It is What it is: A Hood Love Story

by B. , Ivory

  Carlos had been sitting around the house for four days straight now, looking miserable and acting mean as a junk yard dog. Every time somebody asked him something he snapped and got real aggravated for no reason. Today he was sitting on the couch with a bottle of Ciroc and Henny drinking both straight and then washing them down with coke soda. Nice walked in the house ready to confront him. He knew Cathy wasn’t home she was at work at her financial investment company so if shit got loud it was okay.

  “Yo! This shit right here,” Nice said picking up the huge bottle of Henny “Ain’t gonna get it nigga. You want her back then you gotta get the fuck up and handle ya business. I’m tired of coming up in here seeing you looking pitiful.” “Fuck you, ain’t shit wrong wit me,” Los growled. “Ain’t shit wrong with you? Nigga you got it bad, And you need to do something about it. Get the fuck up!” Nice grabbed Los’ arm frustrated with Los’s denial. Los jerked his arm back and gave Nice a nasty look. Nice didn’t care, he was one of the few people in this world that didn’t run when Los got mad. He grabbed at his arm again and managed to get a good grip. “Yo c’mon, go see about Lucky, go see what’s up with wifey.”

  Los finally got up reluctantly, took a shower and got dressed. “Yeah nigga now that’s the Los I know! Looking crispy ass fuck my dude! Like a two piece outta Popeye’s nah fuck that KFC nigga,” Nice yelled as Los came down stairs. Los smirked and shook his head Nice was a fool. “You need some sunlight let’s hit the bricks.” Philly was jumping it was late April going into May the weather was right and everyone was out. “Damn why I feel like I haven’t been out in ages?” “Cause you haven’t, shit it’s been almost a week. Yo the streets still yappin about the fight,” Nice said. Los shook his head in disgust. Niggaz ain’t got shit better to do but talk about my dick. Los turned to Nice “Yo! First issue of business I need to go find Ronique.” Nice shook his head with a devilish grin.

  20 minutes later they were pulling up on a street that was lined with row houses some looking dilapidated. The streets welcoming banner was several pairs of kids sneakers and timberland boots hanging from power lines. People littered the street on front porches, posted up leaning on parked cars, kids ran up and down the street unattended and a thick group of niggaz stood on the corner looking hot as hell trying to get in a day’s work. Los shook his head that was one of the things he never did. He never played the block. He always thought it was way too risky and the reward wasn’t lucrative enough. Even when him and Nice were just starting off on their own and they didn’t have the types of connects they had now. They both agreed that the corners were just not an option they had bigger plans.

  After a deal went bad with the money that they took back from Phat Cat, his father’s right hand man at one time, before he turned snake. Los and Nice hooked up with Buju and started the Drug trade from Jamaica. Then one day out of the blue while Los was visiting his grandmother in Colombia, The Don sent for him and made him an offer that he couldn’t refuse. He was already getting money with the trade that he had in Jamaica and he had off sure accounts with his father’s money in it, he was set so he thought. The Don told him that his father died owing the Don a shipment to get rid of. Los agreed to get rid of the last shipment to honor his father’s good standing with the Colombian Cartel. Then the Don offered him coke for a steal. Los was apprehensive because the cost was way too good and you never get anything for free in life or at such a good deal without strings attached.

  The Don was straight to the point with Los he told him that he wanted him to be a business partner. He would provide Los with Coke at wholesale prices. Since it was such a low price he would want a percentage of the profits. Los turned the deal down telling him that he could just purchase the coke from him and then there would be no connection between the Don and any of the drugs after they were bought by Los.

