Hi guys! New chapter. I don't own Glee or the plot! Enjoy!
Reflecting back 2 years:
Mercedes was 17 years old when Sam got locked up. She met him when she was only 15, a sophomore at Henrico High School. One Friday night, back in the day, her girlfriend Santana spent the night at her house. Mercedes was on punishment because she had gotten a Saturday morning detention for arriving late to Mrs. Walden's class one too many times, so she and Santana couldn't go to Skate Land or anywhere else for that matter. It was a sure gift that she could have company at all, especially company as resourceful as Santana.
Santana was bright skinned with dirty blonde hair. She had big poppin' hazel eyes. Being the baby of seven brothers made her quick on her feet. She loved staying the weekends over Mercedes' house because there was a loving mother and always a refrigerator full of food. Plus, there was peace and quiet away from the crack infested, brick bungalow style projects she lived in. Mercedes' house was a mansion filled with all the latest technology. They even had a guest room, although she never slept there. She'd always bunk in Mercedes' room.
Santana loved Mercedes' large bedroom. It was the perfect girl's living quarters. The comforter set was a maize, bright orange and hot pink print with a white wood bedroom suit. The large rug on top of the hardwood floors was a maize print to match the comfort set. She even had a hot pink telephone. The lighting in the room was hot pink and orange disco lights. The walls were covered with Nicki Minaj and Drake posters. One wall had a bulletin board filled with pictures of her family and all of her friends from school at dances and games. Mercedes had her own desk and walk-in closet filled from top to bottom with clothes, belts, boots and shoes. But most importantly, Mercedes's room had her own television, DVD player and all the latest books and tapes on her bookshelf.
Santana had stolen her older brother's phone book, a book with the numbers for all the "big boys" who were major players in the drug game. Mercedes's mother, Gina, had taken her phone line out of her room as part of her punishment. So, they had to sneak and use Gina's line. No one called Gina's line after 11pm. Santana and Mercedes continued to make calls and either got no answer or the "big boy" was not at home. It was midnight by this time, and they had called all the numbers in the book except one. That number belonged to Sam, A.K.A. Ghetto Super Star, big time drug dealer and a treacherous killer.
Santana had been skeptical about calling the number because she knew Sam would not take a phone prank lightly. He had a notorious reputation according to Santana's older brother, as well as everybody else in the hood. Sam was not to be played with in any type of way. Santana didn't know him personally, but there were stories all over town of his heartless acts. Maybe it was just a rumor that he had killed a boy over a Blow Pop one time. It was also said he'd killed a man for telling his mother to "kiss his ass" because she pulled into a parking space that he had been waiting on. Nobody would dare testify against him because his whole family, including his mother, were gangsters. Nobody messed with anybody who was dear to him. His workers would even steal from their own mother to keep from being short on any of his money.
Sam was the worst kind of dope man to deal with. Rumor was, and this rumor was close to the truth, that he was a coldblooded killer, cunning, and very intelligent. He was charismatic and a master of head games. With his business-oriented mind, he had goals and things he wanted to accomplish in life outside of the drug-game. He had book sense— common sense— and street sense! Very rarely would you find a street hustler with all three of these traits. When you do, all hell can, and will, break loose. Which it did.
Santana took all these things into consideration and decided, being the thrill seeker that she was, that they were going to call Sam anyway. Hell, it was Friday night and he probably wouldn't be available anyway. She picked up the phone and hung it up, then picked up the phone and dialed. The phone rang twice. She hung up before anyone picked up, and then burst out laughing.
"What are you laughing at?" Mercedes asked. "I am about to call this guy," she said.
"Call him then. Don't keep hanging up," Mercedes demanded as Santana followed her orders, a male voice answered. "Hello," the receiving voice said.
"Hello, can I speak to Sam?" Santana said. "How did you get this number?" The male voice inquired. "Sam gave it to me," Santana responded in a casual tone. "Well, this is Sam and I don't know who this is playing games, and I know you are playing because nobody would or should be calling here for me. Now tell me why you insist on lying?"
Santana bucked her big pop eyes. She wasn't expecting Sam to even be there. She was totally caught off guard. So, she just tensed up. She had to think quickly.
"Sam, this is Santana, Baby Joe's little sister from around "The 804."
"Okay," said Sam, "Is something wrong with Baby Joe?" sounding sincere.
"No," replied Santana.
"Then what other reason would you be calling my family's home?"
She immediately came back with "My friend, who lives in the county, seen you come through 804 and is dying to meet you."
Mercedes immediately hit Santana. Santana got up off the bed with the telephone in her hand, speaking into the receiver with her hand around the mouthpiece of the phone. Santana was good on her feet.
"Ever since she saw you, she's been calling me asking who you were. She's very fly. Not to be disrespectful in any kind of way, but she looks better than any of the girls I've ever seen you with. She has real long black hair with copper streaks and ain't got no bumps on her face. She got a real big butt!" Mercedes's eyes got big as Santana continued. "She ain't no yuk mouth chick either. She got pretty white teeth, and 'bout 5'3. I ain't gay or nothing, but she bad, Sam."
Mercedes was struggling with Santana to try and hang up the phone. Santana couldn't believe she still had Sam on the phone listening. So she guarded the telephone with her all. She would not dare hang up on Sam anyway.
"I told her that you already had a girlfriend and that you wouldn't be interested in her, but would you at least say hi to her please?"
"Where is she?" Sam asked. "She's right in the other room." "Put her on the phone," Sam demanded, but laughing to himself. I can't believe these little girls are playing on my phone, but I am gonna go ahead and play along with them.
Santana called out, "Mercedeees", as if she wasn't standing right there. Santana extended her hand out handing Mercedes the phone. Mercedes shook her head no, but Santana begged and pleaded with her on her knees until Mercedes took the phone and softly said,
"Hello." She was sweating from tussling with Santana to hang up the phone, and tried very hard to catch her breath. She was also a little scared that Gina might wake up, hear them, and come into her room to hang up the phone. Or even worse, pick up the phone and embarrass her in front of the king of all the big boys.
Sam went along, pulling on the jay he was rolling before the phone rung: "Hello, how are you?"
"I'm well, thank you." She said. "Where in the county do you live?" he asked just making casual conversation.
