by K'wan
“You know that’s my dude, so I don’t know why you in here about to talk sideways about him.”
“Because he’s a big-mouthed piece of shit,” Isabel stated. “Yo, my homegirl and her baby’s father ain’t been the same since.”
Around the time Paul and Isabel were messing around, they had made the mistake of hooking Larry up with one of her friends. Paul was against it, because he semi-knew the girl’s man and didn’t feel comfortable with the setup. Still, they insisted and the girl gave Larry the pussy. He had the girl doing all kinds of wild shit and when the novelty died out, he stopped calling her. Had it ended at that, it wouldn’t have been a problem, but it didn’t.
It turned out that Larry and the girl’s boyfriend were rivals from the streets and there was tension between them anyhow. They exchanged words on several occasions, but it rarely went beyond dirty looks. One night the both of them were in the bar getting hammered and ended up getting into a shit-talking contest. The kid said some real fucked-up shit about Larry and his hustle game, but the finishing blow was delivered by Larry. He made an offhanded comment about a tattoo the girl had gotten a week prior. It was a heart located just above her pussy so the kid knew there was only one way Larry could’ve seen it. Larry and the kid ended up having a nasty brawl in which Larry got cut right before he knocked the kid out. When the kid went home he proceeded to kick the shit out of his girl and tossed her into the streets with nothing but the clothes on her back. When Isabel and her friend approached Paul and Larry about the incident, Larry fell over laughing. Ever since then, the girl had despised the ground that Larry walked on.
“Hey, that was on y’all. I’m the one that said not to hook them up.” Paul laughed. “So what up with you? You and your crew tearing it up as usual?”
“Please believe it.” Isabel gave Paul a high five. “You only live once.”
“Don’t live too much.”
“Never that, just enough to keep me happy,” she shot back, about to reenter the crowd.
Paul grabbed her hand gently and halted her departure. “Damn, I ain’t seen you in how long and you’re dipping off on me like this?”
Isabel smiled. “Paul, we’ve known each other too long not to keep it real. I know you’ve got a girl, and I ain’t trying to come between that.”
Paul was momentarily shocked. He hadn’t seen Isabel in quite some time, so he was a little curious as to how she found out about his girl. He thought about lying, but knew Isabel would see right through it. “Yeah, I got a girl,” he admitted, “but that doesn’t mean we can’t hang out on some cool shit. It’s a party, right?”
Isabel thought on it for a minute. Seeing Paul brought back a lot of memories and for an instant she could almost feel him inside her again. No, she had to stick to her guns. Paul had issues and at this point in her life, her space was too small for unnecessary baggage. For as much as she would’ve loved to have said, “Fuck your girl!” and take him in the bathroom and let Paul pound her out, she knew it would only complicate things further.
“Paul, you know we’ve never been able to just hang out without fucking,” she said and smiled flirtatiously. “Nah, for as much as I would like to catch up on old times, I’m in here trying to make moves. Maybe another time when the playing field is a little more even. Later.”
Paul watched Isabel disappear into the crowd and felt the pang in his loins. Even though he and Isabel were fuck buddies, there had always been something more under the surface that neither of them would admit to. Not only did she have some bomb-ass pussy, but Paul enjoyed being around her. With Isabel he never had to worry about what he said or did. With her he could always be himself and that was something he greatly missed.
“Who was that?” Larry asked, slightly out of breath. Paul turned around a little startled because he hadn’t heard Larry approach.
“I see you’ve decided to take a break, Twinkle Toes,” Paul teased him.
“I was about to tell you that you needed to get out there and shake a leg with one of these bitches, but I see you’ve got everything under control. Now stop avoiding the question. Who was that?”
“Oh, that was Spanish Isabel.”
“You mean shorty who had the friend?”
“Yeah.”
“Man, I sure am mad I fucked that up. Shorty head was fire!” Larry declared.
“Yeah, and you probably could’ve still been getting it if you hadn’t been so petty,” Paul told him.
“Fuck that bitch and her man. It was fun while it lasted.”
