She Used to Be the Sweetest Girl

by Briann Danae

  Wiping the lone tear from her face, Brix turned toward Carissa and pulled her into a hug. That is exactly what she wanted to hear. No, that is exactly what she needed to hear.

  “Thank you,” she said sniffling, pulling her face from Carissa’s shoulder.

  “Girl, you know you don’t have to thank me. That’s what best friends are for. I just hate seeing you like this. All sad and shit. I mean, you know I don’t care if you cry, but not over his punk ass. You have shed too many tears over him. I don’t think his intentions were to come back and hurt you, but he gotta be dumb as hell to think everything was going to be cool. He a fuck boy for real,” she replied, pounding her fist into the palm of her hand.

  Brix wasn’t just her best friend; she was her sister. When one hurt, the other one did too and vice versa. Drew was taken a huge leap of faith showing his face in St. Louis with what he had just revealed and Carissa wanted to ensure he’d never be seen again. Chuckling, Brix shook her head.

  “Yeah, he is. Karma is real though, and he will soon reap what he sows.”

  “When! Are you going to tell Uncle Karl and Kev nem?” Carissa asked, mentioning her older cousin.

  “Nah, but I’m sure my mama will when I tell her. It’s only a matter of time before they catch up to him. That’s if the police don’t get him first.”

  “Police? Un, un. Ain’t gone be none of that. We not gone snitch on him. Jail is not where him or Nine belong. Them niggas need to get done dirty for real Brix,” Carissa said glaring at her.

  “Whatever happens, happens. I’m not giving him any more of my energy Ri. I don’t know what his intentions were coming up here, but my daddy is resting well, and that’s how he should stay. If my cousins catch him before the cops do, then that’s just what it is.”

  “Okay, whatever you say. Not to bring up any other hoe niggas, but have you talked to Shemel?” Carissa asked.

  She had scrolled IG early this morning and saw the post of him with some chick in the club. She knew the incident with Reilyn was over and done, but she had to know if he had even caught wind of it. While he was all in the club kicking it, he was losing his girl over some bullshit.

  “No and I don’t plan to anytime soon. He is no better than Drew honestly. They are floating in the same boat.”

  “Well, um. I guess I won’t show you this post,” Carissa replied, apprehensively.

  “What post?” Brix asked, a little louder than she expected.

  Pulling her phone from her robe pocket, Carissa went to her Instagram app and pulled up TheShadeRooms page. After handing it to Brix, she held her breath waiting for a reactions. Looking over the picture, Brix couldn’t do anything but chuckle. She was no longer surprised by these niggas; Shemel was no exception.

  “Couple huh? That’s cute I guess. He lied about knowing who messed my car up, so I wouldn’t be surprised if he did have a girlfriend. Niggas always lying about something right?”

  “You not mad?” Carissa asked.

  “Mad for what? That’s not my man. He can do who and what he wants. Looks like everyone is trying to piss me off today,” Brix said standing up.

  She didn’t care one way or another what Shemel was doing. True, she missed him but him covering Reilyn was out of pocket. That’s exactly why she was ignoring his phones calls and texts messages. She was tired of playing nice and being taken for granted. If he wanted to be out here on some scandalous shit, she was going to let him do so without her presence being needed.

  “Where you going? I wasn’t done talking heffa,” Carissa joked.

  “Well I am. I’m still tired and my head is killing me. I’m going to go lay in your big comfortable bed if that’s okay with you ma’am,” Brix grinned.

  “Sure. I mean there isn’t a whole guest bed in the other room, but go ahead.”

  “I like your bed better and I hope you changed your sheets,” Brix yelled out, walking down the hallway.

  “You made it over just in time!” Carissa joked, yelling out.

