JACOBY
"WHY YOU AIN'T JUST ask any of the other guys? I got a lot of shit on my plate man." I stated as we remained seated in the booth. His eyes remained focused on mine, making me a grow a bit nervous causing me to advert my eyes anywhere else.
"Shit, cause I'm asking you kid. On the real though I just don't think I could trust any of them with the shit I'm packing you get me?" He pleaded as he finally put his money away.
"Why you don't just ask Chris or Darius or Kareem? They real smart- you know that. What's my young ass gonna do for you?" I went on, trying to get the heat off of me as I attempted to persuade him to not even consider me for the job.
"Chris? Nah. He always on some school shit. Kareem? Hell nah. He too quiet and that shit just don't rub me the right way. And Lil D? Fuck outta here! That nigga is straight pussy and you know that- shit we all do. He not ready for no big boy shit." He chuckled lightly as I could tell he wondered why in the hell would I even bring Darius' name into this. "Coby, I don't go around offering this shit to everyone you understand? I ain't tryna be no bad influence or nothing but... you the only nigga that I think could help me on this shit. And I know you don't like getting clowned on about your clothes and shoes and shit."
"You right. You right. But it's not worth it... I don't wanna go to jail man. My pops put me on about that shit already."
"Look I'm not tryna hear about your pops right now okay? I'm just tryna help you while you help me. You scratch my back, I scratch your back you feel me?" He continued slightly lowering his voice as more individuals proceeded into the pizza shop. "Check it, remember when Darnell was a bum ass nigga? Now he getting all fresh and shit and I bet y'all was wondering how. Now if I were you I would follow suit."
Best believe Darnell wasn't really popping when it came to dressing last year...but this year? That nigga was big shit and so was Montell which brings me to asking, "Montell be pulling weight too?"
"Nah kid, Boogie be holding shit down for him but I told him to keep his mouth shut about where he get his money. Niggas really believe he work at some whack ass recreational center down in Harlem." He joked lightly as he slightly pulled up the sleeve of his large black and red starter jacket that obviously repped the Chicago Bulls, to check the time on his watch that just so happened to be gold. I couldn't help but acknowledge the diamonds that subtly shined under the dim lighting above us. Now I knew that was something my father couldn't buy- as if he could afford anything else of that sort.
"You see that? This that shit that get the ladies on your dick. They see you got money...all of a sudden they love you, kid. You gonna be the only fifteen year old touching paper out here...how that shit make you feel?" He stated just above a whisper in such a persuasive tone that made it seem as if he could sell liquor to a priest just as easy as stealing candy from a baby.
"Look uh. I gotta go." I stammered as I quickly attempted to leave the premises just before Khalif grabbed a hold of my wrist.
"Think about it Jacoby." He whispered as he placed one of his many hundred dollar bills into my hand which I reluctantly balled up as I grasped it. I've never had a whole hundred dollar bill that wasn't intended to be broke into two fifties for me and Bari to share and it made me feel better for the most part but I couldn't just deliberately accept his money once again and I knew that. As if it were cued- the pride my father instilled into me finally found its way back to my boyish body causing me to attempt to hand the bill back...which he declined. "Nah, you take that shit son, it'll help your thinking process. Go buy yourself some shit...probably them new air Jordan's that dropped Saturday. But do yourself a favor and get back at me sooner or later."
And with that being said... I zoomed out of that pizzeria with my box in hand like nobody's business. I couldn't help but scold myself for allowing the conversation to get that far, like I said before I had no intentions of being sent to jail and I truthfully do have a lot of things on my plate with my dad on my back. I wouldn't possibly be able to handle the heat of it all, for God Sakes I'm fifteen...what I look like slinging drugs? But damn at the same time, I'm fifteen... I'll be the only nigga my age touching bread. Shit I'm already sounding like Khalif. Thanks to him my damn head is spinning as if I were high on that shit he be selling and it sure as hell don't feel good.
'They see you got money all of a sudden they love you.' I repeated the words he had uttered to me within my head, the same words that made me believe my whole lifestyle could change in just a matter of days-if I were to take the opportunity. All the girls would be over...me, Instead of Jabari whom everyone believed got all the looks in our family. Everyone would love me as if I'm Robin Hood 'stealing from the rich and giving it to the poor' headass but the fact of the matter is that if I were to sell my motto might as well be 'selling for the rich and killing the poor.' Now that was the cold hard truth I didn't know I would be able to stomach. I mean It ain't nothing personal, I just needa few bucks to help myself and around the house I'm sure I could stomach that...me actually getting big boy money I'll probably be counting more paper than my father does.
Pause.
What if I don't get scholarship like Bari...I knew my father had connections and all but just how far were they going to get me by the time I hit the twelfth grade. I shouldn't doubt myself but it most definitely wouldn't hurt for me to make my own money. Now the only question I had left for the matter was if I wanted it to be honest or if I wanted it quick and fast. I mean there wasn't no rush but Khalif did give me something to think about.
I finally snapped out of the thoughts I was previously greatly indulged in as I realized I've made it back to my apartment building. I knew I had to play it cool seeing that they were bound to ask me why did I return home so late due to the fact that the pizzeria was just two blocks down. Little did they know that I was busy talking business with a pal of mine but that wasn't their business anyways and neither should it have been mine but it wasn't like I started the conversation.
