Chapter 14

August

"It's okay, lil bro. Don't cry ova dat hoe," Mel rubbed my back.

"I'm not cryin' ova her,"

"Whatchu cryin' fa then?"

"All the pain, man. I swear I ain't neva had my heart broke before. I'on like this cryin' and mopin' shit. I'm tryna act like I'm all good, but I'm not... This shit hurt," I wiped my face. "Ta know dat I tried my best ta make sure she was happy and loved fa this ta happen? She messed wit multiple dudes when we was togetha, but barely gave me squat. On top of dat, they was broke niggas!" I became irritated. "She wasted my time, took my money, and broke my heart. I loved her fa real. This shit messed up,"

"It's all gon' flip on her, bro. Just wait. You gon' experience something real. You gon' getchu a real girl that'll love you as much as you love her,"

"Nah. I don't wanna eva experience love again if dat shit is what I experienced wit Chantelle," I shook my head. "I'm mad, man. What I do ta deserve all dat? I'm a good guy, right?"

"I swear, I ain't never seen no dude do as much as you did fa her. Nowadays, dudes scared ta show off they lady. They whipped by they boys, but you ain't like dat. Yo love always genuine. Wearin' yo heart on yo sleeve is a blessin' and a curse. Don't get stuck in that hurt boy mentality. Only hurt niggas will scream F love after they got hurt. They turn into a whole 'notha dude. Don't be like dat. You'll find ya girl one day. Until then, we gon' smoke on this White Widow and chill," he said as he rolled up.

"Nah. I'm not gonna start disrespectin' females. I'm just gonna stay as far as possible away from love. I don't need it,"

"Everybody need and want love,"

"Not me. At least not from a relationship. Love from my family is all I need,"

"Yeah, but we ain't tryna cuddle wit, partake in any sexual actions, or kiss you, so you gon' want a girl. Trust me,"

I started laughin'. "Did you really just say dat?"

"I sure did," he chuckled. "I'm serious,"

I shook my head.

"How many times you, uh... Whatchall young people call that? Netflix and chill?"

I busted out laughin'. "You are really something else,"

"Is dat what it's called?"

I nodded.

"How many times have you Netflix and chilled wit Chantelle?"

"Now listen," I sighed.

"Go on. Tell me,"

"Few times. Four times, maybe,"

"And y'all was together fa like a year or two,"

"Anniversary fa two years would have been next month," I said.

"I'm not sayin' she was obligated ta have sex witchu, but bro... We men, you was dat whipped?"

"Wasn't you just preachin' ta me-"

"Besides that. All you did and she wasn't freely throwin' dat at'chu?"

"She was throwin' something alright," I mumbled.

"She was- Ooo! What would Mama think of you havin' yo wang-a-lang in a young woman's mouth?"

"Dat ain't no woman. She a hoe," I attempted ta quote from Boondocks, causin' us both ta laugh.

"Petty," he chuckled before putting the blunt in my face. "Feel dat,"

I turned it and felt it. "Pearl," I said.

He passed me the lighter and I looked at him weirdly.

Mel never lets anyone start off the blunts. He always does it. He says the first hit is always the best hit.

"You aiight?"

"I'm good. Why you ask?"

"You lettin' me start it?"

"Yeah,"

I reached up and put my backhand on his forehead. "You sick? You need ta go to the hospital? Emergency care?"

"Boy, if you'on start dat imma take my first hit back,"

I chuckled before putting it ta my lips. I sparked it and inhaled. Now I see why he likes ta start it off.

We smoked dat down and relaxed fa a while before smokin' anotha one. Now I was calm and less stressed than I was earlier.

"I wish I wasn't suspended," I said randomly.

"Why you say dat?"

"I wanna see her,"

"Dat girl you won't stop talkin' about?"

"Yeah. Esined,"

"You like her?"

"No," I said honestly.

"Then why do you always wanna see her so bad?"

"She's a pretty lady, don't get me wrong. I just don't like her," I admitted. "And because I wanna know about her,"

"I thought you knew a lot. You talked to me about her for hours once. You even got all poetic on me. How can you talk so much about somebody you don't know a thing about? You like her,"

"It wasn't even like dat. She's just mysterious and I'm tryna get ta know her because it's botherin' me. I don't like her,"

I honestly didn't like Esined that way. She was pretty, but I didn't have any feelings fa her. I just want ta be friends wit her. Esined wouldn't date me anyway even if I did want her. She's steady curving my friendship wit her.

"Then what is it about her?"

