Trife Life To Lavish (A King Production Presents...) (14 page)

Although Arnez was making more money than
he could probably ever spend, it didn't matter to him.
Being in the game was like an addictive drug, but
instead of trying to break the habit, he embraced it with
open arms. With every new deal, that habit became
stronger and more powerful. Arnez's addiction was
now so bad, that the only way he could cure it was
by death or jail. Since he knew the latter wasn't in the
cards for him, he made each move with calculated
caution. That same ruthless mentality carried over to
his personal life too, and for that reason alone, he
would be making Philly his new home until all the
loose ends were neatly tied up.

When you turn your life over to the streets, you're
taking a chance that you or someone you love may
experience a tragedy so profound, that it will change
the course of your life forever. Simple things you
took for granted, you would now give anything to
experience again. But time stops or turns back for
no one, so all you're left to hold on to is memories
of the past.

"Yo, Simone, you should'a been there. It was
like the old school Tierra back in the day when
she would go around the neighborhood looking
for a fight," Nichelle said, giving a play by play of
Tierra's fight with Lerrick.

"Man, that trick made me so mad when she
did that sucker push. That fight was over a week
ago, and I'm still hot over that shit!"

"Damn, I wish I could'a been there! I ain't seen
you fight in a minute. Back in school, everybody knew not to fuck wit Tierra's ass. It was a known
fact that if you couldn't beat a motherfucker wit'
yo' fist, then you had a razor, a knife or somethin'
to slice that ass up."

Tierra reached across the table and gave
Simone a high-five, knowing she was speaking
nothing but the truth.

"Nichelle, you might need to start carrying
yo' razor again, because trust me, that silly bitch
gon' come at you on some payback shit."

"Fuck Lerrick! You the one that beat her ass,"
Nichelle giggled. "But seriously, if she know what's
good for her, she'll stay the fuck away from me. I
ain't neva stopped carrying my shit, and I have no
problem using it."

"That's my girl! I raised you right," Tierra
smiled at Nichelle.

"Sure the fuck did," Simone chimed in.

"So Simone, you hanging wit' me and Nichelle
tonight? We going to Harlem Lanes."

"Harlem Lanes, bitch, I know you ain't
bowling."

"Nah, some industry party is happening, and
BET suppose to be filming some shit up in there.
Hell, I'm tryna snatch me a baller. And if you know
what's good, you need to roll so you can get you
one too."

"Nichelle, I know you ain't looking for no
baller. You already straight. Shit, I still can't believe Carmelo gave you that Benz for your birthday. That
nigga must really love you," Simone reasoned.

Nichelle caught Tierra rolling her eyes about the
comment. "Why you got to roll your eyes like that?"

"It' nothing."

"Say what's on your mind. You never hold
your tongue no other time."

Tierra let out a deep sigh as if trying to hold
back her thoughts before letting it out. "It just seems
like Carmelo wants to keep you all to himself. He's
jealous of any other friendships you have, especially
the one you have wit' me. I was yo' dog before we
even knew of a Carmelo, but he don't respect that.
And I'll be honest, that shit bothers me."

"Yeah, he do be seeming a little salty. He
didn't say a word to us when we sat down at that
birthday party. I even smiled and spoke, but got
nothing," Simone added.

"I understand what ya saying, but Carmelo's older
than us, and he wants me to be more settled down."

"But you're only eighteen. You have to live
your life too. All I'm saying is don't give up your
identity over no man. My mother did that, and after
my dad died, she ain't neva been the same."

"I hear you. But enough of this depressing
talk. Simone, are you coming out wit' us?"

"Sorry ladies, I have to pass."

Both Nichelle and Tierra gave each other the
`what the fuck' look.

"What the hell is going on? You don't neva give
up the opportunity to meet a baller." Tierra tapped
her fingers on the table waiting for a response.

"I think I might've already met my baller, and
we going out to dinner tonight."

"Is it the same nigga you told me you met at
that birthday party?"

Yep.

"You still kicking it wit' him?"

"I'm lost. What guy are you all talking about?"
Nichelle asked, feeling left out of the conversation.

"She won't tell me. She's tryna keep that shit
on the low."

"If everything goes smoothly tonight, then I'll
give you a name tomorrow. Shit, I'm tryna be like you,
Nichelle, and have a nigga wife me the fuck up."

"Good luck on that. I'll stick to having
multiple sponsors, so I will be at Harlem Lanes
tonight scheming my ass off."

"Let's go. I have to stop at home before we
go out tonight."

"You have to be a good wifey and check in,"
Tierra teased.

"Whatever! I'ma drop your loud mouth off
at home and I'll be back around seven to pick you
up. Speaking of loud, Simone, where's my baby? I
haven't heard nothing out of him. You know I love
me some lil' Anthony."

"Oh, he wit' his daddy. I'ma need some private time wit' my boo after we go out to eat dinner."

