Chapter 6 #2
“It really is. I made the right decision to leave Teflon Hills a year ago. I knew shit like this would happen. Trust me, I’m not tripping. I’m just mad I wasn’t rocking my floor-length mink coat to shit on all these hoes last night.”
Bianca and I high-fived each other.
“Hey, it’s still not too late.”
I never ignored the red flags. Honestly, I expected it. I have been gone for over a year, and not once has Chauncey tried to run after me or make me come back home to be with him.
That means he feels what we have isn’t worth it. And it’s not. My momma always told me niggas do what I allow them to do. What I won’t accept, the next bitch will because Chauncey has paper.
“Hey, Rhy, Simmy said he will send True and Coop up here for about three to four hours.”
“That’s cool; that’s enough time for me to change clothes and get some real food. I need to recharge badly. I’m glad I brought my crystals with me. If I’m going to be here, I’m not about to be tripping over this nigga.”
I opened the window in Chauncey’s room. I set my crystals on my charging plate on his windowsill. I’m glad I bought this to reset. I really want to burn a sage stick to cleanse this room.
“Rhy, I feel you. Are you a witch now?”
“Nope.”
Bianca and I finished talking.
True, Coop and Simmy came to sit with Chauncey while Bianca and I made a few moves. I know they’ve got shit to do. I won’t be gone for too long. I need clothes, but I refuse to go back to the home Chauncey and I once shared.
I will buy some new fly shit. It has been a minute since I spent some of this nigga’s money, and today I’m spending that shit. I don’t give a fuck. Chauncey is going to pay me for my time.
“B, do me a favor and take me to see Grandma.”
I miss my grandma so much.
“Will do. I know Grandma will be glad to see you.”
“I need to see her very badly.”
“Have you heard from your mother?”
“I haven’t heard from her since I have been here, but I spoke with her a few days ago. I want to surprise her.”
“Girl, Auntie Rita is gonna beat yo ass.”
I cannot wait to see my momma in person. I miss her energy. I’m surprised she didn’t call me to tell me about Chauncey.
“I know; that’s why I want to soften the blow with a surprise so that she won’t go that hard on me.”
Bianca and I walked to her car. I should have known she was whipping up something foreign as hell. Gosh, I love Simmy for my cousin. I love what they have.
It’s too bad Chauncey can’t be on the same frequency, but that’s too much like right. I can accept the possibility that we may not be meant to be right now.
“Rhy, what are you smiling about?”
“Because I’m happy for you and Simmy.”
I really am. Bianca got her a real one. Simmy has never been a reckless-ass nigga. Simmy knows Bianca is the prize. I’m just saying these hoes ain’t worth losing my cousin. People think I’m the crazy one; piss Bianca off and watch how real shit gets.
“Simmy knows what it is.”
“He does.”
“I love Simmy. I’d kill him if he played with my heart and feelings.”
See, I don’t blame Bianca; it’s tempting as fuck not to put my hands on Chauncey while he’s out of it. I know that if I take my frustrations out on him while he’s unstable, I could kill him, and that’s the last thing I want to do. I wouldn’t be able to live with myself if something happened to him.
“Simmy ain’t crazy.”
“Simmy is not.”
“I don’t know how I picked the wrong nigga.”
Bianca looks at me and shakes her head. It’s not as if I’m lying. Chauncey has the potential to be perfect, but his whorish ways ruin it.
“Rhy, I’m praying Chauncey gets his shit together. I really want to see y’all make it. Shit, I want you to move back and face your problems head-on instead of running away from love. Shit, I miss our double dates, making all these hoes fucking hate. I miss you, cousin, real shit.”
“I hear you, B, loud and clear. Whether I’m with Chauncey or not, these hoes will still find a reason to hate me.”
“I know.”
“I miss being able to do this with you. I really do.”
“Rhy, not more than me. I promise it’s going to kill me if you go back home.”
“B, I will give you my address; you can come visit me. I’m not running away from love. I’m just taking a flight on the bullshit. It’s only so much I can take. I refuse to let Chauncey play in my face. The time we’ve been apart can either make us or break us, but we shall see.”
“True, hopefully, it brings y’all back together.”
“We will see… Nonetheless, how are Aisha and Amirya?”
“They’re good. We linked up yesterday.”
“Oh yeah?”
“Yep, right before you came.”
“I want to see them before I leave.”
“Rhy, you are dead set on leaving the city… You swear Chauncey finna let you go back to Dallas.”
Bianca and I finished talking and catching up. I really do miss home. It feels good to be back in my city. I miss riding through the Teflon Hills and chilling with my cousin.
I can’t do that in Dallas. Don’t get me wrong, I’ve met a few day twos in Dallas, but my cousin Bianca is top tier; it’s no comparison. I miss Aisha and Amirya, too. Our little circle was perfect until Chauncey ruined it.
