Her Sweetest Revenge (Delphine Publications Presents) (13 page)

Monica turned around and headed back to the room. The knocking on the door started up again. I hurriedly swung open the door to give whoever the impatient person was the business for banging on the door, and it better not be Li’l Bo forgetting his key again.

“
Stop bang—” I stopped speechless as I came face-to-face with about three dozen white roses. There were so many roses I couldn’t see the face of the person holding them, but then came a voice that I’m sure I recognized.

“
Mya home?”

“
Who would like to know?” I asked for no reason at all, basically being my usual not impressed self. I didn’t have to wonder for long when the person behind the flowers revealed his identity by showing his face.

“
Hood?” I said with a hint of shock in my voice.

“
These are for you,” he handed the flowers to me.

“
Umm, I don’t really know what to say. Thanks . . . I think.” I shrugged my shoulders.

Hood smiled. “It’s cool, baby girl. I just wanted to bring you something. I enjoyed kicking it wit’ ya at the party.”

“
Yeah. The party. I haven’t had much time to think about it.” I stepped out into hall and closed the door to the apartment behind me. There was no way I was letting him into our county-created apartment. “Well, the flowers are nice.”

“
I thought you would like them. So would you like to grab some food later?” he casually asked.

“
Later? I, umm, well, I have to take my sister out.”

“
Tell you what. Here’s my number. You call me when you’re free.” He handed me a card that had his number on it. At the same time his cell phone started ringing. Totally ignoring it he gave me all his attention.

“
I’ma let you get back, baby girl. Hit me up.” With that he turned and walked away.

Stuck standing in shock, I watched him leave. There wasn’t a guy on TV, rapper or athlete that had shit on him. Damn, as much as I hated to admit it, Hood was all that and then some. Shit, I’m never impressed. What the fuck was happening to me? I looked down at the number and wondered if he realized he had already given me his number, but I threw it away the first chance I got. With all this roaming through my mind, I finally opened the door and went back in the apartment. I headed straight to my room flowers in tow.

“
Who are those for? Who bought them?” Monica started firing at me as soon as I opened the door to our room.

“
They’re for me,” I answered.

“
Who would buy you flowers?” Monica sounded stunned.

“
What’s that’s supposed to mean?” I acted offended.

“
I’m just saying. You always say fuck dudes. That’s all,” Monica laughed.

“
I do, huh?” I admitted. “Well, I didn’t today. Besides, it’s just a friend who wanted to wish me a happy birthday. Now stop asking questions and get dressed. We’re going over to Rochelle’s crib.”

“
Why? I thought you said you wasn’t doing heads today,” she reminded me.

“
I know, but I left some things over there,” I lied. “Now just get dressed,” I ordered her.

Chapter 21

The Brewster was jumping by the time Monica and I made it outside and headed to Rochelle’s building. When I stepped off the curb, I felt blinded by chrome. There were so many 22- and 24-inch chrome rims I felt like I was at a car show. Of course you got the neighborhood hoes showcasing their asses. The only thing I didn’t see on them is a sign that says “FOR SALE.” Again I saw Li’l Bo hanging out with some li’l niggas. I didn’t say anything though since they didn’t seem to be up to much, but in this neighborhood, they could be up to plenty. I decided to talk to him later about his recent hanging out on the block because he knows how I feel about him doing that. He may be fifteen, but he knows I will bust his ass.

When we made it to Rochelle’s building, we saw her outside along with Charlene, Pig, Felicia, and some more people from the block while she was holding Tiny.

“
Aye, Mya!” Pig said first since he was the only one who noticed me approach.

“
What’s up?” I replied. That’s when everybody else noticed me.

“
Girl, what you doing out?” Charlene asked.

“
Yeah, I thought you were chillin’ today,” Rochelle added.

“
I was, but I had some shit I needed to pick up from your crib, Rochelle. Damn. Why you bitches checking me?” I shot back.

“
And you got Monica with you. Hey, Monica,” Charlene said.

“
Hey,” Monica replied in an uninterested tone. She headed over to Rochelle and took Tiny from her.

“
Charlene, don’t you need to be at home getting ready for the prom?” I asked.

“
I’m headed that way now. I had to come get this nigga off the block, but I’m leaving now. Come on, Pig,” Charlene screamed at him. “You head to your crib now. Shit. You got to get yourself together. Nigga, you ain’t gon’ have me late.”

“
A’ight, ma, I got ya. I said I’m leaving, right?” Pig said calmly while Charlene stared at him, smacking her gum and rolling her eyes at him.

“
Girl, you see I got to babysit this nigga just so he can get off this block. Ugh,” Charlene said as she popped the lock on her car doors. “I’ll hit y’all later and tell you how the night went. Yo, Felicia, if you catching a ride you better hop in.” On that note Charlene jumped in her ride and stabbed out.

Pig gave the niggas on the block the Height Squad shake before he jumped in his ride and burned rubber headed to his crib. Surely his crib will be both of theirs as soon as Charlene graduates in a couple of weeks.

“
Yo, she be giving his ass the business,” Rochelle said laughing.

“
For real,” I commented and laughed too.

“
Yo, check this out though. Why does Charlene got Felicia nasty ass out here for?” I had to ask.

“
I don’t know. She always ridin’ that bitch and her crew around. She better watch them thirsty hoes. Anyway, scratch them. Now, what you really over here for?” Rochelle asked with a smile.

“
Why I gotta have a reason to come over here? If that’s the case I need blood. Can you help me?” I played around.

“
Stop playing, Mya. You so damn crazy,” Rochelle laughed. “Come on, let’s go sit on the step.”

