𝑾𝑰𝑪𝑲𝑬𝑫 𝓖𝓪𝓶𝓮𝓼

THE PARTY.

Sept 16, Saturday 8pm.

"Abellll." Lisa tossed money into the air as I walked through the bedroom door. "Boy, we are going to be filthy rich!!" She beams, watching all the colorful dollars settle beneath her white painted toes.

"I don't know about rich, but we're definitely getting somewhere." I grin, staring at the fives and twenties nearly piling at the floor. Her face was lightened, Lisa's family wasn't necessarily broke but by the way she was looking she and her sister probably ain't have much either.

"That's all you made?" I ask.

She shook her head pulling an envelope from behind her. "Maybe, Maybe not."

"Aw shit." I tried to smile, but my stomach churned. I sat on the bed next to her staring off into the pile of crisp dollars. Dirty money never seems so dirty till you're the one who's done the dirt. I heard a party down the block and I think I'll hit that up with Lisa. I'm just worried about Henny getting back safe. He took a visit to the emergency room last night and should be home any minute now, so I take a mental note to put the key under the mat.

"Abel, did you see Jane at the club? Or was I tripping? Because I saw her with some guy, and he had a whole fade. Toni got dreads."

"She been a thot. Throw something on we 'bout to leave in a second," I tell her before creeping down the hall to see what Jane is up to. Peeping through the crack, careful not to disturb her I watch as she brushes her brunette hair.

She paused, staring off into the mirror. "Why shy now? You know you can open the door and come in right?" the words just glided off her tongue as if we always been tight.

"Word." Pushing the door open I rested my arm on the frame. "I was just seein' what you was up to. Where you headed?" For someone who likes everything set and stone I can't believe that nigga would even think about giving Jane another chance. He must be having panic attacks 27/4 with her ass.

"Why? Did you wanna come." Her reflection in the mirror slowly grinned.

"Nah. . . not really. I was trying to see if-." Her phone rang and she picked it up, waving me off.

"Abel," Lisa's sweet voice turned me around. She smiled holding her necklace out. "Please?"

I take her necklace in my hands watching the small diamonds on a heart pendant reflect the light peeking down the hall. "This shit real real huh?" she turned around holding her hair up for me.

"Surprisingly." Placing the necklace around on her more faint marks trailing down her back that look like she tried to cover up with her makeup haunted me. "You know, Dj so cheap. He always says money don't buy happiness. I feel like he only comes around because he don't wanna see me with nobody else." She rolls her eyes.

"First it buys weed, second that nigga didn't even graduate. Don't let a complete dummy do you like that."

"Boy please, you didn't graduate either though, so I don't think it's fair to say that."

"I ain't graduate 'cause I dropped out. That nigga got kicked out of school because he too damn old, then he stole from his granny, and now he still trying to trap meanwhile pushing 30. We are not the same." Lisa and I gathered our things and just before we began our walk to this party down the block I made sure to place the key under the mat.

***

"Don't go into any room alone with any guy, and if everybody starts randomly leaving you get the fuck out of here okay? Don't even look for me." I speak into her ear over the music.

"I know, I know." She gives me a you know I know this look. I just can't help it. I used to give Lisa this rundown all the time when we went to parties as youngins.

"Don't get too fucked up, I can't carry you all the way back." We share a laugh before I disappear into the crowd of people. People danced in the promising ambiance as weed and alcohol filled my nostrils. I didn't hesitate to pour myself up some since I hadn't had the chance. I remember my first party I went to with LaMar, Omar who was known as Big O around the block, and Henny who had no business out this late. As I took a sip the Patron flourished on my tastebuds giving me a trip down memory lane.

I straightened up as a woman with lost eyes approached me. The closer she came the more I could make out who she was. She was the same girl from that 46 Pine St party. "Hey." She leaned against the wall next to me, hands buried in her pocket. I gave a headnod in response. "I remember you used to be a plug around the block. Don't know if you still are, but I got a fix if you wanted to join."

Considering the fact that Ricky still hasn't come through I think I'll take my chances. "Let's do it." she tilts her head in the direction she's going so, I take that as cue to follow right behind her. We went to the bathroom and did a couple lines together. She let me have the rest as I promised to return the favor. I dug a $100 bill from my pocket and slipped it into her hand. "The Mod club not too far from here was remodeled. It's called Souled Out. I wanna see you there on Monday. You could be touching some real money by Tuesday." And so could I.

"I liked the sound of that." She smirked, leaning against the sink. Her eyes glanced at my lips as she pulled me closer by my puffer. I leaned in, my lips practically brushing against hers. Gunshots then startled the both of us. "Shit." We both rush outside.

The freezing air slapped my face as I and several other people flooded out the door. I saw Lisa across the street standing around under the orange washed out streetlight with her hands cupped over her mouth. Making my way to her I took her in my arms making sure she was all good. "Why you ain't start walking?"

"I couldn't leave you there." She peered over my shoulder with a worried expression twisting her face. Her make up had black streaks running down her face."Let's just go."