"Richmond Hills." He automatically knew that she must come from a good respectable family. Richmond Hills was an upscale elite community. There were only a handful of black families living there. She didn't want to tell him that she lived in Richmond Hills because she didn't want him to think that she was the stuck-up type. At the same time, she didn't want to lie. That was something that he could easily find out. They chit-chatted for about 15 minutes. Sam couldn't believe how well spoken, confident and mature Mercedes was. He wanted to see who the person was behind the voice.
Sam received a text message. "Give me your number so I can call you right back, because I gotta go take care of something." Sam said. I can't give him my number. He cannot call back here this time of night. My mother would flip the hell out. I can't tell him I'm on punishment, and I don't want my mother to tell him either because then he'll really think I am a little girl. Think quick Mercedes, Umm ... Umm... think!
"I need to take a shower and get myself together, so how about I just call you back?" Mercedes tried to save her under-aged self.
"That's cool. So, just ring me back in about thirty minutes." Sam was very persistent. He knew he would be in the house for the night because he had been out gambling for 3 days consecutively. He didn't really have anything else to do and he was in a good mood. Most of the time he had no time to be at home to kick it on the phone with a female. This would be different for him.
From the time that Mercedes hung up the phone from Sam, Santana started filling Mercedes in about all the good things that were known about Sam. "Girl, he got money! He is da man, you hear me? He brought every kid in the neighborhood bicycles for Christmas around the 804. He'll never let anybody go hungry. He takes care of everybody around there. Girl, and he fine as I don't know what. He is a Greek god! He taller than you, bout 6'0. Girl, he got blond hair and green eyes. He can dress his ass off, even got a pimp daddy walk. He got two open face gold crown teeth in his mouth that are spaced apart. I even heard he got a big dick too."
Santana boasted on how Sam had a different car for each day of the week. Mercedes didn't take Santana seriously about everything she said pertaining to Sam. Santana couldn't believe that Sam actually told Mercedes to call him back. She secretly thought to herself that Sam probably wouldn't even be there when Mercedes called back.
Thirty minutes flew by. It was after midnight, but she still waited fifteen extra minutes to call him back because she didn't want to seem pressed to talk to him. It sounded like they were having a party. There was music playing and people talking in the background. She asked, "It's loud, what's going on?"
"My momma and cousin are having a couple of drinks before they go out," Sam said. Mercedes and Sam talked for over 2 hours. He asked her mainly about her family life. He felt getting that information out of her would tell him a lot about her character.
"Who do you live with?"
"My mother."
"What does she do?"
"She has her own catering business. She works from home."
"Do you have any brothers or sisters?"
"Yeah, I have a brother by my father, but he doesn't live with us."
"Oh, your mother and father divorced?"
"Dang, what are you Hawaii Five- 0 asking all these questions?"
"Hell no, I ain't no police," Sam laughed. "No, far from the police baby, just a guy trying to get to know a girl, that's all. Something wrong with that?" He knew it really wasn't.
"No. Now my father is the forbidden story," she jokes. "I usually tell people he lives out of town, which is only half the story. He does live out of town, but he's in prison." Mercedes said. Sam found this interesting, he turned his ears up.
"For how long?" Sam asked about the father's jail time. "Well, for a long time."
"What's a long time?""So far, 15 years plus."
"Mercedes, wait a minute, you're 15"
"Yeah, you don't have to remind me. He's been locked up since I was 12 days old. As a matter of fact, that's how they located him. They went to Richmond Memorial, looked at my mother's records, got her address off of them and there he was with his newborn baby, me."
"Damn, baby. Sorry to hear that." He paused then, continued prying into her forbidden story. "Damn, ain't that some shit? What, did he murder somebody?"
"Bank robbery."
"And they gave him all that time?"
"Yep."
"What's his name? My mother probably knows him."
"Lloyd Jones" Mercedes said.
"Lloyd 'Slot Machine' Jones!" Damn, he's a legend in this town. He pulled off one of the most infamous bank robberies in the state of Virginia. They called him Slot Machine because any bank robbery that he pulled off, always paid off like the slots in Atlantic City. This was back in the early seventies and he's still a legend even now in the late eighties.
"Baby, I am sorry you had to grow up without your father. Every little girl needs her father." Sam was warming up to her now.
"Yeah, it used to mess me up, but when I evaluated the situation, I couldn't have asked for a better mother. She gets on my nerves at times, but one thing is for sure, and two things for certain; she's always been there when I needed her and even when I don't need her." Mercedes threw out a fake laugh when she thought of the reality of the statement she had just made about her overprotective mother.
"Do you write him?" Sam asked, getting back to the more celebrated member of the Jones family.
"My mother makes sure that I write him. For the first few years, my mother would see to it that I visited him. Even though he's in prison, she wanted to make sure he was still a part of my life."
Sam thought to himself, damn, that alone says a lot about her mother. She is a faithful woman and has a lot of principles and her working from home has given her enough hands-on raising of Mercedes. I am almost one-hundred percent sure that Mercedes's mother has instilled those qualities in her daughter. She is only 15, but just maybe...
Mercedes suddenly realized how late it had gotten. She knew that she had to get up early to go to Saturday morning detention. She knew she couldn't fall asleep because then she would have to repeat it and would not be able to cheer in the big game next Friday night. Mercedes was the captain of the cheerleader squad. Friday was the game that Henrico's basketball team played John Marshall. Everyone who was anybody was going to be there. So Mercedes ended the conversation and told Sam it was nice talking to him, but that she had to go. He told her he definitely wanted to hear from her again the next day. She said O.K.
Sam sat on the couch looking dumb founded. He had never had anyone end any conversation with him first. Women would always stay around until he got tired of them and was ready for them to go. He thought to himself, "the nerve of this broad to act like she couldn't stay up and talk to me. Baby Jo must not have informed his lil sister of the caliber of the dude she was dealing with."
Saturday and Sunday went by, and Sam didn't hear from Mercedes. It hurt his ego that after two whole days she hadn't called. He had even told his cousin and mother that if she called, to give her his pager number. By Monday evening he said to himself, whenever she finds out who exactly I am in this town and decide to catch the vapors and want to get with me, I am not going to even accept her calls! As soon as that thought crossed his mind, the phone rang. He answered it, "Yeah," thinking it was going to be for his cousin. He heard a sweet voice say, "Hello, may I speak with Sam, please?"
"Yeah, you finally decided to get around to calling me, huh?" Sam said with a nasty tone. "Why even bother calling now?" he said.
She paused "Excuse me," she asked indignantly. "How about I never call you again, would you like that?" He did not like her tone. She didn't like his either. He was in shock because nobody spoke to him in that tone and expected not to get smacked. But then, he was too far away to hit her and put her in line.
