Chapter 14 #2
After eating dinner with my parents at an upscale restaurant, they drove home in my dad’s car, and instead of following behind them, I took off to Love Heights.
In a few days, I’ll be gone back to school and the way Slim got out of my car earlier didn’t sit right with me.
She hadn’t texted me, and I hadn’t hit her up.
I turned into the gas station near the projects for gas and some snacks that I thought Slim would like.
The Bentley’s engine hummed to a smooth stop.
This gas station was a no-go zone for anyone not from Love Grove, but I needed gas and the projects was just around the corner.
Several cars were already parked either getting gas or hanging out.
Niggas blasted rap loudly from their trunk speakers.
I locked my car and trekked toward the store, deciding to pay for the snacks and gas at the same time. The store was well lit. Bright with a few cameras. Hopefully they actually work. A homeless guy nodded at me on my way in.
I went straight to the candy aisle, picking up Airheads and chocolate candy bars.
Then I strolled over to the chips and Little Debbie cakes.
I picked up damn near one of everything.
My hands were full, but I stopped by the drinks.
I juggled everything, trying not to drop anything as I made my way to the counter.
The dude behind the glass was watching me, his eyes narrowed. I could feel his judgment from here. Rich boy from the other side of town. I just ignored him and slid my items onto the counter.
“Twenty-five on pump three,” I told him.
“Need a bag?” the cashier asked, his voice flat.
“Yeah, man.”
He sighed, like it was a huge inconvenience, and slowly started bagging my stuff. I could feel the eyes of the couple of other dudes in the store on me. They weren't doing anything, just leaning against the shelves, but the vibe was off. I was a target. I knew it. They knew it.
I grabbed the bag and headed for the door, my shoulders tense. I pushed it open and stepped back out into the humid night air. The bass from a nearby car was thumping so hard it vibrated in my chest. I kept my head down, my eyes on my car, just a few feet away.
“Aye, blood,” a rough voice called out that sent chills down my spine. “Lemme hold them keys.”
“Nah, I’m good,” I told him without turning around.
“I didn’t ask you, nigga. I said lemme hold them keys.”
I hit the unlock button my key fob, opened the passenger door and tossed the bag of snacks in before shutting, and locking it.
I still had to pump the gas. When I pivoted, it was three other dudes total.
One had his hand behind his back. I swallowed, trying to appear unfazed when in reality, I could be seeing Vani real soon.
“Y’all got a fuckin’ problem?”
My eyes widened at the sound of Slim’s voice. She was walking up from the street, her locs pulled back. The niggas looked at her and smiled.
“What’s up, Slim!” the one that was cockeyed called out. “This you?”
“That’s my homeboy. Why y’all pressin’ him?” I moved to start gassing my car. “Why y’all sweating him?” She stopped a few feet away from us. Her eyes met mine for a second, a flicker of something I couldn’t read.
“Your homeboy got a nice car,” another one said. He had locs while the other two had fades. “And we wanna take it for a lil’ spin…that’s all.”
Slim shook her head slowly. “Nah, y’all not gon’ do that. That’s his shit.”
“Or what? What you gon’ do, Slim? Call the pigs?”
Slim bit down on her bottom lip. “Nah, y’all gon turn and leave.
This car has a GPS system that you can’t remove.
His dad will have it traced as soon as you leave with it and before you can get excited about being in the car, you’ll be booked on theft and more because I’m sure one or two of you have warrants. ”
One started laughing, but it was a nervous laugh. I hung the pump up, but waited for Slim.
“Aight, Slim. You got it. We was just fuckin’ wit’ the little nigga anyway. We know who he is. The ball player at LSU.”
“We’re all really fucked up about Vani still,” the cockeyed nigga said.
Slim looked away. One of the guys slapped the one who spoke on Vani, in the back, whispering that he didn’t have to bring him up.
“C’mon, Slim. I’ll take you back home. I got you some snacks ‘n shit,” I called out to her, knowing she was in her head now about Vani.
“You two take it easy,” one of them said. I cut my eyes over to him.
The trio turned and walked away, but I heard them mumbling about how they almost had a Bentley if it wasn’t for Slim walking up. I wouldn’t be surprised if they found someone else to rob tonight.
“Whatchu doin’ over here at this time of night, Kane? At the gas station at that. You was better off riding on E all the way to the projects,” Slim fussed.
