CHAPTER FIVE
It was a balmy Sunday afternoon, and Apple was in her room getting ready for the concert. She had the bedroom to herself. Nichols was in the living room watching cable, her mother was out in the streets, and Kola was in the third bedroom, with the door shut. Apple was excited about this evening. She had her outfit displayed on the bed, and the stereo was playing her favorite song by Nicki Minaj. She was in the mirror doing her hair and singing to “Your Love.”
Apple sang the lyrics with feeling, thinking about Cross. She was glowing in the mirror, thinking about love.
She, Ayesha, and Mesha had planned to take a cab to Penn Station and get on the New Jersey Transit to Jersey. Since the concert was starting at six o’clock, they had less than three hours to arrive before the first performance, and Apple didn’t want to be late.
Apple swayed, bobbed to the tune, and continued singing. When the song ended, she repeated the track from the beginning, knowing she could listen to it all day while thinking about Cross.
After touching up her hair, she realized she was out of eyeliner. She sucked her teeth, knowing she had to ask Kola. Wanting to look good, she swallowed her pride, walked over to Kola’s room, and knocked hard on the door.
“What?” Kola shouted.
“It’s Apple. Why you got the door locked?”
“’Cause I’m busy!” Kola yelled.
“I need to borrow your eyeliner. Open the damn door!” Apple shouted back.
“Apple, I’m fuckin’ busy!”
“Well, I’ma keep on knocking until you ain’t busy,” she snapped back.
Kola snatched open the bedroom door and glared at Apple. “You and Nichols already be borrowing my shit wit’out fuckin’ asking.”
“I don’t touch your shit, Kola. That’s Nichols.”
Looking past her twin, Apple noticed Kola had a guy in the room. Kola was in her usual tight white shorts, which were unfastened, and her nipples showed through a tight T-shirt.
“Why you in my fuckin’ business, Apple? Damn!” Kola closed the door to her room a little.
“I don’t give a f-uck who you fuckin’. I just wanna borrow your eyeliner.”
“What? So you can look like a hooker for Summer Jam and hope that maybe you’ll run into your baby, Cross?” Kola teased.
Apple sighed. “Look, you gonna let me use it or not? I can buy my own; I just ain’t got time to run to the store.”
Kola sucked her teeth. “Whatever. Hold on.” She closed the door on Apple and went to get the eyeliner.
Apple stood in the narrow hallway of their apartment, hands on her hip and an annoyed look across her face. She thought Kola had some nerve fucking a guy in their mother’s place.
Kola’s door flew open, and she tossed Apple the eyeliner that she needed.
“Thank you,” Apple said.
“Don’t lose my shit.”
Apple retreated to the bedroom to finish dressing. She wasn’t going to let Kola’s attitude ruin the night she had planned with her girls. Apple looked at the time. It was already a quarter to four, and she wasn’t dressed yet. She quickly donned her outfit and put on the makeup needed to make her look older than she really was. She checked herself in the mirror and loved what she saw. She’d managed to make herself look five years older, and with the body she walked around with, she knew dudes would be sweating her and her girls.
At a quarter past four, the apartment buzzer sounded. Apple ran to answer the door with her shoes in hand. “I got it!” she yelled out. She swung open the apartment door and greeted Mesha and Ayesha.
Mesha looked at Apple with a frown and barked, “You ain’t finished dressin’ yet?”
“I’m done, Mesha. Damn. I just gotta get my shit.”
“Hurry up, girl. You know I ain’t tryin’ to be late,” Mesha said.
Apple ran back into her bedroom, while Mesha and Ayesha walked into the apartment, saying hello to Nichols, who was on the couch watching MTV.
Nichols turned around and noticed the girls’ attire. “Damn! Y’all is lookin’ right.”
Mesha smiled. “You know it.”
“I’m goin’ next year wit’ y’all,” Nichols said with an eager smile.
“I hear that,” Ayesha said.
Mesha had on a pair of tight, drop-waist, double-button Seven jeans that highlighted every curve, a pair of white open-toe Fendi heels, and a liquid-gold mesh halter top that draped over her body and accented her b-reasts.
Ayesha wore a belted Lurex herringbone DKNY mini-skirt that exposed her thick legs and phat ass, with a pair of wraparound heels that made her look like an Amazon, and a tight sexy top that showed the outline of her nipples. Both women looked like divas.
They talked to Nichols while waiting for Apple, and the three focused on MTV’s The Real World, admiring some of the cuties on the show.
Ten minutes later, Apple stepped out of her bedroom looking fabulous in her Marc Jacobs drop-waist skirt, her thick legs looking like they were stretching to the heavens in her favorite six-inch red-and-white stilettos, and wearing a white one-shoulder top that laced up the back and made her tits look immaculate. And her long, sensuous hair fell gracefully down to her shoulders, making her look like one of the cover models for a men’s magazine.
