Childhood Sweethearts

by Jacob Spears

  “She watched the pleaser, waiting for a chance to speak to him. She knew that as long as she was at her sister’s side, she wouldn’t be allowed to talk to pleaser or any other man.

  Almost on cue, Mellow walked up from behind.

  “Happy birthday,” he whispered into Roxy’s ear.

  She pretended not to see her ex-boyfriend, but her smile betrayed her. She was happy to see him and even happier that he remembered her birthday.

  “Hey Mellow,” she feigned indifference.

  “What are you doing in here dressed like that?” he turned his attention to China.

  “I brought her here,” Roxy answered.

  Mellow gave Roxy an evil look.

  “I’ll be right back. I got to use the restroom,” China excused herself.

  Walking in the general direction of the restrooms, China scanned the club, hoping to find the pleaser, feeling confident that he was available to talk.

  He was standing several feet away from the ladies room entrance, talking to a pretty dark-skinned female who was wearing a tight, white mini dress that showed off her curves. China impatiently watched them whisper back and forth to each other.

  Finally, she’d had enough. She purposely bumped into him as she walked by. With fire in his eyes, the pleaser turned, ready for a confrontation.

  “Oh, I’m sorry,” China apologized, ignoring the dirty look she was getting from the woman in the tight dress.

  “Nah, you good,” the pleaser said, as he smiled at the young female standing in front of him.

  “S’cuse me,” China extended her hand to the pleaser, who gladly accepted it.

  She slipped the paper in his palm, smiled, and walked off. She stole a glance over her shoulders as she walked off. Just as she thought, he was staring at her ass.

  When she returned to the bar, Mellow had his arms around Roxy’s waist and they were both smiling.

  “Are you enjoying yourself?” China asked, reclaiming her seat.

  “Not really,” answered Roxy.

  “Me neither.” Now that she’d accomplished what she’d come to do, China was ready to leave.

  “Go find Meka so that we can go.”

  Chapter 3

  Smooth walked into the house unannounced. Anytime Ms. Jenkins’ car wasn’t in the driveway, he’d walk right in.

  “My connect just got snatched up,” he told China.

  “That’s too bad for him.”

  “Him? Shit, what about us? We fucked!”

  “Never that. That’s what I wanted to talk to you about,” China said as she patted the seat next to her on the couch.

  “Listen, I know you’re not going to like what I’m about to tell you and I know it’ll be hard for you, but try to keep an open mind. I did what I did for us.”

  Smooth wasn’t liking what he was hearing. “Talk,” he said through clenched teeth.

  China got up from next to him and began speaking slowly.

  “Do you remember the night I went out with Roxy for her birthday?”

  Smooth nodded.

  “Well, we went to Heaven and I met someone. His name is Boss and ...”

  “Bitch,” Smooth said, barely audibly.

  Before he knew it, China’s hand was connecting with the left side of his face.

  “Smooth shot to his feet and drew back to punch China, but stopped just as he saw Ms. Jenkins’ car pull into the driveway.

  “This ain’t over,” he warned.

  “You damn right it ain’t nigga. I can’t believe you was about to hit me. I got you muthafucka!” China stared Smooth down.

  “About to, bitch? You did hit me!”

  “Ya mama. Ya mama. Ya mama,” China took a step closer to him every time she spoke.

  “Hi Ga Ga,” Smooth said, acknowledging China’s mom.

  “Hey Smooth. How are you?”

  “I’m fine and you?”

  “Tired. What y’all two in here going at each other about?” Ga Ga asked the two teenagers in front of her.

  “Nothing!” they answered in unison.

  She eyed them both suspiciously.

  “Okay, if anyone calls for me, take a message. I’m going to get some rest.” With that, she headed to her bedroom.

  China stood in front of Smooth with her hands on her hips, waiting for round two.

  “I’m out of here, man,” Smooth said, as he attempted to get up, but was pushed back down.

  “I called you over here to tell you something, and before you leave you will hear me out.”

  “Hurry up. Say what you gotta say.”

  “Don’t rush me, nigga,” China responded, full of attitude.

  “I don’t know why I put up with your shit!”

  “Because you love me. Now shut up and listen.”

  All he could do was smile. She was right.

  “Like I was saying, I met a nigga that goes by the name of Boss. I gave him my number and we’ve talked a few times. He thinks my name is Nakia and I’m 22. Besides what I’ve just told you, he doesn’t know anything else.”

  “Where is all of this shit going?” Smooth asked.

  “If you be quiet, you’ll find out. Baby, I know you’re upset, but please just hear me out. If you’re still upset when I get through, then I’ll accept whatever you send my way. Deal?”

  “We needed to find a connect so that we can start making some money. That’s where this nigga Boss comes in. He’s got the whole of Opa-Locka on lock. The warehouses belong to him, too. I figured I’d be doing us a lot of good if I can cop from him.”

  How do you know he’d sell to you?”

  “I don’t know; but if he doesn’t, then we’ll just rob his ass!” China said without a trace of a smile.

