Prologue
The last streetlight came off as I was walking back home, alone. But it didn’t matter at that point, I’m always alone. I rubbed my arms trying to cause some warmth, man was it the wrong weather to wear this skimpy little outfit but I had to show out tonight. Just like every other night, I got dressed up to go to some bar and get hit on by at least every guy there. The lucky ones would get a chance with me, I mean if they looked good they could show me a good time.
Most would judge me as being a hoe or whatever, but then again who really cares what other people think of you? Many people don’t even know what I do, and yeah there’s a reason behind all of this.
You ever just want to feel loved? It doesn’t even matter how long it could be, a quick second or a whole night. Just that feeling of having someone be able to wrap their arms around you while you fall alseep, even if its only because you just gave them the time of their lives.
I feign for that feeling, its my drug.
No, I’m not desperate. I don’t go around sleeping with just anyone. I just want to feel needed in someone’s life.
I know the road I’m going down isn’t helping me one bit but it will have to do until further notice.
There’s one person that did make me feel that way, Olubawale. I’m the only person he allowed to call him that. He was my world, until it all came crashing down when I found out he cheated with my best friend.
Everything collapsed at that point and I swear things have never been the same.
I walked up my steps walking right through the front door, no point in even sneaking back in. I closed the door quietly making my way up the stairs, as I walked past my moms room I heard light moans coming from her room. I shook my head, my stomach wouldn’t have flipped if it was my dad making her feel like that. I walked to my room slamming the door as I started to strip.
I stood in front of my mirror, butt ass naked.
I traced the light bruises on my thighs, last weeks guy.
The purple hickeys running down my neck, tonights guy.
The scar on my forehead, last months guy.
This necklace I still wear around my neck every day resembling the 2 years I put into a relationship that meant shit to him.
I blinked back tears as I crawled into my bed, its five in the morning and I have to get ready for school in a hour. I sighed pulling the covers over me and putting a pillow in between my sore legs.
Some things just never change.
Chapter II: “I told you man. My baby got fuckin skills."
Melanie POV
My nerves were killing me. I looked down at my hands and they were literally trembling. I had no idea why I was so freaked out. This is what I loved to do. I’d sung millions of times at this very club. It wasn’t too big and it was a very chill laid back bar and hang out with a small dance floor and a live band to play on their own or back up the entertainers.
“Baby calm down,” Wale said rubbing my bare shoulders.
I’d finally decided on a pair of gray skinnies, a black shimmery sleeveless top and a pair of black pumps. I had thick bangles around one wrist and a gray scarf wrapped around the other as well as earrings and my hair was out in all its long, wild, and natural glory. Though it was cold outside, snow on the ground on this January night, I was burning up. I was standing near the bar, Petra and Brittany on one side while Wale stood with his arms wrapped around me. The house band was playing and everyone was having a good time.
“Mel you’re going to kill this babe. You always do,” Brittany said trying to reassure me.
“Yeah those record execs out there are going to love you,” Petra added.
I felt Wale squeeze my hips and I looked back and up at him. He placed a kiss on the tip of my nose. “You’ve got this, no questions asked.” I nodded and closed my eyes as I allowed myself to melt into him again.
Once I felt like I calmed down just a little bit, I turned so that I was facing the bar. “Wally, let me get a shot of…shit of anything to loosen me up,” I said to the bartender. He chuckled and nodded. I don’t anyone had ever seen me this nervous before. He handed me a shot glass of something clear and without question I took it and threw it back. It burned the back of my throat, but in a good way.
“Need another?” he asked me with a raised eyebrow, liquor in his hand ready to poor it if I encouraged him to.
“No, we want her loose, not sloppy. We both know you can’t handle two back to back shots like that,” Brittany said looking from Wally to me.
I sighed knowing that she was right. Petra and Brittany headed to the front where the tables were so they’d have a good view. I knew the record execs would be scattered around at different tables, but nowhere near the front. I was resting my head on Wale’s chest, allowing the liquor to take over my body and my spirit when I heard someone clear their throat. I turned around to see Marquis standing there. I rolled my eyes involuntarily.
