She Used to Be the Sweetest Girl

by Briann Danae

  “That’s why you only have two friends now with your mean ass,” Lexi laughed.

  “That’s all she need. Ain’t nobody else gone put up with her,” Brix said.

  “Nah, I can’t trust these bitches out here. That’s really why. Y’all family, though, so I don’t have to worry about that,” Carissa replied.

  The two nodded their head agreeing. Over the years of their friendship, some females had come and gone, but the trio always stuck together. It was destined for them to be friends for life and neither of them would have it any other way. It’s not every day you meet people who were genuinely down for you and supported you through life, especially with females. There was always the jealousy of one woman being better than the next or being afraid one might outshine the other. With them it wasn’t like that. They wanted to see each other make it, even if it didn’t include them in the process of the glo-up. That’s just how loyal they were.

  After checking in with Lexi to make sure she was feeling alright, Brix and Carissa walked back toward their designated areas. Soft sounds of R&B crooned through the speakers, giving the atmosphere a laid back vibe. Everyone was standing and mingling like she hoped they would, while her mama snapped pictures. She was so proud of her baby and this moment had to be documented. She figured a year from now, Brix could look back and smile at her accomplishments. It was something her parents had always taught her; be proud of your achievements, big or small. They were yours, and if no one else was happy for you, you should be happy for you.

  Making her way over to the table, Brix straightened up the display area. At a table close by, Reilyn was looking her up and down with a smirk on her face. She only came to the little event to accomplish one thing and one thing only; hurt some feelings. She wasn’t here for the pleasantries, but couldn’t deny how good everything taste. Loving her sweets just as much as the next, she ate from the table, but now it was time to turn things up.

  “Girl. You already know Shemel didn’t say shit. That girls poor little car was done for,” she spoke loudly, while slapping hands with Neka. Raven stood back shaking her head. This was messiness at its finest.

  Bringing her head up from rearranging the pies, Brix looked their way. The mention of Shemel’s name first grabbed her attention, but the car part is what made her look up.

  “Bitch, what she just say?” Carissa hissed under her breath.

  People were still standing around the table, and she didn’t want to be too loud, but she was for sure going to say something.

  “Then that nigga came straight to the crib and dicked you down. That’s relationship goals for real,” Neka said laughing.

  Screwing her face up, Brix grabbed a napkin and wiped her hands off. She couldn’t have heard her wrong, but deep down, she knew she hadn’t. To say she was hurt, would be half of the pain she was feeling. Her and Shemel weren’t in a relationship, but she thought their friendship was genuine. She didn’t question him about why he up and left that day and now she knew why. Not wanting to jump to conclusions, she started to walk away so she could call and ask him herself. Carissa wasn’t having that though.

  “Un, un. Where you think you going? We about to go say something to them right now. You heard what she said just like I did. That’s not about to fly with me. We about to confront this hoe.”

  Pulling her hand back, Brix tried to stopped her.

  “No Ri. It’s cool. We don’t even know what she’s talking about,” Brix said.

  Drawing her head back dramatically, Carissa’s nose flared. She knew exactly what Reilyn was talking about. Like she said before, there aren’t too many Shemel’s in St. Louis, and if she just so happened to be mistaken, that would be just that, a mistake. She was for certain she wouldn’t be though. She had always been taught to speak once, but listen twice, and her ears were open wide.

  “Welp, we are about to find out,” she said walking away, leaving Brix standing there. Shaking her head, knowing things were about to get out of hand, Brix walked over as well. Her inquiring mind wanted to know who and what Reilyn was talking about as well, but her pride wouldn’t let her admit it. She’d rather get the facts from the source himself.

  Stepping in front of the table, Carissa didn’t even care to put on a fake smile before confronting them.

  “I couldn’t help but overhear you mention Shemel’s name a few minutes ago and—”

  “And what?” Reilyn asked, interrupting her.

  Raising her brow, Carissa grinned sarcastically. She hated when people disrespected her and interrupting her while she was speaking was a sure way of getting your ass beat.