  “First of all, I’m not talking no robbing shit. I’m talking about a connect. If he won’t give us what we need, we’ll take it. It’s that simple.”

  “You need to find out everything you can and quickly. I only got a quarter pound left, and then we’re through.”

  “Let me take care of this. As a matter of fact, I’ll call him right now,” China dialed Boss’ number, and then took a seat next to Smooth while putting her phone on speaker. After two rings, he picked up.

  “Who dis?”

  “It’s me, Boss.”

  “Me who?”

  “You forgot about me that quickly, huh?”

  “Never that! What’s up, NAKIA?” Boss emphasized her name.

  “You tell me what’s up! I was hoping I’d be able to see you.”

  “When you want to see me?” he asked.

  “I’m supposed to meet my girls in an hour; but depending on where you are, I might be able to swing by before then.”

  “Do you know where the warehouses are on 22nd, just off 151st?”

  “I’m sure my lil’ brother knows,” China lied, but looking for a reason to bring along Smooth.

  “Okay, my car is in front of the second one on the right.”

  “How will I know it’s your car?”

  “Trust me, you’ll know!”

  With that, they both hung up the phone.

  * * *

  Roxy was right, China thought, as Smooth parked behind the CLS55 Mercedes Benz. Everything about the car screamed, “Look at me.”

  She picked up her phone and dialed Boss’ number.

  “I’m outside,” she said, after the man answered.

  Boss exited the warehouse wearing what looked like a million dollars’ worth of jewelry.

  “What a clown,” China mumbled while exiting the car.

  “DAMN, NAKIA! I knew you had it going on, but not like this!” Boss said, as he spun her around slowly while licking his lips.

  Just the sight of Boss with his hands on China made Smooth’s grip on the steering wheel tighten.

  “Can we get out of the sun?” China asked, hoping to get a look inside.

  “For sho!” Boss said, as he took her by the hand and led the way.

  Once inside his office, Boss took a se
at behind his desk and put his feet up.

  “So, Boss, tell me about yourself.”

  That was all he needed her to say.

  “I’m like my name. I’m the boss around here. I run all this and a lot more. I got everything a nigga can want except a female good enough to call wifey. I need me a down-ass bitch. You think you got what it takes to be my down-ass bitch?”

  At that moment, China wanted to reach across the desk and smack the shit out of the Mr. T wannabe sitting in front of her who wouldn’t stop licking his lips. But she resisted the urge rising within her.

  “It depends,” she answered instead.

  “On?”

  “What’s required of your down-ass bitch.”

  That was a first for Boss. Every other female he’d ever asked that question said yes without so much as a second thought.

  “Where you see yourself five years from now?” he asked.

  China thought for a second and then answered the questions as if it were Smooth she was talking to. She told Boss exactly where she planned on being at 27.

  After she’d finished, Boss smiled.

  “Brains and beauty. That’s a lethal combo.”

  China only smiled.

  “That all sounds good, but it takes a lot of money to start some shit like that. Where do you plan on getting that type of money?”

  “I got a lot of time. I’ll get it. Trust me, I’ll get it.”

  Boss stayed quiet but secretly admired China’s determination.

  “If you need my help, let me know.”

  For the next 15 minutes, the two talked about Boss’ life. China only answered the questions he asked her, volunteering as little information as possible and making sure to remember every lie she told him.

  Just as he was instructed, Smooth dialed China’s number 25 minutes after she’d left the car.

  “I got to get going,” she told Boss, once she hung up.

  He jumped to his feet and ran to her side of the desk.

  “When am I going to spend some real time with you?” boss asked, holding both of China’s hands.

  “Let’s not rush things.” She knew exactly what he was referring to.

  With that, she gave him a kiss on the check, turned around, and walked out.

  * * *

  Smooth was extremely moody. It had been two weeks since he ran out of weed and he was still no closer to finding a connect. Not that he wasn’t trying, he was. His mood only grew darker every time a customer approached him.

  He was sitting in his usual spot listening to the niggas in his crew talk shit to each other. Smooth was an excellent reader but he was even better with numbers, despite dropping out of school in the seventh grade. The fact that he no longer attended school was a sore spot in his and China’s relationship. He wished every nigga had a girl like China. To him, there was nothing better. He’d been with her since they were both 12, and the closest he’d ever gotten to sex with her was some heaving foreplay that involved oral sex on both parts. And that was only one time. The fact that they never had sexual intercourse didn’t take away from the way Smooth felt about her. If anything, it actually added to it. China was his for life. At least that’s how he felt

  “So you telling me that Lil’ Wayne is worth more than Jay Z?” Banga asked Bobby.

  “You muthafucka right he is!”

  “Tell me how you came to that conclusion?”

  “Nigga, I ain’t they fuckin’ accountants! I just know.”

  “You stupid as fuck!” Banga said.

  Smooth was used to his two friends going at it with each other, but he wasn’t in the mood for it at the moment.

  “Both you niggas stupid. Shut that shit up, man!” he barked at both Bobby and Banga.

  The two boys fell silent.

  “We got some shit coming up and y’all want to do is argue over which rapper got more paper. Fuck them niggas! Let’s focus on getting our own shit!”

