Courting The Champion

9 - Gat Beef?

“And that part where you like ducked and dodged to the side I was like that's  my nigga man look at his chiseled back!” Troy exclaims  in his skinny ass clown voice and err'one bursts into hysterics.

“Chiseled back my ass nigga!” my homeboy Londann adds on and the laugher multiplies tenfold.

Sunday is here and I pulled up on my boys Lance, Troy and Londann this morning who already had the whole neighborhood street smelling like smoked beef. I brought my boy from work Wayne, with me and the nigga just fit right in with err'one. It's just a simple boy's lunch, a little get together with my boys to catch up and talk about our recent happenings.

“But honestly I'm proud of you man. You went out there and showed everyone what you can do,” Lance says and gives me a bro shake and I nod at him. “Thanks man, means a lot.”

“So Wayne you up next, got a few tricks up your sleeve as well? Another chiseled back?” Troy says directing it to Wayne who laughs and nods mischievously.

“Pretty much Troy...” He pauses for a second.

“....man Hahah! Troyman!” he finishes and everyone cracks up at his Troyman joke.

“They should've just called you Troyman nigga, what the hell does Troy mean? Like what's your name 'Hey I'm Troy'. Londann mocks and Troy throws an empty beer can at him. I shake my head at the two.

After numerous plates of beef, chicken, shrimp and corn, it's already dark and late. Wayne invites the boys to come and watch him fight on Tuesday night, and they promise him that they'll bring him some roasted turkey and corn, that he seemed to enjoy today.

Wayne drops me off at my apartment. Wayne didn't touch a single drop of alcohol since he knew he gat a fight in just a few days.

“Hey bro. Thanks man for coming to see my boys with me, you're one of us now! I'll see you tomorrow.” I say as I get out the car. “Sure thing Drew!” he says then drives off.

I gat nothing left to do today besides to run the shower and dive headfirst in my sheets.

I wake up around eleven in the morning. I know I'm an hour late for training. My trainer Trevor might just bite my head off if he isn't too distracted with coaching Wayne and preparing him for his fight night tomorrow.

I kind of take my time gittin' ready, knowing I gat some lame ass excuse I can give. Like how I was handling some financial business at the bank.

They can't refute it since they know  a hefty sum was just transferred to my account on Saturday, courtesy to my extended fighting contract with Linear Impact Co.

First thing I want to do is maybe check in with Wayne to talk about the whole conversation we had on Friday. The little suspicion we have on Mr Smith and the company.

It's already noon when I arrive at the building. I see Trevor coaching some kid named Eric and I don't see Wayne in sight. I decide to look for him in the changing rooms. Just as I approach, I can hear an argument commencing and it sounds as if it might be serious.

Spencer William, another dark skinned  black fighter and bodybuilder signed to Linear Impact Co. is standing with a towel wrapped around his waist with a murderous look on his face, yelling at someone.

“ALL I'M SAYING IS YOU GOT TO PUT IT BACK WHERE YOU TOOK IT!” his voice booms harshly.

“And I'm saying.. What does it bother you if I don't put back the dumbbell? You don't work here as a cleaner so just leave it there nigga.”

It takes me a second to realize the voice that responds is Wayne. I poke my head and see that it is him, putting clothes into his duffle bag while debating with Spencer.

“DON'T DISRESPECT ME HOMEBOY I BEEN IN THIS GAME LONGER THAN YOU!” Spencer yells walking closer and closer to where Wayne is. I walk over to Wayne, just in case the argument escalates.

“Ey man I ain't your homeboy, if you gat beef with me just say you gat beef. Don't try to to pick a fight with me over some stupid dumbbell!” Wayne says a little less louder than Spencer.

“The fuck? I ain't got beef with nobody. The world doesn't revolve around you nigga.” Spencer retorts, using hand gestures to emphasise on his point.

“Yo! I never said it did. You're the one that thought it.. so maybe that's why you gat beef with me,” says Wayne.

I finally decide to get in between seeing it wasn't about to go anywhere pretty.

“Ey Wayne man just let it go. It ain't worth it let's grab some lunch,” I say and Wayne easily cooperates and we leave Spencer and his gang in the changing room.

I take a seat opposite Wayne who shakes his head in disgust. “See what I told you the other day? They don't like me,” he declares referring to our conversation about the company on Friday night after my fight.

I nod in agreement.

“I can see it. Which is why this alarms me to a degree that unsettles me,” I say.

“Yep.”

“I mean clearly they have sum' to hide and they fact that you asked around made some of these guys dislike you,” I conclude, then lean back in my chair and let out an exasperated breath. Wayne does the same. I can tell the action relaxes him a little bit.

“I'll be back.” I say then go over to the counter and order two beef burgers, fries, spicy black bean noodles and some hot wings. The burgers come with free cranberry blended drinks.

I bring back the food and I can tell Wayne was getting hungry. Probably Trevor didn't go easy on him today. Which makes me wonder.

“How is Trevor towards you?” I question and he looks up in thought then shifts back his attention to me.

“He used to be pretty cool with me like he is with you last month. Now he's just a little passive,” he explains and I nod in understanding. It adds up.

“Then that means whatever conspiracy these other guys are in, Trevor's in it too,” I state and Wayne nods in agreement.

His eyes suddenly widen and I look at him curiosly.

“That's it bro. That's how you ask Arabelle. Ask about me, not about Smith. See if she seems to have anything personal against me,” he instructs and I nod my head slowly in thought.

“Right. So that she doesn't get suspicious. Even if Smith knows I'm asking around about you, he'll try to poison me against you himself. To get me on his side and make you look like the bad guy.” I say and Wayne nods.

“Exactly. It's a perfect plan. Foolproof one hundred thousand percent.”

“And it's also a way to check where Arabelle's loyalty lies. If she has something against you then it only means she's involved somehow,” I say thinking aloud. Wayne grunts in agreement, nodding his head.

I take a large bite out of my burger, letting out a loud crunchy sound. I slurp on my noodles and take another bite out of my burger. Time to get to the bottom of things.