URBAN: What A Thug Wants

by Shantel Johnson

  “Don’t worry, I’m not an animal or a lunatic.” He started laughing.

  “Oh, you mean like Ms. Rita.” She joined in on the laughter. “Okay, that’s cool. I’ll sleep over at your place.”

  Chapter 4

  After calling his mother to inform of their impromptu house guest, Lionel gave Giselle a tour of the apartment. He offered his bed so that she could sleep the night. He gave her a towel and spare clothes for the morning.

  “I don’t even know what I’m going to do tomorrow.”

  “You’re talking about school?” He was munching on dry Honey Nut Cheerios.

  “No, my stuff at that place.”

  “Your home?”

  “That place is just temporary. As soon as I turn 18, I’m out on my own.”

  “Oh yeah. What are you plans?”

  “You know, I never really thought about that. I guess, I can go to college and study business. It’s what my father did. Before all of this, I never took my future seriously. My father was always there to take care of me. I’m on my own.” She peered at him. “Can I ask you a question?”

  “Sure.”

  “Where did you get the drugs from?”

  Lionel made a face. He was hoping that she wouldn’t bring it up. He was now working with Antwon. He was making money and he loved it. Antwon and Lionel took to the drug game like fish to water. They took over the block and the customers flocked to them. When other competitors came out and caused them trouble, they had each other’s back. It was the perfect match. Lionel was skeptical at first, but then when he saw all the money he was making, he just went with the flow. He thought he sold all the drugs, but later that night when he went through his pockets, he found some. Who knew that it would come in handy later?

  “It’s just something that I found.” He lied. “I saw it on the floor and just picked it up.”

  “You saw drugs on the ground and picked it up?” She shot him a look. “I may be a newbie to New York City, but I’m not stupid. You’re either taking drugs or selling it. So which one is it?” She asked him. He was taken back by her honesty.

  “I might be selling it.” He tried to sound cool but he was a little bit anxious. “Is that a bad thing?”

  “It’s an illegal thing.” She reminded him. “I don’t get it.”

  “What?”

  “How can you think so poorly about Ms. Rita, yet sell drugs to others? That doesn’t make sense.”

  “Money is money. I don’t care where it comes from.”

  “Whatever.” Giselle shook her head and sat on the couch.

  Lionel watched her. She was almost graceful in her movements. Even just to fix up a place to sleep, she moved like a ballerina. He’d never seen a woman move like that before. He couldn’t help but stare at her. She was only 17, but she was shaped like a woman and moved like one as well. He had to keep reminding himself of her age, because he knew a part of him didn’t care.

  “So, can I ask you another question?” Giselle sat with her knees against her chest.

  “What’s up?”

  “Can I get something to eat? I’m starving.” She smiled.

  “My bad, I didn’t offer you anything?”

  “Nope, you’re an awful host.”

  “What are you in the mood for?”

  “I’ll take some of those Honey Nut Cheerios you were munching on earlier.’

  “I’m sorry Ma, I don’t share those. We got plenty of other choices.”

  “But I want Honey Nut.” She pouted.

  “That’s good Ma, you can want it all you want, but that doesn’t mean you’re going to get it.” He joked.

  “Come on.” She reached up and grabbed the box.

  “Oh, you for real?” When she opened the box, reached in, and started eating the cereal. He snatched it back. “You’re crazy.”

  A playful fight broke out. Honey Nut Cheerios went flying everywhere. She ran around the apartment eating handfuls with Lionel right behind her. He tried to catch her but she was quick. She made her way back to the living room and sat on the couch.

  “This so good.” She chomped down some more. “Would you like some?”

  “How you gonna offer me my own cereal Ma?”

  “I ain’t your Mama.” She took another handful. “That’s what I get for trying to be nice.” She moved past him and put the cereal box on top of the fridge.

  Out of nowhere Lionel scooped her up.

  “Let me down.” She kicked and screamed while giggling.

  “Nah, not until you apologize.” He swung her around in a circle.

  “No! You’re going to make me dizzy.’ She warned.

  “I don’t hear you saying I’m sorry.”

  “I’m going to puke.” She sounded sick so he let her down. She sat on the bed and grabbed her stomach. “Damn, are you okay?” He got close to her and she punched his arm.

  “Got you.”

  “Damn, what you got in those hands? I’d never thought you could fight the way you was letting Ms. Rita gun for your ass.”

  “Shut up.”

  “I’m not cool with people telling me to shut up.”

  “I’m not just people, I’m the houseguest. And you know the saying, whatever the houseguest wants goes.”

  “Whatever.”

  They stared at one another. Lionel moved back and started to walk away.

  “Going to sleep?” She laid across the sofa. He nodded his head slowly. “Can you crash here tonight? I hate sleeping in a room alone.”

  “You’re really needy.”

  “Is that a no?” One look in those eyes and Lionel left to get some sheets so he could sleep on the floor. “Thank you.” She smiled as he set up a place for him to sleep.

