The junkies were still at it, and the crowd from inside the gym walked down the alleyway, laughing, talking, and moving on with the night. They headed to the bar next door. The music rumbled the ground as the door opened.
I spotted the woman in the suit seated in the back of a truck with a dark figure. They were out of the light, but I could see her. She said something to the person with her, but I couldn’t make out what the fuck they were talking about before they pulled off.
I did this as a means for the night. I wasn’t trying to live out my Pop’s dreams. When I was younger, all I wanted to do was follow in his footsteps, but that was buried along with him. I’ve always felt that if I mirrored him, I’d have the same fate too.
Present
The air was too thick with cigar and weed smoke, along with smog from the cameras that flashed every second. Wealth was in the building; any name of celebrity sat in one section of the arena. It was too much money. I wondered how they spent it all. Or what do they do when they’re bored with it. If I had their problems, life would be too damn good. I mean, mine was okay, but we’re always aiming for great.
“Girl, you’re not scanning for cavities.” Suki nudged me with a giggle. “You need to be choosing your next nigga.”
I rolled my eyes. “Girl, bye. I’m here for a good time.”
“Not a long time,” Rhea added.
We slapped fives.
“Anyways, this ain’t chill.” I slowly turned my head toward Suki. “How did we end up at a… fight?”
Scanning the room…
The men looked dangerous, large and mean. The women were smitten with them, piling in circles, picking who they wanted. It looked fluent as the chatter grew louder than the music.
“Relax. It’s Miami, boo. We’re getting into all the things tonight.” Rhea grabbed shots from a passing waitress like they were meant for us. She dropped money on the tray.
It felt dangerous, but I couldn’t lie, I was intrigued.
“Drink! Be Merry! And Happy Birthday, my girl!” Suki shouted.
Damn right it was my special day.
I had no plans back home but my girls who always come through when I least expect it, had my bags packed and put me on a flight early this morning. I still couldn’t believe it.
I’ve been doing life too much and it’s time to live a little.
The lights dimmed like something was about to happen.
“We need to get to our table.” Suki dragged me, sitting us not too far away from where we were. In the middle of the crowd. Before sitting, I apprehensively looked around.
“E,” Rhea called out.
My eyes snapped on her.
Before I could say something, Travis Scott’s “FE!N” blared through the speakers.
“Fighting in the blue corner… 6’1, weighing two twenty-five… from Newark, New Jersey… Jarvis ‘Flow’ Harris!”
A small entourage trekked behind the fighter wearing white shirts withGO WITH THE FLOWprinted on the back. They were loud, feeding the crowd and feeding him. Flow jogged out in an ivory robe, chin high, talking shit along the way. Likehe knew he had it in the bag. The crowd clapped and cheered, amping him up more.
He climbed the ring and threw his arms up, basking in it all. His second was up as the crowd died down. Then, the lights dropped.
There was a gleam in everyone’s eyes as they anticipated what’s next. It made me feel it too.
“What’s happen–”
The sound of a winding noise cut me off. Jeezy’s “Standing Ovation” drowned out the sound of the pending crowd. The bass vibrated the floors and your body. The liquor in the glass moved as it skipped across the table.
Everyone jumped to their feet as they went wild.
