A Brothers Eyes

6. Truth

"Take a seat, relax ma.. You want something to drink"
"You got tea"
"Yea" he chuckled
"What's funny"
"Nothing, you just country to the bone" he shook his head as if that was such a bad thing.
"Because I like tea?"
"The way you talk, the way you dress allat"
"You hood as fuck , chi town"
"And?" I rolled my eyes
He came back with the tea and picked up the remote.
"What you got"
"Girl sit back , I'm about to put you on a good ass movie"
I slid my shoes off, and laid down on the stretch out sofa.
"Aye, don't get too comfortable, this couch will have you knocked out"
"I won't , I can't sleep in an unfamiliar place"
I saw the opening credits to love jones come on and almost died.
"This my movie!!!"
"I see , calm your ass down" he chuckled.
~

I woke up to silence, I had a blanket over me, the sun had gone down and the light in the room was the TV, Power was now on"
"I thought you couldn't sleep in unfamiliar places"
He scared the shit out of me.
"You were watching this?"
"Nah I had some shit on my mind"
"What's going on" I could see him glance my way before licking his lips and smiling .
"Nothing I can't fix, the real question is why were you walking by yourself midday like somebody pissed in your Cheerios"
"I was overreacting"
"About?"
"Jarrett" I said looking down at my nails.
"You thought he feeling you huh?" He chuckled before running his hands down his face.
"Well, ... Yeah he kissed me at the party and he ev-"
"You dodged a bullet, trust me ma, you don't want them problems"
"He's a nice guy"
"On the surface, yes but you're not fit for this life"
"Excuse me"
"You're a major liability "
"Whatever . I wasn't that interested"
he laughed as if I told a joke. " Yeen gotta lie , he talked that talk , kissed on you and you got tight when he wasn't what you expected it's all apart of the game"
I smacked my teeth. "Where's the bathroom?"
"Second door on the right"
i went into his bathroom, which was spacious and gorgeous, and just got myself together. I flushed the toilet and washed my hands as if I actually used the bathroom and was almost back in the living room when a picture caught my eye. It was a painting of a two young boys, one holding up the peace sign and the other laughing with a lollipop in his hand and purple dye all over his lips. I didn't realize they were standing in front of houses in flames and planes flying overhead. I was curious and intrigued but the happiness on the kids touched me.
"No one can seem to walk past this one "
"Where did you get this?"
"A young cat I know around the way"
"Wow, in Chicago?"
"Yeah"
"Who?"
"Just somebody, I forgot his name"
"This is amazing"
"I guess,
"Ain't no guess this is everything "
" I hope pepperoni pizza is everything too, cause that's what I ordered"
"That's fine" he was such a smart ass.

I was going through his movie collections trying to find something worth watching. He had every movie from Roots to Scarface. He had several social and cultural documentaries, love stories and horror films.
"Nosy much?"
"I was trying to find a movie, you can tell a lot from what movies they own"
"Whatchu got"
"Mixed signals this time"
I chose brown sugar, another favorite of mine and laid back down.
"This is actually one of my favorite movies"
"Mine too" I grabbed my blanket and covered my feet.
"Dre?"
"Huh"
"What do you do"
"I eat, I drink, I cook, sometimes I fuck I do alot"
"Nigga you know what I mean"
"I provide for myself by any means necessary period."
"Oh" I looked the other way trying to make conversation.
"Why you ask anyways" he was leaned back looking at me.
"Just wondering, "
"Wondering what exactly" his tone sounded irritated.
"Curiosity"
"Nosy"
"I didn't wanna judge you so I asked trying to give you the benefit of the doubt"
"What the fuck does that mean" he said sitting up, he was getting pissed.
"Don't get mad I wa-"
"I ain't mad ma, "
" Good. I was just saying I didn't wanna guess what I didn't know, no assumptions you know"
"I respect that you asked ,"
" some things don't add up though"
"Like what" he rubbed his chin.
"Your phone doesn't ring all the time, you don't dress like it , and you don't watch gangsta movies all day"
"What books have you been reading , " he bust out into laughter . I honestly felt like a joke.
"What I say"
"A bunch of bullshit, everything you see and hear is fake, the game is glamorized and blown out of proportion, but I expect that from you"
"Meaning" I was offended now.
"You're an Afrocentric tomboy , you don't know nothing about the life I live"
"I know more than you think I do"
"I bet"
"why this life"
" I wouldn't have a life had I not chosen this one"
"Not exactly "
" How you know? My life just kind of gotten crazy and I had to step up"
"Oh"
"you really have no idea huh?"
"About"
"Jay, me or anybody" I wasn't following.
"What?"
"Nothing, if you don't know it's for a reason although I believe I know, you too green "
"My father was in the same game you're in , I wouldn't have moved out of Bankhead had he not worked so hard."
"You inherited the fruits of the streets labor so you should understand"
"I'd give it all up, just to see my father again or erase coming home to his dead body, I'm only this way because this is how I deal.. I'm no different then you "
"We are very different"
"I don't think so"
"You're the victim , I'm the enemy. two totally different things"
"I think you got tired of being the victim and wanted to change things, you feel pain just like me , I'm sure you wish your life was different"
"Sorry about your pops, I lost mine too when I was just a youngin he was killed while in jail"
He seemed so cool with sharing that as if he wasn't emotionally attached.
I felt tears running down my face, I never spoke about my father or what I saw that day and those wounds never heal.
"Aye ma please don't , c'mere" he held his arms out to me and wrapped his strong arms around me. I laid my head on his strong shoulders.
"I'm sorry, I just never..."
"Shhhh, it's cool, I gotchu"
He rubbed my back a little and let me go , he wiped my tears with his thumb. He lifted my head with his thumb and looked me in my eyes. He tilted his head and gently pecked my lips, once, twice and then a third, this time I relaxed against his lips and he deepened the kiss. He grabbed my face and kissed me slowly, intimately , and passionately. The sounds of lips locking echoed in the room. He grabbed my waist and pulled me closer as he rubbed my back. He ran his hands through my hair as his left hand wrapped around my waist. I moaned into his mouth as he took his time , sucking on my bottom lip, sucking my tongue and rubbing my skin. I wrapped my arms around his neck and gave in. His lips were soft and big , his presence dominant. I rubbed his strong arms and back, he massaged the back of my neck. He ignited a fire in me , every cell in my being was being touched.
DING DONG, DING DONG

"Oh Shit! The pizza!"