DIO
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I blew out the smoke that I held in my lungs. “Nigga, I’m telling you that muhfucka got one more time and fah, fah, fah, fah,” I said to Streets.
He chuckled. “Nigga, you’re wild. I get it. You think he’s trying to push up on Samara or what?”
I shrugged. “I don’t know, but somebody got in her head. Now I’m getting crazy-ass heat from his ass. If the nigga knew better, he’d do better. What’s up with you, though?”
He looked at me like I was crazy, but he knew exactly what I was talking about. “I know you’re fucking with Dark and Lovely, my nigga. I mean, we talked about it. Just watch her ass is all I’m going to say. You know how we shake and move in the Zoo.”
He nodded slowly. “She and I are just cooling. Nothing serious. It’s a thing for the moment. You know—” he paused as he lifted his foot with the boot, “—during my downtime.”
I took another pull at the blunt. It was crazy how we all made excuses for why we fucked with the women we did.
Deep inside, we knew we liked them, and they were the ones we wanted to be with, yet we found ways around the truth by making excuses.
I laughed to myself when I thought about what some of the Big Brothers were saying about making excuses.
All the while, I made excuse after excuse about why I stepped away from Mars.
I wondered if she had gotten the flowers I sent.
Moments later, Beans pulled up. He had us meet him at his house. He hopped out of the car and waved for us to come inside. I put out my blunt and stepped out of the car with Streets. When we got inside, my mouth almost hit the floor.
“This shit fyiah,” I said to Bean.
The outside of the house looked regular, but the nigga had this shit laid in the inside.
“Looks can be deceiving,” Beans muttered.
“Clearly,” Streets added.
He moved around, grabbed a bottle from his bar, and brought it to the table. “Dio, no more smoking until you cross. I need you to stay on your square. Them niggas waiting on you to fail.”
Streets laughed loud as hell, making me grimace at him. “I fucking knew it. I knew you were pledging, my nigga. Explains the plain-ass clothes and no walking on grass and shit.”
I cut my eyes at Beans. “Tell everybody.”
Beans looked at Streets, then at me. “That nigga ain’t nobody, and he better not tell anybody.”
Streets threw his hands up. “I ain’t hear shit. However, good luck, my nigga. I don’t see how you do it.”
I didn’t know how I was doing it, but I was learning things. It was making me feel more disciplined. In my mind, it was shaping me into a stronger nigga.
I ran my hand over my head as I looked at Beans.
“Shit, I have everything to gain. I’m not quitting.
I feel like I’m losing my fucking girl to this shit, man.
I have no choice but to see it through. I am going to tell you, though, that nigga Jesaiah’s ass is mine when it’s all over.
I suggest you start looking to replace your dean now. ”
Streets burst into laughter again. “Dio, you can’t kill the nigga.”
I sat there with a straight face. I poured myself a shot and took it back. “Nigga, I may be moving like a prince, but I’m still a demon. That nigga will be pushing daisies.”
Beans laughed and shook his head. “Man, shit. So, check it. We’re hitting up Hoodoo’s tonight.
I’m not one of those niggas who’s into the club scene, but the bruhs are sliding through.
We’re getting closer to probate season, which means Hell Week will be approaching, and I have to show my face.
Dio, don’t bring your ass up there. Do you hear me? ”
“Is Samara going?” I asked.
The way Beans looked at me, I knew she was going to be there.
If my girl was going to be there, I would be there too, with or without Chi Kappa Chi’s permission.
I took another shot with my niggas as my mind started to take a dark turn.
Every thought I had was about Samara. I pulled out my phone and stared at her picture on my screen.
“You miss her?” I heard Beans ask.
“Like crazy. I want to tell her so fucking bad, dawg.”
Beans looked at me. “I didn’t hear you say that. Maybe somehow, she brought it up to you, and you confirmed it without confirming it.”
I took what he was giving. The knock at his door made me sit up. “Them niggas know where you live?” I asked nervously.
Beans stood from the chair. “Calm yo’ ass down. Hell nah. I know how to move smart. It’s those niggas Jesasiah and Percy who don’t.”
Jesaiah and Percy? What the fuck did that mean? Were those niggas friends like Beans and me?
Streets balled up his fists to his mouth. “Damn, Percy pledging too?”
I dropped my head. “Beans, nigga, shut up. You are a whack-ass advisor, on God.”
When Beans opened the door, I got excited. “Stutter Man!” I shouted. Then Scooter came through the door behind him. “Ah, shit! Sup, twin! What? Are we having a party?” I asked.
I glanced at Beans, who dropped his head. “Uh, I told you we’re going to Hoodoo’s, but you can’t go.”
Scooter looked at him weirdly. “Why? The nigga pledging or some shit? We came to link up.”
The room fell quiet. Scooter placed his balled-up fists to his lips. “Oh shit! That’s what’s up.”
I had become irritated. This was my time to chill with people I felt comfortable around, and I was being told I had to stay back like a fucking lame. All I knew was that all of these sacrifices I was making had better be worth it.
I roamed campus thinking about everyone going to Hoodoo’s tonight but me. I fought with myself over whether I should show up. I knew if I got caught, the line would suffer for my actions, and that was something I couldn’t do. When that nigga Percy did what he did, we were tortured for weeks.
As I headed toward my dorm, a group of girls passed by. One of them eyed me as if I was about to go chasing her ass through the yard. She was cute, but my mind was on Mars. I continued to walk until I felt a tap on my shoulder. When I looked, it was the girl who had eyed me.
“Hey.” She smiled.
I looked her up and down. “What’s up?”
“I’ve seen you around campus. What’s your name?” she asked.
My eyes scanned the yard for anyone watching me. This had to be a test because why were these girls talking to me? It was as if they knew I was pledging and it was the forbidden rule. First Dark and Lovely; now this girl.
“Dio,” I muttered.
She nodded with a smile. “I’m Anika. Nice to meet you. Are you busy tonight? We’re going to Hoodoo’s tonight, and you’re welcome to join my friends and me.”
I glanced over her shoulder to the group of girls as they snickered and waved. I looked back at her. “I’m cool. Look, I’ve got to go. Be easy, Shorty.”
“Who said I was done talking to you?” she blurted out.
I didn’t even bother to turn around. “I did!” I said, then continued walking off.
“I’ll see you around, Dio!” she yelled back.
If everyone was going to the club, who would be left on campus other than the nerds? I knew what the right thing to do was, and that was to take my ass in my room and go to sleep. However, I had never been the nigga to do what I was told. If Samara was going to be in that bitch, then so would I.