PPP Box Set

by Charmanie Saquea

  He kissed me on my lips. It was really soft and sweet. I stood on my tippy toes and wrapped my arms around his neck. I was becoming a fan of Nell’s. Then his phone vibrated in his pocket.

  The gym was pretty dark with the exception of some colorful strobe lights and people's cell phones. Nell flipped his phone up. I sat down and put my shoes back on.

  “Ay, we bout to go,” he said. I was cool with that. He looked at his phone again. I could tell that he was getting a little annoyed.

  “Let’s go,” he said as he grabbed my hand. I didn’t like the hurried pace we were walking at. It kind of pissed me off but I could tell he meant business. He pulled my arm as we made our way out to his car.

  “Hold up,” I screamed at him.

  I can only walk so fast when my feet are already hurting. He looked back and lightened his expression and pace.

  “I’m sorry,” he told me.

  I rolled my eyes and walked at my regular speed behind him. I mouthed some fucked up shit behind his back. A guy and a girl were standing by the car when we walked up. I assumed Nell knew the situation because they just climbed in.

  “Cherokee this is my nigga Dre and his girl Jazz,” Nell introduced us.

  I said, “Hey,” and I felt properly introduced. Dre was a pretty fly dude but I was thinking, “Where is your car?”

  I laughed and pulled out my bag of weed. I grabbed the nearest CD case and broke the weed down. I had no idea of the destination but Nell’s phone was definitely a hot line that night. I rolled the weed and lit it up. Nell was so irritated by the calls that he didn’t even realize I rolled some weed until he smelled it. He was happy I did though.

  “Pass that shit,” he said.

  Our other passengers smoked too. I was surprised when Jazz hit the weed. She seemed like a good girl, but I bet I did too. What’s the old saying? Never judge a book by its cover.

  Nell put the pedal to the metal as we were all feeling the chosen song selection. We flew down a long street filled with different fast food joints, liquor stores, gas stations, and small businesses. At one end of the street was downtown where all the late night spots and clubs were and at the other end was the exit out of the city.

  “Damn! Taco Bell is packed,” Dre said.

  “Park there for a minute.” Everybody was parked and hanging out. The guys immediately hopped out.

  “Y’all coming,” Nell asked.

  “I’m cool,” I said.

  Jazz didn’t want to go either. He left us the keys. Jazz and I just sat back and finished off the weed in complete silence at first. Then she became the typical nosey female.

  Jazz kept trying to start a conversation with me. After I answered a few of her questions, I decided to turn the tables and ask her questions. I found out that she and Dre been together for a year, she goes to a school on the other side of town, and people hang out on “the strip” on Fridays and Saturdays.

  “The strip is the place to be,” she said. “It jumps after games especially and of course on hotter days. I don’t know why they want to be in and out when it’s this cold. Anyway, if you’re looking for something to do or trying to find an enemy that you’re ready to beat up then the strip is the place to be,” she said laughing. “These spots stay open late. You just look for the most crowded one.”

  “Good info to know,” I thought. I guess she was the national spokesperson for “the strip.”

  Nell came to my window and asked me if I was hungry. Dre did the same for Jazz. We both gave them our orders. They returned with our food and we immediately stuffed our faces. Dre and Nell left again. I watched Nell inside of Taco Bell. I checked him out as he talked to a few guys and a few chicks. The girls were on him. Every time he ended one conversation, somebody else demanded his attention. No girl wants a guy that another girl doesn’t want. I was still new in Nell’s life and I didn’t really know where I wanted to go with him so it didn’t bother me. I liked seeing him in his natural surroundings. Seeing him move, talk, and flirt was intriguing to me. Jazz kept a close watch on Dre and commented on the girls that he talked too.

  As soon as I ate my last taco, Nell was walking back up to the car. He got in and we waited on Dre. “You ready to go,” he asked. I didn’t get a chance to respond because Dre hopped in talking loud ending a conversation with someone in the car next to us. An Impala pulled up in front of us and blocked us in.

  “Here we go,” Jazz said.

