(A/N: I know I suck, LOL. I haven't abandoned this story. I know it might seem like it but I haven't. I've been working on updates for everything but thought I'd update this one first since it hasn't been updated in the longest amount of time. Hope you enjoy the chapter. And thanks from reading as always tell me your thoughts I look forward to hearing them.)
"Get Down!"
After a short ten minute walk Harrison hears the loud music coming from down the street at Big D's house, where the party is being held. He walks down the street some more and Big D's house comes into plain view. It's a large two-story white house on the corner, with a metal fence surrounding the yard. There's a large porch with some old couches on it. The front yard is big covered in perfectly trimmed grass with a slim gray concrete walkway that leads from the front gate all the way to the front steps.
There are about fifteen people in the front yard, drinking, smoking weed and listening to the music. Harrison recognizes a few of them and some of them he doesn't. He walks through the gate and daps some of them up as he makes his way to the front door. He walks up the three steps and looks over at the brown couch on the porch and sees two females groping each other and making out. He smiles while shaking his head, and then he walks inside.
The inside of the house is covered in weed smoke and smells like a bar. The speakers make the music vibrate off the wall, the new song "Cut It" by rapper O.T. Genasis is playing and people are in the living room, where the furniture has been cleared, dancing and grinding on one another. He bobs his head to the music and makes his way through the crowded house towards the kitchen intent on grabbing a beer. He's now in the hallway almost to the kitchen when he runs into Keisha, one of Olivia's close friend's from high school.
"What's up little Harry," she said smiling as she gave him a hug. Harrison smiles at his childhood nickname and hugs her back.
"What's good Keisha, how you been?" he asked, stepping back from the hug.
Keisha and Olivia grew up together and were practically inseparable from the time they met in first grade until Olivia left for college. Harrison always thought that out of everyone in the neighborhood, Olivia would at least keep in touch with Keisha when she went away, but she didn't. Both Keisha and Olivia were at the top of their graduating class. Keisha had planned on becoming a doctor, while Olivia was going to become a lawyer. Keisha got into Princeton also, but had to reject their acceptance letter when she found out she was pregnant at the end of their senior year. She and Big D have a four-year-old son together named Deon after his father. He was known as Little D around the neighborhood.
"I been good," she said smiling. "I'm back in school you know, getting my degree, tryna become a nurse or whatever." Harrison smiled.
"That's what's up, what school you at?" he asked curiously.
"The only one I can afford," she said laughing. "UDC," she told him.
The University of the District of Columbia, also known, as UDC didn't necessarily have the best reputation when it came to good colleges, but over the years the administration took the time to try and rebuild the academics at the school. Now after years of reconstruction, they were known for having one of the best nursing programs in the country. It was also the only public university in Washington D.C. so the tuition was very cheap compared to most of the other universities in the city.
"That's what's up Moe," he said congratulating her. She nodded.
"Thanks, so I heard you still tearing shit up on the court over at Ana huh?" she said. "Ana" was a nickname people often used when referring to Anacostia Senior High School.
"Well you know, I make it do what it do," he said jokingly.
"True, I gotta come to one of your games, I don't think I even been to Ana since I graduated," she told him. He nodded and smirked.
"Yeah, yeah come thru, see what your boy can do."
"I'll be at the next one," she promised. "So how's Liv, I ain't seen her in a while?" she asked curiously.
"She's good, she's back at the house right now. She was studying and shit, but she fell asleep before I left," he told her. Keisha nodded.
"True, I know your moms is happy to have her back." Harrison nodded. "Is she staying wit ya'll at the house?" she asked? Harrison shook his head.
"Naw, she stay up G-town with one of her friends from school. She just comes home on the weekends or whatever," he said looking over at some girls that were dancing briefly before looking back at Keisha.
"Oh ok, that's what's up, I gotta hang out with her one of these days so we can catch up," she said thoughtfully. Harrison looked at her and asked.
"You still got her number?" Keisha nodded.
"Yeah, we've spoken since she's been back, just haven't seen each other yet," she replied.
"True, how's little D?" he asked changing the subject. Keisha smiled.