"Wait a minute, baby," he said. "Maybe we should start this conversation over. I don't want you to think this is game I am about to kick to you, but I have been waiting for your call for the last two days. I am a man of my word. My word is bond. When I say something then you can bank on that, and that's what I expect from others. So, when you tell me you are going to do something that is exactly what you do. So, I don't tolerate anybody lying to me about anything. Nothing big or the least little thing."
"That goes for me as well," said Mercedes. "I don't like to be lied to or played with either. There are a few things I need to talk to you about anyway since we're being honest with each other." He braced himself, and to his surprise, she didn't back down.
"Santana lied to you. I have never actually seen you, nor do I know what you look like and I never said that I was attracted to you," Mercedes filled Sam in on everything. "And even if I had seen you, I wouldn't have ever gotten Santana or anybody else to approach you. I probably wouldn't have said a thing. And if I'd ever felt like I was at the point where I just had to meet you, I am very much my own person."
She reminded him that she was still in high school and the reason she couldn't call him back was because she had detention, which caused her to be on punishment. Her mother had taken her phone out of her room so she had to sneak to talk to him. She explained that she just didn't feel like sneaking around using the phone. So, she decided to wait to call him when she got her phone privileges back. She also explained that since she was only 15, her mother didn't allow her to date or get involved in relationships with guys. Her mother, especially, would not let her even be bothered with Sam. He was 21 years old, and his street reputation made him older than that.
Sam could not believe his ears. Mercedes was so mature and well spoken. He couldn't believe how honest and to the point she was. She wasn't like the other chicks trying to scheme on his money and wanting to say they were screwing him for his reputation. As a matter of fact, he was wondering, is she just acting like she don't know about my checkered past? How I'm living now, or does she truly not know? Sam had only dealt with older women, and this young tender thing now had his undivided attention. None of his old heads were even competition for Mercedes, and this was still at the beginning of the game. Sam couldn't understand what was going on with him. Why am I entertaining the conversation of this arbitrary person, and she ain't but 15 years old at that?
He replayed bits and pieces of their conversation in his head over and over again. He wanted to see her. Fifteen or not, I must see her. He reckoned with himself beauty and brains don't come hand in hand. Her conversation was intriguing. So she probably would look a mess. Curiosity was killing him. He decided that he was going to see her and even bet with his main man, Slim, that she would be busted. After he sees that she was tore up from the floor up, he would close out that chapter of curiosity and move on.
For the next 3 days, he would stop whatever he was doing to come in the house around 7 p.m. every evening to call Mercedes. He wanted to talk to her on his house phone so there wouldn't be a bunch of distractions like people running up to him asking him for this and that, as well as people begging. "Sam can I have five dollars? Sam, I need help with my light bill... Sam, Sam, Sam." He didn't want her to hear none of that. He also wanted her to have his undivided attention. Besides, he didn't want Mercedes to have any indications on the extreme status of his lifestyle. He knew what kind of upbringing she had, so he wasn't sure how she'd take to his lifestyle. He expected that Santana had already given her some ideas, but he wasn't tripping on what Santana said.
Friday, the big game day, finally came. The game was always a sellout. It was a big deal in this town. Mercedes and her fellow cheerleaders had been rehearsing several cheers to keep the overflow crowd excited. Mercedes looked around the gym at all the people who filled the stands. Her girls were really showing off. She could feel that tonight was going to be a good night. Right before they were about to perform in their half time show, she glanced at the door and an entourage of dudes came in. They all stood out. Pretty much everybody had on all kinds of leather suits.
But these dudes, oh, they took it to another level, and were rocking full-length furs, Gucci glasses and jewels glistening like the sun on white Bahama sand. Mercedes noticed one guy in particular who stood out. She thought he was fine. He had a medium, blond hair and green eyes. There was a certain charisma about him. Mercedes's co-captain, Tina, was motioning to her, to look over at the dudes, but she didn't want to seem pressed. Right when she looked back over there the music dropped. The song played. Mercedes just showed off, all the cheerleaders did. She really put her all into it. Her flips, splits and everything, but never making any eye contact with any of the Big Hats who had just walked in the door.
Henrico won the game 72 to 70. Afterwards Mercedes changed clothes because she wanted to floss her outfit at the after party. Gina was chaperoning the party. Mercedes didn't mind her mother being there because they looked like they could pass for sisters. She and her mother shared the same exact chocolate complexion. Most of the time Gina possessed light brown eyes but they sometimes changed to green or gray. Her mole above the right side of her mouth brought out all the beauty that hid inside of her well-maintained long black ponytail. Gina, in her forties, not looking a day over twenty-five, still possessed smooth skin and a nice figure. Now, Mercedes had more butt and breast than her mother did, but their builds were still the same. One could see that Mercedes was more flamboyant and outgoing than her conservative mother.
With Gina being there at the dance, Mercedes pretended like she could really hang. She had on a purple short leather skirt, and a purple leather jacket to match. She wore some purple tall riding 9-West boots that tied up at the bottom while everyone else had on black. Gina had gone on a shopping trip and got those months ago at the King of Prussia Mall in Philly. Mercedes hadn't worn them yet because she had been saving them especially for that night. Everybody was telling her how cute she looked, and she knew it. Mercedes always stood out in anything she wore. She constantly dressed on a more sophisticated and classier level than her peers. There were girls who wanted to compete with her dressing, but there was just no competition because she had a style of her own.
When she was coming out of the bathroom with Tina, one of the guys that was in the entourage came and asked, "Which one of yall name is Mercedes?" Tina pointed. He said "oh" and walked away.
The next day, Sam called. "You did an excellent job cheering last night. I liked what I saw and I may want you to be my own personal cheerleader."
"You came to the game but didn't make your appearance known to me? You didn't even speak to me!" She was upset and let him know it. He liked Mercedes because she had spunk.
"Look, baby, that was yesterday. I can't bring that back. Today is a new day and I want to see you." Mercedes was in shock. Wait a minute, he wants to see me?
"Can you meet me somewhere around your way?" Sam asked.
How can I pull this off? Think Mercedes, O.k. I can meet him up the street. Only white people live in that block and none of them know my mom, so I won't have to worry about them trying to snitch on me that I am meeting a grown man.
