PEANUT
It took a lot for me to come to this game.
It wasn’t that I didn’t want to see Alyse because I did, but my mind was focused on Mison.
I thought, after seeing my father, it would be easy to talk to Mison to try to get him some help, but the shit only made me mad because I knew his answer would be no.
I had been contemplating all week about ways I could help him.
I knew Zay wasn’t fucking with it and tried distancing himself from the entire situation, but this was his brother, too, and we were a fucking team.
So, coming up to TSU was perfect, that way I could kill two birds with one stone. See Alyse and talk to Zay.
The thing that pissed me off about Xavier was his giving up so easily, yet trying to control the thing he was giving up.
I knew if I told him I was going to talk to Chev, he would be pissed and try to talk me out of it, but if he wouldn’t help me, who would?
Yeah, we were brothers, but brothers with trauma and no real connection.
To them, I had no voice; they heard me but weren’t hearing me.
Moments like that are when I envied people like Alyse or my Zoo brothers, because they could express how they felt, and people would listen. I was the butt of all jokes.
When I pulled up to the school, the parking lot was jammed packed.
There was barely any parking. After finding parking, I hopped off my bike and followed the crowd.
I watched as the students wore their blue-and-white TSU attire.
From painted faces to pom-poms, handmade signs, handmade clothes, scarves, socks, towels, and blankets.
They were game-day ready, showing good Blue Hawk spirit.
At the same time, the other school showed its school spirit in its gold and black.
I shot Dio a text because he said he would be at the game, so why not link up?
I made my way through the thick crowd when I spotted one of the niggas from NTR.
The feeling that some bad shit was about to happen was the first thing on my radar.
The goal was to keep shit cool. When I entered the game, I couldn’t believe how many people were here.
I gripped the brim of my hat, lowering it over my eyes as I made my way through the thick crowd.
I felt my phone vibrate. When I checked it, Dio told me to look up because he spotted me.
When I glanced up, I didn’t see him right off until I heard him shout, “Zoo!”
When I spotted him, Samara, Beans, and Zay sitting together, I found my way to them.
By the time I got into the bleachers to sit down, the band had started up.
I glanced over to see Alyse sitting there looking nervous as hell but good as shit.
Baby had transformed entirely, and it made a nigga’s heart skip a beat.
I felt a tap on my arm. I turned to see Beans staring at me.
Which one is it? He asked.
I dropped my head and laughed. How do you know it’s one of the dancers?
Nigga I know. Now tell me.
Only if you tell me if you and that co-host of yours are a thing?
He nodded slowly. We are friends, and if we were something, I wouldn’t tell any of you niggas.
Of course you wouldn’t.
Xavier jumped in. It’s Alyse Maverick.
Beans’ eyes widened. Oh, you're dealing with a Maverick. All I’m going to say is remain yourself, don’t switch up.
Dio dipped his head our way, “Nah, none of that shit. What did Chev say, speak nigga!” he laughed. “I’m fucking with you, stutter man.”
We all laughed as we watched the game. I wanted to give the guys a heads up about me seeing one of the NTR niggas, but in the words of my nigga Chev, it wasn’t the time or place. Instead, I focused my attention on Alyse. When she finally spotted me, she smiled, and so did I.
You look good. I mouthed.