“Chick, you tryin’ to outdo us,” Mesha joked.
Apple chuckled and replied, “Look at y’all bitches . . . fuckin’ divas and shit.”Mesha and Ayesha laughed.
“Damn, Apple, you lookin’ like you thirty and shit,” Nichols commented.
“I do, right?” Apple said with an exciting smile. She clutched her small knockoff Louis Vuitton bag and was ready to paint the city red. She hugged and kissed her sister good-bye then strutted out the doorway with her friends.
The girls made it down to the lobby and rushed to get a cab, since they were running late. It was a change of plan. The girls didn’t want to be one minute late for the concert. They strutted to the cabstand to catcalls, pick-up lines, and compliments from block to block, but they walked close together and ignored the attention.
They reached the cabstand on the busy Harlem street and asked the driver how much it would cost them for a ride to Giants Stadium.
“Eighty-five dollars,” the driver informed them.
“Damn! Why you lying?” Mesha barked.
“It’s eighty-five dollars. That’s gas, tolls, and bridges,” the driver said.
It was already a quarter to five, and the girls didn’t want to be late for the opening act.
Mesha sucked her teeth and looked at her girls. “Yo, what y’all wanna do? I mean, it’s already almost five, and to keep it real, I look too fuckin’ cute to be gettin’ on a train or bus and be worrying about these thirsty-ass niggas dirtying me up.”
“I’m sayin’, that fare is a little too steep, Mesha,” Apple let it be known.
“Apple, look at us. I’m sayin’, how much you got to put up?” Mesha asked.
“I got twenty-five,” Ayesha chimed.
“A’ight, I got forty then.”
Both girls looked at Apple to fill in the gap.
Mesha said, “Apple, all you gotta do is put up twenty, and we good.”
After spending money on clothes, her hair, and a few other expenses, Apple only had eighty dollars left. Though the bus and train were cheaper, she didn’t want to be late for the concert either. Reluctantly, she agreed, and the girls jumped into the cab and were soon headed toward the George Washington Bridge into New Jersey.
*****
With Sunday traffic, it was a forty-minute ride to Giants Stadium. The girls jumped out of the cab excitedly and were overwhelmed by the hordes of people and cars surrounding the stadium. It was Apple’s first trip outside of Harlem, and by the look in her eyes, Giants Stadium could have been Europe. Even though it was only a few miles from the city, it was something different for her.
The girls hurried to the entrance. They didn’t want to miss a single thing. It was like they were in Hollywood, with high-end cars in the parking lot and celebrity buses and trailers parked not too far from the event. The diversity of people attending Summer Jam was something Apple didn’t expect. She noticed Asians, a few Indians, and even some Russians and Mexicans entering the building. There were also quite a few ladies dressed more provocatively than her and her crew. She knew what they came for—to catch a baller or maybe f-uck a star.
The groupies were lined up outside of the stadium for miles, with a candid thirst in their eyes. Apple couldn’t blame them, though, because she looked around and noticed the fine men in attendance, different races, and different sizes. She smiled and gawked at a few. She was in cutie heaven with the ballers and shot-callers all around her.
“Damn! Niggas is fuckin’ fine out here,” Apple commented with a smile.
“I know, right.”
“But they ain’t finer than my boo, Ludacris,” Mesha stated.
“You mean my boo,” Ayesha corrected her.
“Uh-uh, my baby comin’ home to me tonight,” Mesha joked.
“Well, as long as no one ain’t touchin’ my husband Drake, we good,” Apple chimed in.
“Whateva, Apple,” Mesha teased.
The trio soon made it past security into the vast arena and looked around for their seats. In the distance Apple could see her friend, Cartier from Brooklyn, heading down toward the Orchestra seats. It looked like she was with Bam and Lil’ Momma.
“Cartier!” Apple screamed and caught hateful looks from the concert goers. “Cartier!” she yelled once again, ignoring the hard stares.
“Who you callin’?” Mesha asked the obvious.
“What it sound like? I just saw Cartier and her crew inching toward the floor seats. I was hoping to get a hook up.”
“You can’t just leave us,” Mesha stated. “We came together we leave together.”
Apple ignored her. She hated being seated so high, where it was hard to see anything, but happy to be out of Harlem for once, she made the best of it. Once the girls made it to their seats, Apple looked around wide-eyed at the thousands of fans who came to support their favorite artists.
The concert opened up with Drake singing “I’m Goin’ In” with Cash Money’s Birdman. The crowd went crazy. Apple jumped up and down, roaring with excitement with the screaming crowd. As she sang along, she kept her eyes on every single detail, like she would be quizzed on it later. It was an intense experience, with the lights, the blaring music, the colossal projector screens all over, and the screaming fans.
