Iight so boom. The year is 2015 or 2016, I don’t remember exactly..Okay, I’m pretty sure it was 2015. Anyways, I have an ex and for now let’s call her Bry. Like a lot of times nowadays, me and Bri met through social media. Instagram to be exact. And to be perfectly honest with you all, Bri shot her shot as a fadeaway layup but it somehow went in.
When Bry first followed me, her instagram page consisted of videos of her dancing; dancing in clubs, dancing at home, or dancing in the shower. At first glance, I thought it was a spam page but several days after the follow I got a DM. “Hey wassup with you?” she said. The time was 1:30pm ,it was January and I remember I had a iphone 5c where every time I received a notification, the beginning of Touch by Omarion would play. I wasn’t popping in 2015, nor was I ever receiving notifications that weren’t World of Warcraft updates.
“Whatchu mean?” I respond hesitantly. Boy, I was hype. If you seen this girl’s page and then looked at me in 2015, you’d be hype for me. 10 minutes pass by and she responds. “I mean...what are you doing today?” I was shook and confused but I tried my best to keep my cool. “uh..nothing much after 3, why wassup?” I replied. Before I could close the phone, she responds instantly with her phone number followed by “that’s my #, text me when you get a chance.” I was still confused, yet intrigued.
The time is now 2:13pm and I called my light skin friend, Justin, to tell him about what just happened. Justin is one of those afrocentric black guys who likes girls who look like Nia Long and only uses Shea Moisture products. “Facetime her, bro. Gotta hear her voice and check for that adam’s apple. You feel me?” and that’s exactly what I did, except she facetimed me first. l texted her alleged 212 number with the message “hey, it’s puusherman.” and no less than a minute later she called me. While the phone was ringing I thought to myself..”212? she must be from Harlem” and boy was I right! I answered and there she was, the girl from the videos.
“Puuuushermannnn, wassup my nigga.” said the battle rapper. All I heard was 138th street coming out of my phone and I couldn’t stop laughing. She appeared to be in her bedroom, pink everything, even down to the curtains. For at least 10 minutes we talked about nonsense but just as I thought, she sounded like a battle rapper. I didn’t know if her next statement would be a diss to the yugioh poster behind me or to the shape of my head. I was at edge until..”Yo, get dressed.” I paused. then I replied “Me?” Yes. just like in the corny movies, 2015 was a different me, a sillier me. she chuckles and says “yeah, nigga. you. You live in Brooklyn, right? I’m about to come get you.” That’s when I got serious. “Hold on, we only been on the phone for half an hour and you about to come get me? Nahhh, we can meet but it gotta be on equal ground just in case you try some shit.”
This girl just started smiling and I was confused. Did I say the right thing? Is she crazy? “You’re funny, my nigga. Whatever you say. So where? what about Atlantic? I don’t really fuck with Brooklyn but i been before. We can just hang out.” I nod my head in the camera and say “iight. take the train then, don’t drive.” And she barks back “I don’t take trains, them shits is nasty. Ima take a cab.” and hangs up.
Fast forward to 4:53 and we decided to meet in Pandora. Since the year was 2015, that meant I only owned adidas track suits. I was wearing a classic black and white one and in addition to being 6’4, I looked like an easy target for something. People walking past me are wearing B.B. belts, lace up fronts, graphic tees, and fury key chains and I looked out of place but that’s always been me.
I hear Trap Queen by Fetty Wap begin to play asI hear a “Shawn? yurrrrrr” and I turn around it’s her. The tattoos matched, the face matched and so did the voice. So I got up and greeted her with a dap like she was one of my niggas. “Damn, you tall as shit boy. One step and you could walk to 125th” and I laughed and responded “my bad, you said something? I don’t really listen to battle rap that much. Gonna have to break it down for me.” Then she laughed and we started walking.