We headed over to the steps where Monica was walking around playing with Tiny.

“
Girl, Monica knows she loves kids. She’s gon’ be a good mother,” Rochelle mouthed.

“
Bitch, don’t play,” I quickly snapped. “Monica ain’t about to be nobody mother anytime soon.”

“
Oh my bad,” Rochelle grinned.

“
Anyway, guess who showed up at my door out of the blue.”

“
Yo dad?” Rochelle looked taken aback.

“
Rochelle, what the hell is wrong with you today? Out of all people, why my dad when you know he locked up for life? Don’t get a bitch hopes up.”

“
Well, I’m lost then,” Rochelle gave up with a puzzled look.

“
Hood,” I hastily replied.

“
What the fuck?” Rochelle let fly out of her mouth. “Hood the leader of the Height Squad knocked on your door? You, who turned him down a thousand times at your party last weekend?” Rochelle stood up.

“
Not only did he knock on my door out of the blue, but he brought so many roses it hid his identity,” I said and released, to my own surprise, a smile that spread across my face.

“
Oh my God, is that a smile on your face? Wait.” Rochelle’s smile faded to concern. “Please don’t tell me you were rude and kicked him out.” Rochelle seemed to hold her breath.

“
Wait, whoever said I invited him in? And yes, I had him stand outside our door. There was no way I was inviting him into our tacky apartment. But no, I was not rude. He did ask me to go out though, and I had to turn him down.”

“
Why did you turn him down again, Mya?”

“
I had to. Monica asked me to take her to the mall.”

“
Oh no. Don’t blame that on me,” Monica butted in.

“
Stay out of this Monica.” I gave her a fake dirty look, and she smiled.

“
Mya, you need to stop making excuses and let Hood’s fine ass take you out.”

“
I can’t. I don’t have time for dating. That shit is a headache I don’t need.”

“
Scratch the headache. You would have fun. Be a normal eighteen-year-old. Stop actin’ like a granny panty. Get up right now.” Rochelle started pulling me up on my feet. “Get your butt up and go call Hood. Tell him you would love to go out with him. Beg if you have to. Tell him you’ll throw yourself at his mercy for being so ignorant,” Rochelle joked.

“
OK, OK. I’ll call him,” I smiled. “But not today. I have to take Monica to the mall. You and Tiny wanna tag along?” I asked.

“
Might as well as we ain’t doing shit else. Let me grab my purse and Tiny’s stroller. Be right back.”

Chapter 22

I had finally made up my mind to go out on a date with Hood, but I didn’t want to make it too formal. So instead of letting him take me out to eat I agreed on bowling. My dad used to take us bowling all the time, and we all loved it. I wasn’t that good at it, but it still happened to be one of my favorite games. When I told Hood that I would go out bowling with him he quickly agreed, and to my surprise, he picked AMF Bowling. That was the alley my dad always took us to. So I was excited about being at the alley again. Tonight is the night that he is supposed to pick me up. Since we are only going bowling I don’t have to dress up. I didn’t want to look too sexy anyway, but I didn’t want to look ghetto either.

After tearing my closet apart with the new clothes I had purchased since I had the money, I decided on these white Blue Label short Polo shorts with an active yellow Blue Label Polo long sleeve shirt and white ribbed-high socks with a pair of yellow active Polo Breeana shoes. After modeling in the mirror and in front of Monica it was decided that I looked cute.

“
Mya, you look really stylish. Not everyone can pull that outfit off. I mean, how many girls you know from the Brewster would chose that outfit on a first date?” she rambled.

“
I know. It’s only bowling. I ain’t puttin’ on no heels for that. I need to be comfortable. Besides, I ain’t trying to impress him,” I tried to convince myself. I was nervous as hell. What if he thought I looked stupid? Humph, what was I worried about? I looked fly. I took one more turn in the mirror when I heard a knock on the door. I quickly told Monica good night and ran toward the door. There was no way I was letting him into this apartment. Hell no. I had purposely encouraged Li’l Bo to go to his room and play his game so he wouldn’t be in the living room when Hood showed up. Mom was out in the streets. So the coast was clear. I could make a clean getaway. Nervous, I paused before I half-opened the door just enough to squeeze myself out and step into the hallway.

“
Damn, baby girl, are you trying to hide something in there or someone?” Hood asked like he was trying to look past me.

“
Yeah, my family.” I let out a little laugh. “So you ready?” I asked while giving him a once-over glance. Of course, Hood was dressed in Akoo. This time, he had on some Doeskin Akoo Cambridge shorts and a Whisper White Akoo Vanni Polo shirt with some fresh new Forces. He looked nice. Seeing what he had on kind of relaxed my nerves.

When we got outside, Hood led me to his black Cadillac Escalade sitting on twenty-four-inch rims. He popped the lock, and we jumped in. When he turned on the ignition I thought T.I. would blast out of the speakers, but instead, he was listening to Rick Ross. Feeling like I was riding on a cloud, I sat back in my seat and relaxed until we reached AMF.

Once inside the alley, Hood ordered our games, then we got our shoes and headed to our assigned alley.

“
Do you want to bowl first?” I asked.

“
Nah. You can go first,” he replied.

“
OK.” I tied the last knot on my bowling shoes, then I got up and headed to the lanes. I looked back at Hood to see if he was watching, and just like I thought, his eyes were glued on me. I turned back around and focused before throwing the ball. My ball started off at a good roll, but I sidelined and missed all the racks. I turned around with a smile on my face to find Hood laughing at me.