Creepin': A New Orleans Love Story

by Chenell Parker

  “Speak to her for what? She ain’t been worrying about me and she don’t need to start now,” he replied as he started the car.

  “You better not pull off,” Mia ordered right as Terri came up to his lowered window. She looked like the streets had worn her out. Her once beautiful face looked old and tired. She was still pretty, but it was no comparison to how she looked a few years ago.

  “Hey Tank,” Terri smiled. “Hey Mimi,” she said speaking to Mia.

  Mia spoke back, but Tre looked straight ahead. He couldn’t stand his mother and Mia understood why. Just like Moonie, Terri was a club hopper and street runner too. Moonie made sure her kids were straight, but Terri just didn’t give a damn. Tre was always saying that she gave him away like a stray dog and he couldn’t just forgive her for that. He remembered going months without seeing or talking to her and that was hard on him. After a while, he gave up and really didn’t care if he saw her or not. Von always told him that he needed to respect her as his mother, but he didn’t feel the same way. She didn’t act like a mother and he didn’t feel that she should be treated as one. At least Moonie made sure that Mia’s needs were met, but he couldn’t say the same thing about Terri. He didn’t have anything to say to her and he was ready to go. Of course, Mia had to make him do the right thing just as she always tried to do. When she pinched his arm, Tre turned his head to look at his mother.

  “What’s up Terri?” he spoke dryly.

  “Nothing much, how have you been?” she asked him.

  “I’m good, but did you need something?” Tre asked making Terri feel uncomfortable. She knew that they had a lot of issues, but he wouldn’t talk to her long enough for them to be able to resolve anything.

  “I tried calling you a few times last week, but you didn’t answer. Your brother and sister don’t answer when I call them either,” she said sadly.

  “I’ve been busy, but what’s up?” Tre asked.

  “I really wanted to do something with you and your brother and sister together. It’s been a while since we spent any time with each other. Maybe we can all go out to dinner one day next week, my treat. You can come too Mia,” Terri smiled.

  “We’re going to Miami next week for Mia’s birthday,” Tre replied.

  “Okay, well call me when you get back and maybe we can plan something then. Happy birthday Mimi, have fun in Miami,” Terri replied.

  Mia thanked her, but Tre only nodded his head right before he pulled off and left her standing on the sidewalk. He hated when she called Mia the nickname that Von gave her. She and Mia weren’t even cool like that.

  “I feel so sorry for her,” Mia said once they were gone.

  “Don’t do that Mia. As much as you get mad with Moonie, I never once tried to make you feel bad about it. I don’t know why you feel sorry for her anyway. She didn’t want her kids anymore and she got exactly what she asked for. What about how I felt when she gave me to Von and never called or came around to see about me? She’s the one who decided that she didn’t want to be a mother anymore. She was too busy chasing behind dick to give a fuck about her own kids,” Tre yelled angrily.

  Mia was shocked at how fast Tre’s attitude had changed up. He was smiling and in a good mood before Terri approached him. She knew that he was hurting, so she decided not to reply to his sudden outburst. Usually she would be going off on him, but she knew that now was not the time. When Mia turned her head and looked out of the window, Tre felt bad for snapping at her like he did. It wasn’t her fault that Terri ruined his day. It never failed. He could be in a good mood and his entire day would go to shit, once he laid eyes on the woman that gave birth to him. Even still, he couldn’t stop himself from loving her. Maybe if she’d shown him some kind of regret or remorse, he would feel better.

  “I’m sorry baby,” Tre said while grabbing Mia’s hand.

  “It’s okay,” Mia smiled while squeezing his hand. “You know I understand if nobody else does.”

  Moonie had her faults, but she wasn’t as bad as some other mothers. Mia couldn’t remember a time that they didn’t have food to eat. The bills were always paid on time or earlier and they had everything they needed and more. Moonie really didn’t know how to be a good mother, but she was a great provider. Mia loved her for that if nothing else.

  “When I pick up this money from Ro you can drop me off home and take the car,” Tre said as they drove. He was out of product and once he got his money from Ro, he was straight. He would have more than enough to make sure that Mia enjoyed her birthday.

