Stripping Asjiah I (22 page)

“Nah, I’m good.”
“So what’s up with you and A’?”

Adjusting his blue Yankee hat Money tried to remain calm. He had been trying to forget about her. “Shit, I’m really feeling her man. It’s like I’m a different person when I’m around her. We laugh and talk about all different kinds of things. But CJ got her on lock.”

“Fuck that. If you want her take the key from his ass and unlock that shit.”
“Man, I ain’t tryna have Angel come at me sideways bout his sister.”

Dusting ashes off his Polo shirt Caleb sat up. “I’m telling’ you, after that shit went down with those lil’ niggas from around the way, you’re now one of us. Maybe not all the way but you def in Angel’s good graces.” Caleb blew smoke out the window and fell back into the seat. “For him to include you in on our road trip say’s a lot right there. Angel doesn’t trust too many people.”

“Bodying somebody is one thing but we’re talking about his family, his blood. I heard he killed his Uncle over her.”

Not wanting to say too much Caleb quickly changed the subject. “All I’m saying is A’s not cut from the same cloth as these other boppers out here. Her swag is different; you can tell by the way she dresses, always in some new designer label, not any of this knock off shit you can get at the corner store. She’s thorough, and she doesn’t go out her way to do anything extra to get attention.”

“You talking about her like you got a thing for her or something.”

Caleb twisted his face up. “It ain’t even like that; she’s like my little sister. I’d be lying if I said she wasn’t cute but I care about her, she’s family.” Taking a sip of his FIJI water he watched the sign go by indicating they had 30 more miles.

*****
“Have any of your peoples said anything about your Uncle?” Angel tightly gripped the steering wheel at the mention of Cash. “Nope, as far as their concerned he’s either back in jail or somewhere getting high.” “Do you think they were able to save him?” Gabriel grabbed the bag of Doritos from the backseat and opened them.

“Why should I care? He didn’t give a fuck about us, so why should I care or waste my time thinking about whether he lived or not. I hope he bled to death before anyone noticed he was out there.” Inhaling, Angel calmed down as he blew smoke into the vent.

“You smoke too much.”

“Fuck you. This shit keeps me sane, if I wasn’t high I would have too much time to think about all the fucked up shit that’s going on in my life. I would have too much time to analyze every little thing and that shit would drive me crazy. I don’t want to be sober.” Angel took the blunt from his mouth and admired it. “This beautiful plant is my best friend.”

17
*****

“Asjiah know the rules to this shit, Angel been schooling her since day one. Letting her go on runs and make drops for him n’shit. Nobody would ever suspect her of anything. That’s the kind of chic you need. Somebody who’s going to hold you down. That chic is A’.”

“Nigga give me that fucking blunt. You are getting all insightful n’shit.” Grinning, Money shoved Caleb.
“Fuck you.”
The boys laughed as Money thought about the things Caleb was saying. He was right. Asjiah was different.

“So you think I should try to get at her?”
“If you really want her then go for it.”
“What about CJ?”

“What about him? He’s a minor obstacle, and like every obstacle, there’s always a way around it. But they’ve been together a minute so if you think breaking them up will be easy, it won’t. Be patient, good things come to those who wait.”

****
“So what you think about Money?”

“I know he got a thing for my sister, I’m sure he knows I don’t play games when it comes to Asjiah. If I hear any shit involving him and her I’m a dump his ass in Lake Erie.” Angel tried to keep his eyes on the road as he fidgeted with the stereo.

“You ever think about calling this shit quits?” Gabriel looked out the window, the trees passing by so quickly were symbolic to his life. He felt like he didn’t have much time to stop and enjoy simple things.

“Stacey wants me to but what else am I going to do besides hustle? A 9 to 5 isn’t for me.” Angel killed the blunt and placed it in the ashtray. “Yeah I feel you but when does this shit end? I want a seed one day but I’m not tryna see my shorty behind prison glass.”

Angel’s mood quickly changed. “You bitchin’ up on me now? Nigga this is the life we were given. Do you think I chose this shit? Do you think I wanted to come to Cleveland?

