Girls from da Hood 14

by Treasure Hernandez

  Snatching my belongings, I quick-stepped out of the room, running through the busy airport to the gate. No one said anything to me as they knew I’d just cleared security. For them to have their eyes and ears open to foul behavior going on in their airport, how did this officer’s perverted ass just intrude upon me so easily? Jazz and Roxanne had already boarded the plane and were buckled in once I finally handed the flight attendant my ticket.

  “Oh, you made it.” Roxy cut her eyes at me peculiarly, not knowing what I’d just gone through. This wasn’t the time to fuck with me—even if you were my ace boon coon.

  “It was just a monkey wrench thrown in the game, but they had no reason to snatch me back in the first place.” I gave Jazz a play, trying to make myself believe the pep talk. Truth was, after what had just popped off, my ego had taken a dump into the gutter. Putting my bag overhead in plain sight and squeezing past them to my window seat, a rush of relief took over my body.

  Chapter Five

  Mike Mike

  I knew one day Karma would bite me in the ass, but it had come sooner than expected. The pills Sable served me hadn’t made their way down my throat before I knew something was terribly wrong. Seeing the room start to spin, and my vision get blurry was a clear sign she was starting to get me back for all the years of abuse and probably the months of neglect I’ve dished to her. Deep down inside, I couldn’t blame my wifey for poisoning me. I’d beat her ass on any given day for random petty reasons, sending her to the emergency room on numerous occasions. If it weren’t for my kicks and punches to her stomach and back, I wouldn’t be lying in my own vomit, blacking in and out.

  Last night, I remembered fucking Roxy raw, something I should’ve never done. Knowing she was Sable’s friend, I’d crossed the limits by banging her and even breaking her off my usual trick’s salary. See, I kept a line of bitches willing to suck me off on schedule, and in return, I kept them and treated them to gifts or small-time shopping sprees. When Roxy approached me in her housing projects on some “off the record shit,” I knew she wanted to take a ride on my dick, just like every other project chick I rammed my meat into. What made Roxy a threat and a groupie I had to watch was because she caught feelings for a guy and was directly linked to my home life. In the back of my mind, I wondered if she’d snitched to Sable and was the cause of my suffering. It was official. I wasn’t sticking my dick back up in her never again—she was trouble waiting to happen. What type of girl fucks with their ace’s man anyway? Even though I couldn’t shift all the blame on Roxy, a man was gonna be a man, and if nothing else, I could always play the dog card.

  Roxy had amped me up and got my blood boiling over, threatening to snitch on me. She’d taken me to the limits and almost got her head snatched straight off her neck, snapping like a turtle by the mouth. Having a record full of warrants and suspicions I was guilty of, I couldn’t have her sneaky rat ass call the cops on a nigga and have me locked up. Bouncing on her ass, I came home and took my anger out on the wrong person. Being able to admit that in this fucked-up position only, I dreaded making the wrong decision over and over again. Sable had become my punching bag over the years when shit didn’t go right on the streets with a sideline bitch or drug transaction, sending my fist straight into her face.

  Don’t get me wrong. I truly loved Sable. She kept it one hundred with a nigga and held me down even though I was kicking off into her ass. The same insecurities that made me run in the streets with all these low-budget hoes were the same lack of confidence that made me go upside her head a million times. None of these chicks could compare to my sweet love in my eyes, but I never treated her with the gentle touch she deserved. Once this shit moves through my system, I’d get my shit together and show my baby girl how much I really loved her.

  Mike Mike blanked in and out from the overdose of Valium Sable intentionally gave him. Naively, he assumed his girl was still in the house and temporarily punishing him. He had no clue she’d stolen his stash and fled the city of Detroit. The joke was finally on him.

  “Baby, I’m sorry,” I barely could murmur as the drug had taken full control of my entire body. Trying to roll over out of my vomit was damn near impossible as my mind could hardly tell my limbs what to do. Fuck, please, don’t let me die like this. My heart rate was slow as I feared the worst was coming. If she would just come in the room and save me, everything would be all good. Trying to grab my chest, I couldn’t. My lungs could barely take in the reeking, foul-smelling air around me. I felt myself gasping, then wheezing. I was struggling to hold on and not lose consciousness. I was done. No matter how hard I resisted, I was not able to win over the narcotic. Once again, I blacked out.

