She thought that the girl would let it go and go check her man but instead she decided to sucker punch Sharonda, which caught her completely off guard. Next thing she knew, she was in a full brawl defending herself against both girls. She wasn’t winning, but she wasn’t losing either. Everything happened so fast, she could hear Pinky yelling and hopping in the fight before some of the local dudes broke it up. The music was still so loud that nobody could hear them screaming and yelling. The only way they’d know is if they saw the fight themselves. The girl and her friend were escorted away kicking and screaming. Sharonda and Pinky both scanned the ground picking up their popped necklaces and hooped earrings.

  “Aye Sharonda! Don’t even worry about that baby, you still fly!” A dude named Duke yelled from across the street.

  The bus came right on time. As soon as their asses plastered onto the seats, Pinky fussed; her skin and cheeks flushed with a simple scratch above her eyebrow. Her once pretty bob was now a hot mess.

  “What the fuck was that all about?”

  “I don’t even know. Her simple ass came out of nowhere questioning me about Donnell. If that’s her man she needs to check his ass, not me!” Sharonda hissed. She was so upset that it showed in her breathing. She could feel her right eye swelling up and just knew she better hurry home so she could apply some witch hazel and an ice pack. Her hair was messed up and her herringbone chain popped. “Matter fact, I don’t even like his ass no more just for that!”

  “I was gon’ get off at my stop but I’ll just get off at yours and have Stacks come pick me up instead.” Pinky told her, speaking of her on and off again boyfriend. Stacks had a heavy name in the streets and is the reason Pinky had everything, including her apartment. The only reason he wouldn’t get her a car is because in his eyes, she hadn’t earned it yet. Pinky was one of the fast girls that wanted to be kept, but Sharonda wanted her own identity and own money. It didn’t bother her that she was a college student still living with her mama because when she got settled into her career all of that would change.

  Sharonda was mad as hell that Benita was home from running around all day and now, she would be tripping about the fight she had. She prayed like hell that she was sleep already from being worn out. Her mama Benita got pregnant with Sharonda at the age of twenty and now at forty-three years old, she was one of the young mama’s that loved to work and party. She breathed a sigh of relief when she saw her peacefully knocked out on the overstuffed floral couch.

  While Sharonda doctored her eye, Pinky rambled on about her and Stacks. “I know he be out there cheating, that’s why my ass be cheating too. He ain’t the only fly one, I’m just as fly as him.”

  “Yeah, off of his dollar girl. You need to get your own.”

  “In the meantime, I’m doing what works for me. I’m not cutting none of my niggas off, especially not hairy Larry.”

  Sharonda turned, around managing to laugh. “That nigga really hairy like that?”

  “Hell, yeah, bitch you should see all the hair on his ass. Bitch be feeling like I’m trying to pick my way through a cotton field trying to suck his dick. After the last time, I nearly fucking choked, so I don’t do it no more. You can only imagine the taco meat underneath his ass cheeks. It’s insane.”

  Sharonda was laughing so hard she briefly forgot all about her eye. “That’s so fucking nasty. Ewww! Why you still talk to his ass?”

  “Cause his money long and so is his tongue, trust me it’s definitely all that and then some. As long as he’s spending and licking, I’m fucking with no sucking.”

  “Now see, this is why you should have a car. You have too many sponsors.”

  Pinky shrugged. “Nah, I’m good. I save every dollar they give me. Anything else, I’ll let them do it until I get ready to do it myself.”

  Some people wondered how they were even friends because they were like night and day, but they’d been friends since elementary school and Sharonda loved her friend regardless of the path she chose because she’d always been loyal.

  “I hear you girl. So, what’s the drop on Donnell?”

  “I thought you didn’t like him anymore?”

  “Pinky!”

  “Alright, alright. I mean, he’s the top baller at the University of Miami on a full ride and possibly getting drafted to the NBA. He’s in his senior year like you. No kids, multiple girls, and comes from a family of dope boys. He’s like royalty in the streets not only because of his family but because he’s the golden ticket. You know how that shit goes with Miamians. One make it, they all make it.”