"I just told you what it was. Her being so mysterious makes me want ta talk to her and find out things about her,"

"Basically, you being a nosey nigga,"

I nodded. "Yeah, but I can't because she doesn't want ta talk to me,"

"Stop being nosey and leave her alone,"

"I can't,"

"Nothin' dat is goin' wit her is your business. Let her come ta you. You can't force a friendship,"

I smacked my teeth. "Aiight," I mumbled.

"Boy,"

"I hear you,"

He shook his head. "I'm hungry. Come on," he stood and grabbed his keys.

I stood up and followed him.

Mel and I went to get some food, that was before his phone beeped, letting us know that there was a drop to be made. When we were leaving Ramshorn, he opened the trunk then lifted the seats. He opened the floor of the car, revealing the bags of weed, and grabbed four grams. I was looking out as he did that.

Mel put everything back in place before closing the trunk. We got into the car. He checked the glove department to make sure his gun was in there.

"Ready?" He asked.

I nodded. "Yeah,"

Mel drove off and went to the location. He made sure we were good and dimmed his headlights before pullin' up on the block. He kept the car on as we spoke.

"You already know, but imma remind you. Two ta five minutes. If I'm not out, you come in. Make sure you check all yo surroundings. Don't talk ta nobody. If you see a face, try ta see which direction they headin' or at least try ta see what they look like. Only use the gat if shit gettin' hot. I know how you are. Don't shake when you use it, you heard me?"

I nodded.

"If the cops show up, you drive off. Leave me-"

"Mel, I can't do dat," I shook my head. "I ain't leavin' you, bro. If one go down, we both goin' down,"

"Ain't no time ta be all sweet. If you see cops, pull off. You hear me? Pull off and go ta Sneak's spot,"

"Alright,"

He reached ova and grabbed one of the guns from the glove department. He tucked it in his pants and made sure the four grams were on him.

"What time is it?" He asked me.

"Nine forty,"

"Nine forty two or nine forty-five," he told me as he got out of the car.

I moved and sat in the drivers seat. I stared at the clock before checkin' my surroundings. "Hurry up, Mel," I mumbled, tappin' the steering wheel.

I looked at the clock, it said forty-three. I looked at the door and Mel was comin' out. I felt relieved.

A tall white man was walkin' down the street and he looked like he was gettin' too close ta Mel. It was dark but it was obvious that the man was white. He seemed familiar, but I could make out the face because of the darkness. I wrapped my hand around the cold gun in my lap.

He approached Mel. I noticed he had some heat on him and I put my hand on the door handle.

I saw the man's mouth move.

Are you selling?

Mel shook his head and tried ta continue ta walk, but the man pulled him back. Mel pushed him off and the guy clearly wanted ta fight.

I got out the car and started ta walk over. I saw a tree and moved towards it so I wouldn't draw attention ta myself.

"Man, I ain't sellin' shit," Mel said. "Keep yo hands off me, nigga," he kept on walkin' and the man pulled out his gun. Mel turned around and looked him in the eyes.

It was an intense silence as Mel and I stared at him and he stared at Mel. I was behind a nearby tree and he couldn't see me. I could hear their conversation. I cocked my gun and aimed it at the man's arm.

"Give me your money," the man said.

"I ain't got none on me," Mel lied. "Get a job, bum,"

"I gotta family to take care of," he moved closer ta Mel. "I know you got something on you,"

"We in the same boat. You gon' shoot me or what?" Mel opened his arms, allowin' him ta have more places ta shoot.

I hate when he does shit like this.

I made sure my aim was right and put my finger on da trigger.

He aimed the gun at Mel and I fired mines at him. He fell ta the ground and I ran over. Mel kicked the gun away from him and I stared at the man's face and he stared right back at me.

"C'mon," Mel rushed me away.

We ran ta the car and got in. We drove off, not knowin' if the man would live or died from the gun shot.

Part of me wanted him ta live, knowin' that he has a family ta take care of. Part of me didn't care if he didn't live or not because he tried ta take my family.

I could feel myself becomin' paranoid.

-Hi. Was gonna update last night, but it was my brothers birthday and I got messed up lol.

August doesn't like Esined. Awe :[ y'all had hopes. Keep hoping. He might come around.

Idk why, but when I wrote that last part, I felt like I was there.

Did y'all like that part?

I'm trying my best not to turn this into some gangsta ass book lmao.

Some crazy stuff is about to start happening, so here's y'all warning lol. Heart strings are gonna be pulled. Let the mind games begin lol.

But ya know. Comments and votes are appreciated.

Much love, Shia. Xoxo.