She Used to Be the Sweetest Girl Read online

  Finishing his verse up and stepping out of the booth yawning, Mel stretched and dapped his niggas up. They had been up just as long as he had and he appreciated the support. In most crews, some were made up of longtime friends, family, friends of the family, and so forth, but not his. The Wright family was big enough to where they didn’t need any outsiders. To them, that was the quickest way toward a downfall of any organization. Granted, they did have connections with some outside people, but they never got close enough to the inside. Only person who had been rocking with the fam was Pierre, and he was one of the main people in charge of running things.

  “Nigga, let’s go get some breakfast,” his cousin Fatz said, struggling to stand up from the couch.

  Hence the name, it fit him to a T. He had been off the lean all night and could barely walk, let alone stay awake. With the laws becoming more aware of the purple syrup everyone had seemed to start enjoying, Pierre found them a plug quick. Thanks to a pharmacist, he was breaking off from time to time; him and his niggas were able to sip slow and sell the shit easily.

  “Yo fat ass always tryna eat,” Ricky, Mel’s younger cousin, joked.

  “We been smoking all night nigga. I woulda had ya baby moms slide through with a plate, but we all know she can’t even boil water,” Fatz joked back, making everybody laugh.

  This was how they acted 24/7, stayed cracking jokes and enjoying life. Don’t get it twisted though, when it was time to put in work, they were the first ones punching the clocks and getting to the money. The rap lyrics Shemel were spitting wasn’t just for his health. His niggas really lived that lifestyle.

  “That ain’t even my baby man; fuck outta here,” Ricky said while laughing. His chick had been trying to pin a baby on him for the last year, and he wasn’t having it. She would be quick to put her hand out for some money, but not quick enough for a DNA test.

  “Yeah okay. It’s cool cuz, we get it. She ain’t the baddest bitch walking. Don’t be trying to deny yo seed though,” Fatz said, finally getting up from the couch.

  Everybody in the room, which was mainly his cousins, chuckled before gathering their things. While walking out the studio, they all agreed to go to Waffle House since it was closer. Plus, IHOP was only good for their pancakes. Everything else from the restaurant was considered trash to them. Hopping in their separate vehicles, they pulled off. Traffic was light out, considering it was a Sunday morning, and Mel was glad about it. He hated driving while he was tired, never wanting to get caught slipping. He wasn’t as heavy in the streets as he used to be, but he was still in them almost every day, grinding. He loved the fast money and praise he received from having the loudest weed or the best prices. He lived for this street shit and didn’t have any plans of getting out soon. He figured if he took off with his rapping career, he’d slow down some more, but until then, he was going to stay on his grind.

  Taking up two booths in the almost empty establishment, Mel and his entourage, as he liked to jokingly call them, looked over the menu. It didn’t matter how many times they had been here to eat; they still looked over the menu like it changed.

  Mel was ready to order and shifted around in the uncomfortable bench, showing his annoyance from not getting any sleep. Fatz and Ricky sat at the table behind him, discussing the waitress’ ass. She looked old enough to be all their mama’s put together, but was wearing her age well.

  “Aye, she looks like Dee from the Wayans Brothers,” Fatz said, laughing.

  “I put that on me she do. She thick as fuck too,” Ricky laughed, slapping hands with Fatz.

  “She better put extra butter on my waffle too. They be trying give a nigga a little thing of butter for three waffles,” said Fatz.

  “Nigga. You do not need no more butter. We gone have to use it all anyway to slide yo ass out this seat. You think you stuck now,” Ricky said, cracking up.

  Fatz couldn’t even laugh without moving the tables in the process. He had maneuvered his way into the booth somehow and was chilling, but he already knew he was going to struggle getting out after he ate.

  “My big ass shoulda sat at the counter,” he said, trying to scoot out, but failed.

  Ricky had to wipe the tears from his eyes before responding, “Nah, you stuck now fam. Just chill. We’ll call the ambulance if you really can’t get out.”

  They all had joked about him being overweight, but Mel knew it was serious. Fatz had always struggled with his weight when they were growing up, and when they really started making money, he put no limit on what he ate. Mel’s older brother, Omar, had offered him a gym membership where his wife worked, but he always declined. They weren’t going to force him to lose weight, but they would still encourage it.

  The Dee look-alike walked over and took their drink orders before leaving to retrieve them. Walking back over, she asked if they were ready to order. She stopped when she got to Fatz and asked, “You sure you okay sitting here? You look a little uncomfortable.”

  Again, not being able to control their laughter, they all burst out laughing. She had an embarrassed look on her face, but was genuinely concerned for the young man.

  “I’m good, Dee. Can you make sure you bring extra butter though? A nigga don’t think he gone be able to get up once I’m done eating,” he replied, making her grin. She was glad he didn’t take her concern offensively and could joke about it. That’s what she liked most about her job, putting a smile on the customer’s faces. She grinned and told him she would before finishing up her rounds.

