Creepin': A New Orleans Love Story

by Chenell Parker

  Von parked his all-black Lexus GS Hybrid right behind Shad’s truck, and got out with Lamar following close behind. Both men walked into the semi-crowded gym and spotted Shad standing off to the side downing a bottle of water. Shad saw them from the corner of his eye, but he pretended not to notice. He knew that he would probably be seeing Von sooner or later, but he wasn’t in the mood to deal with Lamar’s crazy ass. Lamar always was a loose cannon and the drugs only made things worse.

  “What’s the deal Shad?” Von asked getting straight to the point. “I heard you have a problem with my son. Is that right?”

  “Yeah I have a problem with that lil nigga. He got somebody to jump on my daughters. My baby’s hand and wrist is broken because of him. That shit was foul Von,” Shad replied.

  “Nah, what’s foul is the fact that them ugly bitches jumped on my baby the night before. They got it just how they gave it up. If you have a problem with that you can see me about it,” Lamar clarified.

  “My daughters didn’t jump Mia. They said it was a one-on-one fight,” Shad replied.

  “And you believed that shit? They can’t even handle my girl one on one. They could barely handle her together,” Lamar yelled.

  “All of that is irrelevant right now. I’m not feeling some of the shit that you’ve been telling people about what you’re going to do to my son. That shit is for lil boys and we’re grown ass men. You and I are around the same age, so you should know that I’m not gon’ sit by and let you take it there with him. Your daughters jumped Mia and they got jumped in return. All’s well that ends well,” Von shrugged.

  “We can take it to the streets if you still feel some kind of way,” Lamar pointed out.

  Shad looked at him and nodded his head in understanding. Lamar was the craziest dope fiend that he’d ever met. He could never understand how he was a known user, but still demanded respect like he earned it. Back in the day he did, but those days were long gone. Still, his name rang bells in the streets like he never fell off. Shad didn’t mind busting his guns, but some battles just weren’t worth fighting. He knew when to back down and this was one of those times.

  “We’re good,” Shad replied in defeat.

  He really wasn’t afraid of Von, but he did respect him. Von handled things in a different way than Lamar. He wasn’t opposed to sitting down having a man-to-man talk, unlike his boy.

  “That’s good to know. You be cool,” Von said giving him dap.

  Lamar turned and walked away without uttering another word. He and Von had accomplished what they came to do and all was well at the moment.

  “Now how are we going to deal with our other problem?” Lamar asked.

  “What other problem?”

  “What you mean what other problem? I’m talking about that nigga, Ro. That nigga is telling people that Tank is a dead man walking. I don’t take too kindly to people threatening my family,” Lamar responded angrily.

  “Ro is all mouth. If he really wanted to do something, he’s had months to do it. He’s a showoff and Tank embarrassed him when he beat his ass in front of his boys,” Von said dismissively.

  “I still don’t put nothing past that nigga. Maybe he hasn’t had the time to make good on his threats, but that doesn’t mean that he won’t. You know how we used to do it back in the day. You make a nigga think it’s all good long enough for them to let their guard down.”

  “I still don’t think Ro is going to be a problem. Like I said, he’s all bark with no bite. I’ve known him long enough to know that he ain’t about that life.”

  “Alright, but don’t say I didn’t warn you. These lil nigga are out here trying to prove a point, but if you’re good with it then so am I,” Lamar said letting the subject go for now.

  He really wasn’t all right with it, but he decided not to push the issue. Tank was like a son to him and he loved him as much as he did Mia. Ro was talking about taking his life over a fight, and that didn’t sit too well with him. Von might not be worried about it, but Lamar was going to keep his eyes and ears to the streets at all times. If Ro made one stupid move, he was going to be a distant memory.

  ***

  “Brandis,” Mia yelled while waving her friend over. “What took you so long?”

  She’d been standing in front of the school for the past ten minutes waiting for her to come out.

  “That evil bitch did not want to let us out of the class until we wrote down our homework. My hair is soaking wet with sweat,” Brandis complained.

  The school day had barely gotten started when a car hit the pole out front and caused all of the power in the area to go out. It was a little after ten that morning when the announcement came that they were being dismissed for the day. It was a Friday, so Mia and everybody else were excited to have an early start to their weekend.

  “I’m hot and sweaty too. I need to go shower and change before we go anywhere else,” Mia replied.

  “That’s cool with me. A shower is just what I need. I have to wash my hair too,” Brandis said as they got into Mia’s car.

  “Okay, just come to my house when you’re done. We can figure out something to do then,” Mia suggested.

  “Oh no heifer, don’t try to be slick. You have to go by Von’s house. You know what today is. Y’all are supposed to be making that move and telling Von what’s up,” Brandis laughed.

  “I am going by Von’s house, but not until later on tonight. You know I never go over there this early. I’m usually in school around this time anyway. Tre doesn’t even wake up this early.”

  “Stop trying to stall Mia. You need to just get it over with early and stop stressing yourself out. You know Tre will wake up for you if you call him.”

  “I know, but I’ll just wait until I get over there later on. I need to calm myself down a little more.”

  “I understand honey. I’ll be over here as soon as I’m done,” Brandis said, right as they pulled up to their apartments.

  She got out and walked to her building while Mia disappeared into hers. As soon as Mia opened the door, her smiled brightened when she saw who was sitting on the sofa.

  “Hey Mitch,” Mia beamed.

  He had on a pair of sweat pants and socks, but he didn’t have on a shirt or shoes.

  “What’s up my girl? It’s about time I get to see you. You’re never home when I come over here,” Mitch said giving her a hug.

