RedBone (16 page)

“Why would you say some dumb shit like that?”

“I’m telling the truth! You know Rhonda’s ass be getting high while she’s pregnant.”

Coconut laughed. “Did you really buy her a fifty dollar gift card?”

“Look, since Zone fell out of that window and you telling me you won’t room with me, I’m on my own. I ain’t got no money to give Rhonda or her fucking embryo-ass baby. Farah felt a little better since her bowels were clear, and spread her legs to wipe the shit stains from her asshole. Throwing the soiled tissue in the toilet, she flushed again.

“Hold up; was you just talking to me while you were using the bathroom?”

“Coconut, don’t act like you don’t shit too.”

“Yeah, whatever, girl.” Coconut paused. “Can you just call Natasha for me on three way?”

Over the years, Farah managed to be the only one in the group who had everyone’s number. From erasing contact information to stealing phones, she successfully kept everybody apart. Farah rolled her eyeballs around in her head like they were loose. “Call her for what?”

“Because I wanna make sure we ain’t get the same shit from Rhonda’s list. If I know her ass, she may try to upstage me.”

“I’ll do it tomorrow.”

“Can you do it now?” she persisted. “If we got the same stuff I’d rather take it back instead of waiting later.”

“Damn! You pressed. Hold on!” Farah put the phone on the bathroom floor and washed her hands. Then she looked at herself in the mirror. Since she got the medicine from Grand Mike she was feeling better than she ever had in her entire life. The only thing on her mind now was how she was going to keep her apartment at Platinum Lofts with no money or job. She could kill Coconut’s ass for changing up. Farah had a plan that was ironclad before she changed her mind. She knew that if she moved in, Jake’s drug-dealing ass would be paying for everything.

Going back home was out of the question. She almost lost the apartment since her name was not on the lease. Vivian James, the property manager, was on a mission. But after taking the matter to court, Vivian learned the agreement she had with Zone was valid, and Farah had a right to be there. On one condition: that she could pay the rent. If Farah failed, Vivian wouldn’t hesitate to throw her out on the streets, knowing she could double the rent and secure herself a bonus.

After Farah washed and dried her hands, she put unscented lotion on so that her disease wouldn’t flare up. When she was done she picked up the phone. “You still there?” She brushed her medium-length brown hair to cover the bald spot in the middle of her head, due to years of hair pulling, and a few strands floated into the sink. Lately she stopped the hair chewing, and she loved it.

“Damn, bitch! It took you long enough to come back to the phone. Did you bring her to your house or what?”

Farah ignored her and frantically wiped the hair off the sink and floor using a wet piece of toilet tissue. Zone hated hair lying around because it always ended up in his ass or under his nut sack. She was in no mood to hear his mouth, and then she remembered he was dead. She’d seen to it. She threw the toilet tissue in the trash. “Girl, you know that bitch put me on hold and never came back to the phone,” she lied. “I told you she sometimey. You keep thinking she your good friend, when she not.” Farah walked into her bedroom and looked at the bed. It felt weird being there without Zone, but she was sure she’d get used to it. “Just get a gift receipt and call it a day. That way if she do get the same stuff, you can take it back.”

“Naw, I gotta know. Just tell her to call me. I don’t know how we keep losing each other’s numbers. It’s fucked up that we all friends but I still gotta go through you to give Natasha and Rhonda messages.”

Farah went to her dresser and grabbed the blunt Zone rolled before he died. It was old, hard, and dry. Feeling in need of a buzz, she decided now was the time to burn them flames, a habit she picked up from Coconut. “Don’t worry, if there’s an urgent message I can relay it.” She blew out smoke. “I’m the only friend you need.”

Coconut sighed. “We not kids no more so stop saying that stupid shit.”

Already feeling the effects of the weed, Farah’s mind went into left field. “Girl, how ’bout that baby gonna be black as shit.” Farah laughed. “You know Knight already blacker than the inside of an eyeball and Rhonda ass so dark she look burnt.” Farah laughed harder. “That kid gonna be some kind of ugly.”

“First of all, you talking about a baby. Secondly, you of all people shouldn’t be talking about nobody dark. That’s all you keep talking about, having a black strong nigga.”

“So the fuck what? Ugly is ugly I don’t give a fuck how old it is.”

