She let me go reluctantly, so somebody else can get their turn. As she walked away, her shoulders bumped roughly against Leah’s. I could never understand the secret beef they had between each other. I tried over the years to settle whatever was going on, but Jayda wasn’t feeling it. Everybody that came after her to greet me, I had no dealings with. Especially my cousin, Tranae, Jayda’s sister.
She and my sister were thick as thieves, but I can’t stand her. Tranae is the worst kind of hoe. You know the ones that sleep with your man, then be in your face like it ain’t nothing minutes later.
I don’t know what her problem is, but every time we were around each other, I catch her ass staring me down. She had the nerve to stroll over and give me a side hug as if we were cool like that.
I reciprocated, because I was tryna be the bigger person these days, but the shit was awkward. It felt fake and phony, just like her ugly ass. I know she was one of the people praying for my downfall.
My family smothered me to death, and an hour passed before I could sneak off. When I finally made it to my room, I was surprised to see nothing’s changed.
I figured my auntie would have turned this into some kind of nail salon by now. Before I got locked up, she was doing it on the side for extra income. It wasn’t a day that went by where she didn’t complain about needing more space.
The first thing I did was go in my closet. I had a tough time finding something to wear, since I haven’t worn these clothes in years. My eyes finally landed on a pair of skinny jeans that I matched with a halter top I got from Forever 21. I was supposed to wear it for my graduation party, but sadly, I never got the opportunity.
When I finished getting myself together, I went into the kitchen to fix myself a plate of food. My stomach growled, spotting the macaroni and cheese on the counter. I added baked beans and two pieces of fried chicken to go with it, then stood near the stove. That way, I can eat in peace and won’t be interrupted by anybody.
I made it back in the living room just in time to get in on a spades game. I rolled my eyes when I walked past Leah and Tranae, who were in the cut, whispering amongst each other.
Leah invited her boyfriend, Derek, to come over too. He sat beside her, with his head buried in his phone. We spoke earlierwhen I first came in, and he seemed like a cool dude, just not my sister’s cup of tea.
Now, I ain’t saying she only with him for the money, but judging by his clothes, I can tell he had plenty of it. I assumed he’s the one who brought her that car.
It’s been so long since I played spades, however, I’m sitting here kicking ass and taking names. Me and my auntie was on the same team against two of my cousins. Everything was well and dandy until I spotted one of them cuffing cards in her bra. I threw mine down and told they cheating asses, I quit.
I grabbed a can of Pepsi from the cooler to drink before plopping in the seat beside Jayda. She was texting, but looked up when she felt my presence.
“Hey cousin,” she greeted me. Placing her phone in her lap, she confessed, “I wanted to talk to you, but you seemed to be having fun over there with the old people.”
While I was locked up, auntie Misha and Jayda were the only ones I allowed to visit me. She couldn’t come all the time and I respected that, but I appreciated when she did. Seeing her face on the other side of the glass meant more to me than she’ll ever know.
“Chile, Tony, over there hiding cards in them big ass titties.” I glared at the person in question. Jayda held her hand over her mouth when Tasha cast a glance in our direction. She waited until she turned back around to burst out laughing.
A few people peaked over to see what was funny, including Tranae. While everybody else went back to minding their business, she narrowed her eyes at me with suspicion.
“What’s up with Tranae, Jayda?” I nudged her with my elbow, then pointed across the room to where she sat.
She tried to be discreet, watching her out the corner of her eye. “You know Tranae, always getting herself in something.”
Even though they were sisters, Jayda and Tranae can’t stand each other. They asses can’t be in the same room for a long period without arguing. I tilted my head back to take a sip of soda, shrugging nonchalantly, as she continued, “She just got her ass beat a few months ago for fucking on somebody’s man.”
I’m not at all surprised by this. We never threw hands, but I know for a fact her ass can’t fight. The loud ones never could. I watched her get dog walked on more than one occasion.
“You got a problem?” I just came out and asked her. I don’t have time to beat around no bushes. If she got beef, she should say that. Instead of answering me, she smirked. I was getting ready to leap up outta my seat, but Jayda held me down.
“Hoe, sit yo’ ass down. You been out a hot second and you already finna go back. If you hit her, you know she’ll call the police on you, just to see it happen,” she argued.
She had a point. Tranae doesn’t play fair, never has, never will. Reluctantly, I sat back down, but not before glaring at her ugly ass one more time. When I did that, I noticed my sister, nor her man, was present. Any other time, I’d be worried tryna find her, but I ain’t move from my seat.
Instead, me and Jayda talked for hours. She was telling me about the boyfriends she’s had, the people who died that I knew, and the ones who moved away.
Nobody left until the early hours of the morning. It went from being my welcome home party to a block party. People were walking in and out the entire night, and I didn’t know most of them.
After a while, Jayda left, and I went to go lay my ass down. My eyes grew heavy as soon as my head hit the pillow. I ignored everything going on in the front room. I can tell by the banging on the wall and my auntie yelling, that somebody had got into a fight. I was too tired to get up and be nosey. In prison, I’m usedto loud sounds around me, so I had no problem dozing off to sleep.
2
LOVE
“Why the fuckI gotta pee in a cup? You violating my Fifteenth Amendment, nigga!”
