“Why Jatara say Duke got money on whoever stole his work.”
“So, he don’t know it’s us or did you open your mouth?”
“Hell no, but somebody’s mouth is spreading a rumor that you fucked Cam.”
Diamond crossed her arms. “That doesn’t surprise me.”
“You not mad?”
“I’d be mad if it was true, I don’t give a fuck about lie.”
“Well, do you give a fuck that Duke is going to kill us?” Kayla asked, throwing her hands up. Diamond was too nonchalant for her liking and it showed.
“He don’t know shit.”
“How you figure?”
“Because we’re right here talking and untouched. You panic too much.”
“Bitch, you don’t panic enough! It’s two hundred dollars riding on this!”
“And?” Diamond shot back calmy.
Kayla’s face twisted, “Diamond, two hundred is enough for SOMEONE to run their mouth! You know people in the hood don’t stay loyal for free!”
“Again, did you tell someone?”
“No!”
“Cool, stop panicking then, that shit will only make us look guilty. You gotta chill.”
Kayla shook her head, “I don’t think you understand, he’s mad! REAL mad. He was just at the corner store pacing and cussing. He’s fuckin’ dangerous!”
“And I’m not scared of dangerous, especially when his dangerous, handsome ass can’t prove shit.”
Duke had been Diamond’s crush since she was about twelve, he was the fine older boy, flashy, and had all of the hoes. He was three years older than her, and she was invisible to him and she wanted to remain that way.
“Where you going? I’m not done talking,” Kayla asked as Diamond grabbed her keys and headed to the front door.
“To the store, I want some chips with cheese.”
Kayla knew her sister was crazy but going to the store where she just told her Duke was spazzing at was insane to her.
“Have you lost yourmind? You don’t have to act tough all the time.”
Diamond shot her a look, a look that only Diamond could carry, it was fearless.
“I’m not acting. Duke don’t scare me, Kayla. If he has a question, I’ll answer.”
And with that, she walked outside into the warm air as the sun began to set. The streets were still live, music played loudly from every car she walked by. She dodged the little kids running on the sidewalk while their mothers sat on porches with their drinks and friends. It was those small things that made Diamondlove where she was from. The hood wasn’t all bad, especially the Lawndale community where she was born and raised. It was like one big ass family; every block held a different story.
Diamond walked down 16thStreet like she owned it, by herself. She walked across Homan to the corner store and like clockwork, Duke and his guys were posted. His eyes scanned the streets as she walked and paid him no mind, that was until he started cussing like Kayla said he was.
“Mufuckas gotta be crazy to take some shit from me. I look out for every muthafucka around here and somebody gon’ take some shit from me!”
She finally looked up and locked eyes with the sexy menace, a normal person would’ve been scared hearing him rant, but Diamond wasn’t. He was right, Duke was an up-and-coming hustler from the hood, he had a little money and a reputation.
“Damn, Diamond, yo lil ass perfect,” one of the guys called out, making all of the other guys look at her, including Duke, who stared longer than the others.
