“The fuck we are. We’re going to wait until morning and go to somebody’s greenhouse and get some,” Quan said.
“Man, that’s like buying them from the store,” Joshua added.
Dio tossed his hands up. “All of this is a test. It’s clear some of you were on that special bus. Be creative! Use y’all brain! We’re making them fucking flowers.”
Brian stepped forward. “Guys, are we going to argue on top of someone’s grave or decide if we’re going to do this? Yay or nay?”
Dio ran his hand over his face. “Nigga, these people are dead. Y’all do what you want. I’m about to do some origami-ass shit.”
He began to walk off the lawn. I could tell he was used to running things, but this wasn’t something he could control. It was a decision the group had to make, and if he thought he was going to be the leader of the pack, then he was mistaken. It was going on ten at night, and we still hadn’t come up with anything. Quan looked at me while Brian followed behind Dio.
“I say we take the flowers,” I told Joshua and Brian.
They both shrugged. I yapped up the flowers, bowed my head, and told God I was sorry. The three of us hurried out of the cemetery and hopped in Dio’s G-wagon. When he saw the flowers in my hand, he shook his head.
“Bruh, you’re not getting in my car with a dead person’s flowers. Stealing from the dead, what type of shit are you on?”
They all looked at me. Reluctantly, I tossed the flowers onto the grass and got in. Dio sped off with the music on blast. He rode through the streets until we got to a drugstore. We all got out and went inside. We headed straight to the school supply section and watched Dio grab a handful of construction paper, scissors, glue, and glitter. When we got to the checkout line, my eyes landed on her.
“Sup, Royce?” I said to her.
When she saw me standing there, I could tell she wasn’t expecting to see me. She tried to ignore me as she rang up each item. “Are you going to give me your number, or did I fuck it up?”
She laughed. “You look like you’re about to rob somebody.”
I leaned forward as I smiled at her. “Number,” I told her.
All the guys’ heads swung my way. Shit, these niggas were scared, but I wasn’t because little did any of these niggas know, Dean Big Brother God’s Gift, better known as Jesaiah, was my best friend. I’d known him since my freshman year, and he had always looked out for me as I had done for him. This situation was no different. Okay, I was talking to a girl. As long as the other brothers didn’t see me, I was safe. Dio paid for the items, snatched the bag,and headed for the door. I stood there waiting for Royce to respond.
“You’re serious?”
“Why would I be unserious?”
Before she could respond, I felt my black sweater being snatched. “Nigga, bring yo’ big ass on. You know this can’t be a thing, and I’ll be damned if those meathead-ass niggas have me doing some wild shit because you want to talk to a girl,” Dio hissed as he tried dragging me out of the store.
I shoved his ass. “Dawg, I’m not one of those ones.”
“Neither am I. If you want to stay here and be Betty Crocker, fine. I’m not waiting for you.”
He walked out the door, and moments later, I saw his truck drive by. “Shit!” I muttered.
Now I had no way to get back to campus. I pulled out my phone to call Jesaiah but noticed his shit was on Do Not Disturb. I scrolled through my phone until I got to Phoebe’s number. I stepped away from the counter as I walked closer toward the door. I glanced over my shoulder as I hit Dial. The phone rang until she picked up.
“Hello?” The sound of music blared.
“Aye, I need a favor,” I tried whispering.
“I can’t hear you!” she yelled and hung up.
“Fuck!”I gritted.
“So, you’re joining a fraternity, and you chose to break the rules, and now you’re stranded?” I heard Royce say behind me.
I quickly spun to face her. Those innocent eyes that I saw in the library were gone as they had now turned into seductive ones. “Percy, is it?”
My lip slowly curled upward. “You remember my name.”
She pointed to the side of her head. “I remember a lot. I work in the library; it only makes sense. I’ll be off in an hour. If you have time to wait around, I can drop you off oncampus.”