Do not get me wrong, I’ve known Marquis as long as I’ve known Wale and it wasn’t as if he was a bad guy. I just…we didn’t see eye to eye on a lot of things. He and Brittany dated for a few months about a year ago. Unfortunately, Marquis isn’t the committed type. He messed around with girls all the time. He was a player, thought he could conquer the world with his dick, or at least that’s how Brittany and Petra put it. Maybe he just hadn’t met the right girl. It was possible because Wale was the same way. He was still a cool guy though, I just felt like I had to stand beside my friend you know. Him messing around on her wasn’t cool, though it seemed Brittany had pretty much gotten over it.
“Sup,” Wale said letting me go and dapping up Marquis.
“Chillin, chillin,” he said with a smile. He turned to me and opened up his arms. “Hey Melanie,” he said.
I gave him a smile. “Hey Qui,” I said as he pulled me into a hug. I really had no clue why he was here. I mean, when I first go the gig as a regular performer here I always invited everyone on my nights to perform. He never showed up though. It just wasn’t his thing or at least that’s what he kept telling me. So after awhile, I just stopped inviting him. So what in the world was he doing here?
“Umm…didn’t expect to see you here,” I said looking between him and Wale.
“Yeah well my mans here told me you had a big night ahead so I figured I’d come out and show some support. Plus from what I here it should be some especially fine ladies here tonight,” he said rubbing his hands together.
I rolled my eyes. “Yeah of course. Just don’t go and try to get my boo in trouble okay,” I said with a laugh.
“Naw never that. You took my number one wingman away so I’ve been flying solo on picking up females.”
Good. That’s the one word that came to mind. Le had changed in the 2 ½ years we’d been dating. He wasn’t chasing after other females anymore, lying to me or any of that and I wanted to keep it that way.
I looked over at the stage and noticed the band slowing down. That meant it was time for my set. I took a deep breath and turned to Wale. He leaned down and placed a deep kiss on my lips to settle my nerves. When he finally pulled away I couldn’t take the smile off of my face. He nodded towards Marquis and I watched as they walked to go find a table. They sat at a table right next to Petra’s and Brittany’s.
I took one more deep breath and headed to the side of the stage. I stood there waiting for my cue.
“Ladies and Gentlemen, you know her very well. She’s a very talented girl and gorgeous too. Give it up for the lovely Melanie Fiona!” Mitchell, the guitarist of the band said. I didn’t go by my last name on stage, just my first and middle.
I walked on stage the round of applause I was so used to hearing from the patrons here. Once I reached the center of the stage I put a smile on my face and gave Mitchell a kiss on the cheek. I grabbed the mic off of its stand and looked out into the crowd. I saw my friends smiling back at me. Wale bit his lip and winked at me.
“How ya’ll doing tonight?” I asked the crowd. I was trying to chat away my nerves.
I got the usual woots and responses from the crowd. “Well I was hoping ya’ll would let me start you guys off with a bit of dancing music tonight so, let’s get this started.”
The crowd whooped and hollered and I nodded behind me towards the band. The music started and I bent over to the side in position. The music started up and I moved my body to the beat, never bringing my head up. My cue came and I stood up straight, flipping my hair back and letting the music take over me.
(S/N her performance in video is how she performed on stage)
Finger on the trigger let it bang bang baby let it bang
I don’t give a dang cuz i’mma rebel kind watch me do my thang
Let me introduce you to my lucy I don’t care if ya like me (I walk it out on ‘em)
Runnin from the law I hit the borderline, Now try and in-trap me so let’s get down babyy!