  “And like I was saying, I just have to know whose car you are speaking of? I’m sure damages to someone else’s possessions can’t be that humorous,” she said smartly. She was playing cool right now, but was waiting for Reilyn to say the wrong thing.

  “But it is. Seeing as though the owner is fucking with something that doesn’t belong to her,” Reilyn replied mugging Brix. Just that quick, her attitude toward Shemel and his fling of the month had pissed her off.

  “And who might that owner be?” Carissa asked, stepping into her personal space.

  Walking up to the two, Brix grabbed Carissa’s hand to pull her back some.

  “Let’s just leave it alone. I’ll ask Shemel later on,” she told her friend.

  “Be sure to ask him about our deal too next time you talk to him. I didn’t fuck up your car for no reason. That nigga know all about it and he owe me,” Reilyn said, with a smirk.

  Removing her hand from Carissa’s arm, Brix stepped forward with fire in her eyes. There was no denying what she heard now, but she just wanted to make sure.

  “What did you just say,” she hissed, clenching her jaw. She could feel herself shaking waiting for Reilyn to respond.

  “I said, I didn’t fuck your car for—”

  In the blink of an eye, Brix had smashed a plate of cake in Reilyn’s face, making the plastic plate crack in the process. Swinging her arms frantically, she began raining untimed blows to her body. She had never had a fight a day in her life, except back in elementary, but that didn’t count. Today she didn’t care how crazy she looked swinging. The hurt and hatred of someone damaging the most precious thing from her daddy besides other keepsakes, had her on ten.

  Stumbling back some, Reilyn slipped on the water that was knocked over, hitting her face against the table as she collided to the ground. Not missing a beat, Brix hopped on top of her and continued to swing. Rei was trying her best to get up, but it was like Brix turned into the Incredible Hulk. Plus, the stilettos she had on were of no help. Not liking the position her friend was in, Neka went to jump in and was shoved into the wall by Carissa.

  “Bitch, I wish you would try to jump in. Get yo ass laid out in here,” she grilled her.

  “Wassup little mama? You can get these hands too,” Neka said getting hype. She hadn’t whooped some ass since she caught her baby daddy sleeping with his other baby mama. The one he claimed he was done fucking with. She was ready to go a couple rounds.

  “Hey! Hey! Break this up. What is going on over here!” Brix’s uncle Karl said, rushing over to the girls.

  Lifting Brix’s tiny frame up easily off of Reilyn, he sat her off to the side. Softly pushing Carissa back, he stood between the two crews while Rei struggled to stand to her feet. Realizing he hadn’t helped her up, he stuck his hand out for her to grab. Looking a distraught mess, Reilyn stood on wobbly legs with a mixture of blood and cake all over her. Her lip was busted and she could already feel the swelling. Handing her a few napkins, she did her best to wipe her face.

  “No let me go! She’s the one who messed up my car ma! Oooh, please let me go!” Brix cried out.

  She was so mad, she had tears streaming down her face. Tears of anger was a for sure sign of how upset someone was. She wanted nothing more than to continue fucking her up, but her mama wasn’t having it. Not here at least. This was the wrong place and the wrong time.

  �
�Chill out Brix. You showing out like this, with all those people out there!” her mama said, pushing her towards the back.

  Touching her lip, Reilyn groaned. She knew she must have looked a hot mess and was beyond embarrassed. Not enough to still get under Carissa skin though.

  “So little Miss Brix do got some fight in her. I figured she was a weak bitch like you.”

  Trying to run up on her again, Carissa was pulled back by Uncle Karl. Clapping her hands together and doing a little dance, Neka got hype, she had already slipped on her brass knuckles. One thing she hated was a scary bitch, but Carissa was actually proving her wrong.

  “You weak hoe. Desperate ass! You and yo washed up crew came up in here like y’all was about to do something. We can take this shit outside. Caked face ass hoes! What’s good!” she yelled, trying to break free. She was glad Brix held her own, but she wanted in on some of the action.

