Streetz 2: The Tried

14. One in the Same

I had no idea that Brandy was coming and I had no idea that Ariana was the one that invited her out. I glared at Ari and she smiled, waving her hand to get Brandy's attention. I shook my head and swallowed my shot. Too late to turn back now.

"Girl, you look so good," Ari smiled, pulling Brandy as she tried to escape. She gave me a scornful look and for a moment I felt bad.

"I was just about to order some cake so I'm glad you came," She sat Brandy down beside me with a smile so innocent, you'd think that nothing was wrong. Brandy was clearly uncomfortable and so was I.

"I wanted to invite you to dinner to formally thank you for helping Ermias get out of prison," She swirled her straw around, "I checked out your resume and it must be really nice to be able to help out with the young men in our communities."

"Uh, yeah," Brandy smiled, she was clearly a wreck, "I try to help out with everyone, especially the wrongfully convicted."

"How long have you been doing this?"

"For a few years."

Ari smiled at me, "For a few years, isn't that wonderful? So, like what's the process? Is there like a program you have or do you just plan to keep in touch with people after they leave?"

"Ari," I eyed her. I was on my third shot, trying to be oblivious to the world as Ariana cut into her cake, never taking her eyes off Miss Brandy. 

"I'm, I'm sorry. Maybe I misunderstood what this was, I thought this was supposed to be a meeting?" Brandy frowned.

"Oh, you mean a date? It is. You want some cake?"

"No."

"Have you two ever had any nonconsensual or consensual sex?"

"Alright," Brandy tossed her napkin on the table and stood up, "I'm leaving."

"I don't think you should do that." Ari smiled nicely, "I checked out your credentials and a long list of other inmates that you not only harassed but stalked as well. That little shop you call your business downtown? I can get that shut down today. So either you listen to what I have to say or I can send my paperwork of evidence to your Warden of Care, your pick."

Brandy glared at Ariana, "Listen bitch, I don't know what your deal is but if I find out that you're trying to get me fired for helping my clients I swear, you better-"

"I better what?" Ari finally stood up, challenging her as I stood in between them. Now was not the time for this. There was a small audience, a few people peeping and flashing their phones for a video. "I better what? Count my days? See, I was trying to be nice but it's people like you that always try to misuse your power. I'll let your unit manager know that you illegally requested my phone number from your client's files, which is out of your scope of practice."

"Fuck you bitch!" Brandy pushed me, causing me to tightly grip her wrists. It was pissing me off because I was trying to ensure Ariana wouldn't swing on her. I was trying to save her life. Ariana pulled her hair into a ponytail and stepped back from me. She grabbed her purse and threw a few bills onto the table.

"Come on Ermias, let's go so we can catch the bus on time." Ari zipped her coat up, watching me as I tried to calm down a pissed-off Brandy. 

"If she wanted to do something, she would've by now," Ari reiterated, "Let's go."

I held Brandy in my grip as she wiggled around, cursing, throwing slurs, and yelling other nonsensical words as Ariana walked out. Once I felt like Brandy was calm, I let her go and retrieved my things so I could leave before getting escorted out. I followed behind Ari but only after a split second, a cold drink landed on the back of my hoodie.