PRETTY BRIGHT (14 page)

orking the drive thru, with only twenty minutes left on his shift, Larry spotted Bright’s uncle in the drive-thru. After he took his order, he threw

the idea around in his head on whether or not he should introduce himself to him. Bright was carrying his child, and her mother loved and accepted him wholeheartedly.
So why shouldn't I introduce myself to him?
Larry thought. He wasn't afraid of him, and he wasn't going anywhere so he thought,
Fuck it, I’ma introduce myself to him after I pass him his food.
Once Terrence pulled up to the drive-thru window, Larry passed him his food with a pleasant smile on his face, but before he could introduce himself, he complained about having cold French fries on top of the wrong order.

“I'm sorry about that, sir; let me correct that for you,” Larry said reaching his hand out the drive-thru to retrieve the bag.

Mad at the world, Terrence spat, “Yeah, that’s what you better do!” He said, tossing the bag at Larry. “I ordered a fucking ten piece nugget, and I specifically asked for fresh fucking fries, not this cold as shit y'all just served me!” Terrence yelled.

Trying to make the best out of the situation, Larry apologized. “Again, I'm sorry about that, sir.” He didn't understand how one could get so upset over such a small mistake, when he assured him that he'd take care of it.

“A'ight well fucking do that shit, man!” Terrence said, looking at him like he was ready to kick up some dust.

Larry's patience was running short. He didn't appreciate the tone and the way Bright’s Uncle was talking to him. “Aye, my bad, my man, calm down, I'm tryna get it right for you.” Larry walked away from the window, trying his hardest to compose himself from going the fuck off on him.

“My man!” Terrence repeated. “Muthafucka, you don't know me well enough to be calling me yo mans and shit, nigga, just call me muthafucking sir!” Terrence yelled, ready to fly off the handle and attack anything that walked, talked, or moved in the wrong direction. He had lost his wife, his bitch was pregnant and had lied about her age, and on top of that, he had just lost twenty thousand dollars in the game. So to say the least, Terrence was more than mad and upset, he was pissed off at the world.

Larry had taken enough of his shit and was about to snap, but luckily his manager stepped in just in time to resolve the issue. He patted Larry on the back and said, “Don't worry, I'll take care of it, he's just another bitter asshole, mad at the world,” he teased.

“You can say that again,” Larry steamed , walking into the dining area to pick up trash and sweep up. Not allowing Bright's Uncle to rob him of his day's joy, he put a smile back on his face and decided to make the best out of the rest of his work day.

It had been over a week since Bright had heard from or seen Terrence, and since her pockets were getting low, she called a cab to take her to his house so that she could talk some sense into him. After Bright paid the cab driver the last of the money she had, she climbed out of the cab, and then walked up and knocked on Terrence door. After knocking and ringing the doorbell a few more times, he finally answered. Looking her dead in the eyes, Terrence just stood there trying to understand how he had such strong feeling for a girl her age.

With a lifted brow, Bright said, “You gone just keep staring at me, or you gone let me in?” She asked, trying to let herself inside.

Terrence smiled and nodded his head. He had calmed down and was really just about to call and apologize for the way that he treated her. They had gone too far, did too much, and now that she was carrying his seed, he figured there was no use in holding any grudges or crying over spilled milk. It was what it was.

Bright waited for Terrence to close his door before she began to speak. “So what, you cool on me, now? You saying fuck me and the baby over a punk ass number?” she demanded to know with her hand on her hip.

Not appreciating her tone in his home, Terrence snapped. “Look, sit yo ass down, and don't be coming over here stirring up no bullshit when you was the one in the wrong in the first fucking place,” Terrence pointed out. “And besides all that, I like my house to stay peaceful, just as it was before yo light bright ass walked up in here!” Then he walked in the kitchen. His home was a place of tranquility, relaxation, comfort, and a place where he could think clearly. And he didn't welcome, allow, or invite drama, chaos, nor the street into his comfort zone.