  Shemel sat in his booth, going through emails, tweets, and statuses he had been tagged in. He clicked on his Snapchat app and smirked when he saw some young cats rapping along to his latest mixtape. The love he got from his city was definitely appreciated and he vowed to put them on in more ways than one. Although his family was behind majority of the killings, he still showed face at the big name community events. His pops had top officials on payroll and all they asked is that they show a little interest in what the city was trying to promote, which was nonviolence. For Shemel, he could fuck with it. The more connects he had, the better.

  Pierre on the other hand hated that fake shit. He hated smiling all in them white mufuckas faces, when he was the one keeping their pockets fat and feeding their families. He had only been to one event, and that was the Annual Hoop-A-Thon the neighborhoods put on every year. Other than that, he was toting his gun wherever he went and disregarding what the cops wanted.

  After placing his order, Shemel got up to take a leak. Being in the booth and constantly drinking water, had him backed up. Once done handling his business and washing his hands, he walked out, hearing laughter come from his table.

  “Man, here we go,” he sighed while staring at one of his old flings. He and Reilyn, or Rei as she liked to be called, had a “thing” going on for about two years now. Mel had cut her off or tried to at least. He knew what type of chick she was off top, but she still played the innocent role, which always won Shemel over. She was so high-maintenance it didn’t make sense. Reilyn’s daddy was on payroll for the St. Louis Cardinals, working in the marketing department. He spoiled his daughter to the extreme and expected for everyone else to follow suit. Mel was cool with it at first, because he actually dug her bubbly personality, but the bitch in her started to show and he fell back some. He couldn’t lie though; the thick mixed chick had definitely caught his attention, and he was hoping she wasn’t on any crazy shit today.

  Walking back over to his booth, he slid in, only nodding his head toward Rei. She was standing in front of his cousins’ table, laughing at what he assumed was something funny one of the two had said. Her group of friends had already taken their seats and joined the crew. Going out of his way to speak, well not really, but interrupting their convo was not what he was about to do. He didn’t have to either because as soon as he pulled his phone out, Rei slid in next to him.

  “Hey stranger,” she said, smiling wide.

  Mel couldn’t help but smile back. “What’s good with y
ou?” he asked smoothly. He didn’t know why she had sat that close to him, when there was plenty of room on the bench.

  “Not much. Just came to get breakfast with the girls,” she replied, picking up his menu the waitress forgot to grab.

  “That’s wassup. How you been? You looking good,” Mel complimented her, while letting his eyes roam over her body. He knew it would boost her head, but he gave props where props were due, and she deserved that one. She was rocking some Pink sweat pants and a bubble coat, with some glittery Ugg boots. The pants she had on made her thick thighs, which he was sure she inherited from her mama’s side, look edible.

  “Thanks boo. You know me, I’ve been good. I’d be better though if you hadn’t stopped returning my calls,” she said, placing the menu down. Yes, she was hungry, but she had been waiting to have this conversation with Shemel, and what better timing than now.

  “I told you, I ain’t with all the bullshit you be on. I’m too grown for the kid games.”

  Reilyn would turn extra petty if she didn’t get her way, and Shemel hated that shit. She’d tweet him dumb shit, making it seem like they were more than what they were. She posted pictures of him sleep on her Instagram and Facebook with hashtags and heart signs, and he wasn’t feeling the stunts she pulled. He didn’t care about posting the picture; it was what she placed in the captions that pissed him off.

  Rei’s other male friends had told her plenty of times “Posting quotes ain’t gone get that nigga to love you ma”, but she didn’t care. Females wanted everything to be known nowadays and sought validation from every mufucka on social media. When in fact, the relationship wasn’t even what it seemed. A picture is one thing, but to go in detail about how they been rocking and how he holds her down was childish shit. The most Mel ever bought her was dinner and a Plan B pill the next morning. She wanted to stunt on his name, so he cut her off.

  “How is it kid games, Shemel? What, I’m good enough to fuck, but not good enough to make your girlfriend?” she asked, while rolling her neck.

  “See, there you go with the unnecessary drama. If all you think of yourself as is an easy fuck, aye, that’s on you. I told you from jump what this was,” he said, reminding her. He had explained to her on numerous occasions why he wanted to be single, but she just wouldn’t take no for an answer.

  “But that’s not fair and you know it. I caught feelings for you and so did you for me, so don’t even think about lying,” she whined.

  “You right, I did. I ain’t gone lie, but that shit dead now ma. I got more important things to focus on,” he said, as the waitress placed his food on the table.

  “Are you ordering as well?” Dee look alike asked Reilyn.

  “No, I’ll just eat off his plate,” she answered.

  Mel brought his head up from his prayer so quick and looked at her. “No the hell you won’t. I ain’t ate since—” he started to say, but was cut off when he seen a familiar face walk through the entryway.

  Brix and her mother walked through the restaurant's door, ready to get their grub on. Church service had let out twenty minutes prior, and they were starving. Glancing around, Brix placed her attention on the booths filled with black young men before her eyes focused on Mr. Wright himself. Shemel was in awe of her Sunday morning attire, and if Reilyn didn’t have him cornered in, he would have stood up to greet the pair.