  A few minutes later, Tre pulled up to the corner store where he, Ro and a few of their other friends usually hung out. He spotted Duke and Ro shooting dice while a few other people stood around and watched.

  “I’m going in the store,” Mia announced when the car came to a stop. She and Tre got out of the car at the same time and approached the group of men.

  “What’s up y’all?” Tre spoke.

  “Damn Mia,” Ro said loudly. “When you gon’ let me sample all that ass.”

  Mia rolled her eyes at him and walked into the store.

  “Man, I’m tired of telling you about playing with her like that. You go too damn far,” Tre frowned angrily. “Let’s do this business so I can go.”

  “You know I’m just fucking with her,” Ro replied while placing a huge knot of money into Tre’s hand.

  “Yeah, but I keep telling you to chill out. Obviously she’s not interested in talking to you,” Tre said.

  “I really don’t understand why me flirting with Mia gets to you so bad. She’s Duke’s God sister too, but I don’t see him acting like that behind her. You don’t give a damn about what Rainey does and I know that for a fact. You make me think you want Mia for yourself,” Ro commented.

  “Don’t try to compare me to the next nigga. I can’t speak for Duke and nobody else. I keep telling you that you’re too damn disrespectful and I ain’t feeling that shit.”

  “You need to get out of your feelings and stop taking everything so personal. Mia is grown and she can handle herself. As much as you disrespect these hoes out here, you shouldn’t have anything to say about what I do,” Ro replied.

  “She ain’t none of these hoes out here though,” Tre said growing angrier by the minute.

  “Y’all chill out bruh,” Duke said trying to calm the situation. “Ro you’re wrong, so just take your lick and keep it moving. You do too much. You know somebody is always telling you about how you disrespect females.”

  “I do what the fuck I want!” Ro shouted. “I’m a grown ass man. If I want to flirt with Mia and any other bitch I see that’s exactly what I’m gon’ do.”

  “You got that bruh,” Tre said calmly.

  He wasn’t the type to argue with another nigga and Ro was no exception. He liked to cause a scene and be the center of everyone’s attention. If a crowd was around, that only intensified his already cocky attitude. Tre had been cool with him long enough to know that Ro lived for the spotlight.

  “Are you done?” Mia asked as she walked out of the store and stood directly in front of Tre.

  He saw Ro nudge one of his friends right before he walked over to them. Tre already knew that he was about to try to show off. He always wanted to make sure his boys watched whenever he did something stupid.

  “Yeah I’m done,” Tre said as he handed her the keys to drive. Mia said goodbye to Duke and was about to get into the car when Ro walked up and grabbed her arm.

  “You not gon’ tell me bye Mia?” he asked flirtatiously.

  “Bye Ro,” she snapped while pulling away from him.

  “No, I want a hug,” he said as he stepped up and pulled her body close to his. When he grabbed a handful of her ass, Mia pulled back and was ready to go off on him, but Tre beat her to it.

  “You must think it’s a game. I guess I have to make you respect my mind,” Tre growled as he slammed his fist into Roland’s face.

  Ro stumbled from the impact of the first blow, especially since he di
dn’t see it coming. He was shook for a minute, but he was swinging back as best as he could after being caught off guard. Everybody was yelling about how hard Tre’s first lick was and that only made the situation worse. Ro was a known shit talker in the hood and he knew that he would never be able to live that down. Tre was getting the best of him and that wasn’t a good look either.

  “Tre stop!” Mia yelled while walking over to the brawl.

  Duke pulled her back because they were in a full-blown mix. She would gotten hit for sure if she tried to break it up. Mia had never seen Tre fight before and he was in full beast mode at the moment. He and Ro were both tall, but Ro was no match for the jabs that Tre were throwing at him. He was flinging him around as if he weighted nothing at all. When Ro tripped and fell to the ground, Mia was petrified when she saw Tre start to stomp him. She started screaming for someone to break them up, but nobody moved. Even Ro’s friends were stuck as they watched them go at it like a bunch of wild animals.

