Chapter Twelve Trill #2
I just thought to myself about all of the shit that Mazi just said.
The biggest truth of it all, is that it’s some shit that neither Savage nor I can change.
It’s just something that we have to learn to deal with.
The fact that Mazi is being cool about the shit, is giving me the push to tell the rest of the crew.
I’ll deal with that shit after the fitting.
Right now, I just want to focus on being in the same room with this nigga and keeping my cool.
After talking to Mazi for a while, the drive came to an end.
I was pulling into the parking lot of a real upscale men’s warehouse.
There was even a valet and everything. I told that nigga real quick that I’ll park my own shit.
Mazi fell into a fit of laughter. I just looked to the side of me trying to figure out what has this nigga so amused.
“Nigga, you’re a fuckin millionaire. You better get used to this shit.”
“One thing for damn sure, you can take a nigga out the hood, but you can’t the hood out a nigga.”
“Damn sure can’t”, he said, laughing his ass off.
“Man let’s go in here and get this shit out the way. Before grit ass be out here looking for me. I’m sure he’s already in there”
“Yep, him and your brother”
“Man, shut your monkey ass up”
He found this shit amusing. As much as I wanted to kick his ass about these jokes I couldn’t. I love this nigga, just as much as I love myself. My motherfuckin first cousin, who’s more like a brother to me.
I parked my car in the small section that was designated to self- parking. I guess most motherfuckers here utilize the valet shit. It’s just something I’m not used to. I don’t like the idea of people snooping all through my shit. Even though I don’t have anything in there, I’m just cautious.
We made our way to the building. The big glass door was tall as hell from the ground to the top of the building. The door handles were heavy and made of brass. As soon as I was getting ready to touch it, the doorman opened it.
“Mr. Laurent, we have been expecting you”
I just looked at Mazi and shook my damn head. They’re already trying to give me this nigga last name. last time I checked, my birth certificate read Tavian Carter.
“Just try to have an open mind nigga. Remember the end goal”, Mazi said.
“Alright nigga”
“Mr. Gianni is in the back, he’s expecting you”
Mazi and I followed the uppity white dude as he led the way to where Grit was. Surprisingly, I beat that nigga Savage here. I expected his ass to be up at the break of dawn trying to beat me here.
“You mean to tell me your boy isn’t here already?”, I said to Grit sarcastically, as we shook hands.
“That’s your brother man, try your best to get used to that shit. The business is going to reflect that shit. What’s good man?”, he said, acknowledging Mazi.
“Everything good, just been trying to talk some sense into my boy.”
“Please do. His ass is just as hardheaded as his pops. I honestly can’t expect nothing less. One thing about it though, my brother was a tough ass nigga. the bond we shared was unbreakable. Nobody wasn’t getting in between us. Y’all may have not been raised together but y’all can’t change the DNA.”
“He’s right Trill”
“But look man, we here to get some fly shit to put on. You’re a Laurent.
I don’t know if you realize the significance behind that shit or not.
The name holds weight. We look like money, we smell like money, and most of all no matter how much fuckin paper we touch; we won’t stop getting the shit as long as it’s being printed.
With that being said, being well-dressed is a must. There go Savage right there. ”
Mazi and I directed our attention to the entrance of this huge ass dressing room.
Savage walked in with Ro in tow. I knew he wasn’t going to show up by himself.
The nigga always needed his shadow with him.
That’s why I asked Mazi to roll with me today.
Not that I expected anything to pop off.
I just wanted my nigga with me for moral support in case my trigger finger gets to itching and shit.
Some shit might hit me and make me forget the nigga is my blood.
“What’s up”, Savage said.
I threw my head up and Mazi did the same. In an effort to lighten to the mood, Grit handed each of us a Cuban cigar.
“I know y’all like to smoke Za and shit. This isn’t that kind of establishment. These cigars gon’ get y’all right though. Me myself, I’m a brown liquor type of nigga”, Grit said.