  Chapter Six

  Sable

  “Good morning, ladies and gentlemen. I’d like to welcome you aboard United Airways. Today, we will be flying directly from Metro-Detroit to Miami International and will arrive at approximately 11:25 a.m. The weather is projected to be clear for our route, but please adhere to all following safety regulations. I’d like to thank you all for flying the skies with us. Flight attendants, please,” the pilot greeted us passengers who entrusted our lives in his hands. Fastening my seat belt tightly and clutching the armrests with fear, my stomach fizzed with nervousness, feeling the Boeing 747 pull off toward the tarmac. This would be one hell of a time to have Karma catch up to my ass, but it was too late for fear, and definitely too late for being a wimp.

  As the plane began to accelerate in speed, we gradually started to rise into the skies. My heart was racing as I closed my eyes and held my breath, scared out of my damn mind.

  “Come on now, Sable, you are gonna have to quit tripping and relax.” Jazz grabbed my hand, noticing the troubled expression on my face.

  “I’m really trying. Please believe I am. But what if his ass finds me?” I asked, staring at my friend. I searched for comfort and a sign my fate wasn’t looking bleak. Jazz was cool, calm, and collected, having devised the plan for me to meet up with her cousin in Miami. Having been my best friend, confidante, and ride or die since childhood, she knew my real woes with Mike Mike and gave me the initial idea to escape.

  “Now ain’t the time for regrets. It ain’t like you can redo the shit and get brownie points for telling the truth and coming clean.” She gave me the side-eye, knowing I wouldn’t reject her truth. “You can’t be on that soft-girl shit now, boo. This is a new life, and it requires a new game plan. My cuz keeps it real and is gonna set you up tight,” she whispered, even though Roxanne’s headphones were on blast. “Be easy. You’ve got enough Benjamins to work with, babes,” she winked, glancing up toward the Nike bag. There was nothing I could do but trust her every word.

  “Yeah, you’re right,” I nodded, trying to find a sign or some type of reassurance things were going to work out in my favor finally. The rubber banded stacks were compliments of Mike Mike’s savings from cleaning his drug money, and I’d hit a lick in robbing him blind. He was probably tearing the city up by now looking for my fine, brown behind. But I was on my way to paradise, hoping to be free from his living hell finally.

  “Don’t be stingy when you get down there either, bitch. It’s my birthday weekend, and I’m trying to party,” Jazz openly admitted putting her earbuds back in.

  “Whatever, girl,” I rolled my eyes. “You already know I’ve got my girls.” I was just glad that we were on our way. Secretly, I said a prayer thanking God as the plane took off and elevated. When the seat belt lights finally flashed safe for us to remove, I hurriedly rushed in the bathroom to wipe away the scent of Officer Taylor. The bathroom was constricted and cramped, barely allowing me to move around in there. With every twist, turn, and air bubble we hit, I could still smell his funky body odor lingering on my skin.

  Taking my jogging pants and panties off, I wrapped the red silk thong in a paper towel, tossing it into the trash. Pulling the Summer’s Eve wipes from my purse, I began to wipe away the trace of sex from both Mike Mike and the officer. My vagina was screaming fo
r soap and water—even a douche to flush out more of the damage they’d done, but for now, these wipes would have to do.

  Rubbing the thin, white, disposable cloths all over my body till emptying the container, I smelled a little fresher but still felt tainted and damaged by both men. I bet another man won’t put his hands on you, kitty. I pulled my pants up and fixed my clothes just right. It was time to drop the weight I’d been carrying on my shoulders and move on to a new life. Having flown over a thousand miles to get away from Mike Mike’s abusive ways, this would be my vacation before living my remaining years, basically, on the run.

