by K'wan
“Yeah, I’m straight,” Animal said.
“Dude, you’ve been in a zone all night, maybe you need a lil pick me up.” Soda extended the foam cup to Animal.
Animal reached for the cup and caught himself. “Nah, I’m gonna chill with the sip tonight.”
“What’re you on the water wagon or something?” Soda looked at him quizzically.
“Never that, I just ain’t gonna fuck wit that lean tonight,” Animal told him.
Chip draped his arm around Animal. “I can dig that, but I got something that will make you feel groovier than any of that liquid death. Peanut butter and jelly.” He held up a blunt and a pill respectively. “I’m offering a trip on a magic carpet like no other, my friend,” Chip promised and pressed the pill into Animal’s palm.
“Why don’t you put that shit away, Pookie?” Don B. told Chip. “It’s okay for y’all niggaz to get faded, but don’t be wasted to the point where you’re slurring and shit if someone sticks a microphone or recorder in your face. This is a big night for all of us fellas so let’s enjoy it.”
As expected the Code Red’s grand opening was off the meter. The front of the spot was lit up like Grammy night with spotlights sweeping the air in front of the spot. The police had to close off the area for one block in every direction to control the heavy traffic of luxury cars and bikes pulling up to Code Red. Television reporters and journalists from just about every periodical worth mentioning showed up to try and get the exclusive on the star-studded event. Rappers mingled with actors, businessmen mingled with dope boys, and models with hood rats, and it was all good because of everyone’s mutual love for Big Dawg.
It had been entertaining, but when Don B. pulled up with his entourage they stole the show. In synchronized movements the drivers got out of the three black on black Maybachs and came around to open the doors for the occupants. The first car on the line held security. Devil stepped onto the red carpet flanked by seasoned killers and apprentices, who he ordered to fan out and secure the perimeter. Once his people had been given their orders Devil went to stand beside the second Maybach in the line, which held the rappers. The third Maybach in the line contained the window dressing, this being the wayward chicks they decided to roll in with and a select few dudes from the hood who Don B. had selected to come along. They wouldn’t have the VIP access of the inner circle but they helped to make Don B.’s crowd look thick.
When the entourage had been allowed their fifteen minutes of fame the real show began. Chip got out of the Maybach first, dressed in a long-sleeved Polo shirt with jeans and Louis sneakers. Soda was clearly feeling himself when he slid from the ride rocking a Brooks Brothers blazer over a black T-shirt. Hanging from his neck was a chain that looked to weigh almost as much as he did with its thick link and eighteen-inch medallion. It was a block of gold crafted into the outline of his home state, with a diamond star in the top right corner.
Animal flinched as the flash of cameras seemed to come from everywhere at the same time. Even behind his super-dark shades the light stung his eyes. Don B. had a mean outfit selected for his newest superstar but Animal took one look at the rhinestone-decorated shirt and knew he would be dressing himself. What he came up with was black jeans, red and gray Pradas, and a red and black plaid flannel that he only buttoned at the neck. On his head rested a Chicago Bulls fitted cap, with his hair spilling wildly from beneath the hat. Don B. had tried to convince Animal to get it braided up before the party but he preferred to let it stay wild. It was a reflection of the mood he was in. The diamond Big Dawg chain he wore was nice and drew quite a few stares but it was the looming Muppet chain that sparked conversation.
Of course Don B. had to make his entrance grander than anyone else’s. The first thing you noticed was his jewels. Don B. slid out of the Maybach looking like he had definitely come to play that night. His neck and wrists looked like the Christmas tree at Rockefeller Center, caked in multicolored stones and chains of all makes and sizes. It had taken him an extra twenty minutes just to get everything on. His outfit was just as eye-catching in dark jeans, a red leather aviator jacket with white fur around the collar, and a white scarf flipped around his neck. On his head sat the matching aviator hat with a pair of tinted goggles pulled snugly over his eyes. He looked more like a World War II pilot than a record exec, but he had a style all his own. On each of the Don’s arms he sported two ladies dressed in short red Fendi dresses with matching red heeled sandals. Around both their necks they sported diamond dog collars. As Don B. walked the red carpet, holding the leashes of the two beautiful ladies with him, he drew the attention of every camera in the area, which is what he set out to do.
