Creepin': A New Orleans Love Story

by Chenell Parker

  “Where do you want to go?” Mia asked.

  “It’s your day boo. We’re going wherever you want to go. Just be ready to roll at seven,” Moonie said before she exited Mia’s bedroom.

  Mia eventually decided on a pair of gray skinny jeans with a gray and purple crop top. She didn’t know where they were going so she bypassed the heels and put on her purple, gray and white Air Max instead. It was right at ten when Mia finished curling her hair and spraying herself with perfume. She grabbed her purse and walked downstairs, right as Tre pulled up to the curb.

  “You’re timing is perfect. Where are we going?” Mia asked as soon as she got into the car.

  “You could at least speak before you start asking questions,” Tre said right before he pulled off. “Just sit back and enjoy the ride.”

  “Okay, but guess who invited me to dinner tonight?” Mia asked changing the subject.

  “Who? I know you not playing with me with another nigga,” Tre said looking at her like she was crazy.

  “Why would I tell you if another man wanted to take me out? I’m not stupid. Moonie wants to take me out to dinner tonight. Crazy as it sounds I’m kind of excited about it,” Mia admitted.

  “It doesn’t sound crazy at all. That’s your mama. Despite y’all differences, you and Moonie are close,” Tre replied. Mia was happy that they were on the subject of parents. She’d wanted to talk to him about a few things that were on her mind and now seemed liked the perfect time.

  “If I really wanted you to do something, would you do it?” Mia asked.

  “That’s a stupid question Mia. I already do whatever you want me to do. All you have to do is ask and it’s done,” Tre assured her.

  “Okay, well I want you to talk to Terri. It looks like she’s really trying to do better Tre. I just keep thinking about how sad she looked when we saw her that last time. I know she messed up, but just give her a chance to explain herself. You never know, talking to her might make you feel better about the situation,” Mia rambled trying to get her point across.

  “I’m not making any promises Mia. I understand what you’re saying and everything, but that situation is complicated.”

  “It’s only as complicated as you make it. Will you at least think about it?”

  “Yeah, I will,” Tre said, hoping that she would just leave it alone.

  “Okay, so are you going to tell me where we’re going now?” Mia asked.

  “You’ll see where we’re going when we get there,” Tre said as he continued to drive.

  He headed towards the Westbank Expressway and got on the bridge that took them into Jefferson Parish. They traveled in silence for about twenty more minutes until he pulled up into the parking lot of the Nissan dealership.

  “What are we doing here?” Mia asked. She was hoping that he wasn’t thinking about trading in his car because she loved his silver Challenger.

  “A Nissan Murano right?” Tre asked her.

  “What about it?” Mia asked.

  “That’s what you always said you wanted. Go pick out what color you like,” Tre smiled at her.

  “Stop playing!” Mia yelled as her eyes got twice their normal size. “You’re getting me a fucking car for my birthday Tre?”

  “If you don’t want it we can leave and go get you something else,” he joked. He knew that would never happen. Mia was infatuated with those trucks and she would die before she left without one.

  “Ahhhh!” Mia screamed to the top of her lungs while kicking her legs in the air. “I can’t believe you’re getting me a car.” She jumped on Tre’s lap and started kissing him all over his face. He knew that she would be happy, but the way she was screaming made him laugh.

  “C’mon, let’s get out and look around,” Tre told her. He didn’t have to tell her twice. Mia jumped out of the car and was ready to go.

  “Wait a minute Tre,” Mia said as she thought about something. “What am I going to say when people ask who bought me a car? I don’t work and you know Von is going to have a million questions.”

  “I don’t know Mia. Tell them that Moonie got it for you.”

  “You know Von or Lamar are going to ask her about it. I’ll get busted in a lie for sure if they do,” Mia stressed.

  “Well, say Jabari bought it for you,” Tre replied.

  “Jabari?” Mia yelled. “Why would Jabari buy me a car when he and Tiara are sharing one? And whose name is the car going to be in? I was hyped at first, but now I feel like I’m getting happy for nothing.”

