“You dead ass wrong for that Donnell! You ain’t shit for real! I’ve been there for you, but you want to say fuck me over this hoochie-fied bitch?” She snapped.

  “You the only hoochie!” Sharonda spat ready to take off on her.

  Donnell looped his strong arm around her waist and pulled her closer to him before biting down on the tip of her ear; not trying to hurt her, but enough to get her attention.

  “Ouch!” She squealed trying to wiggle out of his arms.

  “You don’t ever address no chicken head bitches on no chicken head shit while you with me. You above that. I told you I was gon’ handle it and I did. She won’t ever fuck wit’ you again.” Donnell wasn’t having Sharonda get down with Shaniqua although he knew Sharonda could probably easily beat her in a one-on-one fade. Shaniqua wasn’t the strongest fighter. He said what he had to say to Sharonda and then told Shaniqua straight up, “You bet not ever look her way or fuck wit’ her or else I’ma have you handled every time. Remember that shit.”

  Shaniqua was too embarrassed to say anything and wasn’t desperate enough to stand there going back and forth with him, bringing even more attention to her already crushed ego. Instead, she held her shit in her hand and decided to leave.

  Sharonda gazed into his eyes, in a moment where words fell short and the emotions took the lead, she had to get on her tippy toes to place an unexpected kiss on his lips. Donnell had patiently waited for this kiss because he was about a lot of things, but he would never push no female to kiss nor fuck him if it’s not something they wanted to do. One wrong move and his career was over. His uncles preached that to him every chance they got.

  Wrapped up into her kiss, he slid his tongue into her mouth and allowed their tongues to worm around. No matter how many females he talked to, there wasn’t a single one who could say that he ever did this with them out in the open. He felt a lot of angry eyes on him at the moment but that was the least of his worries. Sharonda had slid into his world and had become his favorite girl. Everything about her gave the homie, lover, friend vibes and he had no intention of stopping it here.

  “Dee and Sharonda kissing in the tree.” Pinky teased, smiling with a Kool-aide frozen cup in her hand. Had she not walked up, they probably would’ve still been kissing. Sharonda chuckled wondering why the hell Pinky didn’t get her one too knowing how humid it was. Pinky read her mind and pulled out the Ziplock bag with the pink lemonade frozen cup inside of it. “Here, because I already know what you’re going to say.”

  Sharonda happily grabbed it and removed it from the bag. She then squeezed the cup from the bottom forcing the frozen Kool-aide to pop out so she could flip it upside down in the cup. The best place to start was from the bottom where all of the real flavor was located.

  Donnell looked at his watch and then at us. “We about to go kick it at ‘Da Tree’ for a lil bit. Ya’ll wanna go?”

  Sharonda wouldn’t have minded except for she had a paper due and really needed to get to it. Pinky could care less because she didn’t have shit to do besides go home to Stacks tonight. He told her the next time she walked in the house late he was gon’ drag her ass, and she believed him because he left earlier just to beat her home and see what she was going to do. She wasn’t afraid, but didn’t have the energy to find out tonight. It didn’t matter, she’d already had a ball.

  When they declined, he told Sharonda to drive his car to her house so they could have a ride, and he would come get it later since he planned on hopping in the car with one of his peoples anyway. He was glad she didn’t want to go to Da Tree and truthfully it was probably no place for him either because it wasn’t no telling what could pop off but that didn’t stop him from going.

  His car glided so smoothly on the roads; she fell in love with it. The experience was totally different than being on the passenger side. While she drove to Pinky’s house, she filled her in on the fight.

  “I knew I saw a big ass commotion over there. That’s what she gets. So, you his girl now or what? By the way, I saw Tyrone out there and he asked about you.”

  Sharonda frowned and swallowed the lump in her throat. “Forget Tyrone. I’ve been ignoring the fuck out of his ass. As far as Donnell, no I’m not.”

  “Yeah whatever, you just don’t know it yet. I’ll call you tomorrow girl.” Pinky exclaimed, getting out of the car. Sharonda made sure she saw her go inside before she pulled off. The whole ride to her house, she thought about Donnell. Donnell, Donnell you wanna be my man, she smiled to herself feeling all good inside. Time would tell.

  Chapter Six

  I Wanna Be Your Man- Roger & Zapp

  AFew Weeks Later

  Sharonda woke up to what she thought sounded like something hitting her window. She briefly opened her eyes, feeling like she was tripping. She listened through the darkness and closed her eyes only to hear it again. She checked the time on the digital alarm clock which read 2:30am. She didn’t have to work this weekend and didn’t have any homework, so she planned on sleeping in, not being disturbed by whatever was on the outside of her window.

  From the other side, Donnell stood on the dewy grass underneath the moonlight with tiny stones in his hand waiting for her to wake up. He could’ve easily paged or called her, but he wanted to see her pretty face instead. Although a simple act, it showed the essence of young love and the thrill of her sneaking out to be with him. The only sounds that could be heard at this time of morning were of soft crickets humming in the distance and the fallen leaves from a tree crunching underneath his Timbs.

