What the fuck did that mean? Was Phoebe some sort of hoe? There was no way I was taking advice from a bitch like Anika.
***
I finally made it to the gym. When I entered, I noticed my coach was talking to some fancy-looking Black nigga. He looked like he had just come from some vintage fashion event. I stayed back, trying to eavesdrop while remaining unnoticed. They exchanged a few more words, shook hands, and parted ways. Once the guy left through the other side of the building, I called out to my coach. He stopped, turned, and met me halfway.
“Zay, how are you feeling, my man?”
I shrugged. “A’ight, I guess. Look, I came to talk to you about this roommate of mine.”
Before I continued, he held his hand up. “I know you didn’t want one, but with not only our team but the football team growing as well, we needed to maximize the space. Unfortunately, he will be staying there.”
I was confused. I had always gotten what I wanted. I was like LeBron James: when he threw a fit,boom, someone on the team was gone. Or if they called an obvious foul and he cried about it,boom, shit would be fixed.
“That’s crazy,” I mumbled. “So, basically, now that I’m hurt, I’m disposable?”
He chuckled. “Zay, it has nothing to do with you being hurt, but everything to do with school funding and space. Maybe you being hurt is truly a blessing in disguise. I think your priorities and whatyou see as an obligation should be reflected on. My team isn’t about who’s the better player, but rather who is a team player. This is not your team. Somehow, you’ve gotten lost in it all, so let me take you off your high horse. You will not be on this court until next season. Besides, someone has sponsored us, and we will now be stronger than ever with new everything,” he finished as he tapped my shoulder.
What the hell just happened? Did this nigga kick me off the team?Now I was fucking irritated, and as bad as I didn’t want to be bothered, I promised to meet up with Phoebe, and I was going to do just that.
“Fuck!” I shouted before hobbling out of the building.
DIO
Mars texted me to meet up, but I had class, and by the time I could sneak off campus to see her, she said she was in class. All I could think about was what was going through her head. I had never stood her up, missed a meet-up, or been late when she called. This time, I failed.
It was exactly 7:39, and I was right where I was supposed to be. The sun had completely set, leaving me standing in the darkest part of the woods. Here I was on time for some shit I was starting to have second thoughts about. The idea of my girl and me growing distant so fast played like a broken record in my mind. I glanced at my phone to see if I had another text when her picture popped up on my screen.
“Fuck this,” I mumbled.
I decided to give this up and get back to Samara. However, when I went to walk around the dark tree, I felt my body being pulled back and some shit going over my head.
“The fuck!”I shouted.
My breathing became heavy as I started to panic, causing my arms to swing. “Get the fuck off me, nigga!” I shouted.
The grunts of the people I was sending blows to screamed loudly. I could tell they weren’t expecting me to fight back.
“Calmyo’ ass down!” I heard one of them say.
My body flung side to side as they started to roughhouse me. I refused to go down without a fight because ain’t no way some niggas were trying to rob me. I knew something like this would happen with them when they sent me to this dead-ass location. I began fighting with all my strength until I heard one of them mutter about the fraternity, which made me settle down. They swung my arms.
“Ease yo’ rowdy ass up.”
I laughed wildly. “All y’all had to do was announce yourself. I bet you will think twice before trying to kidnap a nigga.”
I knew my smart remark only pissed them off because they began swinging me more aggressively as they led me to God knew where. We walked for a few more minutes before they pushed me, causing me to stumble.
“Bitch-ass nigga,” I mumbled.
The whistling of the trees, the cold breeze, and the huffing of others wrapped around me. I knew shit was about to get real. The cloth was pulled from my head, now allowing me to see the four guys standing in front of me with sinister grins on their faces, while six goofy looking niggas stood in a line next to me. My head turned to look at the other guys who were on the line. Some of them looked nervous, others confused, and I was annoyed. I turned to look back at the guys in front of me when one of them stepped forward, snarling at all of us.
“Don’t look at me!” he barked. “I gave y’all some of the rules, and already you Slime-ass niggas are fucking up!”
Another came alongside him. “Which way is east?”
I turned to see the line trying to figure out which way was east, but I just pointed in that direction.
One of the guys who stood in front of us looked at me. “Oh, you’re a smart little nigga. Look that way then!” he snapped.