  “You’re eighteen now Mia, the car can go in your name. We’ll figure out everything else later on. Don’t start feeling down when you were just excited a minute ago. Let’s go walk around,” Tre said pulling her along with him.

  A few hours later, Mia was all smiles as she drove off in her brand new sunset colored Nissan Murano Platinum. All of her fears were put to rest the moment she got behind the wheel. She was too excited for words to know that she would be driving herself to school for her senior year. Brandis was going to flip when she saw it. Of course the front seat would be reserved for her girl whenever she went somewhere. Their walking days were officially over and it felt damn good.

  ***

  Two weeks later, Mia and Brandis were pulling up to the student parking lot at school. It was the first day, so they went early to eat the breakfast they bought and catch up with some of their friends. It was weird because they entered the building from a different way than they used to. The student parking lot was on the other side and they had to walk all the way around to get to where the other students were. As soon as they got out of the car, Rainey was pulling in right beside Mia’s new truck.

  “Who let you drive their car speed racer?” Rainey joked referring to how fast Mia drove.

  “Check out the plates and you tell me,” Mia replied. She had Mz. Mia personalized on her plates, so there was no mistaking that the car belonged to her.

  “Oh shit, Von got you a car?” Rainey asked in shock. She felt a twinge of jealously, but she tried hard not to let it show. She had a car, but it was at the expense of her mother and stepfather. Von had absolutely nothing to do with it.

  “What makes you think that Von got it for me? And whatever happened to you going to a private school? I thought Landry was too ghetto for you now,” Mia inquired.

  “I never said that,” Rainey denied. “I just decided that I wanted to graduate with all of my friends instead of going somewhere where I don’t know anybody.”

  Truth was her stepfather thought that it would be a waste of money to send her to a private school for her senior year. She didn’t start out in private school and he didn’t feel that she should end up there for her last year either.

  “Did Tank buy this for you?” Rainey asked still trying to see who sponsored Mia’s new ride.

  “Why is that even important?” Mia asked.

  “It’s not, I was just asking,” Rainey shrugged. They all walked towards the entrance and entered the front doors of the school together. As soon as they entered the school, they spotted Paige and her nieces arguing with one of the school counselor’s in the hallway.

  “They didn’t even miss that many days last school year for y’all to fail them again. My nieces are going to be nineteen and twenty years old still in the eleventh grade,” Paige yelled. Mia and Brandis walked right by them and laughed loud enough for them to hear. Rainey’s friendly ass spoke to Paige as if they were the best of friends.

  “What’s funny bitch?” Shania yelled at Mia causing other students to stop and look their way.

  “You see that Ms. Anderson?” the counselor asked Paige. “That’s part of the problem. Your nieces can’t seem to stay out of trouble. They’ve been suspended more than they’ve been in class. I told their father the same thing when he came to see me a few months ago. I can help them only if they’re willing to help themselves. They don’t even have enough credits to be classified as seniors.”

  “That’s bullshit! My brother came and
talked to you and you were supposed to help them get extra credit,” Paige barked.

  “You’re absolutely right, but they never showed up to the credit recovery classes when they were supposed to. I’m sorry, but there is nothing that I can do. I’m going to tell you as I told their father. They might do better in a GED program because school does not seem to be working out for them,” the counselor said before she turned and walked away.

  By then Brandis and Mia were laughing uncontrollably, loud enough for everyone to hear. Paige and her nieces wasted no time walking over to them, but one of the security guards stopped them before they got too far. He knew all too well about Mia and the sisters history. He lost count of how many fights he broke up between them the previous school year.

  “We’re good, I’m just coming to talk to my friend,” Paige said pointing at Rainey. He nodded his head giving her the okay, but he stood close by just in case something popped off.

  “What’s up Paige?” Rainey asked her.