A girl wearing tight capri pants walked by and touched Paul’s hand. She waved at him and disappeared into the crowd.
“I sure am glad I decided to come out tonight,” Paul said, watching the girl walk away.
“I see you, ya thirsty muthafucka.” Larry pushed him. “You got a bunch of tender young joints to experiment with and a guaranteed whorebag you can slide with. You’re batting a thousand, my nigga.”
“You know I ain’t on it like that, Larry. I’m good with one girl, I don’t need the headaches of multiple bitches.”
“Bullshit, Paul. I see that thirsty-ass look in your eyes,” Larry said seriously. “I knew that all it would take is one night for you to be back in your element before that dirtbag side of you resurfaced.” Larry gave Paul a pound.
“Nah, man. I’m just trying to get my drink on and enjoy the night. I’m feeling good and can’t nothing blow mine right now.”
“I don’t know about that.” Larry gave Paul a smug smile and turned him around to see who was heading in his direction.
* * *
“Was that Don B.?” Rhonda asked when she made her way back to where Reese was standing.
“Yeah,” Reese said, trying to hide the shame in her voice.
“Did you say anything to him?”
Reese thought on it for a moment. “I spoke.”
“You spoke?” Rhonda asked disgustedly. “Reese, what the hell is wrong with you? You’re supposed to be glued to that nigga’s side. He was our ticket to get into the VIP.”
“Rhonda, did you forget you turned down our ticket into the VIP?” Reese reminded her.
“Please, that nigga they rolled in there with ain’t nobody. Don B. and them are the niggaz we’re supposed to be rolling with.”
Rhonda went on and on and for the most part Reese drowned her out. She felt bad enough without Rhonda’s annoying-ass voice adding to it. Rhonda had something to say about everything and everybody. The basis of her whole style revolved around scheming and complaining. Sometimes she wished her friend would just shut the fuck up. A brief glimpse of a profile to their left gave Reese just the way to shut Rhonda up.
“Ain’t that Paul?” Reese asked, nodding in his direction. “Oh, who that li’l Spanish bitch he with?”
Rhonda looked around to see where Reese was pointing and found Paul posted up in the corner. He was smiling and talking to a pretty Spanish girl with long blonde hair. The way they were cooing and carrying on was enough to drive Rhonda insane. Something about the sight of a smile on Paul’s face drove her berserk. Motioning for Reese to follow, Rhonda moved in her baby daddy’s direction, thinking of what new drama she could heap into his life.
* * *
“Man, I don’t know why y’all was even trying to press them sluts,” Rel said, pounding on the bar to get the bartender’s attention.
“Rel, shut yo ass up and get the drinks right!” Groovy told him.
“Watch how you speak to a vet, li’l nigga. I’ve been doing this since you was clinging to yo daddy’s pant leg.” Rel popped his collar.
Slick looked at him seriously and burst out laughing. “Duke, why you always talking shit? This ain’t ’89, and you ain’t a captain no more. You a nigga out here trying to get it, like we get it.”
Rel felt small, but he had to maintain his big man composure. “Slick, you talking shit? Nigga, at least when I had my crew out here I wasn’t getting stuck up by juvenile delinquents. Picture one of thes
e water-dick li’l muthafuckas running up on me.” Seeing the embarrassment on Slick’s face made him feel better.
Slick was about to come out of his mouth sideways, but seeing the bartender setting his drink down took some of the bite out of his mood. “That’s a’ight,” Slick said, careful not to let Rel know he was uptight. “When I catch shorty I can fix that problem. You, on the other hand, can’t do nothing about the fact that you don’t get no pussy,” Slick remarked, laughing as he headed back through the crowd, leaving Rel at the bar feeling burnt.
* * *
At the site of his son’s mother heading his way, Paul immediately felt his kill switch trying to flip itself into the on position. He thought that he’d be able to enjoy a nice night out with his right-hand man Larry, but seeing Rhonda threatened to jeopardize that. He thought about trying to slip away into the crowd, but knew it wouldn’t be of much help. Rhonda had already spotted him and would be sure to track him for the entire night until she got her point across.
