You Can't Help Who You Love (8 page)

Miracle

It was just about time for us to start packing for school and I was beyond ready to start this new journey I was entering. I was proud of myself. I was leaving Dallas’ house and I must admit, I was feeling myself today. The entire ride to my brother’s house, I was jamming to Beyoncé’s new song ‘Formation’ and I was loving it. I haven’t always been a fan of her, but this song was great from the moment I heard it.

‘I like my baby heir with baby hair and Afros, I love my negro nose with Jackson five nostrils, earned all this money but they never take the country out me, I got hot sauce in my bag, swag’

My mind kept wandering back to Carter. He hadn’t been to our home in a while and I was wondering why. I hadn’t heard from him like I used to and I know that was strange. I called him once I was leaving Dallas’ house and he didn’t answer, so I took it upon myself to pull up on him and see why he been acting so stank lately. When I pulled up, I saw a car that I didn’t recognize. “This nigga love him some bitches; that’s why he ignored my fucking call. I got a trick for his ass though,” I said to myself, walking to the porch. I didn’t have to knock because I had a spare key to both of my brother’s houses. When they got them, they made sure that I had access to it, no matter the situation. It came in handy today because I was doing a pop up. But he knew that I would, so he should’ve known that even if he ignored my call, eventually I was going to stop by.

‘Don’t fuck no bitch that’s fucking with yo dawg, that’s law

You come up don’t forget about yo dawg, that’s law.’

I heard Yo Gotti blasting throughout the house and shook my head. I started packing my clothes before my phone started ringing in my back pocket. I started to say something, until I stumbled onto some shit that looked weird as fuck to me. This girl, whom I didn’t know, was ass naked bending over on the coffee table, snorting a fucking line. I reached into my purse and pulled out my Beretta. “Bitch, who the fuck is you and what the fuck is you doing?!” I snapped, scaring the fuck out of her. I was disgusted watching her try her hardest to wipe the shit off her nose.

“No bitch, who the fuck is you?”

“I’m the bitch that will end yo whole fucking life in a quickness hoe, try me,” I calmly said while taking the safety off of the gun.

“Yo Mic-” I heard the voice that belonged to my brother. “Miracle, what you doing here? And put that fucking gun up in my house,” he snapped.

“Nigga, don’t ask me no muthafucking questions. Who the fuck is the coke head ass hoe and why the fuck is she in your house doing this shit?!” I was infuriated. “These the kind of bitches you like now, Carter?” I asked with my nose in the air.

“YO, let me holla at you outside,” he said, pushing me towards the door, not paying any attention to this random. The moment we step outside, I started grilling his ass. “Man sis, she just wanted to try the shit out. I told the bitch not to, but I ain’t fucking with her like that. We just fucking,” he said. I don’t know why but I felt like he was trying to cover something up.

“You doing this shit too, Carter?” I asked him as tears came to my eyes. I would die if my brother was on drugs, no doubt, I really would.

“Hell no, man, fuck sis, you know me better than that,” he said, looking away from me. I started to say something when the same bitch came walking out of the house fully dressed. The look I gave her let her know that she had better keep stepping and not say shit to either of us. He didn’t say nothing and neither did she.

“I believe you, but watch the company you keep. It’s something off with that broad, but I’m about to be out. I have to go pack for school. By the way, why haven’t you been at the house lately?” I asked.

“Oh, I um, I was coming by tonight,” he said, looking at the ground. I knew he was lying, but I would let it slide.

“Okay, I’m out. I love you, brother. Know that.” I kissed his cheek and walked to my car. The entire ride to my dad’s, plenty of thoughts entered my mind. I just hoped Carter wasn’t fucking with that shit, but her being so comfortable doing it in his home spoke volumes for me. But, for now, I would just keep an eye on the shit. As soon as I stepped into my room, my phone went off. I instantly knew it was Halee. So, I picked up. “Heyyyy, you ready for this new journey?!” I asked her.

“Yes! Girl, I’m so ready. I’m ready to get in there and make it do what it do; this has been our passion since we were younger!” she exclaimed. She was right. When we were younger, we always fake delivered babies and now that we were older, we were ready! “Instead of packing, how about we just shop for new school clothes?” she asked me. I really didn’t feel like packing, so I was on the same thing she was on.