  * * *

  My girls and I had been the best of friends for some time now. Somewhere down the line when Roxy and I got off into puberty, hormones, and boys, Jazz stayed behind and joined the “tomboy movement,” never growing into the phase of running behind no-good, dick-slanging boys. Only having experienced a boy’s touch because we forced her in high school, Jazz was only attracted to females. A beast in her own right, she had run through plenty. We were flying to Miami to celebrate her birthday, which happened to be the weekend of them wrapping up their gay pride festivities. Because Mike Mike kept me under lock and key, preventing much spare time to run and floss with my girls, I’d never been to a gig with Jazz before, and I couldn’t even lie about being excited. I’m sure with being in Miami, my experience would be double the fun.

  Well off into the flight, my clique and I chopped it up about how we were about to tear Miami up. This wasn’t our first time on a girls’ trip, but none of us had been to the hot beaches everyone raved about. The flight attendants started to roll their carts up the cramped aisle with drinks, chips, and pretzels. Our row kept the drinks flowing since our whole mission was to turn up and get the party started. This had been the break I was waiting for, and from the looks of it all, three of us were ready to live it up.

  “I can’t believe y’all heffas actually came.” Jazz’s shock was written all over her high-yellow face. “With it being a gay event and all, I thought there might be some fakeness involved.”

  “Girl, stop it. That’s your business if you get down like that. I’m not about to miss no trip to South Beach ’cause a bunch of chicks running around.” I dug into my purse, searching for my headphones.

  “Yeah . . . what she said,” Roxanne cut in. “But they better not come for me, friend-friend. Or you know we’ve got an instant problem.”

  “Oh my God, girl, don’t nobody want your dried-up ass.” Jazz laughed out loud as a few passengers turned to look our way. We returned the evil glares, not ever trained to back down or take necessary precautions to stay cool.

  “Okay, think I’m playing?” she nodded matter-of-factly, and with a serious look in her eye, Jazz’s best bet was to believe her. “If I can’t find one nigga to spend some attention on in this whole city, then I’m whack as hell with no story to tell. As Sable said, I ain’t missing no Miami vacation.” I had to giggle at my girl. She was setting the record straight and wasn’t to be misunderstood. Out of us three, Roxy was most vociferous and unflinching.

  “Well, I didn’t make an itinerary for us. Since we’ll be getting there in enough time to hit the parade and festival, we can figure out what venue to party at tonight.”

  “That’s cool. I’m just ready to hit the beaches in this tiny two-piece I got from the sale at the mall last week. My ass looks phat in it,” Roxy nodded, powering off her phone.

  “I’m just ready to relax and release. I’m down to party hard, drink heavy, and hit the beaches too. Hell, I don’t want to sleep none of the time we’re here.” I put more than my two cents in on the wish list. “Let’s make a pact like on The Hangover. Whatever happens in Miami stays in Miami.” I needed extra reassurance that Mike Mike wouldn’t find out any details from our “get it in” weekend.

  “I’m so glad you feel like that.” Jazz threw her hand in for the handshake first. Roxy and I joined in unison what I thought was a shatterproof bond that had been formed between best friends.

  Plugging the headphones into my loaded-up Android of music, I made myself as comfortable as possible in my coach-class seat. In a few short hours, my girls and I were about to make our mark in the party city, and I was sure it was about to be epic.

  Chapter Seven

  Carla—Welcome to South Beach

  My body had been stuck in the same position all morning, and here it was, after one o’clock in the afternoon. This weekend’s festivities were planned to wrap up a blocked-off week dedicated to Miami Beach Gay Pride, but I was only looking forward to the one including my team and me. I’d been tearing the city up nightly, living it up and promoting the party I was throwing on my Sunrise Party Boat. Every year, my party sold out, so I was pleased and looking forward to the payout.

  “I think the heat has arrived,” the disc jockey hummed through my radio speakers. “Maybe the rainbow world brought in the heat when they came to invade South Beach. It’s gonna top 82 degrees to start the weekend. Wake up and party with Power 96.” Her stale joke was actually close to on point ’cause we knew how to party and were doing so in big numbers. Back in the day, people hid their sexuality and got down behind closed doors. But in today’s time, not only were we living in the light and out of the closet, but also same-sex marriages were allowed, and our rights were increasing. Rolling back over, I tried to get comfortable under the covers, but business kept calling. It was obvious tonight was bound to a banger as the guest list kept growing.

