Chapter 2 #2
“Are you one of Rhonda’s foster kids, or you her real daughter?” Dexz asked in his heavy New York accent, which left Pretti in awe.
“Boy, Rhonda ain’t got no kids. We’re all her foster kids, but I’m more like her slave since I’m the oldest. Your accent is super heavy, though. What part of New York are you from? I always wanted to go to New York.”
“I’m from Harlem, born and raised. New York is the shit. It’s nothing like Cali tho’.”
“I bet. I’ve been thinking about running off to the East Coast and opening up a barber shop when I turn eighteen.”
“Who you know that cuts hair?” Dexz asked with his eyebrow raised. He knew for sure she wasn’t going to be cutting any hair because she was a female.
“Me. I do hair and nails, and I cut hair. I’ve been taking some cosmetology classes as an elective, so I’ll have my license by the time I’m nineteen,” she boasted and grinned at Dexz. He thought her smile was beautiful and could see why her parents named her such a unique name.
“I ain’t never heard about a girl cutting hair. You think I can trust you on my head? I can’t find anybody around here to give me a perfect fade.” Dexz hit his blunt.
“Well, you heard of one now, and yup, I can hook you up. Rhonda makes me do all the haircuts on the boys and the braids on the girls. You can check them out when they’re on their way to school in the morning.”
“That’s what’s up. I can do that. So, tell me more about this shop. Is that your dream?” Dexz asked, taking interest in Pretti’s future. Dexz didn’t have a life plan. All he knew was how to get money by any means.
“Yes, that’s my dream. I love making people look fabulous; it makes me feel good. I want to open a nail salon that’s also a barbershop, but I want to hire only female staff, including the barbers. I know there are more lady barbers out there, so I want to cater to them.”
Dexz nodded his head. “That’s what’s up. I like a girl with goals, but you seem like you could be more like a little sister to me and not a girlfriend.”
“A little sister? Boy, we are the same age.” Pretti rolled her eyes.
She had been watching Dexz ever since he moved in next door.
She thought he was different and fine for his age.
She was fifteen and dated as much as she could when Rhonda wasn’t paying attention, and she knew Dexz was somebody she wanted to talk to.
“Yeah, a sister. You cute as fuck, I’m not tryna be havin’ my girls fightin’ you over me. They would be jealous of ya’ looks, ma. I don’t want to take you down that route since you fifteen.”
Pretti laughed. “Boy, you only been here two weeks, and you got girls like that? None of those chicks compare to me, and you scared of my looks, not the girls, but I can feel that. I know one day you will change your mind, especially when I’m grown.”
Dexz laughed. “If you say so.”
Without a care in the world, Pretti reached over and kissed Dexz on the lips, catching him off guard.
He was so high, and her music had him in a zone, so he kissed her back.
He reached into her tank top and fondled her small breasts because she wasn’t wearing a bra.
That’s when he felt his manhood rising, so he pushed her away, realizing she was turning him on.
He didn’t want that with her. He saw more in Pretti, and he didn’t want to mess with her mind like he did with other girls.
Therefore, he slightly pushed her away, leaving her in a daze.
“I can’t fuck you, Pretti. I’m sorry, and you gotta leave. I’ll see you in the morning so you can cut my hair.”
Pretti opened her eyes and smacked her lips.
“Fine, I can’t have sex with you anyway.
I’m a virgin, and yes, I’ll see you in the morning, but back here.
I charge fifteen dollars and can’t cut outsiders’ hair in Rhonda’s house unless you’re paying her.
I want a piece of that blunt in your ear too, since you’re turning me down like I stank or somethin’.
” Pretti rolled her neck and eyes as she gave him a hard time.
Dexz chuckled and pulled his blunt from his ear. Then he broke the blunt in half and gave her the bigger piece.
“Take ya’ ass in the house before Rhonda find your ass. I think she’s crushing on a nigga too. She better watch it because I like old hoes who can take care of me.” Dexz stood up and helped Pretti stand up as well.
“You are pathetic for saying that shit, Dexz. You will fuck Rhonda’s nasty body ass, but not me? That says a lot about your character.”
“You should be happy about that, ma. Should say a lot about me and how I feel about you already.”
“Whatever, boy. Just sounds like you like old ratchet hoes. I’ll see you in the morning.”
Pretti walked to the door, switching her small behind. Dexz knew she threw in an extra sway in her walk because she thought Dexz was looking. He simply shook his head as he watched her walk out and close the door.
After she left, he texted his older chick, Kayla. After kissing Pretti, he needed to release some tension. Dexz had been having sex since he was fourteen, and girls his age didn’t satisfy him. He lied about his age a lot because he looked so much older, but he kept it real with Kayla.
Dexz: I’m gon’ be on my way after I leave Burner crib.
Kayla: Okay, boo. I’ll be here.
Dexz tucked his Glock and made sure his house was locked up before he left. When he made it to Burner Man’s house on foot, they were all standing outside, sharing a bottle of Hennessy.
“Waddup, New York Boy? What you doin’ around here this late?” Burner Man asked with an intoxicated grin. He passed Dexz the bottle, but Dexz declined. He didn’t drink.
“Yo, I need a favor. Can you go sit in front of my house and look out for my mom’s? I gotta make a quick run. I’ll be back in an hour.”
“Yeah, I can do that. Y’all good?” Burner Man asked. He had taken a liking to Dexz and his mom, so he would do anything for them.
“Nah, she sayin’ she saw some lady following her today at the grocery store. She might be tripping, but I don’t want to take any chances.”
“Fasho, I got you. I’ll call you if anything goes down.”
Dexz gave Burner Man a pound and then headed down the street.
Kayla didn’t stay far from Burner Man. She lived right on the corner, so she was convenient.
Kayla let him hit it any time he wanted, cooked for him, and even washed his clothes.
With his mother constantly having mental breakdowns and unable to leave the house, he needed someone to do his basic needs because he was used to his mother doing it.
Dexz made it to her door at ten in the evening. He walked through the back gate and to her apartment door. She looked out the window and smiled, immediately opening the door to let him in. She loved seeing Dexz. He was like a fresh breath of air to her.
“What’s up, boo? I cooked and made your mother a plate if she’s hungry,” Kayla said as she let Dexz in. He slid off his shoes and then gave her a hug. She didn’t like shoes worn in her house, so he respected that.
“Thank you, ma. I think she ate at Rhonda’s, but I’ll take it to her anyway,” Dexz said as he hugged her back.
She took his hand and led him to the kitchen, made his plate, and set it in front of him.
“You can bring your laundry by here tomorrow too, since I’ll be off work again.
” She gazed at Dexz. Kayla thought he was so fine for his age, so she always admired his features.
She loved his chocolate skin, deep waves, and accent.
She wished he was older so she could be exclusive with him, so she kept their relationship low-key because she didn’t want to be judged.
“Good lookin’, I’ma shoot you some money tomorrow for lookin’ out for me.” He started digging into his food because it smelled so good. She had made fried chicken, mac and cheese, and greens. It was his favorite meal, and she knew it.
“Dexz, you are only fifteen years old. How did you become so mature?” Kayla asked.
“To be honest, I don’t even want to be as mature as I am. Life forced a nigga to grow up, so here I am. I want to do kid shit like amusement parks, skatin’… I like all that shit, but I gotta focus on survival before anything.” He shrugged nonchalantly and bit his chicken.
“I hear you… I think that’s why I’m attracted to you. I’m only eighteen, but I missed out on my teen years too. I’ve dated a couple boys around your age for that teenage feeling again, but you make me feel like I’m with somebody a little older than me. You act older than me in ways.”
“I hear you.”