The date was set. When she saw him roll up in his Ferrai chills struck through her body and she was mesmerized. Oh, my God, it's the dude from the entourage at the basketball game last night. This can't be the dude I have been talking to over the phone. Well, shoot me running! Why do I have to be 15? Ohhh, I just cannot believe this shit. I know he'll never be my boyfriend, hell, I've never even had a boyfriend my own age, let alone one that's 21 years old! Mercedes, just keep your cool and lose the thought of him being your boyfriend.
Once up close she tried not to focus on the anchor pendant on his necklace that was fluttered in diamonds.
"You are even prettier close up," he said, as she blushed. "Thank you, you're not too bad yourself," she said calmly as she melted inside.
They talked for a little while longer before she said, "I hate to break this up, but I have to get back home before my mom gets suspicious."
"Okay I'm glad you snuck out to meet me. I will call you in a little while to make sure you got home safe."
Mercedes strolled back down the street, passing all the large houses that sat up on the hill. Why am I so young? My age stops me from doing everything! He would never take me serious anyway. I'd be his "little girlfriend." Get real, Mercedes, he's a grown man having sex, and you are still a virgin. Taking all those things into consideration, she dismissed the idea of ever being anything to him, and walked on home.
He watched her as she sashayed. The further she got down the street, the more he genuinely wanted her. Not for sex, but just as his own personal teddy bear, so to speak. She was everything he wanted in a female. She had the right build, big ass and breast. Her facial features were O.K., but she had the cutest dimples. She wasn't any beauty queen, but she was beautiful in her own way. She had long flowing black hair and a chocolate complexion with no acne. Even though she was 15, he definitely liked her style.
As Mercedes walked in her door, the phone rang.
"Look, I want to take you to a movie this coming Saturday." She felt like she wanted to just drop the phone. She couldn't believe this 21-year-old man wanted to take her out. All kinds of things started running through her mind. What am I going to wear? How am I going to wear my hair? Most importantly, how am I going to convince my mother to agree to let me go out with him?
She thought of every possibility and tried to think of ways to go about this from every angle. I could say I am going to the movies with Santana, but then she's going to want to talk to Santana's mother and insist on dropping us off or picking us up. I could say that it's a school function, but she's involved in every school outing. She came to the conclusion that her mother may let her go with a 17 year old, but definitely not a 21 year old. That was a dead issue.
Mercedes finally persuaded Gina to let her go to the movies with her "friend" who she'd been talking to on the phone for months, and she told her mother she'd even been meeting him at Skate Land for the past couple years. She also told her mother that he was sort of like a big brother to her. So, her mother would not look at it as a real date. Now she knew that Gina would want to meet him, and he would have to come in and meet her before they left.
Mercedes knew Gina was having company on Saturday night, and would be more lenient with her guests there. She told Sam to pick her up at about 6: 30, and he agreed, but he called at seven that evening. Saying that time had got away from him. He had gotten caught up gambling, but he was on the way. For a minute she thought he was standing her up. It couldn't be real, that she was going out with this big shot.
When the doorbell rang Mercedes hurried from upstairs to try to get to the door before Gina could get to it. Mercedes had to admit that she looked very cute. She had on tight fitting black leather pants, a black, red and white shirt, some red leather tall riding 9-West boots, and a red leather jacket.
Gina rushed into the foyer, looked out of the window to the burgundy BMW. She invited Sam in. When she saw him with a huge diamond in his ear, Gucci sunglasses, and exquisite leather coat, and it wasn't that imitation stuff either, her first thought was "Oh, hell no, my daughter is not going anywhere with this gangsta looking cat. Bottom line."
But that was before he spoke in that civilized manner that mother's love. He made direct eye contact with Gina while extending his hand to greet her. "I am so pleased to finally meet Mercedes's mother. Mercedes has a lot of good qualities, and I can tell that she must have inherited them from you. Would you like to come along with us? We are going to see a movie." Sam said.
"No, Sweetie," responded Gina in an equally civilized manner. She thought to herself, that was a nice gesture. 'He has good manners and he looked me in my eyes while he spoke to me. Hummm, I have raised Mercedes with certain morals and principles, and I trust her. She knows if he acts a fool that I am only a phone call away. Mercedes's mind is set on going on this date. She inspected him from head to toe, and I can understand why. He is definitely a cutie.'
"Sweetie, you all go and have a nice time," Gina said.
"Is 11: 30 O.K. to have her back?" Sam wanted to do everything right.
"Yes, Sweetie , that'll be fine." That impressed Gina. Mercedes peeking from around the corner was bedazzled, as well. Sam knew it would put Gina more at ease. Gina went in Mercedes's maize and hot pink room to get her. She put her hands on a strand of Mercedes's hair that was out of place, fixed the out strand, and grabbed Mercedes under her chin. "Rule number one for Dating 101. Never go anywhere without your own money in your possession. Don't let him know that you have money, but keep your own stash in case he acts a fool. I gave you the change because rule number 2 states, never go on a date without change. You may it in case your cell dies or something and you need to use the pay phone to call somebody. You understand? Now I am going to be here all night, if you need me, baby. You look beautiful." She kissed Mercedes on the forehead.
As Mercedes was about to turn to walk out of the door, Gina called out to Mercedes and Sam, "Wait a minute, smile! I have got to get a picture of my baby's first date." Gina flashed them with her 110 camera.
'Oh, my God I knew she was taking all this too well. She just had to embarrass me, by snapping that stupid picture. She is so dramatic and sentimental. I am so glad I did not inherit that trait from her. She always has to overdo it. Like she just could not settle with giving me one dollar of change. She had to give me three dollars of change. The phone is only 20 cents. Now I got all this change weighing my pocketbook down. Don't she know I am smart enough to just call her collect?
Gina watched from the house as Sam opened the car door for Mercedes. Tears begin to roll down Gina's face because reality sank in, her baby, the one she'd given birth to, which seemed like just yesterday, was growing up. As Gina looked on watching them drive off, a time line of events in Mercedes's life from birth up to this point flashed through her head.
They got to the movie 20 minutes late, which was fine by Mercedes. She was fascinated with just being with Sam. He was very serious, and to her, he seemed a little uptight. The movie was over at about 10pm. He knew they were working with little time. He stopped by his apartment on the West end. It was something out of a magazine to her. Mercedes's mother had a bunch of antique style furniture, but Sam apartment was very modern. Everything in the apartment was black; black leather sectional sofa, a large picture of a tiger on the wall in the living room. The tile in the kitchen was black marble. The cabinets and counters were a marble print as well. All the walls throughout the apartment were mirrored. Mercedes was intrigued by his style.