I be lockin and loadin
I be shootin forever
Got my eye on the target and I’m aiming at’cha
See me moving in silence
Feel Destruction and Violence
Got my eye on the target and I’m aiming at’cha
BANG BANG!(I’m aiming at’cha)
BANG BANG! (I’m aiming at’cha)
Everyone in the crowd seemed to love the performance. I’d never sang this song here before. There were those up and dancing and those grooving at their tables. A smile appeared wider on my face. The energy they were feeding me was amazing and it was definitely keeping me going. I had put the mic back on the stand, but now I took it off again. I walked over to Mitchell as he played the guitar, leaned against his shoulder. I would go back to my original position right before the chorus. I opened my mouth and started singing again.
Ain’t nothing like the feeling of that cold bone metal in ya hand
Know I sound psycho, Daddy-O you’ll never understand…
Let me introduce you to my chrome-plated bullet she’s shining ( I’ll whip it out on ‘em)
Polishing my 45’ chevy ride scraping the highway
Top down, Pickin Up!
I be lockin and loadin
I be shootin forever
Got my eye on the target and I’m aiming at’cha
See me moving in silence
Feel Destruction and Violence
Got my eye on the target and I’m aiming at’cha
BANG BANG!(I’m aiming at’cha)
BANG BANG!(I’m aiming at’cha)
I’m aiming at’cha
Maybe I should live and let die
Takin it like a soldier don’t cry
Hold my head come down from my high
I be lockin and loadin
I be shootin forever
Got my eye on the target and I’m aiming at’cha
BANG BANG!(I’m aiming at’cha)
BANG BANG!(I’m aiming at’cha)
BANG BANG ( let me introduce you to my lucy!!) Ohh Ahhh!
Uhmmm YEAH!! LET ME INTRODUCE YOU TO MY LUCY!!
HEY! OHHH! BANG BANG BANG !
The music ended and I smiled as I looked out at the crowd. They went crazy and I ran my fingers through my hair as I laughed. Petra and Brittany led the cheers. Marquis had a funny look on his face and Wale…well Le was just being Le with a smooth smile on his face. I looked at Mitchell and nodded and he started the next song in my set.
Wale POV
Watching my baby up there on stage just brought a smile to my face. I don’t think she realized just how much damage she caused up there. When she was singing, performing, right in her zone. Man that she was amazing. It was like she was in her own little world and shy little Melanie disappeared and this….this woman appeared on stage. I have no idea how to even describe her. The way the lights hit her on stage. Damn my baby was sexy, beautiful, gorgeous, all of the above.
“Damn,” I heard my boy Marquis say.
I chuckled. “I told you man. My baby got fuckin skills,” I said. I kept telling him he should come see her perform, but he always said no, he had other shit to do. I finally got him to come out tonight though.
“Yeah…yeah she does,” he said. He never looked at me when he said it though, but I wasn’t paying attention to him anyway.
About three more songs and two encore songs later Melanie was finally finished on stage. I was standing right there on the side when she came off. I picked her up and kissed her lips.
“You were amazing babe. Then again, you’re always amazing,” I said holding her close to me.
“Aww thanks baby,” she said with a smile on her face. She was glowing.
I put her down and grabbed her hand. We walked over to the crew and they all congratulated her. I could tell they wanted to chill tonight, but I had other plans. I pulled her close to me and nestled my chin in her neck. I swear this was my favorite spot to be when it came to her. Well…second favorite.
“Aight man we gonna catch ya’ll later,” I said. Mel looked at me confused and I just smirked. She hugged everyone and then grabbed her jacket before following me out.
“I’m staaaaarving. Can we stop for some food?” she asked me.
“Yeah aight. Where you tryna go?” I asked as I stopped at a stoplight.
“Mcdonalds I guess. Just not that one on Florida Ave cause I swear if I have to see that Shrek looking girl that again,” she said shaking her head.
I chuckled. There was this real butch big girl who was always trying to get with Mel whenever we went there. “She just tryna find her Princess Fiona,” I said. She shot me a look that caused me to laugh harder.