I shut the door behind me. “What you doin’ out here?” I asked her, starting the car.
Slim dug through the bag of snacks. “Was just walking to clear my head, and grab a Gatorade, then I saw you. Look at God. He knew you needed me to come save you.” She laughed and pulled out a snack cake.
I smacked my lips and took off toward the projects. “I could’ve handled it,” I told her, but grateful that she did show up. Three against one…they would’ve definitely got my ass.
“Yeah…okay, Kane,” she relied with a cackle.
I snickered as I drove. When I slid into a spot in front of her house, I asked, “You good, though?”
Slim’s shoulder’s slouched. “I’m still irritated about losing.”
“You not gon’ win every game when you go pro,” I reminded her. “Get benched for being a sore loser.”
She pushed the car door open and placed a foot outside. “I know that, Kane. When I go pro though…I won’t have to worry about money. Right now, I need it.”
I nodded, understanding where she was coming from. In the back of my mind, I just hoped Slim didn’t do anything that’d ruin her chances of getting to college and going pro.
“You coming in?” she asked, stepping out and shutting the door. “I know you didn’t buy all the snacks for me.”
I grabbed my keys and hopped out of the car, locking it.
“You don’t have to worry about the car either.
I got a doorbell camera I had for a few days and installed it when I got back from the game.
” Slim laughed. “I had to do something to get my mind off of losing.” Her smile dropped as she unlocked the door.
“Ever since Vani died, I’ve been a little paranoid.
I know they got the people that did it, but still… ”
“Shiiid, they need cameras out here period,” I said, putting my two cents in.
We entered the house, the air on blast so it felt good to my warm skin.
You could tell her mama had cleaned right before she left for work from the scent of bleach and a lemon cleanser.
I sat in front of the TV with the remote to find a movie that we could watch.
Slim had said something about showering, and I ended up on Bad Boys.
Twenty minutes into the movie, Slim reappeared.
“You know I’ve seen this one, but not the others?” she gushed, plopping down beside me. I could smell the Dove soap she bathed with.
“Wild. I think they’re playing the other ones right after. We finna have a long night together,” I advised, sinking into the cushion and getting comfortable.
“Nigga, you gotta go home at some point,” Slim chuckled, snatching the bag of snacks from the coffee table. She dug into the bag, pulling out some Airheads.
“You know Mama would let me crash on the couch.”
“Stop calling her Mama, boy.”
I guffawed with a shrug. Slim dropped the bag in my lap. I removed my drink and the pack of Now or Later.
A few minutes later, Marcus and Mike were in some shit, and Marcus said some dumb shit I couldn’t help but let out a loud laugh. Slim laughed too, a cackle that made her whole body shake. She leaned her head back against the couch, her eyes squeezed shut.
“Nigga, he so dumb,” she wheezed, wiping a tear in the corner of her eye.
“Dead ass,” I said through a breath, then I chuckled.
Slim turned her head to look at me, her eyes bright and happy, the stress from the loss earlier finally gone. In that moment, with the TV flickering across her face, she was the most beautiful thing I’d ever seen. My laughter died in my throat. All I could hear now was the sound of my own heart.
Her smile faltered a little as she noticed the shift in my mood “What?” she snorted out.
My eyes dropped down to her plump lips and I just had to. Fuck the consequences. I’ll walk away with a black eye or two.
Leaning in, I pecked her lips. When she didn’t move fast enough, I let them linger against hers. My eyes opened to her wide ones. Slim pushed me back.
“What the fuck, Kane! What was… Why’d you do that?! She squealed out in disbelief.
“I…”
No other words came out. Slim wiped her mouth over and over as if I’d just given her something. I did it. A smile spread on my lips and on my heart.
“Fuck you smiling all goofy for, nigga? Don’t you ever put your lips on me again!” She hollered, scooting further away from me. “I’ll fuck you up !”
“Damn! Was it that bad?” I teased her.
“Unwanted!” Slim balled her fists up. “ I swear I’ll fuck you up, Kane. You crossed the line.”
I smacked my lips. “So you don’t want to be my girl?” I cut my eyes at Slim who sat that with a horrified expression. It was comical.
“Nigga what?!” Slim shook her head forcefully. “Boy, take your ass home. You’re doing too much.”
I ran a finger over my lips with a big grin on my face. “My bad, friend.” I didn’t move though.
“Don’t ever do that shit again.”
“Aight.”
And that was that.