  When her window finally cracked open, her silhouette appeared against the backdrop of her dimly lit room. She rubbed her eyes, and a bright smile spread across her face. She hadn’t seen him all day and because of their conflicting schedules at times, she wasn’t supposed to see him at least until another two days.

  “Donnell!” She whispered through a smile. “Boy, what you doing here?” She had to keep it down because she didn’t want Benita to hear her since their rooms were so close to each other.

  “Slip something on and come with me. I miss you.” He admitted.

  Sharonda felt a wisp of excitement and adrenaline. “I miss you too.” She replied in a hushed tone. “Wait right there, I’ll be back.”

  Although she was grown, she still had to follow her mama’s rules, and she would never go for Sharonda walking out of her house this time of the morning. Sharonda slipped into a pair of Bongo jeans and a sweater before putting her crisp white K-Swiss on her feet. She retrieved her phone but left her pager and signaled for him to help her out of the window.

  Donnell used his strong arms to lift her and cradle her out until he reached his car with the engine still humming. He opened the door and sat her inside of the butter leather seat before he entered on the driver’s side. His car was so warm and welcoming, especially since it was a breezy night.

  “Where we going?” She asked happy to be with him again. She had never in her life snuck out before, not even with Tyrone because he never did shit spontaneously at all.

  He drove with one hand on the steering wheel and was dressed like he’d just come from hanging out. His cologne was still strong, but he didn’t smell like liquor because he didn’t really drink. He took basketball too seriously and watched everything that went into his body.

  “It don’t matter, as long as I’m around you I’m good.”

  She rested her head on the headrest and stared out at the roads. Once they were out of her neighborhood and back on the main roads, the city was still alive. On Pembroke Road, they rode past the ‘7 Sisters BBQ Pit’ and she wished they would’ve been open because they had some of the best ribs on her side of town. Her hand rested on her belly when she heard the growling in there.

  “You hungry?” He asked, taking a glance over at her. Damn she’s pretty, he thought to himself.

  “Yeah, kind of.”

  “Cool, we can go to Royal Castle on 79th.”

  Sharonda agreed. She hadn’t had a good ass burger in a good while. On the way there, they bobbed their heads to the sounds of Method Man ‘All I Need’. They both rapped along. “Shorty, I’m there for you anytime you need me, for real girl, it’s me in your world, believe me.”

  When they finally arrived, Royal Castle was live with people inside and outside of the small restaurant. He opened the door to let Sharonda out and walked inside holding both his hands on her waist to make sure he had her back. There were no seats available but one of the old heads from around the way gave up his seat for them because he was a huge fan of Donnell’s.

  “Keep ballin’ out there youngin’. That last one was a damn good game. Miami Heat would be a fool to let another team pick you up because I know fasho you getting drafted.”

  Donnell nodded his head and gave a slight smile. “Appreciate that.”

  When he made sure Sharonda was seated, he bumped through a few people to go and order the food. Sharonda saw a few girls from around the way who she was cordial with, but she could tell from the looks in their eyes they were thirsty to know what she was doing with him.

  Donnell came back with two burgers and fries. The entire time they ate, multiple people would come up to him to talk about the game and every time he would keep it polite and brief because he didn’t want to take away from the time he was supposed to be spending with Sharonda, but she didn’t mind.

  She popped a fry in her mouth and admired him from a distance. “So, you think you getting drafted?”

  He nodded his head. “Of course, I am but I’m humble about it. I have agents that work full-time to make sure I’m represented the right way. What about you baby?”

  “What? I don’t play ball, Dee.”

  He chuckled. “After school is done. You going straight into nursing or what? That’s what I meant.”

  “Oh!” She nodded. “Yeah, that’s the plan.”

  “So, what about us?” He quizzed, popping the last little bit of his burger into his mouth.

  Sharonda dipped a fry inside of the ketchup and played around with it before nibbling from the tip. She placed the fry back on the plate deciding that she was full. “I’ve been wondering about that. We graduate soon and if you’re going into the league, where does that leave us? I know I’m not the only girl you talk to Donnell.”

  “You’re not, but you’re my favorite girl. You can be my only if that’s something you wanted. I can’t just not do my thing because I’m assuming it might be something that it’s not. How I know you ain’t kickin’ it with me to get over that Tyrone nigga?”

  Sharonda wondered why he was bringing Tyrone up when she purposely made sure she didn’t talk about or express her feelings about him either, especially when she was with Donnell. She began to blush red in the cheeks.

  “Un hmm, like I told you, I find out what I want baby.” He said.

  She folded her arms across her chest and smiled. “I’m over him.” She told the partial truth.

  “Yeah, we’ll see.”

  “What does that mean?” She quizzed.

  He stood up and held his hand out to help her up as well. Sharonda loved the way he catered to her but then again, he could just be that way with all of his girls.

  “It means, time will tell if you trying to be my one and only. Come on, let’s roll.”

  They walked out and got back into his car. Sharonda really did like him, and she had an idea. Her family was having a big cookout at her aunt’s house, and she wanted him to come with her. She knew her cousin Tricia would be there, and she also knew that her being with Donnell would show her cousin that she didn’t stop shit. As a matter of fact, she upgraded.