We walked past the McDonalds, the Bath & Body Works, and the Citibank to get outside where she would say “You hungry?” but imagine a battle rapper said it. I respond softly with “yeah, I kinda want some pizza.” and she says “deadass, wanna go back to your place and order some?” and this girl was serious. I looked her in the eye and seen that look, that familiar look. I don’t jump to conclusions but she had that look. THAT look.
that “you know what I want” look. that yolo look. and I wasn’t that experienced with shit like this so I honestly said “My room is dirty.” and she said in all seriousness “You think I care about that? You got any games?” Did I? Any game that came out in 2014 or 2015? I HAD THAT. but I was like “yeah, I got a few.” and we was out.
Turns out she was serious about the whole “I don’t take trains” thing. We were standing outside on Hanson Street by BAM when I mentioned walking to the C and she quickly returned “Nigga, didn’t I say I don’t take trains? Give me a number for a cab.” But I didn’t have one and by the time I said I didn’t have one, she already had one herself. So, it’s 2015 and I’m in a cab with this girl. Before that I hadn’t taken a cab anywhere since maybe 2004 or something. We get to my crib and nobody is home. I was actually tight about that because if my mom was home then I would’ve had to keep the door open the whole time. But the house was as quiet as a mouse, even Shadow was nowhere to be found. I lead the way into my room and it’s clean. “You call this dirty? Then my room is dirty too den.” And we both laughed. But you could tell by her laugh that she was Harlem cause it sounded like she was about to spit a verse. We just sat down, engaged in conversation and we were honestly just getting to know each other. I was sitting on my bed and she was sitting in my gaming chair. For maybe 32 minutes, it felt as if I was talking to one of the homies and I was happy about that cause I never really was one to have friends and for a second it felt that way. We talked about aliens, music, drugs, and even global history strangely enough.
Now here’s where things went left.
In midst of us playing Shadow of Mordor, she suggested to order pizza. I asked “What kind of pizza do you usually eat?” And she quickly answered “Papa Johns.” except her demeanor and body language kind of changed as if she was about to transform. At that point, I had watched too much anime to not notice something. She was about to pull some shit, but I was calm. If Naruto ever taught me anything it was “BELIEVE IT!” and even though I wasn’t trying to become Hokage, I had to be prepared to protect my village at all costs. So, we order two medium pizzas and the estimated arrival time popped on my computer screen..it read “24-30 MINUTES” The time is now 8:03 PM on a saturday night. The only thing I had consumed was some fish cakes my mom had made earlier that morning, and because of unexplainable need for hot sauce on my food that started when I was young, I had to make my way to the bathroom. I told her “I’ll be back, i just gotta use the bathroom real quick.” And I was gone.
13 minutes later and as I’m about to open my room door, I hear Shadow meow from the kitchen. I go and feed him and change the water in his bowl and then head back to my room. I open my room door to see this girl butt-ass naked on my bed. You know those cut scenes in the movies where the character is slowed down and all of their movements are exaggerated? Well, that’s exactly how I saw this shit. The nail polish on her toes were white, she had this floral print tattoo going down the side of her thigh and a butterfly on her back. I didn’t see that nail polish on her fingernails were white too. I thought sis was glowing, I was 50% annoyed and 50% aroused. The 50% of me that was annoyed was actually enjoying the new platonic friendship I THOUGHT I had. Not to mention, PIZZA DIDN’T EVEN GET TO MY CRIB YET. The other 50% was feeling an adrenaline rush, there was a butt naked girl laid out on my bed. For the record, I don’t know how to swim BUT I WAS FINNA DIVE IN THAT DAY. but the annoyed 50% said “Yoooo, I don’t even know her...we was fully playing Shadow of Mordor, like where did she even put her clothes at??” I turned my attention towards my computer desk and sis fully folder her clothes and put her sneakers on top..I don’t know why but the organization alone almost made me nut. Nfs.
