Percy
Since the line wasn’t able to go to the game, we were told to stay on campus.
I knew it was because I missed the delivery of the flowers, and although Jesaiah told me shit was cool, I knew it wasn’t.
To avoid dealing with the guys, especially Dio, I decided to head to the library to see if I could catch Royce.
I tried texting Phoebe, but she said she was at the game.
By the time I got to the library, I noticed it was closed.
Since I wasn’t ready to call it a night, I decided to go to the only place I knew was probably as lively as the game tonight, and that was Hawks Chapel, or at least that’s what we called it.
Hawks Chapel was the centerpiece of the campus.
Some called it the study space, others, the student union.
I called it the place where the people who had nowhere to go hung out.
As soon as I entered the building, my line brothers were in there. Quan and Chris were play-fighting, Brian and Jeremiah were making a dance video, Joshua was practicing moves as if he were a drum major, while Dio was in the corner studying.
There were a few more students around, but everyone was doing their own thing. I found a small spot in the corner, trying to avoid them niggas, but when they saw me, it was clear they had shit to get off their chest. “Oh, now the nigga knows how to show his face,” Quan started.
I eyed him. “Where were you?” Brian asked.
I didn’t know whether telling them about my daughter was worth it. I mean, shit, it wasn’t like any of these niggas could help me, so what was the point? However, I knew what I signed up for. I really had no excuses and didn’t want to share why. “I…I,” I began to stutter.
Dio turned his head to look at me, “That pussy got yo’ tongue tied.”
The guys burst into laughter. Jousha waved Dio off. “I swear you’re always coming up with something to say, Dio.”
His eyes darted toward Joshua. “Of course I do, Gizmo. Especially when I’m stuck in here with all y’all corn balls.”
I shook my head. “Man, nobody fucking with a girl chill over there, Arthur.”
Dio laughed sinisterly. “I’ll be that. Never underestimate a crazy nigga. We are stuck on this campus because of you. I’m missing the game and shit,” he complained.
I stood up from the chair. “Fine, let’s go to the game then. You’re bad. If you go, we go,” I said.
They all looked at me like I was crazy, except Dio. “Now you’re talking, let’s go,” he said as he started to walk out of Hawks Chapel.
Brian rushed behind him. “Whoa! Slow yo ass down. Nigga if we get caught, it’s our ass, and I’m not trying to do no froggy squats and shit.”
Quan nodded slowly. “Nah, I’m with Dio. Let’s go,” he squealed, jumping up and down.
Honestly, I was trying to be funny, but this nigga Dio was on a different type of time.
I knew if Jesaiah caught us, it was going to be hell, but I also knew this shit was a brotherhood, and I had to go.
We grabbed all our stuff and headed out.
As we strolled through the campus toward the parking lot, something felt off.
Dio trotted ahead, still talking shit, when suddenly, we heard a whistle being blown.
Dio stopped, and so did we as we glanced around, then at each other. “Nigga, fuck was that?” Jerimiah asked.
Then another whistle came from the other side. “Slimes!” Someone howled.
We looked at each other and hauled ass back toward Hawks Chapel. We were running like little kids being chased by the fucking boogie man. When we got back inside, we peeked through the glass windows. Chris burst into laughter. “Bruh, did they really chase us back inside?”
Quan added onto the laughter. “Damn twin we stuck in this muhfucka like a horror film. This shit crazy.”
“Fuck!” Dio shouted. “Type shit is this. Nigga’s got howling ninjas in the bushes and shit.”
A rumbling laugh fell from me. I couldn’t believe that niggas were running from something we only heard and couldn’t see. This pledging shit was crazy, but times like this made it fun. “I say we do it again. Let’s see who can make it to the parking lot first.”
Dio looked at me and smiled. “Don’t threaten me with a good time,” he said as he opened the doors and ran out.
We watched as he ran through the campus like a madman. Joshua and Brian’s faces were pressed against the glass in excitement. “Ooo wee, he’s almost there!” They squealed.
The whistles went off again right at the moment he was almost to the parking lot. Dio turned around and hauled ass back toward Hawks Chapel, bobbing and weaving like he was dodging bullets. By the time he got inside, he was out of breath. “Damn! I was almost there,” he panted.
We all laughed. “I say we keep them niggas lurking active, Chris, it’s your turn,” I said.
I figured if we were going to be stuck in here until they said we could leave, then why not make this shit fun?