13. Kase Madoxx #2
I should’ve ignored her. Should’ve said somethin’ wild. But nah. Instead, I walked over and pulled her into a hug.
“Hey, Blyss,” I said, my voice warm. “That bag’s… kinda dope. You got a new patch?”
Her face lit up like a Christmas Eve miracle. “I did! It’s a limited edition dragon emblem?—”
“Cool,” I cut in, too enthusiastic. “Real mythical. Very rare drop energy.”
Tuesday straight-up froze like I slapped her with a math book.
Jace leaned in. “Yo. Are you… okay?”
“I’m great,” I said, sipping my drink. “Just emotionally hydrated.”
Emotionally hydrated? Nigga, what?
I slapped my own chest like I was tryna reboot my personality.
Before I could even escape the awkward mess I created, the doorbell rang.
I went to answer it, Key Key and two other angry-ass chicks stood outside like they were ready to audition for a reunion episode of Bad Girls Club.
One had a keychain swinging from her hand, and I could already smell the pepper spray in the air.
I stepped out, trying to keep it calm, my vibe still half-magic, half-delirious.
“Ladies,” I said, trying to charm. “Let’s not bring trauma to the cul-de-sac. How about we use our words?”
Key Key blinked like I just quoted a school counselor. “Kase… the fuck is wrong with you?”
“Nothing,” I said, too softly. “I just think, maybe, this ain’t the way. You’re too beautiful to be mad like this. Anger increases cortisol, you know?”
“What?” she snapped.
One of the other girls squinted. “This nigga talkin’ vitamins now?”
“I’m just sayin’,” I shrugged. “Let’s be civil. We grown. And y’all still got glitter on your faces. That mean the night’s young. Don’t waste it bein’ petty.”
“Oh, he on drugs,” Key Key muttered.
“ No. That ain’t it. Don’t you get it, shawty? I’m a damn dog, I don’t do soft. I don’t do feelings. I ain’t never wanted to want nobody. Well, except one woman who ain’t you.”
The second I said it, my jaw locked.
The fuck did I just say?
Shut up, Kase. What the fuck is wrong with you? That wasn’t player. That wasn’t cold. That was a damn cry for help wrapped in a confession. I took a step back, tryna reel it in, voice droppin’ low like I still had control, but I didn’t.
“I been tryna be polite. Tryna tell you my rules without crushin’ you. I didn’t ask for this. I didn’t ask for you.”
And there it was again.
More emotional diarrhea.
My shit was spillin’ out like I had a mic and a poetry slot on open mic night. I sounded like I had a mood journal. Like I burned incense and watched the rain hit the window while listenin’ to Summer Walker.
What the hell is this? A slow jam? Nigga, stop.My fists clenched on their own, and I felt heat flood my face. Not cause I was embarrassed, but cause I was confused as hell.
Why was I feelin’ like this?
Where was my ego? My savage mode?
It was like someone hit mute on my toxic and turned the emotional volume all the way up. Key Key blinked, her neck rolling slow like she was powering up to go full hood.
“So, you played me?”
“Nah… I just—”I scratched the back of my neck, eyes twitchin’.
You played yourself.
“Shit, you knew I only wanted the pussy. I showed you that.”
The words fell flat. There was no swagger behind it. Just honesty. Raw and jagged. Like I was talkin’ through a damn lie detector that wouldn’t shut off. She blinked hard, face cracking.
“Wow, you serious right now? You dirty-ass, dog-ass nigga.”
Normally, I’d roast her and walk off. Say something slick like, “You mad cause the dick good and the goodbye better.” But I couldn’t find the words. My usual comeback arsenal was gone.
“I’m just tellin’ you the truth,” I muttered, soundin’ like a broke pastor caught in a scandal.
Just like that, she whipped out a pink-ass pepper spray keychain like she was Sailor Ratchet, ready to transform.
I saw it just in time and smacked it out her hand like it was a damn fly.
That’s when shit turned stupid . All three of ‘em jumped like it was a group decision, nails out, wigs tight, earrings already removed.
They came at me like I was a clearance rack full of betrayals.
“Y’ALL SERIOUS RIGHT NOW?!” I yelled, ducking and dodgin’, blockin’ like I was in a damn anime. One girl got a good grip on my shirt, stretched the collar so bad I looked like I was in a V-neck made by depression.
Meanwhile, the peanut gallery was lit. Jace was leaned against the doorframe with a smirk. Tuesday had tears streamin’ down her face from laughing. While Blyss looked like she was about to throw up.
“We need to call the police!”Blyss squeaked.
Tuesday waved her off.“Nah. Let Mr. Bitches figure it out. That’s karma,”she added.“Kase always think he invincible.”
“I can’t just stand here!”Blyss shrieked.
Suddenly, the girl snapped.Blyss ran inside and came back like she was in Fruit Ninja on hard mode. This girl had apples, bananas, and what looked like an emergency peach. She started throwin’ produce like her rent depended on it.
“LEAVE HIM ALONE!”Blyss screamed, cockin’ that arm like a pro softball pitcher.
Thump! An apple hit one of the girls dead in the forehead. She paused mid-swing, lookin’ around like the spirit of Michelle Obama had just touched her.
“THE FUCK?!”
Another apple hit the ground and rolled under the car.
“I’M NOT PLAYIN’ WITH Y’ALL!” Blyss shouted, breathin’ hard, glasses sliding, tote bag bouncing off her hip.
They weren’t phased though. One chick swung again, clipped my arm with her purse. Another scratched at my chest like she was auditioning for Cats.
Shit had me in full survival mode. That’s when Blyss ran inside again and brought out.
Spencer, my pit bull.He was all muscle and straight death stare. Shawty had both hands on his leash like she was holdin’ back a train with dental floss.
“WAIT—NO—STAY, SPENCER!” Blyss cried, heels skiddin’, socks twisted.
He wasn’t listening.
That dog was on one. Movin’ like he had a personal vendetta against wigs.
“OH HELL NO!”one of the girls screamed.
They turned tail, runnin’ to their car like it was a damn sprint relay. Blyss was screamin’, draggin’ behind him like she was waterskiing in church shoes.
“SPENCER—NO!”
I finally stepped in. “Spencer.”
He stopped and sat down like he had sense. I looked over at Blyss. She was breathin’ hard, ponytail sideways, lips parted, chest pumpin’ like she’d just fought in Wakanda. I took the leash from her trembling hands.
“Next time?”I said with a smirk,“Just throw more apples.”
Before anything else happened, Tuesday grabbed her and started pullin’ her toward the car like this was over.
“What the fuck, man?”Jace said.
“If you kept your dick in your pants, you wouldn’t need a damn fruit squad and canine backup.”
I didn’t answer.
I walked back inside, Spencer trottin’ behind me like nothin’ happened. I still didn’t know what the hell was goin’ on with me. Why I couldn’t stop talkin’ feelings and acting all strange, but I knew one thing for sure, Blyss had my back.