  Lionel and Giselle spent most of the night just talking. It was weird to Lionel to be talking to a female. He was so used to talking to them and sleeping with them afterwards. He kept looking in her eyes, and then his eyes would wander to the rest of her body. When she bent over to fix the sofa for sleep, he felt himself get erect. He tried to ignore it, but her full pouty lips weren’t helping.

  “What’s with you?”

  “What do you mean?” He asked back.

  “You’re just looking at me.” He moved away. “It’s okay, but I’m not used to it.”

  “It’s okay?”

  “Yes, you can look.”

  “Just look?”

  He got up and softly kissed her lips. It surprised them both, but it was as if he couldn’t help himself. Her eyes opened wide, but then closed as she slipped her tongue in between his lips. He sat next to her on the couch and his hands roamed all over her body. He picked her up and she straddled his lap. She started moving her hips. She was a virgin so this all felt new to her, but it also felt right. She wasn’t sure if it was her crush or just the effects of a crazy night, but she let his hands go up her shirt. He was fumbling with her bra strap.

  “I got it.” She smiled at him. He kissed her again but then he pulled away.

  “I can’t.” He placed her on the sofa and went to the bathroom.

  She sat on the couch still not sure what happened. She thought that he wanted her and it was pretty clear that she had a crush on him. She didn’t understand what went wrong. When she thought he was coming back to talk about it, she heard the television turn on in the other room.

  “Hey.” She knocked softly on the door. “I thought you were going to sleep in the living room.”

  “Ma…”

  “ I already told you, I ain’t your Mama.” She teased but this time he wasn’t laughing.

  “You’re 17.”

  “So?”

  “So?” He was shocked.

  “Yes, I’m 17, so what? The age of consent in most states is 17. What? You’re afraid that you’re going to get arrested?”

  “Nah, it ain’t that. I just don’t mess with no chicks that are under the age of 18. I’m not R. Kelly.”

  “Good because I don’t want to be pissed on.” She laughed but
once again, he wasn’t joining in on the laughter. “I’m just saying, that it’s okay.”

  “Just not my style shorty.”

  “Oh.” She turned to walk away but she stopped. “You remember what you said about me fighting?”

  “What about it?”

  “Can you teach me?”

  “What?”

  “You’re right. I need to learn how to fight.”

  “And I’m supposed to teach you?”

  “Would you?”

  With her giving her best puppy eyes, he just smiled.

  “Fine.”

  “Thanks!” She skipped out and turned off the light in the living room. Back in his bedroom, Lionel shook his head.

  “This girl is going to be trouble.”

  Chapter 5

  Antwon ran down the steps. The junkie was two steps ahead of him, but Antwon didn’t care. The man that he was chasing was trying to rip him off. Antwon placed the drugs in his hands first, which was a rookie mistake, but this guy was a regular. Needless to say the man ran off with the drugs. Now Antwon was after him. He not only was going to snatch the drugs back, but he was going to beat him down.

  Antwon always hated any signs of disrespect. It started at a young age. He was in school and a young boy bumped into him. The boy walked on.

  “What? You don’t see me, nigga!” He shouted as he shoved the guy.

  “My bad kid, my mind is on something else.”

  “I don’t give a fuck, you apologize when you hit someone.”

  “It’s not even that deep.” The young guy walked away. Antwon just punched him in his back. By the time the young man turned around, Antwon was letting off punches. When the security guards came and pulled them apart, the other boy was a bloody mess and Antwon had a sick smile on his face.

  “You better stop motherfucker.” He yelled behind the druggie.

  “Fuck you.” The guy held on tightly to the drugs and laughed. He didn’t think his dumb plan would work but, as he felt the vials in his fingers, he was glad that he took the chance.

  “You want me to shoot your ass.?” Antwon shouted but the guy didn’t care. Antwon picked up his pace. “I’m telling you to stop for your own good! Fucking stop!” The junkie laughed again and turned back.

  “Dumb bitch.” Just then was clocked out by a punch to his face. He fell to the ground and looked up. Lionel looked at him.

  “Didn’t my boy tell you to ‘stop’?”

  The junkie sat up. He took out the drugs from his pocket and placed it on the floor. Antwon walked in.

  “Who is the dumb mothefucker know?”

  “I’m sorry.” The junkie was apologizing.

  “Now you want to be all apologetic and shit but you wasn’t thinking about that when you grabbed the drugs from my hand.” He laughed. “I don’t know what to do with you. Now I liked you because you never did some dumb shit like this before. Shit, in fact you brought me some new customers but what I don’t like is the fact that you tried to play me. I don’t like that shit at all. What you just pulled is a sign of disrespect and I don't’ fucking like when motherfuckers try to disrespect me.” Lionel saw the fire in his friend’s eyes as he spoke. He could tell this wasn’t going to be good.

  Antwon took out a cigarette and lit it. He inhaled slowly and peered down at the junkie.

  “You got any money on you?” He asked the now shaking drug addict. When the drug addict nodded, Antwon had a smile across his face. “Was it enough to buy the drugs?”

