She Gave Her All to the Hood’s Finest 2
Page 26
“Hi, umm, she just told you my name is Angel, not hoe.” The thirsty one spoke up.
“You a hoe until proven otherwise.” I glanced to my left where they were standing.
“Do not call me a hoe again.” Angel rolled her neck.
“Hoe. Now what the fuck you gon’ do other than get popped in yo’ fucking mouth, hoe?”
“Camarih, I told you I needed you to come.” Rubie spoke into the phone with her tattletale ass. She then walked the phone to me. I didn’t even know she had my girl on the line.
“’Sup, sexy?” I laughed, already knowing she was hot.
“Stop calling her a hoe, Houston. You don’t even know her.”
“Exactly, so the bitch is a hoe for now. Remember I used to call you a hoe? Then we fell in love and all that good shit. You gave me some of that good ass pussy, and now you a beautiful queen.” I grinned, lighting the pre-rolled blunt.
Sighing, Camarih replied, “Boy, shut up. You can’t assume she’s a hoe.”
“She got white shit around her lips; look like a hoe to me.” I looked Angel’s way and saw her promptly wipe her mouth.
“Houston, you need to—”
“I love you too, baby; be there soon. Yep.” I talked over Camarih’s fussing before hanging up and tossing Rubie’s phone to her.
“Is this bitch gon’ sing or not ’cause—”
“Look nigga—”
“Okay! Angel, just sing for him, please!” Rubie exhaled heavily before stepping off some. Angel was about to talk again, but Rubie cut in. “Just sing! We discussed this!”
After rolling her eyes as if I gave a fuck, she began blowing. I admit she was good, almost great, and had the look for sure. I didn’t like her rude ass attitude though or her demeanor. I could tell she had a sense of entitlement which would be gone once I humbled her muthafuckin ass.
“Aight.” I toked on the blunt. “Bitch got some vocals on her.” I let the smoke out.
“Told you. So what do you say?” Rubie cheesed.
“I’ll try you on a track to see. The date I email you, make sure you show up on time and hydrated. That’s why it’s looking like you got nut around yo’ fucking lips; you need to drink more fucking water.”
“It is not—”
“Yep, she’s got it. Let me write down her information.” Rubie walked over, so I passed her a pad to scribble on.
“Thanks, D.” I looked at it.
“Is there any other name you can give me other than DSL? That’s not exactly a compliment.”
“It is. Bitches want dick-sucking lips and you got them. It’s either that or Eitan’s bitch. I don’t know yo’ ass well enough to call you by yo’ real name. You could still be the opps.” I rose up, towering over her.
“D will work just fine.” Rubie shook her head and walked out, pulling Angel.
Before hitting the corner, Angel turned to look at me with a slight smile, so I slammed the door in her face.
Jilly Terranova
The next afternoon…
I was going to see Vernon today, all the way in Manhattan Beach, but before I did, I wanted to wash some clothes. I’d been lazy as hell and hadn’t taken a day to wash the pile of dirty stuff that continued to grow.
I hated meeting Vernon so damn far away, but he was scared to hang out over here in fear of Tony beating his ass. I hated my brother when he acted like that, and he wouldn’t let up. He’d kicked Vernon’s ass so many times and had broken so many bones in my man’s body that I swore he flinched when I mentioned my brother’s name. I feared if he got fucked up once more, he’d die, and Vernon felt the same way.
I just wished I could convince my brother that my man was a good guy, but Tony swore he was a snake and I would see it sooner than later. I shook my head at the thought as I sorted my clothes.
“Oh damn, you’re about to wash?” Brielle walked into the garage where we kept the washer and dryer.
“Yeah, why?”
“I wanted to, but I can wait.” She walked in further, letting the door that led to the house shut. “So how have you been?”
“Alright. You? You’ve been MIA.”
“I know. I went on a little vacation because being here had me in a bad mood.”
“Oh? Something happen with Patrick?”