“Deal, be over in a minute,” I told her before hanging up. I left my room and headed back to my car.  I walked outside to see Halee already at my car door. We jumped in and she immediately started turning up the radio. I wasn’t into it, so I turned it down. “Halee, I think Carter is doing drugs,” I told her, keeping it a buck.

“What makes you think that?” she asked, eyeing me.

“Girl, so I stop by this nigga house and, as you know, I got the house key as well as Justin’s. I walk into the fucking room and there is this naked ass woman doing a fucking line off the table. The fact that she doing it in his house doesn’t sit well with me. I just hope he isn’t on no fuck shit.”

“That’s your brother and I don’t think he is. Hell, I hope he isn’t that dumb to use the product he sells to get high. That’s just not him, M. Maybe the bitch, but not him. He know better,” she told me. I trusted that she was right, so I let it go. She lit a blunt and puffed on it before passing it to me. Without a second thought, I snatched it up and started getting high right along with her.

“We are official sis!” I yelled, switching the subject.

“BITCH, why the hell are you yelling? I’m right here and who? You and Dallas?” she asked, taking the blunt from my fingers.

“Yes!” I said.

“Bitch, yell again and I’ll burn your ass right on the forehead; people in school is going to think you’re a fucking gypsy fucking with me,” she fussed. We laughed before stepping out of the car.

*****

Five hours and nine trips to the car later, we were finally leaving the mall. “Bitch, all that shopping has me tired as fuck and hungry!” I complained. Hell, I really had worked up an appetite.

“All you do is complain; shut up and let’s go to Jose’s Seafood,” she told me. I didn’t say a word as I hit 80 mph trying to get there. “Damn bitch, it’s going to be there when we get there!” she joked. I gave her ass the side eye and was about to joke back with her ass when my phone vibrated. Seeing Dallas and I’s picture had me excited.

“Hey baby!” I answered.

“Yo, what’s up boo; you finished packing?” he asked me.

“No, actually, we shopped instead of packing,” I told him.

“Kind of figured that; that’s all y’all want to do. But yeah, what y’all doing now?”

“Heading to Jose’s Seafood right now baby,” I told him.

“Aight, when you done, let’s have a date night. Every night before you go to school, I’m taking you out,” he told me.

“Aw, aren’t you cute!” I blushed. 

“Yeah, I guess,” he replied.

“Ok boo, I’ll come once I’m dressed. I’m pulling up to the restaurant right now, so I’ll have to text you,” I told him, checking my makeup.

“Ok, I’ll be waiting ma. Love you.”

“Love you too,” I responded before hanging up. 

“Y’all make me sick!” Halee said, tooting her nose up. “Let me stop. Nah, foreal though, I’m happy for you, M. Your guard’s down and you all in love and stuff. Y’all over here sounding like Quis and I,” she said, blushing. I don’t know what Quis did to my girl, but she loved his ass. I was happy, she was happy, we were happy. So, everything was good.

“Hey, my name is Ryan and I will be your server for tonight,” this boy who looked no older than nineteen said.

“Hey, for the drink, can I get a sweet tea and for my appetizer, a small batch of some of your famous lemon pepper wings with the ranch. Then, for my meal, I would like the crab boil with the whole nine yards,” I told him. The way they were looking at me made me laugh. “I told you I was hungry!” I told Halee, playfully pouting.

“Mhm,” she shot back with a raised eyebrow. “Ok, for me, can I have a water with a lemon? For my appetizer, I’m sure Paula the pig here wouldn’t mind me eating some of her wings and I’ll always get the crab boil, only not with the nine yards,” she told him, handing him back his menus he gave us.

“Thank you,” we said as he walked off. We made small talk before he eventually brought out our drinks and appetizer. Their wings were so good; it should’ve been a shame. They were fresh and seasoned just right. I was hungry as fuck! Halee really did all the talking while I ate. Before we could finish those up, Ryan came out with our huge pales filled with nothing but seafood, sausages, corn, and potatoes.

“Here, you all might need this,” he told us, passing us both a big plastic bib.