*CONTINUING THE STORY*
I’m standing there, my mouth isn’t wide open or anything but my pupils were definitely dilated. She was smiling, almost diabolically. At first, I didn’t know whether to step towards the bed, or towards my chair. To save our current game of Shadow of Mordor or to sit down next to her and play it cool. So you know what I did? I saved that fucking game. I don’t play with that shit..while I saving, I saw her in the corner of my eye on her phone. The brightness of her screen was so bright. It sounded like she was playing through snapchat stories. “Bro, could you put on some music? It’s quiet as shit in here.” I immediately tilted my head 23 degrees to the right in disbelief. Did she just call me bro?! But she’s butt naked on my bed?? I didn’t know what to think. I was too quiet for too long, I had to say something. “What do you wanna hear?” I replied seriously. She kinda sucked her teeth and looked at the ceiling as if she was brainstorming for something else other than Dipset or 50 cent. But to my surprise she said “Flashing Lights..by Kanye. I love that song.” Bruh, my mouth was open at that point. I love that song too. What was happening. Why would she “bro” me but lay there naked? And where was the pizza? It was well past 40 minutes. Sarcastically I say, “You comfortable?” And she giggles. After 2 minutes and 30 seconds of us singing along she sits up and asks me softly. “You wanna fuck?” Again, as she asked me, time around her slowed down and the imaginary camera that was my eyes zoomed in on her lips where the lip gloss was very much visible. And again, I was shook. Novacane by Frank Ocean had began to play in the background and everything in the world seemed like it wasn’t going in my favor. In what seemed to be a 30 second silence, my phone rang and it was an unsaved number I had hoped to be Papa Johns. To my luck, it was and I told her I’d answer her when I got back with the food. She smiled, fell back into my bed and said “whatever you say, bro.”
I’m now outside and I’m conflicted.
I see the busted up toyota camry with the Papa Johns sign on top and I continue to walk towards it until I hear a familiar yet unsettling laugh. It was my ex. Her name was Altimer, a short girl who always loved to be seen or heard. Due to the not so pleasant ending of our relationship, we had animosity towards one of another. Yet that didn’t stop her from walking past my building with another guy, and it definitely didn’t stop her from kissing him right in front of the Papa Johns car. It was as if the universe was helping lean towards what I reluctantly thought about doing and it was working.
I walk faster because I was hungry and wanted my pizza and didn’t give a fuck if she saw me or not. Flashbacks of our past began to ensue and I was irritated. I got the pizza and started to walk back to my building. “Is that him? THAT’S your ex?” I heard coming from the corner behind me and all I could do is laugh. Fast forward back to my room, pizza boxes in hand and i just closed the door with my ass. “I’m clean if you’re wondering. I know I was direct but that’s just how I am, feel me. If I want it, I’m gonna get it.” I didn’t say anything. We just ate pizza, she had a meat lovers pie, and mine was pepperoni and chicken. “So, we fuck-” “Nah, we not.” I replied. “Why not?” “Bry..as good as you look, i’m just not feeling it right now. Most niggas would’ve jumped at you but I was actually enjoying the little non-sexual thing we had going on. Not saying I don’t want you but-” “But you’re gay?” “HUH?!” My thought process was instantly muddled.
Backyard by Travis Scott was playing.
“Nah, I’m not gay. I’m just choosing not to fuck you.”
Wow. I never thought I’d be saying that but seeing my ex reminded me. “Don’t fuck her on the first link.” Bry looked annoyed, irate almost. “This is really a first. You want me to get dressed? Nah, fuck it..I’m going home.” I didn’t stop her either. I just said no to sex. What did this mean? I obviously couldn’t tell anyone. Was she gonna unfollow me? Was I no longer valid to say “b” after statements? Was I no longer valid in Harlem? My aunt lives there. All of this was running through my head and before I could say anything she was dressed and leaving my room. “Come lock your door. My cab is outside. Im gonna talk to you later, Shawn.”
Two weeks later..