“I’m about to go. Just give Natasha my message.”

“Wait! Before you go can you do me a favor?”

“How big?”

“Why not ask how small?”

“Farah, what do you need?”

“I’m trying to go see Tank again this weekend. You know I need money for rent since you not moving with me no more. So he gonna give it to me.”

“Bitch, get the fuck out of here. You and me both know Tank’s broke ass ain’t giving you shit but troubles.”

“Well, I think he’s gonna give me cash this time.”

“Whenever you ready to tell the truth I’m gonna be here to listen.” Farah sat on the edge of her bed. “I gotta go. Coconut was starting to tire of Farah because she was too emotional, and petty.

“A’ight!” Farah said before inhaling the blunt again. “It’s like this, I wanna run the ménage à trois scheme again. I asked him for the money when I was at his house and he ain’t give it to me like he said he would. Even though I let him fuck me while I was on my period.”

Coconut was beyond irritated. “I don’t know if I’m with all that.”

“Please, Coconut! I’d do it for you.”

“But what if that big mothafucka wakes up and wants some pussy for real? I ain’t sign up for all of that.”

“If he wake up, we gonna do what we gotta do.”

“Farah, I’m not down with that shit no more. I got a man, plus the nigga grosses me out. And what’s in it for me? she asked. “The last time we did that shit, you gave me fifty bucks and kept the rest of the money when I was the one who did all the work.”

“You’ll be helping a friend who’s about to be put out. And a friend you didn’t tell you wasn’t moving in with until the last minute.”

Not wanting her friend out on the street, Coconut battled with whether to help her. Truthfully she thought the scheme was dumb because Farah never got more than a couple of hundred dollars from Tank, although she swore he stashed more.

“If I do this shit, when you trying to go?”

Farah was excited. “Tomorrow!” She had her right where she wanted her.

“Oops! Can’t do it, boo-boo,” Coconut said sarcastically. “I’m taking my boyfriend to get his bunion taken off. If you don’t believe me you can call his doctor.” Farah frowned. “Sorry, but you gotta get somebody else.”

“But nobody else know how to run game like we do together.”

“Can’t help you, baby. I really wish I could though. Ask Natasha.”

“She too fucking dumb.”

“Well, unless you don’t want your rent paid, I don’t believe you have a choice. And why do you keep fucking with that little-ass boy anyway?”

“Because Tank gonna be big time one day. Niggas already saying if he keep it going like he is, it’s just a matter of time.”

“So? I mean, don’t that nigga got a baby by old-ass Boo? His money already divided in too many pieces. The only future he got is in jail ... and soon, too!”

“Like I care about that ugly bitch! I fuck with him because when he blows up he gonna remember how I was with him when he ain’t have shit.”

“You love molding niggas.”

“Getting an up-and-coming drug dealer’s nose wide open is a smart investment. Trust me.”

“Whatever. I just hope your little foundation doesn’t crumble,” Coconut responded. “If I were you, I’d just get a roommate and stop doing all that other dumb shit. You too cute for all that. I’m out.”

After she got off the phone with Coconut she called Rhonda. Rhonda never answered the phone like a regular person. When most sane people answered the phone, they were essentially saying that they were prepared to start a conversation ... not Rhonda.

Looking at the caller ID, Rhonda said, “Hold on, Farah. Knight, please get your fucking blunt off my baby’s dresser! Damn, ain’t nobody make this room all nice for you to be getting high in here and shit! That’s so fucking trifling!” Farah shook her head.

“Bitch, I’m the one who fixed the mothafucka up!” Knight growled in the background. “I can suck smoke out of the baby’s bottle if I want to!”

“Nigga, suck my clit!”

In a seductive voice he said, “Bring it here.”

Rhonda started giggling. “Move, boy!”

“I love your crazy ass,” Knight said.

“I love you back, fucka!”

“Are you done?” Farah asked, irritated by the display of their demented love over the phone.

“Girl, that man is a mess. He done went into the baby’s bedroom and got high. The baby liable to catch a contact the moment it comes home.” Farah laughed. “Anyway, missy, what’s good?”

“Ain’t shit, Black and Ike’s.”

Rhonda laughed. “You call me that one more time and I’ma fuck you up.”