"You better be careful. I know you and Ant
aren't together no more, but that nigga might flip if
he sees the next man in your crib. Especially after
he moved all my furniture up in here."

"I knew this furniture looked familiar," Nichelle
said, looking around Simone's apartment. "This same
shit was in your crib. It look good though."

"It better look good, as much money as Lucci
spent on it. And speaking of money, you late on
your payment, Simone."

"I knew you was gon' bring that shit up. Stay
right here." Simone got up from the table and went
to her bedroom.

"I know she got an attitude, but I don't give a
fuck. I gave her this furniture hella cheap, and I'm letting
her make payments. Sh-i-i-it, she need to be grateful."

"I'm sure she is, Tierra."

"I can't tell by the way she was twisting her
neck when she got up from the table."

"Be quiet, here she comes."

"Here's all your money!" Simone snapped,
dropping a bunch of bills on the table in front
of Tierra. Tierra swallowed hard before quickly
scooping them up.

"Damn Simone, what you do, rob a bank?"
Nichelle was playing, but she was curious as to
where Simone got all the money from.

"My boo gave it to me. He said he didn't want his baby owing nobody nothing."

Tierra glanced up at Simone with the money
securely in her hand. "Who the fuck is this boo you
got? This shit ain't adding up. Nichelle gotta man,
now Simone fuckin' wit' some nigga that's lacing
her pockets. I'm the only one out here struggling...
well not for long!"

"What that mean... not for long?"

"Nothing, Nichelle. Let's go. I know Simone
needs to get ready for her `boo' so we ain't gon'
hold you up."

"Bye, bitches, I'll talk to ya' later. Don't forget,
if all goes well, I'll let you know who my mystery
man is. Smooches!"

"You so crazy. We'll talk to you later. Tell my
baby, Anthony, Auntie Nichelle said hello."

"I will."

"Aren't you curious who this man is in Simone's
life?' Tierra asked Nichelle once they got in the car.

"Somewhat, but honestly, I'm glad she's
happy and she got a man who is helping her out. I
mean, her sorry baby daddy don't hardly do shit."

"Yeah, you right about that. He wouldn't
even give her no money for my furniture."

"Tierra, that's not your furniture anymore, so
let it go."

"You know what I mean. He told her that he
and his boys moving it in her crib was payment
enough. It's like don't you want your seed to have some nice shit... better yet, you know his trifling
ass gon' be wanting to lay and sit on the shit."

"Exactly! That's why I hope this new cat she's
fuckin' wit' treats her right. Simone deserves to be
happy."

"Yeah, and so do I," Tierra mumbled under
her breath.

When Nichelle got home, Carmelo was sitting
in the living room, and she was reluctant to tell him
she was going out with Tierra. She thought about
the conversation she had earlier with Simone and
Tierra, and felt she needed to be honest with him.
They were her friends, and there was room in her
life for all three of them.

"Hey baby, I missed you," Nichelle said,
giving Carmelo a kiss.

"I missed you too. I wanted us to hang out
tonight, maybe see a movie or go out to dinner, but
I just found out I have to handle some business."

Nichelle thought this was a good time to tell
Carmelo where she was going, since he already
had plans.

"Well, then would you mind if I go out with
Tierra tonight?" There was a lingering silence in the
air that made Nichelle uncomfortable. "Carmelo, I know you don't like Tierra, but besides you, she is
my best friend. I know you may never accept her,
but don't ask me to shut her out my life."

"I wouldn't ask you to do that. I don't believe
Tierra is worthy of your friendship, but if that's who
you choose to have in your life, then so be it. I just
ask that you don't have her in this crib, because I
don't trust her."

"I can do that." Although Nichelle didn't
think it was right that Tierra couldn't come over,
since she lived there too, she decided not to get
into a deep conversation about it. Things had been
going so well between her and Carmelo, and the
last thing she wanted was for a casual conversation
to turn into an intense argument. She was willing
to respect his wishes, for now, but hoped in the
future he would realize that Tierra was a true friend
to her, and he would embrace their friendship.

"Before I head out, I wanted to give you
something."

"What? I hope it's not another gift. You've
already done too much for me."

"I could never do enough for you. You have
such a huge heart, always willing to give everybody
the benefit of the doubt. That's why I worry about
you so much."

"As long as I have you to protect me, IT be fine."

"For sure, but this is for you." Carmelo picked
up an envelope that was on the table and handed it to Nichelle. She opened it and was confused.

"What is this?"

"It's the title to the Benz. It's paid in full, but
I took it out of my name and put it in yours."

"Why? I don't need the car in my name. I
know you got it for me."

"Because if anything happens to me, I want
to make sure that you have it. When I picked out
the color, rims, interior, everything about it was
beautiful, unique and special, just like you."

"I love you so much, not because of the car or
crib or all the things that you buy me, but because I
know that you really love me as much as I love you."
Nichelle held Carmelo tightly, as if she never wanted
to let him go. She felt their bond was unbreakable,
and each day it seemed to become stronger.