Yo. I know you all probably hate me. A new year and I'm JUST on chapter 7. Life for me got tough. I also got mad inboxes. I will respond to everyone. So sorry for this delay. I had to make a come back because I got my spunk back and I'm going to try to post two separate stories at once. I've been watching more anime, vampires to be excact and I was thinking of a Boondocks fanfics set into a supernatural setting. Yeeeaaaah. So...late merry Christmas, happy New Year a month later. Let's get it started and I will fight to never go this long without updating again.
Disclaimer: don't own BD
Chapter Seven Games We Play
Cindy and Riley waited patiently behind the gym for Gambino to show up. Riley was fidgety. He couldn't care less about missing the late bell, but they made a habit of snitching on him for the slightest things. He could do well without granddad's belt.
"Cindy…" he muttered. Cindy perked up and smiled before he could speak again.
"Here he comes." He turned to see the senior flick a remaining black and mild from his fingers and joined the adolescents. He stared at Riley for a minute before looking at Cindy. He pointed at him.
"This is the lil nigga is the one bussin' the school's head?" Riley frowned a bit.
"What?"
"You're a lil too young to do the operations I want Cindy to partake in. She said it was a two for one deal. I might have to sleep on that." Riley couldn't believe what he was hearing.
"Nigga I ain't too young to do anything, let me in!" he pouted. Gambino shook his head.
"Come back at me when you're out of diapers. Now Cindy, you got two options. You can either work alone, or go off with your lil pal and miss out on making some serious money. Choice is yours. I gotta bail though…I'll be late for calculus…I like calculus." On that awkward note he turned and headed for said favorite class. Riley stood there fuming.
"Damn Reezy. What am I gonna do?" she looks at him. He threw his arms up in the air.
"Why you askin a young nigga?" he snapped. Cindy sighed.
"…I still want to go through with it." She stuck her upper lip out. "Don't be mad at me."
"Whateva nigga. Fuck you old ass folks." Riley walked away in a huff. It was times like this he wished he was older. People treat him like a baby.
'Just you wait Gambino; I'll get to the top myself, with no help.' He sneered mentally. He was such in a rut he walked right pass Sofia. He was determined now. He'll overthrow Gambino and become the most ruthless, heartless, illest nigga in Woodcrest. Bitches and niggas alike will fear Escobar Freeman. It was a promise. Only when he sat down did he see Sofia walk into class. She's always try to sit away from him and he's always grab the seat beside or behind her, today, he choose to sit behind her. She must've felt his presence because she sighed heavily.
"Damn Riley, what now?" she hissed. He chuckled. He liked seeing her mad.
"I like fuckin' wit you Sofia, you be hilarious." He laughed. He poked her cheek and almost fell out the chair laughing when she swung at him after flinching.
"Grow up." She turned her back on him. She didn't feel it but he began playing with strands of her black hair. He noticed she was growing it out. As long as he could remember she'd always get her hair cut right above her shoulders. Now it was a little past her back.
"You're growing your hair out." He announced. She shivered when he ran his finger down her scalp.
"The hell are you doing?" she faced him again with an arched eyebrow. He snapped out of it. Ew what was he doing?
"Uh…I was just checkin' for lice. You good." Sofia stared at him before slowly turning back around. That was really weird. Sofia shook it off and the class went on without incident. They were in the middle of reviewing the chapter amongst themselves when the teacher made the announcement.
"Before we are dismissed, I want to inform you I decided to make your Space Model project into a group effort. It will be due at the same date, on the 20th. And I've written the criteria on what is expected out of you and your partner."
Sofia growled internally. Ming would have to be in the class right after her so she couldn't be her partner, and Ayanna was the oldest out the three so she was automatically unable to be her partner.
"Can we pick partners?" A student practically shouted across the room.
"Normally I wouldn't bestow such liberties. But since this is almost last minute moderation, yes you may. Form your desks into two with your partner right now and brainstorm for the rest of the period. All collaborations will be final upon announcement of pairs."
Sofia sights landed dead on Hansel Herrion. Sure he was weird, but that was what would help her make this more tolerable. It was that, and he never really bothered her and sometimes would talk to her. Apparently he had the same idea and motioned her to come over to the newly available seat next to him. She felt a hand grab her wrist and was faced with Riley.
