Jan. 30th

"Have you thought about marriage?" Autumn asked as we sat in her living room watching this damn Twilight movie.

"Nah, it ain't my thing," I answered.

She looked at me with a raised brow. Tilting her head slightly, I knew she was about to hit me with some dumb shit. "So what the hell you think we're doing?"

Here she goes.

"Man don't even start, you always do dis," I stressed, picking up my phone.

"Nah I'ma start, what the hell do you think we're doing? Just playing house with no actual title?"

Ignoring her, I read over Keenan's message.

"Man stop playing wit me," I grumbled when she snatched my phone and tossed it on the floor.

"YOU stop playing with me Kingston, I'm not finna be playing house with your ass when you don't wanna get married. You wasting my fucking time!" She yelled, pressing her finger into my head.

I ain't got time for this bullshit.

"Bruh, stop touching me."

"Or what? Huh? Do you think you can just come over, eat my shit and stay over when you feel like it but not put a ring on it? You must be smoking dick!"

Taking a deep breath, I respectfully moved her back when she got in my face. Standing, I grabbed my keys and headed for the door, "Man I'm gone, you trippin'."

"Nah," she grabbed my arm, "Don't run nigga, we ain't done talking yet."

"I'm done with dis shit," I opened the door just for her to reach over and push it closed. "Dawg..." I began then pinched the bridge of my nose. "Autumn quit playing with me man."

"Fuck you! My mama was right about your broke ass! Don't want anything out of life but people to eat off of. Floatin' ass nigga, get the fuck out!" She spat pushing me.

"That's what tha' fuck I was trying to do." I replied opening the door.

"We've been together how long and you wanna hit me with this shit?" She asked getting in my face and I stepped back. "You knew from the jump you ain't have marriage in yo heart but yet yo ass played with my feelings and led me on!"

"I never led you on. You tried to rush shit and I told you what it was. You can't get mad at tha' fact dat I don't want to get married... it ain't me... you ain't tha' type."

Her eyes grew watery and her lips balled. Before I could even blink she smacked the shit out of me.

"Get the fuck out you ungrateful, dog-ass bitch of a man. Find somebody else to use, you dirty ass, broke ass bastard. Can't believe I ev—"

Before she even finished, I walked out of her house fuming. I don't put my hands on women, but Lord knows if I were a girl for a split second her ass would be dead.

Ungrateful ass broad.

Can't believe I even stuck it out this long with her stupid ass. I knew I should've listened to my mama.

She was always right about shit. Can't have a good fucking day.

Shaking my head, I exhaled frustratedly, she always finds any and every reason to ruin shit.

***

"She really called you broke?" Keenan asked before laughing.

"Yeah, tha' bitch tried to play me. Like I ain't buy her those clothes, tha' tv, and tha' damn kitchen set," I said then shook my head.

I was still mad about that shit. I was finna go back to her house and take everything I paid for but my mama told me not to.

"She ain't care about you being broke when she was topping you off for the Chanel bag."

"Or that new laptop." Malik chimed in.

"Or when you had to stop Shana from whooping her ass."

"Damn I forgot all about dat shit," I mumbled, and they laughed.

"Don't worry her time coming, I tried to warn you about her ass," Keenan said as he grabbed his box of weed out his drawer.

"I tried to give her ass a chance, I told y'all I'm from New Orleans, we all about love," I reminded. "She got me ready to choose violence."

They stared at me for a second then busted out laughing. I couldn't even front I had to laugh my damn self.

"Y'all down bad, man," I chuckled, laying back across his bed.

"Where your mama at?" I asked grabbing his football and tossed it in the air.

"At work or with my aunt."

"She gon' be cool with us smoking in here? You know the last time she cursed us out." Malik reminded.

I laughed at the memory, that shit was too hilarious. She really pulled out a belt ready to beat us.

"She ain't gon' care plus I move out in two weeks, she's been trying everything to make me stay." He chuckled.

"Word?" We both said and he nodded breaking the weed down.

"She just don't wanna be alone, but I'm tired of these nosy ass neighbors. Once I save enough money I'll make sure I'll get her up out of here. Right now I gotta do me." He shrugged.

I wasn't mad at that.

Hearing the doorbell, we all looked at one another.

"Stay here, I got it," he handed the stuff my way before heading out.

"What time is it?" I asked picking up the backwoods.

"Two fifteen," Malik answered nodding towards the clock on the wall.

I ain't even see that shit there.

"You got somewhere to be?" He asked picking up the remote.

"Nah, just wondering," I replied picking up the lighter.

He got up and I furrowed my brows. "Where yo ass going?"

"To see what's taking his ass so long and get some damn snacks."

"Don't bring no wack shit back here."

"Fuck yo bougie, southern ass," he jumped at me and I chuckled flicking him off.