"Bad as ever," she said laughing. Harrison smiled as well, Keisha always lit up when she spoke about her son. Harrison could tell that she really loved him more than anything, he thought as she continued. "But he's smart as shit, he's in the gifted program at his charter school. They wanted me to put him in kindergarten this year but Big D says he's too little; he just turned four, so he's not as big as the other kids but he's just as smart."
"I'll bet, tell the little man I said hi," he said grinning. Keisha smiled.
"Will do." They spoke for a few more minutes when a loud voice broke them from they're conversation.
"Keisha, the fuck you doing down here!" yelled Big D as he came over to them.
Deon Fletcher, also known as "Big D" was the definition of a gansta. He was a tall young man standing at 6'2"; he weighed about 230 pounds. He had dreads in his hair that came down to his mid-back. Tattoos covered his arms and legs; he even had a couple on his face and neck. His pants were sagging and his T-shirt was huge, he had a gun in his waistband, but you would only notice it if you were close enough to see his waistline.
His skin complexion was that of a caramel brown and his eyes, which were normally, hazel brown, were red from the after effects of the weed he'd smoked earlier. He ran with Frankie and his crew, he was often the muscle. He had a don't give a fuck attitude about life in general. He also had killed more people than anyone could count; he was not the type of person you would want on your bad side. How he and Keisha got together Harrison still didn't understand. But Keisha and little Deon seemed to be the only people Big D cared about. Or so Harrison thought.
"I came down to enjoy the party," said Keisha, as Big D finally got to them.
"Aight you been down here long enough, get yo ass upstairs, and where the fuck is my son at?" he asked angrily.
"He's with my mom Deon you already know that," said Keisha rolling her eyes at him, he always acted like an ass when he was high or drunk.
"Who the fuck you rolling your eyes at bitch, get the fuck upstairs now, go call your mom and check on my mutha-fuckin son!" he boomed. Keisha didn't say anything but stayed rooted to her spot next to Harrison, as he looked on to see what would happen next. Big D snarled at her and grabbed her by the arm forcefully pulling her to him. "Bitch is you deaf, I said get the fuck upstairs before I make you!" he yelled. Keisha winced in pain as she tried to yank her arm away from Big D's grasp. But to no avail, he was too strong. Harrison decided to step in.
"Aye yo D come on man, you hurting her," he said calmly. Big D looked over at Harrison glaring.
"Aye little nigga, stay in yo lane and mind yo mutha-fuckin business Moe!" he said angrily, he didn't give Harrison a chance to respond as he started dragging Keisha over to the steps that lead upstairs.
"Keisha!" Harrison yelled out concerned. Keisha and Big D both stopped and turned back to look over at him. Big D had a murderous look on his face and Keisha looked a little terrified. But that didn't stop Harrison as he started walking towards them, but Keisha stopped him.
"It's ok H, I'll see you later, go head," she said urging him to leave them alone, her voice cracking in the process.
Harrison didn't really feel comfortable leaving her alone with Big D, but he couldn't help her if she didn't want to be helped. Harrison nodded and watched Big D force Keisha upstairs. He shook his head and decided to go to the kitchen and grab that beer.
Harrison made his way into the kitchen, luckily no one is in there and he has a clear path to the refrigerator. He opened it and pulled out a corona. After popping it open he took a swig from the beer and closed the refrigerator door. Before turning around to head back in the living room to party, he heard Marcus say.
"Well if it isn't Congress Heights's most wanted." Harrison rolls his eyes and turns around to face his friends Marcus and T.J.
"Shut the fuck up," said Harrison taking another swig of his beer. T.J. laughed and Marcus smirked.
"I seriously don't know how that fed let you off Moe," said T.J. after his laughter subsided. Marcus nodded in agreement as he walked over to the fridge and grabbed his own beer.
"Me neither bruh, you got lucky as shit. I guess it's good your ole punk ass ain't got no priors huh?" said Marcus cracking his beer open and drinking from it.
Harrison shrugged, before taking another sip. "Guess so." T.J. nodded.
"So how'd your moms take it?" he asked.
"She wasn't there when he dropped me off, Liv was," said Harrison nonchalantly as he took another sip. T.J. smirked this time.
