We were in my mom's room.
Gia was on the bed with Rue, head close to hers, talking about Jules. Playing with her hair like it was nothing. My mom was on her side of the bed half-listening, half-reading. I was on the floor with my phone, not really doing anything.
Mom looked up. "Jules stayed over?"
"Yeah," Rue said.
"Are you two in a relationship?"
Rue thought about it. "Yeah, kind of."
I looked up from my phone.
"So we can have girlfriends over?"
Mom gave me a look. "As long as I meet them."
I looked back down. "Hmm. Ok then."
Gia laughed. Rue laughed. Mom shook her head.
It was a good morning.
* * *
There were cops at school.
Two cruisers in the lot and a couple of plainclothes guys walking the halls slow, trying to look like they belonged. Everybody knew what it was about. Maddy was in a hoodie, long sleeves, head down. I stayed out of her way.
Second period I got called to the office.
The principal sat across from me with his hands folded and asked if I'd seen or heard anything about Nate and Maddy.
I looked at him. "No. I stay far from both of them." I waited a second. "Can I leave?"
He held my eyes like he was reading something. Then he nodded.
I walked out.
* * *
Lexi and Cassie were by the lockers.
"Hello, cuties."
They both laughed too easy. I always appreciated that.
Lexi said, "I actually have to go, but text me, Jordan. You don't really do that anymore."
"I will."
She left. I looked at Cassie. She still had that far-away thing going on, the McKay situation sitting somewhere behind her eyes.
"You still with that loser?"
She looked at me. "I don't know. Yes." Like she wasn't sure which one was true.
I put a hand on her shoulder. "Talk to me sometime."
She nodded like she might actually mean it.
* * *
Party at six. I pulled up and it was already going.
Usual setup. Porch smokers, music out the front door, somebody's older brother's car in the way. I found the crew out back. We were smoking, they were drinking. Rue and Jules were over near the fence in their own world.
Second rotation I was on, Maddy, Kat, Lexi, and Cassie came through the back door together like they had a plan.
Maddy said, "We heard your music. You should freestyle for everyone."
I looked at Kat. She gave me this small frowned-mouth shrug like don't put this on me.
"What do I get out of it?"
"Exposure," Maddy said. "The ability to show your talent to people who actually matter."
I didn't move.
She glanced sideways. "And Cassie will kiss you."
Cassie's face did something. Not a no, but not a yes she'd agreed to either.
I stood up. "Well. That's intriguing."
* * *
Word moved fast.
By the time I got to the living room there were at least twenty people along the walls and more backed into the hallway. Rue and Jules had made it inside. Rue was near the back. I caught her eye. She waved, two fingers.
I connected my phone to the speaker. Scrolled through beats until I found one with the right amount of room in it. Something a party could breathe inside.
Let it play for a few bars.
"Before I start," I said, "there's a little rap cap."
People laughed. They didn't know what it meant yet.
I let the beat run and came in.
Before I put it in I smack her ass, pull out my iPheezy, hit record, turn on the flash.
Somebody in the back yelled. A few people started moving.
We gon' make a movie like Ray J and Kim Kardash'. Put her on the block list, that's if that pussy trash.
Kat covered her mouth. Cassie looked at the floor.
I'm Young Jay, stressing who? It ain't a bitch that I can't smash. Prolly fucked her too, it ain't a bitch that I ain't had. Man this shit is nothing, you the type to hit and brag. Run your mouth too much, I'm starting to think you niggas fags.
The room locked in. People were nodding.
Hard for me to slow down, I got used to living fast. Bitch I love the gang, on granny, I'ma give them boys my last. Only be with shooters, you can't hang if you don't blast. Please don't try me like DeJ Loaf, I put them killers on your ass.
Someone near the front said "ooh" at that last line like it meant something personal.
Always shouting out my block 'cause bitch, that's where I started. Ahead of my class, yeah, I always been the smartest. Ain't no competition even though they try they hardest. I know they be hating, but I'm in my bag regardless.
I paused on the beat. Gave it a bar of space.
Give this shit a year or two, let's see who get the farthest. Don't play in these streets before you turn into a target.
Maddy had her arms crossed, head tilted. Watching. Not giving anything away.
That AR be shooting, I call it G-Unit 'cause you know that bitch stay with .50. Hair trigger, just tap it, don't pull it. Ain't saving no bullets, I shoot 'til it's empty.
The room got louder. Somebody in the back was recording on their phone.
Like a yoga trainer, we be stretching shit. We come through with TECs, sending messages. Ain't no talk it out, police chalk him out.
Lexi grabbed Cassie's arm. Cassie had stopped trying not to smile.
Had to cancel my old bitch, she was choosing. I ain't tripping, I don't miss her 'cause a thot gon' be a thot. Niggas from the other side dissing my homies, I ain't tripping, just gon' kill him 'cause a opp gon' be a opp.
Feel like Jordan vs. Utah, I'm deadly with that last shot. Back to poking niggas if I lose everything that I got.
Lexi yelled at the name drop. A few people turned around.
I been T'd since I got that news my homie dead. Caught your homie lacking, bop, knocked off his dreads.
The energy shifted. Something harder in the room now. People still moving but listening different.
Show no mercy for the enemy, nobody getting spared. Man, you niggas bitches, why the fuck would I be scared? Thirty shots up in my bomber, mama told me, be prepared.
Rue was leaning against the wall with her arms crossed. Jules had a hand on her arm. Rue had that expression where she was trying to look neutral and wasn't fully pulling it off.
I found the pocket again and let the cadence carry me out.
Heard the streets been talking, I know what they said. Boost been grindin', shorty gon' get to that bread. Ballin' like I'm Bryant, nah, not Kobe, bitch, lil' ass.
More noise. People going.
See, you could stay on the sideline, I'ma run it up instead.
Let it trail into the beat. Stepped back.
The room went up before it remembered it was a party.
* * *
Kat came over first.
"Okay," she said. Just that. But her eyes were doing more than her mouth was.
Maddy came next. She looked at me for a moment like she was deciding how much to give. "Not bad, Jordan."
Coming from Maddy that was a standing ovation.
Lexi grabbed my arm. "I didn't know you could actually do that."
"I told you to check the channel."
"I know, I know."
I looked around for Cassie.
She was a few feet away but already looking at me. She broke away from whoever she was talking to and walked over. Stopped in front of me. Looked up.
I raised my eyebrows.
She rolled her eyes a little, then leaned up and kissed me. Not quick. Long enough that people nearby noticed.
She pulled back. Face a little flushed.
"There," she said.
"Thank you."
She laughed and walked away. I watched her go.
Across the room Rue was looking at me. That expression I didn't have a word for. Not mad. Not amused. Somewhere right in the middle of both.
I pointed at her.
She pointed back.
Then she turned back to Jules and I went to find another drink.
END OF CHAPTER TEN