Salty: A Ghetto Soap Opera (Drama In The Hood) (14 page)

"For some reason you make me that way.  I know I haven't been around you like that, but... Look I can't explain it. Which means I have no lie to tell. I'm feeling you."        

Silence.....                                              

He looked up at me. I hoped my nose was clean.

"Are you listening?"          

 
"Yes, I'm listening. But you didn't answer my question."                          

 
"Babe, I don't know why you. I’ve been wondering that all night.  The day I gave you and my sis a ride to the dance studio, I was like damn she's beautiful."     "Thank you." I was trying not the blush.

"And then when I saw you with your boyfriend at my buddy’s house, I was somewhat jealous. I know that's a trip. I was wondering what was wrong with me myself. I really was wondering what was wrong when I wanted to beat that fool’s ass for disrespecting you. It ain't like it’s the first time I heard him disrespect a woman. Jazz, I know you and your guy is going through something, so I'm going to leave the ball in your court. Just to let you know, you deserve better."                                

"D."                                                    

 
I paused.

"What's up?"

"How about that Lakers game?"                                                    

That was two weeks ago. And now I'm sitting here at the game chilling in the tenth row waiting on my man, Fisher, to come out. While I'm waiting, let me tell you what else happened during that two week time frame. My mother had been acting a little funny since that lady showed up talking that mess. If I didn't know any better, I would think that she was keeping something from me, but not my mom. She told me everything, including that she had sex with a few men for money. What else could there be? She didn't have AIDS, thank God the test came back negative. Other than that, I don't know what was wrong.

Yay-Yay and I barley spoke, which was fine with me. She needs to get over herself. Deep down, I did miss my cousin. I missed Peter too, but I was still mad about him trying to sleep with Sabrina. Okay, I know I probably shouldn't be telling y'all my business, but like my granny say, if you can't hide from God why hide from others. And plus, y'all cool. Okay... let me take a deep breathe. Okay... I… Gave... Diesel... My... Virginity... Your girl Jazz is no longer a virgin. Now, it wasn't a Love & Basketball moment, but it was a moment that I will never forget, one that I can't get back.  And to be honest, I don't know if I want it back. Oh shoot. Here comes Diesel. So, I gotta tell you what happened later. I Know Right!?

***********

Peter sat in his den drinking a bottle of Corona; it had been two weeks and Jazz showed no signs that she was going to forgive him. He called several times and each time she would send him to voicemail. He'd text and she would ignore them as well. Peter even went by her house only to get the door shut in his face. Her mother, Pam, told him that he needs to give her time, and maybe she would come around. He sure hoped so. Peter took a swig of his beer and chuckled to himself.
I guess it's true, you don’t miss a good thing until it's gone.
  Quiet as it was kept, he even missed Yay-Yah coming around. At least if she was around, her good-good would give him a temporality relief, but hell no. He wasn’t that weak. Yay-Yah was the reason that Jazz was mad at him. If her hating ass didn't open up her mouth, he would still have his boo around. On the real though, he could have and would have looked past the stunt Yay-Yah pulled if: one, he knew for sure that Jazz would give him another chance and two, he promised Kendrick that he wouldn't fuck with her anymore. No Jazz, no Yay and no Kendrick. Kendrick was out of town putting that West Coast Fire on the map. Therefore, Peter was alone with a pocket full of money, no one to hang with or talk to about his problems. Then it dawned on him, he was going to call his nigga, Wack. The two only talked a few times since that night and Wack seemed pretty cool. Peter liked his style. He kind of looked up to Wack as a role model.

***** When Peter got in touch with Wack he told him that he needed to get out the house, get fucked up, and blow a few stacks.

"What's up with you?" Wack questioned.

"My bitch left me." Pete said flatly.

Wack laughed. Square as nigga, he thought.

"Alright, nigga. Meet me at the Hollywood Casino. We'll fuck around there for a minute and then hit Starz."

Peter smiled at Wack’s suggestions. Despite the way they met, Peter believed it happened for a good reason. He found somebody that was down with gambling and splurg'n on pussy.

"The casino and the strip club? It’s about time I found somebody down to live life. That nigga Ken would never..."

Wack cut him off.

"Don't talk about your boss." Wack teased.

"Ain't no boss. We both bosses. One don't run the other."

"I can't tell. But, anyway. I'll meet you at the Casino. Let me get rid of this bitch."

"Alright. Is an hour good?"

Wack told him that an hour would be fine. He then walked back into the living room and told Yay that he would hook up with her later. Yay’s mood had changed from vulnerable to upset.  She was frowning up at the TV like she had a problem with the Lakers winning.

"Damn, shorty, it ain't that serious. I ain't no Lakers fan either, but shit I don't let them get to me."

Wack hit her on the arm to get her attention. She looked up and gave a fake smile.

"I'm about to head to the club.” “Call me later" She said, still looking at the TV.

"That's cool, but what's wrong with you?"

"Besides seeing my shady ass cousin in the audience with my ex, nothing." Yay lied.

Well she did see D and J at the game, but D was far from her ex. They never had no type of relations. She only saw him once and his attention was on White-Girl.

"You see, niggas ain't the only ones who are shady. Bitches is too. But on the real, don't let that ho ruin your night. Go make that money."