  Brix wore a buttoned down, long sleeved shirt that looked more like a dress, underneath a maroon and black fur vest, black ankle booties and what Shemel loved the most, her burgundy lipstick. Both times, they had encountered each other, she was just getting off work, and the other she had pajamas on. To see her dressed up and knowing she had probably just left church, instantly brought a smile to Mel’s handsome face.

  Reilyn was waiting for him to finish his sentence, but realized something, more like someone, had his attention. Facing in the direction Mel was focused on, she curled her lips up at Brix. Sure her outfit was cute, but Reilyn was the name brand queen. She knew none of Brix’s garments were made by her favorite designers. Reilyn liked to shop at the basic stores, for her basic clothing sometimes, but would not dare step out in anything generic or fake. The fur Brix was rocking wasn’t real, but Brix didn’t care. It was cute, she liked it, and she matched. Plus, it was affordable, which to her, won above everything else.

  Brix returned Shemel’s smile, not the least bit concerned about Reilyn as she continued to mug her. She didn’t know the girl. Hell, she barely knew Shemel, so she just smiled. Her pastor had preached on the topic of kindness at church service that morning, and she knew this was a test. Taking a booth on the opposite side of the restaurant, but still facing Mel, she began to look over the menu. Mrs. Carla did the same and started a conversation after the waitress came over to take their order.

  “Church was good this morning, wasn’t it?” Mrs. Carla asked Brix, but got no reply.

  Focusing her attention on Shemel, Brix ignored her mother’s question as they stared at one another. Turning her head around to see who had her daughter so intrigued, a smile appeared upon Mrs. Carla’s face.

  “Why you just staring child? Go speak or something,” she said, snapping her fingers at Brix.

  Quickly realizing she had zoned out, Brix shook her head in confusion. “What’d you say, ma?”

  “Go speak to the young man.”

  “Definitely not. He has someone with him and that would be rude of me to interrupt their date.”

  “Well, I’ll just wave him over,” she said, turning in her seat. Waving her hand in the air to signal Shemel, he asked Rei to scoot out the way real quick. Pulling his pants up, he walked over to their area.

  “Good morning, you both look lovely,” he said, making both women blush.

  “Well aren’t you the charmer. Thank you,” Mrs. Carla said grinning.

  “I do what I can,” he said, smiling. “How are you Brix?” he asked while licking his lips. He couldn’t control the attraction he felt for her and genuinely wanted to know how her morning was so far.

  “I’m fine. How are you doing?”

  “That you are,” he said seductively, letting his eyes burn a hole through her. Brix shifted uncomfortably in her seat. The temperature in the place seemed to rise as she pulled on the collar of her shirt. He was so smooth and straight up with how he was feeling, she couldn’t help but smile and accept his compliment.

  “Thank you. I think you may have been over here a little too long,” she said, grinning at an impatient Reilyn, who had walked over to be nosey.

  Rubbing Mel’s arm, she asked, “Hey babe. Who are these ladies?”

  “None of your business,” he said with no enthusiasm at all. Not feeling the least bit worried by Mel’s tone, she decided to introduce herself.

  “Hi, I’m Reilyn, a close friend of Shemel's,” she fake smiled.

  “And why do we need to know who you are?” Mrs. Carla said, before Brix could respond. Taken aback from the sarcastic response, Rei tossed her hair over her shoulder before turning to walk away. Placing her hand over her mouth, Brix chuckled at her mom’s feisty attitude, while Shemel laughed lightly.

  “My fault about that. Some people just don’t get the hint,” he said.

  “No worries. Are you done eating? It looks like you have a full plate?” Brix asked.

  Shemel looked over his shoulder at the table and shook his head. Rei was taking a bite of his food, while looking directly at him.

  “Nah, I was actually just about to eat, then I saw you walk in,” he said, grinning.

  “You didn’t have to ditch your meal and date for me.”

  “It’s no big deal and definitely not a date. I’ll let y'all get back to y'all morning though. I’ll be sure to holla at you before I head out,” he told Brix.

  “Um sure, okay,” she replied apprehensively. She wasn’t sure what he wanted to “holla” at her about, but the thought of them holding another conversation brought butterflies to her stomach. The entire time he stood there, she fo
rced herself not to stare at the bulge in his sweat pants. Seeing as though she had just left church, she felt like the Lord was watching her.

  “I like him,” Mrs. Carla said out the blue after their food had been served.

  “But you don’t even know him ma.”

  “I can tell he has a good heart baby. That’s all I need to know,” she replied, taking a sip of her coffee. She didn’t speak highly of many people when first meeting them, but she felt something about Shemel. She hadn’t even felt that way when Brix first introduced her to Drew. Now that boy had rubbed her the wrong way for years, but her baby loved him, so she just dealt with him on the strength of their relationship.

  Thirty minutes and a full stomach later, Brix got up to use the restroom before they left. She glanced towards Mel’s table and they were still laughing and carrying on. Rei and her group of friends had left a few minutes prior, annoyed at the fact that the guys wouldn’t pay for their meals as well. None of them were dating the chicks, so what did they look like footing the bill? Mel watched as Brix disappeared in the restroom and figured this was his chance to get Brix alone, so he could really chat with her for a second.