|Chris|
"Damn nigga, watch where you goin'!" some random junkie yelled as I walked through an alley. I ignored him, mainly because he was probably high as hell, but also because I ain't have time for his ass.
It was a few weeks after I got caught up before I built up enough courage to go back over in Baller territory. Except this time around, it was day time.
I wanted to visit Zeek and see if she could put me on game with her business. She get a lot of respect around here, plus I'm pretty sure the money damn sho' good, and that's exactly what I need.
I walked into the warehouse some man I ran into told me to go to, to find Zeek. I walked down the hallways freely, surprised that there was no one to stop me. I finally found a door where a big dude was standing outside of. I immediately assumed he was a guard.
"Aye is Zeek here?" I asked him. He looked at me and laughed, "Who wants to know?"
"Me nigga, who else standin' right here in front of you??" I said in a duh tone. He laughed then knocked on the door. Another big dude opened it.
"Aye man, li'l dude thought he could just come up in here demandin' to see Z." the first dude laughed to the other one. The other nigga started laughing like Kevin Hart had just said the funniest shit ever.
First off, I ain't see what was so damn funny. Secondly, me and this nigga bout the same height, so who the hell he callin' "li'l"?
"Yo toaster built, gorilla back ass ain't gon be laughin' when I knock--"
"What the hell y'all out here laughin' at?" Zeek interrupted me as she stuck her head out the door the second dude came out of. She had on some black sweats, a crisp white tee, and some Converse. Her hair was in one of them big ass poof balls girls be havin' on they head, and she was wearing glasses. She looked so... basic. But in the best way ever. For some reason, I found the simplicity hella attractive.
"This li'l nigga boss. He came around here thinkin' he runnin' shit." they chuckled but Zeek just smiled.
"This my homie Christopher, he coo peoples." "Yeah niggas, I'm coo." I beamed, Zeek laughed as she grabbed my arm, pulling me into the room as she closed the door on them niggas.
"What in the hell you doin' over here again? I'm not gon always be here to save yo ass." she laughed as she sat in this big, black leather chair that was behind a dark brown, wooden desk. She motioned for me to sit in the chair in front of her, and I did just that.
I chuckled, "I didn't just wander here this time, I actually wanted to ask you something." she nodded, signaling for me to continue.
"I need a favor." "What's wrong? Is that nigga Jay still fuckin' with you?"
"Nah," I chuckled as I shook my head, "it's something else." She nodded, "Do you need money?"
I slightly smiled at how surprisingly generous she was, "Not exactly.. I do need money, but I don't wanna be a charity case."
She frowned slightly, shaking her head, "I don't see you as a charity case Christopher. You tryna make it and you need help, I'm willing to give it to you."
"And I appreciate that, but I really just wanna help myself. I want my own hustle."
"I understand. But where do I come in at?"
I took a deep breath, "I wanna be a Baller." she didn't say anything, she just stared at me.
"You heard me?" I asked after a few seconds. "I said I wanna be a Baller. I want you to put me on to yo business."
"Oh I heard you," she said as she nodded, never taking her eyes off of me, "I'm just tryna figure out what the hell is wrong with you."
"Watchu mean?" I frowned.
"Christopher, I understand that you wanna be somebody, and you may feel that this the only way, but it's not."
"I ain't come here for a lecture about right from wrong. I get enough of dat bullshit. I just need a way to get some easy money so I can do what I gotta do to be where I wanna be."
She shook her head, "That's what I'm saying, you don't gotta do this. I'm not tryna lecture you, I'm just saying going to school would be the better route. What if, God forbid, yo voice go out? Then what you gon fall back on?"
"By then I'm gon been saved up enough money from selling AND however much time I spend singin' to be set."
"Money not always the answer."
"C'mon Zeek." I pleaded, "I ain't tryna do it forever. Just long enough to get a couple racks then I'm done for good."
"...Promise?"
"Promise."
She sighed, "Don't say I didn't warn you. This stuff not easy Christopher. You may see some fucked up shit."
"Don't you think I know that? Would I be here if I didn't prepare myself for the worst? Plus, I'm from Hobbs Hole; I think I've seen it all." I chuckled as we shook hands.
***
"Aw hell nah." I gagged when I saw this nigga getting head in the alley from a dirty ass jawn.
Zee laughed, "That's nothin', what happened to 'I'm from Hobbs Hole', huh?" she smirked. I glared at her as she laughed.
We walked to the end of an alley, which I seem to be finding myself in a lot, and approached a building. Zeek knocked on the door and a small opening on the door slid open. Through it you could see a person's eyes.
"Password." the deep voice demanded.
"Ten twenty-three." Zeek said, soon followed by the sound of the door unlatching and being pushed open. [remember these numbers]
When we walked into the building, the smell of sweat filled my nose. I immediately scrunched my face up.
"It smell like ass in here." I said.
Zeek laughed loudly, "Well it is a gym Christopher." I looked around and noticed 3 large boxing rings, a few large and small punching bags, and some workout machines along with weights and dumbbells.
"I knew that." I chuckled, "What are we here for?"
"You wanna be a Baller, right?" she asked as she pulled her long, brownish blond hair into a pony tail.
"…yeah?" I said, sounding more like a question than a statement.
"Well you gotta be in shape." she took of her shirt, revealing a tank top, as she got into the ring. "You ain't think you was just gon waltz in my office and immediately get put on, did you?"