My life was perfectly fine out in Cali then all of a sudden my fuckin’ father decides to carve my mom’s up and shit got real. I got tired of that bitch ass nigga Cash beating me, got tired of my grandmother kicking me out so I had no choice but to turn to the streets. I had to put food in my stomach, clothes on A’s back as well as mine. Who else was gone do that shit but me? I don’t know anything else! This is my life and you’re either a part of it or you not!”

Gabriel listened to the pain in Angel’s voice. Throughout their friendship Angel had always been the strong one. He never talked about his past although Gabriel knew it was eating away at him. Keeping so much anger, so much hurt bottled up wasn’t healthy. Looking at him now it seemed like things were beginning to boil over.

Tears clouded Angel’s eyes preventing him from seeing the patrol car tucked away in the bushes. Clocking him at 85 in a 65 zone it didn’t take long before the familiar flash of red and blue appeared behind him.

*****
“Fuck! Slow down, slow down!” Caleb sat up fastening his seat belt. “This is not good.” Money looked on as the cop car signaled for Angel and Gabe to pull over.

“Keep going.”
“We’re just going to leave them?”

“What the fuck are we supposed to do? Jump out guns blazing? It’s a wrap for them dude. We take this chance every time we make this trip. Once the jakes find those bricks they going straight to County.”

Angel stared out the window as his eyes met with Money’s. “This is fucked up.” Money felt helpless as he watched the officer approach the car as the explorer faded into his rearview mirror.

ChApTER ThIRTy-ThREE

This isn’t happening…
8/15/2000

I feel sick. I thought it was just a change in climate but I’ve been back for three weeks and nothing’s changed. My period is late. It should’ve started around the time we got back but there’s no sign of it yet. I’m trying to keep cool and not let my imagination run wild but what am I supposed to think? I’m always tired, I have to pee every five minutes and everything makes me nauseous. My nipples are tender and they look like water balloons. Sounds like pregnancy right? What am I going to do with a baby? What would CJ say if I was pregnant? Would he be happy? Would he be mad? What am I going to do about Clark? I can’t take a baby down to Atlanta, I mean I could but where would we live? In my dorm room? What would Marie say if she found out? This would only give her a right to say “I told you so” since she knew I was gonna get knocked up anyway. Of course all the name calling would follow; she would tell me that I was stupid, a slut, that CJ doesn’t really love me, then of course my aunts would chime in and the verbal abuse would continue. Angel would spazz the fuck out and want to kill CJ if he knew I was pregnant. I knew those strawberries were going to get me in trouble.
“What’s up sexy?”

“Hi love.”
“What you into?”

“Nothing.” I looked down at the Rottweiler lying at my feet. “Can you come get me?” Feeling light-headed I closed my journal, got off the bed and walked towards the bathroom with Bear following behind me.

“What’s wrong?”
“Nothing I just feel a little sick. I wanted to run and get some ginger ale.” “Are you pregnant A’?”
“What?” My heart skipped as CJ voiced my thoughts.
“Are you pregnant?”
“I…I don’t know.”

“I’m on my way.” CJ hung up the phone before I had a chance to respond. He pressed the ignore button as the caller id displayed Asjiah’s name.
*****
CLICK! CLICK! Gabriel took the safety off his gun and cocked it as Angel pulled to the side of the road.
“You ready?” Angel reached underneath his seat and retrieved his .38. “Always.” Gabriel’s heart pumped with adrenaline as he watched one of the officers exit the car and slowly approach them.
“This white boy ain’t even strapped.” Gabriel’s anticipation grew as he watched the officer through the mirror.
“License and…”
POP! POP! Shots were fired as Angel unloaded his gun in the officer’s face.
The officer’s hat fell to the ground as the bullets rocked his body. Jumping out of the truck Gabriel ran towards the patrol car.

‘This is unit 787 officer down, repeat; officer down. I need back up!” POP! POP!

