Chapter 7
Chapter Seven
Adonis.
“Bro, Ms. Alice asked me to go get her some ice. I can run down the street?” AP asked, approaching me with three of his lil’ homeboys.
I eyed all four of them, pulling on my chin hairs before nodding. “Go and come right back, AP.” I dug a few twenties from my pocket and handed them to him. “You already on thin ice with me. Don’t make me embarrass you out here today. Get as many as you can with that.”
“Aight, man.” He chuckled before walking away with his friends in tow.
We were in our old neighborhood at the annual block party that the OG’s threw.
Everyone from the hood would get together in the big ass empty field by the old mining spot with tents, grills, and deep fryers to fry fish and chicken while also cooking out.
There were bounce houses and games set up for kids; basketball, football, and dodgeball set up for all ages, and there was for sure dice and card games that I’d join in later.
There were a few local celebrities that pushed up too. Chez and his crew had surpassed local celeb status, and even though he wasn’t from Northwood, he still came out with his people. Especially since some of his artists were born and bred in the North.
While my brother went to grab some ice, I went around to help the rest of the ladies that were setting up areas.
Me and the guys always came early to help with set up because a lot of the folks that cooked were older women, and they’d all looked out in one way or another.
My mama was cool with some of them, and they definitely gave me and AP food when our bitch ass sperm donor spent up all the bread on drugs and sold the stamps.
The least I could do was look out for them when I could.
After we were done with that, I helped the DJ set up.
He had a truckload of shit that he needed help unloading.
As we did that, I heard the loud bass of someone’s car system blasting.
I glanced back and noticed a candy red bubble Caprice.
I had never seen the shit around the way before, but I knew it was Brock because he had the window down.
Of course.
The nigga had to make a grand entrance, and he had to be seen. It was sad as fuck to see how much his grown ass craved attention.
He parked a little distance away, by a group of middle-aged women who were frowning at him and his little entourage.
The women were clearly chilling and vibing, and this goof ball ass nigga was all in their space with the music blasting.
I was gon’ let him make it for a minute until I noticed my little brother walking by and Brock stopped him.
I abandoned my task and stalked in their direction. I didn’t mind my brother talking and mingling with the people from our hood because they’d all watched him grow up, but I wasn’t allowing Brock’s grimy ass nowhere near him.
“AP, take that ice to Ms. Alice.” I instructed when I neared them. “Y’all take y’all lil’ asses on too.” I tossed my thumb back as I talked to his homeboys. Brock wasn’t the kind of influence any child needed. He was fuck boy 101.
“Knew big mama wasn’t too far behind.” He smirked and so did I.
“That’s cool because I got big hands, big guns with big bullets, and all that for big mouth bitches too. But you know that. See you still nursing that broken nose.”
His smile dropped as he hopped down from his trunk. I whipped my pistol from my back quickly, pointing it at him.
“Fireworks ain’t ‘til later, but you know I don’t mind lightin’ yo’ bitch ass up right now if you’re that eager.”
“Adonis!” Jruelle’s fine ass rounded his car with her sister and their friend behind her. I hadn’t even seen her pretty ass. “There are children out here! Put that gun away!”
“Mind yo’ fucking business, Jru!” Brock snapped.
“She is.” I smirked, tucking my gun away but only because she asked me to. “What’s up, Jru. Geri, Cam.”
“Hey, Don.” Her sister and friend sang in unison like they always did. It was like they rehearsed the shit.
“You not gon’ speak, Jru?”
“Naw, she not.” Brock’s bitch ass stepped in front of her. “She don’t speak to nobody unless I tell her to.”
“Yeah?” I grinned, tilting my head to the side. “That true, Jruelle?”
“Why you keep speakin’ to her, nigga?” Brock snapped, backing up because he knew better than to take another step toward me.
“Because I can, and because yo’ girl love the sound of my voice.” I grinned using Jru’s words.
I knew she probably felt a way because we were using her as a pawn in a sense, but I’d apologize about the shit later.
I was sick of Brock’s bitch ass, and I was done letting him mistreat her.
I’d run into them more in the last few weeks than I had in years, and to me that was a sign, so I was acting on it.
Jru didn’t belong with a nigga like Brock.
He ain’t know that to do with a woman as good as Jruelle, so I was gon’ show the nigga how it was done.