  Walking into the room, Brix stripped from her clothing one item at a time. Pulling a big t-shirt from the drawer, she tossed it on and hopped in bed. Exhaling, she snuggled deeper into the plush pillows. She wanted nothing more than to relax her strained eyeballs from crying all morning. Embarrassing as it was to admit, Brix kind of felt good about the events of today. Not every situation is going to teach you something, but it would surely make you grow. Growth; that was something she was learning to do every day and today was no different. Slowly closing her eyes, she sent a message up to the heavens.

  “I’m sorry daddy. You warned me about him, and I should have listened. Rest peacefully my king and know I’m not done making you proud of the woman I am becoming. Love you and continue to watch over me and ma.”

  With that, she rolled over and pulled the cover up to her chin. With sweet memories of her daddy fresh on the brain, a tear slipped from her eye before falling into a deep sleep.

  Secret Code #10 0611148 She Used to be the Sweetest Girl

  For your chance to win a kindle, email this code to contest@shanpresents.com. No screenshots. You have until 6/12/2016 at midnight to enter

  For your chance to win a free trip to Miami Beach, Florida along with one of your favorite SHAN PRESENTS authors, keep this code in a safe place and collect the remaining codes from the rest of the Shan Presents releases. Winner will be announced at the end of June!

  Fourteen

  Stretching his long arms above his head, Shemel stretched as he walked out of the airport. It was nightfall and the cool crisp air had awakened him from the sleepy state he was in. The flight from Atlanta to St. Louis was brief and he enjoyed that most because he had shit to take care of. One being Brix and the other checking on the traps. She had yet to reply to any of his texts or return his calls, and at this point, he was no longer concerned but pissed off. He knew she had seen him blowing her phone up, so to outright ignore him had Shemel hot.

  Reilyn hadn’t called to update him on the little run-in she had with Brix and she felt like there was no need to. She wanted her point to be made and that was it. Her personal revenge was brewing and would soon be complete. Jae had posted a picture of herself on the plane, and she knew wherever she was, Shemel couldn’t be far behind. Knowing Vino had a meeting set up with him soon, she figured he had to be heading back in town. Indeed he was, with one thing on his mind.

  Staring down at his cell, he hit the phone symbol next to Pierre’s name and placed it to his ear.

  “What’s good nigga. You touched down?”

  “Yeah, just landed. Where you at?” Shemel asked.

  “At the spot chilling with my youngin’s,” he said, speaking in code for counting money.

  “Aww yeah. I’mma slide through. I ain’t seen nephew in a minute.”

  “Yeah, he miss you too nigga. Come through.”

  “I’ll be there,” Shemel said, disconnected the call.

  Jae and his manager walked up to him and exchanged goodbyes, before they all hopped in separate vehicles. Atlanta’s business trip was a success and they all wanted to lay low while his name was buzzing. It would make people more interested in what Shemel was going to do next. Like his daddy always told him, “Stay low and let them speculate.” Growing up, he didn’t know what he meant but he definitely knew now. He was good at staying low, even when he was in the streets. People were going to speculate whether they knew his next move or not.

  Hopping in his navy blue Charger, Shemel pulled away from his spot and hopped into traffic. He needed to go to the warehouse first if he wanted his plans to fall through. Since Brix wasn’t answering any of his calls, the next best thing he thought to do was go through Carissa. Pierre was feeling some type of way about her and surely he would give up her credentials. To say the least, he was desperate. Going two weeks without seeing Brix had him missing her something terrible. Tiffany was now a thing of the past and was glad. Her pussy was straight, but he couldn’t help but to visualize Brix as he stroked her
insides. This girl had his head gone.

  Turning his radio up, he blasted one of Vino’s songs and bobbed his head. His manager had let him know he was in the process of setting something up with the young cat and Shemel couldn’t wait. It was something about seeing a young nigga on his shit that made him feel like this rap shit was way more than talking about hoes and gangbanging like people portrayed it to be. True, there were hoes, but there were always going to be hoes. That’s nothing new.