Glass shattered onto the pavement as Gabriel relieved the young officer of his fears. Cars sped by in horror as onlookers observed the scene.

Dodging a minivan Angel swerved into traffic.
“Shit! Angel stopped suddenly causing the truck to jerk violently as he watched two more cars drive towards him. Putting the car in reverse he made a sudden u-turn in a desperate attempt to escape. Blue and red lights flashed violently as two more cars closed in on the Explorer.

“We have you surrounded! Please step out with your hands up!” Gabriel looked behind him seeing that they were easily out numbered. “I ain’t tryna die by one of these pigs out here.”
“Me either.” Realizing he had no way out, Angel killed the engine on the truck. “Guess this is it”.
*****
I was standing in the backyard playing with Bear when I heard CJ’s car pull up in the driveway.
“A’ c’mon.” CJ rolled down the window and motioned for me to get in the car.

Opening the gate Bear followed me as I walked up to the Cutlass. “Man, get yo’ dog A’.”
Bear growled as he sat next to me staring at CJ.
“Go Bear.”

The sound of my voice seemed to put the monstrous sized dog at ease as he retreated into the backyard. I placed the lock on the fence and then got into the car.

“Can we go to the store now?” Feeling sick again I was hoping I wouldn’t throw up.

“Whatever, make sure you get a test while you in there.”
*****

“Angel! Angel!” Gabriel looked behind them as the officer approached the truck. “What you want to do?” Reaching underneath the seat he grabbed his gun.

“Chill out. It’s cool.” Angel snapped out of his daydream and turned the engine off.
“It’s cool?” Gabriel checked the mirror again. “We going to do major time behind the shit we got with us dude.”
“You scared?”
“Nah I ain’t scared, I just hope you gotta plan.”
Angel cracked open a strawberry Dutch and began rolling another blunt as the officer tapped on the window.
*****
“You want some more water?” Opening the refrigerator CJ refilled my glass.
“No! I don’t want any more water; if I drink anymore water my bladder is going to explode!”
‘What about something to eat, are you hungry?”

“No! What I want is for you to sit down and be quiet! Stop treating me like I’m a fucking dog or something. If I had to use the bathroom I would’ve gone by now!”

“I’m just tryna get this over with. I got shit to do.”

“What?” You’re joking right? You weren’t in a rush when you were balls deep in my pussy! “Ooh A’ you feel so good mami.” I moved around in my chair copying his movements.

“I didn’t mean it like that.”

I rolled my eyes as I got up from the table. “Whatever. And what if I am pregnant CJ, then what?” Sucking my teeth I started mocking him again. “Do you trust me A’? Trust me A’. I told you to put a condom on but you didn’t want to listen so don’t stand there trying to make me pee on command just cause you didn’t want to pull out!”

“I didn’t hear you telling me to stop neither.” CJ’s jaw clenched as he lashed back at me.
“You’re right, I didn’t. But I have no problem owning up to my part in this. Why don’t you man the fuck up and do the same?”

“Where you going?”
Storming down the hall I slammed the bathroom door. “I have to pee!”

I reached in my purse and pulled out the EPT that I had gotten from Walgreens after CJ picked me up. Fumbling with the box I almost tore the instructions as I tried to get the package open.

“Remove test, remove purple cap to expose absorbent tip…” “Asjiah!”

“Leave me alone!” I could hear CJ’s footsteps as he approached the bathroom.

I hopped from one foot to the next doing the potty dance as I tried to finish reading the instructions. “Place absorbent tip in urine flow for five seconds… blah, blah, blah.” I unfastened my jeans and pulled down my panties trying not to pee on my hands.

“A’, open the door ma. I’m sorry; I didn’t mean to upset you just let me in.” CJ placed his head against the door trying to listen to what was happening on the other side. “A’ are you okay?”

I didn’t have to pick the box up to know what the colors meant. I washed my hands and splashed water on my face staring in the mirror trying to decide whether or not I wanted to open the door and let him in. I brushed my hair out of my face, looked down at the two bright pink lines, took a deep breath and twisted the handle on the door.