He pulled her to him,

"You still got feelings for the nigga?"

"Hell no. I dumped him. I'm just mad that she would go behind me and mess with somebody I had." She got carried away with her lie, "I was pregnant by him. But anyway, fuck him and her too," she said. "I’m trying to be with you."

"In due time, ma, in due time." He kissed her on the forehead. She reached up and kissed his lips. Wack was the first one to pull away.

"Get to work he told her."

She left.

***************

Later On...
Peter and Wack sat in the bar area drinking on XO, barley making small talk because the Lakers and the Heat game was on. Kobe had just hit a three and tied the game up, right before half time.

"Bet one, the Lakers take it." Peter challenged Wack.

He had just learned Wack wasn't a Lakers fine.

"I ain't got it like that right now. That's why I'm up here. Shit. A nigga hoping they win something."

Wack took a sip from his drank.

"On the real, I'm hoping you can front a nigga a stack or two. My hand itching. I know I'm going to hit." 

He looked at Peter for a response.

"Yeah, whatever," Peter said.

Wack looked up at him and noticed the game had his attention. It was half time so what they fuck was he looking at?  Fucking weirdo, Wack thought.

"Man you gon' let a nigga get two stacks. I'm about to break the house?"    

Wack got up from the bar.

"And why in the fuck you sitting here looking like a sad puppy."

"I don't mean to be acting like that, but I saw my ex-girl on T.V. with a white boy."

"At the game?"

Wack asked, looking up at the T.V.; he wondered if these were the same people that Yay saw on T.V.

"Yeah." Peter answered.

"Oh, well, get over that shit. It’s plenty bitches out here. Now let me hold that."

Wack looked at the clock.

He was anxious. The casino staff had just did a shift change. Wack had a theory that you had better chances at winning when the dealer first started the shift.   Peter reached in his pocket and handed Wack the two stacks he asked for.

"Good looking out."

Wack said and walked away.

*****************

Nigga say what?

Loaded off that liquid courage and pockets phatter than they were before he made it to the casino, Peter was feeling himself.

"Don't never disrespect me like that. Do it look like I need security. Gon' with that bullshit."
That's how Peter got at the casino security when they offered to escort him out the casino.
 "Wuts up?" Wack said, as he approached the trio.
This nigga tripping, he thought, when he noticed the mug on Peter’s face.
 "Man these two niggas talking about do I need them to escort me to my car. Fuck I look like. I'm a gangster."
Since when? Wack thought.
"Oh, nigga, you hit?" Wack asked playing off like he didn't know.
 "Yeah, twelve racks. You can keep that two I gave you. I ain't hurting."
 "That's what's up. Good looking out." Wack replied.
 "Come on let's roll."
 Peter looked at the guards.
 "Oh fake ass man in black." Peter dissed before him and Wack walked out the casino to their separate cars. They would meet up at Starz; it was ten minutes away.
When Pete and Wack got in their rides, they both picked up there cell phone.
"En route" Wack told the goon on his line. Without exchanging any other words, him and the goon ended their call.
"I saw you and that busta ass white boy on T.V.; that's how you do huh? That's cool.  I still love you." That was the message Peter left Jazz.
He then called Yay-Yay.
"What the fuck you want?" Is how she answered the phone.
"I need some pussy. And I know you need your car note paid. I'm about to come to the club. Be prepared to leave with me. Oh, and I'm doing it VIP style. So you and your clique be prepared to entertain me and my boy."
 Yay looked at the phone and rolled her eyes. She put it back on her ear.
 "First off nigga, don't come at me like…" she stopped in the middle of her sentence when she heard a baritone voice telling Peter to break himself.
"Give me that right there."
 The goon was talking about the black bag that Wack told him Peter’s money was in.
Any other time, Peter would have gave up the money with no problem, but the liquid courage wouldn't let him do it.
"Fuck you nigga." Peter said and pushed out. Peter didn't even get a good twelve feet away before he lost control of his car. His car flipped over two times before landing into a bus stop bench.
"Damn. Wack said out loud.
He reached in his astray, pulled out a half of blunt, lit it up, and waited a few minutes before he would go check on Peter. The bystanders that looked in shock knew for a fact that whoever was in the car was gone.

"Rest in peace." Were the thoughts of the basket pusher before he continued on his recycle mission.
"Peter what the fuck? Peter are you there? PETER!" Yay didn't get a response.

Part 3

Chapter 11

“
Jazz”

"Shot, shot, shot, shot!" Laurie and Diesel screamed. We were in the den playing truth or dare. On my turn I landed on dare and it was Laurie’s crazy ass turn to dare me.

"I dare you to run down the street in your panties and bra and scream five dollars."

She and I both laughed. Diesel didn't think it was funny. Laurie and I did, because only she would come up with something like that, and we both knew I wasn't going to do it. So of course I had to take a shot. We played for an hour straight before I threw up the white flag. I was tow up and not trying to drink anymore. Laurie was so drunk that Diesel had to carry her to her room. I undressed her for him and tucked her under the covers. Before I left out, I put a trash can by her bed, just in case she threw up. After that, I grabbed my towel and walked into Laurie's bathroom to shower.  When I came back in the room from my shower, Laurie was complaining about her head hurting. With my towel wrapped around me I made my way to the hallway closet where they kept the medicine.