Teenage Fever

Warm Welcome

He opened the door, standing beside it with a toothpick in his mouth. His jet black hair was in a curly mess all over his head.

"Waddup, playa?"
"I appreciate this, Mario."

I came to his place after leaving Jackie, my stuff with me. As far as I'm concerned it was done between us and I just needed to clear my head. A whole lot of thoughts were trying to hit me at once.

"Ain't nothing but a chicken wang."
I chuckle and shake my head.

It's been a while since I've seen Damario. We grew up together in Section 3 but he moved away when we were 10 to Section 1.
We were 22 now.
He still looked the same, just much taller... and more hair. We didn't really keep in contact too much, besides the usual of being Facebook friends. I was a little worried that I would be intruding on him, asking for favors even though we haven't spoken in a while. But he sounded good on the phone, almost happy to hear from me. I could tell that I had nothing to worry about with him and there was no need to feel awkward. I started to feel like we were picking right back up from when we were boys in Section 3.

I looked around the place. It was very neat and furnished with plants just chilling in pots around. The place looked pretty lively.

"Looks real green in here," I say.
He nods.
"You know, healthy living 'n shit."
He closed the door and walked into his kitchen. "Want a drink?"
"Sure, what you got?" I sat down on his couch. He comes back out with a bottle of Courvoisier.
"Too soon?" He stood posing with the bottle, his face upturned to the side, his lips pursed and to the side, his eyebrow raised.
I laughed
"I'll do a shot or two," I shrug.
He jumps up and hits his heels together then heads back into the kitchen. He's a funny dude.
"So tell me everything," he says in a nasally, girl voice when he comes back out with shot glasses, the bottle and sits down besides me.
"Man, stop. I'm glad I called you, I'm already starting to feel better but shit, I can't believe Jackie did that to me. I don't even know how long it's been going on for."
"So," Damario starts as he pours the drink. "In cliché form, you caught her in bed with the nigga?"
"Yesssss! Shit's crazy. We moved out here together and she pulls this?"
He shakes his head and hands me my shot. I threw it back and regretted that not even a second later.
"I'm good on that."
He shakes his head no and takes my glass back pouring me another.
"This why I don't bother with relationships anymore," Damario confesses. "I can't be out here made to look stupid, you hear? You got you a girl from Section 3. Can you imagine if she was from here? Nah, nigga, not me. You let me fuck, I'll dip, I'll be on the same shit you be on."
I nod my head, I wasn't even trying to think about dating anytime soon.
"I don't want to throw my perspective on you, though. Do you, Les." I took the shot that he passed to me and he called it quits as well right after we shot it.
"Besides that shit, what's good with you?"
"I just got a job!"
His head snapped to me and he cheesed.
"Oh word? Shit! That's fucked up. You was probably over the moon this morning."
"Yeah, man. Came home to let her know then—"
"Blaaaammm!" He finishes.
I lean back into the couch, getting comfortable, staring at the wall, lost in thought.
"Man, fuck that, got to be positive. You doing your thing, got your own job now, about to get on your feet. She the one that look stupid, you a good man, bro. I'll let you stay here until you really good."
I look over at him.
"That means a lot man, thanks."
He shakes his head like he doesn't need my thank you.
"I got something that'll get ya mind right."

He picked up a remote and aimed it at his speakers. Instantly I recognized 50 Cent's voice. After the first couple of lines I realize it was I'm the Man featuring Chris Brown. I chuckled.

"You are, nigga. Don't let a bitch fool you," Damario says over the music. I smiled and nodded my head to the song. When the chorus came up Damario aggressively nodded his head while cheesing at me.

Night had fallen and since I was staying with Damario that meant sleeping on his couch. As I laid there I still couldn't believe the predicament I was in. Don't get me wrong, I was appreciative for what Damario was doing but after my interview I had plans of coming home, spending time with my girl and celebrating with my family down south in Section 3 and later on sleeping in my bed in my new apartment. Things can change real fast. I mean, I guess I could have stayed at home, spent the night on my own couch but where would that have left Jackie and I? My feelings would still be the same. I didn't want to even be around her.

"Stop thinking about it, bro."

I heard a quiet voice. I didn't even hear him come back into the dark living room. He had went into his room a long time ago. I look over at him and see that he's double checking the front door is locked. He turns to look at me.

"You'll be back on your feet in no time. Don't think about it."

He goes back into his room. I stare back up at the ceiling until I feel my eyes getting heavy. Sleep couldn't even help, I felt too restless.