"Now I know why yo bitch ass got off. All that cop had to do was take a look at your fine ass sister," said T.J. jokingly. Marcus laughed. "Did she give him her number so that he'll leave yo ass alone?" he asked.
"No bitch she didn't, and my sister ain't fuckin wit no white ass cop either so shut the fuck up!" snapped Harrison. T.J. held up his hands in surrender.
"Sorry, damn calm the fuck down nigga, we here to turn up for Rico, remember," he said calmly. Harrison rolled his eyes, but calmed down a bit.
"Speaking of Rico, where is that nigga?" asked Harrison looking out into the living room from the kitchen. Marcus motioned to the left where he saw Rico with some girl.
"He over there wit Felicia THOT ass," said Marcus rolling his eyes. Felicia was known around their school and around the neighborhood as, an anything ass trick, as in she'll fuck or suck anything without a care. "I told him to stop fucking wit them nasty ass hoes," said Marcus shaking his head as they watched Rico tonguing Felicia down.
"Ain't Marissa here though?" asked Harrison looking at Marcus and T.J. They shrugged.
Marissa was Rico's on again off again girlfriend since seventh grade. Like her name she was a very pretty girl. She was slim, but thick. Her skin was a very light tone. She had honey brown eyes and long pretty curly jet-black hair. She stood at 5'7" and was stacked in all the right places. Even though she was a very pretty girl, she had a very smart mouth that often got her into trouble, which led to many fistfights with other females. But she held her own and could rumble with the best of them. Like most of the people that went to their school she was from the projects and proud of it. Harrison and the other two boys knew that even though she and Rico were very much off at this time, if she saw him with Felicia, Marisa would beat her ass.
"I haven't seen her yet, but you know if she was here Rico wouldn't be fucking wit that hoe Felicia at all," said Marcus as he finished off his beer.
Harrison laughed and the boys stayed in the kitchen for a while talking and drinking when they heard some people arguing in the living room. They stepped out of the kitchen into the living room to see what the confrontation was about. They saw two men arguing with two other men they knew from Frankie's crew. This was not good, Harrison thought as he shook his head.
"Man fuck 1…5, this Woodland bitch!" yelled one of the men from another neighborhood, as the scuffle continued.
15th street in Congress Heights was a hood known as 1…5. All the boys in the neighborhood repped 1…5. This fool had the nerve to come to their neighborhood and diss them in their territory. Harrison didn't know if he was brave or just plain stupid.
The other man from Woodland threw a punch and connected on the man from Frankie's crew and the fight progressed. People moved out of the way, some pulled out their cell phones and started recording. Rico, Frankie and Big D, rushed the fight and broke it up. Harrison hadn't seen Frankie all night; he'd wondered where he was. Frankie was strong and pushed the man from Woodland out of the way. Then he began speaking. With Rico holding the man tightly. Rico had one arm around his neck and the other across his torso, and Big D held his gun out at the other man from Woodland. He had the gun pointed at the man's head.
"Who the fuck are you to come into my neighborhood, yelling about some fuckin bitch ass Woodland nigga!" he asked angrily. The man tried to shift in Rico's arm but Rico had him in a death grip, while Big D pulled back the clip on his gun that he was pointing at the other guy. Frankie smirked and continued. "Move another inch mutha fucka and my mans is gonna blow this nigga's brains out," said Frankie nodding to Big D while glaring at the man Rico was holding. Everyone looked on, as the atmosphere grew even tenser. "Now I suggest you and your partner get up out of here before things get ugly nigga," said Frankie loudly. Then he walked up to the man Rico was holding and whispered harshly in his ear. "If I see you around here again, the feds are gonna be collecting your brains off the street you bitch ass nigga. Now, get the fuck out of here before I lose my patients!" Frankie stepped back and nodded to Rico and Big D. Rico pushed the man he was holding towards the door, while Big D kept the gun trained on the other one as they followed Rico.
The party resumed shortly after that and the altercation was all but forgotten. Harrison, Marcus and T.J. were still talking about what happened when Frankie came over to Harrison.
"What up H," he said greeting him. He nodded at the other boys and they nodded back.
"What's going on Frankie," said Harrison as he gave Frankie some dap.
"Cooling man, look can I speak to you for a second?" he asked? Harrison nodded and Marcus and T.J. took that as their cue to leave.