PART THREE***
I’m planning my second hotel party. If you’ve never been before, I wouldn’t say you’re missing out but we definitely have a good time. Anyways, It’s February 3rd and I had been planning this shindig even before I met Bry. The hotel was located in Manhattan by Rockerfeller Center and what I loved about it so much was the secrecy. You could walk in and go straight to the elevator and no one would ask you anything! The hotel was definitely exclusive, gold everything with live music playing and constant movement, perfect for the shenanigans i had orchestrating there for the past year or so. Even though our previous encounter ended the way it did, me and Bry were still in contact. Whether it was through text, facetime, or instagram we were still talking. Sometimes we’d flirt, sometimes we talk about how people in our respective lives weren’t shit. I didn’t know if me saying no to her advances fully fucked up my chances of ever doing anything with her cause Bry was bad. Yet, at the same time I didn’t care, I was still enjoying the conversation. I think it was the fact that to Bry was hood, but she had some nerd in her so I could relate.
It’s Wednesday night, 7:30 pm and we’re in the middle of a scheduled facetime appointment. “I’m having a hotel party this weekend, you should come through.” I said. She moved away from doing her makeup for a second to look into the camera and say “who gonna be there? Im not coming to be in a room full of niggas. Will there be food or drinks, cause you know me. Im a fat ass.” As I answered, she appeared to be twerking to Nicki Minaj song I can’t remember the name of. If there was one thing I learned from the multiple facetime calls, it’s that Bry has to twerk before doing anything; dont matter where she’s at. “There won’t be too many people, definitely won't be a sausage fest. There will be pizza, wings, and liquor. Yes.” She picked up her phone, turned down her music, looked right into the camera and said in all seriousness. “I’ll think about it..but if I come..I’m comin’ to see you, and you better not send me home again lookin’ stupid cause I will fuck you up, Shawn.” and hung up before I could say anything.
When Bry left the first time, the first person I told was another one of my exes. And Ima say this now if you’re thinking it, before Bry, there were three other girls. This ex’s name was Nykia and you could say she was that one ex I was on and off with. She had no problem messaging any girl I was talking to and telling her not to deal with me cause I habitually ate ass 5 days a week. Yes, I was still messing with her. But I stopped around new years and we said we’d try our best to keep in touch just as friends. I invited her to my party as well. As well as some of my best friends, Malik, Justin, Alex, a few friends from middle school and some models to shoot, and last but not least, Drew.
Now, let’s fast forward to Saturday night. As usual, I go to my 99 cent store and get my essentials: plastic cups, napkins, balloons, trash bags, uno cards, plates, juice and most importantly liquor. (Yes, my 99 cent story is a whole liquor store as well.) We get to the hotel, check in and start blowing up balloons. “Yo bro, you think it’s a smart idea to have Nykia and Bry in here? You know how Nykia is with girls you’re dealing with.” Malik said eagerly. “Yeah, but I’m not messing with Bry, and I don’t talk to Nykia anymore. Plus, she said she talking to someone months ago and we been talking as friends.” Malik has known me for years and never believes me when I say I’m done with her. “...Right, and later tonight Ima have to go in the bathroom while yall fuck, right?” Before I could answer there was an abrupt knock at the door! We already had the speakers set up and we had some old Chris Brown playing. “Want me to get that?” Malik asked. “If you don’t mind.” as I kept tending to the balloons and the lighting in the room. Before we knew it, the room was almost packed. There was a mix of people I knew with, with people I didn’t. People were conversing and playing uno while others were looking for the best way to hotbox the bathroom after I kept telling them not too. The different colored light bulbs I bought were helping with the mood: half of the room was green, and the other was red. The time was 11:32 pm and everything was going great! Until there was a knock at the door again. Over the past two hours, there were countless knocks but this one was different because I knew who it was, even when I wanted to tell myself I didn’t. I opened the door and it was Nykia. Standing at 5’6 with a long ponytail; with her were the other two friends we had in common, Brandi and Rocky. There was a silence.
“Shawn.”
“Nykia.”
“We’re here too, bitch.” said Rocky.
“Are you going to invite me in, Shawn? Been doing so over the past 4 years, now shouldn’t be any different.”
“Don’t you have a new nigga?”
“Yeah, but he don’t eat ass like you.”
“Okay! I’m out.” says Rocky, as her and Brandi walk past me and into the room. Nykia follows. I sigh aggressively in irritation. **For the record I don’t eat ass.**
Once we’re in the room, Rocky claims a spot on the bed and offers to order dominos.
