We stared at each other, crying like morons through laughs.
That’s what I loved about my best friend. We were opposites in many ways, but the same too. I could let her drag me into things that went against everything I stood for, and I’d still end up having the best time. We could also be curled up on a couch, binge-watching my favorite '90s rom-coms while stuffing our faces with junk. We genuinely enjoyed each other’s company, no matter what we were doing. She was truly my soul mate in the form of a friend.
“Next time you almost die, you'd better not do it without me, hoe!”
“I don’t plan on there being a next time for a long time, Blayke.”
“Good. I’ll be right there beside you when the time comes. If we die together, I have a better chance of going to Heaven. I’ll be holding on to you so tightly. God will have no choice but to let ya girl in.”
I laughed and grabbed my side from the sore ribs. “I’m the one who had the baby out of wedlock. He may send me down there first and fast.”
“Oh, please… I’m worse. I got pregnant and killed the damn baby.”
“I’m not going back to Blake U!” I blurted out.
“And neither am I. For one, I was living in your house for free, remember, so if you're not there, I damn sure ain't. And now that I'm cut off, I can't afford that damn school anyway.”
My heart broke for my bestie. She loved her parents, even through all of their rules and strict ways.
“Maybe they're just upset. They need time to cool down.”
“Nah… They done, and so am I, friend…” She dropped her head, and I knew she was hurting over whatever had happened during the weeks she’d been away. “I cut up so bad on them people. Mama Cathy called to let them know what had happened to you and offered for me to ride to the hospital with her. My mama had the nerve to hang up in her face! I ran out of that room so fast, I nearly took her fingers off, snatching the phone, but I didn’t get a chance to call Mama Cathy back before they grabbed it from my hands. We got into a screaming match, of course, and she and my daddy basically strong-armed me into my room.
“Them people locked me in there like I was an animal for days. Well, they didn’t lock me in because I was allowed to leave the room, but they guarded me like I was incarcerated, friend. I couldn’t leave the house, and you know my mama can’t cook so I’ve been eating straight bullshit. Those days I was confined to the room, I realized their ways ain’t the word of God. Thosepeople are evil, and most of them hoes that call themselvesservingbe fucking the pastor.
“The church my parents are so wrapped up in ain’t of God. Them people were calling all day for prayers about me, but she couldn’t offer your mother not one ounce of hope. You could have died, Calista, and they didn’t even let me at least come see you… Nah. It’s a wrap with them people until they realize the church is steering them wrong. And when I find that hoe from the hospital that called my parents, I’ma beat her ass and report her. She violated HIPAA laws.”
I shook my head, not completely shocked since I’d heard the stories over the years about the church. Blayke’s parents had always been a piece of work. They made her high school years a living hell. She could hardly do anything and found herself sneaking and climbing out of windows to be able to do simple stuff like going to the movies and the skating rink. I wanted to go on our senior trip, but since her parents wouldn’t allow her to, I opted not to go either. They took their religion to the next level, but they were still her parents, and I knew, despite it all, she loved them.
“So… What now?” I asked as Blayke reached over and tucked a fallen piece of hair back into my sloppy bun.
“I’ma live my life my way. I may finish school… I may not. If I do, I might have to suck a lil’ dick to get my tuition paid, but I gotta do what I gotta do.”
Blayke placed her palm on the side of my face. Her familiar scent of Japanese Cherry Blossom was comforting. I missed my best friend so much while learning how to be a mother, and I was so happy she was here. Whatever happened next, we would get through it together. And if she wanted to finish school, I was going to make sure she didn’t have to exchange sexual favors with a man to do it.
“If I have to keep the baby while you go to class, that's what I’ma do. I ain’t have no real passion for being a nurse. I just wanted to be at the same hospital as you, ready to check a hoe if she got beside herself on my doctor bestie.”
“A patient?”
“A patient, a coworker, the cafeteria lady, or a damn hospice patient… It’s whatever for you, pookie. I just wanted to work with my bestie and buy me a cute lil’ Benz and lease a high -rise in the city.”
I held my side, remembering this time that if I laughed too hard, my bruised ribs would ache. “Ohh, I can’t laugh, Blayke.”
“I’m sorry. Let me stop. Got my bestie all banged up on her birthday. You still pretty, though.”
Knock, knock
“Food is ready, and yes, I already ate.” Glow was patting Baby Leader on the back.
“Ahhhh! My babyyyy!” Blayke hopped up with her hands out.
“Nooooooo.” Glow backed up. “You need to clean them hands, Preacher Kid.”
Blayke reached into her crossbody bag, used the sanitizer she pulled out to sanitize her hands, and was back on Glow with her hands out.
With a pout, Glow passed the baby to a cooing Blayke. “Ohhh, bestie! She is just so damn pretty.”
Adjusting myself in my seat, I gnawed on my bottom lip as I watched my best friend cry while peering at my baby. She was holding her as Rafiki had done with Simba inThe Lion King. Baby Leader’s eyes were closed while tears glided down Blayke’s cheeks.