"Yeah what's up man?" said Harrison once the other boys left them alone.
"I heard you got into some trouble with the feds today, you good Moe?" he asked. Harrison nodded.
"Yeah I'm straight, it was just a misunderstanding," said Harrison using the cops words from earlier. Frankie nodded.
"Cool, cool, so uh how's Liv man?" he asked.
Harrison smiled to himself. Frankie and Olivia were the It couple back in the day. They started dating in high school, when Olivia was fourteen and Frankie was sixteen. Though they were two years apart in age, Frankie was only one grade higher than Olivia in school. Too many fights and suspensions caused him to be held back a year. But they were tight as ever. Many people envied their relationship because of how in love with one another they were. Harrison thought they would eventually get married one day.
But Frankie changed after his grandfather died when he was a senior in high school. He picked up the drug game to help out around the house. Medical, utility and mortgage bills were just too much for his grandmother to handle by her self. Since his grandparents raised him he felt like he owed it to them to help out any way he could. He just chose the wrong way to do it.
Still Olivia stuck by him and they were even together for a little while after she went to Princeton. Frankie killed his first victim around the time Olivia left for college and it changed him dramatically. He became cold and distant but they still loved each other and tried to make it work. Olivia came home for a surprise visit after her midterms one weekend in October and caught Frankie cheating on her with another girl. The girl ended up pregnant but luckily it wasn't Frankie's baby. Still the hurt from that betrayal changed Olivia as well, and that was the last time she came home from Princeton until she started Georgetown this past fall. She hadn't spoken to Frankie since their break up and everyone knew it was killing him but he put up a tough front. She'd always be the one that got away to him. Harrison knew that.
"She's good man," he replied. Frankie nodded and Harrison could see the different range of emotions he was going through all over his face. There was hurt, longing and acceptance.
"Tell her I asked about her," he told him.
"Tell her yourself, here man take her number down," said Harrison pulling out his phone. Frankie quickly pulled his out as well. "Just don't tell her where you got it from," said Harrison jokingly. Frankie smiled and nodded.
"For sure man."
The party was still going strong a few hours later and Marcus and T.J. were in the kitchen breaking down some weed and rolling up a joint. Harrison hung back and drank his fifth beer while he watched them. His eyes roamed the living room from an opening in the kitchen and he saw the front door open. Marissa walked in with some of the girls she hung out with at their high school.
"Oh shit!" he said nervously. The other two boys looked over at him concerned.
"What nigga? What's wrong?" asked Marcus.
"Marissa just came in here Moe," said Harrison pointing at the front door with his beer free hand.
"Fuck!" exclaimed T.J. this was not good. The last time any of them had seen Rico; he had his tongue down Felicia's throat.
"Come on man, we gotta get to Rico before she whips his and Felicia's ass!" said Marcus as he finished up rolling the blunt quickly. T.J. and Harrison nodded and followed him out of the kitchen and into the living room but it was too late. The commotion they heard from the stairs confirmed this.
"Who the fuck is this bitch!" yelled Marissa.
Harrison, Marcus and T.J. all rushed over to him and Rico looked fucked up. He was obviously high and a little drunk. He stood up in Marissa's face with Felicia cowering behind him. He blocked Marissa from Felicia as he tried to explain.
"Marissa calm the fuck down slim," he said grabbing her as she tried to get around him to Felicia who looked terrified.
"Don't fucking tell me what to do you raggedy ass nigga!" she yelled still trying to get to Felicia who had moved behind the other three boys by now. "We break up for a week and you already fucking other bitches!" she yelled.
"I ain't fuck her!" he yelled back, letting her go. Marissa momentarily forgot about Felicia as she got in Rico's face.
"You a lying piece of shit, everybody knows that THOT ass bitch will fuck anything. I know you fucked her Rico! Don't fucking touch me!" she yelled as he tried to grab her arm.
"I ain't fucking no other bitches but you!" he yelled back.
"Who the fuck you calling a bitch nigga, fuck you!" she yelled pointing her finger in his face and then she turned her attention to Felicia. "When I see you on the streets bitch, imma beat your mutha-fuckin ass! Imma beat your ass so fucking bad they gon name the street I drag your ass on after you bitch!"
