Chapter 6: My Low Key Favorite Spot

[Him] I chirped Nico to come and pick up Jade and I across the street. When he pulled up, he had a puzzled look on his face, but then he shrugged and unlocked the door.

Meet me in the trap

It's going down

Meet me in the mall

It's going down

Meet me in the club

It's going down

Anywhere we meet its guaranteed

To go down

Nico was blasting Yung Joc's new banger through the speakers. Jade and I hopped in the back seat. I introduced Jade to my cousin and then we vibed to some tunes for a while as we rode to our destination. It was so funny watching Jade bob her big ass head to the beat. I had asked Nico to drop us off at my favorite spot. Soon after, I noticed that his girl wasn't with him. "Yo, where's Brittney?"

"She said she got a call from her goofy ass home girl saying she got jumped at McDonald's, so she's up there with her now." I turned and I saw Jade holding in what looked like a laugh and then, I finally understood why she was in such a hurry down the street. "Man, what's the deal with you and her?" I asked Jade. She turned to me and said...

[Her] Back in elementary school at Starr King, Brittney, Anisa, and I were the best of friends. We hung out after school together and even stayed over each other's houses. That ended quickly though, once we got to middle school at Hamilton and met Kyra. She came to our school in the 8th grade from Bancroft, a middle school in Lakewood. Kyra didn't have any friends so we welcomed her into our little circle. Little did I know how quickly she would turn things around. She would always make sarcastic remarks about how ugly I was compared to the rest of them.

She talked about the way I dressed, my skin, my hair, my weight and even about the fact that my dad wasn't around. Luckily for me, Anisa was a true ride or die friend. So, she stood up for me when I was too weak to stand up for myself. I could tell that Brittney felt bad about the way Kyra talked about me, but I could also see that she let what Kyra said get to her. She didn't want to hang around "ugly" girls. Our friendship soon faded and now we don't even speak.

"I don't even know the girl," I lied. I wasn't about to open up to Cori about anything. I barely knew him. I could tell, however, that he didn't believe what I said. He shook his head and asked Nico to let us out of the car. By now, we had pulled up to this place called Norm's in Lakewood. How did he know that Norm’s was my kind of get down?

[Her] "I hope you don't mind coming here. This is my favorite spot."

"No, I don't mind at all."

I turned and thanked Nico for the ride and got out of the car and headed to the entrance of the diner. I waited as Cori was getting out of the car. Once he was out, he leaned into the drivers window to Nico and whispered something to him. Nico handed him a thick white envelope that looked to me like a wad of money, and then Cori quickly put it in his back pocket and headed over my way. "Let's eat," he said as he placed his hand gently on my lower back and led me inside. That's when I thought, this was my first date.

[Him] Look at this girl, man. She's acting like she's scared to eat in front of me or something. Jade and I were sitting at a corner table at Norm's. We both ordered the Lumberjack breakfast with pancakes, eggs, bacon, and hash browns and water to drink. "What's wrong, you don't like the food or something?" I asked.

"No, I do. This is actually my favorite place. You just make me a little nervous to be honest."

"Well you didn't seem nervous the other night when I was workin' you on the dance floor."

"Nigga, please. You lucky your girl stepped in and stopped my flow because you weren't a match for me boo boo," she laughed. I liked hearing her laugh and seeing her smile. So real. Then, it disappeared.

"What's up with you and Kyra anyway? Ain't she your girl? Because when I saw her at McDonald's...never mind."

"Look. Let me be clear about something. Kyra is NOT and will NEVER be my girl. I was doing a favor for my cousin and his chick and I do not give a damn about what she was doing at Mc Donald's or what she does at all! So let's get off the subject. How's your bacon?"

[Her] I stared at him for a few seconds...and then I cracked up. He was trying so hard to keep that mean ass look on his face, but once he saw me laughing, he couldn't help but to laugh too. I wasn't too sure if I believed there wasn't anything going on between him and Kyra though. She's always tripping over niggas that don't belong to her, but this one, was taking her to a whole different level.

Once we got past that awkward subject, we had small talk and laughed some more. He was hilarious. I loved his sense of humor. I learned a few things about him. I found out that we were both eighteen, that he went to continuation school, and that he and his cousin Nico were in business together.