“Not quite. I just needed a break. You been taking care of my mama?” She smiled, tossing her hair.
Brielle always kept herself together, from her hair all the way down to her feet. I liked having her as an older sister figure, despite her being up my brother’s ass a little more than a sister should. And what made that worse was Tony didn’t even really fuck with her like that. So here she was trying to be sister of the year, and he often times acted as if she didn’t exist.
“She’s very capable of taking care of herself.”
“I know, she is a firecracker when she wants to be.”
I dropped the Tide pods into the washer before closing it, then asked, “Have you noticed any weird behavior from her?”
“No.” Brielle’s eyebrows dipped. “Why?”
“My brother said something the last time he came over here, which was a long minute ago. He basically said Miranda was trying to fuck him.”
Brielle laughed.
“He was joking I am sure, Jilly.”
“He didn’t appear to be joking, and Houston doesn’t joke often. People just laugh off his rudeness to make it go over smoother.”
“You know damn well my mama was not trying to fuck that boy. Come on, Jilly, you know my mom. I mean she damn near raised you.”
“No, no she didn’t. By the time our parents married, I was eighteen. If anybody raised me, it was my brother.”
“Okay, well you’re still in her home, and you know what I mean. You’ve been around her long enough to know she would never try to sleep with the son of her dead husband.”
I looked Brielle over, not knowing what to say. On one side she was right, I’d known Miranda for a very long time and she always seemed like a cool mom type. But then again, Houston was my brother, someone I’d never even caught telling a white lie. He never gave a fuck enough to cover up anything, and it surely wasn’t in his character to lie on his dick or make something so disgusting up.
“True. I don’t know, Bri, but maybe she said something that he took the wrong way. You know Tony can see a simple ‘have a goodnight’ as an insult at the wrong time.”
“Exactly. So he probably just interpreted something she said incorrectly.”
“I’m sure she will watch her words more closely now, because when I walked into the living room, she was on the floor, crying and holding her face, so I knew he’d slapped her ass.” I wanted to laugh, but I knew Brielle wasn’t in a laughing mood after hearing her mother had been pimp slapped.
After some silence, she inquired, “How has he been? He’s still in faux love?” She followed me out of the garage and into the kitchen, grabbing an apple before sitting down.
“Faux love? I’m sure you and everyone else with eyes can see there is nothing fake about he and Camarih.”
Here she was again, making snide comments about Camarih and her relationship with my brother.
“You’re right, it’s more of a lust. And I truly believe she is in love with her ex still.” She chewed the bite of apple she’d taken.
“Brielle, admit you’re jealous so you can start working to move past it.”
“I am not jealous of that girl? What would I be jealous of? I’m just as pretty, my body is svelte, while she’s blowing up with that baby inside of her, and I have a great job while she has a struggling business and four underpaying side jobs.” She rambled off.
“And for some reason, I still think you’re jealous. She’s not blowing up, she’s pregnant, and she doesn’t have a struggling business, it’s doing quite well and always sold out.”
“Who the fuck is your sister, her or me?” Brielle hopped off the couch angrily.
“Both! But—”
“B
oth? In what fucking way is that stupid bitch your sister?” She hovered over me. I’d never seen her frown so deeply.
“Stupid bitch? And she’s my sister because she’s my real brother’s girlfriend, and they’re a family. They’re probably gonna get married and—”
“Married?” Brielle laughed maniacally. “They will not be married!” Her eyes watered.
“What the hell is wrong with you, Brielle?”
“Nothing. I have to go.” She wiped her eyes. “Any talks we have in the future, Jilly, don’t mention her and I mean it. If you do, just don’t speak to me anymore.” She shoved the screen door open and left abruptly.
Shocked, I sat there on the couch with my mouth agape. I didn’t understand what had just happened, but ultimately, why Brielle despised Camarih so much.