  “Money damn sure ain’t gonna make itself in this bed,” I spoke out loudly, yawning and stretching from the deep slumber I’d drunk and smoked myself into. Taking in my surroundings, I was more than pleased with my lifestyle and the road taken to get here. As a lesbian party boat owner in Miami, Florida, my pockets never saw a sad day. To say the least, my team and I were eating hella good and enjoying life while doing so. I was like Hugh Hefner but gay. It was no secret. I loved the ladies, and they love me back.

  It was time to get my day started and make sure my employees had it together for tonight’s show. Not only was Sunrise hosting the after-party for the Gay Pride Festival and Parade, but also our annual show was planned to go down as well. We allowed hosts and entertainers from all over the states to sign up to perform at our venue this one and only night of the year. It was bound to be a night of amazement with drag queens and celebrity impressions, and I, amongst others, was ready to rock. I wasn’t into flaming and standing out in the crowd. Everyone knew me by my swag and undying style. I kept it low key, but one hundred at all times. To me, it wasn’t necessary to run around with red hair and a matching thong, but to each is his or her own. I was all-gay, all the time, and motherfucking loving it. I dare you to judge me. ’Cause by the end of it, you’ll be trying to check for me too. Climbing out of bed still hungover, I lit the prerolled blunt on my nightstand, hoping it would heal the nausea.

  “Hey, now, it’s about time you woke up.” Gianna stumbled in the room, obviously still hungover as well. “Let’s go get some brunch at Wet Willie’s,” she whined, leaning all over me.

  “Come on now, back up.” I rudely lifted my shoulder to block her trails of begging or affection. She was fucking up the flow of my blunt, and real talk, I thought she’d already gone home.

  “Damn, it’s like that?” She stepped back, letting me know off the top she was coming with much attitude. I wasn’t in the mood for her bullshit, but you can trust—I’d pop back if she chose to pop off.

  “I’m just saying, ma, I’m trying to get one in and get my day started.” I held up my cigarillo and pointed to my still halfway nude body. I was naked other than the silk boxers she’d bought me for my birthday. “You’ve had time to make plans for my money and shit, so give me the privilege of waking up,” I continued to brush her off. Gianna and I just weren’t working out, and I wasn’t waiting on her to get the memo. I wasn’t down for commitment or relationships. Everything about me was a free spirit and an abuser. Gianna was just another notch o
n my belt, and it was time for her to be gone.

  “Oh, it’s like that? You were all in my ear last night on some . . . I miss you, Gianna, shit, and now, you’re telling me to back down? I just can’t with you.” She threw her hands up, raising her already squeaky voice.

  “Chill out with all that yelling, girl,” I warned her, taking a few more puffs of the loud before handing it in her direction. “Hit this fire and settle your nerves. You’re doing way too much for me right now.” I started to survey my closet for something to wear for our brunch. Even though she nagged a lot, and it appeared she was forcing the outing down my throat, my stomach grumbled from hunger pains, and I needed something to coat it fast. Not to mention I could slurp down a Bob Marley to get my buzz started. She wasted no time taking the burning fire from my hands and inhaling the calm-me-down we both needed her to feel.

  “So, you’re performing tonight?” she questioned, eying the clothes I’d draped across the ottoman.

  “As a matter-of-fact, I am. It’s a tradition that won’t be broken.” Already having one up on Gianna, I was ready for the blowup before the first word left her lips. Baby girl couldn’t stand the thought of sharing me and would fight to let the world know. With me being up on stage with girls giving me their undivided attention, it was too much for her to think or endure.

  “I can’t stand that fucking boat,” she hissed underneath her breath.

  “Bitch, what? There’s no way I could afford your high-priced ass without it, so back down with all that.” There was no secret about her love-hate relationship with the Sunrise, but when it came to how I survived, no one—even her—could compare.