Page 2 of Bern and Isley (D-Ville Projects #5)
Bern joined me and Snow at the table. We enjoyed the food and conversed about a variety of things.
He told us about the people he’d met on the inside and assured us he didn’t want to go back.
I had full confidence that he was ready to make a positive change.
Ms. Cynthia had warned him about getting involved with dealing drugs.
But he was hard headed. He wanted quick money and that shit caught up with him.
Thankfully for him, the day he got pulled over he didn’t have enough drugs on him to get serious time.
But the five years he had to serve were long enough.
But I didn’t judge him for any of it. I knew his heart.
He was one of the kindest people I’d ever known. He just made a bad decision.
“There you go, babe. I’ve been looking all over for you.”
I exhaled slowly and forced a smile when Unique walked over and sat on Bern’s lap.
She all but ignored me and Snow’s presence.
It was no surprise. She and I only played nice for the sake of Bern.
At barely five feet tall, Unique was very petite and slim.
If someone didn’t know her personally, they would probably mistake her for a teenager.
And it didn’t help that she acted like one. Very childish.
He sat back in his chair then folded his arms across his chest with his gaze still focused on me. “I’m just out here catching up with Icey.”
“Oh, hey Isley.” She turned her attention toward me, swinging her blonde, waist length braids. “Is your man here?”
“Nah, he wasn’t able to make it,” I answered.
I didn’t bother mentioning the fact that he’d been texting me nonstop about the most random shit since I made it to Bern’s mom house.
I didn’t bother replying. I didn’t come to the party to sit on my phone the whole time.
If Marshall wanted to talk, he should’ve brought his ass with me.
“Yeah, I thought I was going to finally meet this nigga in person. I need to see what he on.” Bern’s forehead crinkled. “I need to make sure he’s a good match for you.”
“Why do you care if he’s right for her or not?” Unique asked.
“Because she means the world to me and I’m willing to do whatever behind her,” he admitted.
“I heard that.” Snow laughed.
“You’re crazy.” I laughed awkwardly. “He’s a good dude,” I assured him.
“Mmhmm…I’d like to be the judge of that,” Bern insisted.
“He’s not perfect, but he treats me pretty good.”
“I wish Mr. Good would’ve shown up so he could speak for himself.”
“You’ll meet him soon… I promise.”
Once the sun was completely retired, the drinks really started flowing.
I wasn’t a big drinker, but to celebrate my boy, I took a couple of shots.
By the time “Boots on the Ground” began spinning, I had made my way to the makeshift dance floor.
My rhythm was questionable, but so was everyone else’s.
After about four songs, I needed to sit my ass down.
The alcohol was really starting to settle in.
“You about ready to go?” Snow asked as I took a sip of my bottled water.
I looked down at the time and it was nearing midnight. About half of the guests had left, but there were still a good amount sitting around chilling. She kept looking down at her phone, so I assumed she was trying to get back to her man.
“Yeah, let me find Bern to let him know.”
“Cool, I’ll meet you at the car.”
I didn’t see Bern outside so I made my way into the house.
Ms. Cynthia had always treated me like family so it was nothing for me to just roam around as if I lived there.
I entered the house through the kitchen, but didn’t see anyone in there.
As I walked down the hallway I heard arguing.
The closer I got to his childhood bedroom, I realized it was Bern and Unique. I stopped in front of the door.
“Why can’t I spend the night, Bern? We’re grown!”
“Because this is my mama’s house. And you know she don’t really like you, so she doesn’t want you staying here.”
“She doesn’t have to like me. I’m your woman.”
“Watch your mouth. This my mama’s house, so you’re not going to disrespect her for one. For two, I never said we were back together.”
“Oh, so we not together but you fucked me three times today?”
“And how many times them other niggas fucked you?”
“I told you those are rumors. I haven’t slept with any niggas while you were locked up.”
I rolled my eyes at her lies. Rumors, my ass. She knew damn well she had been laying it low and spreading it wide before Bern could get checked into the prison.
Just as I was about to turn around to leave, I heard his bedroom door open.
“Unique, just gone home,” he insisted as he stepped into the hall. “Oh. I was just about to come back outside, Isley.”
“I’m not done talking.” Unique was right on his tail.
“I was just coming in to let you know me and Snow are leaving,” I admitted. “I will talk to you later.”
“Dang, y’all about to leave already?” His voice dripped with disappointment.
“Yeah, it’s getting late. And Snow trying to link up with her man.”
“I can take you home, if you need a ride,” he offered.
The scowl on Unique’s face discouraged me from taking him up on that offer. I wasn’t in the mood for any drama.
“Nah, I’m ready to go to bed anyway. I had too much to drink.”
“Yeah, your ass is lit,” he chuckled. “Well, let me walk you out to the car.”
“I’m good, you don’t have to do that,” I assured him.
“I said I’m going to walk you to the car… Come on.” He gently grabbed my arm and led me toward the door.
“Ugh… if you insist,” I relented. “See you later, Unique.”
“Bye,” she replied dryly, not bothering to hide her frown.
If looks could kill, my aunt would be planning my funeral by morning. I knew Unique was pissed at both me and Bern. I could feel her staring a hole in our backs as we exited the house. We walked side by side down the driveway toward Snow’s car.
“I appreciate you coming by to kick it with your boy… I missed you.”
“I missed you too. I’m still lightweight pissed that you wouldn’t allow me to visit you. That was fucked up.”
When he first told me that he didn’t want me to come visit him, I thought he was just talking. But when I realized he was serious, I was furious. In my mind, I thought that was what helped inmates get through their time, visits, letters, and phone calls.
“I didn’t want anybody to visit me in that hell hole, especially my mama and you.
I know it’s not easy for y’all to understand, but it was best for my mental not to see y’all’s faces.
The phone calls and the letters broke me down enough.
Not seeing y’all’s faces was my punishment to myself.
I knew once I got out of there that I wouldn’t put myself in a position to go without seeing you again. ”
Hearing him say that made me feel warm and fuzzy.
Bern and I had been best friends since we were ten years old.
I moved to Douglasville Projects, or what we called D-Ville Projects, when my mom and brother passed away.
I didn’t know my dad or his family. My mom had two surviving siblings, my Uncle Jack who was serving in the Army overseas and my Aunt Fee who lived in Diamond Falls.
My aunt didn’t hesitate to come to Arkansas, pack me up, and bring me into her home.
Bern and his mom also lived in the same projects.
We lived right across the hall from each other.
Because I was quiet, I was an easy target for bullying.
Claybern noticed a group of boys harassing me one day and stood up for me.
He picked the biggest of the pack to fight.
After Bern beat that boy’s ass, none of the others were interested in the same fate.
I didn’t have any issues with anyone going forward, not at the complex nor at school.
Everyone quickly learned that Bern didn’t play about me.
When we made it to Snow’s car, Bern opened the passenger door for me. I leaned in and gave him a quick hug. He kissed the top of my forehead before releasing me.
“Y’all be safe… text me and let me know when you make it home safely.”
“Sure thing,” I replied as he closed the door.
I waved as Snow pulled off.
“Girl, that man is in love with you.”
“What are you talking about?”
“Bern is trying to be more than your friend, girl… you blind as shit if you don’t see it.”
“Whatever… you talking crazy, girl.”
Snow’s words kept replaying in my head long after she had dropped me off. Bern didn’t see me as more than a friend, did he?