  Everything Pinky told her only piqued her interest even more. However, she took one look at her eye and decided she wouldn’t be talking to him again. Multiple females meant more drama. When Pinky got a page on her beeper, she pulled out her flip phone and called the number, briefly spoke, and hung up.

  “I’ma wait outside because Stacks is pulling up soon. I know he probably heard about this fight by now, so I need to mentally prepare to deal with this shit. I’ll call you later girl.”

  Sharonda let Pinky out and locked the door, ignoring the ringing from the house phone on the kitchen wall. She simply wasn’t in the mood. After she washed the unruly finger waved style out of her hair, she showered, turned the knob to turn the television on and adjusted the antennas at the top to get clear quality on the screen before laying down. Sharonda knew she needed to upgrade the television, but she just wasn’t ready to let it go because it was the last gift her grandmother gifted her with before she passed away of lung cancer eight years prior.

  Tyrone called her phone, and she ignored the call. He’s the last person she wanted to talk to anyway, so she called it a night since she had a long day ahead of her tomorrow.

  Chapter Three

  Ain’t Too Proud To Beg-TLC

  The following morning, Sharonda was up bright and early so she could make it to her Starbucks interview on time, but first she needed to get to the mechanic shop to pick up her car since he was confident it would be ready today. That was even better because the bus would take her longer to get down to Coral Gables. She wished she could’ve found a closer location, but she was unfortunate, so she had to do what she had to do. It was also a big inconvenience because she attended Broward College in Pembroke Pines and knew that she’d be rushing on certain days to get across town.

  Her eye was visibly swollen with a purplish-blue hue to it. When Benita saw it this morning she was pissed and yelled every cuss word known to man because she didn’t play about her baby. If she wasn’t rushing out of the house to head to work herself, she would’ve gone to find the hoochies who tried to jump her child. Sharonda wasn’t missing her interview, but she wasn’t going out like that either, so she wore an eye patch. She’d just tell them she had the pink eye or something.

  Sharonda fought her way through the scorching sun until she reached A1 corner store. When she walked inside, she was temporarily relieved by the cold air conditioning blowing inside. She slicked her hair back into a neat ponytail until she was able to schedule another hair appointment. She made sure her collared button-down shirt and skirt was wrinkle free because she always sprayed enough starch to make sure of that.

  Sharonda didn’t have to browse the shelves for long because she already knew what she wanted. She retrieved a small carton of McArthur’s fruit punch and ordered a sub sandwich. While she waited for them to make it, she also purchased the latest edition of the Jet Magazine so she could catch up in the hip hop world. When her sandwich was ready, she bolted out of there when she heard the city bus approaching but just her luck, she missed it in just a split second.

  “Fuck!” She pouted wondering what she was going to do. She glared at her G-shock watch and nibbled on her bottom lip. The next bus wouldn’t be too long so she hoped she would still be on time; she decided to wait for it. By the time she gobbled down her sandwich, Tyrone’s car halted in front of her. Rolling down the window, he gave her a stern look.

  “Get in, come on.”

  No matter how fine he was or what he had, she refused to deal with him. “No, I’m good.”

  “Come on baby, it’s hot as fuck out here and you look like you got somewhere important to be. I’m not gon’ do nothing to you. I got other places to be but I’m here begging you to get in my car. I can’t believe you got a nigga begging.”

  “Well don’t beg then.” She snapped.

  “I ain’t too proud. What you want me to do, get out on my knees? I’ll do that shit right now.”

  As soon as he opened the door holding up traffic, she hopped up from the bench knowing his foolish ass would do it too. “No! Keep your crazy ass in the car and I’ll come.” She slid in his seat and slammed the door. “I’m telling you right now, the only place you can take me to is my mechanic and that’s it, Tyrone. No funny business or we gon’ squabble in this car.”

