The Games You Play : A Hood Love Story

Jay (2)

July 30th

Damn, it's really a week until school starts. It took a second to hit me. School is really almost here. Then before you know it, basketball season. My phone rang on my nightstand and I reached up to grab it. I sat up and answered it.

"Yo! What up Bryson?" I yelled.  "What you on today?"

"Shit, chilling. My cousin went somewhere with the new girl who just moved in next door."

"Oh yeah. Big Doug back in town, right?"

"Hell yeah. She got a twin brother I hear he beastie on the court. He a junior from Marx. His average is 30 points per game."

"Shit tell him to get some gym clothes on. Imma come get y'all."

"Bet. See you when you get here. Oh wait! One more thing."

"Wassup?" I asked. I was very skeptical because you just never know what kind of shit will fly out of Bryson's mouth.

"His sister is fine man. Like i'm talking Megan Good fine. So so fine. I can't stress it enough."

"You telling me, why?"

"Cause man, you need to holler at her!"

"You know I don't fuck with relationships. Ever since Niejah. I can't do it."

"Man. That was a year ago. I'm not tryna put a time limit on grief but-" I hung up in his face. All I knew was, he'd better be ready when I showed up.
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I pulled up to the once vacant house that is now occupied by one of Cambridge's old gang members and his kids. Big Doug was the blueprint if you ever wanted to be a hood nigga. He's not a hood nigga no more, but if you ever wanted to get into the street life, Big Doug is who you look up to. I heard he came into some money and he wanted to help the community out. He's gonna be working at the barbershop. At least that's what I heard.

"Ready to see what he all about?" Bryson asked me.

"Hell yeah man."

"Aye.... Ole boy the other night... Was that you?" I looked at him. I couldn't lie to him but I couldn't tell him the truth.

"Man you ask too many damn questions. I couldn't tell you who it was anyway."

"You got a lot going for you, G. Don't fuck it up. It's not too late."

"Yeah it is, Bryce!" I yelled. "I couldn't get the fuck out if I tried." I saw somebody approaching the car.

"Now don't say shit. I don't need him knowing nothing."

"A'ight man. Damn." This tall, skinny, light skinned boy got into the car.

"Wassup, I'm Angelo. I heard you the best out here." He gave me a hand shake.

"I heard you ain't too bad yourself, bro. It's good to meet you. The team could use another star."
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After playing basketball at the park for 4 hours, Angelo needed to go home. His dad and sister were waiting for him and he was late for dinner. Who in the fuck still has family dinner? Must be nice, though. Hearing him talk about it was the closest I ever got to it in 15 years.

As we pulled up to his house, he called his sister and told her to come open the door. Then, an abrupt knock on my window. I rolled it down.

"Wassup, Smoke?" I rolled my eyes. Trayvin and I had been friends since kindergarten. He got the name Smoke from... well because .... smoking weed is his favorite recreational activity.

"So y'all just went to the park and wasn't gon say shit to a nigga?"

"You told me you had to work, G." Smoke works at Kyle's Klips. He's one of the best barbers in the city.

"I did. but you still coulda said something." We all laughed. "Aye, who dat in the backseat?"

"Wassup, bro? I'm Angelo."

"Oh shit. You Big Doug's son. Nice to meet you."

"He's a beast on the court, Smoke." I said

"Hell yeah he is!" Bryce shouted in my ear. I almost forgot he was in the car. I turned around to slap the shit out of him, but I had second thoughts. "He busted Jay ass ." I slapped the shit out of him.

"No I didn't man." Angelo said almost dying of laughter. I didn't know the kid very well, but I knew he was going to fit in. We all got out the car to handshake one another. And that's when I heard-

"Angelo." A sweet, soft, tender voice grabbed my attention. I looked up to see one of the most beautiful women I'd ever seen in my life. She was a shorty, she had skin like caramel, and she was wearing a red tube, ripped jeans and red sandals. Her hair was pulled up in a bun. All that beautiful curly hair. Wait. What the fuck was I staring at? I can't believe I just did that shit and now I'm embarrassed. She started walking down the steps.

"Aye, y'all niggas looking a little too hard." Angelo stepped in front of us.

"I see it didn't take you long to make some new friends." She said. Even her voice was one of the most attractive things you could ever experience.

"Y'all this my sister Loren. You already know Bryson. This is smoke." She reached her hand out for Smoke.
"My real name is Trayvin. But yeah, Smoke is what they call me." He said shaking her hand.

"Is the nickname as obvious as it sounds?" She questioned, laughing. She had two very deep dimples. Her smile was intriguing and beautiful all at the same time.

"Yes it is." I said. I thought twice about doing that. But shit, what could I do now. "I'm Jayvin. But you can call me Jay." She looked directly into my eyes. I had no idea if she was feeling what I was feeling. Not even thinking twice, I grabbed her hand and shook it. Apparently, I shook it too long.

"Can I have my hand back now, Jay?" She asked me.

"Uh, yes." Shit! Shit. Why does a girl have me doing this? Shit's disgusting. I don't even want nobody right now. Or ever for that matter. Too much stress, and just another soul to protect. I don't wanna fail at protecting like I did the last time. "I'm sorry."

"Uh, it's okay." She said blushing. She was shy. She rubbed her arm up and down. There were scars there. Somebody had hit her before. There was also scars on her wrist. She had tried to commit suicide before. No wonder she was so damn shy, it may no have even been actual shyness. She's just has ptsd if you will. When you looked in her eyes you could tell there was more to them than meets the eye.

"Angelo, I made dinner. You ready to eat and shower?"

"Yeah, ma." Angelo turned to us but I couldn't seem to keep my eyes off of her. "See y'all later man, thanks for the good time. Let me know when we meeting up again."

"For sure." I responded. Still not breaking my gaze.

"Well it was nice meeting you all." She still didn't look away from me. Only for a second to say goodbye.

"Jay, it was nice to meet you."

"Pleasure is all mine, Loren." I have never said that in my life what in the fuck-

"Goodbye." She added a little chuckle. Mostly because of the way Smoke and Bryce were looking at me. When she turned and walked away I finally spoke.

"I know. I can't believe I just did that shit either." As we turned to get back in my car. I made a decision. I didn't know who she was or anything about her. But I knew I had to know her. It doesn't matter how. I just have to know her. I have to.