Thinking About You

Chapter 2

I want to get this over with. Spending the day going job searching with Damantaé... what was I thinking?

"I ain't trying to smell niggas feet all day!"
"It's a job, Dam. We got other places to look at." He growls in response. The fuck? I finally get him to go in and get an application. "We'll fill it out later. Let's head over to this boutique shop."
"You think this shit is funny?"
I did laugh.

When Lincoln saw us walk into Don's he immediately shook his head.

"Uhn uhn. Nope! Nope!"
"We not here for that Lincoln," I say.
"So. Go to Denny's."
"We just want a milkshake."
"Go to Johnny Rockets."
"That's fucked up, Linc," Damantaé says with his finger pointing at Lincoln's deadpan face.
"Okay, fine," I say and we bounce.
"Just because of that," Damantaé starts when we get outside, into the hot ass sun. "We getting this application at Jon's Pizza."
I was with it.

When we left Jon's we ran into my old girl. She hesitates then stops right in front of me, signaling for her girls to head on. Dam nods and starts walking in the opposite direction.

"Hey Ja, what's up?"
"Nothing much, just helping Dam find a job." I was squinting, she was squinting. I start moving towards the shade and she follows. A car horn beeps and we both watch it drive away.
"That's good. I hope Dam gets it together."
"Yeah, that's what we all want." I hesitate. "How are things with you?" I didn't want to ask. Her hazel eyes stare at me, her dark brown skin was glowing, her jet black hair was hanging off one shoulder.
"Pretty good," she finally says. "Uh, me and Adam broke it off." She nonchalantly waves her hand.
"Oh, okay."
"I figured you might have already known."
"I didn't." I shake my head.
"Alright. But, yeah, in the end things just didn't work out..." I nod and look back at Dam, who was talking to these other niggas.
"Ya were together for a minute, right?" I ask knowing damn well it had to only be—
"Three months, about." She shrugs it off though.
"Treese!" Her girlfriends start to shout.
"I should go, it was good seeing you." I nod. "I'll... message you," she says last and walks away, hips swinging.

Cruz finds almost everything amusing.

"Ol' girl thirsty again?" He asks but it comes out more like a statement. Dam and I found him chilling outside by his car when we headed over to his place. I told them about Treese. Damantaé wasn't amused.
"That's what happens when ya ass leave a nigga for a white boy," Damantaé says vehemently. Cruz laughs... and laughs.
"What a joke," he eventually pauses to say. I just stand there, listening to them. Cruz looks at me with a sardonic grin. "She cheated on you, Jac and left with the boy. I wouldn't be surprised if he did the same."

Got to let the shit go.

"I'm sorry, Ja."

Got to let this shit go.

"Five fucking years, Treese!"

I had took a nap. Walking around town with Damantaé was exhausting. I didn't even make it to the bed. From the couch I reach over to grab my phone off the coffee table. It was only a little past 4:30. I notice a red notification I had. It was a message from Treese. I didn't bother to open it.

I make a burger and some fries, open a beer and start getting comfortable for the night. A knock came at the door. I was chewing my food from the kitchen when I looked over at the door. The knock reminded me of a time when he was on the other side. I could see myself answering it.

"Not today." He looked down and upset then back to my face.
"You didn't want to see me yesterday either, Jac."

The knocking turns to pounding making me realize that I still hadn't checked the door. It was Lincoln.

"Hey, what's up?" I offer. He walks in.
"I'm sorry about kicking y'all out earlier but I didn't want no drama with Damantaé. You never know when he'll "know" somebody and start a scene."
"You good. Thirsty? Hungry?" He sat on the couch.
"I'll take what you drinking." I send a drink his way and head back to my plate in the kitchen. I could see him from there on the couch.
"It's going through the grapevine about you and Treese."
"I know about it. I guess she figured I would have heard it that way too but nah, she told me."
"You spoke to her? What lies she spewing?"
"I don't know, man."
"Don't listen to that broad, fam. I heard she started cheating on that white boy, that shit must just come natural to her. But I don't get it, y'all were together for, like, 4, 5 years." I really didn't want to hear about her or the "white boy" or the years. I didn't even want to be thinking about those times years ago, in middle school.
"I'm over it, Linc."
"That's good. You know I didn't like Treese from the get go." He drags on his drink. "That's westside girls for you. Now if you looking for a good eastside girl, let me know." I politely smile.
"I'm good, Linc. I see you looking out for me." Linc nods in appreciation.
"Always, you're like a brother to me, Jaquez. Now, let me get a burger."
"Uhn uhn. Nope! Nope!"
He cracks up laughing.