I glanced down at my attire, noting that I was wearing a Nike T-shirt, along with a pair of Nike leggings, while Gucci slides were on my feet. That was probably my first and last time wearing the outfit, because I had millions more, in different colors. I was constantly popping tags. But at the same time, I tried to keep things simple, because niggas were thirsty. So, I rarely tried, for real. Still, nobody could call me dirty.
“Look, we’re all just different. Ion like having my ass out,” I told Soya.
“Yeah, but that aint why you dress like that,” Soya claimed. I rolled my eyes. “Girl, bye.”
“No, I’m serious. You keep it toned down, because Too Low likes for you to be that way. And you have always just given him what he wanted.”
“Andwhat’swrongwiththat?”
“You give him too much power. Like you really don’t even know yourself outside of his world and expectations.”
I arched a brow. “So, I don’t have my own identity?”
She shrugged. “Sometimes I wonder, cuz. It’s so many things that you haven’t experienced, and I think that you’ve been living like…if Too Low aint there, then you aint going. Meanwhile, he’s locked up. And I would hate for you to wake up one day, and realize that life has passed you by.”
“Yeah,Ifeelthat,”Caseyco-signed.“Ijustbeasking,causeI’m
curious. You are so pretty to me. Like if you wanted to…you could have the biggest nigga around here. But niggas be coming through, and swear that they didn’t even know that you been living over here for all these years. It’s like that nigga had you locked away in that apartment, like a slave or something.”
“He convinced her not to talk to none of the neighbors, and only go straight to her car when she’s outside,” Soya gossiped.
“Butwhy?”Caseyquestioned.
“Cause. Like you said. She could have the biggest nigga ‘round here. And he was making sure that the biggest niggas never laid eyes on her,” Soya exploded with laughter.
“Okay, y’all laying it on kinda thick.” Chell rolled her eyes. “Don’t get me wrong. Babi is a cute girl. But it’s cute bitches every-where. And these niggas aint shit. So, stop feeding her those fairy-tales. Too Low takes care of her. She got two vehicles. A nice apartment. And that nigga won’t be locked up forever. So, I say stay down until ya nigga comes up, Babi.”
Casey waved her o". “I think that you talking from outside of the club, honey.”
Chell frowned. “Outside of the club?”
“Yeah.” Casey nodded. “You can’t really call it. Babi is in a different league. And I’m saying that, even compared to myself. Damn sho’ aint on the same level withyou. So, she can literally tap into a pool of men that you could never touch. And you don’t know how some of those men would carry her.”
“Wait, hold up,” Chell rebutted. “How are you gonna just downgrade me like that, and put her up there?” She lifted her hand.
“And how are you gonna just say that Babi iscute, when Casey was clearly saying that she was more than that?” Soya interjected. “You was clearly trying to dilute my cousin, whenher shit is pure.” “Girl,please.”Chellrolledhereyes.“Babiiscoolasfuck.
Everybody knows that I fuck with her. So, I aint coming on no hating shit. But come on. Y’all be acting like she’s the best thing since sliced bread, just because of a texture of hair. Or because she can probably pass the brown paper bag test on a good day. Finer hair don’t mean better. And beauty is in the eyes of the beholder.”
Itiltedmyhead.“So,youtryingtosaywhat,exactly?”
“She’s saying that she insecure,” Bunny randomly chimed in. She was a high yellow, slender, wild something. The niggas loved her, and she was Soya’s bestie. “She’s mad that these niggas say that she’s fine, but not cute. She hates her own nappy hair, and is mad that people often point out how yours is good. She hates her chocolate skin, and bleaches, but wanna tell you about passing a paper bag test. She’s projecting. And hopes that she can make you feel how she feels about herself.”
“Damn.” Casey bucked her eyes.
Soya cut her eyes at her. “Bunny, really?”
Bunny opened her arms. “I’m just saying. It needed to be said. Cause it’s crazy sitting here listening to this girl tell Babi that she alright or whatever. Meanwhile, she been having Babi babysit at least twice a week, for fucking free.”
Chell rolled her eyes. “Girl, you always speaking out of turn. Me telling Babi to stand by her man, and not listen to y’all hardly means that I’m hating or whatever. I’m just telling her right. Thinking that being fine gives you some type of magical power is delusional. These niggas are still gonna be niggas. So, I would rather see her with a nigga with no dirt on his name. Can’t nobody on this porch ever say that they’ve heard about Too Low fucking around. So, why talk about what other niggas would want to fuck with her?”
“Damn, bitch,” Bunny chided. “Is you Too Low’s spokesperson or something?”
Everybody snickered, but me and Chell.
“I think she just wants Babi to stay low key,” Casy offered. “And not give her ass no competition.”
Chell brought her drink to her lips. “Girl, boo. Compete with who? The whole hood knows that this ass is fat, and the waist is small.”