  He shook his head and pulled off regretting the day he stuck his dick in Tricia. He didn’t even like Tricia like that and she had nothing on Sharonda in the looks department. She just had what all the dudes liked and that was a fat ass and bowlegs, other than that she wasn’t half the woman her cousin was.

  “I saw you talking to that nigga Donnell yesterday.”

  “Okay, and?”

  “I can’t get jiggy with that Sharonda. I didn’t like that shit.”

  “I can’t tell. You didn’t do nothing about it.” She mumbled.

  Sharonda played hard ball with Tyrone, but deep down inside she was still extremely hurt. It took her six months to stop crying and within those six months Tyrone never stopped trying to get her back. She acted like she hated him, but it could never be that. If she was going to get over him for good, she had to act this way or else she would allow him to pull her right back into his toxic love cycle.

  Tyrone knew fucking with Donnell was the same thing as a suicide mission. He had too much protection from a lot of important people. The city loved that nigga, but Tyrone never felt like hating looked good on him. He was getting his own money and had his own share of women, just none like Sharonda. Besides, he’s waited all these years for her to give it up and she still hadn’t given him her virginity. It hurt his ego to feel like another dude was about to experience what he’d been waiting on. If she wanted him to chase her and beg, he would damn sure do it.

  “What you want me to do to make it right baby? Anything you want I promise I’ll do.” He spoke with sincerity in his eyes and a deep voice that used to sound like music to her ears. When he pulled up to the mechanic shop, he parked the car and placed her soft hands into his own. He didn’t want to show how pissed off he was about her wearing the eye patch because of the fight, but he didn’t want to bring it up and push her either. “I just want to make it last forever, Sharonda. I don’t want nobody but you.”

  Keith Sweat’s single ‘Make it Last Forever’ is the first song that popped into her mind. He knew it was one of her all-time favorites and whenever she was upset with him, he’d always call and leave the song on her voicemail. See, this is why I didn’t want to get close to him, she thought. My stupid ass always ends up feeling sorry for him reminiscing on the good times, still I’d never forgive him for what he did. She wanted to vomit every time she thought about the day she caught him in the bed with Tricia’s hot ass. Sharonda swore that she would fight her every time she saw her after she gave her that first ass beating.

  She sighed and took a deep breath before removing her hands from his. “I have to go, but we can talk later on.”

  Tyrone was trying his best not to feel defeated. He loved her with everything in him, but it wasn’t just the love that had him begging. He knew he would be taking a big “L” in the streets and how badly everyone would clown him if Donnell got his girl.

  “Okay, I’ma hold you to that. Don’t make me act a fool man.”

  “Tyrone please, don’t start.”

  She was already irritated from the scorching sun that had her edges frizzing up. Plus, she really hated that she was about to give up two hundred dollars to her mechanic for the umpteenth time. Normally, Tyrone would be the one paying for it, but she had a point to prove this time; she didn’t need him or his dough.

  As if he read her mind, he got out of the car, removed the money from his pocket and proceeded to pay the mechanic. She wanted to stop him but saving her own money did sound better. Besides, she earned every damn dollar he ever had to spend on her after all of the pain he caused. While he paid the mechanic, she sat back in the car to suck up some more of his AC. When he returned, he passed her the receipt. Instead of her holding on to it, she opened his glove compartment to place it inside of there when a piece of paper grabbed her attention causing a deep crease to form in between her eyebrows.

  “Tyrone, what the fuck is this? I know damn well this ain’t what I think it is.”

  Knowing he was busted, he dropped his head. “I can explain all that shit.”

  Sharonda felt burning in her throat which caused her eyes to water up. The last thing she ever wanted was to feel the emotional turbulence from his bullshit all over again. Sharonda once again wrestled with emotions of betrayal, sadness, and confusion staring at the aftercare instructions from an abortion just three months ago with Tricia’s name on it. As she reflected on their situation, she finally came to the realization that what they shared before wasn’t even worth a friendship now.