For some reason, in the back of my head I thought..”Bry hates dominos.” But why did that pop into my head? Did I actually like this girl? No. She’s my friend and that was me remembering that she hates dominos cause it tastes like cardboard. Yeah, that was it. “Yo bro, you okay?” Justin asked. He was standing next to me near the door where I had spaced out for as second. In his hand was a cut filled with Amsterdam and Tropicana, I could also smell it on his breath. Him coming to check on me broke me out of my daydream and the first person I noticed in the room was Nykia. She was sitting there. Looking around but I could tell she wanted to look at me, I knew her too well. She was a Taurus. “Here bro, have a drink.” said Malik. It was my favorite, Hennessy. I thought I should relax since nothing could actually go wrong. But before I could drink for the cup, there was another knock at the door. But this knock sounded foreign; as if the person was making a beat on the door. It had to be Bry, so i laughed and opened the door but to my surprise she seemed eager. As I was about to say “wassup” her lips quickly met mine and at the angle we were standing at in the hallway, Rocky, Brandi, Justin, everyone else in the room, and most importantly, Nykia was fully able to see.
This kiss seemed like it was going on forever but in retrospect it was quicker than expected. It was also my first time kissing a girl from Harlem and I felt like I had a golden ticket; like I had on a pair of golden timbs and if I clicked my heels three times, Cam’ron would appear in front of me with a chopped cheese. “You good, bro?” she said diabolically.
******
The room was quiet for second with Know Yourself by Drake playing in the background. Bry went into the bathroom. Malik runs up on me and says “I thought you said you weren’t dealing with her??? Everyone saw that, my nigga. You know Nykia is crazy.” I was confused, aroused, and anxious. “You know what, bro? Just chill. We’re suppose to be having a good time. Nykia aint gonna do shit, Bry is gonna chill. We suppose to be shooting. Ima drink my henny and get to work, copy?” The frustration in Malik’s face immediately turns into a smile followed by a laugh. “Alright, my nigga. Ima trust you. Lets party”
10 minutes later.
“Shawn, pass me a drink.” “Draw 4!” “Who got the AUX?”
Nykia, with a drink in hand walks up on me going into the bathroom. “Who is that bitch?”
“Nykia, you deadass? First off, you’re drunk as shit and we said we’d stop doing this.”
Nykia can’t handle her liquor so I just mushed her face so she’d fall back onto the bed where Brandi and Rocky were. I was worried about Bry. She was still in the bathroom. I get up and knock on the door. “Bry, you good?” I don’t hear anything so I knock again. “Bry, you good? It’s Shawn.” Then I hear music playing and something told me to open the door, so I do. This girl in the bathroom almost butt ass naked twerking to some song I can’t seem to remember. This time I had henny in my system so I wasn’t gonna say shit but just close the door behind me, feel me?
“Why you in here twerking by yourself?” I asked.
“Shawn, you know I don’t like people. Plus I don’t know anyone out there so I was gonna wait in here till you brought me some henny and pizza. That shit ain’t dominos is it? You know what I like.”
“Nah, it’s Papa Johns.” *I lied* “I’ll bring you some foo-“
“That girl with the ponytail on the bed. That’s your bitch? Cause I saw her looking at me.”
“No, that’s my ex. I don’t mess around with her anymore either. We’re just trying to be friends. Don’t mind her.”
“I just don’t like when people stare at me for no reason. You better not be lying to me, Shawn. I didn’t come all the way to fight anyone’s bitch.”
“I know. You’re not going to fight anyone. You staying over?”
“I might. If I have fun, I just might.”
*Knock Knock*
“OCCUPIED” I yelled.
“Open the fucking door, Shawn.” It was Nykia.
“Go handle her, I’ll be out in a second.” Bry said jokingly.
I quickly open the door and close it behind me. Me and Nykia are now facing each other. She’s staring me with mixed emotions in her eyes. “Are you fucking her? I know what we agreed on but inviting me over just to watch you make out with some girl is just disrespectful.”
Bry from inside the bathroom. “I’ll fuck him if I want, bitch.”