He cut the T.V. on and sat on the arm of the sectional. She stood in front of him. He just sat there. She asked him, "Are you going to give me a hug, or real gangsters don't hug." He stood up in front of her and put his arm around her, but never responded to the comment. She tried to kiss him, but he turned away, so she kissed him on his cheek, and she could feel his penis getting hard. At that point, he looked at his watch.
"It's almost eleven, I've got to make one stop, and I gave your mom my word that I'd have you back by 11 :30." He grabbed her jacket, held it up in front of him so she could slip her arms into it, handed Mercedes her barrel shaped Liz Claiborne purse and opened the screen door for her so they could exit the apartment. They were off.
The ride back to Mercedes's house was silent, besides the radio playing. She wondered to herself exactly what his thoughts were. Sam was so mysterious. 'I wonder, why he didn't try to make a move on me. I can't believe that he was a perfect gentleman. Would he ever see me again? Is he not impressed with what I wore? Is it my hair? She had her hair in a flat wrap, hanging real straight with the ends bent. What is it? He pulled into the 7-11 convenient store. "
You want something out of here?" Pointing to the store. "No, but thank you anyway." He ran in and left the car running. He was back in a flash. He came back with 2 bouquets of flowers. He gave her one and placed the other bouquet on the back seat. I wonder whom the other one is for. The nerve of him to go in the store and buy his other chic some flowers while he's with me! It must be some tramp he's going to go and screw since he can't screw me. It's all too good, though. He probably thinks just because I am young I won't know what's going on. I am not going to say anything though. I am going to go ahead and play along with his little games, as simple as that.
They arrived at Mercedes's house. He grabbed the other bouquet of flowers. He walked her to the door. Sam presented Gina with the flowers. Oh, this young boy got his stuff together trying to flatter me, huh? Gina thought to herself, loving the attention, but not wanting to display loving it too much. "Thank you, Mrs. Jones, for allowing me to spend time with Mercedes." As he sat down in the Victorian style chair in Gina's living room, he said, "I was wondering if you'd allow me to take Mercedes out again to dinner tomorrow night because we didn't really get to spend a whole lot of one-on-one time together?"
"Oh, and why was that? You picked her up at 7: 15, and now it's 11 :20." Gina was anxious to hear his response.
Using his hand to explain. "Well, see, at the last minute my grandmother called requesting a ride to Bingo. I had to stop her at Kmart to get a marker because she left her Bingo bag at home, which put me way behind schedule. Mercedes and I could not go to dinner as we planned after the movie because we had to pick up my grandmother from Bingo and drop her off at home. And initially, I told Mercedes we were going to do dinner and a movie. I am a person of my word, and I'd like to keep my word with Mercedes, if you'd allow me to."
He seems like he has good characteristics, but at the same time this is my baby, my only daughter, and I got to monitor him closely. Gina looked into Sam' eyes because she wanted to see the expression on his face when she gave him her response. "No, tomorrow night is not going to be good." Sam looked at Gina.
"O.K., Mrs. Jones, I'd like to thank you for the time you have allowed me to spend with Mercedes tonight," Sam said in a calm tone. He stood up to shake her hand. "It was a pleasure meeting you."
"Sam, you are most welcome to come over tomorrow night. We have cable television. You all can watch a movie and order a pizza, and maybe I'd consider allowing you to carry Mercedes to dinner next weekend." She had to play it slow. "That'll be fine. Good night, Mrs. Jones and Mercedes, I will speak to you tomorrow." Gina then started feeling like he was a good kid at heart. She decided that she wasn't going to judge the book by its cover.
As Sam drove back across town to the crap house to try to win back the $22,000 that he'd lost earlier that evening, he came to grips with the situation. Mercedes was what he'd longed for. She was going to be his. He knew that she was not of age. He was also aware that there was a certain set of rules he'd have to follow concerning her mother. He'd have to cater to Gina. Kissing ass wasn't something that he was good at. He never had to cater to anybody, man or woman. Not even his own mother, whom he loved very much. As bad as he felt, he wanted and needed to have Mercedes as a part of his life. He'd have to play up to Gina.
Gina was an excellent mother. She had always taken a part in every activity and function in Mercedes' life. Mercedes was Gina's everything. Gina was an active parent in every organization in Mercedes's school, as well as in any other extracurricular activities Mercedes participated in. Everyone was envious of the role Mercedes's mother played. She was "super mom." As a matter of fact, Mercedes had been looking for an eligible bachelor to befriend her mom so she could focus a little less on Mercedes's life.
Mercedes and Sam started seeing each other regularly. Every morning he would take Mercedes to school. Of course he was on his way in from gambling and hustling all night long. Sam would sleep while Mercedes was at school. He stressed school and its importance to her and would never let her skip school to be with him.
One day at Sam' house they were watching "Avatar", and she asked, "Sam, why do you stress school so much to me when you don't even go yourself?"
Sam was shocked at her question. He turned to look at her and spoke from his heart. "Look, baby, I inherited this life, you haven't and I won't let you. You think I like this lifestyle?"
"Sure looks that way to me!" She said softly and slowly. "Well, baby , you're wrong."
"Then why do you do it then, if you don't want to?"
Sam took a deep breath, then got up and got his brother's picture. "This is my brother, Steve he was a real O.G. doing it up. He never let me get involved in the drug part. I only watched while he babysat me while our mother worked 3-11, second shift. He dropped out of school when he was in the seventh grade because our mother was forced to work her ass off to take care of us. He began providing everything for us. He taught me the game, never ever allowing me to put my hands on any drugs. When I got to eighth grade, no longer was anything handed to me. I had to work for mines, counting the money and studying anything pertaining to investments." Mercedes listened attentively. She had heard Sam mention his brother Steve, but never had she got any details from Sam only that he and his brother were very close.
"Well, when I was in tenth grade, my brother took a bullet for a little girl who was riding her bike when some dudes came through the 804 projects trying to do a drive by." Sam paused for a moment. Mercedes put her arms around Sam. She could see the hurt and the anger in his eyes. He continued. "So, once he was buried he still had a lot of loyal men on his team, and a lucrative empire, so rather than let it all fall, I was convinced by my homeboy, Tank, to take it over. So, I stepped up to the plate, and kept shit rolling."
They both were quiet as she continued to scratch all over his back lightly with her fingernails.
"Did they ever catch the boys who did the drive-by?"
