by Onyxx Black
“I really don’t know, Shanti.” For the first time, I believed her. I planned to tear up the entire house until I found what belonged to me. I had a little over $2,000 in a shoebox under my bed and I knew it didn’t just get up and walk away.
“You might want to invest in a bank account, bum bitch.” As soon as I thought I had my life together, that smart mouth trick, Lexi had to open her mouth. I don’t remember much besides snatching her ass up off that couch with the quickness. The next thing I knew, I was sitting in Ms. Greene’s office with Lexi crying her eyes out.
“Here is your money. It was in your closet. Next time look before ranting around like an animal.” Ms. Greene sat my shoebox on the table in front of me along with a merit. One more of those and my ass was it of there. My left eyebrow shot up and I squinted my eyes. I felt like Dewayne Johnson, but I didn’t smell anything cooking but bullshit. I knew that I had put my shoebox under my bed and on top of that was my diary. My diary was opened up and my box was missing. I had to count my money and say my prayers because if I opened that box and there was a dollar missing, I was going the fuck off and this time everybody was a target.
“Wait! You mean to tell me you put your money in a shoebox under your bed in a room that you share with another bitch, in a house that you share with other bitches?” I rolled my eyes at Shauna’s sarcastic ass, but she did have a point.
“Look that’s not the point, the point is that it’s mine.” I didn’t care if I had left it in the open with my name written on it, I was the one who worked for it.
“Maybe you should invest in a bank account. I mean, think about it Shanti, it’ll help you in the long run. Ma, helped me put mine in an account and now I got this debit card so I don’t have to go cash a check every single time. Carter helped me file the direct deposit slip and now it comes straight to my card. You’ll love it.” When we got hired I skipped past all of that information in the packet. All I was worried about was getting my money; I didn't care how it came. I thought about what she’d said and how it sounded so much better coming from her mouth, than Lexi’s or Ms. Greene’s. Although I didn't trust anybody with my money, I knew setting up an account was one step in the right direction.
Shauna and I finished doing inventory on the shoes and had moved on to the boxes of shoe cleaner and socks that someone had piled together in a corner. I thought maybe we had gotten two shipments and Carter didn’t have time to sort it out. Shauna pointed to a skinny white girl with red hair and freckles. She looked lost. “Excuse me.” Leave it up to Shauna’s ghetto ass to scare the poor girl.
“Hi, I’m Abby. I just started. I was just stacking those boxes over there.” Abby pointed to the pile we were just looking at. Shauna shot me a look over her oversized glasses.
“We saw that and, well, Gabby, you put the shoe cleaner with the socks. You need to separate them before Carter has your ass.” With that, I walked away. I couldn’t deal with Shauna calling that girl by a different name on purpose. I was laughing so hard I barely heard the chime that indicated a customer. Abby took that as her escape and ran to the front counter. I started in on the boxes.
“Go get yo’ got damn manager!” Shauna and I stopped stocking in the back to look out the door. Carter ran out of his office and blocked us before we could see who it was and frowned up his face. “Get back to work.” Abby came running to the back, looking scared as hell. I rolled my eyes and went back to picking up boxes until he went up to the front. When I heard the chime, I ran to the door to listen. “Man, what’s up Kenwood? I thought I heard yo’ ass out here, scaring my workers and shit.” Carter was talking to some nigga at the front counter.
“What the fuck I tell you about calling me that weak ass shit?” The person asked and Carter just laughed. “Don’t come up in here acting all tough and shit, young ass nigga. What you so mad about anyway?”
I still couldn’t see who he was talking to because his head was in the way. Carter was tall, blue-black, with long dreads he kept tied in a knot at the back of his head. He had white teeth, and grey eyes. He was fine as hell, and I could look at him all day long, but I wish he’d move his big ass head out of the way.
“Is that T.O.?” Shauna walked up behind me and opened the door a little bit more, making Carter turn around and mug us.
“Are my boxes in order back there? If so, you can start on the new shipment.” There he was looking all good and shit. I recognized that dimple anywhere.
“Man, that bitch tried to get me caught the fuck up.” T.O. put his head on the table.
