22
I stepped into the bando that Ace called home. When I got to his room, I stood in the doorway looking around. I was expecting some type of eerie feeling to consume me, but it didn’t. It’s probably because his soul wasn’t left here. The thought of me being in his position crossed my mind. I’d wondered would I be the way am I now if I were in Ace’s position.
As I stepped further inside, my eyes landed on this little table he had sitting in the corner. It held a tap light, a few cheap lighters and pictures. One was of him and his mom, another of him and me, and then one I wasn’t expecting to see. It was of the Shorty that used to fuck with Diamond.
Monette. He had known who she was all along, but never said anything to me about it. I took the picture of us, tucking it into my pocket. I knew I would never be the same after what I did to my best friend. I also knew it was time for me to start a new journey elsewhere. Me and Princess were still talking, and I told her I was coming to New York. I didn’t know what that would look like for me, but I was ready. I sat on Ace’s bed and lit a blunt for my nigga. I smoked and talked to him, telling him about Princess and me seeing my mother until I finished the blunt. Before leaving, I took one last look at the place he called home, “Merry Christmas my nigga,”
I whispered and left.
Zeus told me we were having dinner at Chev’s tonight, and it was important that I be there. Before going, I wanted to stop by Zaria’s because I felt like I owed her a thank you for saving me that night. When I pulled up to her crib, I saw her car and I knew she was here. I got out with a bag that I brought with me. I knocked on the door and waited for her to answer. When she did, I held the bag out, “Merry Christmas Z,”
I said, smiling.
A bright grin graced her face, “Aw, thank you Dio, but you didn’t have to,”
she said, letting me inside.
I noticed her place was now empty. “Where is all your shit?” I asked.
She closed the door, coming over to me, “I sold it. I’m leaving California. I’m going to travel the world and find a new home.”
“That makes two of us. I’m going to New York, show them what this Cali nigga is about.”
She looked at me curiously, “Are you going to be a better Dio or cause Havoc in the unknown?”
I shrugged. “I’m going with family. I can’t say that I have changed much, but I will say I have learned a lot. I wanted to say thank you for saving me. Thank you for being at the right place at the right time. If you hadn’t shown up, Zeus would probably be burying me right now.”
“Well, I’m happy I was there for you. Dio, take care of yourself,” she said.
I pointed to the bag, “Are you going to open the gift or what?”
Zaria giggled as she opened the bag. She pulled out the brown box and opened it. Her eyes lit up as she looked at me. “Dio!”
she yelped. “Oh my God, this is so beautiful.”
“Yeah, and those diamonds are real. Those angel wings because you were the angel that saved me.”
I walked over, helping her put it on. “You coming to Chev’s?” I asked.
“Maybe.”
She shrugged.
“Well, I hope you do. If not, it was nice seeing you and you take care of yourself. If you ever need a favor, I’ll come spraying those niggas,”
I said to her while imitating a gun with my hand.
I knew she wasn’t taking me seriously, but I meant every word. If she ever needed saving, I would come running to help her, just as she did for me. I headed out of the door and down the hall when some bum ass nigga quickly brushed past me damn near knocking me into the wall, “Nigga you lucky it’s Christmas, and I’m trying to be cool,”
I grumbled as I continued to my ride.
I was feeling good today and really didn’t want to start any shit, so I let it slide. It was muhfuckin Christmas, and I was ready to spend my last day in California with people I called my family.
I only had like an hour before Zeus picked me up for Christmas dinner at Chevy’s. I decided to drop Soho off at the airport since he was heading back. I knew he felt some kind of way with everything that went down with Zeus, but Soho wasn’t my man Zeus was. I knew he couldn’t wait to get back just so he could talk about it. They had never really seen nor heard me talk about being with someone so I’m sure it had been a surprise to Soho. For him it was the fear of me being a part of the Zoo without him.
Soho turned the music down in the car before speaking, “So that’s it Sash you just gone ride off in the sunset with the nigga? Huh? Mayne look, the nigga ain’t no knight in shining armor just because he came in trying to beat my ass.”
I sucked my teeth. “You sound like a hater to me, Soho.”
He clapped his hands together, “I’m never a hater, but we had plans and you fucking it up. You came out here for one thing now look at you,”
he said shaking his head.
The more Soho talked the more he was getting on my nerves. “Soho shut the fuck up! You just make sure when Chevy gets there all you niggas are on your Ps and Qs. Don’t fucking embarrass me,”
I paused. “I figured you would be happy for me. Happy that I found someone that makes me feel good, smile,”
I said smiling thinking about Zeus.
He dropped his head and shook it, “Whatever Mayne. Look Sash if you’re happy so am I. I just want to ride that’s all get this grade A good ass street money you feel me, but,”
he paused. “It’s not me you have to worry about.”
I pulled up to the airport alongside the walkway. Soho looked at me again and shook his head. “When are you coming back?”
“I’ll be back in two days. I just want to spend Christmas with Zeus.”
He burst out in laughter as he opened the door to get out. I tugged at his shirt, “Don’t go back to the Cove running your fucking mouth.”
“Love you, Sash.”
He closed the door and walked off into the airport. My stomach sank thinking about what he said. I knew if he went back doing what I knew he was going to do when I got back shit was going to be sticky because my ex, Perrie. He and I had no ties, but he also didn’t want to see me happy. I hoped when I got back, and Chevy did arrive it would be no static because Seven To Da Cove versus the Zoo was going to be some nasty work.