Trife Life To Lavish (A King Production Presents...) Read online

  "How's Lerrick's scar healing? I know the last time you were in here, you said it looked pretty bad," the stylist said, taking the rollers out of Kay Kay's hair.

  "That shit ain't looking too much better. You know it's going down the entire right side of her face. Only a good plastic surgeon could make that shit look any better, and don't nobody got no money for that."

  "Whoever did that shit to your sister should be ashamed of themselves. The kids today need to stop the madness."

  "It was some jealous ass bitch named Nichelle that she go to school with. Now, the bitch done went into hiding and won't show her face. She knows that Lerrick gon' beat her ass when she do."

  "I wish she would! I will beat her ass like I did before if Lerrick so much as looks at Nichelle!" Tierra barked, jumping up from her chair and walking towards Kay Kay.

  Kay Kay's eyes popped out, surprised to see Tierra. "What the fuck this got to do wit' you? This ain't none of your business," Kay Kay said, rolling her eyes and neck simultaneously.

  "If it got to do wit' Nichelle, then it is my business. And yo' stupid ass know good and well that ain't nobody jealous of yo' busted ass sister. You up in here spreading lies about Nichelle. If she slashed Lerrick's face, best believe it was because your sister fucked wit' her first."

  "You don't know what the fuck you talkin' `bout!" "Yes, I do! Lerrick's dumb ass was fuckin' wit' Nichelle not too long ago, and I had to whip her ass like I used to do you back in ninth, tenth, eleventh and twelfth grades. So you don't know what the fuck you talkin' `bout!"

  "You ain't gon' do shit to my sister!" Kay Kay barked back, standing up from her chair.

  "Bitch, sit the fuck down, before I knock the rest of them rollers out yo' head! Don't act like you don't remember how I get down!"

  "Tierra, calm down! I don't need you destroying my salon," Charlene pleaded.

  Everybody in Queens knew Tierra was a beast when it came to beating a bitch down. And for those that didn't, Tierra was quick to make them recognize.

  "She don't want none of this!" Kay Kay boasted, trying her best to present a tough exterior, knowing good and well Tierra would mop up the floor with her.

  "Don't worry, Charlene. I'ma have a seat and wait to get my hair done. Now you, motherfucker," Tierra turned back towards Kay Kay and pointed her finger in her direction. "I know where the fuck you live, and when I see you out in them streets, yo' monkey ass is mine ...trust!"

  Tierra sat back down in her chair, beyond heated. She was desperate to talk to Nichelle. Now I understand mhy Nichelle xent into hiding. She probably worried Lerrick is gon' retaliate against her for slashing her face. With Nichelle being pregnant, she ain't gonna manna fight Lerrick and put the baby's life in jeopardy. So she staying out of harms way. That bitch, Lerrick got to go! Maybe then Nichelle will feel comfortable enough to come home.

  Tierra's thoughts were interrupted when she heard her cell phone ringing. "Hello."

  "We need to talk. What time can we meet up?"

  "Damn right we need to talk! Where you been? I've been trying to get in contact wit' you, and you been ghost."

  "I've been busy, but I got something for you."

  "I hope it's a lot. When I say that, I mean a lot more than we originally agreed on after the way everything went down."

  "Like I said, I got you. I'll see you at the spot in say, an hour?"

  "Make it two. I'm about to get my hair done."

  "Two hours then, and don't be late."

  Before Tierra could respond, the person on the other end hung up. But that was okay, she was finally going to collect, and that's all that mattered. She hoped that this time next week, she would be packing her shit and getting the hell out of her mom's crib.

  "Mr. O'Neal, I hope your car meets all of your specifications," the dealer said, as Renny inspected every detail of his newly purchased Maserati Granturisimo S, at the Long island dealership. Renny could afford any car he wanted, and had been through quite a few, but something about this particular style of vehicle gave him a hard-on. Normally he would see a car, like it and buy it. But this time he specifically selected everything from the walnut briarwood dashboard and steering wheel, the stitching matching the Rosso Corallo interior. Even the color of the brake calipers to accent the exterior and interior of the car was Renny's decision. With the executive package he had added, the car could damn near do everything but drive itself.

