Everybody's got a best friend: someone they can run to with anything. Their financial issues, love life, shit, like I said, anything. Gianna was mine. Thick as thieves. We were always together you'd never see one without the other.
She wasn't the nicest person in the world but she meant well, I think. She always gave the best advice. She always told me I was a pushover and I needed to stand up for myself a little more. "Ppl gonna think you a pussy. I mean, that's what you got me for, but still. Don't ever be afraid to speak what's on your mind. Ppl may not like it but they'll respect it."
While I always agreed too, speaking my mind wasn't the easiest thing to do. It sounded good to say. "Y'all hoes got me fucked up!!" But it was a lot easier to express that to my reflection in the mirror than to the hoes that actually had me fucked up.
Once a month, me and Gigi would take a three hour long drive to her guy. Mazi. Mazi was cool. I guess. We didn't speak much when I was over there. Just exchange money, substances, and then he'd take Gigi with him into the room where I assume she paid interest on her products.
"I need a huge favor." Gianna said to me one random day. It was around the time of our monthly trip and her words sent my nerves into a frenzy. "You might gotta take this trip alone this time I'm not feeling good." She said.
"Well let's do it when you're feeling better." I suggested.
"I can't wait, I need my shit. Pls. Do it for me??" Her eyes looked in a way they never had before. She was really begging. She needed this and because she was my friend, I agreed.
"Where's the money?" I questioned.
"Just go. It's already been paid for." She didn't even look me in the eyes.
I'd been to the place a million times so finding it wasn't hard. The hard part was trying to drive after popping two Xanax pills to calm my overactive nerves.
Pulling up to the house, my stomach became a professional gymnast and proceeded to flip and flop around. I didn't know what I was so nervous about. I couldn't figure it out.
Mazi motioned for me to get out of the car and I did just that. I followed him into a familiar space where everything was laid out.
My head was spinning from the drugs and the nerves that the drugs hadn't gotten to yet and I was beginning to feel a little more dizzy than usual. Maybe cuz I popped two like an idiot.
"It's always nice to see you." Mazi confessed.
The statement confused me cuz we didn't speak. Ever. It was always the business exchange, the person exchange, and thats it.
"Gianna said this is already paid for so if you don't mind, I gotta get back to my end of town." I said.
"What's the rush?" Mazi asked. "Here's your shit." He tossed a duffle bag at my feet and stepped closer. I'm not much of a drinker but his breath smelled strongly like liquor.
I stepped back with every step he took forward. Grabbing the nearest book bag, I made my exit as quickly as I could for the door.
"Bitch, bring my shit!" Mazi yelled and ran after me vigorously.
I ran and ran. I ran past the car. I was afraid for my life when I remembered Gianna's words. "Stand up for yourself."
I hid in some nearby bushes and reached for the bag realizing, I'd grabbed the wrong one.
This book bag was full of money and there was a cell phone. I grabbed some of the money and said to myself "this ain't the wrong bag at all."
Some rustling in some other bushes snapped me back to reality and the sound of Mazi's drunken voice startled me.
"I know you out here, lil bitch. I'ma kill Gianna." There was a moment of silence and he continued. "Gianna??" He yelled through the phone. "I thought you said she was down for the cause?? ... Yeah, well the bitch took off with the wrong fuckin bag and when I see her or you, it's gonna be problems." His voice stopped and I heard his footsteps getting further and further away.
Tears ran down my face because I couldn't believe what I'd just heard.
I remembered seeing a phone in the bag and reached for it. When I went through the messages, there I saw Mazi and Gianna conversing about how their most recent drug exchange would happen.
I was set up. By my best friend. To be raped for some fucking drugs. I guess the whole time she was the person I shoulda been standing up to.
