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6. What's the Deal-Jamal

After school we went to the park around the corner from our block to go ball and it's been a minute but I'm not rusty just high from smoking before.

"Bad look for you to be with her Jamal." Joe says lacing up his shoes.

"I see her the same way I see Keegan and Lena." I lie dribbling the ball a little.

"I would hope not Lena and Keegan don't look like the came from deep within the forest of Niggaville." Devin joked jumping off the old bleachers.

"Lamest joke this year." I say rolling my ankle for a second.

"Why so pressed on her? I don't get it. Shit it's only the second day of school and all of the females I saw look copied and pasted or Freshmen. Her personality fire we friends." I wanna know the deal with their issue with Ray.

"What is it she a hoe, she fake what it is. Be my boys and come to me on that real other than that I don't care to much to talk about a girl when she not here to defend herself." I grip the ball in my hand stand in front of them.

"Jamal look at her. Nigga will clown you for messing with her friend or not I see you more interested in her then any other female we met up with it. I know you and you'd bust a nigga head in from playing you. I suggest chill out on that for real." Joe warned.

"So I'm guessing y'all get clowned for being around her?" I sigh growing frustrated by the conversation.

"Fuckin right! She blacker than the bottom of my shoe and she just not cute in general. That's not a good look to keep around. Kee been trying to get Lena to drop her for a minute now." Devin says sitting on the first row of the bleachers.

"I get you're feeling her for whatever stupid ass reason but fall back dude its just not a good look. If you really want something to bag I know a junior with a fat ass and I see you like em burnt mean dark." Joe chuckeles sliding his phone out of his pocket.

"Look I'm not looking for a girl but fuck if y'all hard up about me falling back on Ray I will." I say so they get off me about the situation.

"Bet let's ball." Another dude from around the way comes through the fence and we start a two on two.

We played for about an hour and when I got home my pops had a beer next to him and was snoring while ESPN was on the tv.

In the shower I get t overthinking about everything. In the last to days of going to Edison I went to school hung out with "friends" and came my ass home. If this was earlier this summer or a year ago. I wouldn't have gone to school today and I damn sure wouldn't be home at 8 taking a shower.  It's boring but boring is safe. Safe is out of trouble safe is me graduating with the class of 2014 not another class. A diploma is the least I could give my pops and to stop my momma from rolling in her grave.

When I turn the water off I wrap a towel around my waist and grab my phone off the charger and see I'm added to a group message started by Keegan with Lena, Devin, and Joe. This girl is too much. It's just Keegan sending memes that everybody seen a million times. I put the entire message on do not disturb locked and finally put on some clothes.

I liked talking on the phone with Ray I know I should just stay away from her. If what Joe and Dev were saying is true that everybody clown's Ray then I'm not trying to be captain-save-a-hoe. Fighting niggas who talk shit about her.

My phone vibrates with a text from an unknown number. All it says is "where you at". I respond back and I get a text back within a matter of seconds.

Nassir: I'm back

Nassir and I been knowing each other since elementary school. When I got kicked out of my first high school he stayed and we always were relatively close. Until this summer we got caught trying to move weight for his brother and while I was in the mall grabbing something he was outside with the cops busted. They've been watching the car we were in which was stolen for over a week. They charged Nassir because he was over 18 but since they didn't find much in the car he only had to stay for about two or three months.

Jamal: I'll come scoop you.

And just like that my new found routine of coming home and staying in my house ended after two days. I grab my keys and a hoodie and I'm back in Nassir's hood. Once I tell him I'm outside Nassir comes out looking no different than he did a few months back. A blunt is placed behind hid ear and he's dressed like it's the BET Awards pre-show.

"Where the hell you going man." I laugh dappin him off.

"Shit I had to show these niggas and bitches alike that Nassir still got it." He laughs.

"Alright so where we headed?" I start he car and slip my hood over my head.

"Carmel Suites remember Jas from like middle school I think. Anyways she a hoe now got a hotel room with some of her friends and some alcohol." I shake my head we back to our old shit.

I can do both. Go to school do my work and be normal and I can chill with my old friends like nothing's changed. As long as I don't get caught up with this shit I'll be fine.

"So who let your crazy ass in they school." He ask taking the blunt from behind his ear and lighting it.

"Edison." He starts laughing like I'm Kevin Hart goofy ass.

"Somethin funny nigga." I park my car and stand outside this dingey ass motel.

"You said Carmel Suites this Carmel 8 the motel." I snatch the blunt out his hand as we walk up the stairs to the room.

The room is a smoky haze and the bass of the music is playing through the room. I sit in the corner of the room when Nassir plops on the next to Jas.

"You look so bored." One of Jas friend's sits on my lap and I look at her pointedly.

"I just got here how bored can I be?" I question putting my phone on the table beside me.

"Bored enough to play with me." She purrs in my hear taking one of my hands and putting it in her lap.

"In here?" I laugh.

"There's a bathroom." She leans into my ear. "And a balcony." She giggles and stands up.

Pretty as hell and her body even better. Grabbing my hand we walk to the balcony where we came in at.

"Right here?" I laugh.

Kneeling in front of me. "Right here." And before I start thinking too much my dick getting sucked on a balcony.

~

"Jamal turn that fuckin alarm off son." My eyes shoot open.

Aw fuck.

"Nassir man we gotta go I'm about to be late for school." I toss this girl from off of me.

"Skip man." He groans rolling over.

"Hell no. I miss a day and I'm not graduating on time."  I say putting my shoes and hoodie back on.

Nassir puts his own shoes on following me too my car.

"Serious about graduating this year huh?" He says in the passenger seat.

"I just want a diploma. If somebody can't say one thing about me they could say I graduated." After hearing how bad I was from school after school all I need to hear is congratulations.

When we get to the red light he stops and looks at me seriously. "Then why the fuck you was out until 7 son."

Taken of guard I looked at him. "The fuck you mean my best friend I might add just got out bin for somethin we both did. I owe it to you to chill."

"No dumb ass you owe it to me graduate and make somethin out of yourself. Fuckin some unknown hoe, getting drunk, and blackin out on a Tuesday not getting you anywhere." I take a deep ass breath.

"I'm doing better. I haven't touched alcohol in over month up until last night." I admit feeling like shit already.

When I stop in front of his grandmother's house. "Do ya thing with this school shit. Just don't switch up on me." He slams the door and look down at my clock.

I have to go to school in basketball shorts and a hoodie today and I'm perfectly good with not wasting anymore clothes on school. I made it to school with minutes to spare and I see in my car while my head starts pounding. I knew it was coming. I don't remember last night after that girl gave me head on the balcony of a motel. I can't fall back into this shit. But last night I was in my element.