No. 99 (Joey Bada$$)

7• New Friend

"I seen that smile." He laughed

"I know!" I joined in the laughter

"So um. What's your name, mama?"

"Leslie."

"Leslie..." He repeated "That's a dope name."

"Pfft! How? It's too common." I looked down

"It's the simplicity that's beautiful. Leslie. Reminds me of a summer sunset we'll see later on."

I smiled "What's your name? I kinda forgot bec-"

"Wait. Look at me." He stopped again

I looked up at him

"Have you...been crying?" He inspected my eye for a long time.

It grew silent between us, I only heard that chatter of other people, cars passing and honks.

"You have!" He shouted. Target was in the distance

"No I haven't. I have allergies." I lied. It was kinda the truth though, I do have allergies but my eyes aren't red because of them. I was crying, hard too.

"Oh. I got you."

"So you gonna tell me your name or not?"

"Jo-Vaughn but call me Joey. Only my moms calls me Jo-Vaughn."

"Joey. Guess we both have simple names." We stepped into Target

"Joey only my nickname. My name ain't simple little girl. It's different." He sounded a bit angry

"How is Jo-Vaughn different?"

"The way it's spelt. J-O-V-A-U-G-H-N."

"Sorry. I ain't know."

"It's cool. So anyway this where Target at. Get ya shit from here and get ya black ass out." He said and made some people stare at us. "Or you can hit up some of these family stores and corner stores."

"Cool." We stepped outside. Joey was sweating bullets, his skin glistening. I just stared at him.

Imagine how his chest looks, maybe even his-

"YO!" Joey snapped his fingers in my face "I said its hot as hell."

"I heard you nigga." I opened my bag and threw him a water bottle.

"Oh shitttttt! Thanks Mama! You the plug for real, savin' niggas lives and shit. Come give ya boy a hug." He opened his arms

"I'm good. Just keep on walking."

"Can't thank my new friend with a hug?"

"Friend?"

"Ain't that what we are? Friends?" He opened his water bottle and took a chug leaving only two thirds of the bottle left.

"I mean. I guess."

"Aye, fran fran with me in Flatbush. She annoying as hell but it's pretty swell. Chillin with fran frannnn!!!" He sang

"Don't. Do that shit. Ever. Again!" I covered my ears

"Why. You know I can sing."

"Yeet nigga. Yo shit sound like a boy going through puberty and getting kicked in his sack."

"Mean ass hoe."

"Call me a hoe one more time I'm pulling them dusty ass dreads out your head."

"You can't even reach the top of my head without standing on the tips of ya toes you short ass bitch."

"I'm tired of you calling me out of my name."

"It's ok for you to call me a nigga and dusty but I can't call you nothing but ma or Leslie?"

"That's right. You so smart new friend."

"Whatever."

"Mhm. Where we going next?" I asked "OOO wait! Let's go to Everybody Hates Chris house."

Joey busted out laughing "Im fucking dead!"

I laughed only a little "You laughing but I'm serious."

He nudged my side "You funny as hell for that. I wanna take you to my favorite place."

"Favorite? Your favorite?"

"That's right, cowgirl! And then imma throw some tips out on how to live."

"I know how to breath nigga."

"Not in here judging from earlier. You way too bold, I know you shy but when we came at you with that heat it tripped you up. Getting bold can get you killed, mama."

"Oh..."

"That's right. I don't want you to get into any trouble cause the whole hood gonna here about that shit. Won't even be able to walk down the street without getting jumped."

"I know you live here and all but how would you know?" I looked up at him with a curious look plastered on my face

"Look at that you dumbass hoe. Answering ' ya own questions." He shook his head

I frowned "Just 'cause you live here don't mean you got the keys to the street! If anything you could be a good kid-"

"A good kid." He scoffed "Ain't no good kids around here except for Kwon, we all did something now turn on this corner."

I turned with him and became incredibly nervous, we're in an alleyway. I'M IN AN ALLEYWAY! With a nigga so unpredictable it's not even right.

"Um."

"If I wanted to kill you I would've done that in the elevator."

I snapped my head back at him "How you know if I was thinking that and what the fuck?"

"You look scared as hell and you sweating and your hair got frizzy."

"Damn it." I put my hands in my hair feeling all over my curly texture

"Don't even worry about it. It actually make you look good."

"How?" I continued to pat down my hair and did whatever came to mind

"Don't ask me questions."