The Big Dawg crew took a group photo on the red carpet, then did a series of individual shots. The photographers and the ladies all paid special attention to Animal. What Don B. had neglected to tell him was that he had arranged for him to take some solo pictures with the winners of a contest they had run on the radio to promote the party. Animal spent the next twenty minutes mustering fake smiles and policing the inquisitive hands of horny groupies. Between the flashes he thought he saw Don B.’s old bodyguard Remo stalking around the velvet rope, but when he looked again he was gone. When he was done with the contest winners Animal was ushered by one of Devil’s boys toward the front door to join the entourage. As he passed the line he spotted a familiar face trying to get his attention.
Mimi waved her hands frantically. “I know you ain’t gonna walk by me twice in one night. What up, blood?”
“Oh, what’s good, ma?” Animal smiled, showing every piece of gold in his mouth. “Yo, let her through,” he instructed the bouncer who quickly parted the ropes for the girl.
Mimi was looking like something special in her tight silver boy shorts and high stilettos with the clear heels. Her plum hair was covered by a platinum wig and the fishbowl rhinestone shades she wore obscured most of her face. When she leaned in and hugged Animal it was like everyone stopped and took notice, including the photographers who swooped in with their cameras to get shots of the stunning young couple.
“Damn, Mimi, this is my event and all eyes are on you.” Animal motioned toward the camera.
“The people know what looks good when they see it.” Mimi posed for the camera, blowing kisses with her pouty lips. All of the girls on the line looked sick enough to throw up as Mimi took multiple pictures with Animal, but there were two eyes in particular that burned more than any of them.
“Animal, we gotta go,” Tone called from the door.
“I ain’t trying to cramp ya style, my nigga. I just wanted to say hello and good looking out on making sure I got that bread on time,” Mimi said, playing with his chain.
“You earned that, ma. But check it out, why don’t you roll in with me?” Animal suggested.
“Boy you’re crazy. Y’all got enough groupies on the train as it is.”
“You ain’t no groupie, you’re my guest.” Animal extended his arm. As soon as she accepted his arm the flashbulbs went off again.
“I hope your girl don’t see this and catch no feelings,” Mimi said, looking around at the crowd of angry females who hadn’t been chosen. She made it a point to stick her tongue out at two especially sour faces on the line.
“My girl ain’t nowhere out here, so knock it off. Besides, I’ve known you since you were like ten and just the thought of having sex with you makes me feel like I need to talk to a priest.” Animal laughed and led Mimi into Code Red.
“It’s a fucking madhouse out here!” Boots said as they rounded the corner of the block Code Red was on. There were so many people on the sidewalk that you could barely move without someone stepping on your feet, which was bad for her since she was wearing open-toed shoes. It was a little cold for her feet to be out but they were among the only few pairs in her closet that weren’t twisted.
“This is just my speed,” Jada said, twirling the cherry lollipop between her lips and batting her eyes at an attractive gentleman in a black suit. She had
gone for the dominatrix look rocking a leather corset and skintight leather pants. The heel on her high boots was so tall that they had a running bet as to how many times she would fall before the night was over. “Don B. always did know how to bring ’em out.”
“Yes, because the freaks sure do come out at night,” Gucci gave a Spanish girl wearing a short Dereon dress. The girl and her friend were being ushered through the line by two bouncers. Gucci wondered who they had fucked to get VIP status.
“Oh, ain’t that Soda?” Boots tiptoed to see over the crowd where the crew from Big Dawg was taking their photos. “Damn, that nigga is fine, but he’s short as hell.”
“Gucci, ain’t that your man right there in the Bulls hat?” Jada asked, pointing in Animal’s direction.
Gucci watched as he took pictures with different women, smiling like he just knew he was the man. “Yeah, that’s that nigga.” Gucci’s voice was cold. “Come on, let’s make our way around to the other side of the crowd and see what the line is looking like.”
“Why don’t we just walk up to the front and tell them who you are?” Boots suggested.