  Raven stood off to the side shaking her head like always. After today, she was done with them. They had taken things too far. Rolling her eyes and chuckling, Rei continued to clean her face without a care in the world. She was somewhat embarrassed, but it was no biggie. She accomplished what she set out to do, and now it was time to leave.

  “Y’all get on out of her before I toss y’all out,” Uncle Karl said. Females or not, he’d go to war for his niece.

  “No need. I’ll gladly leave. You know, I wish I could stay though, but it looks as if my presence is no longer wanted. Y’all have a good day,” Reilyn said, flicking her cake filled hair over her shoulder. Neka walked behind her like the sidekick she was, while Raven stood back to apologize.

  “I’m so sorry. I didn’t know they were coming here to do all this,” she said sincerely.

  “Whatever. You roll with them bitches so you just as guilty for standing there looking dumb,” Carissa spat.

  Ravens eyes widened at her reply. She was definitely not expecting that, but it was true. She was affiliated by default. In the backroom, Lexi and Mrs. Carla were trying to calm Brix down. She was pacing back and forth and crying so hard, they were sure she’d make her asthma flare up.

  “Brix, calm down honey. You’re going to make yourself sick,” Lexi said, softly.

  “W-why would she do that?! I don’t even know her. No no, it’s not even about her! Why would Shemel not tell me if he knew? How could he do that to me,” she said, banging her fist on the counter.

  She was livid. Not only had he been lying about the whole situation, but tried to mask the truth by purchasing a car. In Brix’s opinion, the truth would have been better. True, she was spazzing over something material that could be replaced, but that was different. She’d never give the car away if she didn’t have to.

  “Look sweetie. I know you’re hurt, but this was no place to handle her. This was your first event and that is no way to leave a lasting impression on someone. It’s not a good look,” her mama said.

  “What’d you want me to do ma! Let her sit up there and brag about how she messed my car up? The car your husband, my daddy bought me? No! I couldn’t let her disrespect me or him like that.”

  “You could have handled it differently! I’m glad you held your own, but come on Brix. Your place of business?” her mama groaned, trying to make her understand.

  “I thought I handled it pretty well,” Brix replied with a shrug of her shoulders.

  Sighing, Mrs. Carla didn’t even respond. There was no getting through to Brix when she was upset. It had been that way ever since her daddy died. If she was mad, she wanted to be left the hell alone. The death of her father and disappearing act of Drew had turned her cold. Shemel was slowly thinning the ice surrounding her heart, but after today it would be frozen over. He had fucked up royally.

  Stomping into the back room Carissa pulled Brix into a hug. After uncle Karl gave an apology over the mic, everyone filed out. Many were still in shock at Brix’s behavior, but figured it had to be something huge for her to blow up like that. Some took leftover sweets to go, while others wanted to make sure she was okay. Carissa was proud of her friend. She knew Brix was no fighter, but she held her own out there and she was feeling like a proud mom right now.

  “You good? Did she get some licks in,” she asked, examining her face.

  “She scratched me on my neck, that’s all,” Brix replied, leaning to the side.

  There were long scratch marks swelled up and bleeding on her neck. That was the only damage Reilyn had done.

  “She talked all the shit and up here scratching. Weak ass.”

  “Girl, you better watch your mouth!” Mrs. Carla hissed.

  “Sorry, Ma.”

  Pulling the first aid kit from the cabinet, Lexi handed Carissa the peroxide and cotton balls. The scratches on her neck needed to be cleaned and her knuckles as well. She hit Reilyn directly in her tooth, making her lip split, causing her knuckle to crack open some.

  “Ssss,” Brix hissed, feeling the cold liquid grace her sensitive skin.

  She stood there in deep thought about what all had just went down. It was definitely out of her character, but she no longer cared. For Reilyn to show up to her event and cause drama was on a whole other level of disrespect. She not only took her frustration out on her about the car, but about Shemel as well.

  All this time he had been lying about the car, but what hurt the most was the fact he had laid up with her the same day it all happened. If she didn’t know what a dog nigga was before, he had surely described it. This was almost as bad as Drew’s incident. She just couldn’t believe Shemel had actually done something so low. After giving him a chance, and he knew she gave him that chance, he basically said fuck her. What she wanted to know was why. She hadn’t done anything to make him lie to her. There was no reason to; they weren’t together, and at this point, probably never would be.