  “Essence and her sidekick Ebony,” Dre said. Essence hopped out, walked to Nell’s side of the car, and tapped on his window.

  “Here this bitch go,” Nell said shaking his head. “Ay, Move your car Essence,” he said while rolling down his window.

  “Naw, get out and talk to me,” she whined.

  “Could you move your car please Essence,” he begged. “I don’t feel like this bullshit tonight. You see I’m busy,” he snapped.

  I guess he was saying too much in front of me because he got out. They stood by the car exchanging words. Dre was all in their business. He shook his head.

  “This girl is nuts,” he said trying to hear every word.

  The conversation turned into an argument and I became the topic of discussion.

  “So this who you with,” she yelled. “You wanna be with her?” It sounded like she was in tears at that point. He started pushing her towards her car.

  “Move your car Essence,” he pushed her.

  “Let me get out and help this nigga before he go to jail.” Dre said as he jumped out and tried to get Ebony to move the car.

  The argument started to become a little more intense and physical. I started to feel disrespected because he was spending too much time with that bitch. Jazz decided to shine some light on this situation.

  “Girl, Essence will not leave this nigga alone,” she said. “She keep faking pregnancies, stalking him, and telling people that they are still together.”

  Essence was getting roughed up in her faux fur coat. She was crying, begging, and totally making a fool out of herself. Nell stuffed her ass on the passenger side of her car. Dre got Ebony to get on the driver’s side to move the car. They both got back in the car looking exhausted. I had no emotion behind the situation. I couldn’t believe she kicked and screamed like a little girl. She threw a tantrum in front of a lot of people and didn’t seem embarrassed at all. My mouth was wide open and I was shocked and embarrassed for her. Guess she had enough for one night. She finally stayed her ass in the car after Nell’s seventh or eighth attempt.

  “It’s too cold for all this,” I thought.

  Before Ebony pulled off Essence threw something at the windshield. We all jumped as it broke into pieces. Everybody looked at Nell to see his reaction. He just pulled off and drove in the opposite direction. The window didn’t break or crack so I guess he said fuck it. His phone started ringing back to back again. I guess now I knew who was calling earlier and the reason why we had to leave the dance so quickly. Nell drove Dre and Jazz to a car by the school. Nell shook Dre’s hand. “Aight nigga,” he said as he closed the door. Before Jazz closed the door she said, “Girl, welcome to our city.” She and Dre laughed.

  Before Nell pulled off, he moved the CD’s from the middle of the seat.

  “Come here,” he said.

  I slid over next to him. He wrapped his arm around me and pulled off.

  “Sorry,” he said aloud.

  I didn’t respond. I did feel safe and secure in his arms while I rested my head on his shoulder. We just listened to some R&B as we drove towards my crib. I checked the city out behind the tint. We pulled up in my driveway shortly after.

  “I really like you, Cherokee,” Nell said. “You cool and you not full of drama,” he shook his head. Probably remembering tonight’s events.

  He got out and opened my door. “A girl could get used to this,” I thought. He walked me to my door and kissed me on the forehead. I loved to be kissed on my forehead by my daddy. I was looking for a little more from Nell.

&n
bsp; “I’ll hit you up,” he said and walked back to his car.

  Journal Entry March 2002

  The past three weeks have been normal. Nell and I have been spending a lot of time together. Seems like we are a couple, but we never really discussed the topic. He sent flowers and candy to my house for my Mom and me on Valentine’s Day. We bit into each piece of chocolate until we found the good ones. I hated assorted candy. Turtles were my favorite. School was cool. I knew my way around, so I was less miserable. I was focused on my grades, so I pretty much kept to myself. Different guys tried to talk to me, but I wasn’t really interested. I was satisfied with Nell. Nell picked me up for school and dropped me off at home. He left school before noon, but he would still come get me at 2:45 when I got out. We hung out each day since basketball season had ended. I would usually grab some food and ride with him around the city. He always had something to do or somewhere to go and I think he liked that I could roll his weed nonstop as we rode. On the cold and rainy days, we watched movies on the couch all hugged up. We would fall asleep for hours. My Mom would wake us up when she got home which marked Nell’s departure time.

