Deliverance (Fem x Stem)

34

Teyanne Sully

I had been up since eight, getting ready with Lilliana for the funeral. It started at 2, and we needed to make a head start from Dallas to get to Houston on time. "You not wearing a dress?" I ask after she exited our bedroom in a suit, the top buttoned up just barely above her cleavage.

"Nahh, I'm whooping ass today," she laughed.

We left the apartment by ten oh one, and she had me driving. She scrolled through Instagram while I navigated my way through the still unfamiliar streets. "So who you fighting today?"

She didn't waste no time listing off people. "Dahnaée, my mama, the people who showed they ass at my old editor job, and the people who spread da rumors. After I'm done beating ass, we stopping at Fuddrucker's to celebrate, the fuck."

"And who paying?" I cry.

"You."

The car ride is silent, except for 93.7 on the radio, until we make it into Houston. "Ight, the church is in Fifth Ward. When we get down this street, make a left, make another left, then make a right. It'll be there right as soon as you turn. The parking will be to the side," she motions with her hand.

"Ight. And what you want me to do again?"

"Back me the fuck up," Lilliana said.

We pulled up blaring Stunna and DaBaby, but I slowly turned the volume down as heads started turning. "Drop me off at the front, then find a parking space. Finna set shit straight," Lilliana hopped out, her faux diamond bag sparkling as she got out into the heat. I glimpsed the casket as the church doors opened to crowds of people. I went around to the lot to park, wondering what ruckus I'd walk into with Lilliana and her family.

After I parked, I speed walked inside, wanting to be nosy as hell. "Rest in peace Grandma," I could hear Lilliana say lowly as she stopped in front of the casket. She left the line and walked along the side aisle, her eyes meeting mine. Danger seemed to glint in them, and I knew she was about to turn shit up in here.

"Attention," she called out, still walking calmly towards me. People looked around to see where the voice had came from. Lilliana stopped and stood up on one of the long benches that served as seats for the church. "Attention."

Everyone looked to her.

"It's some bitches in here das den done me wrong, so you might as well step forward before I seek yo ass out." A lot of the older folks amongst the congregation made remarks on Lilliana's language, but I saw some people walking towards her that looked familiar. I noticed some of the girls who had shown up at her job, then some of the girls who was online talking ish. It was because I had remembered looking through their profiles and saying fuck the dead relatives that they had the doves next to.

"Who ready to go? Cause y'all sho like to do a lot of talking, but den don't wanna back it up."

"Look like somebody caught yo ass lacking," one girl said, referring to the black eyes I had given Lilliana. "You tryna be next?" Lilliana asked, putting up her fists. "I'm ready."

The girl swung on Lilliana, and my baby went off. She had the girl on the ground, beating her into the wood and stomping her head. She threw a Bible down on her head that had been discarded in a seat. "Keep playing wimme, keep playing wimme. Who next?"

Another girl came forward, talking reckless. Lilliana handled a few more people, when her mom sauntered up. She looked the splitting image of Lilliana, and she had this stank look about her. "Lilliana, I didn't raise you like this. This has got to stop. Disrespecting the Lord in his House, and your deceased Grandma-

Lilliana snatched her mother up by the hair and started punching her with blow after blow to the face and the stomach. She kneed her in the gut, then held her up by punching her some more. I started walking towards the fight to stop it when I spotted Dahnaée. I started jogging towards her, and she broke out into a run. Scary bitch! I pushed past people and knocked old bitches over with their walkers. I grabbed Dahnaée by her hair and brought her around back to my feet.

"You think all this mess you started was cute?"

"Get her bae!" Lilliana shouted from across the church. I fucked Dahnaée's shit up, then my baby appeared, and started fucking her up too. After we was done with her, Lilliana got her hair and outfit together. "Hoes needa stop playing," she mumbled.

The pastor quickly saw us out, Lilliana wearing a smirk on her face. We got back into my car, my stomach already set on Fuddrucker's.

"Alright, so what you in the mood for?" Lilliana asked me, scrolling on her phone. "They menu say they got this burger..." I tuned my baby out as I felt a satisfied feeling in me about getting my rage out. I felt like a fire had been extinguished within me.

I felt great.

"Baby, I love you," I tell Lilliana.

"Mhm, do you want a side of fries too?"