Bright was mad, pregnant, and broke, and regardless of what Terrence had just said to her, she was still gonna vent and say what was on her mind. “Well, I don't give a fuck right now, Terrence! I been at home stressed the fuck out, crying, no money, no dick, no man, no nothing cause yo ass is on some bullshit,” she said, winding her neck and pointing at him. “Did you ever think about me while you were out on ya guilt trip? Huh?” she asked, standing in his face.

“Look, I said calm down with all that noise, Bright.” Terrence was trying to keep his cool, but Bright was beginning to irritate the hell out of him.

Ignoring him, Bright continued to fuss, “No, you think it’s fucking okay to lie and hurt me, but when the fucking tables are turned, you just bail out on me, like that!” Bright said, ready to argue and get her point across.

Terrence slammed the glass he was drinking out of on his kitchen counter. “Lie and hurt you, are you fucking serious?” he asked, looking her dead in her eyes. “I make sure ya black ass keep food in ya mouth, have money in yo pockets. I even pay them bills that ya mama can't fucking seem to keep up with, and on top of that, I keep ya ass fly in all them designer clothes! So I don't wanna hear none of that bullshit you talking right now girl!” Terrence yelled back in his defense.

Bright bucked her eyes and snapped her neck. “Oh, so it’s all about money now huh?” she huffed. “Yeah, you keep me paid and fly and yes, you've given me money from time to time to help my Moms out with the bills, but that’s what you’re supposed to do, if you my man!” She yelled with attitude. “But my feelings can’t be paid for, Terrence, you've lied and hurt me before too, and way worse than what I've ever done to you!” she cried, more sensitive from her pregnancy than anything.

Dumbfounded, Terrence asked, “What the fuck have I ever did to you Bright?” he was confused.
“You fucking lied to me about being married to that bitch…, But before she could get another word out, Terrence slapped her so hard that she spun around twice.
“Don't you ever fucking mention or disrespect my wife's name ever again!!!! You fucking hear me?!” Terrence was ready to fuck something up. His wife was a very sensitive issue, and his scars were still very fresh from her departure. He wasn't going to allow Bright, or anyone for that matter, to speak negatively on or disrespect her as long as he was alive.
Instantly feeling regret from her words, Bright palmed her stinging cheek and cried. She remembered Terrence saying that he didn't mind slapping the fuck out of a bitch before, but she didn't think that included herself. Sliding down the kitchen counter and onto the kitchen floor, Bright cried, “I love you, Terrence, why you doing this to me, baby?”
Terrence looked at Bright on his kitchen floor telling him how much she loved him in between sobs. He hated to do her the way he did, but he needed her to understand that Tameka was off limits. Feeling she had learned her lesson, he picked her up off the floor, hugged her tight, and told her he loved her too.
“I'm sorry, Ice, I never meant for it to come out like that, baby, you know I would never intentionally disrespect your wife like that,” she cried harder and harder. “I know she meant the world to you too, I just wanted you to understand the hurt and pain that you've caused me in the past. And if I've been able to accept you for your imperfections, baby, then why can't you find a place in your heart to forgive me for mines?” Bright cried, holding on to him for dear life. She needed to be back in that special place in his heart; he was her security blanket.
“I love you baby,” Terrence said to her as he lifted her face off of his chest to kiss her lips, then he wiped her tears away. “You my boo, you know I got you, baby,” he said, wrapping her legs around his waist, then continuing to kiss her pretty face.

“Make love to me, Ice,” Bright moaned, calling him by his street name to make him feel empowered while she pulled his shirt off and grinded her body up against his. One thing leading to the next, they ended up having sex in the kitchen, into the living room, up the stairs, and finally into his bedroom. Afterwards, Bright laid there with a smile on her face, not from the sex, but because she knew she was back on payroll.

