Page 48 of The Wright Man

"Maleek. And imma need you to stop knockin' shit down in my house."

She squinted at me. "Your house?"

"Yup. Ten years of seniority. I got claim. Now stop breaking shit."

Bella crossed her arms and stared at me, curious. Clearly, nobody had ever talked to her like that.

"Hmph... Well, I'm Bella."

"I heard." I crossed my arms right back. "And stop cussing. Cap don't play that."

"But you just cussed! That ain't fair!"

"Seniority, punk. I got it. You don't." I patted her on the head.

She looked like she wanted to bite me.

"Now help me clean this up before he finishes talking to whoever that lady is."

She narrowed her eyes. I narrowed mine right back as I started picking things up.

"I ain't gon tell you again, punk."

Then—surprisingly—she started helping.

She resisted at first, talking shit and complaining. But I stayed calm. Kept cracking jokes. Didn't treat her like glass. Eventually, she cracked a smile. A little one, but it was there.

She softened. Not much. But enough.

When we were done, I put on the movie and poked my head out the door.

"Yo, Angel. Movie's on."

She came in slow, expecting carnage, probably. Froze in place when she saw Bella sitting on the couch, pretending not to watch the TV, like nothing happened.

"Your boyfriend has decent taste in movies." Bella muttered, arms still folded and not looking up from the TV.

Angelica gawked at me like I'd hung the moon. She didn't even notice the boyfriend comment.

"What did you do? An exorcism?"

I chuckled. "She ain't that bad. Just going through shit. Scared. Reminds me of me."

Angelica smiled, tired but grateful.

"Well... you saved me from a lifetime of being terrorized by a rabid chimpanzee—"

Bella flipped her off without looking. Angelica kept talking like she didn't notice.

"—so I'm impressed."

I nudged her. "You shouldn't be. I learned it from you."

I flopped onto the couch next to Bella and snatched a pillow from her.

"Hey!"

"SENIORITY, PUNK." I said when she tried to snatch it back.