“What was that, bitch?” Nykia barked.
“Don’t listen to her. She isn’t fucking me, I’m not fucking her. Just chill.” I said. I was trying to calm Nykia down.
“This still my dick. Right?”
The liquor finally hit her.
“Nykia, no. We don’t do that anymore.”
“But 5 months ago you had no problem whispering in my ear while you fucked the shit out of me. You tell me not to act one way but your actions always spoke otherwise. Stop fucking with me, Shawn.”
The hennessy was definitely messing with my words. My syllables were dragging and I was stuttering. In my defense, Malik and Rocky saw what was happening and dragged Nykia away from me. I was conflicted once again and anxiety found its way into the party as well. I took a drink and two slices of pizza and went into the bathroom with Bry.
At this point, I didn’t even pay attention to the fact that Bry was butt naked in front of me. We were talking and she was listening. She was being that friend I needed the past couple of years. I was never the best communicator but that night I poured out 4 years of bullshit over the course of 25 minutes. I was happy. Bry then sat on my lap and kissed me again. I didn’t know what I was feeling but it was different. Were we about to fuck in this hotel bathroom? That night, Hennything was possible. Until my phone rang. It was Malik.
“Bro, come outside now.”
“I’ll be right back, Bry.”
“This better be the last time you leave, or else you’re calling me a cab.” Bry said aggressively as she began to roll up. I don’t even know where she got the weed from. I thought “Harlem girls are different.” and I walked out.
People had left. It was Nykia, Malik, Brandi, Drew, and some girl I didn’t know who was on the floor slumped. Frank Ocean was playing.
“hiiiiiii Dadddyyy” said Nykia drunkingly.. She was on the bed covered in balloons. The different colors complemented her skin complexion, not to mention she had on lingerie I only seen a few times before.
“she kept asking for you, bro.”
“did she keep drinking? what did y’all give her?”
“she only had one cup of henny all night, bro.” said Malik.
“well, I’m kind of busy shooting in the bathroom. I thought something really happened.”
“nigga, how you shooting when your camera hasn’t left your bag the whole night??”
“Daddddyyyyyyyy, I want some dickkkkkkkk”
I was conflicted again. This was the first time I been in this situation, Bry was in the bathroom butt ass naked and Nykia was on the bed. Both wanting some dealings. What to do?
I looked at Nykia on the bed and saw her crying.
I walked up to her and said “I’m sorry.”
“For what?” she replied.
“For everything, you were honestly the first person to ever love me and I didn’t see that and put you through a lot; A lot of shit you definitely didn’t deserve. As much as I want us to be friends, I don’t think we can be since I haven’t really taken the time to acknowledge everything i’ve done. All those times you said I love you and I don’t think I ever said it back.”
“That’s the first time you’ve ever said sorry to me in years, you know that? I’m going to take a walk and try to sober up. Brandi, can you come with me?”
As Nykia and Brandi left the room, the only people left were me, Rocky, Malik, Drew, and Bry.
I exhaled in relief when the door closed.
*Thump* The bathroom door slams open.
“I told you not to leave me waiting, dickhead. Now call my cab, I’m leaving.” There was Bry standing in the hallway fully clothed. She had on air max’s when I could’ve sworn she came in timbs. She had on ripped jeans when I could’ve sworn she came in addias sweatpants. She had on a black hat and grey shirt when I could’ve sworn she came in..the liquor was getting to me, b.
Everyone else looks at each other in confusion.
“I’m not calling you a cab. I never said I would.” I reply seriously. I was pissed for some strange reason. I don’t like talking about my feelings and Nykia brought out something in my subconscious me I don’t usually tamper with; my emotions.
As i’m standing in the middle of the room, Bry walks forward and begins to talk. “Don’t play with me, Shawn. I’ll fuck this room up real quick and get you kicked out.” She was laughing as she was talking.
“Touch that bottle and I’ll fuck you up “real quick”, and i’m serious. Im not in the mood.”
“Call my cab and i’ll go.”