  “Carlito I’ll be honest with you. The Cartel has to get fed, we are still as strong as ever and still the number one country to supply the US. with drugs since Pablo Escobar himself,” the Don said in his thick Colombian accent. “However, it’s not about the money we aren’t hurting for any does it look like we are?” Los looked around taking in his surroundings, they were sitting on the Don’s private Jet. “We still need people to carry our presence and legacy in the states, ju father was good in doing that si.” Los just shook his head “Si..” “You will always have our protection and muscle anytime you need it, with anything even legal help. I don’t mean to disrespect because mi know you have your own and you’re doing pretty good for yourself with the Jamaican connection.” “How the fuck does he know what I do? “But I would rather you be with the cartel, with your own, Carlito your special. You can step away at anytime you want and I’ll let you go with no protest. So how about 70 /30?” Los furrowed his brow “No disrespect Don but no. The risk that me and my peoples would be taking is way greater so our take has to be.” “How about 75/25?” Los said no again “80/20 and that’s the only way I would do it.” The Don looked at Los like he was crazy, he was the only man who had ever told him no and negotiated anything that had to do with money. But he didn’t mind because it wasn’t like Carlos was the only person flooding the US with the Cartel’s pure white. They had other dealers who purchased from the Cartel, they had the same arrangement as Los with way less leverage. Carlos’s was the highest. The Don saw a star and a bread winner in him, and even if the percentage for the Cartel was only 20% they were still making a killing off of Los. Los had proved to be one of their biggest assets in the US.

  As soon as they pulled up to a house with a bunch of chicks on the porch the loudest one stopped talking and ran over to Nice Range Rover, “What the fuck is the deal?” Ronique squealed “What up Ron Ron,” Los said with half a smile. Ronique froze for a minute damn this man is too fine. “Nigga you better stop flirting with me before you find ya’self in more trouble. I heard about yo ass.” “Yeah I heard my dick has been the topic at many dinner tables in Philly these past days.” They all started laughing. “Yo Ron I need you to handle something for me.” “Yeah nigga I know what you want say no more, it’s already done. I was gonna beat them bitches ass off G.P anyways. I’m telling you these chicks don’t be respecting the game. Bitches be straight fuckin and tellin, what part of the game is that? That shit ain’t cool.” “Exactly, that bum bitch should’ve played her position. She knew I had a girl from the jump but she gonna go catching feelings and wildin out,” Los growled. “Don’t even stress, I got you.” “A’ight Ron Ron I’m out, you already know I’ma send someone from the team to put ya pockets on swole,” Los balled up his fist and dapped Ronique out as if she were a dude.

  He looked past her towards the porch at the group of young women who looked like they were busting at the seams to find out what was being said between himself and Ronique “What up Mamies!,” he yelled to the group. And as if on que they all yelled back “Hi Los,” and started giggling like school aged girls with a crush. “See that’s ya problem now, you too fucking fine. You too Nice.” she winked and started laughing. Nice looked at Ronique and smiled “You couldn’t handle this girl.” Ronique laughed and shook her head.

  Ronique ran a crew of chicks that called themselves Murda Mamies. They were always on the bullshit. Fighting all the time, busting off at other chicks, boosting, setting niggaz from out of state up, transporting drugs they did it all. The crew consisted of chicks that were actually good looking women, but the life style they lived made them less desirable. Ronique wasn’t a bad looking chick. She was a seven due to all the war marks on her face from countless scrapes she got into with both dudes and females. Nice looked over to the porch “Damn who that a new recruit?” Ronique turned around and looked in the same direction as Nice. “Yup, she’s new bait, you like that ha?” “Hell yeah, shorty fiya, damn look at that ass. Yo Los look at the dark skinned chick with the long hair right there. Now tell me she aint bad.” Los shrugged his shoulders. The girl was pretty and her body was tight but she couldn’t fuck with Lucky on her
best day. And that was the only thing on Los’s mind, Lucky. Nice looked at him as if he were crazy. “Nigga don’t front she tight.” “She not fuckin wit my baby. She a’ight.” “Nah, hell nah, she not fuckin wit Lucky but she bad none the less,” Nice had to admit.

  “I wouldn’t care who she was or wasn’t fucking with. All I know is she about her paper. Shit she bagged a heavy rolling nigga down in Miami, brought his ass back to the room. He thought he was going to get his rocks off on some kinky shit. She tied that nigga up and you already know the rest. The whole crew came in there and robbed his ass. Left that nigga butt ass naked with a sock in his mouth and his dick in his hand. We took him for his jewels, cash, and a lil work he had on him. Holla!” “Y’all asses better be careful. Y’all gon try and pull that shit on the wrong nigga one day,” Nice warned. Ronique backed up from the door and pulled up her fitted tee exposing the little 9 on her waist. “Nigga we about that life, we know the risk, and we stay strapped.” Los chuckled, as he wondered how the hell she managed to stuff not only herself but the gun in them tight ass jeans. When they pulled off Los felt a little better knowing that Shyanne and her girl was going to get what was coming to them. Them Murda Mami bitches were ruthless.

