Page 4 of Follow Me to Your Heart

Slowly, I was getting back to a better place mentally. Since I was bouncing back, I decided to take a ride to Camden Cove. It was a little after nine at night. The temperature was nice, so I rode with my windows down and my music up, allowing the moonlight to guide me.

Usually, I had Red with me, but I needed to pay someone a visit alone. Red was my boy. He rode hard for me. He had some ways I didn’t quite agree with, so I liked to go off the radar and do things on my own at times.

My phone ringing through the speakers interrupted my vibes. My phone was on ‘Do Not Disturb’ which meant it could only be one of three people who could reach me. I glanced at my screen and smiled before answering.

“What are you doing up, Symone? It’s a school night.”

My little sister, Symone, smacked her lips, and I envisioned her dramatically rolling her coal-like eyes. “You act as if I’m not in the eleventh grade and can’t stay up as long as I want.”

“And be late for school almost every morning. You better chill out before they take Mama to truancy court.”

“I don’t be late, Cage. I make it on time with a minute to spare.”

“Yeah, yeah. Sabrina says otherwise. Let me find out you got someone keeping you up at night that I don’t know about. I’d hate to pull up on you unannounced, but you know I will.”

“Oh my gosh. Please don’t. That would be so embarrassing. Boys are already scared to talk to me because you’re my brother.”

I laughed to myself. “Good. We need to keep it that way.”

Symone was my baby. We were four years apart, and I’d been taking care of her since she was in the womb.

Our mother was a single mother. Sabrina did everything in her power to keep a roof over our heads and food in our mouths.

While Symone and I didn’t have the most growing up, we had the necessities.

We had what mattered, and I would forever be grateful to my mother for getting it out the mud.

“Anyways. Korren said she would do my nails for me if you brought me to her.”

“Mmm. Now I know why you called. When do you want them done, Symone?”

“She said she could do them one day after class, but she would leave it up to you. I really want to get them done before the football game next Friday.”

“All right. I got you.”

Symone loudly squealed in my ear. “Thank you so much, Brother! You want to take me shopping too? Spend some brother and sister time together since you moved away?”

“Let me guess. You want me to feed you too?”

“You know it. What’s a day out without food?”

All I could do was shake my head. Leave it to her to con me out of money.

I didn’t mind. She deserved everything she asked for.

Symone consistently stayed on the AB Honor roll and never gave Mama any trouble.

All we asked of her was to make good grades and stay out of trouble, and she did us justice.

I promised Symone I’d pick her up after school on Thursday and ended the call. I’d probably end up checking her out so we could get more time together.

Once I made it to my destination, I parked behind one of the many cars on the curb and got out. The music blasting from one of the houses was where I needed to be. People littered the yard and sidewalks as I swaggered up to the front door. Girls tried stopping me, but I was on a mission.

“Don’t tell me that’s my man Cage up in here?”

I didn’t need to turn around to know it was one of my good friends, Keith. The distinction of his squeaky voice could be recognized anywhere. I turned around, just as he walked up on me, and dapped him up.

“What’s good, Keith?”

“You tell me. What you doing out this way?”

I wet my lips and asked, “Have you seen Marquis?”

Keith’s round eyes bucked, and he slowly shook his head. “Not here, man.”

“I’m not about to do shit but talk to him. I don’t even have my piece on me. There’s something I need to address with him.”

Slowly, Keith bobbed his head in understanding as he looked around the crowded room. He paused. I followed his line of sight to see Marquis talking to a girl in the kitchen area.

“I’ll be right back,” I informed Keith and walked away.

Marquis was so engrossed in the conversation with the girl, he didn’t notice me leaning up against the counter beside her.

She did though. Her attention was solely locked in on me, staring me up and down with lust clouding her eyes.

She was fine, but she wasn’t what I came for.

“Hey, beautiful. Do you mind if I have a word with your boy right quick?”

“Will you have a word with me once you’re done with him?” she boldly asked as if Marquis wasn’t standing there.

“I got you.”

The girl walked away, leaving Marquis and me alone.

“What do you want, Cage?”

I racked my knuckles against the counter. “You’re bold to be putting your hands on Korren after I warned you the last time.”

Marquis snorted and crossed his arms as he walked up on me.