I stopped and got the food before heading back to her place. Once we got there she went straight up to her apartment and to the counter in the kitchen. She hopped up and took her fries out of the bag. I watched her for a minute. She was stuffing the shit out of her face but it didn’t make her any less gorgeous.
“What are you staring at?” she asked me.
“You’re ugly face,” I said.
“Lil boy please, you love my face,” she said throwing a fry at me.
“Lil boy? Girl you know I’m all man and ain’t nothing little about me,” I said.
“I don’t know any such thing boo.”
Oh so she wanted to play this game tonight did she? I walked over to her and took the container of fries out of her hand. “What are you doing? They’re gonna get cold,” she whined.
“I’m not doing anything.” My lips grazed her ear and I felt her shiver. My lips moved down to her bare neck and she inhaled sharply. “I’m just going for my dinner.”
I chuckled as her fingers fidgeted on either side of her. She always did that. Even after dating this whole time, she was still nervous around me. I brought my lips back up to hers and kissed them softly. While my lips occupied hers, my fingers moved down to the buttons on her jeans. I undid them and traced my finger over her navel. I felt her clench just like I wanted her to.
I pulled away from the kiss and bent down. I tugged on her jeans and she lifted up a bit so that I could pull them off. I tossed them aside and looked up at her licking my lips.
“Leeee….here?” she asked looking down at me while biting her lip. Damn that shit just got me harder than hell. My baby was still innocent no matter how many times we did this.
“Yes here. Now open up cause a nigga hungry,” I said.
She bit her lip again and spread her legs just a little. I shook my head and spread them wider. I pulled her to the edge of the counter and moved inbetween her thighs. I bit the thin fabric and I heard her gasp. I loved that sound. I moved her panties to the side to see her treasure box.
As soon as I ran my tongue over her slit she let out a moan. That was my absolute favorite sound right there. I did it again and she got soaked. I parted her lips with my tongue and dove inside her box. She was forever eating pineapples and I swear that’s what she tasted like. I could hear her panting and moaning lightly as I ate her like she was the only thing I’d had in days. I curled my tongue inside of her and twirled it around. I pulled out and ran my tongue lightly over her swollen clit. I could tell she arched her back because my face was pushed deeper into her. Her hands went to my dreads and she pulled on them.
“Fuuu….ooooo Le right there,” she moaned.
I gripped her thighs tightly and sucked on her clit hard. A long moan told me I was doing just the right thing. I could feel her legs starting to shake. It never took much to get her to her peak because she was so sensitive. I nibbled on her clit before starting to spell out my name with my tongue.
“Ooooo I’m…oh God baby I’m cum…” she moaned out. She was gasping and grinding onto my face. It just made me put in more work.
Her juices spilled out onto my tongue and I sucked and lapped them up like they were the sweetest taste I could ever get. I felt her trying to pull away but I tightened my grip on her thighs. No running tonight. I was going to tear…this…up.
One.
- Monet
Thursday morning, just like any other morning where I just laid in my bed thinking about how there was no point in getting up for neither anything nor anyone for that matter. But my mom had already rescheduled my doctor’s appointment and said that I couldn’t miss this one.
Reluctantly, I rolled out of the bed and dragged myself towards the bathroom to get ready. After taking a long needed shower I threw together simple attire and threw a bunch of random shit in my bag, then preceded downstairs into our kitchen to find something light to eat.
Looking though the fridge I settled on one of those small bottles of Simply Orange juices and a bagel. As I made way to the counter, I eyed my keys that were just laying there in the bowl calling out to me. I would grab them and just roll out the house but since I took the semester off from college, my dad got upset and said I wasn’t allowed to drive but take the bus instead.
To this day, I still don’t understand how he had a say in the shit I did when he wasn’t the one who bought the car or pays my tuition. He also doesn’t he live here in this house. But seeing how he still has this hold over mom she goes along with almost everything he says.
As soon as I reached my hand in the bowl and grab my keys, I heard the sound of mom’s heels clacking against the floor. “Monet you better not take those keys. You know what your father said…” She said as she put her briefcase on the counter.