  Still silence.

  Smooth pulled a $20 from his pocket and handed it to Neko, the baby of the crew.

  “Go get some drinks,” he ordered.

  “Neko got on his bicycle and rode off.

  “Listen up,” Smooth addressed everyone remaining. “I’m planning a nice come-up for us. We need ...”

  Smooth and his crew turned in the direction of the car horn. He walked over to China.

  “What’s up?” he asked, leaning against the car.

  “Boss just gave me keys to his crib. I got security codes and everything. He said he wants to see me there when he gets there tonight. I told him that I’d definitely be there.”

  Smooth nodded his head.

  “I will be there, right?” China asked, placing her hand on Smooth’s hand.

  “Yeah, we’ll be there,” he answered.

  “Who are you planning on bringing with you?” she wanted to know.

  Smooth looked over his shoulder as he spoke, prompting China to also look.

  “I’m only bringing Head and Mo.”

  “Okay,” China nodded in agreement. “Here’s everything you’ll need.” China handed over the key she had along with the codes and directions.

  Chapter 4

  Smooth had spent his last bit of money on the two guns, one of which he held tightly in his grip. The other was sitting at the bottom of China’s handbag. Smooth checked his watch again to make sure they were on schedule. He’d told China that they’d be there at 8:00.

  None of the three young niggas in the truck did drugs, so they listened to the music that emanated from the speakers. The boys bobbed their heads as the rapper rapped about the thrill he got from robbing.

  “Over there,” Smooth pointed, directing Mo, who was driving the stolen car they were in, to go where the residents of the private community gained entrance.

  “Don’t let the window down,” Smooth ordered. “Crack the door open and enter the code.”

  Mo did as he was told and then watched as the gate slowly opened.

  “Turn there,” Smooth continued, giving him directions.

  After making a series of turns, they finally found the house they were looking for. The house wasn’t a mansion, but it was far bigger than any house any of the three boys had stepped in before or even seen, for that matter.

  “Wait a minute!” Smooth got out and rang the doorbell repeatedly until he was convinced there was no one at the house. He pulled the keys out and opened the door.

  Smooth found the keypad on the wall a few feet away from the door and punched in the security code. The beeping stopped just as he expected. He went back outside.

  “China should be calling me any minute now. When she does, that means that they’re at the gate. When you get a call from me, head back here, and wait until we come out,” he instructed Mo.

  Head got out of the truck and together he and Smooth walked through the front door.

  “This nigga ballin’,” Head said.

  “Yeah, I know,” Smooth said, as he looked around admiring his surroundings.

  At last, his phone rang. It was China.

  “They’re at the gate. Kill the lights.”

  The two boys took their positions, one behind the door and one behind the couch. They waited for the door to open. When Boss opened the door, he sensed something wasn’t quite right, but he couldn’t place his finger on it. China sensed that he’d picked up on something and turned toward him. Placing a hand on his crotch, she whispered to him, “Are you read to have some fun?”

  Boss kicked the door closed without as much as a look over his shoulders.

  “You know I am. You made me wait long enough,” he said.

  “Me too,” Smooth said, as he placed the gun to the back of Boss’ head.

  “Put your hands up, muthafucka!”

  Boss did as he was told.

  “Hit the light.”

  Head got up from his hiding spot and hit the light switch.

  “We ain’t got all day, nigga, and the more questions I ask the less cha
nce you have of walking away alive. Start talking.”

  Boss couldn’t believe the two young niggas in his house.

  “Y’all lil’ niggas know who the fuck I am?” he snapped, turning to look at Smooth, who had backed up but was still pointing the gun at this head.

  “I’m telling you Boss, don’t make me do it,” Smooth was trying his hardest to sound convincing but failing miserably. He hadn’t expected Boss to be this defiant.

  Because his eyes were glued to Smooth, Boss never saw China pull a gun from her handbag.

  “Of course, he knows who you are. I told him all about you.”

  Boss turned to see China pointing a gun at him; but unlike Smooth, her hands were steady.

  “Head, come here,” she ordered. “Reach in my bag and get the cuffs.”

  Head pulled out a set of handcuffs.

  “Cuff his hands behind his back.”

  Head approached Boss carefully, instructing him to turn around. In one swift motion, Boss spun around and grabbed Head, placing him in a headlock. He flipped open the small knife attached to his key ring and placed it at Head’s throat.

  “Now what?” he smiled.

  Without warning, China squeezed the trigger twice, hitting Head in the chest. The boy was dead before his body hit the floor.

  “Let’s try this again,” China said as she stared at Boss. “Put the cuffs on him, Smooth.”

  Smooth swung the butt of his gun and connected it with the back of Boss’ head.

  When Boss finally opened his eyes, his hands were locked behind his back.

  “Get up,” China instructed, as she kicked him in the ass. “I’m going to ask you only one time. Where should I look in this house for money and jewelry?”

  Not wanting to take any chances with the woman in front of him, Boss gave it all up. Smooth listened until he was finished and then began his search. He re-entered the room carrying a large duffle bag.