  "This is truly my baby!" Renny glided his hand over the slick body of the car. "I can't wait to get behind the wheel," Renny smiled, to the dealer's delight.

  For the last few weeks of doing business with Renny, the dealer knew how meticulous he was, and you didn't want to be in his path if something didn't meet his expectations.

  "Hold on one minute, this is my other baby," he said, answering his cell. "Is everything okay?"

  "Yeah, everything is fine. Are you busy?" Nichelle hardly ever called Renny. In fact, this was only the second time. She already felt that she was intruding on his personal space, so she tried not to bother him when he was out handling business.

  "No, what's up?"

  "I was wondering what time you were coming home. I thought maybe I could cook dinner for you."

  Renny could hear the apprehension in her voice. He thought it was cute that she was feeling nervous, and he decided to fuck with her. "Nichelle, who's gonna make the food? Because you don't even know how to cook."

  "How did you know? I never told you I couldn't cook!"

  "You just did."

  Nichelle wanted to drop the phone and hide in the closet out of embarrassment. She didn't know how to cook, but she was trying to find a way to bring some romance into the house without doing something too obvious, like opening his bedroom door, butt-ass naked.

  "Nichelle, are you there?"

  "I'm here."

  "I have a better idea. I bought a new car today, and I can take you for a ride on our way to dinner. So be ready at eight. I'll see you then."

  When he hung up, instead of Nichelle being excited that this would be their first time going out on a somewhat of a date, she felt like a complete loser. "Why in the hell did I suggest I cook him dinner? He must think I'm pathetic! He can do everything, and I can't do nothing!" She continued talking to herself out loud as she tried to straighten up his crib. She also felt that was a waste, since twice a week, he had maid service come in and clean up anyway. "What the hell does he need me for? I'm like dead weight to this dude."

  Nichelle slumped down on the couch, frustrated. "Okay, he doesn't need anything from me, but he does want me to go to school. I'll do better than just go and pass, I'ma bust my ass and get excellent grades. Then I can prove to Renny that I am good at something. Yep, that's what I'll do," she decided, hoping speaking it out loud would make it come to fruition.

  "Yo', this some good fuckin' weed right here!" Lerrick said, as she, Kyla and Cinthia chilled at Flushing Meadow Park.

  "Look at all the stars in the sky, and the full moon. That shit is beautiful right there," Kyla said, lying on the grass, mesmerized.

  "Lerrick, did you lace the weed wit' coke? `Cause Kyla over there buggin' hard."

  "Ain't nobody buggin', I'm appreciating nature."

  "You might be right, Cinthia," Lerrick giggled. "She sounding crazy. So crazy, I think it's time for us to go. It's late as hell anyway, and I got the munchies."

  "Hold up, let me go piss before we break out. I won't be able to hold it until I get home."

  "G'on `head. I have a few more pulls to get off this blunt before I toss it anyway."

  "You mean 9?/e," Cinthia clarified, making it clear she wouldn't be left out of sharing the rest of the good weed.

  Kyla rushed to find a semi-private spot behind a tree, barely able to hold her urine. She struggled to unbutton and unzip her jeans, as being high was making her even clumsier. "Oh yes," she moaned, finally getting her jeans down and urinating.

  When she was almost done, she was about to reach over and grab some leaves t
o wipe herself the best she could, but that would never happen. Without any warning, a firm hand covered her mouth, pressed her head back and slit her throat in one single stroke. The blade cut so deep, it almost severed her head. Her body was gently laid down, as to not make any noise

  "Damn, Kyla, is you over there shittin' too? What the fuck is takin' you so long?" Lerrick screamed out, and then she and Cinthia laughed at the idea. "Go sneak up on her and scare the shit out of her," Lerrick whispered.

