Me & My Boyfriend by Keisha Ervin Page B

looks and speech problem. His clothes were always too small and short, so when approached with the opportunity to make money, he took it. Daryl tried him out on the block, but quickly took him off, because his first time out he got robbed by a crackhead. After that spectacle, he became Daryl's man servant.
    Now sixteen and a little smarter, Lil Howard wanted more for his life. Somehow Daryl had made himself Lil Howard's sick father figure, a crazy and demented father figure he was at that. Lil Howard was in and there was no way out. If he told Daryl he wanted out, Lil Howard would pay for his life one way or another.
    Black was walking through security, one of Daryl's workers informed. Black, Rick, Kat, and his partna, Perry, strolled through the club. All eyes were on them and that's what they expected. Black and his partnas always came clean. Black had on a black leather Sean John jacket, a white wife beater, and matching leather SJ pants, and with a pair of black and gray Air Force Ones. He had his dreads pulled up in a ponytail with the rest hanging. On his chest, lay his diamond platinum necklace, with a charm that said “Black” in diamonds.
    His name alone on the chain was the size of a dollar. The diamonds in his ears would make any nigga cry. The nigga looked good, damn good.
    Black and his boys made it to the back, while Rick went to the bar. Spotting Rick, Meesa quickly turned around on the barstool. She knew that if Rick was there, nine times out of ten, Black was too.
    Turning around didn't help because Rick spotted the Chinesesymbol for love on the back of her neck. Sneaking up on her he said, “Boo.”
    “What's up, Rick,” She said flakily?
    “Shit ma, I know you here with your girls, so hook a nigga up.”
    “Which one?”
    “Um, that chick Tamara.”
    “Well, I hope you ain't for no hit it and quit it type shit.” Meesa stated demandingly.
    “Nah, nah I kind of dig shorty.”
    “Well, I'll tell her.”
    “Cool, I'll check you later ma.” He said as he walked away with his drink in hand. Making his way through the club, Rick spotted one of the young cats that worked for Daryl. Knowing he was somewhere around, he quickly made it to the back to warn his boy.
    Smoking a blunt laced with the best, Black and his partnas sat in the corner of the club.
    “Let me holla at you cuz.” Rick requested.
    “What's up?” Black asked, already high.
    “Look dude, I saw one of that nigga Daryl's youngsters in here.” Glad he bought the heat inside instead of leaving it Black nodded assuring Rick he knew what was up. He informed the rest of the fellas to be on lookout. After a blunt and a half, Black had had enough.
    Upstairs seated at a table, sat Meesa, Tamara, and Nikki. Kelly was sick so she didn't come.
    “Yo T, that nigga Rick want to holla at you.” Meesa informed.
    “Word, where he at.”
    “He's somewhere downstairs.”
    “Well, excuse me ladies, I got to go and get my mack on.” Tamara said gleefully.
    Glad at least one of her friends was happy, Meesa just sat and pouted. Knowing she would have to see Black, it was just a matter of time before she ran into him, she thought. They hadn't seen each other since that fateful morning. It had been weeks, and Meesa had feared the day that they would meet again.
    Watching Tamara approaching, Rick remembered his talk with Meesa. The shit with Black and that punk ass nigga Daryl had Rick shook.
    “Ay, I forgot to tell you I saw Meesa sitting at the bar.” Rick said, leaning over to Black's ear.
    “Oh?” Was all Black said in return. He kept his feelings about everything close to his heart, especially the ones he had for Meesa. Cats would take that shit for a weakness and Black couldn't be considered weak in the game he was in. Over the weeks, Black replayed the morning they broke up in his mind over and over.
    Realizing the minute he stepped out of the door he loved her, Black considered going back, but he never allowed it to happen. He wasn't ready