"Where you goin?"
"Are you serious? I don't want to be partnered with you."
"Tough shit I need a good grade. Sofia and I are partners!" he shoved their arms in the air to solidify the unwanted union. She died on the inside when she saw her smile, nod, and write their names together.
"I really hate your guts Riley Freeman." Sofia spat.
"A nigga's stomach ain't done shit to you. Suck it up. We in dis till we die…or fail. Your choice." He smiled mischievously.
"Why do you torture me so?"
"It's fun." He shrugged. "Besides, I like messin' with you." Sofia's face deadpanned.
"So you mean to tell me you make our social interaction hard on purpose? At least I know why Cindy doesn't like me; I never knew you didn't just to make your life more interesting." Riley blinked.
"Bitch stop being so dramatic and help a nigga out…you got some gum I can have?"
Sofia almost screamed in anguish right there during the remainder of class.
...
Ayanna was writing in her notebook. Classes for her was a little lonely and being Ming and Sofia were younger than her, she never would see them until lunch. She would try to make friends, but every time she'd try to make conversation, people would stare at her like she had a booger hanging out her nose or something. She heard a group of football players mock her accent one day in History and that hurt her feelings.
What made her really sad was that Caesar only shared a single class with her and that was last period. She was going to tell Ming and Sofia that she had come to like him. Some of the days where he'd sit with them, she really enjoyed his company. He even treated Sofia better and that was always a plus. He has a bold personality, something that really made him stand out from the rest. Yet, as bold as his personality was, he never gave too much about himself away. What was more to him? She wanted to know. He tried to invite her numerous times to sit with him and his friends for a day but she'd kindly refused. Jazmine takes home economics with her, and wasn't exactly warm to her either. In Ayanna's mind they were two girls who merely existed around each other with mutual friends. She did think Huey was cute but she heard rumors he was dating that Franci girl, and boy was her attitude nasty! Her sister Daphne wasn't any better either! She just decided to stay out of the line of fire with all those people.
She was in gym right now and she never participating in the free time. She'd always be in the bleachers and either write poetry or do her homework from previous classes. Lunch time was after this and she was looking forward to seeing her mignonettes.
"Yo." She jumped and looked up at the voice.
"Oh hey…Huey right?" He nodded.
"Why don't you ever play down here?" he began walking up the bleachers and sat on a bench one down below her.
"I'm not that athletic so it's all fine."
"How long you were you in France?"
"I was born there." She smiled.
"Intresting, why you come to this shit hole?"
Ayanna pursed her lips slightly. Did everyone have to use profane language?
"You don't like America? And my dad wanted me to be." She asked her own question.
"No." he said simply.
"Where would you live if you had the choice?" she decided to strike up the conversation, at least he finally came around and talked to her.
"Ivory Coast."
"Africa, nice! I have a cousin in Cape Town." She nodded. Huey sat back against the bleacher and looked ahead.
"Once I run my own business, I'm shipping out and moving there for good. I'll leave everything and everyone behind. I won't even think twice to look back."
"You're not gonna take anyone with you?" she asked. He turned to her with slight smile.
"Why? You want to come with me?" he asked. She felt her cheeks turn red. Those red-wine eyes and smooth voice was starting to suck her in. No! It was Michael Caesar she was interested in! And besides aren't they friends, that's slutty! And Ayanna don't do the slutty scene!
"No, I would figure you'd take Jazmine." She blurted. Ah shoot! That's not what she meant to say. When she saw the look he gave her, she assumed she had it wrong.
"I mean…Franci…?"
"No."
Ayanna blinked. Was it no to Franci or Jazmine? He didn't say. And he never did seeing as the bell rang before she could get it out of him. Yep, it was a good idea to stay far from him as possible. He's a possible two-timer! That handsome scoundrel! Shaking her head she gathered her bags and made her way to gym, unaware of the eyes that were on her the entire time. Just as she was about to exit the gym, she snapped her fingers. She forgot her other bag in the locker room. She walked in, ignoring the girls chatter by the lockers on the right of the room.
"Hey Ayanna, come her." She turned to see Daphne, she would cut class to be with her friends in this period, so it really didn't surprising to see her.
"Yes?" She walked up to the girls.
"My friend said she saw you talking to Huey. You think he's cute?"
"No."
