Fooled by Perfection

Chapter 6: Misery and Hope

Mikal's POV:

I've been trying to find Ciana for some time now, and I was getting more impatient with every second that passed by. I have been watching and waiting, and she hasn't been to her usual places. I know it's unusual for her to miss work, and she hasn't shown up for the past few days, so it's clear to me she's not in the area anymore. Her friends have been lying, saying they don't know where she is, and taking me for a damn fool. I know she couldn't have gone too far, but it doesn't even matter. I have some of my people working on it, so now it's costing me time and money. Not my money, though. I call up this chick I fuck with from time to time. I met her when she visited a few months ago. She had the type of cash I was looking for. She said she could come through with the money. Things were moving smoothly on my end.

Mikal's POV ended.

Dezman's POV:

Ciana was on my mind as I left Vinny's. I was attracted to her in every way possible, and I wanted to get to know her, but I could tell it was gon' take some time. She had a guard up, so I knew I could only push so far at a time. All I could do was hope she would show up to the court on Friday.

Squirt and A.J. (Anthony) took me out of my train of thought to tell us they were gon' head-off in another direction. That left just me and Teek. Kev (Kevin) and Prince were part of the team too, but they went their own way after the game.

*Teek*

Paris around here looking real different lately, ain't she?

*Dezman*

I knew he was just talking that shit, tryna be funny, or whatever, but I was too focused on my next move.

*Teek*

So, what happened with the girl, bruh? That's the one you were looking for after the game the other day?

*Dezman*

Yeah. We just talked a lil bit. I'm tryna get her to come to the next game.

*Teek*

I can tell you feeling her, D. I know yo' ass all too well...

You gotta have her, don't you?

*Dezman*

Hell yeah. You know I don't mess with too many of 'em like that, so...

*Teek*

So what?...

Did you get her number?

*Dezman*

"Damn, you wanna know a lot, but you won't let me finish what the fuck I'm tryna say."

We cracked up laughing. Me and Teek talked shit to one another like that. We close. He was one of the first people I met when I came here from Atlanta about four years ago. I wasn't one to talk much about my personal business, and everybody knew that, but I had respect for my boy. Me, him, and his girl, Shonda, shared an apartment. They've been dating for a long time. I'd say five years now, and Shonda's cool as hell too. She's part of the crew, and usually she hangs around with us, but for some reason she didn't come out to the court tonight.

When we get to the crib, I'm fucking drained. I clean up, eat, and then I'm laid out. I had a lot of shit to do tomorrow, starting with class. After class, I got practice. We didn't have a game at the courts, but me and Teek did have some other business to handle tomorrow night. I ain't gon' lie. Ciana crossed my mind before I nodded off. I had a lot to learn about her. I could tell she was older than me, but it wasn't something I couldn't handle. I was hoping she'd give me a chance to show her I could do her right. I wasn't like some of the other men she probably had dealt with, given the guard that she got up. I wasn't gon' play with her feelings. The lady I had in my life taught me right. All I knew was that Friday couldn't come soon enough for me.

Dezman's POV ended.