Once I got myself together, I finished washing clothes and then showered. Once out, I spread lotion over my frame and then brushed my teeth before getting dressed.
Tonight or this evening, Vernon told me he would be taking me somewhere fancy. This would be the first time he’d done such a thing unless you counted Ruth’s Chris where he got his ass beat.
Vernon wasn’t exactly balling, but he did make an okay amount of money. I didn’t quite know what he did, but I knew it only brought in about $2000 a month. I’d tried to get my brother to help him out in the past, when he and I first got together, but when Tony showed up, he shared less than ten words with Vernon before canceling his decision to help him. He humiliated him, calling him a broke ass bitch and everything else but a child of God. And from that day forward, it had been a one-sided beef between them.
Vernon didn’t hate Tony, I mean not at first, but after getting his ass handed to him on so many occasions, natural hatred developed.
“Where are you going? I was making lasagna.” Miranda entered the house just as I’d brought my shoes to the living room to put them on.
“I’m going out to dinner. You can still make it, just put it up and I will have some tomorrow.”
“Sure.” Miranda nodded. I could feel her watching me still. “Are we okay? You’ve been a little distant since your brother made that ridiculous accusation.”
“Yes, we’re okay, I promise. I’ve just had a lot on my mind.” I half lied.
I truly did have a lot on my mind, but I’d been distant because I didn’t care what anyone said, Houston Terranova did not lie, especially on people. Hell, I even believed his statements about Vernon, but he gave me no proof, so I was going to continue to date him. I wasn’t gonna leave my man because Tony had a ‘feeling’.
“Like?”
“Like my career, and other aspects of my life. I’m twenty-three and have nothing figured out other than wanting to be a stylist.”
“Right, well—”
“Miranda, I am late. We can converse tomorrow.” I patted her shoulder and hurried out.
Taking my father’s car that he left behind when he passed, I sped off, headed to see my boo. This was really my car now.
When I got to this restaurant named Nick’s Manhattan Beach, I texted Vernon who said he’d come outside. A smile covered my face when I spotted my sexy man, walking toward me.
“Damn girl.” Vernon ran his tongue across his bottom lip when I got out.
“You like?” I spun around, posing a little bit in my short dress.
“I love.” He hugged me, pausing to kiss my lips.
Hand in hand, we entered the restaurant, and took a seat at the table Vernon had been waiting at for me.
“You know I hate driving over here, but it’s nice knowing we can have a peaceful dinner.”
“It is, without yo’ psycho ass brother. Nigga is a straight up hater. It’s like he wanna fuck you or something.”
“What?” I felt my nose wrinkle. “It’s not even like that, he’s just protective of me.”
“Nah, he’s overboard, which is weird as fuck. Crazy ass muthafucka.”
“Okay, let’s change the subject, Vernon. At the end of the day, that is my brother and I will only allow so much shit talking.”
“Well I’m yo’ man, Jilly. Where my loyalty?” Vernon touched my hand, which had been resting on the table, gently.
“You know I love you and would never betray you, baby. You just have to understand I love Tony too. He’s more than just a sibling; he took care of me when my mama died and when my father was too depressed about it to care. He was all I had until my dad met then married Miranda and got his shit together again.”
Tony had done a lot for me. I remember being only ten years old and him thirteen, but he always found ways to make money so we’d have dinner and enough cash to stay at a trashy hotel for the night. That was our situation for years until my father came and found us, only to say he’d fallen in love with someone, and because Miranda wouldn’t be with him until he took care of his fatherly responsibilities. By that time, Tony and I were grown. Tony didn’t want any handouts, but I happily let my father spoil me to impress his new woman. Served him right.
“You don’t owe him nothing. That was his job as a big brother.”
“He was a kid too. And look, I said I am done talking about it.”
“Fine. Last thing I want to do is upset you, baby.” Vernon leaned down to press his lips to the back of my hand, making me smile.
We ordered cocktails, appetizers, and food, then got back to just conversing, and holding hands.