  After riding around for hours chillin with his peoples smoking and listening to music Carlos felt better. His heart still felt heavy but being around his niggaz made him feel better. It put that nagging thought of Lucky in the back of his head for the time being. But he knew once he was all alone he would go right back to that depressed feeling.

  They had ran into Jah as him and Nice were driving down Lexington St. Jah parked his car and hopped in the car with them. “Get the fuck outta here. If it ain’t Tiger Wood’s of the hood! Nigga I thought we was gonna have to burn that bitch down to get you out the house,” Jah teased as he hopped in the back seat. Los chuckled. It was after one in the morning and everyone in the car was twisted. “Ayo bring me home I’m tired as fuck,” Los said. “Home where mom house?” “Nah my crib.” Nice gave him a strange look but headed out to Scottsdale.

  When they pulled up into the driveway the first thing they noticed was Los’s Maserati parked to the side, it wasn’t even put into the garage, just left in the driveway. Los sighed he knew Lucky had been there because for the last couple of weeks she had been playing in the Massi and now it was there parked. Lucky was the only chick that he let push his whips. And Lucky took full advantage in stuttin in all the luxury vehicles he owned. She would switch up cars every couple of weeks.

  Nice could see the stressed out look on Los’s face. “Damn it look like baby girl was here,” Nice said. Los hopped out of the truck and entered the house. For some reason he was expecting the worst. He was expecting to see his house trashed but when he thought about it Lucky just wasn’t the type. It wasn’t her style to wild out and act crazy. Nice and Jah followed him in, they wanted to be nosey. Los went upstairs to the bedroom he once shared with Lucky and he had a sudden heavy feeling come over him as he walked in the door. He could still smell a faint scent of her perfume. He looked around and everything looked to be there and intact until he entered the closet every piece of clothing Lucky had was gone. He looked in the bathroom and every toiletry, perfume, anything that even indicated that a woman had once lived there was gone. He felt like going crazy. She wasn’t playing when she said she was coming to get all her shit. “Dayum Lucky was dead ass, she wasn’t playing!” Nice yelled. He could see the burdened look on Los’s face. “Yo it’s whateva I’m bout to get some sleep I can’t do shit else right now, I’m fucked up.” “Yeah a’ight, hold ya head. I’m gone.” Nice said looking at his brother with sympathetic eyes. Los was going through it right now that much was obvious from the strained look on his face. “Ayo Jah bring yo greedy ass on nigga! I’m tryin to get up with this chick tonight.”

  Jah was down stairs raiding the refrigerator. He came out with a bottle of coke, A huge sandwich he whipped up, two bags of chips, and two boxes of cupcakes. “Yo, you better go get my sister in-law back cuz, she the only reason yo ass ever have food up in this bitch.” Los looked at Jah as if he were crazy, he could barley carry everything he had in his hands and was chomping and talking at the same time. When everyone left Los went upstairs to his bedroom feeling weird. He couldn’t fall asleep. He missed Lucky so much it physically hurt his stomach, He ended up getting out of the bed and going over to the separate sitting area in the room to fall asleep. Sleeping in that bed without Lucky was something he couldn’t do. Thoughts of life without her was overwhelming; his eyes watered and he shed silent tears. He was in love, this he knew for sure.

  The week had been rough for Lucky. She cried on and off continuously throughout the days, and the nights were even harder. She really felt separation anxiety at night. It was a wonder how she even got through the week and her exams. All in all Lucky felt she had done really good on her exams, despite everything she was going through. The swelling after the fight had gone down a couple of days afterwards and the scratches on her face were barley apparent. But the marks on her heart wouldn’t heal that easily. Carlos had crushed her heart and any sense of security and trust she had in him was long gone. Often she found herself wondering what was real in their relationship, did he even have feelings for her?

  She was sitting at home amongst a whole bunch of boxes. Lucky shook her head in frustration. She was supposed to move back to PA with Los right after school was over, put her condo on the market and go to graduate school in Philly. She was confused and upset. She had applied to multiple schools back home and was accepted to her top two picks. Now she was contemplating staying in CT for a while just to get her head together. She knew that it was going to take her a while to get over Los. She loved him to no end. She felt she had given him her all and still that obviously wasn’t good enough.