  Vino was young, talented, had his head on straight, and was hungry. A hungry nigga with a purpose and skill was deadly, and Shemel wanted to put him on to the real shit in the music world before it corrupted him. It could easily be done and he hoped it hadn’t already. Shaking the thoughts from his mind, he focused on the task at hand. Brix was in for a rude awakening if she thought he was gone let her petty antics slide. The fact that Shemel knew nothing about the incident that had taken place only meant one thing; it didn’t get the response Reilyn was hoping for. She expected for everybody to be blowing Shemel’s phone up about it, but they weren’t. Whether he found out through a source or by Brix herself, Rei wasn’t recanting on her task at hand.

  Pulling up to the warehouse, Shemel hopped out and walked inside. All of the young niggas—mainly his cousins— greeted him with a head nod or a dap. The re-up had just came through the previous day and it was time to hit the streets. Shemel grinned as he walked through, remembering the days he used to be on the block all night. He still was some days, but only when his presence was needed. The team could move without him, but appreciated his level headiness. Unlike Pierre, who could be a hot head at times, Shemel always stayed calm no matter the situation. Flipping out and acting off of emotion had never been his thing when it came to the streets. Walking further into the spot, he heard Fatz and Ricky arguing.

  “How much you wanna bet nigga? If you think he ain’t fuck ole girl, you a fool,” Ricky said hype.

  “I ain’t betting on that hoe. I hope my nigga didn’t smash shawty,” Fatz replied.

  Shemel shook his head at the two and spoke up.

  “Damn, y’all speaking on my dick,” he said joking.

  “Nah nigga, we praying over that mufucka,” Fatz said making everybody laugh. Everybody except Shemel.

  “I’m good. I strapped up,” he replied, flopping down on the sectional.

  “Told you nigga! So how was it? She got some kill?” Ricky asked.

  Grinning, Shemel nodded his head. She did have some good shit, but that’s about it. Her conversation was cool, but not cool enough to keep around. Tiffany was definitely just something to do because there was honestly nothing to do. As soon as they were finished, Shemel had the driver pull back up to take her home. Staying the night was out of the question. He didn’t condone any of that laying up shit, especially with a chick he had just met. Giving her the dick was one thing, but to cuddle afterwards? That was a definite no.

  “She a hoe though. You know how many niggas she done fucked?” Fatz asked.

  “You fuck her?” Ricky replied with a smirk.

  “Nah, but—”

  “Exactly nigga! Hoes be having the best pussy. Ain’t that right,” Ricky laughed, slapping hands with Pierre and Shemel.

  “Sure do. That’s why yo so called girl got two kids and they not yours?” Fatz said, cracking up.

  Smacking his lips, Ricky shook his head.

  “Don’t even get started on her man. I don’t fool with her no more though. For real.”

  “Who you trying to convince nigga?” Pierre asked, laughing.

  “Nobody but his damn self,” Shemel said.

  They all laughed, before everybody except Shemel and Pierre got up to leave. Running traps spots came second nature to the Wright family. It was instilled in them since a young age; you had to make yourself a boss, no matter where you started from. They were told to always put themselves in a position to win. Whether that was starting from the bottom or not, you had to make yourself known in this world or nobody gave a fuck about you. They never did unless you were making money or in your grave.

  With a smirk on his face, Pierre stared at Shemel. Something was off about his nigga, and he could tell as soon as he walked through the door. The look on his face, now that everyone was gone, was one of frustration. Pierre had seen it many of times when shit wasn’t going his way. Seeing as though business was rocking, and he had just came from several meetings in Atlanta, it only left one thing to trip about. Women.

  “Welcome back nigga,” Pierre said, giving him dap.

  “Shit. It feels good to be back.”

  “You sure? You over there looking like you lost your best friend. I ain’t go nowhere,” he said chuckling.

  “Maaan,” Shemel replied, running a hand over his face.

  As much as he wanted to downplay the situation, he couldn’t. In layman's terms, he was in his feelings low key, and the only person he felt comfortable with telling this to was Pierre.