“Because I don’t want any of his big-mouthed ass henchmen telling him I’m here yet, now let’s go.”
Gucci led them around to the other side where there were three lines; one for VIP, one for bottle service, and one for the regular folk. All of the lines were long but the bottle service line seemed to be moving a little quicker so they hopped on that one. As they neared the front of the line she could see Animal being escorted to the entrance and stop short to talk to someone on the regular line. She couldn’t see the girl’s face but from the way she was dressed Gucci already knew she was a skank.
“Who the fuck is that Animal is talking to?” Jada moved next to Gucci to watch the show too.
“I don’t know, but I’m gonna find out,” Gucci vowed, pushing her way closer to the front. She watched in disgust as Animal not only took pictures with the girl but walked into the club arm in arm like she was the queen of the manor. The girl must’ve felt Gucci and her girls mugging her because she looked at them and stuck her tongue out.
“Oh, no this bitch didn’t.” Boots tried to climb over the rope, but Gucci and Jada held her back. “Gucci, you need to let me mop this bitch, real talk!”
“Boots, hold ya head. I ain’t trying to get tossed outta here on no chicken head shit. We’re real bitches and real bitches don’t get tossed on no bullshit. If they’re gonna throw me out tonight it’s gonna be for shutting this muthafucking party down. Now let’s go compose ourselves and get our strategy right.” Gucci led them back to the line. She was ready to explode over what she saw but she had to stay in diva mode until everything was in order. Animal was going to wish he had never met Gucci when it was all said and done.
Jada tapped Gucci and drew her attention to a gentleman on the VIP line who was staring at her. “Damn, Gucci, you must be working the shit outta that Pucci dress because dude been clocking you since we rolled up.”
Gucci looked over at the man and took in his measure. He was clean-cut, wearing a nice tweed blazer with a pair of jeans and some Steve Maddens. A gold cross hung from his neck stopping just above his belt. As Gucci and the guy studied each other a lightbulb went off in both their heads at the same time.
“Gucci?” he broke first. “It’s me, Stone!” He spread his arms. Andrew Jackson a.k.a. Stone was a blast from Gucci’s past that stirred mixed emotions in her. She had had a mean crush on Stone back in the days, but Stone never took their relationship seriously. He was getting money and living the fast life and Gucci wasn’t having sex yet so he found another girl who was. Gucci always played it like it was nothing but Stone had been the first guy to really hurt her feelings.
“What up?” she said dryly.
“Gucci, I ain’t seen you in years and that’s all I get is a what up?” Stone came around from his line and over to hers. “Can a nigga get a hug or something?”
Gucci started to brush him off, but she couldn’t resist the opportunity to let him see the woman that little girl had grown up to be. She leaned in and gave him the buddy hug including the pat on the back. “How you been, Stone?”
“You know me, I’m out here living.” He popped the chain around his neck so she could see it. It was nice link, but the gaudy cross dangling from the end of it took away from the quality. “So what up, ma? I don’t see you uptown no more, you moved outta the city too?”
“Nah, I’m back and forth. Got a lil spot in Texas where I rest my head from time to time,” she said coolly.
Stone smirked and nodded in approval. “Blow up or throw up, huh?”
“You know that’s been my motto since I was fifteen.”
“Yeah, even back then you were about your business, ma. That’s something I always dug about you. So what up y’all rolling up in the spot?”
“We’re here ain’t we?” Jada rolled her eyes. She remembered how twisted Stone had had her cousin and she’d always disliked him for it.
“Still the same Jada, huh?”
“You know it.”
“Anyway.” Stone turned back to Gucci. “If y’all want y’all can roll in with me and my boys through the VIP.”
“Nah, we good,” Gucci said, wishing the damn line would get moving. She hadn’t put on any stockings with that short ass Pucci dress and she was getting cold.
“You sure, that bottle service line looks like it might be a while.” Stone smirked and his boys laughed.
“Gucci, is that you?” A skinny white girl with mouse-brown hair and holding a clipboard walked up to her. Gucci couldn’t remember her name but she knew the girl worked for Big Dawg in the publicity department. “What fucking idiots.” The girl tapped the clipboard against her head in frustration. “Excuse me,” she called to the closest bouncer, “why is she waiting on the line?”