“Just be cool,” Larry told him, seeing the irritated expression on his friend’s face.
“I am cool,” Paul lied.
“Paul, I know you. Don’t let that girl goad you into causing a scene. We paid good money to get in here and have a good time, so let’s do that.”
“I hear you,” Paul said, giving himself a mental pep talk.
“What’s up, baby daddy?” Rhonda smirked as if she knew something he didn’t.
“‘Sup,” he replied, not bothering to make eye contact with her.
“What the fuck is his problem?” Rhonda asked Larry.
“He’s chilling,” he said to Rhonda, but continued to look at Reese, wondering if her ass had been that phat the last time he saw her.
Rhonda frowned at his answer and turned back to Paul. “Drinks on you?”
“I ain’t got it,” Paul said shortly.
“You ain’t got it? You must got it, ’cause you still ain’t brought P.J.’s sneakers.”
The devil in Paul screamed for him to pounce on her, but he chose a softer approach. “Rhonda, please don’t start with me.”
“Ain’t nobody trying to start with you, Paul. It ain’t even that serious,” she said, giving him a stink look. “I’m in here trying to get my swerve on, not harass your maggot ass.”
“Rhonda, why you always starting with that boy?” Larry asked.
Rhonda spun on him as if she was ready to fight. “Why don’t you mind your fucking business?”
“You better watch your trump-ass mouth, I ain’t Paul,” he warned her.
Rhonda got ready to lay into Larry, but spotting True across the room talking to a big-butt female changed her plans. “Come on, Reese,” she said, pulling her toward True’s direction. “Fucking derelicts,” she said over her shoulder as she passed Larry and Paul.
“I swear that bitch lives to make my life miserable,” Paul said after Rhonda had gone.
“Shit, you’re acting like you’re just discovering that.” Larry patted him on the back. “Tell you what, let’s see if we can’t get one of these nasty hos to suck on your little dick. A good shoot of head will make you forget about Rhonda.”
Paul winked at his friend. “A good shot of head will make me forget about a lot.”
“That’s the Paul I know,” Larry said, leading him to the bar.
20
The party at Exit was in full swing, with hundreds of people drinking and having a good time, but the VIP area was the official spot to be. Behind the black curtain there was an entirely different party going on. Celebs and big names from different hoods mingled, sipped expensive liquor and champagne, and were all trying to outstunt one another.
Marcus’s table was situated toward the back, right off from the small bar area. Billy thought that he would be in the club with a bunch of his boys, but instead he was surrounded by women. Cat was also in attendance, with Rose and two other girls. She gave Billy hungry looks from time to time, but other than that she minded her manners, probably because Marcus made it a point to sit between she and Billy. Billy wasn’t sure if he had done it because of his eagerness to make her comfortable, or the fact that he wanted her all to himself. Whatever the reason, she was going to keep an eye on him.
Billy had been apprehensive about joining him behind the black curtain, but he had proven himself to be a perfect gentleman. When they arrived at the table, he pulled chairs out for Billy and Yoshi and whenever the waitress came around he let them order first.
“Why are you staring at me like that?” Marcus asked, noticing the inquisitive look Billy was giving him.
“Wondering what you’ve got up your sleeve,” she said bluntly.
Marcus rolled one sleeve and then the other. “Nothing but some skin and a few tats.” Billy smiled a little. “You know, you’re much prettier when you’re not frowning,” Marcus pointed out.
“You need to cut it out,” she said.
“Cut what out?” he asked innocently.
“Trying to run game on me.”
Marcus furred his brows. “Because a man gives you a compliment, he’s gotta be running game?”
“As if you don’t know how niggaz do.”
“I don’t know how niggaz do, ’cause I’m not a nigga. I’m a young man in search of a little understanding.”
“Smooth, smooth,” Billy said.
“Shorty—”
“My name isn’t shorty,” Billy corrected him.
“Excuse me … Billy, why are you giving me such a hard time? All I’m trying to do is get to know you. Is that such a bad thing?”
