you need to forget it, `cause Ant
ain't coming up wit' nothing."
"When he see this furniture, yes the hell he will."
"After you give me the five, how often are you
going to make the payments, and for how much?"
"How much are you selling the shit to me for?"
"I can do thirty-five hundred."
"Girl, I'll be paying that shit off forever."
"Lucci paid over ten g's for it."
"And you paid nothing."
"Fine, I can do twenty-five."
"Make that an even two thousand, and I'll pay
you two hundred dollars every week until it's paid off."
"Fine, but I want my five-hundred before you
lift even a chair out this motherfucker." Tierra glanced
around her spacious one bedroom loft, still trying to
figure out how sugar went to shit overnight.
Nichelle sat in her English class, reminiscing
on how fucked up the last week had been between
her and Carmelo. Ever since the argument over
Tierra happened, he had been giving Nichelle the
silent treatment. Even when he would pick her
up from school, no more than a few words were
exchanged between them. The stress was taking
a toll on her, because not only was Carmelo her
man, but she considered him her best friend, right
next to Tierra.
Then there was Tierra. She was salty at her
too. It was as if Tierra blamed Nichelle for how
Carmelo went at her, even though Nichelle felt she
had put shit on the line for her friend. So the two
people she felt the closest to were both throwing
major shade her way, and Nichelle didn't know
what to do to make it right. On top of all that,
it was Nichelle's eighteenth birthday, and nobody seemed to remember or care.
"There's the bell. Class is now over. I'll see
you guys on Monday. Have a good weekend," Mr.
Chambers said, dismissing the students. "Nichelle,
I need to speak with you for a minute."
Nichelle sucked her teeth, not in the mood
for the drama. "Mr. Chambers, I know what you're
gonna say. The paper I turned in late was some
garbage, and I'm still gonna flunk your class." She
sighed, as she looked down at the floor.
"Yes, your paper was late-scrape thatmake that very late, but it was worth it."
"Excuse me?" Nichelle directed her eyes from
the floor to meet Mr. Chambers' face. She needed
to look directly in his eyes to make sure she heard
every word he spoke.
"Your paper was worth the wait. To say I was
moved by your story would be an understatement.
The complex emotions of the young female character
were incredibly profound. Nichelle, you're a very
talented writer, and with proper guidance, there is
no telling how far you can go."
"Oh, I see. I guess you're the one who is
going to give me the proper guidance. What, you
want some ass, is that it? I don't fuck for grades,
Mr. Chambers, so if that's what you're looking for,
you can go `head and flunk me now."
She didn't fully grasp what she had just
said to her teacher until she saw the horrendous expression on his face. But it was too late, she
couldn't take it back. The silence in the room was
eating Nichelle up. She didn't know if she should
say nothing more and make her exit, and right
when she decided that would be her best move,
Mr. Chambers finally spoke.
"Nichelle, you are a very attractive young
lady, but I would never jeopardize my career
as a teacher by trying to have an inappropriate
relationship with one of my students, or any student
for that matter. If I have ever done anything to give
you that impression, then I apologize. I genuinely
believe you have a gift for writing. It doesn't have
to be me, but hopefully you'll find someone to
help you hone your craft, so you can take that gift
wherever you want it to go in life."
"Are you trying to say you think I'm smart,
Mr. Chambers?"
"Yes, you are smart."
"Nobody has ever told me that before. I guess
it's easier for me to believe that you're like the
typical man, running around with sex on the brain,
than to think you see talent in me."
"Nichelle, talent is a gift that God gives
ain't coming up wit' nothing."
"When he see this furniture, yes the hell he will."
"After you give me the five, how often are you
going to make the payments, and for how much?"
"How much are you selling the shit to me for?"
"I can do thirty-five hundred."
"Girl, I'll be paying that shit off forever."
"Lucci paid over ten g's for it."
"And you paid nothing."
"Fine, I can do twenty-five."
"Make that an even two thousand, and I'll pay
you two hundred dollars every week until it's paid off."
"Fine, but I want my five-hundred before you
lift even a chair out this motherfucker." Tierra glanced
around her spacious one bedroom loft, still trying to
figure out how sugar went to shit overnight.
Nichelle sat in her English class, reminiscing
on how fucked up the last week had been between
her and Carmelo. Ever since the argument over
Tierra happened, he had been giving Nichelle the
silent treatment. Even when he would pick her
up from school, no more than a few words were
exchanged between them. The stress was taking
a toll on her, because not only was Carmelo her
man, but she considered him her best friend, right
next to Tierra.
Then there was Tierra. She was salty at her
too. It was as if Tierra blamed Nichelle for how
Carmelo went at her, even though Nichelle felt she
had put shit on the line for her friend. So the two
people she felt the closest to were both throwing
major shade her way, and Nichelle didn't know
what to do to make it right. On top of all that,
it was Nichelle's eighteenth birthday, and nobody seemed to remember or care.
"There's the bell. Class is now over. I'll see
you guys on Monday. Have a good weekend," Mr.
Chambers said, dismissing the students. "Nichelle,
I need to speak with you for a minute."
Nichelle sucked her teeth, not in the mood
for the drama. "Mr. Chambers, I know what you're
gonna say. The paper I turned in late was some
garbage, and I'm still gonna flunk your class." She
sighed, as she looked down at the floor.
"Yes, your paper was late-scrape thatmake that very late, but it was worth it."
"Excuse me?" Nichelle directed her eyes from
the floor to meet Mr. Chambers' face. She needed
to look directly in his eyes to make sure she heard
every word he spoke.
"Your paper was worth the wait. To say I was
moved by your story would be an understatement.
The complex emotions of the young female character
were incredibly profound. Nichelle, you're a very
talented writer, and with proper guidance, there is
no telling how far you can go."
"Oh, I see. I guess you're the one who is
going to give me the proper guidance. What, you
want some ass, is that it? I don't fuck for grades,
Mr. Chambers, so if that's what you're looking for,
you can go `head and flunk me now."
She didn't fully grasp what she had just
said to her teacher until she saw the horrendous expression on his face. But it was too late, she
couldn't take it back. The silence in the room was
eating Nichelle up. She didn't know if she should
say nothing more and make her exit, and right
when she decided that would be her best move,
Mr. Chambers finally spoke.
"Nichelle, you are a very attractive young
lady, but I would never jeopardize my career
as a teacher by trying to have an inappropriate
relationship with one of my students, or any student
for that matter. If I have ever done anything to give
you that impression, then I apologize. I genuinely
believe you have a gift for writing. It doesn't have
to be me, but hopefully you'll find someone to
help you hone your craft, so you can take that gift
wherever you want it to go in life."
"Are you trying to say you think I'm smart,
Mr. Chambers?"
"Yes, you are smart."
"Nobody has ever told me that before. I guess
it's easier for me to believe that you're like the
typical man, running around with sex on the brain,
than to think you see talent in me."
"Nichelle, talent is a gift that God gives
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