That’s when some nigga came up cutting me off. “Paige, is everything ok?” he asked as he looked at me.
I was in attack mode, treating Piggy as my prey, and I believed I was the only one who could feed on her. “Back the fuck up, nigga.”
He ignored me and went to touch her, and that shit triggered me. I moved between the two. “I suggest you scurry them chopped up vans before—”
“Braylen!” Piggy shouted.
Her saying my name sent a feeling through me. I cracked my neck to shake the feeling. Every time she said my name, it was as if she pressed the ‘xoxo’buttons to tame me. It was becoming harder to ignore what I was feeling for her. She came around and placed her hand on my face, and a nigga melted inside. “Relax, I don’t need you to do that. Besides, he’s my friend just as you are. Today has been a day for me. I need some time away from the podcast for a while, but I promise I will be back when I’m feeling better.”
She had never missed an episode for the last three years, so to hear her say that sounded more as if she wasn’t fucking with me anymore. I didn’t know if I could handle that. The nerd nigga curled his lip up at me as she started to walk off with him.
You’re a dead nigga.I mouthed before giving him a sinister smile.
I could see those confident eyes, only seconds ago, become nervous. If he thought he was safe, he was going to find out soon. In the meantime, if Piggy didn’t want to fuck with a niggapersonally, I knew she would on the one thing she loved, and that was the game.
After leaving the shit show I had with Braylen, I was now in the parking lot of my building. Thanks to Tyrek, I didn’t have to face off with the man that my heart desired, who clearly saw me as a joke. Tyrek killed the ignition before he turned to me. “Are you ok?” he asked.
I gripped my bag in my hand. “I’m ok, thanks for the ride,” I said as I opened the door to get out.
Tyrek gently touched my hand. “I heard the show. He was being a dick head. I told you before that the show isn’t your speed.”
I didn’t bother to respond because who was he to tell me what my speed was? I got out of the car and headed toward my door. The sound of Tyrek’s feet shuffling behind me let me know he was going to ask to come in. As soon as I reached my door, he stood on the side of me. “Tyrek, not today, I’m really not in the mood,” I told him.
Before I could open the door, a group of guys walked up from the other side. Some of them I’ve seen before, and others I haven’t. They were all handsome but looked like they were about business. It reminded me of how Pierre and his fine ass friend Bishop would be.
When they stopped at Samara’s door, I stood to watch. They all gave me a stare, especially the one I saw at the rink that night. The door opened to a surprised Samara, who smiled widely but nervously, as her eyes widened. “Hey! Wha-what are you doing here?”
“Samara, it’s cold as fuck. Let us in,” the dark-skinned one said to her.
“Do I have to?” she asked.
“Do you want me to keep paying rent. What are you doing in here, and where the fuck is Dio?” he grumbled.
The flash of a hand in my face brought my attention back. “Earth to Paige. Are you going to stare at those losers, or are we going to go inside?”
I rolled my eyes as I opened my door and walked inside, with him on my heels.
He and I still hadn’t addressed what happened at the Cafe, and honestly, I didn’t know if I wanted to. When I turned around, he stood there with puppy eyes. “Look, I know I was a bit much, but for Christ's sake. I should get a pass, just like in Treasure of Doom. Pyran gave a pass to the beast who captured her.”
My face frowned. “Wait. How do you know? What level are you on?”
He smiled. “I made it to level five, and it’s fucking awesome. I’ve been trying to figure out who’s behind the game because at one point, I found the Princess Shira and saved her from the wolfpack, and when we approached the beast cave in story mode, it said something about—”
I held my hand out. “Tyrek, please.”
“How the hell did you pass me in the game?”
He shrugged as he walked over and sat on my futon. “Easy, I stayed in my lane. I mean, it’s like you don’t know us anymore. Ever since you went back home for Thanksgiving, you’ve been off.”
Had I been so lost in my own world that I had lost touch with reality? I was becoming so confused with everything.
Tyrek ran his hand over his pants. “Maybe Beans was right. Your two worlds can’t co-exist. I think you should come back with us to where you belong. Those street people aren’t for you. We’re nerds, gamers whose minds extend beyond the fast life and the problems that come with it.”
I placed my hand on my hip and pointed to the door with the other. “Get out.”
Tyrek stood as he came closer to me. “Paige, I’ve been knowing you for a very long time. I think I know what I’m talking about. Whatever you think is going to happen with Beans, it isn’t. He doesn’t want you. He’s not like us.”
I could feel the tears welling in my eyes. With every blow Tyrek was throwing at me, I was hurt, but it also made me even angrier. “Tyrek, as long as you’ve been knowing me, the one thing you fail to realize is that I don’t like you. I would never like you, so no matter how many stones you throw, the shit isn’t going to happen. So, you lose, nigga. Level five is the furthest you will ever get. Remember, those street niggas you’re talking about are my brothers, and the last I remember, they came to your rescue when you were getting your ass beat. As I said, get the fuck out,nigga!” I spat.