"No, but I aint think I was gon have to box nobody." I mumbled as I slipped on some boxing gloves.
I heard her giggle, "Oh not just anybody." she smirked, "Me."
"What?" I chuckled, "You really think I'm finna fight you?"
"Yeah." she shrugged.
I laughed and shook my head, "You are something else, you know that?" I said in my best Kevin Hart voice, "Go get somebody else for me to box."
"You think just because I'm a female I can't stand against you in a fight?" she kinda pouted as she put her boxing glove clad hands on her hips.
"When you put it THAT way... Yeah, pretty much." I chuckled. She narrowed her eyes at me then smirked, getting into a boxing stance.
I sighed, "Z, please don't make me do this."
"Do what?" she said as she lightly punched my chest.
"Don't play dumb." I scolded.
"I'm doin' nothing." she two pieced me in the same spot, a little bit harder. I actually moved a bit.
I glared at her, but that didn't faze her. She sent three quick jabs to my chest and swung at my face, when I went to block it she faked me out and punched me in my stomach. HARD.
"Dammit Z, chill!" I groaned as I grabbed my stomach in pain.
"Then quit bein' so fuckin' sexist and fight back Christopher!" she started to punch me in the face but I grabbed her arm, twisting it and pushing it against her back as I turned her around.
"Don't tempt me." I gritted.
She giggled then did some weird shit with her arm, managing to get herself out of my grip. I was confused for a second until I realized she must be double jointed to move her arm like that.
She started throwing quick jabs at me from left to right. I tried to grab her because I really didn't wanna hit her, but her small ass kept getting away.
"Damn, okay!" I finally yelled, "I get it, don't underestimate you, now can you stop!?" she had busted my lip and nose by now.
"Not just me," she laughed, "don't underestimate anybody." I sighed and nodded. She finally stop wailing on me and we started boxing in a more civilized manner. Is civilized even a word to use when you're talking about boxing? Whatever. Anyways, Z was actually doing good, even with me fighting back. Mama got hands. Of course I wasn't giving it my all, she's still a female at the end of the day; no matter how fiesty she may be.
After we finished up in the ring, we moved to the punching bags, then treadmill, and finally, the weights and dumbbells. When we finished up I was tired as hell.
"Don't relax now. We still got one more thing left to do."
I groaned, "We worked on everything in here, ain't nothin' left."
"Everything in this part of the gym." I gave her her a confused look and and she motioned for me to follow her.
We walked to the very back of the gym and I noticed a door you wouldn't be able to see unless you really looked for it. Zeek opened the door and I was immediately faced with a room full of guns. All types of guns. More guns than the fucking FBI.
"Damn..." I mumbled as I looked around in awe.
"I know right." she squealed, jumping around like a kid in a candy store. Sometimes I wonder about her...
"You ever shot a gun?" I started to speak speak but she cut me off, "Not a pellet gun." I chuckled and shook my head.
She giggled, "I figured." she walked over to a target booth and set a few pistols on the table, "That's why I'm willing to teach you how." she smiled proudly.
I chuckled, "Teach me? What is there to teach? You just pull the trigger." I shrugged.
She rolled her eyes, "No Christopher, there's a lot more to it, you gotta -- Y'know what?" she smirked... not a normal smirk though, "Ima let you see for yourself."
"Pick a gun." she said.
"Any gun?" I asked.
"Yeah, go ahead Hotshot." she giggled with that same weird smirk.
I glared at her for a minute before averting my gaze to the table of guns. I play enough video games to know a little something about them, but not too much. I couldn't even tell what kinda guns they were. I'm pretty sure Sal that owns the town gun store don't even have none of these, and everybody know that nigga shop ran illegally.....
Nigga...
Is that a bazooka?? I know damn well she ain't got no damn bazooka in the back of this gym, what if --
"Sigh.." I heard Zee say, when I looked up she she was looking around sarcastically as if she didn't do anything. I narrowed my eyes for a split second then picked up a nice looking gun. I didn't know what it was, but anything gold is nice.
"A Desert Eagle? Okay Mr. 'I Never Shot A Gun Before'." she laughed.
"Man shutup." I muttered as I turned towards the target with the gun in my right hand, ready to shoot.
"Wait Christopher, hold it with both hands, the kickback --"
"Ah, ah, ah! I I got this." I waved her off. She giggled then shrugged, sitting quietly on a stool.
I cocked the gun and pulled the trigger, I immediately let out an ear piercing scream. Zeek, on the other hand, busted out into a whole fit of laughter.
"WHAT THE FUCK YOU LAUGHIN' FOR EZEKIEL!? HOLY SHIT!" I yelled, holding my forearm.
Still laughing, Zee said, "I was tryna tell you that the kickback on a Desert Eagle for a first timer has the potential to shatter your fucking wrist if you one hand it, but NOOOOO, the Hotshot thinks he knows it all!" she continued to laugh loudly. I was on the ground rolling around, 2 seconds away from crying while this nut was doubled over in laughter.
What in the hell have I gotten myself into?
________________________
so um. i finally updated.
Zeek in mm. [the stunning and most gorgeous Rita Ora]
QUESTIONS:
● what would y'all like to see happen?
● opinion on Chris' decision?
● should Chris get that wrist checked out?
more chapters soon.