  She knew that Paige and Mia had problems, but Rainey was always cool with her. She and Mia both used to hang out with her before Paige started suspecting Mia and Tank of messing around. Things went downhill for them after that, but Rainey didn’t feel like she should have to choose sides in the matter.

  “Nothing, but I’m trying to see what’s so funny,” she said looking over at Mia.

  “The fact that your nieces are old enough to be teachers, but can’t seem to get out of the eleventh grade is funny,” Mia snickered as she winked at a male student who passed by and spoke to her.

  “I see you got them hoe genes just like your mama. Both of y’all run around screwing everything in the hood,” Paige replied.

  “I can’t speak for Moonie, but the only man that has ever been between my legs is…” Mia paused before she looked at Brandis and laughed.

  “You can say it. I know you’re talking about Tank. I don’t know why y’all keep trying to hide it,” Paige said getting upset.

  “My God brother?” Mia asked as if she was appalled. “Why would you think I was sleeping with him? Just because I spend every weekend at his house and drive his car, doesn’t mean that we’re messing around. I’m kind of offended that you would say such a thing.”

  “I guess you feel like playing with me since you know security is going to stop me from beating your lil hot ass,” Paige fumed.

  “I’m not worried about you doing anything, but you should ashamed of yourself. You’re too old to be coming to high school trying to fight the students,” Mia taunted.

  She knew that she was getting under Paige’s skin by not giving her the reaction that she wanted. Paige lived for a good argument, but Mia refused to give her the satisfaction.

  “It’s all good. You know we’ll see each other on the streets soon. If not, my girls always know where to find you,” Paige said pointing to her nieces.

  “Nah, you need to send somebody else at me. I’m tired of beating down the same people. Next time send somebody that can actually fight,” Mia requested.

  “Bitch you ain’t ever beat none of us down,” Shania yelled.

  “Yeah okay,” Mia brushed her off. “And what are you doing on this side of the building anyway? This area is for seniors only. Y’all are supposed to be on the other side with the juniors. I’m sure you know where it is since you’ve been a junior for the past five years.”

  “Let’s go y’all,” Paige instructed her nieces. “She gon’ get hers. Her and her hoe ass mama.”

  “Bye Paige,” Mia yelled after her. “I’ll tell Tre and Dalvin that you said hello.”

  “You need to stop being so messy Mia,” Rainey lectured once they were gone.

  “You need to mind your business Rainey. I’m not the one who started it. She came to my school talking crazy to me. My heart pumps blood not Kool-Aid. I’m not scared of Paige and nobody else for that matter. She can get it right along with anybody else, including you,” Mia threatened.

  “Where did that come from? I don’t have anything to do what’s going on with y’all,” Rainey said.

  “You always say that, but then stand around and side with the next bitch. I don’t know what’s been up with you lately, but you better get your mind right when you come at me,” Mia said right before she and Brandis walked away.

  Rainey had been on some other shit lately and Mia wasn’t feeling it. She hadn’t really seen or talked to her since their trip to Miami and it was only for a few minutes if she did. She and London came to Von’s house one night, but they left soon after discovering that Tanya was there. Mia hated what their relationship had come to, but that wasn’t her fault. She wasn’t about to kiss Rainey’s ass just to be her friend. In her mind, Rainey was one less problem that she had to worry about.

  Chapter 14

  Rainey pulled up to Von’s house and was happy that Mia wasn’t there yet. She needed to talk to Tre alone. Their relationship seemed so strained lately and she needed to know why. Even Mia seemed to be distancing herself. They would speak to each other at school, but it wasn’t the same as before. They barely talked when they were at Von’s house and that made things somewhat awkward. Rainey knew that a lot of it was her fault and she wanted to make things right, starting with Tre.

  “Hey Von,” Rainey said when her Godfather opened the door for her. He was shirtless with a towel wrapped around his neck like he’d been working out.

  “Hey baby,” he said bending down to give her a kiss on the cheek. “I’m happy you came before I went back outside and finished cutting the grass. Tank is in his room, so you would have been knocking for a long time.”