“Are you dumb? I’m not calling your cab.”
“He isn’t calling your cab, bitch.” said Rocky passively.
“I always wanted to deal with a Harlem bitch but if all of y’all are like this then i’m good.” said Malik.
“I told you about wasting my time, and this is the last time you’ll see me, my nigga. You’re really a bitch.”
“There you go battle rapping again. Shut up, god damn. I don’t care. Acting like your pussy is made of gold or something. I told you, i’m not in the mood. If you actually care you’ll go home and let me do what I gotta do and i’ll talk to you later.”
“This is what I get for trying to be nice to a brooklyn nigga I swear. Suck my dick.”
“Seems like you mad you can’t suck his.” Rocky mumbled.
The beat for Digital Dash by Drake and Future just dropped.
“Go home, Bry.”
“Call my cab, I’m not taking a train.”
“NO ONE IS CALLING YOUR CAB.” Rocky, Malik, and Drew all shouted in unison.
“Fuck you, and fuck y’all too. Don’t ever talk to me again, Shawn. You’re replaceable and you’ll never find another bitch like me.” shouted Bry. When she was talking it was almost as if she matching her words with the beat.
“Oh shit, she deadass battle rapping, yo. I’m weak.” said Malik jokingly.
“Oh my god, Go.” said Rocky. and Bry walked out the door and slammed it behind her.
Let’s finish this story.
“Did you kill in the bathroom, at least?” Malik asked.
“Nah. and I’m glad I didn’t.”
“Shittttt, I mean….should’ve at least got the kill, bro.”
“Yeah.” “Facts, you dumb.” Drew and Rocky agree selectively.
“I’ll live, just help me clean up.”
Trash bags open and fly around the 360 sq ft room as we all pick up cups, boxes, napkins, and pizza crusts. The balloons were the only thing making me happy at the moment so I let them remain where they were.
*Click*
The room door was being unlocked, Brandi and Nykia walked in.
“Are you okay?” I ask from across the room.
“Yeah, but can we talk?”
“Sure.”
We went into the bathroom but didn’t close the door all the way. Everyone else kept on cleaning.
Excuse Me Miss by Jay Z was playing in the room. Balloons sat in the bathroom sink and in the bathtub.
“Wassup?” I asked.
“Did you mean what you said earlier?”
“ I did.”
“Why did it take you so long to say something?”
“I didn’t know how to say it.”
“Well, it’s a start.”
“Why don’t you tell me how you have felt all these years? You probably told me but I know haven’t listened so I wanna listen now.”
And for an hour, Nykia told me how I made her feel. I listened and didn’t have anything to say nor did i know how to feel. I knew I was shitty but damn.
When we finally came out of the bathroom, Rocky and Brandi were asleep. Drew was standing up in the corner looking at the dominos box. I didn’t know where Malik was.
“No black box?”
“Nobody ever put me on.”
*Drew shakes his head*
“You don’t have any water, do you?”
“Nah, just liquor and juice.”
“You got a cup?”
I pick up one of the complimentary hotel wine glasses*
“This but I don-“
Drew takes the glass out of my hand and walks to the bathroom. Fills the glass with water from the sink and walks about to me, standing by the window.
Drew begins to stare towards the bed.
Where Rocky and Brandi are sleeping.
Nykia stands next to me to try and see what Drew is looking at.
“Are you looking at Rocky?”
Rocky snores.
“I think he is.”
Rocky had changed into shorts and made herself comfortable.
Drew didn’t say anything but he continued to stare.
“I’m tired, pass me a pillow.”
I passed him one and he quickly found a spot on the floor. The carpet must’ve been comfortable because there was still one girl on the floor slumped.
“Wanna play connect 4?” said Nykia.
I laughed because I remembered all the times over the years I asked her to play and she said no. She handed me a cup of Henny as we started playing.
It was nice. We weren’t yelling at each other. We weren’t fucking. Neither of us was crying. We were talking. We were acting as friends. Something we should’ve done when we first met but neglected to ever try.
“Your go.” said Nykia
“Uh, no. It’s yours.” I replied.