He scoffed. “She don’t think about yo’ ass.”
“Oh, she do more than think.” I grinned.
“Adonis!” Jru screeched. “Derrick, y’all need to stop this!”
“Nigga, you think you can take my b—my girl?” He quickly caught himself because I was crashing his ass for any disrespect. “Of all people,” he chuckled. “You?”
I allowed my gaze to drop to Jru for a second. She looked both nervous and eager as she waited to see what my response would be. Smirking, I tore my eyes from her and focused my attention on Brock’s goofy ass.
“Take her?” I chuckled a little. “Naw, it ain’t about takin’ her,” I shook my head, focusing my gaze on Jru so she’d know that my words were really meant for her.
“It’s about her finally lettin’ herself have what she always wanted.
I don’t gotta pull her away from you, my nigga.
All I gotta do is show her she deserves better, and she’ll walk to me on her own.
” I took the few steps to close the distance between us so I could speak directly to him this time.
“And when I do get her, all she gon’ remember in terms of Derrick, is how fuckin’ easy you made the shit for me.
” I stepped back, smiling wider. “Y’all enjoy the festivities and stay the fuck away from my brother. ”
I winked at Jru before I turned to leave them there. I could hear Brock talking shit in the distance, but I kept it moving. As long as he didn’t let me witness no disrespect, I was gon’ let his hoe ass make it.
When twelve hit, the party finally started.
Everyone was cooking, drinking, playing, and having a good ass time.
I let my brother talk me into punishing him and his lil’ homeboys on the court.
I had the opportunity to get a full ride scholarship to hoop before my mama was killed, but I obviously turned that shit down after she passed because my brother needed me.
Once I whooped the youngin’s on the court, Zig came over wanting to shoot for money. He knew that I was official on the court, and my jump shot was lethal, but if he wanted to lose his money I wasn’t gon’ stop him.
“Hunnid dollars a ball.” I said tossing a bill on the ground.
“Okay nigga,” he laughed, laying his bill on top of mine. “And get yo’ ass back. You too close.”
I was already about five feet from the three-point line, the nigga damn near wanted me at half court, but that was cool because I was gon’ cash out regardless.
I dribbled the ball three times before glancing at the hoop briefly and shooting, easily sinking the three-point shot.
Zig playfully bumped me out of the way to take the same shot, only he missed it.
I laughed and scooped the bread up. We went back and forth for a minute, me taking his money was as easy as taking candy from a baby.
A few others joined in and lost their money too before they asked to switch to a game of 21.
I needed a break, so I took a seat and let them run the first game without me.
I peeped Jru and her people watching from the distance, so I grabbed my phone to text her.
Me: Come here.
Jru Baby: No. I’m mad at you anyway.
Me: Why?
Jru Baby: You know why, Adonis. I am never going to hear the end of that.
Me: You gon’ hear the end of it just as soon as you leave his hoe ass.
Jru Baby: You still got it out there.
I laughed at the fact that she changed subjects. She could avoid the conversation all she wanted to, but her ass couldn’t avoid the inevitable. She was gon’ be mine and the shit was gon’ happen sooner than later.
Me: Seen you watching so I had to put on a show.
Jru Baby: Sure, you would have won regardless.
Jru Baby: The Aces would have loved to have you.
Me: What about you? You’d love to have me?
I looked in her direction, waiting for her to read my message. When she did, her eyes found mine and I smirked. She blushed and dropped her gaze quickly before texting me back.
Jru Baby: In a perfect world.
Me: Meet me by the bathrooms.
Again, her eyes found mine, her brows furrowed. She shook her head then nodded in the direction Brock was in. I sucked my teeth and texted her.
Me: Man, I look like I give a fuck about him? Meet me by the bathrooms or I’m gon’ come over there.
Her eyes locked on mine again before she rolled hers and said something to her sister who got up and walked with her toward the bathrooms. I pocketed my phone quickly and followed suit.
“What is it, Adonis?” She tried being fake mad.
I hugged her small body tightly, enjoying the sweet scent of whatever the fuck she was wearing.
“Been wantin’ to do that since I saw you.”
“You can’t do that out here. People are watching.” She looked around nervously.
I shrugged. “So the fuck what? Nobody gon’ do shit to me or you, so it don’t matter.”