"Marissa calm the fuck down and lets go upstairs," said Rico trying to get her away from Felicia before she popped off.
"Fuck you! I ain't going no where wit yo mutha-fuckin ass, go be with that nasty ass diseased filled bitch!" she yelled and some people started laughing. Felicia who hadn't spoken up until now said.
"Don't be mad cus your nigga wants to fuck me!"
Marissa completely lost her shit and lunged for the girl. Rico caught her in mid-air as she was flying around in his arms trying to get to Felicia, who hid behind Harrison and Marcus. Marissa's two friends came over to try to get to Felicia too but were held back by the other boys. There was already one fight earlier and they were getting tired of this shit.
"Bitch come say that shit too my face, I'll fuck you up!" she yelled as Rico started carrying her up the stairs. Once they were out of sight and Marcus and Harrison got the other two girls to calm down Harrison turned to Felicia.
"You better get the fuck outta here before she comes back to whip your ass," he warned. She turned to Harrison and grabbed his arm.
"Where's Kim?" she asked. Harrison rolled his eyes.
"None of your business," he said dismissively. She smirked undeterred.
"You wanna walk me home," she asked seductively.
"Bye Felicia," said Harrison dismissing her before he walked off.
He caught up with Marcus and T.J. and they made their way outside to the front yard to smoke the jay. They walk over to Frankie who was talking to a boy named Lamar. He was a star on the basketball team like Harrison, but a senior this year and will be graduating in May.
"What up Lamar, Frankie," said Marcus as they made it over to them. Frankie and Lamar nodded at them in greeting. "Ya'll wanna hit this?" asked Marcus as he lit the jay. Frankie shook his head no while Lamar said yes. Marcus took two long puffs and passed the jay to Lamar, who took his two puffs and passed it as well but not without coughing a bit.
"Ayo Lamar, what school did you decide on?" asked T.J. as the jay was passed to him.
"Boston College would be tight, so would the University of Maryland, but your boy got a full scholarship to Duke," said Lamar happily.
"Stop fucking around Cuz, Duke?" asked Harrison as he smoked a bit of the jay too.
"Yep, they paying tuition, room and board and they're even given me a small stipend for books. I already met my roommate on facebook, he's from Chicago and on the team too," said Lamar as the jay was passed back his way.
"That's what's up Moe, I don't know what they gon do with you gone next year and this bumb ass nigga gotta lead the team," said Marcus nudging Harrison jokingly.
"You just mad cus I'll smoke your ass on the court boy," said Harrison earning a few laughs.
"I'm happy to leave the team to Harrison, that's my little protégé," said Lamar laughing, the boys laughed as well, when Rico and Big D came outside. Big D walked over and spoke to some other people that were outside but Rico came over to them.
"But foreal, foreal I'm just happy to be getting the fuck out of here," said Lamar seriously.
"Nigga ain't nothing wrong with South-East," said Rico as he joined in the rotation. He was smoking the jay now as well.
"Ain't shit wrong with it but there's more to the world then this little ass part of D.C." said Lamar. Frankie who'd been quiet up to this point spoke up.
"He's right man, get the fuck outta here while you can. Don't get stuck in this dumbass city and let life pass you by. Ya'll little niggas got a chance to do something with your lives and make something of yourselves. Go out see the world, if you wanna come back fine. But don't get stuck here, I'm telling you, you'll regret it," said Frankie solemnly then he walked off to go talk to Big D without another word.
"The fuck was that?" asked Marcus jokingly trying to make light of the situation. The boys shrugged but Harrison knew that Frankie was feeling a certain type of way because of many different reasons, most of which had to do with Olivia. Harrison shook his head and decided to change the subject.
"How'd you get Marissa to calm down?" he asked Rico. Rico smirked and said.
"I fucked her." Marcus and Lamar laughed, Harrison shook his head smiling and T.J. choked on the weed smoke.
"The fuck man, you lying like shit Moe," said T.J. disbelievingly. Rico shrugged.
"She upstairs now passed out in one of the rooms. My dick puts bitches into comas, you hear me," said Rico jokingly as he dapped Lamar up.