Farah giggled and went into the kitchen to get a beer. “I ain’t want nothing. For real I’m just calling to check on you.”

“I’m fine. But speaking of Black and Ike’s, you know Chloe just left from over here, right? She said she was bringing her gift, since you probably won’t invite her to the shower. What y’all beefing about now?”

“A long story,” she said, too embarrassed to tell her about the computer sex she had with Zone before he died.

“Well, she sounded like she misses you. Kept asking me if you asked about her, and shit like that. You should call her, Farah. I mean, she is your baby sister.”

“Fuck Chloe.”

“Whatever, that’s your sis not mine.”

“Right, but look, I’m calling to let you know that I’m giving you a fifty dollar gift card, but I also went in on the gifts with Coconut. She may not want you to know, but she been kinda broke lately. Her and Jake having problems, so he might not be lacing her up all the time anymore.”

“Damn ... that nigga’s paid so that’s fucked up. It’s cool though. I won’t say nothing. For real she don’t have to do shit. And I appreciate you doing anything too because I know shit hard without Zone. You need all your paper.”

Exactly.
“It’s not a problem, girl. I just can’t wait to see my godbaby. I know she gonna be so pretty with her chocolate self.” She giggled. “But look, let me go. I’ll connect with you later, Black and Ike’s.”

“Your ass is mine!”

Farah laughed. “Bye, bitch.”

After she hung up with Rhonda, she called Natasha. She didn’t answer, so Farah decided to watch old episodes of
Big Brother
on the living room sofa. Hungry, she made a ham sandwich with grape jelly. The moment she bit into her food, Natasha called back. She put her sandwich down and answered. “What’s up, Natasha?”

“Hey, girl. Sorry I couldn’t come to the phone. This nigga I fucked with up and got married on me. I just feel like me and him were going to always be.” She sounded like she was crying. “We had that kind of bond and he didn’t even tell me about that bitch.”

Farah rolled her eyes. “Anyway, I’m gonna shoot it straight with you about something, Coconut don’t fuck with you like that, because she thinks you gonna say something about the accident.”

“I would never say nothing about what happened that day,” she said seriously. “Maybe I should talk to her and see what the problem is.”

“She don’t want you calling. She specifically told me not to give you her number, so just leave it alone, Natasha. And make sure you don’t say shit about the hit and run to nobody. Or that I told you she don’t fuck with you. If you do I’m not gonna tell you nothing else.”

“Trust me, I wouldn’t say nothing about the accident. I really feel like I should say something when I see her about everything else, though. I been knowing her for years. She going to Rhonda’s shower, right?”

“Yeah, but I’m not sure that’s appropriate shit. You feel me?”

“Well, I’ll find the right time to talk to her. I know y’all are cool, but I’m not gonna be right unless I tell her how I feel. I love Coconut. She was the first person who looked out for me in school. I hope you understand that I can’t keep a secret like that. If she don’t fuck with me, I wanna know why.”

Farah was trying to think of ways to keep them apart. This was the biggest lie yet and could possibly backfire in her face. “You can do whatever you want, but I think you’ll be playing yourself. So when she carries the fuck out of you, don’t come running to me.”

“It’s fine. But like I said, I love her and I don’t want her thinking I’m no snitch or not her friend.”

Farah rolled her eyes and smacked her tongue. Natasha wasn’t as naive as she thought. “Anyway, I’m thinking about letting you live here with me. Since you wanna move out your folkshouse too.”

“For real?” she said excitedly. “What about Coconut? I thought she was moving with you.”

“That’ s what I’m trying to say ... I don’t like how she treats you and Rhonda. You think I’m playing because I’m with her all the time, but I’m dead serious. When I heard her talking sideways, I said if she talks bad about you, she’d do it to me too. You gotta be able to pay your rent, though.”

“I got it. Don’t worry about that.”

“First you gotta help me with something else. If shit work out, me and you both could earn a little paper.”

“I’m down! When?”

“Meet me over my house in an hour.”

“I’m on my way!”

Chapter 15

“You were the best we ever had, baby. All we trying to do is have a little more fun before we part ways.”

—Farah

Farah was lying in bed with Tank, praying he wouldn’t open his eyes. She was anxious and uncomfortable because his room was extremely hot. So hot that her nose felt dry on the inside, causing her to rub it back and forth.