Ball Is Life

Chapter 3: Give Me the Business

' If you know exactly what I wanna do, then imma give that business to you' -Yung Burg ft. Casha

                               Tyaire and I reluctantly pulled up to Nikki's home and a lump grew in my throat. I tried to swallow it as I looked at Tyaire. He had his hands over his face and let out a loud groan. "Illz is going to KILL me for coming over here with you." He said. I tried to play off my anxiety as I put my mother's 2008 Cadillac Escalade in park. "Since when do you care what she thinks about you slipping around?" I pressured. "I don't -- I mean I do! We just made up today bruh, I ain't never fucked up two times in one day." I shrugged. "I could always turn around and take you back." He dropped his hands from his face and took a deep breath. "Nah, I'm chilling. I promised I'd come with you, I ain't goin' to let that girl provoke me. I'm just here to support my boy." I wanted to respond to him but it seemed like the peptalk was more for himself than me. I took the keys out the ignition and got out the car.

                        I reluctantly pressed the doorbell twice to Nikki's row house. I turned and looked around the street. It was a sketchy place, kids still outside, thugs on every corner with weed and 40s in their hands. I can see why this girl grew up like this. Nikki had finally answered the door and she wore the biggest smirk. "See Angie, I told you they'd come." She said yelling to her friend. You could hear Angelique's loud obnoxious cackle when she said that. "Yeah whatever, just let us in. It's dark as shit." I complained and stepped into the home holding the door open for Ty to enter too. "I knew you couldn't resist for long. What your owner let you off your leash?" She laughed. It was clear she was talking about Naomi. I scoffed. "She's the reason why I'm actually here. I wasn't gon' come til she started acting all crazy and shit like she was my girl or something." She sat down on her bown suade couch just far enough from Angelique for me and Tyaire to fit in between. "And how about you Tyaire?" Angelique started. "I thought you were off limits." Tyaire sucked his teeth. "Look, I'm just here so my boy ain't walking up in shady neighborhoods like this one alone." She laughed at his response. "Don't worry I won't do nothing that ol girl won't like." She lied. While the two of them talked Nikki slid herself closer to me. "I was wondering why you kept playing so much. I knew you wanted me." I leaned back into a slouch and chuckled a little. "You funny, I ain't looking to be tied down right now though Nikki. I don't want to waste your time and have you thinking we gon' be together." She smirked and placed her hand on her lap. "Boy don't flatter yourself, I got someone. He away in college though so I don't see him often." I looked at her confused. "So why am I here?" She let out a low sensual voice with her response. "Girls have needs too." Her hand wandered over from her lap to mines. This girl was out her damn mind, no wonder no one liked her. I guess that ain't any of my business though, huh? "What about your boyfriend?" I asked. She rolled her eyes. "Don't worry about him yo, he got someone to handle him there and I want someone to handle me here. I turned my head to Tyaire to see him kissing Angelique. He tossed her leg over his and gripped her butt. I guess it was too late to leave. "Come on let's give them privacy." Nikki said standing up. I stood up to follow her. Why was I so nervous about sleeping with one particular girl? I never had a problem with anyone else.

                          We walked up a flight of steps and entered a room that was big enough to fit a queen sized bed, a dresser, a night stand and a small closet with only some walking space. She bent over to grab her IPod and put on some music. Her music choice didn't surprise me at all when I heard 'The Business by Yung Burg ft. Casha' come on. "Is that your way of telling me what you want to do?" I asked. She shrugged and wrapped her arms around my neck. "Depends, what message are you getting out of it?"  She pressed her hands against my chest and pushed me onto the bed.'If you go over there, don't talk to me yo.' Naomi's words rang in my head. I squinted my eyes shut trying to ignore it and enjoy this girl who was basically tearing my jeans off me. 'If you go over there, don't talk to me yo.' The words got louder until it sound like she was practically screaming. "No!" I yelled and pushed Nikki's hands off my boxers. "What?" She asked. "I can't do this, as much as I don't want to like Nae right now this shit will be on my conscience forever." I said and grabbed my jeans. "Are you serious right now Nafis? Every girl gets to have you and Tyaire but me? Are you fucking kidding me?" She asked. I slid into my jeans and looped my belt back on. I shrugged. "It just ain't right, I know you were willing to let me hit but something don't feel right." She scoffed and rolled her eyes. "What is it that you want? I'm basically handing myself to you." I shrugged once more. "Maybe I'm just not into girls being that... willing without some chase." I said and sped out the room. When I got downstairs Tyaire was arguing with Angelique. "You keep your voodoo magic over there! I told her I wouldn't so I won't! Try again in a week or two when I feel like fucking up." He yelled. He turned to me and basically ran over to me. "This psycho put a spell on me or something because before I knew it she was on top of me tryin' to hit raw!" I ignored his comment and pulled him out the house. "The devil is a lie!" He yelled to them as they stood at the door yelling something but I didn't hear. All I could hear was the sound of my tires screeching against the gavel road while I sped off.

