When Royce dropped me off on campus, I received a call frommy Nan, who said my daughter was sick. I then drove two hours out of the city to see my little girl. Tink was nearly one year old, and I knew she was starting to notice things. The way her face lit up when she saw me made me feel emotional inside. Spending those few hours with her confirmed that every decision I made in the coming years was for her.
Xavier glanced at me and smirked. “You want me to set an alarm for you next?” he sarcastically offered.
“No, nigga! I want your stop rapping off key. Why are you even talking to me? Do some fucking work because it’s clear you can’t play ball.”
He belted out a laugh. “Don’t get mad at me because you fucked up. You can miss me with the non-playing jokes,Percy. We’re two athletes who seem to be on the same path. Just because you’re not hurt doesn’t mean you’re not hurt. Mine is physical; yours is internal.” He winked.
I didn’t even bother to entertain his ass. I grabbed my shit and headed out the door. When I stepped out of the door, Big Brother Stay Fly was right there. “Greetings, Big Brother Stay Fly!” I shouted as I stood there, chin up.
He stepped closer. “Don’t think the brothers don’t know that Dean Big Brother God’s Gift is your best friend. We are not cutting any of you niggas slack. Where were you?”
My lips curled into a ball, and I didn’t respond. He moved closer. “I asked you a question, Slime. You know, Number Six, I think you believe you’re better than those other Slimes.”
“No, I don’t think that, Big Brother Stay Fly!”
He nodded. “Yeah, we’re going to see. It will be hell to pay. Fucking Slime,” he gritted as he continued down the hall.
I dropped my shoulders, shook my head, and left the building. I knew I needed to warn my line about whatever was coming. I shot them a quick text and told them to meet me at Mercier Hall. Iwould’ve much rather had them be prepared than surprised. Although when it came to my daughter, I didn’t owe anyone an explanation, but I knew my spot was blown up, so it was only fair. I hurried over to the weight room to catch the last couple of minutes of workouts before it ended. As soon as I walked in, my coach’s eyes landed on me before he shook his head. Jesaiah came from the bench press area to approach me.
“Sup?” he said while dapping me up.
“Man, I was caught by that nigga Tamir. I thought you said I would be cool.”
He looked around, then back at me. “Ah, don’t worry about Stay Fly. This is my line, and I will run it how I see fit. Check it, though. I need you to do something for me. That nigga Dio, I want to know if he and his Shorty are tight. I’ve been asking, but she isn’t biting. If I could get insight, then maybe I could do what I need to.”
“He hasn’t said anything about a girl to me. Besides, aren’t you and Apple a thing?”
He flicked his nose as he tossed his arm around my shoulders. “Apple, she toast. I mean, she needed it when she needed it. Samara? Now she’s what a nigga needs. I want you to stay on Dio. If he mentions her, I want to know. If the nigga ducks off to see her, I want to know.”
This nigga was tripping. I felt like he was losing sight of the reason we had decided to join this frat in the first place. Dio and I weren’t even that cool for him to tell me about his life outside of school.
I side-eyed Jesaiah. “I’m not doing that shit.”
“Well, I can’t save you from the bruhs. I mean, when you need me, I’m there, but I feel—”
“I get you. Just tell your boys to ease up.”
He laughed. “Yeah, I got you. Oh, by the way, I saw that girl Phoebe with your roommate. Might want to check that out.”
Is Phoebe fucking with Xavier?I left the weight room in search of Phoebe. I had texted her because I wasn’t sure if she was in class, but a nigga needed answers. I knew my feelings were truly invested because me being on the hunt for a girl I was only fucking was crazy.
I moved quickly through campus until I spotted Royce walking into the library. I never got the chance to say thank you for the ride. I couldn’t say I liked her because I hadn’t gotten the chance to get to know her, but every time I saw her, she drew me in.
I hurried across campus to the library. As soon as I entered, I spotted Royce on an aisle alone. I moved through that muhfucka like a ninja because after Big Brother Stay Fly said what he said, I knew I was already skating on thin fucking ice, and if I got caught, it was only going to make it worse. I stood on the opposite aisle from Royce. I pulled a few books out until I saw her pretty-ass face.
“I wanted to say thank you,” I whispered.
I could see confusion in her face as she searched the shelves for my voice. When she stepped on her tippytoes and saw me, she rolled her eyes.
“Really?”
“Yes, really. You know what it is, and this is my only option.”
“Well, if this fraternity means that much to you, then maybe you should follow the rules.”
“Or maybe you should let me holla at you.”
She slammed the book she had opened closed. “Look, I don’t know what kind of game you think you’re trying to run on me, but I’m new here, and all I’m trying to do is make it through the semester, not make friends.”
