Chapter 3
Diamond sat on the edge of her bed, contemplating on whether she was going to the party. She couldn’t get the perfect outfit together because she didn’t have anything designer and she knew that was all she was going to be surrounded by.
Kayla twirled in the mirror, “Diamond, come onnnn! It’s Cameron Stone’s party, do you know how many people would kill for an invite?”
“That’s exactly why I don’t wanna go. That party is going to be full of people that don’t like me.”
Kayla put her hands on her hips, “I know you ain’t scared?”
“Kayla, please.”
Kayla grinned, “You scared. Scared of liking Cam.”
Diamond threw a pillow at her, “Girl, please. I don’t like that boy.”
“Ok, show me. Let’s go.”
By the time they got there, the Stone estate was lit up like a movie set. Music could be heard from up the street where they were walking from. Expensive cars belonging to privileged kids were parked neatly.
Diamond stopped before they reached the gates, “Kayla, we don’t belong here.”
Kayla grinned and looped her arm around Diamond’s, “We do tonight.”
Inside, the air was thick with perfume, laughter, and luxury, Diamond couldn’t believe he lived there.
It was some shit straight out of a movie.
Cam stood near the staircase, dressed to kill, black tee, black jeans, and his chain shining.
The moment he spotted her, his whole expression changed; he made his way through the crowd, ignoring everyone calling his name.
“Look at you, popping out.”
“Kayla made me,” she said with a smile.
“Then I owe her a thank you.”
“It’s all good, bro,” Kayla shot back with a smile.
“Right, sis.”
Diamond frowned upon the little moment they created because, no. His eyes traced back to her like he wanted to remember it. “You look nice.”
She rolled her eyes the way her stomach was flipping, “I look regular.”
“Not to me.”
Before she could reply, a familiar voice cut through, sounding like it was right in her ear.
“Damn, y’all just letting anybody in.”
Diamond didn’t have to turn around to know it was Farrah. When she did, Farrah stood there looking flawless as always, a drink in her hand and a fake smile in her lips. Cam shook his head, “Farrah, chill.” He finally spoke.
Diamond cut right in, “You right. Guess the invite list got a lil messy.”
“Definitely.” Farrah shot back.
“Clown shit, I’m gon’ grab a drink,” Diamond dismissed herself as Cam smirked.
The rest of the night was blurred: music, laughter, lights, and a mad ass Farrah entertained the fuck out of Diamond.
Cam made sure she and Kayla were good all night.
He brought them drinks, introduced them to people who wouldn’t look their way outside of that setting.
He stayed close without crowding their space and Diamond appreciated that.
He was the same, no matter who was around.
When they finally left, he walked them outside himself, ignoring the stares and side conversations. The night air was cool, the streets were lit with teens, but she saw him, Cameron Stone.
“Thanks for coming,” he said.
Diamond ran her hands over the two-piece Nike fit she was wearing, “Wasn’t that bad.”
Kayla chimed right in, “She had fun, bro.”
“Anyway, happy birthday, Cameron,” Diamond said finally.
He smiled and licked his lips, “Appreciate it, best one I’ve had in a while. You coming to see me off for prom next weekend?” She smiled and nodded her head before walking off.
On the walk home, Kayla couldn’t stop talking. “Girllll, the way he was lookin’ at youuuuu! You got him gone!”
Diamond didn’t say a word, she just kept walking, trying to fight the smile that wanted to creep upon her face. Deep down inside, she knew Kayla was right. For the first time in a long time, she felt good. She had no idea where it was going, or if it was anything, but she felt something.
“Is that Mommy?” Kayla paused at the end of the alley as a woman begged for a bag.
“Yeah, come on!” Diamond power-walked down the alley toward her mother and the group of boys standing around her laughing.
Diamond’s blood was boiling the closer she got.
“Ma!” Kayla called out as Sherry’s eyes grew wide, she looked like she wanted to take off running but her feet wouldn’t move.
“Ms. Sherry, these your daughters? Shidddd, I’ll give you my whole jab for them.”
Sherry ran her hands through her pretty, wild hair, “Y’all go home.”
“Not without you,” Diamond spoke right up.
“I’m right behind y’all, just go!”
“Not without you!” Kayla yelled as the guys laughed.
“Fuck it, I ain’t never had momma and daughter,” one guy said, grabbing his dick through his pants.
“And you never will, bitch ass nigga,” Diamond shot back.
“What the fuck you call me?” he asked, walking toward them as Sherry pleaded for him not to touch her baby.
Diamond wasn’t worried at all, she could smell a pussy ass nigga a mile away.
“Never let anyone get in your space without swinging first,” her father’s words played in her head.
As soon as that nigga was in arm’s reach, Diamond’s arms reached with the quickest two piece that made everyone freeze, dropping him to the ground.
She stood over him and beat him until her knuckles felt like they were going to split open.
“Diamond, stop! Let’s go home,” her mother grabbed her arm. “It’s ok, baby, let’s go,” she continued as tears fell from Diamond’s eyes.
She hated when people fucked with her family, she hated that her mother was an addict, and she hated that there was nothing she could do about it. Sherry wrapped her arms around both of her daughters and walked home.
“I am so sorry; you all deserve so much more than me and my fuck ups. I’m gon’ get clean, I promise. Be patient with me, Momma gon’ get better.”
“Do it for you and us, Ma. It’s really starting to be embarrassing,” Kayla spoke her mind as they turned on their block.
Diamond smiled when she saw her father in the yard, shirtless, throwing jabs.
She couldn’t wait to spar with him, he worked so much, they barely got any time in.
As soon as they walked up, he smiled and kissed Sherry on the cheek, but she hurried inside.
Diamond knew she was going inside to cry because that was what she always did when she felt bad about herself.
“What’s wrong?” he asked his girls as they looked at one another.
“She wants better for herself and us,” Diamond spoke up on her mother’s behalf.
No matter what her mother did, she loved her. Underneath that addiction was a beautiful soul that somehow lost her way.