JABARI
"GO OUTSIDE AND GET your brother!" My father hassled me as he grew worried about Jacoby's whereabouts causing me to put my 'studying' to a holt. There was no doubt that I was wondering where he was as well I mean that nigga do have my pizza. "You heard me boy? Hurry up and go!" My dad continued slightly irritating me. I quickly got up and put on my sneakers and my coat- not even bothering to put on a pair of pants to replace my black basketball shorts 'cause I hadn't had the nerve to have to hear my dads voice again.
"Ight, Ight I'm going!" I yelped in response as I exited the room I had shared with my brother-whom was absent at the moment for some reason that obviously held me back from consuming my well awaited pizza. I flung the front door open only to see the empty sky blue painted halls in which the opposing apartment complexes were located as well. I proceeded down the hall in hopes to take the elevator but I knew all to well that that piece of shit would take a long ass time. I trekked over to the staircase only to come face to face with the man of the hour.
"Where the fuck have you been Coby. You almost had me going out there to freeze my ass off to look for your gremlin looking ass!"
"T-the pizza burnt while I was down there so they had to remake it for me." He lied and I could easily tell seeing that that was the worst excuse he could've ever came up with.
"Coby...don't do that lying shit okay? Tell me wassup. Somebody stepped to you? We can handle that shit in one two three. Ain't no problem." I assured him truthfully just to get him to tell the truth. He always did get bullied and clowned a lot for his clothes and looks but he was fifteen his looks were bound to come. I had it like that too but I didn't care as much 'cause I only cared about that ball but when it came to Coby he was too self conscious when it came to shit like that...I assumed he got that shit from our momma 'cause our dad damn sure didn't care what other people thought. I didn't like the thought of other people messing with my brother- shit that was my job.
"Nah nah it wasn't nothing like that...I was just kicking it over there at the shop-you know at the best booth over there. Listening to some tapes."
"Coby...you know what never mind I don't have the time to sweat you. You don't wanna tell me fine I don't care but just don't come looking for my ass if you do actually get yourself into some shit." I harshly responded as I grabbed the pizza box from him just before quickly leaving the staircase area with him hot on my tail.
"I don't give a fuck! Fuck I need you to help me out of my problems for? You ain't shit Bari for making me feel like I ain't shit!" He argued as he let his frustrations out on me. I've never intended for him to feel as if he were beneath me- like I did with the other guys and in need of my protection 24/7 but he was my brother-my little brother at that and I was gonna protect him whether he liked it or not. Shit I practically raised this nigga alongside our dad and he got the nerve to talk to me like this.
"Coby who the fuck are you talking to huh? You should be thanking my ass because I know damn well that dad wouldn't have jumped in for you when niggas was tryna jump you last year. You don't got no friends and you damn sure don't got no girls so it ain't even me making you feel like shit...its yourself." I responded in a tone rougher than sandpaper that obviously effected him emotionally.
"Fuck you! You fake ass Michael J-"
"Nah fuck you! You just a wannabe Coby, basketball ain't even where your heart is it's just what you're good at." I finished as I threw the now cold pizza on to the floor on account of my frustration.
"What's going on out here?" My father yelled quite loudly upon opening the door of our complex. "Would anybody like to tell me? Shit I'm angry too! I wanna argue! Bring y'all asses inside fore I have other people stepping out they cribs." He went on, gathering us inside our home once again.
"Ain't nothing going on dad...it's dead." I reassured him untruthfully.
"Oh yeah, if it's 'dead' why I hear Jacoby and you out there cursing more than a sailor huh? Look I'm not even gonna have this conversation with you Jabari. All day, everyday you're arguing with someone for anything you don't like. You're a hothead son...just like me and to be honest that shit is scaring me more than any bullshit in this world."
"Man I don't care! You already 'molded' that shit into me with your 'potter' headass." At this point I was too livid to even care who I was talking to and I hadn't regretted what I said either.
Until now.
He grabbed onto my coat, instantly pushing me to the photo decorated walls causing my back to endure a feeling of pain on his behalf. "Fuck you said son? I swear to God I'll put that running your mouth shit to an end you hear me. I swear you getting ahead of yourself and it's staring to seem like it's my job to put you down to fuckin' size." He whispered through gritted teeth. I hadn't known what to say so I just kept quiet as I looked at the man whom I claimed as my father basically threatening me. "Now you quiet huh?"
"Dad...chill I'm over it." Jacoby added into the chaos putting it into a pause just before he escaped to our room.
"Get outta my sight son. Go." He stated just above a whisper and I quickly obliged leaving down the hall casually which I knew probably set him off but I hadn't cared, I wanted my taunting to substitute for my lack of words.
I ignored Jacoby' presence just as he did mine as I entered the room, in sought of my backpack which I then filled up with a few clothes. Three heated arguments today and I had no desire to be around this environment. Coby probably supposed I was heading out to Desirae's house but I definitely wasn't after that argument we had today. I just needed to get my head clear and that definitely wasn't going to happen here.
"I'm outta here man." I stated coolly as I expected no response as I readied myself to leave through the front door as soon as I heard my dad enter his own room.
I'm outta here.