Beans looked at me. “I didn’t hear you say that. Maybe somehow, she brought it up to you, and you confirmed it without confirming it.”
I took what he was giving. The knock at his door made me sit up. “Them niggas know where you live?” I asked nervously.
Beans stood from the chair. “Calm yo’ ass down. Hell nah. I know how to move smart. It’s those niggas Jesasiah and Percy who don’t.”
Jesaiah and Percy? What the fuck did that mean? Were those niggas friends like Beans and me?
Streets balled up his fists to his mouth. “Damn, Percy pledging too?”
I dropped my head. “Beans, nigga, shut up. You are a whack-ass advisor, on God.”
When Beans opened the door, I got excited. “Stutter Man!” I shouted. Then Scooter came through the door behind him. “Ah, shit! Sup, twin! What? Are we having a party?” I asked.
I glanced at Beans, who dropped his head. “Uh, I told you we’re going to Hoodoo’s, but you can’t go.”
Scooter looked at him weirdly. “Why? The nigga pledging or some shit? We came to link up.”
The room fell quiet. Scooter placed his balled-up fists to his lips. “Oh shit! That’s what’s up.”
I had become irritated. This was my time to chill with people I felt comfortable around, and I was being told I had to stay back like a fucking lame. All I knew was that all of these sacrifices I was making had better be worth it.
I roamed campus thinking about everyone going to Hoodoo’s tonight but me. I fought with myself over whether I should show up. I knew if I got caught, the line would suffer for my actions, and that was something I couldn’t do. When that nigga Percy did what he did, we were tortured for weeks.
As I headed toward my dorm, a group of girls passed by. One of them eyed me as if I was about to go chasing her ass through the yard. She was cute, but my mind was on Mars. I continued to walk until I felt a tap on my shoulder. When I looked, it was the girl who had eyed me.
“Hey.” She smiled.
I looked her up and down. “What’s up?”
“I’ve seen you around campus. What’s your name?” she asked.
My eyes scanned the yard for anyone watching me. This had to be a test because why were these girls talking to me? It was as if they knew I was pledging and it was the forbidden rule. First Dark and Lovely; now this girl.
“Dio,” I muttered.
She nodded with a smile. “I’m Anika. Nice to meet you. Are you busy tonight? We’re going to Hoodoo’s tonight, and you’re welcome to join my friends and me.”
I glanced over her shoulder to the group of girls as they snickered and waved. I looked back at her. “I’m cool. Look, I’ve got to go. Be easy, Shorty.”
“Who said I was done talking to you?” she blurted out.
I didn’t even bother to turn around. “I did!” I said, then continued walking off.
“I’ll see you around, Dio!” she yelled back.
If everyone was going to the club, who would be left on campus other than the nerds? I knew what the right thing to do was, and that was to take my ass in my room and go to sleep. However, I had never been the nigga to do what I was told. If Samara was going to be in that bitch, then so would I.
CHAPTER TEN
Since I didn’t have class on Friday and I missed the last few practices and our first game, I knew it was only right to show up. I rolled my neck as I sat on top of Monk, waiting for the call to start our mock game again. I leaned forward and rubbed the side of Monk’s face.
“Practice is almost over. Then you can rest,” I whispered to him.
The wave of his head let me know he heard what I said. The girls began to line up, and I signaled for Monk to move. As the game started, the adrenaline took over as Monk’s legs moved quickly while I swung to hit the three-inch ball. The players’ horses came rushing my way as my mallet went in the air, coming down slightly and moving the ball before they got to me.
“Good job, Monk,” I called out.
He turned with my signal, and suddenly, he went down, and so did I.
