Bonded In Truth

The Run Down (cont.)

Zaiere

"Ay yo Z, who's the fine ass chick that you be chilling wit? You know ol' girl with the pretty smile?" Donte asked as he got in the passenger side of my car.

"You must be talking bout' my homegirl Jade. She's a friend from way back. Why you ask?" I replied.

"I was asking cause she fine as hell and you need to stop being stingy and introduce ya boy."

I laughed out loud. I could hear Jade's smart ass mouth now, "Who is this nigga thinking he worth my time?"

"Nah bruh, I'ma save you the trouble now. She ain't your type and you damn sure ain't hers." I told him laughingly but being dead ass serious.

"Aw ok man it's like that? You probably just tryin to keep her to yourself. It's cool bro. That's all you had to say." Donte stated with a slight attitude.

"Chill fam, it's nothing like that. Jade and I go way back. I know her like the back of my hand and I'm telling you, she wouldn't be interested so you might as well stick with the chick you already smashin." I told him trying to change the subject.

Jade and I were best friends but that was all there was to it. I can't even lie, I loved the girl but she could be intimidating to most guys cause she was a no nonsense type of person. I didn't know if she would ever settle down again after what happened between her and Nick. I tried to warn her about the nigga being shady but she was too far gone. She didn't see the guy for who he really was until all that shit hit the fan. I grimaced a bit recalling how hurt she'd been. I felt like an ass for not protecting her more, but at the same time, it wasn't my place to insert myself into her relationship. I gave her the best advice I could. Hell, I was going through my own drama. We were both going through some rough times, but one thing I can say, she was always there when I needed her.

"Yeah whatever man." Donte said, snapping me out of my thoughts. "So what's the move for tonight?"

"Shit I don't know, you tell me. You the one that stay out in these streets." I said being straight forward with him.

Over the past few years I'd changed my outlook on life tremendously. When I was younger, I was doing too much too soon and that shit caught up to me real quick. After I almost got kicked out of college, I decided then it was time to sit my ass down and get my shit right. In the midst of all the bullshit, Jade was right there encouraging me and letting me know everything would be ok.

I shook my head at the thought of all the drama that can come along with relationships. I was just glad that I knew how to be single and be ok with that. I didn't need a million different hoes running in and out my house to prove that I was that nigga. Shit my presence alone speaks volumes. Besides, my own relationship in college was rough just like Jade's, so I was cool on the shit myself.
My ex, Taniyah, was a sweet girl. Real pretty and smart with a bright future ahead of her. She'd been kind of sheltered growing up so when she came to college and met me, I exposed her to a whole new world she didn't need to be a part of. For the most part, she maintained her naivety to a lot of the things I did, but the girl had a jealous streak like no other.

She couldn't stand Jade. And the fact that I considered Jade such an important part of my life made her insecure.

To Taniyah, I was everything. A friend, lover, confidant, provider, protector, and a teacher. She'd said on plenty of occasions how she happy she was to have fallen in love with me and that she couldn't picture her life without me. She didn't want for nothing. I made sure of that.