"So exactly what type of business are ya'll into?"

[Him] "Music. Nico is a producer and I help him scout new talent to work with."

Although, I did tell her the truth about the music, what I didn't tell her was that we flock cribs to get our money. I was pretty much like Robin Hood. My cousin, his homeboy DaJuan and I made our dough robbing houses and selling the goods at Swap Meets, and any money we find, we spend. Simple and fast.

"Really? That's tight. I sing a lot at school and at church so if you ever need a singer, I got you."

"Oh you got me, huh?" I smiled at her and said. I saw her shift in her seat. I got her just how I want her.

"Sing a little something for me right now then."

"Right now? I...uh....I'm shy. I can't do it on the spot like that."

"Come on, if you're going to be a real artist, then you gotta get over that. I tell you what, I'm about to call Nico now to come pick us up, but maybe this Friday we can head to the studio and you can let me here you then, cool?"

"Alright, bet." I called Nico to come and pick us up from Norm's.

We chilled and talked some more while we waited for him. Once he chirped and said he was outside, I paid for our food and left a generous tip. I saw Jade smile when I did that. She could see that I wasn't no cheap ass nigga. Her smile faded fast though and turned into a worry when her phone started going off.

[Her] "Jade! Where are you? Get home right now!"

Shit. It was my mom. I was so gone with this dude Cori that I didn't even realize that it was going on 7 o'clock and I hadn't called to check in with her. I had over ten missed calls from my mother.

"I'm sorry ma. I'm out with a friend in Lakewood and I just lost track of time."

"I didn't buy you a cell phone to lose track of time and not call me Jade. You had me going crazy not knowing where you were! Hurry up and get home!"

"Okay ma. I'm sorry. I love you." Click.

Man, she was mad.

When we hopped in the car, I asked if Nico could drop me off at home. On the way there, Cori told him I was interested in singing and asked him if I could come to the studio Friday to record something. "Yeah, her ass can come, but can she sing though?"

"Shit, I don't know, but we're gonna find out soon, huh Jade?" he joked.

I smiled, but all I could think about was the lecture I was in for once I got in the house.

[Him] I'm feeling Jade. She's so chill unlike other girls that I'm use to. When my cousin and I dropped her off in front of her apartment building, I wanted to kiss her, but I knew she was probably the type that would slap me if I did. Instead, I gave her a nice hug. When I pulled her in close, she smelled so damn good! She gave me her chirp number and I told her I'd hit her up later.

After that, I hopped in the car and Nico took me home. I was so hype. In just a couple of days, I would be getting my own whip! We hit more than enough houses in the last couple of months so I was planning to lay low for a while. Now all I needed was a bad chick riding passenger with me. Jade is cool, shit. She's got it all. But I know that niggas I run with expect more outta me. I mean, I always had the baddest bitches. But this time it was different. There was something about this girl and I was determined to find out what that was. As I laid on my bed staring at the ceiling, my phone started chirping. Damn, it was Kyra. What the hell does she want?

Chapter 5: Slow Down

[Him] I was rolling down Atlantic Ave. with Nico in his fly ass midnight blue 97' Camaro. We had just busted a money mission and were now headed to Jordan High to pick up his girl Brittney. I was hoping not to see her goofy ass friend today. Just as we were about to pull up in front of the school, I saw ole girl from the prom running down the street. I swear, I could spot this girl anywhere. She was so damn beautiful to me. What the hell was it about her tho? "Aye, Nico. Let me out man. I need to handle something real quick." As soon as he stopped the car, I hopped out and ran across the busy street right in front of the Paradise Apartments.

[Her] "Yo! Slow down! Hey! Wait up, damn!”

I stopped right in front of the doors to the apartment complex. I figured someone must have come after me because of what I had done to Kyra's face. When I turned around, I was shocked to see Cori standing in front of me. "Wha-what are you doing here?"

"I've been looking for you, but it seems like every time I see you, you're running from something."

"Well for one, I don't know you. Secondly, why exactly have you been looking for me?" Instead of answering my question, Cori just stood there staring at me, with those deep brown eyes. I couldn't stand it. He made me feel weak. Then he took his hand, lifted my chin and said, "I think you know why."