He was about three inches taller and had more muscle.

I wasn’t sure if he thought I was intimidated by that when I didn’t give not one fuck.

Out the corner of my eyes, I could see a few of his friends watching us.

He thought he was protected. It was the only reason he was acting out.

On many occasions, I’d show him what it was with me.

“I can’t remember what your warning was. You may need to remind me.”

“Where was this energy at the restaurant, Marquis? You think because you have friends around that I won’t beat your ass and theirs?”

I didn’t give him a chance to answer. He was too close in my personal space. I delivered two quick jabs, one to the nose and one to his stomach. Chaos ensued around us, but I drowned it out as I beat Marquis’s ass. I was on the verge of blacking out when I felt someone yank me off him.

“Chill out, Cage!” Keith demanded, shoving me toward the door.

“I’m good. I’m good.” I held my hands up and walked to the exit with him in tow.

Everyone that was once outside was inside being nosy. Keith followed me all the way to my car. My adrenaline was pumping. I could’ve gone round for round with Marquis and not been tired. He needed his ass whupped for old and new.

“You good, man?”

I nodded and spat out blood onto the concrete. “I’m good. Better that I got his ass.”

“What was that about? Korren?”

“He put his hands on her again. I wasn’t about to let that shit ride, Keith.”

“I feel you. No man should ever put his hands on a woman, even if it’s being too rough. You never move without reason, so I figured it had something to do with her. How is she anyway?”

I stopped pacing and leaned against my car. My jaw ached. Marquis got some good licks in, but he couldn’t handle me.

“She’s good. Doing school and her nail shit. I’m proud of her.”

“Have you told her how you feel about her?”

My head lowered. Keith was the only person I’d been open with about my true feelings toward Korren. Outside of my mother and sister, he was the only person I trusted with the information.

Keith was one of those friends every man like me needed.

One who was headstrong and smart, not in the streets, and doing something different with his life.

He was the type of friend I looked up to.

He never judged me for my choices and encouraged me to do better.

I could talk to him about anything and vice versa.

That was my brother, for real.

“Nah,” I replied and looked up at him. “I’m still not ready.”

“What’s holding you back, Cage? Anyone with eyes can see the two of you belong together. It’s been that way since I’ve known y’all.”

“I’m not the right type of man for her. KoKo deserves someone like you, Keith.

She doesn’t need to be tied to the streets any more than she already is through me.

I’d hate to paint the city red if someone tried to fuck with her to get to me.

The streets come for our girls before anything.

I’ve witnessed it too many times. I wouldn’t be able to live with myself if Korren was caught in the crossfire of my life.

I already worry every day for my mama and sister’s safety.

That’s why I moved to Harley Grove. Adding Korren to the list would make me go crazy. ”

Keith came over and stood next to me, leaning against my car with his arms crossed. “You know how to fix that, right?”

“I don’t know if I’m ready for that either.”

“Ain’t nothing wrong with it, but don’t drag your feet with anything.

You already have a plan to leave the streets.

Put it into action, man. You know I’ll back you up all the way, and so will Sabrina, Symone, and Korren.

That’s your ticket to everything your heart wants. Stop being scared and go for it.”

Leave it to Keith to call me out on my fears. He was right. All I had to do was take the first step. I had one foot in the door and the other out. The thought of failure was the only thing keeping me from moving. That and losing Korren.

“Damn, Symone. My pockets dry fooling with you,” I joked as I carried her many bags to the car.

Symone tossed her burgundy soft locs over her shoulder and snickered. “Your pockets are far from dry, Cage. I barely put a dent in them. On top of that, I grabbed a few things for Mama as well.”

We’d been at the HG Shopping Center for three hours. I surprised Symone and checked her out at twelve. We ate then went shopping, and I was ready to call it a day. Since her nail appointment was at four, I got everything in my trunk and headed to Korren’s apartment.

“I’m so excited to see Korren. I haven’t seen her in months,” Symone expressed, dancing in the passenger seat.

“She’s excited to see you too. I already told her don’t give you no long nails either. You don’t need all that extra shit.”

“Whatever. I can get what I want. Besides, I don’t like long nails. I should get them just to spite you.”

“And I’d take everything back to the stores to spite you.”