Sam looked at Mercedes as if she had asked a stupid question. "I was out there that day. When I saw my brother fall to the ground, I just grabbed a pistol and ran out there and started fucking gunning. If you recall, the 804 only got one way in and one way out, right?" Mercedes nodded in the positive. Sam continued, "Well, when they realized the entranced was blocked off, they couldn't get out, so they hopped out the car and ran across the street to the school trying to get to those apartments. Baby, we hunted them fuckers down and shot them making them squirm to their last breaths."
Sam went into silence for a minute. Mercedes, judging by her sheltered life, should have been scared of him, but this only excited her. Sam sharing this side of him made her want him more.
"Baby, I apologize. I know I shouldn't be telling you this, but you asked and I had to give it to you real." He was surprised that she wasn't alarmed or in shock.
"So, baby, this is why I want the very best for you. I mean I graduated from high school and I have even taken some classes after, but due to my lifestyle I couldn't stay focused. You are very dear to me. I want you to have the best education. Because an education can get you a long ways."
Mercedes was very intelligent, and he was going to see to it that she didn't lose focus. He started rewarding Mercedes for any good work or grades she got in school. He would give her all kinds of expensive gifts. Gucci book bags with a purse to match, every color leather coat and suits, trench coats, as well as short jackets. The jewelry he gave her was on the level of Gina's jewelry, if not classier. It wasn't long before Mercedes had jewelry on every finger stacked. Two and three rings on some fingers.
Gina started questioning all these exquisite gifts. On the one hand, she was relieved that she could finally get to do some things for herself. Gina always poured all of her money into Mercedes. She wanted Mercedes to have the best of everything. She secretly felt guilty that Mercedes had to grow up without a father, which is why she went overboard and spoiled Mercedes. For the first time in years, Gina started doing things for herself. Mercedes even slipped money into Gina's jewelry box where she kept her money. It was the only way she would ever get Gina to take money from her. But still, Gina asked Sam to tone down the gifts. He wouldn't, and just kept them coming. Now, it had been six months they had been faithfully together, and Gina had a certain amount of respect for Sam because of his concern for Mercedes's education. This is what kept her allowing him to see her daughter. The way he diligently took her to school and picked her up. And before he would take her on any dates, he'd question her about her homework and would get permission from Gina.
Their six month anniversary was a few days away. Sam and Mercedes were in his car on the way to drop her off at school. Sam turned down the music, and glanced over at her, as he turned into the school parking lot.
"What do you wanna do for our anniversary?" I thought you'd never ask, she thought.
"Do you have anywhere in particular you want to go?" Sam asked.
Mercedes smiled. She looked directly into Sam' eyes as the car stopped at the student drop off point. She knew what she wanted and wasn't afraid to ask.
"Sam, the only place I want to go is in your arms, while we make passionate love." Thrown off with her answer Sam swerved the car, letting off the brake by mistake.
"Baby, listen, I want you to be sure you are ready for that because once you lose your virginity, it's something you can't go back and get."
"Oh, I am ready. I want to consummate our relationship. Every time I hug you, kiss you, look into your eyes, I know in my heart that I want you to be the first person I experience everything with. I want you to be my first, my everything, and my all. I always think of the presents and gifts you give me. I think of all the extravagant gifts I'd like to give you. I'd give you my life if I could, that's how deep my love for you flows. You've earned my heart; through all the times you've been there and been so patient with me. I am not just speaking on the gifts. I'm talking about your genuine concern for me, the way you go beyond the call of duty for me and my circumstances. My virginity is priceless and I'd like to give it to you." The school bell rang and the car behind them honked the horn. She simply said in an energetic tone, "Baby, gotta go. See ya this evening." She kissed him; "I'll call you at lunchtime, O.K?" she said as she hopped out of the car.
Sam was astonished with the words that came out of Mercedes's mouth. He knew that she was a virgin. He'd never pressured her for sex. He figured it would happen in due time. Besides, he got pussy on the regular from the other chicks that he fucked with from time to time. Pussy was no problem. He was leader of the "804". He had broads throwing pussy his way, coming from the north, the south, the east, and the west. They all wanted him. He was a hot commodity on the streets. His relationship with Mercedes wasn't based around sex.
Sam had his own selfish reasons. He knew that Gina was from the old school and she had instilled principles into Mercedes, unlike a lot of the last generation of moms. He knew that he had to make love to Mercedes mentally before the physical, simply because he was fully aware that the mental love would always last longer than the physical. He knew what type of lifestyle he lived. He knew in his heart that he may have to do some jail time one day. He was totally knowledgeable of the fact that his freedom could be snatched from him at any given time. Sam never wanted to lose Mercedes, and in order to always make sure she was a part of his world, he couldn't dare base their relationship on sex. He based it on the mental first and foremost. He was always fair and played with principles with anything concerning her. Anything he gave her his word on, no matter what sidetracks and temptation the streets might've had going on, he kept his word with her. He very rarely lied to her. When he had to, he'd simply tell her he couldn't answer her because he didn't want to lie to her. He was a perfect gentleman. He was her best friend. They could communicate about anything from small things to major things. The only level he never communicated with her on was the drug game.
Sam never wanted to put Mercedes in any situation where she would know anything that could make her an accessory, or that the police could question her on. If she ever was questioned about anything, she couldn't speak on it because she didn't know anything. He did instruct her about some vital rules. Never ever tell the police anything, and never indulge in any drugs ever. Always keep a close eye on your enemies.
Sam naturally spoiled her with material things as well with small intangible things. He'd take time out of his busy day to write Mercedes letters and to go to Hallmark to read and select the appropriate card for her. Sam cooked for Mercedes, even though he wasn't a good cook. He practiced chivalry. The things he'd do for her were so astronomical. He'd fly her to New York to go school clothes shopping. At any given time, he'd take her to Georgetown to go shopping. He'd send her flowers, tulips, for no special reason, or rent a horse and buggie to take her on a ride. Anything he'd see on T.V., he'd naturally try to recreate for Mercedes. Sam sometimes laughed at himself when he looked at some of the things he'd do for Mercedes. He simply told himself that "Gangstas Need Love Too!" He basically made himself a measuring cup for Mercedes to use to measure other dudes she'd encounter, in case he ever got killed or had to go to jail. He hoped that Mercedes would be able to do a bid with him, but at the same time, he knew in his heart that the reality was that Mercedes was very young and had never been exposed to anything. He was wise to the fact that she'd most likely stray. He was familiar with the reality that there was a limited amount of "real gangstas" left. None of the rest of those jokers could offer her half of what he had. She may get with them on the physical side and get into their pockets but guess what? None will ever have a clue how to get into her heart.
