Biz started grabbing on his waist and mouthing something to Bam. The look on Bam’s face displayed a man in deep thought. Biz’s temper was jumping from wall to wall, you could visibly see it on his face. It looked like he was more upset than Bam.
Bam said something back to him, which made Biz pull away, twist up his face and stare at him. He was clearly in disapproval of whatever Bam just said. I looked over to the other side of the booth at Destiny, she was already staring back at me with a concerned look on her face. She kept looking over at the boys then back at me, like she was trying to communicate something. But my bad I don’t speak flip flop bitch, so I had no idea what she’s trying to say.
Bam looked over at me, I smiled and he smiled back. He wasn’t that far away, just between the music, people and the fuckery going on it felt like a lifetime was between us right now. I didn’t realize it earlier but there was a moat of niggas around the booth, you couldn’t even get to me if you wanted to.
Bam grabbed Biz by his shoulder and looked him dead in his eyes and said something. Then Biz disappeared into the sea of club goers. Bam took a sip of his drink, then came back to stand by me.
“Everything okay?” I asked, I threw him a knowing look. He grabbed my hand, kissed it and then bent over to say yes into my ear. He stood back up, tilted his head and mouthed, “you aight?”
“Mhmm” I shook my head drunkenly, it was only at this moment did I realize I was super lit.
“Mama’s drunk uh”, he laughed as he caressed my jaw. “You ladies good?”, he asked the rest of the girls in the booth.
Everyone said yeah or nodded their heads. They were about done taking pictures and shit. They were ready to be all up on their niggas, I guess the liquor was hitting.
It must’ve hit me too, cause I was ready to be all up on mine. I knew he was lying though, everything was not all good. But the thing with alcohol is you don’t get to decide when it kicks in. Bam was looking good and the way he was handling shit tonight was daddy as fuck and making me horny. The DJ was playing all the right sounds too. Everything was working against me taking this “pending danger” seriously, until…
Biz pushed his way back through the crowd and walked up to Bam. He pulled him to the side of the booth, his jaw was clenched and strong as he spat out the words.
“Fam that yute sent the bottle, Pablo’s here.” Biz spoke at Bam, his chest was high and his nostrils flared. I imagined all the testerone coursing through his body, I could see a vein in his neck. “I’ll done him right now” he said, staring Bam dead in his eyes.
The tension was thick but enjoyment was in the air engulfing the night. Everyone was either drunk, high or drunk off their fantasy and in their own world. No one besides “them” cared about us or was watching us. I felt a tightness in my stomach and the night seemed as though it slowed down. The dichotomy of the situation intensified the night. As things progressively got more dangerous, I got progressively more drunk and unbothered.
“Our women are here, innocent people are here, cameras are here. That caught us walking bare face and you want to shoot, first? Sorry execute on camera cause a niggas TRYING to get you mad?”, Bam rebuttal. “Just fall for it right? Even though you know he’s trying to get us to act out”, Bam tapped on his own temple.
“Either we ignore it or we leave”, Bam ordered.
Mali came and tried to diffuse the pissing contest between them. At the end of the day, we had to stay united, cause this is what he wants;. For everything to fall apart.
“He’s right though, can’t done him off right here, right now”, Mali said to Biz.
“No ones talking to you fam”, Biz barked at Mali.
“Yo level man, everyone just calm”, Bam interjected. “If the pussyhole was going to do something he would’ve or he’s going to wait till after the club. He sent over a bottle, he’s not trying to buss shots first on camera. We’ll rock for a bit, then make sure the girls leave early and everyones on alert”, he reassured them.
“I always got you guys”, he said, placing a hand on their shoulder.
“No ones scared nigga”, Biz smiled and stated very loudly.
“Aight so we’re staying? Well since we’re staying maybe we should send a bottle back..”, Mali suggested.
“That’s a bitch thing to do”, teased Biz.
“And very light skin”, added Bam.
“Unless you send it to the bitch from Royaal.”
“What bitch?”, asked Bam.
“The French bitch, she with him and the next one”, Biz said casually.
“Wait.. So who’s over there?”