The boys laughed again when Harrison looked down the street and noticed a black 2003 Chevy impala. The windows were tinted so you couldn't see too much in the car but the window was cracked and he could've sworn he saw the lights flicker. He didn't know anybody at the party with a black Chevy Impala. But he decided to not let it get to him. For all he knew somebody could be hooking up in there with someone else.
The boys talked some more and Harrison looked down at his phone, it was about 2 in the morning. His mom would be home soon so he was thinking about leaving in a little while. He looked up and noticed the black impala moving down the street slowly and the windows winding down just as slowly. That's when he knew something was up. The car sped up as it got closer to the house and Harrison yelled because he knew what was coming next.
"Get Down!"
Gunshots came from the car and sprayed all over the front yard as people started panicking and yelling. He felt Marcus and T.J. get down beside him. He looked up and saw that Rico, Frankie, Big D and some other boy from Frankie's crew were shooting their own guns back at the black car. The passenger from the Impala stuck his whole body and gun outside the window and yelled as he shot.
"Woodland bitch!" the guy fell back into the car it seemed like a bullet had struck him and then the car sped off around the corner. Frankie ran up to the gate and fired his gun after the car until no more bullets were left.
"Fuck!" he yelled kicking the gate with his boot. He turned around and said. "Is everybody iight?" Harrison and everyone else stood up slowly. Harrison looked around and noticed a body on the ground.
He and the other boys rushed over to the body to see who it was. The person was lying on their stomach face down. Marcus turned them over and got blood on his hands from the front of the person's body. Once the person was turned over all the way they could see whom it was.
"Shit man it's Lamar!" yelled T.J. Lamar wasn't breathing and his clothes were covered in blood.
"Somebody call the fucking ambulance!" yelled Frankie, but before anyone could do anything Police sirens could be heard in the neighborhood. Frankie looked at Big D briefly before nodding at him. Big D ran to the house to start to clear it out.
"We gotta get the fuck outta here!" yelled Frankie at Harrison.
Everyone else had started running already, but Harrison was rooted to his spot looking at the lifeless body of his friend that he was just speaking too ten minutes ago. He was in shock. Frankie shook him hard and Harrison finally looked over at him.
"Come on H we gotta go!" he yelled. Harrison nodded and the two of them took off running down the street and made it around the corner just before the police came.
Harrison and Frankie ran for what seemed like forever, they ducked in alleyways when they thought they saw the police coming and hid behind cars as well. Finally they got to Harrison's house. Harrison was still in shock, too shocked to look for his keys so he started banging on the front door hoping that someone would open it quickly. The police were heavily patrolling the streets and Harrison knew that if they didn't get inside soon, someone would see them.
Finally after what seemed like an eternity to Harrison, but in reality were only a few minutes the front door opened. Olivia glared at Harrison with a look that let him know she wanted to know where the hell he'd been. Then she looked past him towards Frankie and almost slammed the door in both of their faces.
"What the fuck is he doing here?" she asked, her voice was icy and she glared at Frankie the whole time she spoke. Frankie looked down refusing to meet her eyes as she spoke about him.
"Liv I don't have time to explain that shit right now, look we need to come inside it's feds everywhere come on let us in," Harrison begged. Olivia sighed but let them in quickly as she heard the sirens. She closed the door and Harrison plopped down on the couch and started calling his friends. Frankie turned to Olivia after she closed the door.
"Thanks Liv," he said softly.
"Don't fucking talk to me, once the police are gone, Russell so are you," she said with a finality in her voice that left no room for argument as she glared daggers at Frankie. She moved past him and walked into the kitchen. Frankie sighed heavily and went into the living room with Harrison, hoping that everyone would be okay.
(A/N: whew tense moment's right LOL, hope you're all still along for the journey, because it's only going to get more real from here. Next up Olivia and Russell aka "Frankie" get into an argument about their past. Harrison finds out the fate of Lamar and Fitz and Liv run into each other and have a chat. Till next time….)
Slang Terms used in this chapter.
Jay- joint or blunt of weed.
THOT- That Hoe Over There
Dap- type of handshake.
Slim- could mean boy or girl
Smoke- means to beat badly.
I think that's it, if I missed any of them, let me know and I'll post those as well.
