Brittany Hills Chronicles: Act 3

Black 29

I sat on my porch watching as the leaves fell from the trees, my boys were playing football in the street, my little bro was sitting next to me doing his homework, and Slim was in the kitchen cooking that bomb ass chicken tetrazzini that he be making... for me this was perfect. But perfect could always be better and since moving up here I've been working my ass off; I had opened three more barbershops and was looking at a fifth but that might have to be put on pause because I think I've earned a vacation. I was still young, I had just barely turned twenty and I wanted to do some traveling before I got too busy; of course Mookie would have to come with me, and I couldn't leave my cousin Breion... the only thing is I wanted Terron to come with us and that was the difficult part because he had school, basketball, and then all the hoops I would have to go through with the group home. That's another reason why I've been dropping hints about him moving in with me, I didn't like him living there... sure they took damn good care of him but I had missed out on so much of his life and I still felt like we had a lot of bonding to do but it was his choice and I would respect it either way.

"Why don't you get out there with them?" I asked looking at Terron who seemed really focused on whatever he was working on, which now that I think about it I highly doubt that it was homework because he never focused that much on his schoolwork... at least not while he was over here.

"Because I don't feel like sweating, plus I'm still sore from working out with Dejon." Terron said looking over to Dejon who was huddled up with De'Marcus, Mookie and Antwan who were on offense. "And football really isn't my thing."

"I feel it but you've been staring at the notebook for about two hours, I know you wanna take a break or something." I said getting up and walking over to him. "What are you over here working on anyway?" I asked trying to take a peek but he quickly slid his notebook in his bag and moved it behind him.

"It's nothing.... shouldn't you be inside with Slim? I mean all y'all do is fuck anyways so it's not like anyone would even notice you were gone." Terron said and I was slightly offended, okay maybe me and Slim fucked alot but we were in a relationship and when I'm in a relationship a lot of sex is a requirement.... but we do other things y'all just don't see it.

"You're the last person who should be talking about ANYONE'S sex life considering how much you and Antwan go at it, from what Jace tells me y'all were fuckin in the car during y'alls lunchbreak." I said and even though Jace didn't tell me that, the look on his face told me it was true, that made it even funnier because he had just told on himself. "But you're right, I should go and check on my dude." I said pushing the side of his head and walking inside my house.

"How much longer does the food got, because I'm hungry as fuck." I said rubbing my stomach and Slim looked at me and I couldn't help but laugh he hated, when I rushed him while he was cooking and I couldn't even be mad considering how I get when he rushes me. "Come on Naeem, I'm fuckin hungry.... didn't you see me out there ballin on them niggas? I scored like four touchdowns, I think I've earned a meal for all the work I put in." I said walking up behind him.

"You didn't even touch the ball Stephon, now what do you want? You only call me Naeem when you want something." Slim said and I gave him a knowing wink.

"And you only call me Stephon when you're mad at me.... or when you want some dick." I said smiling as he rolled his eyes. "But what do you think about a little vacation, I'm thinking sometime early next year... we've all been working our asses off and we've earned a break." I said wrapping my arms around his waist and kissing the back of his head.

"What do you think of Masai? He's been hanging around the shop a lot lately and I think it might be a good idea to put him on, you're always looking for new barbers and he seems eager to learn." Slim said and I guess I could see if Masai was interested. "Can you leave please?" Slim asked and I was caught off guard by his sudden attitude.

"What's wrong with you?" I asked backing up a little and staring at him.

"Black, I just don't want you in here while I'm cooking." He said and it was all starting to make sense now, when I walked in earlier he wouldn't exactly meet my eyes even when I winked at him he was looking at my face but not into my eyes. "Go let them know the food is almost ready." He said looking at my nose and ignoring the smile that was taking over my face.

"Naeem look at me...." I said stepping towards him and he tried to turn around but I grabbed his hand and held it firmly in mine. "Naeem...." I said and when our eyes connected I knew what was up. "Aight.... bet, let me get rid of these niggas so I can give you....."

"Damn it smells good as fuck in here." Mookie said walking into the kitchen, a couple of months ago I would've pulled away from Slim but now I just didn't give a fuck, I couldn't count the number of times Mookie has walked in on us; in the living room, in the bathroom, in the garage, in the backyard, here in the kitchen... y'all get the point.

"You staying here tonight or are you driving back to Cincinnati?" I asked Slim while completely ignoring Mookie before Slim could answer I quickly kissed him and walked out of the kitchen. I knew that kiss was sealed the deal for Slim to stay the night when I walked outside my good mood was instantly killed when I saw how close Percy was sitting to Terron. I cleared my throat and Percy smiled while Terron rolled his eyes. "Ayy the food is ready." I said and of course, my little brother's greedy ass ran inside.

"Nigga it's not what you think, I was helping that little nigga with his homework." Percy said as I stood there staring at him. "Come on Black you know me better than that, unlike Mookie, I would never cross that line, besides he's not my type." Percy said as Masai walked up on the porch.

"You wanna learn how to cut hair?" I asked Masai who shrugged. "Aight well come by the main shop every day after school, I'll talk to Big Mike to let him know." I said figuring Big Mike was the most logical of the three staff members; Mrs. Grant hated me and Ms. Gina wanted the dick. "Ayy the food is ready." I said and of course, these hungry ass niggas ran inside, but they should know by now that in my house I eat first. I started to walk back inside when I noticed a Nissan pulling up in front of the house... great just what I need, more drama.

"What you can't pick up the phone and call." My mom said getting out the car as I went to go meet her, I really didn't feel like dealing with the awkward tension between my mom and brother right now so I should at least warn her and hopefully, she decides to turn her ass around.

"Sorry mom, I've been kinda busy but uhh.... Ron's in there and I...... okay....." I said as she walked right past me, we got in the house and these niggas were already making their plates but it seemed like the whole room froze when my mom walked in, Antwan whispered something in Terron's ear and I could see the anger starting to subside.

"Ayy Black we should probably....." Terron said quickly wrapping his plate, there were two ways out of the kitchen; the entrance and the back door and I could see my little bro debating which one he wanted to take. Once he settled on being petty, he grabbed his plates, then proceeded to walk with Antwan and Masai out the kitchen.

"What's wrong, you can't speak?" My mom said causing Terron to stop in his tracks; this is what I wanted to avoid and I was almost successful but my mom just had to say something. I couldn't see my little bro's face but I could tell by his body language that he was close to spazzing out on our mom.... Thank God for Mookie, who out of nowhere screamed like a white woman in a scary movie. "Malique what the hell is wrong with you?" She asked as we all turned to look at him.

"I thought I saw I mouse... turns out it was just a dishrag." Mookie said shrugging, my mom rolled her eyes and Terron, Antwan, and Masai were all gone and she looked.... dare I say a little remorseful. "So what's been going on with you?" Mookie asked causing my mom to roll her eyes again and walk out of the kitchen, I turned to Slim who nodded and mouthed 'go after her'.

"Mom what are you really doing here?" I asked looking into her eyes and she had that look on her face that only a black mother could give. "I'm just asking because.... well you haven't called me either and yet you pop up here unannounced I just feel like...." I couldn't finish because she was looking like she was about to smack the fuck outta me.

"I don't need a reason to come check on my sons." She said and it didn't go unmissed by me that she said sons... plural. "Look I'll be back this weekend and I would very much like it if you asked your brother to be here as well, now I gotta go because you know I hate driving when it's dark out." She said walking out of the house and I knew that it wasn't really a request and now I was left wondering how in the fuck I was going to pull this off.....................