Thursday Mornings in Harlem

Meetings of sorts

Cautiously Yari sent pleading eyes to Cassi who was watching Berto's action frozen in place with shock plastered on her face. 

"Get the fuck outta here."  She mumbled to herself.

Instantly snapping back into action Cassi stepped closer to the pair a bit aggressively (something she had learned watching her brother King Pain) catching Berto off guard and causing him to remove his invading bejeweled hand from her best friend.

"I didn't know you guys already knew each other."  She smirked evilly speaking more to Berto trying to give her Bestie a chance to relax her composer.

"O yea!"  Berto exclaimed sliding back into the midnight blue leather seat intentionally looking her up and down lustfully.

Cassi knew Berto's creepy ways, her brother told her about it and she was ready for him.  Squaring her shoulders she returned a bored stare crossing her arms over her chest again causing him to regretfully skip his perv gazing and actually look else where. 

"It's a shame you never come out with your friend, I know together we could be the life of the party... You know what kind of parties we like right?"  Berto laughed licking his lips at Yari.

Sending a confused look towards her best friend Cassi backed up a bit trying to give her best Joel impression complete with his mischievous laugh he was known for. 

"Cuando Yari salir contuyo?" she asked, mentally telling herself to calm down.

"Many times, Right Mamita?"  He cooed confidentially giving Yari the side eye.

"What's this?"  Spirits asked throwing an arm protectively over Cassi's shoulders.

He knew that laugh when he heard it which could only mean one thing, a Gomez is pissed off!

"I was telling Cass next time we should all go out you know instead of just us with Yari, tu sabes?"  Berto rushed out trying to throw Spirits under the bus as well.

Berto was well aware of the blooming romance between Spirits and Cassi, he also knew that he had to be careful how he said certain things to her now, but he could throw a couple of digs in about Spirits though... for now.  He also knew once Spirits puts you on his back that's it, you're like a tattoo.  So God forbid you disrespect his family or his tatts all that shit is personal.  Watching Spirits face Berto took that as a warning to tread lightly when it came to Cassi which means Yari was under that same golden umbrella. 

"True."  Spirits answered calmly setting his face to Berto flaring his nostrils.

Easing the mood Cassi slide out of Spirit's grasp and swayed over to the DVD rack once more. 

"We need something hilarious to watch right now... Oh! You have the Pest!"  She exclaimed showing Yari the DVD cover grinning.

"Ridico-lic-oulous" Yari laughed back wedging her way out of the corner of the couch Berto had wedged her in.

As Yari slide closer to Cassi, she gave her a knowing smile letting her know she wasn't worried about Berto.

"Babe, Really?"  Spirits asked perching himself on the arm of hid leather love seat.

"Please?"  Cassi pleaded putting on her best puppy dog eyes.

"Ay Dios... Go put it on."  Spirits sighed

"PANA!"

"YO, QUE PASO?"

"SHIT."  Joel laughed walking into the Bodega.

"My man, got that fa' me?"  He whispered behind the counter to Khalid the cashier who jumped at the boom of his voice.

"Yea, yes sir."  He rambled reaching for a brown bag behind a stack of Newport cartons.