“Did you even take any pictures tonight?”
“No, I was too busy worrying about Ms. Call My Cab.”
We laughed and then just looked at each other briefly.
Brandi and Rocky were sound asleep on the bed but laid like dead bodies.
Drew was still on the floor and Malik was nowhere to be found.
Suddenly, we attacked each other.
Drunk and Horny is common mix. But I don’t remember if either us was actually horny.
The most amazing part to me was the fact that we were going at it while 4 people were asleep in the room.
The connect 4 had fell off the bed from all the shaking. The headboard was hitting the wall.
At one point, Nykia had nothing to grab so she could only reach for Rocky’s white short sleeve t-shirt. Her being asleep during all of this mad the sex that much more exciting. I’m not gonna go into the little details about the sex.
Okay, maybe just a little.
The room began to smell like the sex two people weren’t supposed to be having. We were used to this, we were comfortable. It was weird but it became our form of communication over the years in a sense and I know that’s bad but that’s how it was.
Overtime by Bryson Tiller was playing.
She’d slap me, I’d choke her. She’d try to talk and I’d only go deeper. We were used to this, we were comfortable️. I didn’t care to cover her mouth because the noise from our bodies alone should’ve been enough to wake everyone. Time had passed and shorty after we finished and made our way to the bathroom.
“Yo, what the fuck is that smell?” says Malik.
“When did you get back? wait..why is the bed wet?..Brandi wake the fuck up.” replies Rocky.
That’s all i can remember from the night honestly. But back to Bry.
Another week had passed from that night.
It’s Saturday afternoon, 2:30pm.
In bed and home alone, I get a call. It’s Bry.
“Hello?” says Bry.
“What?” I reply.
“You home?”
“Why?”
“Because I’m in the neighborhood and I wanted to say sorry or whatever.”
It was silent for a few seconds.
“You don’t seem like the type of person to say sorry, Bry but yeah sure. If you actually want to say sorry. Come up.”
I thought to myself. “This is gonna be quick. I’ll get dressed so she knows about to leave and nothing will happen.”
There was a knock on the door that resembled the beat for Paid in Full by Eric B & Rakim. It was Bry.
I was tricked.
I opened the door and saw her outfit; black leggings, white uptown’s, and a black sweatshirt. her hair was tied up and she had a cap on.
She was here for dick.
“I want some dick.” she said aggressively.
“What happened to sorry?”
She rolls her eyes.
“I’m sorry, I want some dick. You gonna let me in?”
“When you say sorry.”
“You gotta be the only nigga that ever made me say sorry for anything.”
“Say it.”
“I’m sorry for being disrespectful at your party. I won’t do it again.”
“Thank you. You can come in now, take your timbs off.”
She laughed. “I ain’t got timbs on, suck my dick.”
We walk into my room. “You thirsty?”
“Yeah. Get me some henny.”
She closed the door while I went to the kitchen.
How much you wanna bet she’ll be naked when I come back? She was.
Same position as the first time, the tattoos were there but the nail polish was a shade of yellow this time. Vibrant.
She begins to dig into her bag.
“Do me a favor and rub my butt for me, bro.”
She throws me a bottle of coconut oil.
“You ain’t think I noticed them big ass hands? You’re gonna choke me with them shits.”
I look at the bottle and then look at her. I had some questions but I honestly and truthfully wanted to get things over with. I took a sip of henny from my cup and then passed it to her.
I put some oil in my the palm of my right hand and then smacked her ass with it. Bry moved a little bit and then looked back at me and said “Harder.”
Man, listen. I kept on rubbing and massaging and my clothes somehow ended up on the floor, okay? I’m not gonna get into details. No, she didn’t say “Come crack my shit.” But we did have sex. If I had to compare it to a song or a movie? Mama Said Knock You Out By LL Cool J. It was really aggressive and intense. I personally feel like describing sex is the weakest part of my writing ability.
But. A couple hours later, we’re laying in bed watching Regular Show when Bry softly says “good job. But you still have to call me a cab.”
We both laughed.
THE END.