As he stated those words, a woman rolled in a cart that held two clear glasses that held both brown and white liquor.
They handed each of us glasses, allowing us to decide which type of liquor we wanted to be our poison.
The shit can normally go either way with me.
I decided to choose the brown right now though.
I needed the shit to ease my mind and not turn my shit up.
It was crazy, because we all decided on the same thing. Leaving the glass of clear liquor still full to capacity.
Savage and Ro sat on one side of the dressing room, while Mazi and I sat on the other. The shit wasn’t intentional. It just happened that way. The liquor and the effects of the cigar had everyone in a chill space.
“Now that we have gotten all of that awkward shit out the way. Let’s get down to business. And me being the type of nigga that I am, Ro and Mazi y’all getting fitted to. Y’all rolling with my nephews so y’all got to look the part as well.”
Mazi did the birdman handrub. He was loving all of this shit.
While I found myself still taking it all in.
I constantly gave myself mental pep talks.
I stated before that I feel like sometimes Mazi knows me better than I know myself.
He knew when some shit was on my mental.
Causing me to overthink and shit. All he had to do was give me that look, and I would shake back instantly.
In the streets, it is imperative to not wear your heart on your sleeves.
Motherfuckers tend to take that shit as a weakness.
This whole situation with my pops has caused me to tip off my pedestal just a little.
One thing about a nigga like me though, I’ll always find my balance.
I might stumble a little bit. But I’ll never fuckin fall.
Chin up, chest out. That’s the shit that Mazi and I lived by.
I couldn’t do this shit without this nigga. I don’t know what the future holds when it comes down to rest of my crew. All I know is that I have been a loyal ass leader to everyone on my team. It goes without saying that I would expect that same loyalty. Along with a little grace.
There were three tailors in the room to get us all right. Of course, Grit, Savage, and I went up first. I stood up on that little podium and stood as still as I could, as I allowed the woman to get my measurements.
My mind traveled to Purity. Our last conversation played in my head like a song on repeat.
She didn’t have to tell me she was going through some shit.
I could see the hurt all in her face. Part of me hated that I had to witness that nigga really playing in her face in the public.
Though I didn’t know that she belonged to him at the time, shit still is fucked up.
I watched her go from this happy go lucky spirited woman, to a woman that’s torn.
The fact that the nigga could move the way he did says a lot.
The nigga never once deserved to be with a woman like her.
The woman he brought to the shop was Purity’s complete opposite.
I’m not going to call her a hood rat but they’re on two different levels.
When I look at Purity, I see a woman that is about her business.
A woman of class that isn’t going for shit.
Yet, she has a whole lot to stand for. When I see the other girl, I see a woman looking for a come up out the hood.
This why women judge us now. Niggas really don’t have a type out this bitch.
Anything with a hole, they’ll risk it all for. That shit ain’t my steelo.
I fuck off from time to time but I ain’t no dumb ass nigga.
I would’ve known better than to trade a rock for a diamond.
A bitch like that, will drain that nigga out all his money and possessions.
It’s only a matter of time. He may not see it yet, but his time is coming.
It didn’t matter anyway. The only thing on my mental is trying to get Purity to see that in some instances, opposites do attract. I know that we’re different.
Two people can live in the same city but be from two different worlds.
That was the case with us. Yet, I was drawn to her.
I wanted to be in her presence beyond her being my PO.
I didn’t give a damn about that shit. I ain’t out this bitch doing no shit that’ll blatantly raise a red flag.
Shit, I am even willing to get assigned to another PO.
If that meant that she would take a chance on me, then I was with it.
I just didn’t want her to count me out anymore.
I see the hurt that nigga has placed on her.
I wouldn’t want to add on to an already broken heart.
Most niggas would run away from a woman who has been hurt.
I don’t take it as a threat. Not with Purity.
In an odd ass way, I feel like I can heal her shit.
Like I can be the nigga to show her that all niggas aren’t the same.
I’d be the one to show her that every nigga doesn’t come with ulterior motives.