Street Pole

The Meeting

The rain tapped on the window of the room that was now mines. A room not big but not small either. A room that had stains in the carpets and spiderwebs on the ceiling. A room that smelled of mixed mildew and frebreeze air freshener. A room that was dim because the lights were off and the sun was barely shining. A room that had water stains on the walls where my suitcase and duffle bag lye untouched for 3 days. A room I wasn't used to. A room I did not want to live in.

***

Its 12 o'clock Sunday. I've been here for 3 days now. I've barely spoken to my grandmother. My phone has been in the corner of the room since I got here. It rings and vibrates but I don't touch it. I could here my grandmother in the kitchen. But I couldn't make out the sounds she was making. Then there was a knock on my room door.

Knock Knock Knock

"Come in." I answered not facing the door to see who it was because it was most likely my grandmother offering me food or something to drink.

"Dang girl, you ain't unpacked yet?" Dominique asked when he came in my room closing the door behind him.

"What are you doing here?" I asked surprised to see him.

"Well since you weren't answering my texts or calls I decided to drop by." He said standing in the middle of the floor.

"Sorry I was busy." I sat up on the bed.

"Doing what? Doesn't look like you touched anything in this room. Anyways get up, wash, get dressed I'm taking you out." He said leaving the room.

I got up and went into the bathroom. I brushed my teeth and washed my face. I stripped out of my clothes and got in the shower. After 20 minutes I got out and went into the room. I looked in my duffle bag and grabbed a pair of black panties and a black wire bra. I put on deoderant and some cocoa butter lotion. I pulled out a white crew neck , khaki short shorts, white no show socks, and my white air forces. I put on my diamond studs and my silver necklace my dad gave me. I brushed my long curly hair up into a bun. I grabbed my phone from the corner and walked into the living room.

My grandmother was in her rocking chair watching watching family feud and Dominique was on the couch scrolling through his phone.

"Grandma you feeling okay you look a little pale?" I asked her but she didn't respond. Then I said, "You ready to go?"

"Yeah. I'll see you later granny." He kissed her cheek and she just smiled.

After I locked up the house we got into his car and rode off.

"Where are you taking me?" I asked him as we pulled up to a traffic light.

"To meet some people." He drove through the light.

"Why? I dont want to meet anybody." I pouted

"I ain't asked you what you wanted to do." He said then turned up the radio. Rich Homie Quan was on and I rapped the lyrics to my favorite song Some Type Of Way.

We pulled up to this complex. He parked in front of the second row building and we got out.

"Who lives here?" I asked as we walked into the building and to an elevator.

"Me. " He pushed the elevator button and we went up to the 7th floor room 700G.

He unlocked the door and instantly the smell of weed hit my nose. I walked in behind him and followed him to the living room which was occupied by the two boys from yesterday who names I learned were Rocky and Mack. There was another boy there too and he had to be the finest of them all. He wore a blue dodgers jersey white Levi's and Tims. He had tattoos that covered his arms. He was looking down at his phone when I walked in behind Domo so he didn't see me.

Then Mack spoke to me knocking me clear from my thoughts , "Wassup Noonie." I don't know why he called me that. He said my name was too difficult to remember so he gave me a nickname.
"Hey Mack, Hey Rocky." I said to them both.

"Lani, this my bro JQ. J this my homie Jelani." Rocky introduced us and that's when he looked up at me and spoke.

I went into the kitchen and sat to the table. The smell of weed irritates my nose. I was playing temple run on my phone when somebody walked in behind me.

"What you doing?" Domo asked grabbing a blue Powerade from the refrigerator.

"Nothing." I put my phone down.

He was about to walk out but stopped in his tracks, turned and said, "I seen how J was looking at you. Don't get caught up with him Jelani. I don't want to see you get hurt." He said then walked out.

A few minutes later he came back in, and said, "Aye I'm going out for a minute I'll be right back." I shook my head okay then he left and locked the door behind him.

I figured he took his boys with him so I went into the living room and was surprised to see J there watching TV.

"I thought you left with them." I said having a seat on the couch.

"Nah." He said not looking at me.

"Ight." I watched TV in silence.

"So how long you be fucking Domo cause he been hiding you for a minute?" He asked which made me turn and catch an attitude real quick.

"Hold up let me stop you right there. I just moved down here from Brooklyn. I ain't fucking nobody. Dominique not even my type. Second if I was why would it matter to you? You've been rude to me since I stepped in the door." I went to the kitchen and grabbed my phone then called Domo.

Domo- Yo ?

Me- Where you went?

Domo- I'm in Fulton county now. What's going on?

Me- Hurry back before I kill this boy.

Domo- I'll be there soon. Just go to my room and chill.

I did what he asked and layed in his bed.  

Dominique need to hurry up and come get me because that boy in the living room got another thing coming if he think he about to talk mess to me.