  “Duke, go get him,” Mia begged as she pushed him over to the two men. Duke didn’t want to get involved, but Mia was going crazy. Even though Ro deserved to get his ass beat, he hated that she was out there to witness it.

  “C’mon man,” Duke said pulling Tre off of Ro.

  Tre looked over at the frightened look on Mia’s face and regret set in soon after. He hated to do Ro like that in front of her, but he couldn’t help it. He warned him too many times, but he didn’t listen. When he grabbed Mia’s ass like he did, Tre snapped and tried to kill him with his bare hands. One of their other friends walked over to help Ro up and he started running his mouth as soon as he was back on his feet.

  “Nigga you a hoe,” Ro yelled with blood dripping from his mouth and nose. “You had to sneak me just to win the fight.”

  “Let’s go another round then nigga,” Tre requested. “You already know you can’t handle me.”

  “Tre no, let’s just go,” Mia begged. She grabbed his arm and pulled him towards the car.

  “You act like you fucking Mia or something. If that’s the case, share her like you share all of your other bitches. Nigga, I already know how you do it. Don’t act like you a saint just because Lamia is around. Do her like you do Rainey nigga,” Ro rambled.

  Tre gave him a death stare when he said that. Ro was just like a woman when he got mad. If he knew anything about you, it was bound to come out on mad day. At that moment, Tre was kicking himself for letting Ro in on so many personal aspects of his life. If any of his past misdeeds got back to Mia, she would run for the hills and never look back. He wasn’t as innocent as he tried to make it seem during the two months that Mia had been holding out on him.

  “We gon’ see each other again,” Tre promised Ro with a menacing stare.

  “Make sure you tell Mia all of your secrets nigga. I would hate for her to find out from somebody else,” Ro warned with a smirk.

  “C’mon Tre,” Mia said as she unlocked the doors and got in on the driver’s side.

  Duke made sure Tre got in before he left and went to his own car. Both men were his friends, but Tre was like the brother he never had. There was no question about where his loyalty was and would always remain.

  “Are you okay?” Mia asked Tre as she drove off and got on the bridge.

  “Yeah,” he answered with a scowl.

  Mia didn’t want to press him, so she got off of the bridge at the first exit and headed towards her house. She could get Moonie’s truck and go to the mall later. She wasn’t trying to force Tre to be bothered if he didn’t want to. She really wanted to ask him what secrets Ro were talking about, but she decided to leave the subject alone for now.

  “Where are you going?” he asked.

  “Home,” Mia replied. “I’ll get Moonie’s truck and go to the mall later.”

  “Why? I told you that you could use the car. And I thought you were staying by me this weekend.”

  “I was, but you don’t seem to be in the best mood right now. I just figured that you might want to be alone for a while. You don’t seem like you want to be bothered.”

  “I just had a fight with one of my best friends Mia. I’m not in the best mood, but I always want to be bothered with you. You can pick Brandis up and just drop me off at home.”

  “Okay, but are we gonna talk about your secrets that Ro thinks you should tell me about?” She asked.

  “I don’t have any secrets Mia. You know how Ro is. He’ll say anything to piss the next person off. Please don’t fall for his bullshit. I have enough to deal with as it is. I really don’t need us to be into it. I can’t take that shit right now.”

  “I hear you, but if I find out some shit later on we’re going to have a problem,” Mia threatened.

  “I know baby, but I’m good. I didn’t do anything,” Tre swore.

  “Okay, just remember that I gave you a chance to tell me the truth,” Mia replied.

  She drove the rest of the way to Brandis’ house in silence while Tre talked to Duke on the phone. Her gut told her that something was up, but she didn’t have any proof. Tre never gave her a reason to think that he was doing anything wrong. Mia knew that she didn’t have to go looking for anything. All she had to do was wait and everything would come to her in due time.