  Lucky was bored and she knew sitting in the house alone was only going to drive her mad and cause her to think about Los.“Hey Keem Keem.What you doing?” “Nothing Lady Luck sitting here chillin watching TV. How was your exams?” “They were fine. I think they went okay, considering everything.” “Aww I know Baby girl, trust me I know. Are you on your way up here now?” “No I’m still in CT. I don’t think I’m coming home this weekend. I just don’t want to run into that simple nigga girl. I’m too through with his ass.” “I know, but Lucky don’t let no nigga change you, you usually come back to Philly on the weekends so come on, I miss you. I mean, What else you doing anyways?” Keema asked. “Sitting here thinking about that asshole.” Lucky admitted, she took a deep breath. “Keema that man hurt me so bad, You know niggaz be real sloppy with they shit when they out doing dirt, and stay getting caught out. But Carlos was slick with his shit. I never even had a inkling he was doing me dirty. I never got that feeling you get inside when you think your man cheating. Keem you know us women supposed to have that six sense. Keema I just don’t know…this nigga must’ve really had me fucked up not notice all that. I feel so stupid.” “Nah Lucky it happens to the best of us. Los is just...I don’t know, he a rare type of dude. He like…real smooth wit his shit. And he treated you like a queen, aside from his whoring. Shit he had me fooled too, I would have never thought he was cheating on you either.” “Keeeema,” Lucky whined. “What Lucky?” Lucky was quiet for a while. “Lucky what?” Keema pressed. “I still love him, I know, I know, I’m stupid for it, but I do,” Lucky admitted feeling ashamed. “Girl stupid for what? Of course you still love him, if you didn’t you never did in the first place. Love just don’t go away cause you mad with a nigga.” Lucky was quiet and Keema could hear her whimpering softly. “Lucky baby don’t keep crying over Los, you were good to him, he fucked that up.” “I just don’t understand what I wasn’t doing.” “That’s the problem you were doing everything right. See girl some of these niggaz aint used to being treated right. So, they go and purposely fuck shit up, cause that’s all they know. They used to dealing with these trifling ass bitches out here who just as trifling as they are…Matter of fact si
nce you not doing nothing but over there stressing over Los, come see me, so we can have some fun and not think about that asshole.”

  Lucky hopped in her car and was at Keema’s and Jah’s apartment within 4 hours. “Heyyyy” Keema yelled while hugging Lucky at the front door. “Ooh look at you, that nigga don’t know what he lost.” Keema looked Lucky up and down and Lucky’s shit was tight from head to toe as usual. Carlos may have been a dog but no one could deny the fact he kept Lucky laced. Lucky just chuckled. “Nah look at you in those damn jeans Keem.” Lucky shot back Keema smiled “My baby boo be beatin it up, got me phat the fuck up,” they both laughed.

  Lucky was chillin over Jah and Keema’s having a ball. She was happy she came over and Los finally wasn’t on her mind heavy. “Nah, nah, Yo you cheating!” Jah yelled. Keema, Lucky, Jah and Real were in the living room playing Nintendo Kinnect on the huge 72in plasma television in the living room. Jah and Real were faded, they were partners and Lucky and Keema were partners. They were competing in a sports game of track and field. Everyone was laughing and having a good time.

  “I’m not cheating you just a sore loser!” “Hell yeah that’s cheating, that aint running Keema you doing some jump rope shit that’s cheating.” Jah was livid that every time Real or himself ran against Lucky or Keema they kept losing because neither of the girls were running in place like the game was intended, they were jumping double dutch in place and killin both of the men. “Keema was jumping double dutch in place she stopped and then jumped up in the air to jump over a hurdle in the game then started jumping again. Jah jumped too late the liquor had his reflexes slow his man on the screen fell over the hurdle and Jah got heated. He stopped running looked over at Keema still running and grabbed her up in his arms throwing her over his shoulder threatening to drop her. Keema started screaming. Jah playfully acted as if he were going to drop her and Keema screamed even louder. Jah laughed and put her down. Keema started playfully hitting him and he grabbed her up and kissed her.