  “What you doing next weekend?” She asked.

  “Mackin’ and hangin’.” He chuckled.

  She playfully hit him on the shoulder and giggled. “I’m serious.”

  “Whatever you want me to be doing.”

  “Good, I want you to come to my family’s cookout. I’ll give you details this week.”

  He raised a brow. “Oh, you ready for a nigga to meet the family huh?”

  She burst out laughing as he whipped in front of her house. “Don’t start thinking you all that and shit.”

  “Never that.” He hopped out and opened her door once again. This time he picked her up and cradled her into his arms again so he could walk her to her window and help her inside. Sharonda wished she could stay in his arms forever. It was the best feeling in the world right now. When her sneakers plopped on her carpet, reality hit that their time was done for now.

  She leaned over and placed a kiss on his soft lips. “Get home safe and call me when you get there.”

  He furrowed his brows. “You crazy, I’m about to call yo sexy ass right now, fuck all that waiting shit.”

  Donnell walked away once again leaving his scent lingering. Just like he said he would, he called as soon as he got back in the car and just like most nights, they talked until he got home and both of them were snoring on the phone together.

  When the morning sun seeped through the window, Benita entered her daughter’s room and shook her head. “Don’t think I don’t know you snuck out with that basketball player. I know more than you think I know. Now you want to sleep all morning cause you tired. Un Un get up heffa. I need you to go to 183rd Street Flea Market with me. I have some things I need to get.”

  “Okay ma, I’m coming.” She yawned. “Give me a few minutes.”

  “That’s all I’m giving you.” She warned before closing the door.

  Sharonda could care less what Benita was talking about. Her young ass was in love.

  Chapter Seven

  This Lil Game We Play- Subway

  Sonya spun Sharonda around in the chair and had just got finished hooking her hair up in a French roll with a swooped bang. She smiled in front of the mirror pleased with her look. Pinky was underneath the sink bowl still getting her hair washed from another fresh pink dye.

  “You look so cute girl. I can tell somebody’s making you happy because you ain’t been coming up in here looking like you lost your best friend lately.” Sonya said.

  Sharonda knew that Sonya knew about everyone’s business, so she didn’t mind telling her about Donnell since she knew anyway. In the midst of her talking, she received a call from a number that she didn’t know.

  “Hello?”

  “So, you the bitch Donnell’s fucking?”

  Sharonda didn’t recognize the voice, but it didn’t sound like redhead. “No, as a matter of fact I’m not fucking him yet but when I do I’ma make sure I leave my pussy juice in his mouth just for you girl.”

  Everyone in the salon’s ears perked up realizing it was some juicy drama going on. “Un Un who is that girl? Give me the phone.” Sonya insisted, trying to snatch the phone away and go off on whoever was calling. She loved to cuss people out, especially bitches calling about a man. Sharonda had to duck and dodge to keep her from taking the phone.

  The girl laughed. “Okay bitch we gon’ see.”

  She hung up in Sharonda’s face and she sneered. “Trick ass bitch.” She mumbled.

  Sonya shook her head. “Next time give me the damn phone. I bet she won’t ever call back by the time I’m done.”

  “Who was that?” Pinky asked, finally coming up from the bowl.

  Sharonda grabbed her keys and stood up to leave after paying Sonya. “Girl, I don’t even know but it doesn’t matter.”

  “See, you be having some shit going on girl.” Pinky laughed.

  “Pinky, I know you ain’t talking cause you got bigger shit to worry about.”

  “Like what?”

  Sharonda glanced out of the window and nodded her head in the direction of the nail shop across 27th. “Like why hairy Larry walking another bitch in the nail shop that ain’t you.”

  “What?!” Everyone blurted in unison. “Girl, you fucking Larry’s hairy ass?”

  Pinky ran to the window to see for herself. “I know you’re lying! Hell, no he got me fucked up. That’s my hairy ass nigga so fuck what ya’ll have to say. I’m about to go show my ass right now.” She fussed. “Give me a cap for my head Sonya. This nigga out of his mind if he thinks he’s about to go give money to another bitch.”

  Sharonda continued to stare out of the window laughing. Pinky thought she was about to show out, but Stacks had just pulled up outside. “I think you might want to sit this one out.”

  “Why?” She snapped.

  Sharonda pointed. “Stacks is outside.”

  Another chick with long colorful nails popped from under the dryer. “Oh shit, Stacks here? Damn, I told him I’d call him when I was ready for him to pick me up.”

  It was crickets in the salon because everyone knew that Stacks was Pinky’s man. The girl couldn’t figure out why everyone was staring at her. Oh shit, Sharonda thought knowing Pinky was about to tear shit up.

  Sonya knew it too. She shook her head and held one hand up. “Un Un Pinky, not here. Don’t tear my damn shop up.”

  The chick under the dryer frowned just as Stacks walked through the door. When he noticed Pinky was in the same salon, he tried to walk out. “Don’t leave now nigga! When I finish with her your ass is next!”