  “Just one.” The junkie reached into his socks and pulled out a ratty ten dollar bill.

  “So why not buy one?”

  “‘Ant, you’re asking a crackhead to make sense.”

  “Nah Leo, this nigga ain’t dumb if he thought of that plan to rob me. I mean he was stupid enough not to think it through, but this ain’t no crazy crackhead.” He flicked the now finished cigarette to the ground. He stepped on it. “I can respect that,” He sighed. “I just don’t respect you like you don’t respect me.”

  Antwon sent a swift kick to the guy’s gut. He gave him five more. Lionel pulled him off but he went back to kicking him.

  “Chill son, it’s not that serious.”

  “What?” Antwon looked at him like he was losing his mind. “He fucking disrespected me Leo.”

  “Yeah but you said it yourself that he is a good customer that is alway giving you money. Just make sure he alway brings you new customers.” Lionel suggested.

  “You heard what he said.” Antwon already had a fresh cigarette in his mouth. “You better come back with more customers. That’s the only way you can repay me for the disrespect.” He took a drag from the cigarette and then turned to his friend. “Let’s go.”

  The two of them got back to business. They were running through the product. When they finished through the product, Antwon was excited.

  “Yo, I knew that me and you would make some paper but damn, I didn’t think it would be like this.” Antwon said as they came back from getting more product. “You and I would should start getting a crew and get some real money.”

  “Yeah that sounds good.” Lionel shrugged.

  “Damn, you don’t have to sound too excited.”

  “It ain’t that. It’s just that I don’t know if this shit is for me.”

  “Son, don’t tell me you’re still on that look for a job shit? Look, you tried and that bitch played you.”

  “I know but my moms would…”

  “With the way that you and I are making this bread, we can get our own place real quick.”

  “My moms wanted to get a house for us.”

  “Even better nigga. You can make enough bread to actually help your Moms get a place.” Antwon told him and Lionel was sold.

  Then Lionel’s cell started to ring. He looked at the caller i.d. and saw Giselle’s number.

  “Who that?” Antwon saw Giselle’s picture pop up on the phone. “She sexier than a motherfucker, nigga. Please tell me that you hitting that.”

  “Nah son. This girl is underage.”

  “Oh you on your R. Kelly shit now.”

  “Ha ha.” Lionel laughed sarcastically. “She fine and we real cool but she’s 17.”

  “17?” Antwon flicked his cigarette away. “17?” He repeated to his friend. “Nigga, you had me thinking I was looking at a 14 year old or something.” The phone stopped ringing. “Why didn’t you pick up?”

  “Because she just wants something.”

  “Seems like she want that DICK!” Antwon laughed and his friend just shook his head. “But seriously, what does she want?’

  “She just wants some lessons.”

  “Sex lessons? Head lessons? Because if that is what she wants, I’ll gladly give it to her.”

  “Damn nigga, is there a pussy drought that I don’t know about? Why you acting so thirsty?”

  “Why you acting so defensive?” Antwon screwed up his face but then it all turned to a smile. “You must be feeling this chick..”

  “Not even.”

  “Son, this is me you talkin' to. I am damn near your brother, so don’t try to play me like I don’t know you. What’s going on? You feeling this chick?”

  “I mean, she’s cool.”

  “Oh we go from nothing to her being cool. But I don’t get it, why not just answer the call.”

  “Because she’s 17!”

  “Nigga!” Antwon threw his head back. “There is only one way to solve this.”

  Antwon dug in his pocket and took out his phone.

  “Okay Google.” The phone chirped in his hand. “What is the legal age of consent in New York City?” He asked.

  “Are you serious?” Lionel looked around as if the police was going to bust him. “Why you gotta be all extra?”

  “Man, stop. I’m doing you a favor.”

  “The legal age of consent in New York City is 17 years old.” The phone answered back.

  “And you over here thinking you about to be R. Kelly.” Antwon chuckled.


  “Whatever man, I’m gone.”

  “What about the product?” Antwon wondered.

  “Son, we up right now. Let’s just go home.” They exchanged hands.

  “You ain't going home.” Antwon smirked to himself as his friend walked away.

  Antwon was right. Lionel found himself knocking on Giselle’s door. The door cracked open a little and then Ms. Rita gave him a smile.

  “You here to give me more product.” She already had her hand out for the drugs. Lionel tried to look behind to see if he could see Giselle.

  “Is Giselle here?’

  “Who?” She replied with an attitude once she realized that his visit wasn’t drug related. “Oh you mean that country bitch?”

  “Yeah, where is she?”

  “She ain’t here.”

  “What you mean? It’s after school, where else would she be?”

  “Do I look like I give a fuck? I told you that she ain’t here.” She was about to slam the door but Lionel stopped her.

  “Do you know where she could have gone?”

  “I told you, I don’t give a fuck. Now only come knocking on my door if you have anymore rocks.” She slammed the door shut and seconds later, she locked it as well.