“Who, Neeka?”
“Yeah nigga. That grimy ass bitch!” Carter shook his head, looking up at the customers who just came in.
“Not out here man. Come on back to my office. Ashanti, since I know yo’ ass is still being nosey go get my man, Kenyon, a chair and sit it in my office. Shauna, come up here and watch the front.” Damn. I thought I was really being sneaky. Finding out his name made it worth getting in trouble, and finding out his little girlfriend was out of the picture was a bonus. I watched both of them walk past, looking good and smelling even better. Carter had on his usual work uniform, but Kenyon had on a short sleeve black Ralph Lauren Polo shirt that hugged his muscles just right, with a pair of khakis and some black leather Timbs. His tattoos covered both arms and went all the way up to his chin. The black Miami Heat fitted cap sat low on his eyebrows, making him look all mysterious. How a bitch could fuck him over, I couldn’t understand.
“Now what the fuck happened?” Carter was loud as hell and I knew he was still standing by the door.
“I was in the Chi and Geno called me up asking who Neeka was. He'd only met her once before and all that weave probably confused him too, since she was a blonde when she met him. She told him that she left her purse at the crib and I told him to let her in. Tae said he didn’t trust her, so he stood outside the bathroom while she was on her phone talking in code and shit. Geno said he let her go before calling me. I told him and Tae to dig the whole kitchen up and take it all to my spot. The Feds came the next day and wasn’t shit there. All that shit from Chicago is still in my car and I’m riding hot, right now. I need you to take it.” I thought Carter was about to come through the door.
“You mean to tell me, she’s the reason you have been needing all that extra blow and I had to put up with Monica miserable ass because of her? I could kill her my damn self. How you just let her get away with that shit? How stupid are you? Never mind that you been keeping it where you lay your head, but you let her walk in your spot and take your shit?” Kenyon finally sat down.
“So what are we going to do about her?” I stood outside the office, careful to look busy, just in case one of Carter’s fans wanted to tell him, I was eavesdropping.
“Not shit. I told your young ass about tricking anyway. You knew her little gold digging ass was out for the money and you out here trying to wife bitches up. These hoes follow the money train. Ain’t no love in their little scandalous hearts. Y’all niggas born in the 90’s act like y’all invincible, like these niggas with papers and badges can’t touch y’all asses. I'm convinced, us '83 niggas are the last of the common sense era. These little bitches don’t know shit about no damn loyalty, so the quicker you start thinking with your head instead of your dick then you’ll learn. These hoes get mad and everything you worked for will be down the drain. You can’t focus on no female and work at the same time. A woman scorned is worse than these racist niggas with the badges on. Now, dealing with that girl is all on you. You fucked her and made her ass crazy, so now you got to deal with it. Make sure whatever you do is final and you don’t have to deal with it anymore.” Carter finally sat down. “Keep them bitches out your pockets. I’ll put the rest up and call you later on.” Kenyon didn’t say anything else. I saw him get up and hand Carter a key before he left. I slipped around the corner to act like I was busy helping Shauna ring up a customer. Carter walked out a few minutes later.
“Y’all are out here talking about me?” He asked. Shauna was
so pressed over him it wasn’t even funny.
“Yep, I was just telling Shanti how you need to quit playing and wife me up already.” I looked up at Carter and he had the nerve to be smirking.
“I already told you, just because you’re young and cute, doesn’t mean I’m ready to go to jail for you. You aren’t ready for these problems anyway.” He winked and walked away. I knew her hot ass was over there blushing, sweating and shit.
“Somebody needs to go change their panties,” I said walking past her to go back to the stock room.
“Damn right. Either it’s him or I’m dying a lonely, old miserable bitch.” She said as I cracked up laughing. I felt her though. Good niggas were so hard to find. Either they were married, gay or unstable from their ex bitch breaking their hearts.
***
Kenyon
I made it over to Carter’s place before I remembered he was at work. Some car was parked in his driveway and I knew damn well it wasn’t anything he would drive. Some young Mexican chick was in the backseat with Geno’s girl; both of them were staring at their phone while Monica was in the driver’s seat. She was on the phone yelling at somebody about a doctor’s appointment or some shit. I didn’t give a fuck what she was talking about or who she was talking to. All I wanted to know is why she had her busted ass minivan in my boy’s driveway. I called him up and he answered on the third ring.
