HAM (Hard As a Muthaf**ka)

You Don't Know 'Bout It

You Don’t Know ‘Bout It

                  I distinctly remember tellin homegirl that I had to be at Barber school in the morning, and here we are sittin at Paschal’s on Northside, at nine o’clock at night. She had a grilled chicken salad, and was eatin a slice of cherry pie. My eyes kept zero’n in on her lips…

                  “Jacoby?”

                  I looked to Corliss’s face. She laughed a little. “What were you lookin at?”

                  I shook my head, as I returned to my meal- cube steak and gravy, mash potatoes, and green beans. What was the purpose of this? She wasn’t gonna talk me out of havin my revenge on Quint’s bitch ass. That day was comin, just as sure as one of these goddamned holidays on the calendar…it was just a matter of time.

                  “I know. You’re angry because what Quint did to you, and you want some payback. I can’t blame you…I just want you to think about things before you jump head first into a situation,” preached Corliss. She tilted her head, trynna look in my eyes as I ate.

                  “I said I wouldn’t do anything right now,” I huffed.

                  “Why are you angry with me?” she whined.

                  I let out a sigh. “I’m not angry…but I’m not exactly letting you off the hook on this either. Do you still have feelings for Quint? Is that, why you don’t want me to bury his ass? Coz despite the fact that he dogged you the fuck out, you don’t think he’s all that bad?”

                  “NO!” bellowed out Corliss. “You see how he affected me yesterday! How could you ask me that?”

                  Silence passed between us.

                  “Sorry…I was outta line wit that one,” I said, stirring my mash potatoes.

                  “I’m sorry too…I gave you the impression that I still care about him. I don’t…Quintarious Jeter is so beneath me,” she said. “I just feel like the biggest idiot ever for having had feelings for him…can I ask you a question, Jacoby?”

                  I looked up. “Sure,”

                  “I know at one point you had somethin for me…I dunno- do think that, you might possibly still entertain the thought of us bein more than friends, or bed buddies?” she asked, her eyes searching for the truth on my face. My mind wanted to say “yes” so bad, but to be truthful- I did have some reserves, regarding Quint. It was like this nigga was hatin on the fact that Corliss was trynna get past him with me, his most hated enemy…if we did hook up, he would terrorize the fuck outta Corliss, and in return, that would anger me. So in logic, in order for us to be even remotely happy together, that nigga had to die.

                  “I don’t know,” I answered.

                  “What do you mean ‘you don’t know’?” Corliss asked, her brow raised. Her fingers gripped the fork hard. “We were about to kiss in my dorm room yesterday, weren’t we? Or is that what you do to all your little hoes?”

                  “Why is shits always gotta be about ‘me an’ my hoes’? Why can’t it just be about me and you, and that cocksucker Quint! I mean, forreal- this dude had five other niggas to jump me over some bullshit ass crush he still got on you! And then you don’t want me to go out and get my justified vengenge?!?” I growled. “What really goes on, Corliss?”