  “I don’t know what’s going on with Brix man, but she ain’t fucking with a nigga. After I copped her the ride and shit, we went out to eat and chilled before my flight and everything was good. I get to Atlanta and bruh, when I say she ain’t respond to a text after seeing if I made it safe I’m not lying. What the fuck could have happened that quick?” he asked, in deep thought.

  Pierre couldn’t do anything but shake his head. This nigga in front of him was not the Shemel from a few months ago. If he didn’t know any better, he’d think his ass was in love.

  “You got it bad man, that’s all I’mma say.”

  “What you mean? That shit ain’t weird to you?” he asked, genuinely confused.

  “Maybe you did something wrong, shit. Did she really like the car? What, you ain’t give her no dick before you left? I don’t know my nigga, that’s up to you to find out.”

  “That’s the thing. She not responding to shit. It’s like she blocked my ass or something. That’s what I came through for, so you could help me out.”

  “Help you out how? If you thinking about me reaching out to Carissa, nah. Nope. I ain’t fucking with ole girl. Next option,” Pierre said, dismissing any thought of having a conversation with her.

  “Man stop acting like she gone whoop yo ass or something. If you don’t reach out to her, I will. That’s the only other way I can get in touch with Brix.”

  The idea of pulling up to her mama’s house had crossed his mind numerous of times, but he felt like it would be mad disrespectful if he did. Trying to keep the little peace there was left, he decided to go a different route. Going through Carissa surely couldn’t be that hard.

  “Man, alright. I’mma give you her number, but don’t say it was me. Just say you got it from somebody else or some shit,” Pierre said, scrolling to her number.

  “Why you acting like it’s a big deal nigga. It’s just a number.”

  “I don’t feel like hearing her mouth. She already done pissed me off for the week, and it’s only Sunday my nigga. That should tell you something,” Pierre replied, handing Shemel his phone.

  After storing the number in his phone, Shemel stood up to leave. He got what he originally came for and now it was time to bounce. If it was something he did to really piss Brix off, he was going to need enough time to convince Carissa to let him know what was going on.

  “Damn. You leaving already?” Pierre asked, while Shemel laughed.

  “You sound like a bitch man. Yeah, I’mma head out. It’s going on eight, and I don’t know if she gotta work tomorrow or not. I need to see her now.”

  “You in love my man. You doing the most,” Pierre said, disappointed.

  “You’d do the most too if you knew what you had,” he replied, with a shrug.

  He didn’t care how he looked to anybody. Of course he wasn’t in love yet, but he wasn’t doing anything not to let it happen. Shemel had already fallen for Brix and if it just so happened that they ended up being in a relationship and falling in love so be it. All that rah rah bullsh
it Pierre was spitting to him, was irrelevant. After slapping hands with him, he left out the warehouse and hopped back in his ride. Sitting there, he didn’t hesitate to call Carissa’s number. Answering on the third ring, she spoke into the phone.

  “Carissa speaking,” she said professional.

  “Aye wassup. This Shemel.”

  “Shemel? Nigga, you got your nerve calling my damn phone. How you get my number in the first place.”

  Shaking his head, he knew this was going to be more difficult than he thought.

  “Look, I ain’t call you for all that nagging and shit. I’m just tryna see what’s good with Brix. She ain’t been answering a nigga calls or nothing. She straight?” he asked concerned.

  Sucking her teeth, Carissa rolled her eyes. With the phone in her hand, she walked down the hall to peek into her bedroom. Brix was still knocked out on the bed, getting some much-needed rest. Pulling the door closed quietly, she walked back down to the guest room.

  “She is more than straight. While you been all in ATL living life with your little girlfriend, your side bitch been here causing drama.”

  “What the hell are you talking about?” Shemel asked, confused.

  “Oh, so you wanna act like you don’t know huh? Cool, play that role. It’s whatever; just know Brix handled her own,” she replied, about to hang up.