"Oh, you think he's ugly then?"
"No. I don't think anything of him." Ayanna wasn't dumb; she knew what was trying to happen.
"Mmm, do you even like boys Ayanna?"
"Yes I do. I want to date Michael Caesar." Ayanna said offended. The girls looked at her with amused looks.
"You do? Does he like you?"
"Yes, he sits with me at lunch and today I will get his number." Ayanna said. Daphne and her friends began chuckling. Ayanna folded her arms. What did these females find so funny?
"Oh, okay girl. We were just checking. Look, don't appear to be so intimidated. We're cool with you. Tell you what, why don't you join our sleepover this Friday night? We're going to be over Stacey's house." Ayanna looked over to the light skinned girl who was looking at her intensely.
"Uh... I—"
"You should come. What, are you scared?" Stacey stepped up. Ayanna stepped back, what was her deal?
"No. I don't know your numbers or where you stay." Ayanna eyed Stacey wearily.
"We know where you live. Five doors down diagonally from Huey's house saw you walking home with your….friends the other day when I was with my sister. We'll pick you up." Daphne smiled.
"…Sure." Stacey and Ayanna exchanged glances one more time before she left the gym. Ayanna will never understand why girls are so petty with one another. She didn't believe them picking her up anyways but she felt uneasy about those girls knowing where she stayed. Timid Deer Lane wasn't far from the school, so she figured someone would spot her eventually. Should she have told them about Caesar? They were almost calling her gay for crying out loud! Ayanna rolled her eyes and decided to think nothing else of that crap.
...
Caesar whistled down the hall on his way to the cafeteria. He was thinking up some schemes when a girl called his name.
"Yo Cease." His dreads shifted along with his head as he turned.
"Stacey? Hey girl, what's up sexy red bone?" She laughed as she walked up to him.
"Nothing much, you been acting anti on a bitch though."
"Nothing like that my dear, I've been busy with soccer and friends. Nigga's got a life girl. Besides you acting funny too, don't trip." He flashed his best smile at her. She rolled her amber eyes.
"Yeah cause I hear you like foreign bitches now."
"Who? Ayanna?"
"Yeah her nigga. She told me you like her and shit. You wanna wife her up. She said when you make it pro in soccer you'll take her around the world." Caesar just laughed.
"She did for real?" she nodded her head.
"That's no good."
"No it isn't, so why don't you chill with a real one like me?"
"You have on fake nails, fake hair, fake Gucci and fake eyes. I view life as a game of chess. Pawns are expendable not being a huge loss but to call you a pawn is too generous, you're not even on the board my dear." He turned on his heel and walked away from the gawking teenager.
'I got bigger plans.' He thought to himself. He saw his target in the cafeteria and sat down beside her.
"Hello Ayanna." He smiled.
"Hey Michael."
"Ayanna, we talked about this, please call me Caesar." She giggled at his pout.
"You like being named a salad?"
"For a black person it's incredible. I love my last name. And you know full well that's not just what Caesar is."
"Right! It's a pizza place." Ming cried.
"Little Caesar's? Oh…fuck you Ming." Cease frowned. She laughed and stuck her tongue out at him.
Ming noticed Sofia's rather hateful glare at her tray.
"Tough day Goth baby?"
"I have to do a group project with Riley. I'm so mad I can choke someone!" she slammed her fists on the table. Ming mouth slanted.
"…Are you sure he likes Cindy and not you?"
"WHAT? Riley? Liking me? You're crazy!"
"You know I was always wondering that but I never said anything. He's the type where if he picks on you a lot, then there's an attraction there that's confusing him, so he's lashing out against it." Ayanna said in a matter of fact tone.
"Observant mon ami." Caesar said. He knew she wanted to be psychiatrist and the human mind and its reasoning always fascinated her. She rested her hand on Sofia's shoulder.
"You want me to talk to him?"
"God no, because you're all wrong." She groaned as she sulked. "Talk about something else."
"So these females ganged up on me in gym, they're talking about picking me up to a sleepover Friday. I don't believe them. They don't seem to like me for whatever reason." Caesar ears perked up, but remained silent.
"Who the hell messing with you? Do I need to regulate?" Ming snarled. Ayanna's face twisted.
"Ming, no. Stop resorting to violence. It was Daphne and her little…goons you Americans call them."