“Fuck what he said ma! Its been two months and I’m still not allowed drive… I have things to do” I shot back before throwing my keys back in the bowl. “And what does that consist of? “Dating” some boy via Skype and text messages? Honey I don’t see why you wont just leave that boy alone.” She retorted without looking up from her bag.
This is why I never really tell her shit. She always has to find a reason to throw the negative shit in my life right in my face at the worse times. Yeah so what I only talk to Jay through Sype and texting, but that doesn’t stop the strong feelings I’ve grown for him. I wouldn’t call it love yet but hey … it could be. And yeah he has a “girl” but from what he tells me, they just fuck around. But like Lil Wayne said, “I ain’t got not worries”
Two.
- Justin
Running late as usual, I ran around my room looking for all the shit I needed it for work today. Lucky for me, my dad owned the construction company that I worked for so he doesn’t really give me a hard time considering that I have to catch the bus now that my car is sitting in the shop.
Finally getting everything together I was on my way out the door, skipping breakfast. I don’t even remember what I put on this morning and being as late as I was already it didn’t matter if I liked it or not.
Once I got outside the walk I had to make hit me. Five blocks just to get to the bus stop and then I would have to wait for all the slow ass people on the bus to get off at their stops. At this point I’d rather walk back inside my apartment complex and call it a day, but that’s money I’m fucking up on.
After damn near those five blocks without slowing down once really got my heartbeat racing but it would be a lie if I said it didn’t feel good. I stood at the bus stop waiting with the others. Surprising, the bus was on time today and I let all the older women and men get on before the rest of us young niggas. I climbed on the bus and stood in my normal spot in the front.
When I went to reach for my iPad, that’s when I noticed her.
- Monet
Here I was on this bus about to have another fucking panic attack caused by no one other than Jay. He woke up extra salty this morning because I wouldn’t send him a half ass naked picture. What would I look like sending someone a picture like that and I haven’t even met him in person? A hoe. And I had too much respect for myself to satisfy his viewing pleasure.
As I looked down at my new notification from him, I read the text over and over until I felt myself start believing it …
Jay: Idk y i fuck wit u. U worthless
The more I looked at the text the more I felt like crying in front of all these people. Jay’s texts kept rolling in and they were all filled with insults that wouldn’t normally get to me if other people said them. I needed one of my girls right now so I texted the one I knew was up and functioning this early.
- Serenity
Waking up to the sound of the alarm clock reminded me that today was finally the day, the last day of my classes for the summer. I was more than happy to have a break from waking up extra early then sitting on my ass all day listening to a professor lecture for half the day. Today was going to be a good day.
I tried sitting up in which failed due to Trey’s long arm that was wrapped around me. After attempting to remove his arm I gave up and flopped back down against the pillows. “Babe I need you to move your arm so I can get up…” I whined. “Where you going?” Trey asked, sleep all in his voice. I sighed then replied “To class … like I do every other morning Trey.” Almost every morning we went through the same questioning, by now I thought he’d know my answer but obviously it wasn’t registering. Trey finally unwrapped is arm from around my small body and jumped off the bed and quickly made my way to the bathroom.
Almost a half hour later I returned to the room and walked into the closet we shared. Looking through my side I quickly put together my outfit and walked out. Making sure the fit wasn’t too dressy; I got dressed and made my way to the edge of the bed. “Trey I’m about to leave … so yeah.” I told him as I looked through my bag. “Gimme a kiss and you’re free to go.” He said before sitting up.
With a small smile I made my way towards him and kissed him. “Now go before you’re late little one” He demanded before getting up and going into the bathroom. After that I made sure I had everything I needed then proceeded to leave and head off to the campus.
Hope nothing put a dent in the good mood I rarely woke up in.
Three.
