Red Bull

Chapter 8

Chapter 8

"Early bird catches the worm brah," a cool melodic voice states.

I turn and look to my right and see him standing there. The look on his face says it all. Meek's name was ridiculously accurate to his character. He was this thug in the streets that had made a reputation for himself throughout the years and he still managed to be somewhat humble, especially in this weird situation where he had the ability to flex his real power. I was completely vulnerable to him, but he didn't do anything that I probably would have done in his position. He didn't try to take advantage of this downtime with me.

He just seemed...pleasant. And for a moment, I forget that I'm in some conversion therapy madness. For a moment, I forget that anything matters but him and me.

"You always this chill?"

"Nah," he shrugs before posting up and thinking about what I said. After a cool second, he adds, "Maybe I just always seem that way."

It was weird. I'd gotten used to niggas in the hood not really smiling or saying anything about you. There is one thing about men. There is another thing about black men. The Black community had this huge fear that their men were being demasculated. So you see all these black men going around with this ridiculous amount of testosterone. Each day these men walked around trying to prove which one of them had a bigger nutsack.

So seeing someone smile, even if it's just a slight smile----from another black man, is amazing. It seems as though everything we've been through until now just wasn't as bad just because Meek takes a second to smile while waking me up.

"Well enough of the niceness...they sent you here for a reason."

"Therapy starts today."

Therapy. The sound of the word causes my mouth to get extra dry.

"Did they have to send you?"

"Yeah. See you are a test for me. And they think...because of our experience that I may be a test for you."

"Do you think that? Do you think you're a test for me."

"I don't think anything," Meek responds, "That's not my job. My job is to follow orders. This place..." He pauses as though about to say something but catches himself, "Nevermind..."

"What is it?"

I'm desperate to understand what it is that removed Meek's smile from his face. He has a look on his face as though he knows something that I don't. I stare at his face feeling the awkwardness in his emotion and the tension in his facial expression. Something was wrong.

"Nah, nothing," he responds giving a little slight shrug for emphasis, "Nothing at all. All your brothers are doing it, but the groups will be separate today so we can focus on an individual plan of therapy."

"I bet Jamison is succeeding all expectations."

There is a slight laugh between the two of us. I think it's because Meek may remember Jamison from back in the day. I don't confirm this and I don't think it's even important enough to point out, but I believe it to be the case.

After a short laugh Meek nods in agreement, "Oh he is the teacher's pet at this point. Everyone loves him here."

I smile at the thought even though I shouldn't be. Jamison could be a hot fucking mess at times especially when it comes to how radical he was.

"What about Joshua?"

There is silence.

"I can find out...how he is...if you want?" Meek states.