“Cook ya nigga somethin’ to eat!” Terrence rolled over in bed and said.
“Whatever you want, baby,” Bright said, getting out of bed. After stretching her sore body, she went inside the bathroom to shower before preparing Terrence a home-cooked meal. Deciding to make beef, bean and cheese burritos, Bright cooked both her ground beef and refried beans on a low fire, while she chopped lettuce, tomatoes and onions, then grated sharp cheddar cheese. In the middle of draining the grease from the ground beef, Bright received a call from, Nicole.
What the heck she want with me?
Bright thought.
“What who want with you?” Terrence said, coming down the stairs.
“This bitch name Nicole, nosy Ice,” she teased, then she put the pan back on the stove and answered her phone. “What’s up?” Bright said, adding taco seasoning and a half of a cup of water in the ground beef.
“You busy right now?” Nicole asked her.
“Naw, what’s up?” Bright asked again, preparing to combine the seasoned ground beef and refried beans in one pot.
“Well, I'm just gone come right out and ask you then, before it get back to Treasure.” Nicole cleared her throat. “Did you fuck, Lil Boo?” she asked seriously.
“Did I what?” Bright repeated almost choking on her own spit.
“Did you fuck, Lil Boo?” Nicole asked her again.
“Hell naw!” Bright responded defensively. “Why would you even ask me some shit like that, Nicole?” she asked, feeling her heart beat a mile a minute.
Nicole explained, “I talk to one of Lil Boo's homeboys, I'm not saying his name, but he slipped up and told me that Lil Boo told him that after everybody left his house that night of his white party, and while Treasure was in his room asleep, that you threw the pussy at him, and y'all fucked,” she said, not skipping a beat. She wanted to call and tell Treasure what she knew right away, but decided to go directly to the source first.
Bright's mouth fell wide open.
No that nigga didn't go and run his mouth like a little bitch,
she thought. “Well that’s a lie, Nicole, and that’s on my mama!” she said in a defensive tone. “Treasure is only my best fucking friend in the whole wide world, so never that, and whoever told you that can miss me with that crap,” Bright said, trying to regain her cool.
Nicole sighed, “I'ma keep It real wit’ you, I was gone tell
Treasure after I heard it myself, cause she's my girl too. But I decided it would be best to speak to you first,” she said honestly.
Bright was relieved that Nicole hadn't told Treasure, and she was gonna try her best to convince her not to mention it to her either. “I mean tell her, I can care less, because I know like Treasure knows that I would never do anything like that to her,” Bright said convincingly. “But to me, it's like, why even mention some false bullshit to her when she ain't even messing with dude like that no more. That would be like going an extra mile to add confusion to our friendship, especially when it’s not true,” she hoped, Nicole would keep her mouth shut.
Nicole wasn't buying it. She knew Bright was hiding something and that she was trying to keep her from telling Treasure; she just nodded her head. “That's why I called you first, because I'm not messy like that. But then I got to thinking back to that night, and I remembered how persistent you were about staying over there with her. I know Treasure was drunk and when she told me she crashed right away, that kind of messed my head up, because you were wide awake, Bright.”
“First of all, it don't sound like you called to ask me anything, seems like you called to accuse me! And second off, I ain't ever gone leave my homegirl nowhere by herself, drunk! Plain and simple, we ride together!” Bright said, taking her tone up a few notches. She couldn't stand Nicole’s ass, because she knew she was only trying to steal her best friend. Seeing Terrence walk in the direction of the kitchen with a concerned look on his face, Bright quickly tried to collect herself. “Anyways, Nicole I'm chilling with my dude right now, I’ma hit you later.” Then she pressed the end button on her phone to end the call.
“What was all that about?” Terrence asked, grabbing a glass then opening the refrigerator to get something to drink.
“This fat, hater bitch tryna come in between me and Treasure,” Bright fumed rolling his burrito up.
