Page 30 of Delirium 2

“I’m not getting baptized again, nigga. What is wrong with you?”

He was quiet for a second before saying, “I scratch your back, you scratch mine. Remember?”

I sighed and sat down, sparking fire to the l.

“Aight, bitch. Text me the date, ho ass nigga.”

With that, I hung up.

One thing I hated about our agreement was shit like that. Solo didn’t ask for much in return, just for me to do things here and there. Religious shit like baptism, speak at service sometimes, and volunteer work. He knew how to get me when I didn’t want to be gotten.

After I got off with him, I grabbed the MacBook, got to work and faced the whole blunt in the process.

7

SEREIA

“Why do you need an apartment if you stay with them?” Asked Lake.

“Because,” I said, twiddling the charm on my Coach bag. “I just want one just in case.”

“I thought things were going good⁠—”

“They are going good. Don’t mean things will always go good, Lake. You know how shit go.”

She didn’t. Not for real. Like I said before, Lake hadn’t lost like me. She was green when it came to life changing at the drop of a hat. How lucky was she?

“Show me the lobby,” she pressed.

I flipped the camera and showed her the lobby of Springview Hills Apartments. I was in Wildermere looking for a spot. I wasn’t too far from the bridge, which meant it wasn’t as far away from Brickhaven. I should have been at the house working but after telling Exodus what I had planned for the day, he sent Genny over to sit with First Lady for the hour I’d be gone.

I thought about getting an apartment somewhere in Brickhaven, but I didn’t feel safe to do so anywhere. The only place I felt safe at in Brickhaven was The Woods. That was my hood. My people, for real. But I couldn’t stay there anymore. And if I couldn’t stay in The Woods, I didn’t want to stay in Brickhaven.

I had a tour scheduled with Cindy, the apartment manager. As soon as I walked into the building, I felt out of place. It was grand and lavish just like everything else in Wildermere. The doorman—yes, doorman—was an older white man who gave me a tightlipped smile when I walked in. The people in passing… all white. Just a second ago, I passed a scrawny ass white bitch in a LuLu set, with a towel draped around her neck, and those big Apple headphones over her ears. The place… it gave bougie and I was the furthest thing from bougie.

“I’m about to walk up to the desk. I’ll send you pictures and shit in a minute.”

“It’s niiiice,” Lake said with a smile. “I can’t wait to come over, get drunk and talk shit,” she said. “Alright, call me as soon as you’re done.”

We said our I love you’s and ended the call. I walked up to the information desk with a forced smile.

“Can I help you?” asked the snooty gay boy behind the desk, eyeing me up and down like I didn’t belong there.

I stood up straight, pushed my shoulders back and held my head up with confidence. I might not have belonged there… not for real. But I put on the confidence of a bad ass rich bitch that did belong. I had on Coach and an Alo set. I looked the part, but I guess there was something about me that said I didn’t belong. Maybe the Coach bag. Most likely the dark skin.

“I have an appointment with Cindy,” I sweetly said, forcing it.

What I wanted to do was chew into him but that would be very expected, now wouldn’t it be? I didn’t believe in ‘code switching’ but I believed in conducting myself in a certain manner to show maturity.

“Cindy? Oh. Sereia? She’ll be right out,” he said, giving me the same tight-lipped smile the guy at the door gave me not too long ago. “You can have a seat right over there.”

He pointed, his sharp acrylic just inches away from my face.

I looked at it. Stood there a moment, staring at his finger before shifting my eyes to him. I made eye contact with him and put a little fire behind my glare. His pale skin turned pink before he looked away and got back to tapping around on the keyboard in front of him.

Gritting my teeth, I walked away and sat on the loveseat not too far from the desk. While I sat there, I took a moment to take the place in a little more. Very high ceilings. A skylight. Large chandeliers. Fancy paintings that were probably just print outs instead of the real things. Gold light fixtures. Tan walls. Shiny hardwood flooring. Fancy seating.

It was nice.