The Impostor [ᴍxᴍ]

Miguel Moreno

As time goes by, I find myself spending more and more time with Jackson. Sometimes, I even do it without telling CJ or Lindo what I'm up to. Whenever they catch up, I just call it a 'solo mission' or I explain how I'm just 'gathering intel'. Truth be told, I just wanted to kick it with him. I didn't feel like I was doing anything wrong; obviously, I'd have to build a close bond with him if I'm about to ask him for a million dollars.

Regardless of how rich he is, that's just not the kind of money you invest in somebody you don't even know.

And so I spent the next few weeks getting to know him. Weeks turned to months and soon enough, the pressure was building up from my crew. They were growing restless. Impatient. I had accumulated a large amount of debt from borrowing money to finance these outings with Jackson. Even CJ had started to complain about how much money he was losing with nothing to show for it.

I had to come up with something and I had to do it fast.

"How's things with you and Jackson?" Lindo asked me.

"I mean, you know we been dating for like 2 mont—"

"Dating?!"

Damn.

"Nah, not dating. You know what I mean, bro."

I don't know why I say that we're dating; maybe because that's what he likes to call it? It's not like that. Jackson has this hard exterior that intimidates a lot of people but on the inside, he's actually a really likable person and I guess I just like hanging out with him. That's it. Of course, I would never even tell them that.

"Actually, I'm not sure I do. Are you seriously dating him, Jeremiah? It's never taken this long before. This is about to be the third month and you haven't gotten a single dollar out of him. It's almost like you're in it... just to be in it. Look, man... if you're gay, that's cool. Be gay. We really don't care but we do care when you let your sexuality affect our—"

"My sexuality?!"

"Yeah! If you wanna fuck niggas, that's on you. Just don't fuck us over in the process. CJ's already loaned you—"

"Man, fuck you!" I barked out. I slammed my fist on the table and stood to my feet to get in her face. Hearing her talk like this just made me extremely defensive. How the fuck is she gonna sit here and call me a faggot?! Fair enough, I did have some attachment to Jackson but that doesn't make me a fucking fairy. CJ was in my face before I could even get to her.

"Think twice, bro. That's my girl," he warned me.

"Man, CJ, FUCK YOU TOO!"

"Listen—"

"Nah, I don't wanna hear it! Y'all not about to be calling me no fucking faggot! I'm only doing this shit cause YOU made me! Now I already told you I can handle this shit! I will get that fucking money and if y'all don't think I can do this... then find somebody else or better yet... do it yourself, Cedric!"

I had to throw his government name in there so he knew just how pissed I was. He tried to grab my arm but I shook him off and left the house. I didn't want to be around him or his bitch. Besides, I had to get ready to meet with Jackson tonight. It's his friend's birthday today and they would be hosting a party in the hills.

Of course, CJ and Lindo knew nothing about it but I had to make sure I picked something out that nigga's house. I needed these two to just get off my back for a minute and lifting something valuable from the friend would do the trick. If he had the kind of money to have houses on the hills then he definitely has something valuable enough to keep these two at bay.

I knew just how solid the idea was as soon as I saw the size of that motherfucker's spot. This friend — Miguel Moreno — owned the type of house that Drake would put in one of his music videos. In fact, I'm wrong to be calling this place a house; homeboy lives in a fucking mansion! It's colossal! The kind of place that you could live in with somebody and never even see them.