The Games You Play : A Hood Love Story

Loren (5)

I don't know why I was putting any effort into how I looked. We were literally going to a barbecue joint to get chicken. There was no reason for me to be trying to look nice. But maybe some people from school would be there and I could make some new friends.

"Aye, Lo hurry up!" My brother yelled at me.

"I'm coming, shut up!" I had on a strapless white dress, jean jacket, and Tommy Hilfiger sandals. I was wondering if I was too dressed up, then I started to get anxiety. Nevertheless, I walked down the stairs. I heard the boys talking and laughing. I get really bad anxiety being with anybody but my daddy and my brother. When I got to the middle of the stairs, all talking and movement stopped. All the boys were staring at me, but Angelo was staring at them.

"Y'all really like to look." Angelo said.

"Too much?" I asked. Nobody said anything. "I knew it. Maybe I should go change." I turn to go back upstairs.

"NO!" That startled the shit out of me. It was Jay. Tray and Angelo were laughing at him and he was blushing. He then cursed to himself in total disbelief that he just did that. "You look beautiful." He said, talking to me again. Then he cursed to himself some more and put his hand over his face. What is so bad about giving compliments?

"You look fine, Lo." My brother said to me. "Now come one we gotta go."

"You look beautiful, baby girl." My daddy kissed my forehead. "You make sure to stick close to your brother okay?" I nodded. "Tell Lenny hello for me and tell him I'll be by tomorrow to pick up some pound cake. I'm gonna head to bed. I'm not feeling too well."

"Well call us if you need anything daddy." I said to him. He smiled at me and walked up the stairs. Angelo and Smoke walked out of the door first and I was left there looking at Jay. I'm awkward around people. He could tell I had no idea what to do.

"Please. After you." He motioned for me to walk out of the door. Bryce was already outside standing by the trunk.

"Damn about time." Bryce got into the backseat. Smoke started to get in the front and Jay stopped him.

"Aye man, the lady gets in the front." Smoke looked at him, rolled his eyes and got out.

"It's okay, really." I said.

"Shhh." Jay whispered in my ear. "Here just get in." He grabbed my hand helping me into his Escalade.

"And yo bitch ass still won't ask her out." Smoke muttered.

"What?" I asked.

"Nothing!" Jay said slapping smoke on the back of his head. "Shut yo ass up and get in the goddamn car!" Jay closed my door and went around to the other side to get into the driver's seat. Angelo asked me if my friends were gonna be there and I told him yes. They went there before we did to try and get a head start on the line. Mr. Lenny's was the best place in town so you could just expect for the line to be long.

When we got there, my brother helped me out of the truck. Jay came over to me and smiled. I smiled back. My brother was usually all up on niggas that tried to holler at me. But he didn't seem to do that with this one. He technically didn't holler at me yet. He wanted to, but he didn't. I sure as hell wasn't making the first move because... just ... no.

I walked in to the smell of fried chicken. This was some bomb shit right here. And the placed was PACKED! The service counter was still yellow and there were still portraits and pictures all around the restaurant. I was getting stared at again bye every nigga in this restaurant. My hand started to shake. I feel a hand rub my back and I jump.

"Aye it's okay." It was Jay. "Ain't nothing gon happen to you when you with us. Promise. Okay?" I simply nod.

"Baby girl! Munch! That you?" He called my brother munch because he used to say my brother would eat everything in the restaurant when he was hungry. Mr. Lenny ran up to me and my brother giving us hugs and giving me a kiss on the forehead.

"Mr. Lenny! It's so good to see you!" I say. I thought I'd never see him again after we moved. I missed him a lot. He was kind of like our uncle. Him and Daddy were really close, and he would always look out for us when Daddy couldn't.

"Good to see you too munchkin! Angelo! I gotta show you what I did to the back! Come on!" My brother looked back at me giving me a silent look which translated to "you'll be okay when i'm gone?" I gave him a smile and motioned him to go with Mr. Lenny. "Y'all go on and have a seat." He said to the rest of us. "Anything y'all get is on the house! Consider it a welcome home gift." Shit, didn't have to tell me twice. I'd eat anything Mr. Lenny cooked.

Jay, Smoke, Bryce and I settled comfortably into a booth. Smoke and Bryce sat next to one another and Jay sat next to me. I was really tiny so Angelo could sit next to me when he got back. I started shaking my leg. I couldn't control it.  I've never been this close to anybody before.

"Hey. It's okay. Remember what I said?" Jay whispers in my ear and I remember what he said.

' Ain't nothing gon happen to you when you with us. Promise. '

I nodded at him and my leg stopped shaking. I felt.... safe.