  Chapter 12

  By day three of their trip to Miami, Rainey was beyond ready to go home. They were having the time of their lives, but she was tired of feeling like the third wheel all the time. Mia and Brandis had Duke and Tre to chill with, but she was starting to feel like a pest. Even Von had Tanya to keep him company, but Rainey felt all alone. She talked on the phone with London or posted pictures on Facebook and Instagram all day. Then to make matters worse, she ended up bunking in the same room with Brandis and the man that she wanted for herself. It was supposed to be the women in one room and the men in the other, but that quickly changed. Their suites were connected by a door that allowed access to each other’s rooms without going outside. Tre didn’t think twice before he put Duke out of their room and moved Mia in. Thankfully, each room had two beds and a pullout sofa bed. Rainey and Brandis had their own beds, while Duke camped out on the sofa. It killed Rainey when the two of them would be all hugged up watching TV or sneaking kisses when they thought she wasn’t looking. Not to mention when they had to hear Mia and Tre fucking like newlyweds all during the day and night. Von and Tanya were two floors up, so they didn’t know what was going on.

  “I wish her disgusting ass would have stayed home,” Tre whispered to Mia.

  “Who?” she asked just to be sure they were on the same page.

  “I’m talking about Rainey. She’s always frowned up like she doesn’t want to be here anyway. She complains about everything that we want to do. This is your birthday trip and we’re doing whatever you want to do. If she don’t like it then she can stay in the room,” Tre fussed.

  They were walking in the mall and Rainey was lagging behind them talking on her cell phone. Duke and Brandis were in a shoe store while Tre followed Mia around trying to find her a sundress.

  “What’s up with you and her lately? Why does she make you sick all of a sudden?” Mia asked.

  “That bitch woke up with an attitude for no reason. I swear this is her last time going anywhere with us with her hating ass. I don’t even want you around her ass no more.”

  “It’s not even that serious. She’s probably salty because she sees Duke and Brandis together. You know she’s had a crush on him since we were younger,” Mia reasoned.

  “But the man don’t want her ass though. What part of that doesn’t she understand? He made his choice and he didn’t choose her. I wouldn’t want her lil thin ass either if I was him. At least Brandis is slim with a lil shape. She’s just straight up and down with no kind of curves and a pot belly,” Tre frowned.

  “Shut up Tre,” Mia laughed.

  Rainey wasn’t as bad as he tried to make it seem. She was slender and had a very pretty face. Her caramel colored skin was flawless and her dark bro
wn eyes had a slanted, exotic look to them. Although she had a head full of healthy hair, she still preferred her Brazilian weaves. Mia wouldn’t call her stomach a pot belly, but it wasn’t flat to say that she was so small. Brandis was slim too, but she had a shape with it. Her butt wasn’t ridiculously huge, but she had more than a handful. Her dirty red complexion, bowlegs and sweet disposition was probably why Duke chose her over Rainey.

  “I’m serious though, she’s getting on my damn nerves with all that complaining.”

  Mia didn’t know what the deal was between Tre and Rainey, but she didn’t want to be put in the middle of it.

  “Let’s go in here,” she said pointing to a store that had a bunch of sundresses on display in the window. Rainey sat down on a bench in front of the store while Mia and Tre went in.

  “Try this one on,” Tre said holding up a lime green tube dress for Mia to see.

  “I like the dress, but not the color. I’m too dark for lime green. Find another color and I’ll try it on,” she replied.

  She grabbed a few dresses that she liked and asked the clerk to let her into the dressing room. Tre came in a few minutes later with the dress he liked, in two different colors.

  “Damn,” Tre said when he saw Mia standing there in her pink lace briefs and matching bra. He tugged at the top of her underwear and she slapped his hand away.

  “No Tre, we’ve been getting it in all day every day since we got here. You need to go sit out front if you can’t keep your hands to yourself.”

  “Please Mia, five minutes,” he begged.

  “Wait Tre, I need to try these dresses on first.”

  “Okay, try the one I like on first then,” he replied.

  He replaced the lime green dress and got two more in red and a soft pink instead. Mia nodded and did what he asked her to. The dresses that Tre gave her was okay, but she thought the material looked cheap and made her butt look too big. He went crazy when he saw her in it and wanted her to get both colors. Five dresses later and Mia was ready to make her purchase and go. Aside from the two that Tre wanted her to get, she picked out three more dresses that she liked as well.