  Spring Break had just started that Thursday. Nell had plans to go to Miami with his brother in the morning. My ass didn’t have anything planned. Nell tried to get me to hang with a few girls of his choice but I wasn’t interested. I really wasn’t into “match making” with friends. How lame is that? Nell felt bad that I didn’t have anything to do the whole week and a half off.

  “I don’t want to leave you baby,” he kept saying the whole day.

  It really didn’t bother me. I knew I would probably go home for a few days, get a Mani and Pedi, color my hair, and do some shopping. Nell left me his car and some money. I decided to call my cousin Tiara to come out and hang with me here and I could drive her home and hang out there for a few days. My mom picked her up from the train station that night on her way home from work. We instantly ran up to my room so we could catch up. I needed to hear what was going on back home.

  Tiara dropped her bags off on my chair and plopped on my bed.

  “What’s up bitch,” she said loudly.

  My mom heard her. “Ay, watch ya mouth,” she yelled upstairs.

  “Sorry Tee,” Tiara yelled back.

  I sat at my desk after I tossed Tiara’s bags on the floor and saw who was on instant messenger. “So what’s up,” I asked.

  “What you wanna know,” she said.

  “Anything and everything I,” shot back.

  “Weeeeeeell, your virginity taker is with your old best friend Raven. They are a couple, girl.” She shook her head.”

  “Oh really,” I said without any love in my voice. “She is such a ho. See her ass couldn’t wait till I left.”

  I rolled my eyes and made a mental note to beat her ass again. “I can’t stand that Puerto Rican bitch,” I said. Tiara bust out laughing.

  “Why you have to go racial,” she asked. I laughed too.

  “I don’t know,” I responded. I was mad though.

  “So, you won’t believe who else is dating.”

  “I probably won’t so just tell me,” I said anxious to know the gossip.

  “My first love and Precious,” she said.

  “Oh wow, how did that happen,” I wondered.

  “I don’t know,” she said.

  I don’t understand how you go to school with the same people all these years and then all of a sudden you find them interesting. “I guess,” I responded. “Girl, tell me something good,” I told her. “You depressing me with all this info on our ex’s.”

  “Ok ok,” she said. “Funny shit,” she turned the TV on. “Hey! “Clueless” is on,” she said with excitement.

  I got off the computer and joined Tiara on the bed. “Ok tell me the funny shit,” I demanded. My Mom yelled up the stairs that she ordered some pizzas. Of course, we were cool with that.

  “Ok girl! Tell me,” I yelled.

  “Oh, Pooh got her ass beat by the twins. I’m talking about tore the bitch’s clothes off her back. Straight embarrassed her in front of a lot of important people!” We both laughed.

  “What was the reason for this ass whooping?” I asked.

  “I couldn’t even tell you she a ho so who knows,” Tiara said. “It’s funny either way.”

  “Good, I ain’t like her either. She stay liking the same niggas I like. It was starting to piss me off,” I said.

  We ate the whole pepperoni pizza and finished watching “Clueless.” I wished I was Cher or even Dionne on many occasions. Who wouldn’t want a closet like Cher’s? After that, we watched “House Party” from beginning to end.

  “Girl, it’s midnight already,” Tiara said breaking the silence after a few hours.

  She walked over to her bags and showed me something brown and long.

  “Of course cuz,” I said laughing. “My Momma should be asleep.”

  We climbed out onto the roof and did what we do. The night was chilly. We had on our robes and slippers. We just sat back and watched the cars ride by. “So, tell me about this Nell character,” Tiara asked.

  “Well, Nell is a senior at the school I go to. He’s tall and cute,” I said blushing. “That’s pretty much it. I think he sells drugs. I’m sure his brother does. He hasn’t told me, but I haven’t asked either,” I told her.

  “Girl, he can definitely tell you,” she laughed. “He would be drug dealer boyfriend number what for you?”

