Stripping Asjiah I (11 page)

*****
“Asjiah. A’. Look at me babe. Are you okay? Did he touch you? Did you remember to grab all your things?”

“I’m okay. I did everything you said. He didn’t touch me. But…there was so much blood…” I clinched my fist as I thought about what Cash said about my father. “I bet this is how yo pretty ass father is getting fucked while he in the pen.”

“The razor babe. Where is the razor?”
Snapping out of my trance I noticed I was bleeding. I opened my hand to reveal the weapon I used to cut my uncle’s throat.
“A’ look at your hand.” CJ began searching his glove compartment for napkins.
“It’s not that serious CJ. I’ll go in the office and have someone clean it up for me.”
Opening the car door I got out and walked towards the school.

“A’ wait up!” Running towards me CJ handed me my book bag. “Don’t worry about nothing. Everything at the house is being cleaned up as we speak. Go about your day as normal and I’ll be here when you get out of school.” CJ kissed me on my forehead just as the bell was ringing. “I love you.”

Walking away I disappeared into the steady flow of students who were rushing to their classes to avoid lockout; some were still at the store over by the gym buying candy and pop to wake them up out of their sleep or to hold them over until lunch time while others were still trying to get their books out of their lockers. Most of them probably never knew each other unless they had class with one another. Yet all of them had one thing in common; they were all oblivious to the fact that I had just committed murder.

*****
“Wake yo’ hoe ass up nigga!” Angel slapped Cash trying to keep him from fainting. “Didn’t I tell you not to die in my shit?”
“Angel we bout to be at the hospital; what you want me to do?” Looking back Caleb waited for instructions.
“Drive around to emergency, we gonna give this bitch curb side service.”

As the Explorer screeched around the corner a loud bang rang through the interior of the truck. Cash’s body shook as he felt the bullet pierce his lower abdomen. Caleb came to an abrupt halt in front of the emergency entrance as Angel opened the door and kicked Cash out onto the pavement leaving him for dead.

8

ChApTER ThIRTEEN

I managed to get through all my classes with no problem and after taking the Proficiency Test all the seniors were told to go to the auditorium for graduation rehearsal.

“What up bitch?”
I turned around and watched Keyshia sashay down the aisle wearing distressed skinny jeans, a white baby tee and D&G flip flops.
“What up hoe?”

“If you really gotta pass all the parts to this shit to graduate then it’s a wrap for me.” Twirling her bubble gum in between her fingers she plopped down in the chair next to me.

“I ain’t worried about it. I’ll go join a convent if they tell me I can’t get the fuck out of Cleveland.”

“Yeah that would be right up your alley. No dick and a bunch of virgins!” “Fuck you.”
“No, fuck CJ.”
“Why is my sex life so interesting to you?”

“I’m just trying to get you to relieve some of that built up anger you got. Getting your back blown out would make all your troubles go away.” Keyshia clapped her hands as if magical pixie dust was going to appear in front of us.

“Who are you fucking?” I picked at the gauze on my hand. “I heard you been getting down with that lil’ cutie Vale that live in the Valley.” “Yeah, we got down a couple times and all I know is he can eat some pussy.”
“I heard he’s a hype, he was all in CJ’s face when we were at Whitmore’s the other day.”

“I don’t care what he does in his spare time, as long as he keeps letting me squirt in his face, I’m good.” Keyshia kicked off her sandals, placing her feet on the chair in front of her.

“You saying that shit now but when you call me cause this nigga then gave you some shit and you can’t pee straight, I’m a laugh at yo loose ass.”

We continued to talk shit to each other as the auditorium filled up and we waited for practice to start. I was getting tired and I began to zone out and think about what I did to Cash. What if I got caught? What if one of our nosy ass neighbors seen me leave the house late? What if my grandmother came home early and found Cash bleeding all over her bedroom floor?

“Hello?” In a sing song voice Keyshia tried to get my attention. “Asjiah… are you in there?”
“Huh? What?”
“There go yo girl.” Keyshia pointed across the room to Corey who was holding a one person conversation with Money.

