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“She so fuckin’ bad. I mean, shawty had a nigga blushing all night. She cool shit for real.”

“You real giddy, nigga. What the hell happened with Copper? You ain’t on that no more?”

“Cop too close to home. It was fun flirting with her ass, but I wouldn’t never cross that line with her. She was something to do ‘cause I was bored. Onyx though, yeah, that line being crossed every time. She blunt and hot headed as hell. I like that shit bro,” he said, rubbing his hands together. Anytime he hit that gesture, he meant business. Onyx was cool so I could see them fuckin’ around.

“How old is sis? She up there with Fade?”

“Hell yeah. She thirty-five. When she refers to Fade, she calls her big sis. They close as hell, much like us nigga. Aye, y’all trying to go on a double date?” he asked showing nothing but golds.

With my face balled up, I looked at him like he was stupid. I wasn’t going on no fuckin’ double date. My woman was pushing forty not twenty. “No nigga. She got a lot of shit going on right now anyway. I think her baby graduating tomorrow too.”

“I ain’t know she was a senior. No wonder her and Harli got close. Oh, I meant to tell you, lil’ cuz wanted to you to pay for her crib and shit. She rented a beach house or something like that for her and her crew. I gave her half of it already.”

“Why you ain’t just give her the whole thing? You need to stop being so fuckin’ frugal. I’ll give it to her when she come get the car. I’m ‘bout to take a nap and shit before I go chop it up with my folk. Wake me up in like an hour.”

“Fa sho.”

&

The new graduates crowded the stage as I stood with the mic in tow. The grills were flowing, and the music was a vibe.Everything turned out the way it was supposed to. I stood up there as a proud big brother looking at their smiling faces. It was a few in the crowd that had a rough time crossing, but they did it and I couldn’t have been more appreciative for them taking the advice and hitting a hell of a turnaround.

No one congratulated them or made them feel seen, so BMG stepped in and took on that roll. From the young niggas that were overlooked to the young chicks that felt they had to use their assets to get ahead, they changed and beat the stereotypes that were attached to them. You goddamn right I was celebrating one of the first achievements of their life.

“Aye, I just want to congratulate each and every one of y’all. School ain’t for most of us, trust me, I know, but y’all did what they said y’all couldn’t. A diploma makes you better than a lot of muthafuckas believe it or not. It’s folk out here in their forties that don’t know what a diploma looks like. Brag, boast, all that shit. Y’all earned it. Eat, play games, have fun, and leave this bitch on a high from being something other than a drop-out. Love y’all man!”

The crowd erupted with shouts as their caps were thrown in the air. I couldn’t help but show all thirty-two. They deserved every blessing coming their way. My parents celebrated me the same way and I just felt like others needed to be as well. I hated school but I finished to make sure my parents never developed an ounce of disappointment. That feeling was worse than you could imagine.

I hopped down and the music was back in full effect. It was around six or seven in the evening, so the sun was setting, and the night life was approaching. We’d hosted graduation parties for the past four years and to some, they walked just to come out and party. Your diploma was your ticket in the door.

Zinc approached me with his hand extended waiting for a brotherly dap up. I honored his request and stood to the side.The turnout got bigger and bigger each year. More kids wanted to be appreciated and noticed for once. As long as BMG was riding, we would make it happen.

“That speech was trash nigga,” he jested.

“Yeah, and so was yo’ mama not showing up for yo’ graduation, but we ain’t talking ‘bout that,” I threw back.

“Yours did though, now who really got the upper hand. Ms. Loretta,” he sang while eyeing Neon.

“Steel gon’ whoop yo’ ass fuckin’ with his woman. He play ‘bout a lot of shit but my mama… yeah, he catching charges behind that one.” I looked in their direction and smirked when I saw my mama place a kiss on my father’s cheek. She was in love with him just as much as he was her.

Seeing them brought my baby to mind. I wasn’t no simp ass nigga, but Fade had me ready to pull out all the stops to get her attention. She gave a nigga butterflies and shit whenever I was around her and for the past few weeks, I felt like she was toying with my heart. One minute she looking at me like I’m the love of her life and the next she not even texting back or answering my calls. My tolerance for her bullshit was getting low as fuck.

I was trying my hardest to remain a gentleman and treat her with respect, but she was testing me. I invited her to the party, but it was looking like she wasn’t gon’ show. Because I was so focused on getting the party together, I couldn’t make it to the graduation ceremony. That was probably for the best. I would’ve lost my shit if Fade blew me off in person. At least she was kind enough to do it over the phone.

Scanning the crowd, I looked for her thinking just maybe she’d show a nigga some love. Even if she showed just to support Mel, I wouldn’t trip. She came and that was all I wanted.

“They on the way. Onyx just texted and said they five minutes out. Relax,” Z said chuckling at my impatience.

“Fuck you. Wasn’t nobody stunting Fade ass,” I lied.

“Oh word. Let me tell them to turn around then.” He whipped out his phone and I hit it out his hand causing it to fall the ground. “I thought you wasn’t stunting her?”

“I ain’t. I just want her daughter to come and celebrate with her friends.”

“You miss that old lady. It’s okay nigga, I missed mine too,” he laughed, and I couldn’t help but join him. I could admit Fade did her lil’ voodoo shit with that snapper she had. I was looking for her with a fuckin’ flashlight way too much.

“What that mean when a woman don’t answer yo’ calls and shit but you know she fuck with you?” I inquired.

“Nigga that mean you ain’t the main nigga, but she gon’ keep you on standby. Oh Lawd, she done friend zoned yo’ ass, huh?”

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