Sofia rolled her eyes.
"Those girls are so annoying. I only need two female friends. You and Ayanna." Ming sighed.
"Girls are petty, and don't think half the time." Caesar said after a while.
"Correction, some." Sofia looked over at him. He smiled at her.
"…Of course Sofia. Though…I never met these people that should be excluded."
"So you're including us in that too?" Ming face flattened.
"The right time, with the right emotions, women don't think right." He smiled.
"Oh and you guys are just straight and narrow."
"I never said that but sure."
"You're sounding like a misogynist." Sofia and Ayanna just stared at the pair debating.
"Uh…Caesar, it isn't nice to categorize people like that." Ayanna cleared her throat. "Anyway, are you going to sit with your other friends tomorrow?"
"I shouldn't have to bounce between tables if you three would just move over there."
"Sofia doesn't get along with Cindy and Riley." Ming and Cease continued to argue.
"Riley likes her but doesn't want to break lil ole' Cindy's heart. You can deny it all you want to but it's obvious. Personally, I think he's a little bold to start off liking two blood related females at once. He may like life dangerous like that." He laughed when he saw Ming's face.
"I'm sorry. I'm bullshitting." Ming didn't believe that. She was starting to get a glimpse of this dude's real personality and it wasn't nice.
"So Cease, enough about us, tell us a story about you. What are you all about?"
"I'm from New York, I like soccer and now I'm here."
"That's the generic version. Give me the uncensored version."
"Now, now Ming you're too hasty. I don't let just anybody in my brain. Be patient dear."
Ayanna and Sofia just began talking to each other as they bantered back and forth before Ayanna left for the bathroom.
...
"Damn, I can't believe it worked." He mused. He wondered if he would get cozy like that with Sofia, would she be more willing to help him pass science. Using Ceases' logic, just say some shit he knows she'll like and she'll submit.
"What worked?" Cindy asked Jazmine looked at him too curiously. Riley took a gulp of his chocolate milk.
"Jedi-mind tricks. Hopefully a nigga will be as pro at it like Cease." He nodded, remaining cryptic. Jazmine was about to make him say what he meant when she noticed Huey's absence.
"Where's Huey?" she asked. Riley shrugged.
"He was walking beside me on my way here. He was saying something but I didn't hear him." Jazmine sighed.
"Hey Reezy can we talk about earlier, I decided that—"
"Naw, we good. You can do whatever you want I got something else in mind now."
"Like what?"
"You'll see."
"I'm going to go find Huey." Jazmine stood up from the table and left the cafeteria. Riley made a face and Cindy hit his arm.
"Did you leave something out?"
"No, but I think she shouldn't have done that. She might find some shit she don't like." Cindy grabbed Riley's ear.
"Talk to your retarded brother Riley!"
"And say what Cindy? 'Huey, you better talk to that girl boy.'" He mocked his granddad. He snatched his ear from her hold. Cindy rolled her eyes.
"Try. Riley." She would use his name when she got serious. Riley growled.
"I am not a messenger boy. Ya'll gone stop puttin' me in the middle of shit I'on want a part of." He ate the rest of his food. Cindy kicked his leg.
"Mean ass." She pouted. Riley smiled and stood up.
"Yeah but uh, I will be right back." Riley darted out the other side of the cafeteria. He kept an eye out for Jazmine as he went towards the gym door. He peeked in and saw him talking to Franci. He walked in, went straight to Huey and shoved him out the side doors, ignoring Franci's complaining.
"How'd I know to find you here with her? C'mon nigga, let's go on a walk and talk."
"You could've at least let me answer her question she gave me."
"I give no fuck about any of that. Cindy's been riding my ass about you and Jazmine lately. Do something about it. Now. Befo' shit hit the fan. And I refuse to be caught in the middle."
"I can't…it's…complicated."
"Well make it un-complicated nigga I'm catchin' yo' heat man." He hit his shoulder. Riley decided it would be smart to walk the long way around, being that he knew Jazmine was wondering the halls at this moment.
"I want to eat lunch." Huey actively complained.
"Food will be waiting for you at the house nigga. Don't change the subject." Huey frowned as his brother kept him from eating lunch for this bull.
"I know what I'm doing Riley."