  I hit her in the arm. “Shut up,” I said laughing. It’s true though. “He also never really asked me to be his girl. He kinda just started saying it. I don’t know if it’s slang or he saying we a couple. I’m confused,” I laughed.

  “Y’all must ain't did the nasty yet,” she said laughing. I didn’t respond. “You might want to find out if you are in a relationship,” she said. “What’s the hold up on the sex,” she asked with a screw face. I pulled my legs up to my chest and laid my head on my knees. I thought about it for a second.

  “I like him,” I told her.

  The next morning my mom woke us up bright and early. She took us out to breakfast at this hole in the wall place that I loved. I ordered my usual pancakes, eggs, and bacon. My mom asked Tiara about school, home, her dad, and her upcoming plans for college. She was her favorite niece and my favorite cousin. She was my mom’s baby brother’s daughter. Tiara answered all my mom’s questions like the sweet niece my mom thought she was. After our meal, my mom asked us what we were getting into the next couple of days. Of course, we wanted to shop and have a little fun. Tiara wanted to see what kind of guys were out here to entertain her ego. She didn’t tell my mom that though. What can I say? It runs in the family. People even said we looked like sisters. We acted so much alike that it was scary at times. The only thing different between us was the one year age gap.

  My mom took us back to the house so we could get in Nell's car and continue our day. I blasted Project Pat through Nell's system. Tiara instantly got comfortable as she pulled her seat back, threw her shades on, and stuck her foot out the window. It was actually a nice day out. We both had on some jeans, jackets, and our pink Valentine’s Day Tims. We drove the few miles to the outlets and spent most of our time in Nike, Guess, and Coach. Nothing else really caught our attention. I ended up with two pairs of shoes, one outfit, and one purse. Tiara got a few pairs of shades, a purse, and some boots. It was a cool trip. We sat and ate at a buffet later that day.

  We had to stop and fill Nell’s gas-guzzler up after the thirty-minute drive to the outlet. We barely made it back in town before I noticed the gas hand. My ass was just driving not even thinking about the gas. We pulled up at the gas station right before the gas light came on. I guess Tiara was tired of not being herself because the first guy she saw that was decent in the gas station she walked up to.

  “Name and number,” she demanded.

  The guy was looking all kinds of crazy. “Well, damn,” he said.

  ”Name and number,” she demanded a
gain, with a smile and her hand out.

  He sized her up and sure enough, he gave her his number. She looked at me and winked. I shook my head. We got back in the car and made a game of it.

  “Girl, you know you crazy,” I said.

  She did that to the next three guys. I was cracking up uncontrollably. My stomach was hurting I was laughing so hard. She got all three numbers too. I even tried it twice. It worked. Niggas are crazy. I shook my head in disbelief.

  “Heeeeeey, Friday night,” Tiara screamed.

  We sat in my room trying to figure out what to get into. Tiara was being nosey looking at my neighbor through the window. “You know ol’ girl next door looks about our age,” she said.

  “And,” I said looking like who cares.

  “I’m saying, Cherokee. You might like her. You never know.”

  “I doubt it,” I said. “These girls are different from the girls back home. I can’t put my finger on it yet.”

  Tiara was definitely nicer being a cheerleader and working at a daycare and all. I walked over to my closet to pick something out to wear. “What are we doing again,” I questioned.

  “Well, I have been texting one of the guys from earlier. Nigga named, Aaron,” she told me trying to choose her words carefully so that I wouldn’t be thrown off. “He was the cute one in the Yukon truck.”

  “Oh ok, the passenger?” I asked.

  “Ha ha,” Tiara said sarcastically. “Yea, him though. Well,” he said his cousin is having a party somewhere on the East side. What side of town is this?” she asked. I told her. “Ok, so are we going,” she wanted to know.

  After that we decided to dress to impress for the night. We got the directions to the East side party. I wore something that would make any man turn his head. Nell would have been pissed if he had seen me. I looked good though and my makeup was the shit. I even hooked Tiara up to match her blue and gray outfit. My mom saw us before we left and she commented on our tight jeans.

  “Both of y’all going to have yeast infections tomorrow,” she laughed.