She was hiding the evidence of our fight behind those big aviator looking sunglasses. I wanted to get up and whoop her ass again but she wasn’t worth it. I was CJ’s girl and she was just some random bitch that he used to mess with. I could break up with him and let her know that she got the best of me or I could forgive him and try to look past his indiscretion. I still hadn’t made up my mind on what to do about him but slapping her would make me feel better.

“Since when she start fucking with him?” Referring to Money, Keyshia looked over at Corey then back at me with disgust in her face. I hadn’t told her about our little ice cream date and I wasn’t trying to let on to anything so I played the hard role. “Don’t know. Don’t care.” Sitting up in my seat I took the rubber band out my hair and scratched my head allowing my curls to fall down my back.

“I bumped into that nigga at the deli and he was telling me how CJ can’t take care of me the way that he can and pretty soon he was going to be the man and I should get on his team while he’s still recruiting.”
“Recruiting?”

“Yes girl, like he scouting for some basketball team or some shit.” “CJ’s gonna beat his ass, but he is cute. He got a nice ass body.”

Licking her lips I could tell that she had all kinds of thoughts running through her head about Money.
“You should talk to him and keep him on standby, just in case you need him one day.”
“Stand by? What is my pussy some kind of airline?”

“It could be. And you could offer him frequent flyer mileage once he gets your engine running!” Keyshia threw her head back laughing at her own joke.

“You’re crazy. Besides, he works one of Angel’s corners and you already know he’s not about to let me date the help.”
“How is your sexy ass brother anyway?”
“Ugh.” Pretending to gag I clutched my stomach and leaned over my chair. “Next subject please.

“What? Angel is fine! He looks like a little Almond Joy! And I wouldn’t mind tasting his nut!” As if imagining Angel in front of her she started winding her hips in the chair. Looking at her I couldn’t help but laugh.

“Girl you are a mess!”
“Look, he’s coming over here.” Keyshia sat up in her chair as Money approached us.

I tried not to stare at him but he was looking extra fine today. He had on a Red Indian’s hat with a red and white Phat Farm shirt, and some dark blue Phat Farm jeans. Crisp Air Force One’s put the finishing touch on his outfit.

“Wassup Keesh?”
Money licked his lips then turned his attention to me. “What’s going on Asjiah?”
“Wassup.” Appearing disinterested I began braiding my hair.

“Why don’t you let me take you down to the lake when all of this is over?” Money sat behind me and began massaging my shoulders. “It’s a nice day outside and we can spend some time together.”

I closed my eyes and briefly lost myself as he worked out my kinks. These last few days had me stressing and it seemed to have manifested itself in the tension that I was feeling. I imagined him rubbing the rest of me as he moved his hands to my neck causing me to flinch slightly as he grazed the hot spot behind my ear.

“Take me to the lake huh?” I turned around so my knees were in the seat and I was facing him. Motioning for him to come closer I whispered in his ear. “You want to get me wet Money?”

“Maybe.” He tried to think of something else as the sweet scent of her strawberry lip gloss got his dick hard.
“Well you’re going to need a life jacket if you plan on going swimming.” Enjoying their game of cat and mouse he wrapped his fingers around my curls and gently pulled my hair. “Maybe I like to go skinny-dipping.”

“This ain’t no kiddy pool; I don’t want you to drown ‘because you wanted to venture into the deep end.” The sexual tension between us was driving me crazy. I licked his earlobe biting it gently before letting go.

“Oh, I won’t drown ma, I can stand up in the deep end, trust me.” Cupping the back of my neck he pulled me closer to him so our lips were almost touching.

“When you go diving, make sure you kiss my pearl on the way up.” I turned around in my seat mentally giving myself a W for this round. Money bit his lip and smiled. Accepting defeat he brushed off his Phat Farm jeans and walked away.

“Damn! If I didn’t know any better I would think ya’ll had something going on. That shit was turning me on! I need to go check my panties; I think I came on myself!” Keyshia giggled as she popped her bubble gum.

