Page 98 of Feeling Blue

“Hell nah, know it ain’t a party without the gang,” Wale encouraged their ghetto fabulous behavior as he passed them and headed for the bar where Blue was sitting.

Naturally, their eyes followed him and landed directly where they didn’t need to be. It was sad how thirsty they both were when it came to him. Embarrassing even. They wore matching smiles that oozed thirst; however, only Journey spoke.

“Blue, what’s good, my boy? You hiding?”

“Told this nigga,” Rico chimed in while dropping the dice. “Nigga! I’m up. Give me my bread!”

More than thankful for the uproar from the dice game, Blue ignored Journey’s attempt at conversation and tapped Zurena’s leg.

“You good?”

She nodded, making her hair move over her shoulders. “I would have liked to finish my beer before I left, but I guess you took care of that.”

“Man, I’m trying to stay calm and off Rico’s ass. But now that Beavis and Butthead are here, it’s really time to split.”

The high-pitched squeal Zurena released while falling into his shoulder laughing made him laugh too.

“Ole dumb and dumber head ass bitches,” he egged her on, making her gasp to catch her breath.

“Damn, I wanna laugh,” Rico’s tone was anything but joking that time.

Blue’s whole face frowned as he finally stood from his seat. He was tired of that hating ass nigga. “Bruh, get off my dick. You been in a nigga shit since I got here. The fuck you on?”

Blue’s words were nasty, but the calm way he’d relayed it would make you wonder if he was serious or not. His statement had definitely been fighting words, but could be ignored if the receiver didn’t really want to fight. It was the kind of rude that you had to let digest to decide if you felt disrespected or not.

“I was just trying to have some fun. You and ya sister over there in ya lil’ sibling bubble and shit. Like y’all not at a whole party,”

“And you want to be included?” Zurena questioned, with a hint of confusion.

Rico’s eyes went to her and narrowed some. Blue noticed and tried to redirect the trouble Rico was summoning his way.

“Before you respond to her, ask yourself, are you ready for me to fuck you up about it?”

“Aye, y’all chill this shit out. Everybody enjoying themselves. Blue, get you another beer, Rico, stop babysitting them dice, so I can whoop your ass and go home.”

Pat’s words took a moment to settle over the room, but everybody knew not to test him, so they did what was instructed.

“Damn baby boy, you must not fuck with me no more?” Journey wedged herself between him and Zurena, leaning against the wall like she was there to stay.

“Nah.”

“For real? It’s like that?”

Blue nodded once.

“It must be your new girlfriend? She’s pretty, skinny as fuck, but pretty.”

It was quiet for a moment, Blue refusing to acknowledge her attempt at getting a rise out of him.

“She’s tiny like a kid… but cute, I guess. Can’t hate on that,” she continued.

“But you’re over here fucking hating.” Zurena snapped at her. “Bitch, he knows how she looks, that’s his lil’ shit.”

Blue knew it wouldn’t be long before she let Journey have a piece of her mind. Zurena hated her and everything that she’d done to him, and didn’t mind letting it be known.

“Zurena, please don’t start with me tonight. I wasn’t even talking to you.”

“You start with Zurich, then you start with Zurena. Everybody in the world knows that.” She turned on her stool so that she was facing Journey.

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