  Cinthia nodded her head, letting Lerrick know she was down. Lerrick watched as Cinthia tiptoed to the tree. Cinthia kept turning back around, looking at Lerrick and covering her mouth so she wouldn't laugh out loud. But as she made her way behind the tree, Cinthia was the one in for the surprise.

  By the time Cinthia saw someone dressed in all black, from the ski mask on down, the knife was already gutting out her insides. Blood spurted from her mouth as the blade went through her belly button, and then ripped up, practically snatching out both kidneys and her liver.

  "Cinthia, is everything a'ight?" From where Lerrick was standing, she saw Cinthia's arm fling out in an odd manner. "Cinthia, Kyla, is everything a'ight?" This time she screamed, becoming alarmed. "This shit ain't funny! Ya' need to answer me now!"

  When Lerrick saw the all black figure step from behind the tree into the moonlight, carrying a blood-drenched knife, she started hauling ass. "Oh shit! What the fuck!" she whimpered as she ran towards the highway, praying that if she made it to the wide lanes, cars would be coming by and save her. But with her being out of shape, she quickly began running out of breath. As she slowed down she could hear her attacker speeding up, getting closer and closer, until finally, her entire body fell over as her attacker lunged on top of her.

  "Please don't hurt me! Please don't hurt me!" Lerrick cried out.

  The attacker used every ounce of strength to keep Lerrick pinned down, and pulled a gun from a back pocket without giving her a chance to break free.

  "Your time is up! This is what you and your crew get for fuckin' wit' Nichelle! Remember her name on your way to hell!" With a swift pull of the trigger, a hole was put through Lerrick's head, leaving her faceless.

  3 le!

  There is nothing wrong with having great expectations. But expecting too much too fast can also push someone to make a careless move that leads to life altering repercussions.

  Nichelle sat in the car silently, as Renny drove her to school. She was still livid, or more so hurt, that Renny never showed up that night to take her to dinner. By the time he got home, she had fallen asleep in her clothes, trying to wait up for him. The next morning, he apologized, but made no effort to reschedule dinner for another night.

  'What time should I pick you up from school?"

  "If I tell you, are you going to show up, or leave me outside waiting?"

  Renny turned and glanced at Nichelle, and then put his eyes back on the road. "Is there something you want to get off your mind?" he asked, unruffled by her sassy tone.

  "Why didn't you show up to take me to dinner that night?'

  "I told you, I got caught up handling some business."

  "Why couldn't we have gone over the weekend then?"

  "We could've, but we didn't."

  "Yeah, because you were barely home."

  "Exactly. See, you answered your own question."

  Nichelle wanted to scream at the top of her lungs. "You make me feel so stupid."

  "I apologize. That isn't my intention. I don't ever want you to feel stupid, because you're not."

  "Then what is it? Are you no longer attracted to me? I'm trying to understand why you don't want me anymore."

  "I was under the impression that you didn't want me to want you."

  "At first because, Carmelo had just died and I lost my baby, there was so much going on."

  "But now?"

  "Now, I want to see what can happen between us. I mean, you have me living at your house, but you treat me like a roommate."

  "Not so much. I don't do roommates, but if I did and I treated you like one, you would be paying rent and half the utility bills."

  "Point taken. So then, what is it? Why haven't you tried to get close to me in an intimate way?"

  "Because I respect your wishes. I told you how I felt at the hospital, and you shut me down. So, I decided we could be friends, and I'm actually enjoying our friendship."

  "So that's it? We're only gonna be friends?"

  "For now, I think that's best. You need to concentrate on school and graduating. If it's meant to happen between us, it will. No need to rush. Call me when you're ready for me to pick you up. I'll already be in the neighborhood."

  Nichelle looked out of the window, and realized they were in front of her school. She didn't want to get out the car. There was so much more she wanted to express to Renny, like she wished she had enough guts to say, "I want you to love me", but she didn't.

  "Okay," she said, getting out the car, crushed. When she closed the door, she was thinking Renny would call out for her, saying to come back so they could talk, but he didn't. Instead, he drove off, leaving her to go inside to class.