“Guess where I’m at.” He must’ve already known.
“In my driveway, Monica just called and asked me where I was at. She said she wanted to talk to me. I hung up on her ass.” I looked up at her and sure enough she was still on the phone talking to somebody.
“When was this?” Her neck was still rolling and she was still yelling.
“About ten minutes ago. Why what’s up?” If she wasn’t talking to Carter, then who the fuck was she calling a bitch ass nigga?
“Nothing, bro. I’m on my way out there. I’ll see you in a little bit.” I hung up and reversed out of the driveway with ease. I thought I saw Tae’s silver car in the rearview mirror but when I got back to the main street, I didn’t see it. I must’ve been tripping.
I made it to the mall at a decent enough time and not too many people were there. My phone buzzed with a call from TaNeeka. I wanted to answer it and call her all kinds of bitches, but I didn’t want to look like a fool in the middle of the mall so I kept my composure and let her go straight to voicemail. Not only did Tae not tell me everything, he waited until I got there to drop on me that she took five eight balls and about two racks. I don’t put my hands on females, but I’ll shake a bitch all about my money. I should've put a hole in his ass for not handling that shit, especially since he can't stand her so much. When I walked in the store, some white girl was standing there staring at me. I guess she wasn’t used to black people yet.
“Hi. I’m Abby, welcome to Foot Locker. Can I help you with something? Would you like to try on some shoes? We just got the new Jordan’s in a few hours ago.” She was talking too much and getting on my fucking nerves. I damn near snapped and made Gabby, or whatever the fuck her name is, cry.
Carter just about flipped out when I told him everything, but I was happy to leave the key with him. I called my cousin, Sevyn to come pick me up and then I bounced. Seeing Shorty made my day. I knew her nosy ass was standing outside the door, but I kept talking anyway. She was gone find out sooner or later what I was about, especially since I planned to make her mine.
Chapter Five
Ashanti
The next few weeks went by faster than I expected. I was done with my driving classes, now I was taking the next step. I had taken Lexi’s unwanted advice, and got a bank account. I knew my sanity depended on the wellbeing of myself and my shit, so I had to put it where nobody could get to it, besides me. I wanted a car and Ms. B. helped me with the down payment, matching me $5,000. I didn’t want a used car. I wanted a new one. The dealership was playing though.
“Ma’am, I don’t mean to be nosy, but I can’t imagine how you’ll be able to stay up on these payments. You have no credit and your cash is insinuating that you don’t have a bank account. I’m beginning to wonder where all of this money came from.” This redneck hillbilly ass mothafucka’ in this tight ass suit, looking like the Penguin, was ten seconds away from the cursing out of a lifetime. How in the hell, he could be the owner of such a nice place was beyond me.
“So, what you mean to say is, you won’t sell me this car because I’m black and my money is no good here?” He fixed his tie and put the papers in a folder.
“What I’m saying is, you’re black and all you have is cash. This is a 2015 Camaro and frankly, I think it's a little out of your league. I’d like to think that either your boyfriend sent his dirty money in here to pay for it or you sold all you had to buy this car. Then when the time comes to pay your car note, you won’t be able to deliver. Do me and yourself a favor and go buy a used car down the street. I’m sure Billy would love a handful of cash.” I got up and left his fat racist ass standing there. I swore to myself that I’d get that damn car. Come hell or high water, that car was as good as mine.
“He said he won’t sell it to me.” Shauna sat there looking like I did.
“Why?” She sat in the chair closest to the heater.
“Some dumb shit about me not having my bank account long enough.” I was just ready to get the fuck out of there.
“Let’s go try the place down the street then. My mama went to some dude named Billy, and she got a discount because he said she was cute.”
I thought about it and shook my head, “Naw, bitch you know yo’ mama car barely run. Stop playing, plus I want a new car, not a rinky-dink ass putter.” I didn’t mean to clown her mama car but shit, it was the truth. I remember last year, she came to pick us up from a basketball game and the car stalled in the middle of Michigan Street, a one-way street right in front of the school. I was so fucking embarrassed.