*****

“Aiight, I think that’ll do it.” Angel stepped back and tossed the crimson colored rag in the garbage bag. They’d spent hours cleaning the interior of the truck trying to make sure there weren’t any traces of Cash’s blood.

“Do you think he’s dead?” Gabriel added his T-shirt to the trash before getting back in the car.
“I really don’t give a fuck.” Angel’s eyebrows furrowed causing wrinkles to appear in his forehead.
If any of them had any concerns as to what happened they went unvoiced as Angel maneuvered the Explorer back towards Miles.
“I guess I’ll get up with ya’ll later.” Making sure he had his burner tucked, Caleb exited the vehicle.
“Aiight my nigga.” Angel and Gabriel threw Caleb peace signs as they waited for him to disappear into his house.

“So what you want to do about those lil’ niggas we saw earlier?” “Nothing.”

Gabriel searched his pockets for his keys as they approached his house. “We don’t need any witnesses to this shit. I got the number off their plates so I can find em’ if you want me to.”

“They got here before we did; they probably thought that once they cleaned up and dumped the body it was over. They don’t know shit about what went down after they left and that’s the way it’s gonna stay. Nobody else needs to get bodied over this shit.”

“What about A’?”

“I’m sure she’s alright wherever she’s at.” Angel tried not to worry about his sister. He had got so caught up with Cash that he forgot about her. He made a mental note to call her once everything died down.

“Well I’m out. I’ve had enough excitement already and the day hasn’t even started yet.” Gabriel got out the car and grabbed the garbage bag out of the backseat that contained the rags and their soiled clothes. “I’ll get rid of this. Go home and try to get some sleep.”

Gabriel watched as the Explorer disappeared around the corner. He was worried about Angel. They’d been friends since they met at John Marshall. Although he never really went into detail he knew Angel had been through some shit and it seemed like he never caught a break, things were just constantly falling down around him. He couldn’t begin to understand what it was like to lose your family but he would make sure that if Angel ever fell he would be right there with him.

*****

It was around 1:15 in the afternoon when rehearsal ended and Keyshia and I decided to walk across the street to get something to eat. The Broadway Diner made some of the best chicken wings in the area and to top it off they were three for a dollar. We weren’t supposed to leave the school to get food but as long as we got something for the ladies in the office or the security guards, they didn’t mind.

“Let me get 6 wings, some fries, and that Welch’s white grape cranberry juice. And some barbecue sauce please.” I pointed towards the door just as Vale was walking in. “Speak of the devil.”

Vale was fine; brown-skinned, about 5’11” with dark brown eyes and a low cut Caesar. He was wearing some new Air Max’s, light blue jeans and a Ralph Lauren T-shirt.

Although he didn’t act like your normal crack head, I knew he was a clucker. I was around dudes who sold that shit all the time so I think I knew what a blossoming crack head looked like.

“Keyshia! What it do baby?” Vale walked up to our table and sat down. “Asjiah, my favorite white girl, what’s poppin’?”

“Still talking that white shit huh?” Ignoring their conversation I continued to eat my food.

“Keesh I was just thinking about you and those sweet lips. Why don’t you let me steal you away from your girl and take you in the bathroom real quick?” Kissing on her neck Vale pinched her nipples.

“V, stop.” Squirming Keyshia tried to brush off his advances. “I’m eating lunch with A’. I’ll get at you after school.”

“So you’re frontin’ for your girl now?” Vale picked at her French fries. “You weren’t telling me to stop when I had you pinned up on the couch at my boy’s house. You weren’t saying stop when you had his dick in yo mouth.”

Coughing, I almost spit out my food. I knew she was wild but Vale had just put her shit on blast.
Trying not to appear embarrassed Keyshia kept eating. “I’m just saying V, let me finish talking to my girl and I’ll get at you later.”
She put her hand under the table and whispered something into his ear. Smiling he seemed satisfied and got up.
“Aiight ladies, Keesh I’ll see you later. A’ tell that nigga CJ I’ll get at him later.”