  She wanted to tell him to give her a key like he gave Mia, but he never offered her one. Technically, he didn’t offer it to Mia either, but he never asked for it back when she used it one time before. He gave it to her to let herself in when he wasn’t home one time, but that had been over a year ago and she still had it. Von went back outside and Rainey put her clothes up in the bedroom where she always slept. As soon as she opened the door to go back into the living room, she spotted Tank walking down the hall.

  “Hey,” Rainey spoke.

  “What’s up?” he asked never bothering to look at her.

  “Can I talk to you for a minute Tank?” Rainey asked while following him into the kitchen. He never answered, but he looked at her like he was giving her the okay to start talking.

  “Say what you have to say Rainey,” Tre snapped when she just stood there without opening her mouth. He pulled the cereal from the pantry closet and waited for her to say something.

  “I’m really trying hard to see what I did to make you act like this towards me. You can’t seem to stomach the sight of me and I don’t know why,” Rainey spoke up.

  “Oh you don’t?” Tre asked sarcastically.

  “I’ve apologized to you a thousand times. I don’t know what more you want me to say. I’m sorry for trying to hook you up with London and everything else that I did. I just hate the strain that my stupid mistakes have put on our relationship. We used to be so close now it’s like you hate me. Even Mia is starting to act shady towards me,” Rainey said on the verge of tears.

  “She has every reason to act shady towards you, don’t you think? You’re not her friend and you never were. You’re jealous of her and a blind man can see that. I wouldn’t blame her if she never spoke to your hoe ass again,” Tre ranted.

  “So, I’m a hoe now Tank?” Rainey asked with tears in her eyes.

  “If the shoe fits,” he responded right as they heard keys opening the front door. A few seconds later, Mia and Brandis strolled in followed by Duke.

  “Hey y’all,” Mia spoke before opening the refrigerator and getting a bottle of water.

  She joined the rest of them at the table, while Tre sat at the island eating a bowl of cereal. Brandis was showing them something on her phone, but Rainey wasn’t paying attention. She got up and walked to the back room, slamming the door behind her.

  “What’s wrong with
her?” Brandis frowned.

  “I told y’all that she’s been in her feelings for the past few weeks. At first I thought it was because of Duke and Brandis kicking it, but it seems like there’s more to it than that,” Mia shrugged.

  The four of them talked for a while, until Von walked into the kitchen and started talking to everybody. Rainey must have felt better with him being there because she came out and rejoined them not too long after. She had a somber look on her face, but nobody knew why.

  “I don’t know what y’all are going to do for food. Me and Tanya are going out to eat tonight,” Von informed them.

  Mia was looking forward to a hot meal, so she was more disappointed than everyone else. This was the only time she got one unless she cooked it herself. She was happy that her Godparents seemed to be getting closer, so she didn’t mind ordering a pizza or grabbing some fast food.

  “Where are y’all going out to eat at?” Duke asked.

  “I don’t know,” Von shrugged right as the doorbell rang.

  He walked away from his guests and opened the door in shock. He hadn’t talked to Cheryl in a few days and he damn sure didn’t invite her over. But there she was standing at his door with London’s smiling face right behind her.

  “Are you going to let us in or not?” Cheryl asked. Von was staring at her like she was a stranger, never once bothering to invite her in. Her feelings were hurt by the look of disappointment on his face.

  “I was about to go somewhere, but y’all can come in for a little while,” he said stepping aside. Cheryl walked in and went straight to his bedroom, while London joined everyone else in the kitchen.

  “Good evening everybody. Hey Tank,” London spoke when she walked into the room.

  “What’s up?” Tre said never bothering to look up from his bowl of cereal.

  Mia was cool with him speaking to them now and that was the only reason he opened his mouth at all. She still didn’t like London or Cheryl, but she didn’t want to put Von in a bad position. It was rude for Tre not to speak to his father’s guests, so Mia let it go for his sake only. It would have been too weird if the same thing kept happening every time they came over.