"I don't think you do." Riley raised an eyebrow. The brothers continued their talk outside for the rest of the lunch period.
...
Just as Jazmine was passing the gym, Franci walked out and grinned.
"Sup Jazmine?"
"Hey Franci." Jazmine was just about to past her when Franci spoke again.
"Looking for Huey?" Jazmine stop in her tracks and turned slightly.
"He was with you?"
"Yes he was, but Riley ran off with him somewhere, I don't know where they went."
He was with her…again. Retaining her neutral face, she nodded.
"Okay, thanks."
"No problem." Franci turned on her heels and walked to the cafeteria. Jazmine felt cold standing there; she felt the blood drain to her fists. It was only then she realized how hard she was squeezing them. Jazmine sluggishly found herself in the girls bathroom stall. Why? Why won't he like me? She thought. What did she have that Jazmine didn't? Jazmine slammed her fist on the side of the stall in anger.
"I just don't get it."Jazmine whispered. She walked into the bathroom and saw Ayanna washing her hands.
"Hey." Jazmine greeted, Ayanna turned and smiled at her.
"Bonjour, you're Jazmine from economics right?" Jazmine nodded. Why hasn't she tried to talk to her before? She eyed the French beauty. Well it was obvious she wasn't ashamed of her natural locks, in fact, her hair was longer and thicker than hers which made Jazmine a tiny bit jealous.
"Yeah, I like your hair."
"Thank you! I like yours too, you know us natural girls need to stick together. I've been catching insults for it. I heard some girl in Spanish class say I need to flat iron my nappy…mess. She said the 's' word."
"…S word? OH!" Jazmine laughed.
"You don't swear?"
"No, no need to." She smiled. Jazmine nodded.
"That's noble…say…why don't you and your friend Ming ever sit with us at lunch? Do you have something against us?"
"Oh no mademoiselle! It's nothing like that. I just want to keep Sofia and Riley separated since she always has issues with him and her cousin Cynthia."
"They'll act right when I tell them to…you should start sitting with us." Jazmine nodded. This girl was nice she'll need a soft female around when Cindy's too tomboyish for her. She almost laughed at her thought.
"Cool, I think we'll be great friends." Ayanna hugged Jazmine tightly. It threw her off guard, but she returned the hug, just not as tight. Jazmine felt a little better though she knew she had to figure out what the hell to do with this Huey situation.
...
That afternoon, Cindy had a meeting to attend to with Gambino so she wasn't at the house. Sofia wanted to kick Ayanna and Ming in their throats. Ayanna wanted to go home so she could talk to Caesar on the phone and Ming got detention for kicking some random dude in his shin so she was still at school. So she had to be alone with Riley to do this project.
"Let's get this over with. How do you want to build the solar system? Paper print outs and poster boards or the foam ball models because either way I'll pay for that."
Riley rubbed his chin.
"I don't know, repeat the options." Sofia's eye twitched.
"…Riley don't be so difficult damn it I-" he tackled her to the floor.
"Don't curse at me nigga." He laughed as he rolled off her.
"Riley."
"We can do the foam models. I can paint them." He finally said.
"I still don't know why we couldn't be at your house." Sofia muttered.
"Huey had something to do at the house and he told me to come here."
"Oh, like what?"
"I don't know, it dealt with Jazmine so it's private." Sofia sighed and wrote down the responsibilities the pair claimed.
"Well that's it for today, tomorrow we can go out and buy the stuff to get started. See ya later bye." She began shoving him towards the door. Riley moved away from her.
"I'm not ready to leave just yet! And Huey told me to stay here for an hour." He brushed his red pullover jacket.
"You scared I'mma kill you or something Sofia?" he smirked as he walked around her.
"No, fine, whatever stay here for as long as you're needed to. Stay in the living room I'll be upstairs." She stomped up to her room. That boy was impossible.
"Music and Kingdom Hearts…that'll wind me down." She was hooking up her PlayStation when she heard her door open and Riley walked in.
"Can't you ever follow directions?" she shouted at him.
"Girl, nigga's don't follow directions." He laughed.
"…Why do you call yourself that?" she wondered aloud.
"That's what I am." He shrugged. Sofia didn't know how to respond to that so she sat down in her purple bean bag chair and began playing.
"What's this shit?" he plopped beside her and pinched her leg.