“Pablo, Ari, that French girl, and some next nigga and his bitch are sitting in the booth?”
Bam’s face went straight as fuck, it was hard to read what he was thinking or feeling. Biz looked vindicated, as if Bam was finally feeling what he felt.
I stopped eavesdropping and just sat in the seat. So French was with Pablo, I knew I saw that bitch earlier today. I knew it was her. And she came to the same club I’m throwing my birthday party at, with the nigga. I didn’t even know what to do with my mind, but I felt sick. The situation and the alcohol were wrestling for dominance over my emotions.
I looked around quickly for a girl I trusted, I didn’t see any. But I was cool settling for a girl I liked, which was Summer for right now. “Can you come with me to the bathroom?”
“Absolutely”, she replied. She helped me out of the seat. Bam caught a glimpse of action from the side of his eye and came to check it out.
“I’m alright, I’m just going to the washroom with Summer for a second”, I slurred.
“Aight, let me help you get there at least. He looked at Biz and nodded for him to follow us. He had me wrapped around his side and was basically floating me across the room to the washrooms. Biz was accompanying Summer, I wondered why Mali didn’t come with her at first, since that’s her man. But I realize Biz is Bam’s shooter and a way better shot than Mali. There’s a whole bunch of shooters at the booth, so God forbid but they would be fine.
Bam was hesitant to leave me but he couldn’t come into the girls washroom. Summer reassured them we wouldn’t be long and nothing would happen cause they’re right outside. I tried to listen to as much as I could before I had to swiftly walk to a washroom stall and throw up.
The leftover noodles were violent coming back up. Summer came racing in after me, holding back my hair. Or what was left out from my awful wrap up job. She was rubbing my back and telling me it’s okay and to let it out. She had a real mom quality about her.
“I’m so sorry”, I mumbled to her.
“It’s okay birthday girl, no need to apologize”, she laughed. “That’s what bdays are for.”
“I hate throwing up”, I said deliriously.
“Me too”, she chuckled. “I think someone is ready for bed, to be honest with you.”
“Okay bye”, I said, not getting what she meant.
“No, I meant you sweetie”, she laughed. “Are you done throwing up?”
“Yeahh, I think so.”
“Aight let’s get you cleaned up”, she said, ushering me out of the stall as she flushed the toilet.
I walked out to see a girl standing looking at herself in the mirror. She was putting on lip gloss, even though she wasn’t facing me I could see her reflection in the mirror. It was Ari, I wanted to rub my eyes and see if my drunk mind was deceiving me. But the little voice inside of me was screaming not to, probably because I had on make-up.
She looked me directly in my eyes and I couldn’t move. I wasn’t sure if it was her gaze or the alcohol taking control of my motor skills. She scoffed, finished applying her lip gloss and then walked out of the washroom. Look at life, I thought, I can’t believe I ever wanted to be her friend. I wanted to jump at her, really fuck her up for everything fucking thing she put me through. Do what I should’ve done that day in the changeroom.
She walked out of the washroom, just as Summer walked out of the stall. I figured the boys were outside, so they’d have to see her leaving. I tried to convince myself I wasn’t drunk in the mirror, as I was washing my hands. I scooped some water into my hand, swirled it around my mouth and spat into the sink. Summer was trying to fix my hair from behind, she didn’t even take in Ari.
“I know that girl that was just in here”, I said, fixing up myself.
“You know her?”, she said slowly confused as hell. I could tell she thought I was drunk talking.
“Yeah, I need to talk to Bam..” I said, feeling a little sick again. I stopped moving to see if I needed to throw up.
“You okay?”, asked Summer.
I motioned for her to give me a minute. I started to walk to the stalls and let out a burp. The biggest feeling of relief rushed over me, I was starting to feel better.
“Ma bad”, I laughed, Summer busted out laughing too. “Aight, let’s go.”
We walked out to see Bam and Biz standing against the wall.
“You guys didn’t see her?”, I asked confused.
“See who?” Bam questioned.
“I swear I saw Ari.”
“When?”, Biz asked confused.