The bouncer looked at them both dumbly and shrugged. “Hell if I know, I’d assume she was waiting to get in like everybody else.”
“Are you guys all high off kush? This is Animal’s fucking girlfriend. She isn’t supposed to be doing the line, are you crazy? Come on, girls.” She waved Gucci and her crew over to the bouncer. “You see to it that these girls make it in with no hassle and comp them with a bottle, you can bill it to Big Dawg.”
“Right away,” the bouncer said and parted the crowd for them.
“Gucci, please don’t tell Animal and the guys about this. I’m already skating on thin ice and I kinda need my job,” the girl with the clipboard pleaded.
“Don’t worry, we’re good.” Gucci smiled and followed the bouncer.
“Damn, I need to be rolling with you!” Stone called after her.
“Nah, you’re VIP, remember?” Gucci said over her shoulder and disappeared into the club.
Chapter 35
About an hour after finally making it to the VIP and getting situated Animal wasn’t feeling any pain. He stood off to the side of the elevated stage where the VIP was situated; looking at the strobe lights as if they were the most beautiful things he had ever seen. Between the pills, the weed, and the liquor he was flying to another galaxy and Chip was his copilot. Mimi stood off to his right dancing by herself sipping a funny-colored drink. Dudes were trying to get at her left and right but Mimi was shooting them down.
“That’s a bad bitch right there.” Soda nodded over at Mimi. “What up, big homey? Why don’t you share that wit ya boy?”
Animal turned his sleepy eyes to Soda. “First off, lil nigga, she ain’t my property. Second, she ain’t trying to fuck wit yo greasy ass, so you can forget it.”
Soda took a gulp of his drink “Come on, dawg, why you cuffing the lil breezy? We can take that back to the telly and get our tag team on. Yo, keep it one hundred; she got some good pussy don’t she?”
To everyone’s surprise Animal grabbed Soda up by the collar. “Ain’t you got no regards for what the fuck comes outta your mouth? I don’t give a shit how you do with the rest of these little gro
upie bitches, but if you come at Mimi sideways we gonna have a problem, feel me?”
“Yeah, man, why you tripping?” Soda’s eyes were wide and fearful. Animal never answered, he just shoved him and stalked out of the VIP.
“Animal, what’s good?” Mimi called after him, but he kept walking. She gave Soda and Chip dirty looks before leaving the VIP.
“Damn, niggaz getting all sensitive over jump-offs up here in New York?” Soda asked Chip.
Chip laughed. “That ain’t no jump-off, that’s his niece. They don’t share blood, but his brother had a baby by Mimi’s mother so they’ve been like family ever since.”
Soda felt like shit for the things he had said to Animal. “Damn, I gotta apologize to my nigga. I didn’t mean no disrespect.” Soda started after Animal, but Chip stopped him.
“He’ll be okay, but it’s too soon to invade his space. Let him be for a few and everything will be cool,” Chip told him.
“Chip, I spend damn near every day with Animal when we’re in Texas so how do you know so much shit about him that I don’t?”
“Because Animal just makes music with you. He actually talks to me,” Chip told him and went back to enjoying his drink.
Animal hunkered over the bar nursing a Grey Goose with pomegranate juice, sulking. A few groupies pressed him but Animal shooed them away like flies, preferring his own company when he was upset about something. He hadn’t meant to react so harshly to Soda’s statement but the drugs had him in his feelings.
“Is this seat taken?” a feminine voice called from behind him.
“Beat it, shorty,” Animal said without looking up from his glass. To his irritation she took the seat anyway.
“What are you hard of hearing?” Animal spun around and found Kelly’s pretty face staring back at him.
• • •
“Party over here, party over here,” Jada sang as she danced through the crowd. The room was swollen with people and everyone seemed to be having a good time except for Gucci. She twirled over to her cousin and tried to engage her in a bump contest but she was nonreceptive. “Girl, what’s up with you, you still tripping off Animal and shorty? If you want we can find that bitch right now and pound her out.”