Drake closed the set with his big hit, “Over.” Nicki Minaj performed the summer dancehall anthem, “Hold You” with Gyptian. She then sang “My Chick Bad” with Ludacris. Ayesha and Mesha went crazy, screaming out, “We love you, Ludacris!” The noise in the stadium was almost deafening, louder than any Jets or Giants game.
As the night continued, the crowd’s screams never died down. Gucci Mane and Waka Flocka Flame represented for their state by performing “Wasted,” “Lemonade,” and “O, Let’s Do It.”
Apple was enjoying herself, dancing and singing. Soon, she didn’t care where she was seated, as long as she was at Summer Jam having a good time with her friends.
The show ended with Usher on stage, and his performance was stellar. He closed out the show with a smash, performing “U Remind Me” and “Yeah!” with Ludacris.
Though it was getting late and they had a long ride home, Apple didn’t want to leave. She wanted to linger around to look for Cross, so the girls decided to chill in the parking lot. They followed behind the thick crowd toward the exit. It was madness. Security guided the fans out like a herd. There was shouting, laughing, and a few incidents that got defused quickly.
They exited into the parking lot, where the after-party continued near a few high-end cars and trucks. The ballers and show-offs wanted to impress the ladies walking by with their tricked-out rides and bling. A few ladies mingled with the men, while Apple and her crew continued on their hunt. The girls strutted through the crowd, eyes on them from every direction and the men trying to get at them.
“Yo, ma, let me holla at you.”
“Yo, shawty in that skirt, I’m feelin’ them thighs. What’s good?”
“Damn! Y’all lookin’ fuckin’ right!”
“Yo, love, let me holla at you and your girls, fo’ real.”
The catcalls came from every direction, but Apple and her crew just smiled and kept it moving. They were looking for the right dudes to f-uck with, and a ride back to Harlem. It was late, and they dreaded the long train and bus ride back into the city.
“Oh shit! Ain’t that Cross and his friends over there?” Mesha asked.
Hearing Cross’s name made Apple’s heart beat rapidly. She looked around and saw him posted up by his polished black Range Rover, encircled by his bejeweled crew of thugs.
The men came in three flashy trucks, all chromed out with tinted windows and blaring systems. They were the eye-candy in the parking lot, as ladies surrounded the Harlem crew, who had liquor and weed. They joked around and mingled with their admirers like they were celebrities themselves.
“C’mon, let’s go over there and say what’s up. Shit, maybe we can catch a ride back to the block,” Mesha suggested.
Apple was a bit nervous. Seeing Cross so close made her heart flutter. Cross stood tall and fine in a brown V?lkl jacket, crisp denim MEK jeans, and sporting a pair of white Uptowns, his jewelry shining nicely. He had a cup of liquor in his hand and was conversing with one of his homies.
“C’mon, Apple, let’s see what’s up,” Mesha called out.
Apple followed behind Mesha and Ayesha. When they got close, Mesha smiled, recognizing a couple of faces. She hollered, “What up, Trey? What up, Dink?”
“Mesha, what’s good?” Dink replied with a smile.
“Y’all tell me. I wanna get my drink on too.”
“Ain’t you too young?” Trey said.
“Nigga, you only nineteen, two years older than me. Anyways, where my cup at?”
Trey and Dink laughed.
“You a wild girl, Mesha,” Dink responded.
Trey hollered, “Ayesha, what’s up?”
“Chillin’.”
Trey and Dink looked over at Apple, and the lust in their eyes said it all.
“Yo, that ain’t Kola, right? She too quiet right now,” Dink said.
“You know her twin, Apple?” Mesha replied.
“Yeah, I see her around. Why you so quiet, ma?” Dink asked with coolness to his voice.
“’Cause I’m her,” Apple replied casually.
Dink laughed. “Damn! You fine like your sister. But all y’all is lookin’ so fuckin’ right. Damn, let me get that ass, Mesha.”
Mesha responded with, “Let me get a cup.”
The men laughed, and Dink quickly poured Mesha a shot of Henny.
“You wanna mix that wit’ somethin’, ma?” Trey asked.
Mesha sucked her teeth, looked at them like they were crazy, and downed the liquor like the best of them. In her youth she was showing off. She wanted attention, and she got it. Trey and Dink were quickly impressed.
“Y’all want a shot too?” Dink asked.
Ayesha answered yes and was already reaching for her cup, but Apple was too busy staring at Cross, who stood just a few feet away from her.
“Yo, Apple, you want some of this?” Dink raised the half empty bottle of Hennessy.
“Yeah, I’m down.”
Dink smiled while pouring her a shot.
Following behind her girls, Apple took it to the head. The liquor left a burning sensation down her throat, as it trickled easily into her system.
Dink poured the three girls another shot, which they downed quickly as well.
