Black & Ugly (25 page)

Triple Crown Publications presents . . .

"Miss Sky, I leave you for five minutes and you

'bout to have Miss Parade fightin' again. That chile is already funny lookin'. We don't want Miss Parade to make things worse, now do we?" He laughs. "Baby, you look fierce, and your face is beat," he says as he snaps his fingers, looking Parade over again. "Miss Sky, what happened anyway?" He has one hand on Parade's back, trying to calm her down. "What did you do to her?" He looks at me. "Fuck it. It don't even matter. I ain't seen you in days, Miss Parade. I miss you. I wanna see you, too, you know." He's giving her a lot. I haven't seen him in a while, either, and I ain't get none of that shit.

"Who been keeping you busy?" he asks as he gently touches her shoulder to sit her back down in the chair. "Tell me all about him and don't leave nothing out. I wanna hear dick size and all, honey. I ain't had none since yesterday so believe me, I'm long overdue." He laughs.

"Well, I do have a new friend. He's so handsome, Miss Wayne. I really can't wait for y'all to meet him. He drives a red BMW and since Tuesday, we've spent every day together," Parade explains.

I don't believe her. I mean ... she looks better, I'll give her that, but she ain't pullin' no ballin' ass nigga.

And whoever he is, he'll be gone the moment she fucks him. Please believe.

"Did you give him the goods, chile? And don't hold back," Miss Wayne inquires as he moves his hands. I swear he can't say a word without 'em.

144

T. Styles

Black and Ugly

"Yes, and it is good. We've done it every night since I met him," Parade continues while looking at me for approval. "He looks like somebody who would want Sky, not me."

"Girl, please." I wave her off. "I'm sure he isn't my type."

"You're probably right." She smiles. "Let's not fight, Sky. I miss you. I miss not being able to talk to you and tell you about my life. Let's not keep this up no more."

Miss Wayne is looking at me like,
You better accept
my baby's apology.
But, I'm not sure if I want to just yet. There are still a lot of unanswered questions. A whole lot. Before I can think about it anymore, the two officers who have hassled me ever since that bitch died show up.

"Oh my goodness, what are you two doing here?" Miss Wayne asks.

"We're here because this beating seems very suspicious. We figured you all could tell us if it's related to the murder the other night," Officer Oakley responds.

"Don't come here with that shit. We don't feel like it right now!" Parade yells.

I know then that they've been bothering them just as much as they've harassed me, and by the sound of her voice, Parade ain't told them nothing.

"Yes, boys. We're here to support our friend, not be harassed with the likes of you. Now, if you would, please excuse us. You two are in our way," Miss Wayne finishes.

T. Styles

145

Triple Crown Publications presents . . .

"We'll leave you alone for right now. Have a nice day," Officer Oakley says.

"You too!" Miss Wayne yells as he scans them with his eyes.

"Okay, which one of them you fucked?" Parade asks after they got on the elevator.

"Why would you say that?" he questions as he covers his mouth with his fingers appearing shocked.

"Because I could see somethin' in your eyes," Parade responds.

"Officer D. Hurts, baby." Miss Wayne laughs and he puts his hand on his chest. "And boy did it hurt. He was coming by tonight but after my baby got beat up, there was a change of plans," he continues as the laughter in his voice slowly diminishes.

"You think she looks bad now?" I say. "You shoulda seen her when I found her."

~~~~

After sitting in the waiting area for what seems like days, the doctor tells us that Daffany is fine and outside of the physical bruises, she suffered a minor con-cussion. He's keeping her overnight for further observation, but says she is conscious and asking for us. We walk in her room and don't say a word. The four of us just hold one another and cry.

146

T. Styles

Black and Ugly

21

Daffany

COMING HOME FEELS EERIE AND uncomfortable, but I have to face my fears. I guess I can stay with Miss Wayne if I want to. He asked me five or six times, too.

I considered it because I'm terrified that Cliff will come back to hurt me some more or even finish me off.

Imagine living next door to the man who assaulted you, knowing your apartment will never be safe again.

What will happen when the disease gets worse? Will he come back and beat me each time something goes wrong? It's a fucked-up way to feel about the place you call home.

"Be careful, girl," Parade says as she helps me up the stairs. "Hold on to the rail." I'm happy to see how pretty Parade looks. The long tracks soften her features and the makeup she's wearing makes her complexion appear even.

"Thanks, Parade. You don't know how much I appreciate you doing this for me."

"You would've done the same thing for me. You're
T. Styles

147

Triple Crown Publications presents . . .

my sister," she says.

She hands me the keys to the new lock that the rental office put on after I told them what happened from the hospital. I open the door and remain in the hallway. Parade, sensing I'm scared, goes in before me to check things out. She's smiling but her smile is slowly fading as she walks in and out of each room.

"What?" I ask her, feeling scared. "What's going on?"

"Daffany ... uh ... everything is fine. But ... uh ...

all your things are gone," she stutters.

"What?" I ask as I walk in after confirming it's safe.

"What do you mean my things are gone?" I continue then close the door and lock it behind me.

I walk into my apartment and I see it's almost empty. My couch, my TV, some of my kitchen supplies and a few other things that used to be in my living room are all gone.

I quickly run to my bedroom to see if anything is missing in there. Parade walks behind me, waiting to console me in case I break down. I enter the room to see my mattress pushed to the side, exposing part of the box spring underneath it. I push the mattress completely away, looking for the papers I had confirming my HIV status. I kept some money there, too, but I knew that was gone the moment I saw the bed.

The papers are gone, too. There's nothing left except air. I fall to the mattress on the floor and start crying.

"Daffany," Parade calls as she rushes to my side,
148

T. Styles

Black and Ugly

"it'll be okay. We can replace all this stuff." She holds me and rocks me. "Don't worry about it. We can make your place just like new."

I lie in Parade's arms, pretending like the tears really are about my stolen things. Truth is, they can have all that shit. But the papers confirming the vicious disease mutating inside my body are
my
property. It was the one secret I didn't want to share with anyone, but now someone out there besides me knows.

"Parade," I whisper between wiping my tears, "can you help me get to Miss Wayne's house? I can ... I can't stay here tonight."

"Sure." She helps me up and we move toward the door.

T. Styles

149

Triple Crown Publications presents . . .

22

Sky

"WHERE YOU AT, BITCH?" Jewel yells at me through the phone.

I allow her to call me a bitch, although I hate it.

Parade and them don't even talk to me like that, and I've known them all my life. Well, Miss Wayne does sometimes, but that's just how he is.

"At PG Plaza. I'm picking up a few things for H20

tonight. We still goin', right?"

"Yeah, it's on."

"Why you ask anyway?"

"'Cuz I'm sittin' at your complex and I see this fine-ass nigga with your fake-ass friend Parade. She just went in the house and he's leaning up against a BMW, girl. Damn, he looks edible
.
"