Hearing a girl's voice then Malik's loud ass, I got up and headed toward the door. Soon as I opened the door, someone ran by and into the bathroom. I was about to say something until I saw Malik goofy-ass holding a cup of water in his hand laughing his ass off.

"Nigga who was that?"

"My cousin, nigga care' yo ass back in the room. You always wanna play." Keenan snatched the cup from him before shoving him forward.

"I told her I was gonna get her back, she thought I forgot." He replied.

"Well, she ain't here to play, go in the damn room," He said and I chuckled at the face Malik made.

"Ha-ha." His cousin laughed from the other side of the door and I laughed shaking my head.

"That's alright, you know I don't ever forget." He told her before he walked my way and I handed him the blunt.

"Y'all niggas wild," I said leaning against the wall and Malik walked inside the room laughing to himself.

"What you doing?" Keenan eyed me.

I looked behind me then back at him and pointed to myself. "Me?"

"Yeah, nigga."

"Shit, I just wanna see yo lil cousin that's all," I casually shrugged.

"I will whoop yo ass in here, don't play with me." He warned.

He could try but wouldn't win, laughing, I chucked the dueces and headed back in the room. I was starting to think she was ugly.

***

6 that evening

"Are you ready for me to pick you up or do you want to wait until I pick your mom and Dajon up?" Bryson asked. I was sitting on the bench at the end of my Aunt's block.

"I kind of wanna rest my back a little more before you come." I told him.

"I understand that I'll be there by seven-thirty, you know how your aunt can be." He reminded.

That was true.

"I can deal with that, that'll give me another hour to just relax," I said then looked behind me seeing that damn boy coming my way. "Not again." I mumbled, shaking my head.

"What?" Bryson asked.

"I'll call you back," I answered before hanging up.

Standing up, I picked up my pocketbook and checked to make sure I had some cash inside. I needed to walk to 7-Eleven to get me some candy.

"Yo? Renae?!" He called.

People learn your name one time and never stop saying it, I rolled my eyes.

Ignoring him, I zipped up my coat and walked the black path.

"Ay?! What are you doing out here alone?" He asked after catching up to me.

"Minding my business,"

"Every time I run into you, you got an attitude. You can't stand me huh?"

"I don't even know you." I said and he chuckled.

"Get ta know me then." He replied walking in front of me and I huffed folding my arms.

"Look I'm not sure how much you know about this neighborhood, but if you were smart you would leave me alone. My cousin is well known out here and he had his fair share of beating dudes up for acting just like you." I advised.

"I'm a grown-ass man baybeh, can't no nigga outchea or anywhere else whoop my ass, betta ask about tha' name Stone," He said.

Pursing my lips together, I glared at him. I really did hate arrogant guys.

"That's what they all said until he beat their ass." I shrugged, walking around him but he jogged back blocking my path.

Sighing frustratedly, I cocked my head. "Whaaaat?" I dragged, throwing my hands up. "Why are you so persistent? That comes off stalker-ish." I tried to step around him again but he blocked my path.

"I'm just trying to get to know you damn ma, niggas can't even be friends no more."

"Sure can't, not with me," I said and he chuckled.

"I'll tell you my name if that'll help?" He suggested and I just stared at him.

"Didn't you just say it was Stone?" I inquired.

"Das my last name ma."

"Oh... well that's all I need to know." I resumed walking.

"Well damn, where you going? At least let me make sure you'll be safe."

Stopping, I turned and looked at him with the coldest glare. "I. Do. Not. Need. Protection. My. Cousin. Name. Alone. Is. My protection. Ok?"

"If I can guess, I'm gonna assume you're going to 7-Eleven?" He stated and I blew out a breath.

"How old are you?" I asked genuinely curious.

"Twenty-two, shortie."

Laughing to myself, I nodded. "The you should be embarrassed."

"For what?"

"Because you're following someone who obviously doesn't like you. If you took interest in me, you would've offered to drive me to the store instead of trying to win me over by following me in the cold like a mad person."

"I said I was trying to get to know you shortie slow your roll. Secondly, if I would've offered to drive you, you would've declined yes or no?" He argued and I just ignored him.

"Like I thought, thirdly, stop pre-judging folks without knowing dem. I'm actually a good ass dude. How many shootings happened out here just last month? How many break-ins went down during Christmas and New Year's Eve? I'm trying to make sure you're straight walking out here alone 'cause I know folks get crazy out here but since you got a stick up yo ass I'll let you walk in tha' cold by yo damn self. Just make sure you holler loud enough if you get snatched up, you know niggas hate attention." And with that he walked away.

Shaking my head, I had no choice but to laugh. I probably deserved that, but then again it was for his own good and my own good.

**************************

Uh oh how we feel?