Three days before their six month anniversary, Sam decided that he was going to take full responsibility for Mercedes. He wanted to wake up to her every morning, and go to sleep beside her every night. He wanted to marry her. She was still underage. He knew for a fact that Gina wasn't going for that, and there was no way around that, but he decided to try his hand with Gina anyway, and went to talk to her.
"Gina, I am not going to talk in circles to you, or play any games. I love Mercedes wholeheartedly. I plan to spend the rest of my life with her. I want her to be my wife, to take on my name, and years from now, bare my children, but I need your permission to marry her."
Gina almost fainted. She was outraged, but she managed to keep her composure. She took a deep breath.
"Sam, have you lost your damn mind?"
"No, I am serious. I love Mercedes with all my heart."
"Sam, I truly have a great amount of respect for you and I love you as if you were my own son. At the same time, my first priority is Mercedes. She has her whole life ahead of her. She has yet to experience any growing pains. I am fully aware that you and I both want the very best that life has to offer for Mercedes. I don't feel it's in her best interest to marry. Christ sake, she's only 15, but when she turns 18, she will be free to make her own decisions. Gina raised her voice. "Until then, I am not, and I won't sign anything giving consent for my 15 year old daughter to marry a grown man."
Sam decided that even though Gina wouldn't agree to sign the papers so that they could get married, that still was not going to be a factor. Sam decided at that moment that they were going to be married. He brought Mercedes a three-carat engagement ring with a two-carat wedding band to match it. He brought himself a phat wedding band. They would wear them. He went to one of those computer places and had a marriage certificate drawn up. Both of them signed it, and that was their commitment on paper. He called his travel agent, to take care of the travel arrangements for their honeymoon. He knew if anyone could put this together in short notice she could. Sam assumed complete responsibility for Mercedes. He moved her in with him, and took full care of her. He made it clear to Mercedes that she was not to go to anyone in her family for any type of favors. He'd provide her with everything she needed. The lovely thing about it was that he meant it from his heart.
Gina was outraged as well as heartbroken. She felt like everything she ever wanted for Mercedes was gone out of the window. She was hearing advice from a lot of people. Funny how people always can voice their opinion about your child, when they don't even have their own children in check.
They say Mercedes is only 15, that she doesn't have any feelings. She may be 15, but she has her own mind and feelings. I don't want to forbid her from seeing him because she would sneak and see him. By no means would I want her to hide anything from me.
Gina couldn't sleep. She couldn't think straight. "Lord," she cried, I don't want to lose my daughter." Gina realized that this situation was burdening her down. All she knew was to turn it over to the Lord. He'd work this out. Gina stayed on her knees.
"Father up in heaven in the name of Jesus, I come to you tonight in prayer on bended knees, Father, with a broken heart, confused mind and filled with absolute emptiness. Lord, I have done the best I can to raise my child the best I know how. Lord, I ask you to forgive me for my mistakes while raising my child. Lord, I plead with you, not to allow my daughter's mistake to cause her a lifetime of suffering. Lord, I release control of my child over to you Lord, I am leaning on you to show me how to be a blessing to my child. Grant me wisdom. In the precious name of Jesus. Amen."
Gina concentrated on making her catering business a big success. She threw herself into it. She already had a limited, but elite group of clients who she catered for, and had a waiting list for clients who desired her to cater their functions with her gourmet cooking. She pulled her waiting list out, along with her phone and address book. She decided that right now, her business would be her prime focus. However, when her daughter needed her, she would be there for her too.
On their anniversary, the travel agent had arranged for Sam and Mercedes to go to Sandals Beach in St. Lucia. St. Lucia was simply beautiful. Sandals Resort was the ultimate place for couples to go, offering a white sand beach and lush tropical gardens. Mercedes could not believe this place. They thoroughly enjoyed themselves.
Sam sat on the terrace in the tropical color chair. Mercedes came and stood right in front of him, wearing a red see through short nighty with some red high heels. Sam looked her up and down as she posed and turned around. "You see something here you like?" She said to Sam in a seductive tone. He smiled.
"No doubt about it." Sam replied.
"Well convince me then," Mercedes said, as she bent over and started tongue kissing him.
He put his hand on her round tender butt. She put her hands on his chest and started fondling his nipples, which was a sure turn on for Sam. He took his other hand and put it under her nighty, and ran it up her leg. He played around her vagina until he found her clitoris, a spot nobody besides her had ever touched before. He gave her a breathtaking encounter, using only his fingers. She couldn't take it standing up, so she sat on his lap and while he reached around and continued to rotate using his two fingers on her clitoris then inside of her.
She sat there, as she knew that she wasn't in control, feeling lost and wondering what to do. He made her feel amazing. She wanted to do something to reciprocate the feeling to her man. She felt his big erection and wanted him inside of her. She moved trying to position herself so she could sit on it. Sam whispered in her ear,
"Baby, let's go inside onto the bed. It may hurt more if you try to put it in like that the first time." He picked her up and took her to the bed. She was naked waiting as he laid on top of her kissing and sucking on her breasts. She felt good, but she wanted what she had been waiting on for the past 15 and a half years of her life. She wanted to know what all the hype about sex was and she wasn't afraid. So she reached between his legs and placed him right where he needed to be. He pushed a little, worked slowly and carefully into her tight, wet vagina. She tensed up. He stopped.
"What's wrong?"
"Nothing, I just don't wanna hurt you," Sam whispered.
"No, please keep going," She said, but inside it was hurting awfully bad. She wanted to scream, but she didn't want to disappoint him.
"Baby, you gotta relax." Sam said softly as he blew in her ear.
Relax shit, this shit fucking hurts... damn, and people be acting like this shit feels good, fighting over this and everything. Maybe I am missing something. I am trying to thug this shit out, but damn! Once he was finally inside, the pain immediately turned into pleasure, as she just laid there. She started to moan, "Oh, my God!" He stopped moving. "You want me stop?" he whispered.
"No, please don't," Mercedes replied, not meaning it. Then she started pumping back moving around trying to get with his rhythm. As soon as she started throwing it back to him. He started going fast. She moaned loudly as she came, she held on and gripped his back. And then he stopped and collapsed on top of her, as he fell the ocean breeze came through the open balcony door.
"What's wrong?" He snickered. "I just came, baby."
