“Tae!” Raven shouted, as a group of girls were switching past us.
One of the girls spun around. She had a slim waist with wide hips that stood out on her slender frame. She was rocking a Chinese bang and ponytail that worked for her heart shaped face.
“Hey,” Tae sang, as she jogged over to Raven, hugging her tightly.
“What’s up?” Raven questioned, as she released ole girl.
“Nothing. Just up here with my big cousins,” Tae responded.
“Yeah?” Raven craned her neck, looking over the faces of the girls with Tae. “Where Quel at?”
“On Coke Street at Kevin’s house.”
“Oh, so, she put up tonight?”
“Yeah, that bitch is put up.”
Tae’s eyes traveled up to me. “Who is this, Raven?”
Raven glanced back at me, like she’d forgotten that I was sitting there. “Oh, this is Junior’s daddy.”
Tae arched a brow. “Your baby’s daddy?”
“Yeah.”
I cleared my throat. “Say, don’t be introducing me like that. Like that’s all I am.”
“So, how was I supposed to introduce you?” Raven questioned.
“Tell her that I’m your nigga. That’s it.”
“Ha!” Tae wagged her tongue. “Tell her again. I likes that shit. Make that known. He stamping that!”
Raven blushed. “Girl, chill out.”
“Aww, girl, don’t be trying to play it cool. Whenever we catch up on the phone, he’s all you talk about. Talking about you aint never coming back to stay in 5thWard, as long as that nigga is laying next to you every night.” Tae locked eyes with me. “Boy, you got my girl weak in the knees. She’s crazy about you. I aint lying. But don’t play with her, though. Cause we from 5thWard. We jump niggas, off the muscle. Five to one.”
I chuckled heartily, believing her. I could tell by looking at Tae that she was young. Maybe like Raven’s age. But she was different. More street savvy. But cool as shit. There wasn’t a look of lust in her eyes, and I detected no malice in her voice.
“Really, bitch,” Raven gasped. “How you just gon put me out there like that?”
“Cause…it’s you. You and Quel be trying to play hard, but y’all don’t realize that y’all are different. We know that you bitches are special. These niggas know it too. So, sometimes y’all gotta remind them that it’s real. It aint just a pretty face on a nice body. Y’all all tender and shit. Make sure he knows that, so he won’t be holding on so tight, thinking that you gon slip out of his hands.”
“Main, what?” I couldn’t help but laugh.
“Jahrein’s your name, right?”
“Yeah.” I nodded.
“Okay, well, Jahrein, you know exactly what I mean. Just treat her right, and y’all will be alright. Do that, and she’ll never go nowhere.”
I smirked. “Alright, Tae. I’ma remember that.”
“You better.” She pointed, before stepping back over to her friends.
“Damn, her lil’ ass is sexy,” TP chattered.
Raven shook her head. “She’s too young for you. Then she’s wild.” She bucked her eyes.
