Pride

Chapter Twenty-Two

Ketara Greene

"How much better can I show my love for you, than say I do, I do, do?"

-Yebba; Yebba's Heartbreak

"Jump Judy!"

I jumped up as Lichelle screamed her famed superstitious phrase. We'd been preparing to play a couple of rounds of Spades when she'd finished dealing out everyone's hand. Kofi had been my partner and Shakyra had been hers.

Lichelle had the lunch period after us again but being that her teacher turned up absent for the period she casually walked into our lunch period after attendance had been taken. I was kind of shocked but couldn't fault the way she finessed the system. I was happy to see her since our classes didn't cross that much except for the Math class we caught together. Shakyra was doubly happy as she had no classes with her this year. I was pretty sure they'd both have AP English together next year however. I was aiming to get placed in Math. The hope for us both was that Jay got over whatever was egging him about Shakyra so he could tutor us both. Lichelle wanted her average right and I needed the classes on my transcript, period.

"Girl, what the fuck?" I said, side eyeing her, "Nobody wants to hear that shit."

Lichelle giggled in response as well as threw down her first card, it being a Deuce of Club. I ate her book with my Ace since it made the most sense to do and led off with my King of Club. Kofi had thrown off with a three of Hearts and I'd taken the hint, feeding his hand. We had a good rhythm going until Shakyra cut above him. That caused Lichelle to cackle.

"Uh huh. Thought y'all were taking the crown didn't y'all?"

"We still got time to whip that ass, Ms. Chelle." I threw back, making Kofi chuckle,

Hearts was the strong suit after awhile. Unfortunately, Lichelle was allowing Shakyra's cards to walk that normally wouldn't have. Seeing that pissed me off because they were books normally Kofi and I would've taken.

"Looks like we spankin' that ass now, Ms. Kiki!" Lichelle said, taking another book, "How you like me now, baby?"

"Bite me." I said, doing a small dance when Kofi won another book, "Aye, go Kofi!"

"I got you, friend." he said, leading off with a low spade, "Give me your fuckin' Spades!"

"Fuck outta here, Kof." Shakyra mumbled, throwing the lowest card in her hand, being her Jack of Spades,

While we were getting into the heat of the last couple of cards, Louis slid in behind me, snaking his arms around my waist. I blushed, losing concentration momentarily and causing Kofi to suck his teeth.

"Nigga, get the fuck out of here! My partner was doing good until you came!"

Which he was right about. Louis chuckled and pulled me closer. One thing I could say about my man was that nothing or nobody was going to keep him from being up under me. Ironically, it's the story of our lives.

"She good, nigga." he said, pulling out my Queen of Spades,

Lichelle chuckled and ate my Spade with her little Joker, "Nah, stick around nigga. It's lit, now!"

Kofi groaned but we saved that round of our game. Unfortunately, we did lose eventually to Lichelle and Shakyra who did the 'shoot' dance all the way out of the lunch room as the bell rang. I giggled as Louis threw an arm around my shoulder and Kofi cursed him out for sitting up under me.

"Wack ass nigga trying to cake while niggas tryna win a game of Spades. I should snuff your ass right now."

Louis shrugged, "Aye, you know I don't give a fuck."