“Well, it beats the hell out of riding the IndyGo. It isn’t like you got a plethora of options.” I knew she wasn’t lying there. I was too fucking bad to be caught on the IndyGo every day. All those funky people and loud ass, arrogant-for-no-reason bitches on there really worked every nerve in my body and all of them made me itch. I was nothing riding the bus. Shauna had a point and at the moment I had no other option. We walked out of the dealership and into the chilly, fall air. My black and pink ACG boots crunched on the leaves. Fall made me feel so comfortable and calm.
“Plethora?” I looked at Shauna and cracked up laughing. Her ghetto ass was using words other than slang and it caught me off guard.
“Shut up. I need to study for my ACT. You got me?” I already knew she wanted me to help her study before she even asked.
“I got you.” She said a silent thank you to the sky.
The garage looked small and abandoned with old station wagons and PT Cruisers parked up and down the lot. I frowned my face up.
“Well, hello there, pretty ladies. Is there something I can help y’all with?” A tall, handsome white boy, dressed up like a cowboy in boot cut jeans, a red flannel shirt and some brown boots, walked out of the garage. The sign above the door read, Billy’s Automotives: Used Cars
“Yes, I’m looking for Billy. I need a car. Something nice that rides smooth with not much mileage.”
The guy smiled, wiping his hands on a rag and pointed to his name tag. “I’m Billy. Looking for something in particular?” I knew exactly what I was looking for. “Something that is small, black and in good shape.” Billy ran his fingers through his short reddish-brown hair like he was thinking hard.
“Ah, y’all follow me.” We walked around to the back and I looked for about ten minutes until I found the car I wanted. I fell in love the second I saw it. A black four-door Lexus with all black leather interior. “Can I ask y’all who recommended ya? I don’t see too many customers these days.” His country ass accent made him that much more appealing.
“Some jackass up the street told m
e to come see you. He wouldn’t take my money.”
Billy bent over laughing. “Oh. You’re talkin’ ‘bout John down at the new car lot. Yeah he’s a bit of a mule. Stubborn as one and attitude stinks as bad as manure. Don’t you pay him any mind. Your money’s welcomed here any time.” He took the tag off the window of my car and opened the car door for me.
“See, I told you it didn’t have to be raggedy to be used.” Shauna got in the passenger’s seat. The tag on the car said $8,000. I had $10,000 in cash. I looked at Shauna and she was smiling harder than me.
“I’ll take it!” After filing out the car note and insurance information to take my baby home, I got the keys and still had $2,000 in my pocket.
“Thank y’all and have a good day!” I drove off the parking lot way happier than I came.
***
Kenyon
Niggas don’t usually intrude on another nigga’s business, but lately I have been wanting to choke slam Tae’s moody ass. He was all over the place and constantly starting shit. The one thing that pissed me off the most was him telling me how TaNeeka was grimy from the beginning and how I should have listened to him. He had gotten cockier and bolder lately. It was almost like he had some other shit going on. He was starting to feel invincible, like I couldn’t touch his ass if need be. Little did he know, I was waiting on the chance.
It had been three weeks and TaNeeka was still blowing up my phone, every chance she got. I ignored all of her calls and text messages because as bad as she was, I couldn’t get down with no female that could steal from me then lie to my face about it.
“No, you just need to chill the fuck out. I got me, you just worry about you and your pregnant ass high school bitch.” I got up out of my chair and looked into the next room at Geno and Tae at it again. Geno wasn’t no punk ass nigga, but he was definitely on hush. His young ass girlfriend, who was a straight-up thot, was pregnant and he was already going through it. For Tae to throw that up in his homeboy face was a low ass blow and it hit him right where it hurt. Damn. I almost felt bad for the kid until I remembered that Tae’s girlfriend was away at college and had been fucking with my lesbian cousin on the low for a long ass time. I could’ve told Geno that as leverage because I liked him better, but as far as I was concerned they were grown ass men who could handle themselves.