“That’s that messy ass female shit,” Terrence said, taking his plate from her hand. “Y'all friends don't let the fakes and haters come in between that,” he said, then took seat on the couch to eat. Not having much of an appetite, Bright ate half of her burrito, and then asked Terrence to take her home. She had already missed two of Larry's calls, and since Treasure was blowing her phone up back to back, she knew it was time to go home.
On the ride back to her house, Bright played asleep so that she could think of ways to get herself out of the jam. She was sure that Nicole had told Treasure everything and that it was the reason that she was blowing her cell phone up. But no matter what, Bright was gonna keep a straight face and deny the whole thing. Approaching her street, Terrence shook her to wake her up then tossed her some money. Pulling up on her block, Bright noticed both Treasure and Nicole posted in front of her apartment complex. She thought to herself,
Fuck, this bitch couldn't wait to run her fat ass mouth!
Terrence pulled in front of Bright's building, then rolled his window down to speak. “What’s up, Treasure?” he said, peeking Nicole out. She was thick and sexy to him.
“A gang of, bullshit, Ice,” Treasure said, nodding her head.
“Yeah, that’s what Bright was telling me too, but I'ma tell you like I told her, don't let them fakes and hater's come in between y'all friendship, y'all been friends for too long,” he said seriously. Treasure nodded her head in agreement, and instantly, Nicole's smile turned into a frown. She knew that comment was aimed at her, but since she knew she was neither a fake nor a hater, she brushed it off and gave him a nasty look.
Bright blew Terrence a kiss goodbye. “A'ight boo, I'll talk to you later before my mama come out here trippin’,” she said.
Terrence kissed his lips back at her. “A'ight, baby, hit me,” then he drove off her street.
Bright directed her attention to Treasure, “So after a long
stressful ass day, I have to come home to some punk ass bullshit, huh?” Bright said, nodding her head with a disbelieving look on her face.
“That’s what I'm saying,” Treasure replied, giving Bright the same disbelieving facial expression. “So did you fuck him or what?” Treasure came right out and asked her.
Bright looked from Nicole then to Treasure with a nasty look upon her face, then said, “So hold up, Treasure, you mean to tell me you gone come at me sideways, in front of this fake ass bitch right here?!” she said pointing at Nicole, feeling betrayed.
“Bitch!” Nicole said feeling froggy. She had warned Bright in the past about coming at her foul, and she wasn't gonna take it today. “I done told ya ass, Bright!” she said stepping to her.
“Hold on, Nicole,” Treasure interjected, jumping in-between the two. “Let me talk!” Looking at Bright she explained. “Bee, I asked Nicole to come since she was the one that brought it to my attention. She told me y'all talked and since I didn't wanna be getting nobody's words twisted up, I thought it would be best to have her here.”
Removing her eyes from Nicole, Bright spoke, “So basically, you believe this shit right, Treasure? Cause if you didn't, we wouldn't be having this conversation right now,” she shot.
“Naw, I'm trying to ask you yo side of the story, Bee,” Treasure replied, slapping her fist into her hand. She was looking for the truth in her friend.
“No! I didn't fuck him, end of the story,” Bright said nonchalantly, with a dumb expression on her face.
Treasure was confused and didn't know what to believe. After a few moments of silence, she said, “Well, why would he be telling people that?”
Frustrated, Bright stomped her foot into the ground and snapped her neck. “I don't know! Call that nigga and ask him why him and his little friend is lying on me. Maybe they both wanna fuck me! she finalized, rolling her eyes at Nicole, with her hand on her hip.
Treasure sucked her teeth. “Oh don't trip, boo, I called him,” she said with a smirk on her face. “I'm just waiting on him to return the call,” she shot back.
Not feeling Nicole's presence or Treasure's vibe, Bright decided it would be best to say her last words and part ways before things got ugly. “Well since it look like you done already picked sides, and you believe this shit, I guess it ain't no need for me to be standing here any longer,” Bright said, getting teary-eyed, then she headed in the direction of her apartment. Though she may have been wrong, she knew that Nicole just wanted to steal her best friend from her.