Suddenly his phone rang, and he immediately declined it. It happened so fast that I couldn’t see who it was.
“Who was that?”
“Nobody, Jilly.”
“I didn’t make out the name, but the person was stored, so they’re somebody.”
“One of the homies, but I’m here with you; fuck him.”
“Right.”
“What, you think I got another girl? Who finer than Jilly Terranova?”
“None of these hoes. But niggas cheat with ugly bitches all the time.” I raised a brow.
“Not me. I know what I got. Why you think I made you my wife?”
I leaned over to kiss Vernon after he spoke those words.
Yes, I had married him. It was a quick courthouse thing done in Vegas because anything that happened in LA of that nature got back to Tony Wacko. I knew my brother would go insane if he found out I’d married Vernon, but for now, it was my little secret. I’d tell him in a few years or so.
Eitan
Last night Rubie was supposed to come to my show but her ass skipped out. She claimed to be too sick, but that was a weird excuse to me. She hadn’t said anything about being sick all day, or the day prior, yet hours before my actual performance, she hit me with that bullshit. And hell, three days ago when I was deep in them guts, she was healthy as fuck then too.
For a moment, I wondered if she’d gone back to her ex nigga, but I knew that wasn’t the case. No female had ever left me for another nigga, and I doubted Rubie would, especially because I treated her ass like gold. I couldn’t help but notice that lately she seemed busier and always needed to go or couldn’t make something.
While I waited on Tony, I stood outside of his spot to call her. I tried to chill and let her come to me, but it was 2 p.m. in the afternoon, and I hadn’t even gotten a good morning text.
“Hi, handsome,” she answered. “How was your show?”
“You would’ve known had you been there.”
“Yes, but I was sick, remember? You want me to come up there and embarrass you?”
Sucking my teeth, I shook my head.
“Embarrass me how, Rubie?”
“By looking like a damn gremlin. I don’t fix myself up when I’m sick. But tell me how it went, baby.”
“It went good like always. I did my shit and collected my check. It was embarrassing not having my main woman there though like usual.”
“I know, and it won’t happen again. I will be at every show, cheering you on like your biggest fan.”
“You better.” I squinted at the sun.
“Uh, I can’t. I gotta hit the studio and a few meetings before that,” I lied. That wasn’t until tomorrow.
“Oh, I see.”
“But later tonight, you should come kick it with me.”
“Hmm, yeah, we will see. So look, I have to go. Mark is coming down the hall and I must look busy.”
“You need to quit.”
“Wish I could. Bye, babe.” She hung up with the quickness.
Her energy was still weird as hell, even though she invited me for some food and a quickie.
“Ready?” Tony walked past me, before we crossed the street together to get to that rental Camarih had been driving. He said it was going back today, so why not use it.
“Unfortunately.”
“Nigga, you know you ain’t gotta come.”
“I don’t but then I kind of do.”
Today we were picking Holli’s ass up from jail. I didn’t wanna go, but I’d skipped her trial, and her bitch ass brother found out. Like always, he caught up with me while I was inside of Burger King, letting me know I needed to do right by his sister for the hundredth time. Nigga was waiting on the first small reason to smoke me.
Although Tony and I pretty much grew up together, meeting at fifteen and shit, we weren’t alike. He was a straight up and down hood nigga, the ones that carried guns 24/7 and would fight a toddler if it disrespected them. He had no issue slanging bullets or getting shot at and woke up ready to lay a nigga out. Beating a muthafucka’s ass improved that nigga Tony’s day.
Me, on the other hand, I wasn’t no bitch and definitely came up in the rough parts of LA, but all I wanted to do was rap. I would fight if I needed to, but I tried to avoid the shit if I could. As far as exchanging bullets, and getting in hood wars with other niggas, I would pass. Unlike a lot of muthafuckas around here, I was afraid of death, and the longer I could go without meeting my maker, the better.