“Depends on your intentions for doing so. Nobody does something for nothing,” she said finally.
Marcus just stared at her for a moment and said nothing. Billy had the face of an angel and the eyes of a lioness. She acted so hard, but Marcus could see the hurt lingering under the surface. He himself was no stranger to pain and this only made him want to know her more. To know what it was that made her so angry and try to help her get past it.
“Why are you looking at me like that?” Billy asked.
“Just wondering,” Marcus said, still looking into her eyes.
“Wondering what?”
“What man was foolish enough to stomp your heart into so many little pieces?”
“What makes you say that?” she asked, a little surprised at how intuitive Marcus was.
“The kind of pain in your eyes don’t come easy, love. You’ve got ‘broken heart’ written all over your face, and I was just wondering what I could do to help put the pieces back together.”
“You can’t do anything for me that I can’t do for myself, Marcus.”
“What makes you so sure, if you’re not willing to let me try?”
“I’m good,” she said, standing.
Marcus grabbed her arm and stopped her from walking away. “Damn, Billy, you act like I did something to you. I’m not the enemy. Whatever that chickenhead-ass nigga did to you can be undone.”
Billy’s eyes flashed a rage that Marcus couldn’t understand. “You don’t know shit about me.” She snatched her arm away. “That ‘chickenhead-ass nigga’ you’re talking about was the love of my life and that’s something you’ll never know anything about!” With tears beginning to well up in her eyes, Billy turned and ran from the VIP area.
Marcus stood to go after her, but was stopped by Yoshi’s gentle hand on his shoulder. “Don’t,” she told him.
“Yoshi, I didn’t do anything,” he said, letting her know that he hadn’t intentionally hurt her friend.
“I know you didn’t. Guys are a real sore spot with Billy.” Yoshi went on to tell Marcus the story of her relationship with Sol and how it ended. When her story was done, he felt like a world-class dickhead.
“I had no idea,” he said, eyes cast to the ground.
Yoshi patted his cheek. “I know you didn’t, boo. Let me go talk to her.” Yoshi left the VIP area and went in search of her friend.
* * *
Rel sat at the bar, downing his fourth shot of Jack Daniel’s. Slick and Groovy had hooked up with two freak-ass broads and were out on the floor doing their one-two. Rel, not wanting to be the odd man out, excused himself to the bar. There he sat, knocking back Jack and drinking Heinekens like they were going out of style. By the time he emptied his plastic cup, he was on his way to being fucked up.
A dark-skinned girl with short hair and glossy lips took a seat on the stool next to Rel, accompanied by her Puerto Rican friend. He tried to give the Puerto Rican girl the “what’s good?” eye, but she ignored him and continued talking to her friend. Seeing that she wasn’t with it, he moved on to the dark-skinned girl. He looked over her curvaceous thighs and full breasts and decided that she would be the one for the night. Seeing that she was unwilling to make eye contact with him, Rel got more aggressive with his macking.
“What’s up, baby girl?” he half slurred.
“Nothing,” she said, still not looking in his direction.
“That’s a whole lot of junk in your trunk,” he said, openly glaring at her ass. “I’m saying, though, you checking me and I’m checking you, let’s make something happen.”
“Checking for you?” she said, looking from Rel to her Puerto Rican friend. “You hear this nigga?”
Rel, seeing they were trying to play him to left, slipped into his cool shit. “Don’t let the Jack fool you, baby. I’m that nigga. I be big Rel, been to hell and back just to make sure the devil had my trap,” he rhymed. “The whole world know who I be, silk shirts and gators but still maintain my G.” Rel folded his arms as if he had laid his A-mack game down, only to have both girls laugh in his face.
“Why don’t you take your drunk ass on the dance floor and try to sweat it out,” the Puerto Rican girl said.
Rel was just about to haul off and slap the girl when he noticed the big bouncer Bear watching him from across the room. He knew if he swung, security would definitely swoop in and open up a can on his ass, so he held his hand. Mumbling a curse under his breath, Rel slipped off the stool and slunk into the crowd.