Treasure yelled after her, “Bee, I never said I believed anything or anybody yet, that’s why I'm here talking to you, and not here tryna whip yo ass!” she barked defiantly. She wanted to believe Bright, but her gut was telling her differently.
The words “whip yo ass,” were all Bright heard. She didn't like to be threatened, and she was far from a punk, and furthermore, she didn't like the way the words sounded coming out of Treasure's mouth. It made her feel as if Treasure was trying to challenge her. “Whip my ass!” Bright repeated, turning back around to face her. “What, you tryna catch a fade with me or something, Treasure? Why you out here fronting on me in front of this fake ass bitch, Nicole?” Bright yelled, stepping up.
Nicole became fed up; she was tired of Bright’s verbal assaults. “Fuck that, I ain't gone keep being no more of yo bitches, bitch!” Nicole yelled, running up on Bright, ready to catch her fade.
Immediately, Bright dropped her things to the ground and put 'em up. “What, y'all bitches wanna jump me now?” Bright said with her guards up, ready to fight.
Without further words, Nicole two-pieced Bright in the face: one to the nose, and the other to the chin. Slightly dazed, Bright began to swing like a madwoman, swinging and pulling at Nicole's hair. Treasure tried breaking them up.
“Y'all stop it, she's pregnant, Nicole!” she yelled, trying to pull them apart. Seeing Nicole get the best of her best friend created a natural reaction in Treasure, and before long, she and Bright were both whipping Nicole's ass.
“What the fuck?” Nicole screamed, bearing more than she could handle at one time. The forces of them together became vicious, Bright working her from the front and Treasure getting her from the back. Nicole lost her advantage on Bright when Treasure jumped in the fight. She couldn't believe that Treasure was jumping on her, especially when she had been nothing but a good friend to her.
Regaining her strength, Nicole grabbed Bright by her hair, pulled her down, and started taking blows to her head. Bright used her free arm and kept punching Nicole in the side of her face and ear. From behind, Treasure dragged Nicole to the ground, afraid that she may have made Bright miscarriage. Bright fell on top of Nicole and continued to give it to her in the face, each fist after the next; Bright wouldn't stop.
Eventually, neighbors begin to come outside, and Bright's mother and siblings ran outside of their apartment to break up the fight, or aid if they had too. Things were out of hand and Treasure begin to feel bad for her part in the fight and pulled Bright off of Nicole. Bright yelled, kicked, and screamed.
“Bitch, if I lose my baby, I'ma kill you, BITCH, I’ma fucking kill you!!!” she threatened.
Once her mother was able to get Bright upstairs, she called the ambulance, seeing that Bright had blood on her. She went outside to find out what had happened. Without telling Bright's mom that they spent the night at Lil Boo's house, Treasure explained everything to her. Shortly after the paramedics and the police arrived, Bright pressed charges on Nicole, and then she was rushed to the emergency room. After having many different tests run on her, Bright was relieved that she and the baby were alright. The blood that her mother spotted on her was from Nicole's nose and blood from her scraped up knees from falling on top of Nicole. In the situation, Bright wouldn't have pressed charges, but since Nicole was trying to steal Treasure away from her, so she decided jail would be the perfect place for her. Waiting to get released from the hospital, the doctor walked in with her file open.
“Is everything alright with the baby?” Rosette asked the doctor, seeing the look on his face.
Passing his chart to the nurse the doctor responded, “I guess that all depends,” he said, looking from Bright to her mother.
Giving him a suspicious look, Bright said, “Don't tell me
something’s wrong with my baby, Doc?”
“There's not just one, but two babies,” he informed her, “And they're both alright,” he assured her. Both Bright and her mother's eyes almost popped out of their sockets.
“TWO!?” They both repeated at once.
The doctor laughed, “Yes two, Miss Sheldon,” he said, looking at Bright.
The doctor’s revelation of twins hit Bright like a ton of bricks in the back of the head. She was prepared to have one baby, but two seemed to be a bit much and scared the life out of her. On the ride home, Bright called Larry to tell him the news, but as usual, he didn't answer
. He's probably with his new girlfriend,
Bright thought.