- Kali
As Nasir continued to deny my allegations of his assistant being around too much, I just threw my feet up on the dashboard and picked at my nails. I don’t get how he can be so oblivious to this situation like I understand she’s your assistant but half the shit she volunteers to do for him, he can either do himself or its suggestive towards sex. That gets shut down quickly because she always seems to turn on her flirtatious side when I’m around.
“Bae just chill! Ain’t nothing going to happen with me and that girl so stop buggin.” He said as he pulled into a parking spot at the mall.
Yeah, nothing is going happen while I’m around. I know that for sure but what’s going to happen when I’m not there? That’s what gets me and I’ve put too much energy into this relationship just to let some assistant come in and take what belongs to me.
“You say that now but we’ll jus have to see. Lets go before they sell out of these J’s I want” I said to him.
After I went and got my shoes and us walking around, people started to recognizing us and running up … Here we go
“OMG! You’re Driicky Graham”… “Aye thats the nigga that sing Snapbacks & Tattoos” … “You’re so cute Driicky!”
And just like that, the time I had to myself with my boyfriend Nasir, turned into a celeb outing with the star Driicky.
- Faith
Another night wasted on talking about the same topic; my auditions. After being out all day going to audition after audition, I have to come home and hear the nagging from Carnel about how he’s feeling like I’m neglecting him and how I’m never going to make it as a dancer and if I do, ill just be stuck as a background dancer.
It would be a lie if I didn’t say some of the shit he says doesn’t hurt my feelings but I’ve gotten my feelings hurt since I was a child. Everyone has so I just take it as my motivation to go out and make something of my self and make my parents proud. They didn’t let me move out here to Cali for nothing
”Look Nell, I’m tired and I don’t want to talk about this shit tonight If you feeling so neglected go out and find another bitch because this one right here is going to make it one day” I said, now more irritated then I was before.
He didn’t say anything in return but just got up and left the room. Not having a fuck to give I began shedding my clothes and pulling out a pair of shorts and a sports bra to sleep in.
After my nap I’d have to see if the girls were up to a night of video chats cause I need to get some shit off my chest. I don’t know how much longer I can deal with Nell and our crumbling relationship.
Chapter I: “Wale this my girl Melanie.”
Melanie POV
“Oh my gosh Petra put my shit down!” I groaned as I walked into the living room of my one bedroom apartment. My hair was pulled up into a messy bun and I was sporting my Bowie State sweatshirt and a pair of black leggings.
“I’m just trying to get you ready for tonight! This ain’t no open mic night shit , this is a real live lil gig you got going here,” Petra said as she held up the black dress she’d pulled out my closet. “And your lil booskie gonna be there so you need to look hella good.”
I hid my face in my hands, trying to withhold the smile that was forming on my lips. I know color was rushing to my cheeks that I couldn’t control. Even at 23, grown, and living on my own stuff like this still got to me. Somehow my best friends Petra and Brittany always knew how to embarrass the hell out of me.
“Oh my gosh shut up Pet before you make her even more nervous,” Brittany said snatching the dress from her hands and taking it back into my room for me. Brittany was the more sane one of the two.
From the moment I met them that first day on Bowie’s campus at the age of 18 I knew these girls were going to be linked to me for life. I’d just moved to the States from Toronto to make the Maryland/DC area my home. Brittany was from Detroit while Petra was from Chicago. Petra had gotten into a fight the very first day at orientation with some girl who had bussed in line in front of her. I’ll never forget the scream that poor girl let out when Petra snatched out her weave. I was in shock.
Somehow the three of us got placed in the same orientation group. As soft spoken as I am, Petra was just that much more aggressive and outspoken. She gave the stank eye to anyone she deemed worthy. For a girl with a pretty face and a bougie look, she was anything but. Brittany was in our orientation group too, already sipping away on something clear in a water bottle that I doubted was really water. Even though she was chill, she knew how to party right and she claimed she was pre-gaming for some party she’d heard about. Since all of us were from different cities and the orientation was happening in late July, we had all moved into our dorms early.