It was getting late, and the police started forcing everyone out of the parking lot. They even made arrests for disorderly conduct and other illegal activities that came into play after the concert ended.
Apple, Ayesha, and Mesha were having a good time with Dink and Trey, while Cross mingled with a few ladies. That made Apple jealous, but she kept her cool and continued drinking and chilling with her friends. Apple stared at the bitches holding Cross’s attention and knew she was ten times better-looking than any of them. She bit her tongue, wanting to snatch every bitch away from her man. In her mind, he was hers.
When Cross finally headed in their direction, Apple immediately got excited. He strode their way with a cup in his hand, his eyes focused on the group. He walked up to Dink and Trey, while Apple stood right next to them, and said, “Yo, we ’bout to be out. Five-O’s actin’ up out here and shit.”
“A’ight,” Trey said.
Cross looked at Apple and her friends. “Y’all ridin’ wit’ us?”
“Of course,” Mesha chimed.
Apple asked Cross, “Why? You drivin’?”
Cross chuckled. “You want me to?”
“It’s whateva. I’ll ride wit’ you.”
Cross smiled and then uttered, “You’re cute.”
Apple couldn’t contain her smile. He had spoken to her, and it made Summer Jam the best for her. She wanted to follow Cross and ride with him, but his Range was already packed with his people and a few girls. Apple hated it, but she was fortunate to get a ride back with Trey and Dink in their Escalade that was sitting on 22-inch chrome rims.
As they jumped on the New Jersey Turnpike, following behind Cross, the liquor continued to flow. Soon, the men became a little horny and frisky. Dink was behind the wheel, with Apple riding shotgun.
Trey started to feel up Ayesha’s smooth thighs in the backseat as she sat in the middle. Feeling tipsy, Ayesha and Mesha giggled and laughed, and before long, Trey had unzipped his jeans and pulled out his hard dick to impress the girls. Ayesha leaned in for the kill and slowly began sucking his dick while the truck did seventy miles per hour on the freeway.
“Ayesha is buggin’,” Mesha slurred.
“Damn, nigga! I should’ve let you drive,” Dink uttered, glancing at the action from his rearview mirror.
Apple just shook her head, knowing she wasn’t about to tag along with Ayesha. When Dink looked at her with a hint in his eyes, she gave him the screw face and said, “I ain’t my homegirl or my sister!”
With a look of disappointment, Dink replied, “Then maybe ya ass need to ride in the backseat and ya girl need to be up front.”
“Whateva,” Apple shot back.
Ayesha continued to suck Trey’s dick, feeling the hard flesh going in and out of her mouth.
With his hand tangled in her hair, Trey moaned and closed his eyes, loving the way her glossy lips were taking care of him.
Mesha felt that wild urge between her thighs too. Liquor always made her horny, and the four cups of Henny that she’d downed had her feeling like she was ready to be a porn star—despite having a man at home.
“Yo, y’all wanna get a room?” Dink mentioned.
Dink was horny and wanted in on the action too. Ayesha and Mesha looked down for whatever, so he was ready to take full advantage of the young, liquored-up teens and f-uck them till dawn came.
“Y’all do whateva. Just take me home,” Apple stated.
“Yo, ma, why you actin’ like that?” Dink asked.
“’Cause I’m tired, a’ight?” Apple was annoyed and slightly embarrassed by the hood-rat behavior of Ayesha.
“Shit, you may look like your sister, but you ain’t fuckin’ fun like her. I mean, is ya pu-ssy gold-plated?” Dink smirked.
Apple cut her eyes at him. “You’ll never find out.”
Dink laughed. “Whateva!”
A half-hour later, the truck pulled up to the projects, and Apple jumped out, ready to depart ways with everyone. She looked at her friends and asked, “Y’all comin’?”
Ayesha and Mesha hesitated. Trey had his hand between Ayesha’s thighs, fingering her pu-ssy, and Mesha was ready to jump in the front seat and keep Dink company.
“Nah, ma, they wanna have a good time tonight,” Dink replied.
“A’ight, whatever,” Apple said.
Mesha jumped into the front seat with Dink, and before the truck pulled off, she hollered out the window, “Call me, girl!”
Apple just kept walking into her building. When she reached the elevator, she ran into Supreme coming out of the stairway. He was alone and eyed Apple with a stare that sent chills down her spine.
“You gettin’ my money, right?” he asked.
“I got ya money,” Apple snapped back with attitude.
Supreme smiled. “Just checkin’ up on you, but you lookin’ nice tonight. I like that.”
When he reached out to gently rub the small of her back, Apple moved away from him. The elevator doors opened, and she quickly got in. As the doors closed, she stood there with Supreme watching her from the lobby with an eerie smile. She shook her head and knew he might be a problem soon.