arm. “No, my dad preferred me to live off campus. He’s protective.”
“Got it. Well, this is me. Thank you, Samara,” I said as I turned toward my door to unlock it.
“I live right there.” She pointed across the hall. “If you need anything, I’m right here,” she said before turning toward her door.
Before she could open the door, it swung open. “Mars the muhfuckin star!” he greeted her. “Dio, what the hell happened to you?” she asked him as he kissed her, and she disappeared inside.
I was now curious whether the Zoo was who Braylen rode with. I remember seeing her boyfriend earlier today when I went to his studio, but I didn’t stay long enough to know if he was going to see Braylen.
When I entered my place, I tossed my bags to the side and plopped onto my futon. All I wanted to do was sleep. My phone vibrated, and for a minute, I thought it was my mother or brother, but to my surprise, I had a message on the Orange app.
I wasn’t sure how he found me, but the shit felt weird. I didn’t even bother to respond further, so I closed the phone and focused on my computer screen. When I noticed I had a message from the school, my stomach sank. The last thing I needed wassome bad news, only weeks before the semester was over. I didn’t even bother to look; instead, I decided to play my game because at least in that world, I could control what happened.
I slid my sunglasses down to shield the auburn, crisp sun from my eyes as I drove toward the Cove. Today, I decided to drive since I had plans that didn’t require an audience. The other day had already been eventful with a bunch of shit I didn’t want to hear. Today was about getting things done.
When I pulled up to my destination, an unintentional snarl came from me. I got out of my car and walked up the walkway. I gave the door two light taps and waited. “Just a moment,” I heard someone say from beyond the door.
Moments later, the door opened, and a lady in a wheelchair greeted me. “Hmph,” I muttered, then flashed a quick smile as I removed my sunglasses. “I’m looking for Best Harmon,” I said to the lady. She wheeled herself back, did a quick spin, and shouted. “Best! Some snobby bitch is at the door, chile,” she said as her head snapped my way and she rolled her eyes.
When Best came around the corner and saw me, she seemed confused. Although I was more than five years younger thanBest, I do remember small things about her from back in the day. “Hi, I’m Mrs.—”
“Laureaux, I know who you are, but I’m not sure why you are at my home,” she said as she came closer.
I waited for her to allow me to come inside, but the way she stood between the door frame let me know I wasn’t invited in. I cleared my throat, “I wanted to meet the woman of the precious girl who adores my son.”
She pushed her glasses up on her face while grinning. “You have children? I wasn’t aware.”
I didn’t know whether she was being truthful or sarcastic, but either way, I didn’t like it. “I do. I need you to do me a huge favor. I don’t normally have to ask more than once. Can you tell your daughter that my son is off limits? She doesn’t know what she’s getting into, and the best option would be to stay away.”
Best slowly nodded her head. “I can tell when the devil is working.” She scoffed. “You know, Naheem and Clark’s puppets have always been hard to deal with. Mrs. Laureaux, the one thing I don’t take lightly about my children, grown or not, is threats. So, I will not tell my daughter anything because whoever yoursonis, he should be lucky she even likes him. He should be smiling from ear to ear that she is in his presence. My child is the prize. Paige is her own woman, and I can assure you that if, for any reason, she steps into a danger zone with your son, it will be him who regrets it. Now, have a nice day.”
She backed away from the door and closed it in my face. I sucked my teeth before putting my sunglasses back on and heading to my car. All the years of keeping situations tamed and under control were slowly falling apart. I knew that I needed to keep my shit together before everything I had worked hard for started to unravel.
SCOOTER
After leaving Morgan’s house the other day, I texted Naheem and told him I had been at the halfway house and couldn’t leave. He demanded that we meet up today, so I figured, why not meet with Naheem before I had to meet up with Beans? I glanced at my phone and saw it was thirty minutes until nine. The cold breeze smacked my face as I waited for Naheem to show up. I didn’t want to miss out on this shit with Beans, so I told Naheem to meet me at the studio. I watched the time tick by, and with each car that sped past, I was hoping Naheem would show up before Beans did.
Being out here alone gave my mind time to run its course, thinking of ways I could get myself out of this shit. I knew if I went to Bop, he would listen, but knowing I was working with his pops on any level would be a death sentence from him. I didn’t know if I could trust Beans, and I had no money to even get the hell out of Dodge. Shit, if I did run, the laws would be on my assbecause where I should have been at this hour was the halfway house.
I was stuck between a rock and a hard place. All I knew was that this music shit had to work. Otherwise, I would be trapped in this game with no way out. The same way my hands worked Morgan’s controller to escape the creatures of the night was the same way I needed my mind to get me out of this shit. I paced the parking lot, trying to think of what to do.“Fuck!”I shouted.
My mind wouldn’t shut the fuck off, and it was starting to drive a nigga crazy. When the headlights pulled into the parking lot, I stopped pacing. Morgan’s words lingered in my head.Why don’t you fight back? Build an alliance with the ones they want you to go against.I didn’t know if that was possible. I knew that with Dio and me fighting each other, those niggas would never trust me. The thought of betraying my brother by being friends with the opps would make him not fuck with me. I couldn’t let things play out that way.
The bright lights beamed in my face, making me throw my arm up to block my eyes. “Get in!” I heard Beans’ deep voice.
My eyes scanned the street as I hesitated to get in his ride. I shook my head because the decision I would make tonight would change everything by tomorrow. “Shit!” I grumbled as I jogged over and hopped into his car.
Before he put the car in reverse, he stared at me. “On time. I like that,” he finished as he backed the car up and sped out of the parking lot.
Beans turned the instrumental up and cruised through the streets. My fingers tapped at the window as lyrics automatically popped into my head. The beat was fire as fuck. The way the bass boomed with a subtle jazz tune lingering between each thump.
As we pulled into the parking lot, I could tell by how crowded it was that this was going to be the real deal. Beans cut the music off and looked at me. “The shit is like being in the booth. You do what you did in my studio, you’ll walk away a winner,” he paused. “Trust me,” he finished and got out of the car.
I quickly hopped out and followed behind him. “What if I lose?” I asked.