"For real?" She was sore, tired and glad at the same. She wasn't sure, being a virgin, if she could even bring her man to an orgasm. Sam held her in his arms Damn, had I known this shit was going to be like this... I would've did this shit a long time ago. She got some bomb ass pussy. I swear that shit is like wine. It can only get better with time. I hate for another dude to get a hold of that. Ump, Ump, Ump, he'll have to die.
Now she wanted to learn to put it on him so he wouldn't stray and go anywhere else for sex. From that day on, she perfected her sex game because she knew that it surely played a major part into a man's head, heart and pocket. She didn't want anyone else to dare get the ultimate prize she had just got from Sam. Most definitely, she wanted to be the last person he'd be with on a sexual, mental and emotional note.
The rest of the vacation they thoroughly enjoyed themselves, making love on the ocean front terrace while the sun set. They took an invigorating shower in the natural waterfall. They used a hot bubbling whirlpool under the cool shade of a palm tree. They also went scuba diving, wind surfing as well as parasailing. Mercedes had died and gone to heaven. She just didn't want anybody to revive her.
When Mercedes returned home to Richmond, of course, the haters were lurking to rain on her parade. It was all over town that Sam had married Mercedes. Her toxic girlfriends were all jealous. They started bringing up every notorious episode they could possibly dig up on Sam.
There was one girl, Lisa, who used to be Sam' girlfriend back in high school. She was crazy about Sam. She did everything sexually she could possibly think of. He still didn't want her, nor did he pay her any mind. She was outraged that she had degraded herself for all this time and he married this schoolgirl who wasn't even old enough to drive. The nerve! She knew that she couldn't fight Mercedes as bad as she wanted to. Sam would probably beat her unmercifully. She knew that much. She would still make Mercedes insecure and have second thoughts. She would call the house, and wait for Mercedes to answer the phone, then she would pick, "K-Mart got school paper on sale for 29 cents a pack." Lisa would blurt out trying to belittle Mercedes as much as possible, just to remind Mercedes that she was still a little girl.
"I am young but I'm married to the man you desperately want," Mercedes would retort.
She would never tell Sam any of those small things. She had been warned by her uncle, Bo about exactly what type of things Sam had been known to do.
Now Mercedes's uncle Bo, was her mother's only brother and he acted as a father, big brother, and uncle to Mercedes. He spoiled her. He was a hustler, although he acted as though he worked. He wasn't big time, but he was no slouch either. Bo was a well-respected old-timer, who pulled off a heist with Lloyd and vowed to watch over Mercedes while Lloyd did time. Bo lived like he was still in the seventies, wearing a small black afro, pimp hats and walking with a cane. Standing six foot-five inches tall, brown skin and weighing 290 pounds, he drove a 1974 black Cadillac Coupe DeVille that was cleaner than any new Cadi. He was shot in his jaw back in the late seventies, so his mouth was twisted. When he spoke, he talked like he had a mouth full of shit, and he always had to spit after every other sentence.
Bo never sugar coated anything to Mercedes as her mother Gina and Aunt Millie would sometimes do. So he told her, "Watch yo self because Sam is a loose cannon. He loves you, but will kill at the wink of an eye. So, just be mindful when you tell him things people say and do. Cuse me," as he spit. "It's like playing chess. The queen protects the king, you gotta protect him from as much nonsense as you can." He spit again.
Mercedes was conscious of the fact that he'd definitely jump the gun and do something crazy to anybody who was disrespectful to her. In Mercedes's eyes it wasn't worth him doing anything crazy to jeopardize him getting in trouble and them being separated.
Shortly after the "marriage," Mercedes turned 16. Sam bought her a red BMW for her birthday with red BBS rims on it.
"Baby Girl, I want you to be happy."
"And I am happy to have a car of my own."
Even though she was driving long before she ever had a permit, once she got her license, she started strip hopping— riding through all the projects and drug strips to show off her car. Especially when she was driving any of Sam's cars, even though he told her do not take any of his cars through any public housing or drug areas. She still drove it wherever she pleased.
She rode down the streets with the brick two -story style buildings on both sides with the dirt-patched grass. Some of the concrete porches had people standing on them. The bus stop on one corner was filled with guys sitting on the designated bus bench, but when the bus pulled up, none of them got on because the bus stop was only a way around the "no loitering and no trespassing" signs that hung on the bricks of the end building. While another bunch hovered the pay phone , which people telephoned to the corner to see who was out there, and who had and was doing what. This all was a cover up for the cocaine slanging around the projects. As soon as a car rolled up, and if it was a car filled with females, the guys would holler out, "YO!," anxious to know who the girls in the car were. Then there would be a couple of guys walking over to the cut or behind a building, with a crack head following to make the exchange, money for crack, hand to hand. There was some of the corner boys that accepted other forms of payment, which consists of food stamps, stolen goods, jewelry or a sexual favor for a little bit of flava (coke).
Then there were the females who got their hustles on around the projects. Some chics got dressed in their Sunday's best coochie-cutter shorts just to walk up the street to catch the eye of one of the corner boy's major players. They didn't want crack , but they wanted these guys to fund their habits, which could have consisted of shopping, hair done, nails manicured, new sneakers or whatever may have been their fetish. Some wouldn't know anybody over in the projects, but would just hope to ride through and one of the guys would stop the vehicle. Or they would be one of the corner boy's girlfriends just riding through to see her man talking to a girl. Her tires will come to a screeching halt, and she hops out making a scene, not knowing that the girl he was talking to is a crack head. Subsequently, there would be other girls coming around the projects with intentions of meeting a friend of her friend's man, another corner boy, so she too could come up.
In the meantime, all kinds of cars were rolling up, new ones, old ones, a car that needed a muffler, and one that had smoke coming out of the tail pipe. Then you had the people approaching the corner on foot, bike or scooter, all in the name of buying crack. This particular corner so happens to be one in Richmond, Virginia, but every town has one.
When Mercedes approached the projects, she would make sure all the windows were rolled down, and the music pumping just to draw attention to the car, so people could see precisely that she was pushing Sam's whip. She would never make any eye contact with any of the guys out of respect for Sam, but she made her presence known, and was seen by all the broke down hos on the curb that was always hating on her. If she saw a female she was cool with, she'd cut the music down and carry on a conversation with that person, while the whole time exhibiting her newest rock or designer sunglasses, as the haters watched on enviously. Since they despised her anyway, she especially flossed on them. "Hate on that!," was the statement she made.