  Mia sat down next to him just as Moonie entered the living room wearing nothing, but a t-shirt and underwear. Mia always suspected that the two of them were still messing around, but she wasn’t sure. After seeing them both half dressed, she knew for a fact that something was going on. All of the kids were in school, so Mitch couldn’t say that he came over for them. This was probably the time that they usually hooked up since they would have the house all to themselves.

  “Y’all had a half day?” Moonie asked her.

  “No, the power went out and they let us go early,” Mia replied.

  “I heard Jabari got you riding nice, huh?” Mitch asked.

  “Yeah,” Mia replied with a slight smile.

  She was always uncomfortable when people asked her about her car, mainly because the story was so unbelievable. Jabari couldn’t afford to buy her a car, when he and Tiara needed a second vehicle themselves. Jabari always fell out laughing when somebody mentioned him buying Mia a car, and that made the lie seem even worse when he did it.

  “We’re about to go get something to eat Mia, you’re welcome to come if you want to,” Mitch offered.

  “I’m good, but thank you. I’m going to take a shower. It was so hot in those classrooms.”

  “I know you’re probably going by Von, so make sure you lock up before you leave,” Moonie said right before she walked into her bedroom.

  “Okay, see you later Mitch,” Mia said before she disappeared into her bedroom.

  After rummaging through her drawer for something comfortable to wear, Mia took a nice long shower and tried to steady her nerves as best as
she could. She was not at all ready to let Von know about her and Tre being together, but she knew that it had to be done. She understood how Tre felt. She wouldn’t like it if her man kept her a secret for over a year either, especially if he claimed to love her so much. As much as she hated to disappoint Von she knew that what they were about to tell him probably would.

  “Hey Duke,” Mia said answering the phone for her God brother.

  “Hey sis, I need a favor,” Duke replied.

  “Okay. What’s up?”

  “Can you pick me up from home and take me to Von’s house? I left my bike there last night and I need to pick it up. Tank took me home in his car because we got caught in the rain. I left my bike in Von’s garage.”

  “Okay, just let me get dressed and I’ll be on my way,” Mia responded before hanging up.

  She didn’t plan on going to Von’s house so early, but she would make an exception for Duke. He was always going out of his way for everyone else, so she didn’t mind doing the same for him. Since she would be inside of Von’s house for the rest of the day, Mia threw on her colorful leggings with a high-low shirt and a pair of tennis shoes. She was about to call Brandis and tell her what was up, right when the doorbell started ringing. She grabbed her phone and answered the door and found Brandis standing on the other side.

  “I was just going to call you,” Mia told her friend. “I have to pick Duke up. He needs to get his bike from Von’s house.”

  “I know, I’m the one that told him to call you,” Brandis laughed.

  “You make me sick,” Mia laughed with her. “You just want to be nosey.”

  “And you know it,” Brandis replied.

  “Let me grab my purse and I’ll be ready,” Mia said running down the hall to her room.

  Ten minutes later, she and Brandis were pulling up in front of Tanya’s house. Brandis called Duke and told him to come outside. Another few minutes passed before he came out and locked the door behind him. He opened the passenger’s door and pulled Brandis out, so that she could ride in the back seat with him. Mia smiled at how cute they were together. She never imagined them being together before, but they made the perfect couple.

  “Y’all want to catch a movie or something later on?” Duke asked them.

  “Mia and Tank might be punished after Von finds out what’s going on,” Brandis joked.

  “Mia ain’t telling Von shit. I hope you don’t believe that,” Duke laughed.

  “She doesn’t have a choice. Tank ain’t playing that with her ass this time,” Brandis said.

  “Okay, y’all gon’ stop talking like I’m not sitting right here,” Mia chuckled. “And we are talking to Von today and Tre is not making me do it. I just feel like it’s about that time to put everything out in the open.”

  “We’ll see,” Duke replied dismissively.

  Mia stopped and filled her car up and they were on their way to Von’s house soon after. Just like she expected, her nerves were starting to get the best of her. The butterflies in her stomach were working overtime. She was kind of hoping that Von wasn’t home, but when she pulled up and saw Cheryl’s car parked out front, she knew that he was. Von’s car must have been in the garage because Cheryl was parked directly behind Tank.

  “I’m not saying shit as long as she’s here. I don’t want her nosey ass all up in my business,” Mia frowned referring to Cheryl being there.

  “I’m going to get my bike and take it back home. Y’all just call me so we can hook up tonight,” Duke replied. “Get the garage opener for me Mia.”

  They all got out of the car and walked up to Von’s front door. Mia used her key and went inside, with Duke and Brandis following right behind her. She went straight to the kitchen where Von kept the garage opener and handed it to Duke. She and Brandis were about to walk down the hall to the spare bedroom when she heard voices coming from one of the other rooms. She thought it was Von and Cheryl talking, so being nosy was Mia’s number one objective. Duke laughed when Mia and Brandis stopped and tried to listen at Von’s door. He was about to say something, until Mia put her finger to her lip telling him to be quiet. Obviously, they couldn’t make out what was being said because they started walking to their destination once again. Just as they were about to go into the spare room, Tre’s bedroom door opened and he walked out. Tre was shocked to see Mia and the rest of the crew standing there looking at him, especially since he didn’t hear them come in. Mia couldn’t help but smile at him, and admire his tall, muscular, tattooed frame. He had on his baby blue basketball shorts with no shirt, and a pair of black socks on his feet. She was about to say something to him until another voice spoke up before she could.

  “Are you sure that you’re going to call me later Tank? You always say you are, but you never do,” a familiar female’s voice was heard coming from behind Tre.

  Mia’s heart shattered into a million pieces and her smile quickly vanished, when she saw London’s smiling face emerge from the bedroom right behind him.

  Stay Tuned For Part 2. Coming Soon…