                     The next few days in school we stood in our usual spot by the lockers doing our usual thing. Talking to girls, cracking jokes and pretending nothing even happened. It's been kind of awkward between the group seeing as Naomi, the peace keeper, was no longer talking to me which means a lot more disagreements happened between me and the group. Although they didn't last long she usually stopped them before they started. "What yall doing after school?" I asked as we sat at the lunch table. "Probably chilling over my aunt house since I heard my cousin Jay coming through." Tyaire said. "Hair salon, I need my hair done like now." Illyana announced running her fingers through her long red weave. "Playing GTA." Dhamir added. We all turned to Naomi for her answer. She rolled her eyes. "What? I'm not talking to him so me answering that question would be considered a conversation." I sucked my teeth. "So why are you over here?" I said trying to make a joke. She stood up and turned to leave but Dhamir and Illz pulled her back down. "Naomi are you seriously going to keep doing this? I'm in this group too you can't escape me!" I said. "You might as well just forgive me, I forgave you." She laughed in disbelief. "You forgave me for keeping it real? Good job Nafis. Kudos to you!"
"You know being petty trait is such an ugly trait."
"Then let my ugly ass be petty."
"I never said you were ugly I said it's an ugly trait."
"Oh."
"Yeah, oh."
"Mhm."
"Why are you acting like you care so much! Why do you only do this shit to me? If it was any of them you wouldn't make so much of a scene."
"Oh."
"I honest to god believe you hate me or some shit."
"Mmm."
              

                   I slammed my hands on the table. "What do you want from me? I'm sorry Naomi but you want me to keep it real? I went over her house and she tried to give me head but I stopped her because I felt like I was a bad friend. Happy?" I said. The bell sounded telling us it was the end of our lunch period. "I guess that's the end  of lunch. I'll see yall in Geometry later." She said and waited for Illyana to get up and go to class with her. After they left the three of us left at the table let out a sigh. "I don't understand her." I admitted. Dhamir and Tyaire laughed. My eyebrow raised. "What's so funny?" Tyaire pretended to wipe a tear from his eye. "Your big ass head must be full of hot air if you don't understand why she got mad." He told me. "I'm convinced that you really don't know as much about girls as you claim you do" Dhamir said. I automatically got defensive. "Yeah I do! Know more than you!" Dhamir laughed again. "That's dead." When I was about to respond Tyaire cut me off. "What he means is are you truly blind--" Dhamir cut him off. "Or just that dumb?" I looked at them confused. I had no idea what they were trying to hint at. Their explanation wasn't making much sense at all. "Oh my g-- She likes you! I'm sorry but that would have taken all day for you to get that." He said. I rolled my eyes and laughed. "Man shut up, you sound dumb." I looked at their faces and realized the weren't laughing.Are they for real? No way Naomi liked me, she was way too protective. If anything it was like a brother and sister relationship right? "Nah." I said. "If anything it's Dhamir she likes. Y'all spend so much time together." Dhamir smacked his hand over his face. "Are you blind my nigga? She's protective, jealous, bossy, always smiling and happy when you're around. She likes you!" I thought about the point he'd just made. Maybe it was true, maybe she did like me and I was just too damn dumb to realise. I needed to ask for myself and get the answers. Sitting at this table wasn't getting me anywhere mentally or physically. I was late for English.