Neither one of them wanted to let me out of their sight even though they didn’t know jack shit about the city like me. Even still, these DC and Maryland chicks didn’t intimidate either girls. They vowed to bring me out of my shell before the first semester was over and they partially succeeded. A year later we were still thick as thieves. It was also a year later that I met my now boo Wale Folarin. That’s not his birth name, but it’s what everyone refers to him as since they can’t pronounce his full real name. He was posted up in the corner of some party we were at together. I can still remember it.
Flashback
“Why am I here again?” I asked outloud to myself with a sigh. As much as I was for partying, this Howard U shit was known to get out of hand and I did not have time for it tonight. I really just wanted to be curled up in my dorm room that I shared with Petra and Brittany watching Eve’s Bayou again. Of course my girls dragged me out though saying we needed to get this year started off with a bang.
I held my cup in my hand, as I leaned against the wall. My hand was tucked into my body, my nose ring itching like hell for some reason. I took a sip of my drink and as I felt the vodka slide down my throat it burned like hell. I scrunched up my nose because once again Brittany had made my drink way too strong. Why did I continue to allow her to make me drinks? Liquor truly tasted like water to that girl. At least Petra had sense enough to know how much I could take. I scanned the room, trying to keep an eye out for my girls. Petra was over at the wall opposite me grinding on some guy to Ginuwine’s Pony. The girl was a freak and I couldn’t help but smile at the thought. Right as I was about to search for Brittany, she appeared next to me. Her eyes were low, but not from being high. Weed wasn’t her thing, alcohol was. That I could always trust.
“Baby girl why you just standing here?” she asked me as she leaned her head on the wall.
“Because,” I said simply as I allowed my lips to curl once more around the edge of the cup and tilted it upwards. The stinging this time wasn’t so strong.
“Oh my gosh are you still nursing that first drink? Baby girl you have to loosen up and have fun tonight. I know you’re upset about McClain, but,” she started but I stopped her.
“I’m not thinking about him,” I mumbled, though I knew she wouldn’t believe me. She was referring to a guy I had been talking to for about 4 months now. I was starting to get close to him when I found out he had gotten some girl in my old dorm pregnant. Turns out he wasn’t being sweet when he said he was willing to wait for sex, he was just getting it from someone else.
“Mhmm well just to make sure, why don’t you go say hi to that fine piece of chocolate standing over there in that corner,” she said nodding her head towards a guy.
“Noooo Britt. Just no,” I said shaking my head.
“What, you don’t think he cute? Come on here hoe,” she said grabbing my hand. She stumbled over herself as she led me over to where he and a light skinned guy stood.
“Heeey Wale,” she said with a smile on her face. Wale? What kind of name was that?
“Sup Britt-Brat,” he said to her, but his eyes never left my face. My eyes quickly flickered down as I tried to keep the color from rising to my cheeks.
“Nothin. I see you chillin with your boy Marquis,” she said looking at the lighter skinned guy. He smirked at her.
“Yeah he is. When you gonna let me holla at you though?” Marquis asked her.
“When you gonna learn I’m just not interested like the rest of these groupies?” she shot back at him.
He just chuckled and shook his head. She turned her attention back to Wale. I watched her closely. I knew her game and I knew it well. “Wale this my girl Melanie.”
He looked at me with a smirk. “Hi,” I said in my low and shy voice.
Brittany grabbed Marquis’s hand, mumbled something about needing another drink, and left the two of us standing there on our own. The silence was an awkward one. I was never one who was good with sparking up new conversations with people I didn’t know. I shifted my weight from one foot to another as I leaned against the wall. I looked from him to the floor as he caressed his bottom lip with his tongue.
“So you don’t seem to be having fun baby girl,” he said to me, leaning in so that I could hear him over the music.
“What makes you say that?” I asked him.
“You’ve been posted on the wall all night like you have other things on your mind and somewhere else to be. Like you out of your element.” So he’d been watching me all night. I couldn’t help but smile.