“Thank you,” we said in unison.

“Can I grab you all anything thing else real quick?” he asked us, mainly looking at me.

“No sir, we are fine. Thank you,” I told him for the both of us. We finished our meals, paid, and headed back to our houses.

“Well, I wanted to sleep in, but Quis wants to step out tonight. I guess I can go to show face,” Halee said.

“Girl, same here. But I’m about to go lay under my man. After I nap, then we can go do whatever he wants,” I replied, yawning. Once I pulled up, we said a few words and parted ways. I was tired and wanted nothing more than to get in my bed, but I did want some time with my man, so I headed to my closet to find some clothes.

“Don’t know what he have in mind, so I’ll pack a few outfits to choose from,” I said to myself. I picked out two that I knew would turn heads anywhere. One was a pair of ripped up, tight fitting, high waisted jeans. I matched it with a PINK sports bra with a long sleeve jean shirt with some fresh out the box Nikes. That was for if we went to the movies or something. The next was a wraparound, money green Bodycon dress with a pair of diamond studded nude Red Bottoms. That was for the club scene. I folded and packed them both up and headed back out of my room, bumping into Carter.

“Sup baby sis, where you headed? Halee with you?” he wasted no time asking me.

“Uh, out with Dallas and no. She isn’t with me, why? Should she be?” I questioned him back. What I saw earlier had my mind in overdrive. If I was tripping then, I most definitely wasn’t now. He was moving too much and scratching at his neck. “The fuck?” I questioned myself.

“Oh no reason, just asking. Have fun, aight?” he told me, walking away.

“Ooook,” I said. I shook the thoughts off and proceeded to Dallas’ with my mind on my brother the entire time.

              *****

My birthday has come and gone; I lived it up like any 19-year-old would. My daddy went all out and bought me an apartment down the road from the college I would be attending. It was only two hours away, so if I wanted to come home and be with my family, I could. Halee and Quis had been kicking it hard, so hard that they’re in a relationship, and I would say it’s pretty cute. I’m happy for my girl. Though Dally and I are still in the same position, our bond had grown tighter. That’s what I liked. We were best friends before lovers. It feels good to have a bond with the one you love. Yes, I love me some DALLAS. If I needed to vent, cry, anything, then I knew without a doubt that I could come talk to him.

The day of my birthday, both Halee and I went and got tatted up! Literally! Justin almost flew through the roof, but my dad had to remind him that I’m nineteen now and I’m no longer a baby. I understand I’m the last and only girl, but he don’t have to be all OVER OVERprotective, if you get what I’m saying. We haven’t heard or seen much from Carter ever since my dad placed the crown on Justin’s head. Yes, he still passed it down to his son, but he also gave both Dally and Quis a promotion. Everything in life right now was fantastic and I couldn’t complain. I was meeting Halee at HOBBY LOBBY, so we could get everything we needed for school. We were leaving together and her apartment was right beside mine. Yes, we are glued together honey!!

“I’m so excited!!” she screamed, jumping up and down.

“Calm down, but YES, I am too!” I told her as we strolled, just dropping shit in the basket.

“Girl, damn, if I wasn’t with Quis. I bet it’s going to be some fineeeeee ass niggas on that campus!” she said, squealing.

“Ok, let big bro show up and show out because you know he don’t mind,” I said, laughing. I went to the register first and my total came out to be $754.67. It was cool though, long as my space was decked out. I felt my phone vibrating in my pocket, so I reached to get it. I smiled, knowing it was Dallas. He was telling me how much he missed me and, let’s be real, I missed my best guy friend too.

“You wanna chill with the fellas tonight?” I asked Halee, knowing she wouldn’t mind.

“Sure!” she said. I had to mentally prepared myself to go back to our apartment and put up this stuff we just bought, then hit the road for two hours. I just wanted to step out tonight with my friends. It was Friday and I was READY to turn up. I had come out of my shell a little more since meeting Dallas and Marquis. They were fun and they always looked out. After we placed all the things up in our apartments, we switched outfits and headed back to Dallas’ crib. We had just saw my father yesterday, so I know he was busy dealing with that girl Missy. She looked to be a few years older than me. But, we could all tell he LIKED her.