Then, he reached in his pocket and pulled out my necklace. "This came off the other night at Prom when you had your lil' scuffle," he laughed. " I thought that you would want it back." "Oh, thanks." I felt so dumb. I thought his sexy ass was about to kiss me. He was just being nice and trying to give me back my necklace. "What, you don't want it back or something?"

Cori asked looking at me like I was crazy. "No, it's not that. I appreciate it. I just have a lot on my mind. I have to go. Thanks again. Cori, right?" I asked as he handed me my necklace.

"Yeah. How'd you know my name?"

"Well, a friend of mine over-heard your name the other day, and I sort of asked what it was."

"Oh, that's wassup. Well yeah, I'm Cori, but I didn't get yours." I just couldn't stop staring at his lips while he was talking to me. I had to hurry up and go inside.

"Um, it's Jade. Look, thanks again but I have to go."

"Wait, hold up, I mean, I wasn't just looking for you to give you your necklace back. You don't really have to go, do you? Or would you like to come grab something to eat with me?"

He was right. I didn't really have to go just yet. My mom was working late and wouldn't be home for a few more hours. "Yeah, I guess we can, as long as it's not McDonald's."

Chapter 4: Monday

[Her] What a terrible prom night. I mean, it started off so right. Had it not been for ol'boy and his hoe, everything would have been all good. Luckily, I wasn't suspended from school because of the fight. The chaperones stepped in and broke it up before things got any worse. I rushed right outside and luckily my uncle Jimmy was still waiting for me in the parking lot. I hopped in the car and asked that he drove around for a little while before taking me home. He sat there looking confused for a minute, but shortly after, we took off.

The entire weekend, I had to endure Kyra sending me threatening messages on MySpace. Now I was back at school, ready for the drama to pick back up. But surprisingly, Kyra wasn't there.

"Bestie wait up!" Anisa came running up to me during nutrition at our favorite hang out spot in front of the library. She looked pretty as usual, prom hair still intact and a red Roca Wear set on with matching Chucks. I looked like my normal sloppy self, hair in a bun with a plain white tee, ripped jeans and checkered vans. "What's good Anisa."

"Girl that was crazy the other night! I wish you wouldn't have left so fast though because it got even crazier."

"What happened? Why didn't you call me?"

"Jade, I been calling you all weekend but you wouldn't even pick up! Anyway, after you left, Brittney went in on Kyra for trying to fight you over dude. Then the dude went hard on her saying that he's not her nigga and what not, and after that he ran out looking for you."

"Really?" I was shocked. Why was he looking for me?

"Anyway, once he couldn't find you, him, his homeboy and Brittney rode out and left Kyra's ass at the Grand looking stupid," Anisa laughed. "Girl you should've seen her face."

I was still tripping about why he would be worried about me.

"Bestie, do you at least know what his name is?"

"Oh, best-friend his name is Cori. Kyra kept yelling it when he boned out," Anisa said still laughing.

For the rest of the day at school, I couldn't stop thinking about this dude Cori, wondering if I'd see him again. After school let out, I headed to Mc Donald's across the street to get some fries, and to my surprise, I saw him thru the window kissing all over her. No, not Cori, but Rashawn. Rashawn was kissing Kyra.

"Just look at that bum ass bitch," I heard Kyra say as I walked into McDonald's. Rashawn was facing the opposite direction, so he didn't see me walk in. "Who babe?" Rashawn said as he turned his head and then he spotted me. Suddenly, it looked as though he had seen a ghost. "That bitch! She's the one I beat down at prom with her dusty bum ass." I wanted so badly to ignore her, but she had called me one too many bum bitches.

"Look here, hoe. I'm so sick and tired of you running your mouth, so if you want to take it there again then let's do it." By now I was all the way in Kyra's snob little face ready to tear her to shreds. "Nah, Jade just chill man," Rashawn said, moving away from Kyra and putting himself in between my body and hers.

"Oh, so you know her, Rashawn? You sticking up for her, too? Damn, what kind of spell does this bum have over people?" That was it. I shoved Rashawn so hard that he fell to the floor and I gave Kyra three hard blows to her big mouth. After that, I ran straight home. I didn't even think to see the damage that I had done to her face although I could hear her screaming. I didn't care what Rashawn thought or had to say. I just didn't care at all.