“Yeah well somehow I let my girls convince me this was a good idea.”
He stood there, contemplating for a second, before speaking again. “Want me to get you back to campus? I’m guess you go to Bowie like Brittany right?” he asked.
I thought about it for a second. For all intents and purposes I didn’t know this man from Adam. If Brittany trusted him though, he couldn’t be all that bad. She always had a sixth sense about these things. I looked around. I hadn’t driven tonight, but neither had my girls. Petra’s cousin who went to Howard had brought us. I could see him and I know he would keep an eye out for them. I turned back to Wale and nodded.
I allowed him to take my hand and guide me towards the exit. Somehow both Petra and Brittany had ended up together. Their eyes and smirks both told me that somehow they had planned this. They both nodded egging me on and I rolled my eyes at them. I turned my head back to what was in front of me. As soon as we walked out the door the warm air hit me. It felt good against my skin. I allowed him to lead me towards his car and then climbed in.
“So…what do you do?” I asked him. He looked at me. “I mean like are you in school or…” I explained.
“Yeah. I just transferred into Bowie, but I’m trying to break into a rap game. Got a couple mixtapes out and whatnot,” he said.
“You any good?” I asked him as I put my bottom lip between my teeth.
“I like to think so. You like music?” he asked me.
“I love it. R&B is my life. That’s why I’m a vocal music major,” I said looking out the window.
We allowed the sounds of music to fill the silence the rest of the car ride. He parked his car once we got to campus and then we walked towards my dorm. When we got out front of the building. I turned to face him and my eyes looked down at the ground once again.
“So can I call you?” he asked me.
“I guess so,” I said with a slight smile.
Flashback End
That was it. That was history. I swear it started off as a friendship, but it slowly and surely grew to more than that. He was good to me. Sweet to me. He still was. He eventually dropped out of school, but his music game kept his hustle up. And now my baby was finally getting some real recognition. His first album Attention Deficit was set to drop sometime this year. All the tracks weren’t finished yet, but they were getting there. I was so proud of him. Meanwhile, I hadn’t been signed or anything, but I was slowly trying to get there. Like this performance I had tonight. There were supposed to be some producers and record execs there. I was nervous, but excited at the same time. I knew my baby would be right there in the audience supporting me too.
A knock on the door broke up whatever argument Petra and Brittany had started to have. I shook my head and went to go answer it. As soon as I opened it there stood the very man I couldn’t get enough of. His chocolate skin, his short dreads, his knit cap pulled down over his head. A smile broke out over my face when I saw him, a smile that reached my eyes.
“Hey Princess Fiona,” he said to me. That was the nickname he’d given me when he found out my middle name.
I moved to push him, but instead he drew me into his chest by my hand. I could smell his signature scent: weed and coconut. I inhaled deeply. I tilted my head back and he kissed my lips softly as if he was scared he would break me. I felt myself melting into him just like I did every time I was this close to him.
“Ayo stop sucking face in the hallway damn,” Petra said rolling her eyes as she stood behind me with her hands on her hips.
“Don’t hate Pet,” he said with a chuckle after we pulled apart.
“Booboo please she’ll choose me over you anyday,” Petra said with a smirk.
“Mhmm, we’ll put that to the test one day, but not now cause I don’t want to hurt your feelings out here,” he said as I grabbed his hand and led him into the apartment. He shut the door behind him and locked it. He sat down on the couch and I sat next to him. I leaned into his chest as he wrapped an arm around me and pulled me in closer.
“Anyone else hungry?” he asked.
“Yes! Oh my gosh let’s get this carry out shit poppin cause a bitch feenin for some mambo sauce,” Brittany said. Four years in the DMV and we had all become carry-out feens. Le was already there since he grew up here. I looked around my apartment as they searched for the menu to Yums as if they all didn’t know what they wanted. Wale looked down at me and lifted my chin before placing a kiss on my lips.
“I missed you,” he said.
“Not as much as I missed you though,” I responded before kissing him again.