  "Tierra, have you decided what classes you're going to take at the community college when school starts back after the summer?"

  "Yeah... none!" Tierra answered her mother, as she went through her closet sorting out what clothes she wanted to keep and what items she had no use for.

  "I told you that you couldn't stay up in this house not working or going to school. You have to do something productive. I rather you go to school so you can have some better job options."

  "No disrespect, but I'd rather do neither."

  "So, what you plan on doing then?"

  "For the next week or so, I'ma be getting my stuff together so I can move into my new apartment."

  "Excuse me?"

  "You heard me correctly. It's a great apartment in a high rise in Jersey City, right on the water."

  "How in the hell are you going to afford that?"

  "I'm house-sitting for a friend."

  "You mean some low-life you fuckin', Tierra!"

  "I can't believe you being so vulgar! Ain't nobody fuckin'! I did a favor for them, and now they're returning it. It ain't nothin' more than that."

  "You know what, Tierra? I'm done. I'm done lecturing you. I'm done tryna make you do something with your life ...I'm just done! But when this shit explodes in your face, don't come back knocking on my door, `cause you ain't gon' get no answer."

  "I love you too, Ma," Tierra mumbled sarcastically, and went back to going through her clothes.

  Throughout her whole day at school, Nichelle stayed focused on her schoolwork. She figured Mr. Chambers would be cooperative, but she was surprised that each of her other teachers were also being very supportive, and gave her all the assignments that she missed so she could catch up. They seemed impressed that Nichelle even cared enough to try and improve her grades, and they were willing to do all they could to help the cause.

  During lunch, instead of hanging out in the cafeteria or going outside to talk on her phone, Nichelle stayed in the library, doing her work. That was going to be her new routine for the rest of the school year, or at least until she had got completely caught up and was making the sort of grades she wanted.

  She had been concentrating so hard on her class work, that it wasn't until the end of the day that she realized she hadn't ran into Lerrick or her crew even once. She still didn't think too much of it, until she heard some girls talking when she went to the bathroom.

  "It wasn't just Lerrick, it was Kyla and Cinthia too."

  "All three of them?"

  "Yep, it happened last week. They made an announcement about it at school. But didn't nobody care. Couldn't nobody stand Lerrick and her crew."

  "Do they know who did it?"

  "Ain't no telling who killed them bitches. If I knew, I would go shake their hands," the girl said, as she and her friend finished primping in the mirror and walke
d out of the bathroom.

  Nichelle remained in the stall, stunned by what she just heard. She hadn't even used the toilet yet, unable to fully accept as true that Lerrick and the two other girls who participated in holding her as she was beat in the very bathroom she was in right now, were dead. She was so out of it, she almost didn't hear her phone ringing.

  "Hello."

  "Why haven't you called me? I know school has to be getting out by now."

  "Renny, I'm sorry. I was about to call and tell you to come on."

  "Cool, I'll see you in a few."

  Nichelle hurried up and used the bathroom, and while washing her hands, she caught a glimpse of herself in the mirror. If you stared long enough, you could see a slight trace of the bruising that hadn't completely gone away from when Lerrick pounded on her face. "Yeah, that bitch did deserve to die," she mouthed, and walked out.

  at Q?/6ui

  If only we could pick and choose who we fell in love with, life would be so less complicated. But then it could also be a lot less pleasurable. Isn't the most intoxicating part about falling in love, is that you don't know who might end up having control over your heart. Especially when he's a street thug with the word danger attached to him.

  When Renny picked Nichelle up from school, she wanted to tell him what she found out about Lerrick, but he seemed preoccupied so she kept silent. Then, when they pulled up to the project building where she lived, she hesitated but went ahead and asked what she wanted before getting out the car. "Can you come up with me to my mom's apartment? She wanted to meet you."

  "Another time. I have to handle some business across the street. Give your mother my best. Tell her we'll meet soon."

  "Are you gonna wait for me, because I wanted to talk to you about something?"