Queen Pin

Locating The Head

As I walked back into the party, my mind was going a hundred miles per hour. Nothing about this night seemed real to me anymore. I felt like I'd slipped into the twilight zone.  I could feel Carlos burning a hole in the back of my head but I couldn't dare turn around. I'm always in control of everything, but lately I'd been reacting instantly to everything going on around me. I knew I needed a break, and soon. Finally facing Carlos, I told him the only words I could muster. "I need to get out of here." He nodded his head and went to the front to retrieve the car. I just stood in daze as the party continued around me. I turned my head and noticed the bar. I felt the liquor would soothe some of my pain so I made my way to the bar. I asked the bartender for a double shot of Hennessy. I needed something strong if I was going to make it through the rest of the night without smashing anything.

I felt Carlos's presence behind me as I downed the shot. "Come on baby the car's out front." I just simply nodded.

"How much for the whole bottle?"

"I'm sorry ma'am but we're not allowed to sell the bottles", the bartender told me. Though it wasn't his fault, I could feel the anger building up in me.

"Look, my friend threw this event. Tell her to call Carlos or Queen and here's this for your troubles. I promise you will face no consequences from this. Now the bottle", Carlos said as a statement more than a question as he slid 500 dollars on the counter.

The bartender finally reached back and grabbed an unopened bottle of Hennessy. "You're sure I won't get in trouble for this shit man? I really need this lil' gig I got going on here."

"What'a your name?"

"Quincy."

"Look Quincy, me and my wife here are really good friends with the woman who threw this party. Since I know your name I'm about to text her right now and tell her about this so there's no confusion. Alright? "
Quincy simply nodded as Carlos's sent the text. Less than a minute later he got a text back with the thumbs up emoji. He showed it to Quincy and he thanked Carlos.

"Why you need this gig so bad anyway?"

"I got a lil' shorty on the way. Baby moms still early in the pregnancy but I'm tryna stack up as much as I can. We not in the best living situations right now."

"Oh so you need to get at some money like today? I can respect any young man out here trying to provide for his family."

"That's all I'm trying to do. It's all fucked up cause we just moved here form New York. I did some time upstate for getting caught with some bricks. We don't really know anybody but my girl's people down here. It's been hard getting a job cause of my record." I could see Carlos's mind running.

"How about you come take a ride with me and my wife. Something telling me to help you tonight so that's what I'm about to do."

"I can't just leave this job man."

"Actually you could if you tryna make more money."

Quincy looked between Carlos and me. "Fuck it, if I can make more money then let's go. I don't usually trust muthafuckas like this to just be going with them like this. Y'all ain't on no weird shit is you?"

Carlos laughed before he responded, "Nah youngster. I just know a certain type of hunger when I see it without a person saying too much. I wanna see what you about."

"Shit, say no more", Quincy said as he took off his apron and walked around the bar. "Where we headed?"

"What do you mean by not the best living situation", I asked. He looked a little hesitant at first so I took a step closer to him. "You're staring at a very wealthy woman right now. You just helped me by selling me this bottle so, I believe I should return the favor. The only way I can help though is if you let me know what the situation is."