  “Brix, I’m gonna start cleaning up out here okay?” Lexi said. Her stomachache hadn’t gone away completely, but she felt slightly better after sipping on a can of sprite.

  “You feel better?” Brix asked.

  “Yeah. I’m fine. I know you have a certain amount of time you can be in here and I don’t want you to get charged extra.”

  “Okay, thank you. I’ll be out there in a second.”

  Walking over to Brix, her mama gave her a hug while rubbing her back.

  “Everything is going to be fine. It always is,” she said before heading back out front. Her back was hurting her a little, but other than that, she was fine. She had been feeling a lot better lately, thanks to her physical therapy sessions.

  Waiting until she was out of the room, Carissa started talking.

  “You fucked her up,” Carissa chuckled.

  “Yeah, I see,” Brix replied, stretching her hand in and out.

  The pain was written all over her face as she flexed her hand. A look of sadness could be seen as well. Not being the one to mask her feelings well, she couldn’t hide her emotions no matter how hard she tried. If she was feeling some type of way, you’d know by her facial expression.

  “I know you’re sad, but you can’t let this get you down. Just be glad his true colors showed before you went any further with him,” Carissa told her.

  “I’m not going to lie. I am sad, but I’m more upset than anything. I mean, I should have saw this coming. He kept telling me he was different and how he just wanted to get to know me, and you know it sounded good. I was actually letting my guard down some. Soon as I start to fall a little bit, he reminded me exactly why I don’t do this whole, get to know you, date thing. What’s the point if all he was going to do was hurt me in the end anyway? Nah, I’m not sad. I’m mad as hell for even allowing him to waste my time. Fuck him,” she spat.

  She was most definitely upset if she was cursing. The words sounded foreign coming from her tongue, but held so much emotion that you knew she meant it.

  “That’s right bestie. Fuck him! At least you got a car out the deal,” Carissa chuckled, trying to lighten up the mood.

  Smi
ling weakly she replied, “Yep, and I’m going to do exactly what he told me I should do to repay him. Stunt on these hoes, including him.”

  Shemel was about to be in for a rude awakening. He thought Brix had given him the cold shoulder before; it was about to be even worse. She was going to treat him just like he wanted to be treated; like an ain’t shit nigga. Walking out to the front, the two began to clean up the venue. Although the event was free of charge, tips were accepted. There was a tip jar in the front when you first walked in and one on the dessert table. Uncle Karl and Lexi had aligned and stacked the money in Brix’s deposit box for her to count later on. She didn’t want to wait until later on and pulled it from underneath the table.

  Removing the rubber band, she flipped through the bills easily. She counted money for a living at work every day so this was nothing new to her. With a grin on her face, she patted the money in the palm of her hand. Five hundred dollars had been accumulated easily from tips alone. With the wheels spinning in her head, Brix began to plot on her next event. She figured if she charged and people still tipped, she could make well over a grand. Hopefully, this little fiasco that took place wouldn’t hinder her sales.

  She and her crew continued to clean up and pack things away. Despite the day’s drama, today had been a good day. Brix accomplished something she loved doing, beating some ass in between, and making money while doing so. The ill feelings she harbored towards Shemel and his scandalous ways were about to create a monster. Her focus from now on was going to be solely on her businesses and collecting her funds. For all she cared, he could shove whatever hope he had of them being together up his ass, since he was so full of shit.

  Twelve

  Holding his phone under the table, Shemel sent what seemed like the hundredth text message to Brix. She had yet to reply to any of his messages and it was killing him. He knew something wasn’t right, but had no clue what it could be. Seeing as though he had bought her a car right before he left, Shemel figured she was busy. That had never stopped her from responding before though. Brix could be dead to the world sleep and feel her phone vibrate and wake up to text him. That wasn’t happening anymore though and hadn’t been for the past week.