"Ow, stop Riley! And this isn't shit…this is Kingdom Hearts. Best. Game. Ever!" she shouted, but retracted her enthusiasm when she remembered who it was she was talking to. He looked at her with skepticism.
"I never heard of it, play it and let me see." He looked at the screen as she played. After a while, Riley was demanding her to let him start a game from the beginning.
"Make a new file!" he shouted.
"I thought you said this game was shit?" she smiled evilly as she kept the controller from him.
"You said NOTHING about it having Disney in it. I want to use my nigga Simba! Give it to me!" Sofia laughed as she jumped up from her chair and he chased her around her room. He grabbed her waist and pulled her to him, locking his arms around her.
"Give it to me! I'll kiss you." His face got too close for her and she dropped the controller. Her face was bright red with shock.
"That's cheating…using sexual assault as a means to win." She said flustered. He almost kissed her! The hell? Riley grinned.
"You wanted it."
"You're my nemesis! My bully! I…I…I can't stand you!" she shoved him.
"All the more reason for me to steal your first kiss." He laughed harder when she vacated the room.
"I like the chase." He continued to tease. It was all in innocent fun. Her reactions when he acted like that was hilarious to Riley and it made him wanted to do it more. She would blush so hard that her freckles would seem almost nonexistent. The way her green eyes would widen behind her glasses it was almost…cute. Then it hit him. He couldn't do this shit…it'd be weird with Cindy.
"….Fuck." he said when realization hit him.
He liked her a tiny bit.
"Well…I'm not like Huey…I can stop." Riley nodded.
"Huey can't stop talking to himself?" he jumped when he saw Sofia standing in the doorway.
"…Shut up and come teach me how to play." He sneered. She was such a smart ass sometimes. She sat too far away from him.
"Come here." He patted the space beside him. She shook her head.
"I can tell you what to do from here. Now, when the game starts you're gonna have to-" he wrapped his arm around her waist and pulled her closer.
"That's why I fight you all the time, so damn hard headed. Now what were you sayin?" She scooted a couple inches away and resumed telling him about the game.
...
Jazmine sat on the couch with her arms folded not looking at anything particular. Huey was talking to her about stuff but she wasn't really listening.
"Jazmine, did you hear me?" Jazmine slowly looked at him.
"Hm? Oh…no. Sorry." He sighed.
"You're mad about something."
"Are you seeing Franci or not?" she frowned at him. He just shrugged.
"No."
"So what are you still doing with her?" When he didn't immediately answer she released breath.
"Nevermind, I don't even care anymore. Do what you want." Jazmine looked back at the TV. Huey sighed.
"Jazmine." She held a hand up, still not looking at him.
"Why are you acting like this?"
"Because I-!" she was about to scream but nothing else came out. Instead she just left the house. Huey ran after her.
"Jazmine wait, let's talk."
"Leave me alone Freeman." She stormed to her house and slammed the door behind her. Huey snarled in frustration. "Fine!" he shouted. Be a little kid, he doesn't have the patience for this nonsense! Why was she acting so…ugh! He walked back into the house and to his room.
...
Ayanna laughed. Caesar was so goofy. She really started to like him. They talked on the phone for 3 hours since she got home from school.
"So, why did you move from New York?" He sighed into the phone.
"I see Ming rubbed off on you." He didn't sound as happy as before, in fact if Ayanna couldn't read tones in people's voices she wouldn't think he had a trace of irritation in his voice. Why didn't he like talking about it?
"I'm curious though, you never talk about New York."
"For good reason." He said sharply. When Ayanna remained quiet he apologizes.
"I'm sorry, didn't mean to snap like that…just…don't ask me anymore."
"But it isn't fair that you're asking me questions and you won't answer one."
"Life is not fair Ayanna." She frowned and simply hung the phone up in his face. She turned her cell off after. She has no patience of hypocrisy of any kind. She hated that cop out excuse 'life isn't fair' what mess is that? Maybe she was pushy, but she felt that if she couldn't ask questions, neither could he. She was worried though, Ming or Sofia may try to call or text her. But she thought better of it; she chooses to fall off the map when she's upset anyway.
Whut Cease hiding? Oooh, Ayanna got some 'tude on her.
What of Riley ? Are these misplaced emotions or...?
Huey and Jaz?
R&R