“Just now when I came out of the stall, she was walking out. I thought she would’ve ran into you guys.”
“We went to go piss but we took turns, I don’t know how neither of us saw the bitch”, said Biz. He looked unimpressed.
“That doesn’t make sense, you sure it was her?”, Bam asked.
“Yes”, I said curtly. I was slightly annoyed, like obviously I would know the bitch that kidnapped me and that’s been putting me through hell since I met her.
“Aight well I think it’s time for the gyal dem to leave, shits getting uncontrollable. You’re drunk and you had a good time.” He said back to me with a slight tone attached.
I was just about to say something facety back, before Summer interjected, “I was just saying to her we should go. You guys down for an after-hours or something?”
“I’m definitely down for that”, Biz spat out. Bam shot him a look, “I mean, if that’s what Royaal wants to do cause it’s her birthday.”
“Let’s go throw money at bitches”, Bam lowered his head, making direct eye contact at me. As he took one hand and grabbed my ass to bring me closer to him. “You’re so facety sometime uno”, he said, squeezing my cheek for emphasis.
“You’ll be aight, but yeah let’s do that”, I said, giving him the eyes right back.
“You guys ready, let’s go.”
We walked back swiftly through the club, Bam was at the front and Biz at the back. Summer and I were in the middle, his bodies parted the crowd full of people. We got back to the booth with no hiccup. The boys let the other boys know the plan. Some of them decided to stay. The ones that were leaving with us were getting ready to cut; Pairing off and figuring out their shit.
We had to do this smart, because leaving the club was when we were the most vulnerable. Pablo and them already established they’re not doing it inside. But outside, where there’s no direct cameras is another story.
Bam grabbed my hand and told me to stay by him at all times. It reminded me of when we first were talking and went to Hong Shings. Pablo came and fucked everything up that time as well. There seems to be this constant dilemma of Pablo coming and fucking everything up for me.You ever met a man that wants you, but wont treat you right, but also won’t leave you alone either? They are horrible, the worst kind of men. They’ll awaken your love and never care for it. Pablo was that, the worst kind of man and I was tired of him interrupting my life.
We walked hastily through the club, it was still a group of us. About 20 deep, just eyeballing it. We walked outside of the club into the swarm of people. Some of the bitches were complaining about being hungry and shit. I can’t lie, the Burger Priest and Big Smoke were looking mighty appetizing at the moment.
I squeezed Bam’s arm and looked up at him in my puppy dog eyes. He was intentionally trying not to look at me.
“Just a liddle burger, I promise”, I said smiling, trying to make sure I didn’t fall in my heels.
“Royaal no, let’s get to the car”, he urged.
“Please, I’m just so hungry and they’re going”, I said pointing to the crowd drifting off to Big Smoke Burger. “Pleeeease, just a liddle burger.”
“Bam, don’t do it”, Biz joked, but it was really a warning.
“Ahh fam, you know how the gyal dem stay when they’re drunk”, he laughed as I pulled him over to the store’s direction.
Biz kissed his teeth and then asked Destiny if she wanted anything. She was standing with a group of girls, but then walked over to stand beside Biz.
“Yesss, I’m starving babes”, she complained.
There was a lineup of people, so we stood at the back. I could feel Bam’s anxiousness, I grabbed his palm and began to massage it. “Sometimes, it’s okay to enjoy life and take a little risk”, I teased.
“Holy shit, my jacket”, I realized it was still in the booth. “Ima grab it”, I said, wobbling back towards the club.
“Royaal-“, Bam yelled out before following after me.
It all happened so fast, tires skid, then gunshots, then screams and yells. Bam opened the door and pushed me back inside the club. I hit the wall and fell to the floor. There were screams as bullets hit the sidewalk. Bodies dropped to the ground, Bam pulled out his gun and bussed back at the black BMW speeding off. The shooter was pulling himself back into the car.
There were screams and blood in the street. Bam ran. I got up and carefully stepped through the glass shattered door and ran after him. His blood curdling yell filled the street.
“SOMEBODY CALL 911 PLEASEEE! Somebody help us”, I begged.
Traffick’d 