  She held her hand up in his face and turned her head to the side, refusing to look at him. “No, you can’t explain shit to me. You can’t look at me, talk to me, kick it with me, or none of that bullshit. Stay the fuck away from me!”

  “Sharonda! Come on, don’t do this in these people’s establishment.” He gritted through his gold teeth.

  She used her finger to point it hard at his chest. “No! You shouldn’t have done none of the shit you did. Move!” She fussed, pushing him hard out of her way so she could storm off. “I never want to see yo’ ass again!” She yelled over her shoulder. “I see why bitches be fucking with ugly ass niggas like hairy Larry! Rather get paid without having to do much and damn sure wouldn’t have to worry about being hurt because only a mother could love that ugly motherfucker! You pretty niggas are the problem.”

  Tyrone was trying to be patient, and he knew it was best for him to leave before he ended up doing something he would regret. She just needs time to cool down, he thought. It’s fucked up but I’ma give her that. He wasn’t worried about her comments about hairy Larry. It took a special kind female to want to fuck with him outside of using him for money. Nah, Larry ain’t the problem, that other nigga is.

  He used his fist to punch the steering wheel when he pulled off. “My stupid ass should’ve been got rid of that shit. Fuck!”

  Chapter Four

  One More Chance- Notorious B.I.G

  “Aye Dee! Broddie on the phone man!” His cousin Tray yelled from the kitchen of Donnell’s mama’s house. Although he lived in Coral Gables in a condo by the campus, he always came home on the weekends. Especially weekends like this one because he knew he had to play in the tournament.

  Every weekend Donnell’s mama hosted big ass parties, and this weekend wasn’t no different. She had the grill going and coolers filled with limitless bottles of Gin and Olde English 40’s. Donnell swaggered out of the bathroom, adjusted his basketball shorts, and flopped down on the plastic covered couch so he could pick up the phone in the living room.

  Cradling it between his ear and his shoulder, he hollered back at Tray. “Hang up! I got it.” Tray hung up and walked to the backyard with a 40 in his hand. Donnell focused on his uncle Broddie. “What up nigga, why you didn’t page me first? You know Rema’s lil ass be mad every time the house phone rings cause it fucks up the internet.”

  “Donnelllll!” Rema whined from the den. “Get off the phone!”

  He looked over his shoulder. “See what I’m saying?” He chuckled. Rema had just turned sixteen years old and the dial up internet was her life. That’s all she cared about was the internet and rushing home from wherever she’d been to hop on the chat lines. Donnell hated the fact that she was growing up and shit and was waiting for the day he had to fuck a nigga up about his sister.

  “Yeah, she’ll be aiight, and I did page you nigga. You always somewhere actin’ like you Big Meech and shit. It shouldn’t be this hard to reach you. I gotta call yo’ mama crib. Anyway, you heard about lil baby you was talking about last night?”

  He raised a brow wondering who he was talking about. It’s a few lil baby’s he always talked about. “Who?”

  “Sharonda, ain’t that her name?”

  Hell yeah, I remember as fine as she is, he thought. He’d been meaning to hit her up today, but time got ahead of him. “What’s up wit’ her?”

  “When the last time you talk to Shaniqua?”

  “I don’t talk to that simple ass girl no more; bitch a nut.” He replied meaning every word he said thinking about how he’d seen her last night at the tournament and ignored her ass. As soon as he got done macking with Sharonda, he bounced. “Why?”

  “They say her and her homegirl jumped ole girl last night.”

  “Jumped who?”

  “Sharonda nigga.” Broddie exclaimed once again. “You listening or what?”

  “The fuck they jump the girl for?”

  “Why you think? I already know what’s next, so I got the drop on the address from Stacks.” He let him know. While he called it off, Donnell jotted it down on a piece of paper he ripped from the corner of the newspaper.

  “I’ll hit you back.”

  Donnell hung up and paged Sharonda impatiently waiting for her to call back. When his cell rang from a number he didn’t recognize, he answered.

  “Who is this?” She asked.

  “Aye, it’s Donnell. Look, don’t hang…”