Bianca drove to our grandma’s house in forty-five minutes. My grandma lives on the Southside of Teflon Hills in Cherokee Falls. I love Cherokee Falls; it warms my heart to come back here. When I was younger, I dreamed of buying a home out here, right next to my grandparents, and raising my family.
Cherokee Falls is the definition of a real community and a tight-knit neighborhood. I remember growing up here. Every season, we had events, whether it was a block party for the youth or a tea party for the housewives.
Our whole community looked out for each other and fed each other. Although there was some drama, nothing got so bad that we couldn’t fix it. I want my children to have this experience.
Nonetheless, I cannot wait to see my grandma. It’s been so long, but we still talk at least once a week, and I need her physical nurturing. I need my grandma to hold me and tell me that everything will be okay.
I would knock, but fuck that. I’m using my key. The moment I stepped back into Teflon Hills, I’ve been dying to see my grandma and my momma. Bianca and I walked into my grandma’s house. This place feels like home and smells amazing. I want to be here, just here.
My grandma cooked something sweet, savory, and delicious.
I wonder if Bianca told her we were coming by.
I know she baked peanut butter chocolate chip cookies because I can smell them.
Bianca and I walked into the kitchen. My grandma sat at her kitchen table, reading the newspaper, never looking up at us.
Bianca grabbed a peanut butter cookie. My grandma rose from her chair and popped Bianca on the hand. Shit, when we were younger, my grandma used to pop Bianca and me for grabbing a cookie straight out of the oven; it was worth it. I grabbed one too. The cookie damn near melted in my mouth.
“Rhyan, I see you finally made it back to Teflon Hills to see little old me. Oops, I meant Chauncey.”
My grandma started laughing. I missed my grandma so much, but I don’t miss her picking on me, especially about Chauncey’s trifling ass. My grandma pulled me in for a hug and kissed my forehead. I really needed this. I wonder where my momma is. My grandma pulled Bianca in for a hug, too.
“Grandma, don’t start with me… I just got here. Can I please enjoy this moment?”
“It’s too late, Rhyan.”
“It’s not.”
“I heard Chauncey has been shot. Is he okay? How is he? It has been all over the news.”
Simmy still hasn’t told me everything that’s going on. I won’t pry; eventually, it will come out.
“Chauncey is in stable condition.”
“I’m glad. I will be praying for Chauncey. I will call our pastor later to come to the hospital to pray with y’all if that’s okay with you.”
“It’s fine, Grandma.”
My grandma raised us in the church. I’m not surprised she wants our pastor to pray over Chauncey; he had been shot at least 9 times, so he needs all the prayers he can get. It’s a blessing the niggas who tried to kill Chauncey didn’t paralyze him.
“I’m so glad you came back home, Rhyan, but not under these circumstances. God works in mysterious ways.”
“I know, Grandma.”
“Have you eaten?”
“No, not really.”
“Oh, you ain’t finna eat all my damn cookies. I made these for my Bible study class this afternoon.”
“Grandma, surely your Bible study class isn’t more important than I am.”
“Rhyan, you heard what I said. Listen, I baked spaghetti; grab it from the oven. I fried a couple of pieces of catfish. Y’all don’t eat all my damn fish. I made coleslaw. It’s in the refrigerator.”
My grandma offered us all this shit, and now she’s telling us not to eat it all.
“Thanks, Grandma.”
Bianca fixed us both a plate.
“Grandma, do you want me to fix you a plate, too?” Bianca asked.
“No, I’m fine; I’m not ready to eat yet.”
“Okay.”
Bianca finished fixing our plates. I poured two glasses of my grandma’s fresh-squeezed mango lemonade. Bianca said grace, and we both started stuffing our faces. I haven’t had a meal like this in months. I love to cook, but I’ve been living on fast food for the past year.
“Rhyan, you know if you lived here, you would be able to get more meals like this.”
I set my fork down and looked at my grandma.
She’s not holding back today.
“I wish it were that simple, but I love my new life. I miss y’all, Grandma, no lie, yet I’m at peace being eight hundred miles from home.”
It feels good to change my surroundings. The vibe is different in Texas. The weather is amazing, and the food is always on point, in my opinion. Everything is bigger in Texas. It’s country, and the niggas move different. My person is pressure; he’s so understanding and romantic.
“Peace?”
“Yes.”
“Peace doesn’t always mean you’re damn healed. Sometimes it just means yo ass ran far enough not to feel it anymore.”
Silence.
My grandma wouldn’t understand. My grandad and father set the bar really high. I guess that’s why I’m a hopeless romantic. I decided to move away because living in the same city as Chauncey is dangerous.