Page 3

nariah

. . .

Slouching down behind the bar I popped open my bottle of water and took a sip. For tonight to be my first time working on the weekend I had made more than what I anticipated. From the way the other girls kicked it I thought I would leave with a couple of hundred.

It was almost two in the morning and so far, I was up a few thousand. The club didn’t close for another two hours so if this was all I walked away with I would be content.

“How’s it going out there?” Shunta, the girl Chucky had stuck me with for the night asked.

Rising from the floor I sat on the stool with my back against the bar and yawned. “Good.”

“Tonight is a slow night, tomorrow will be better.” She smiled.

“Tonight, has been kind of good actually.”

“How much did you get from that section?”

“Like four hundred.” I lied. Shunta was cool and all, but I wasn’t a dummy by far. I was taught to never let your right hand know what your left hand was doing. It wasn’t her business what I had made.

“Cheap ass niggas.” She frowned. “I thought they would have tipped more than that.”

“It’s cool. I didn’t really do anything.”

“If you say so.” She laughed. “Still cheap as fuck.”

“Nariah.” The manager called out, scaring the shit out of me.

I hopped up from the stool so fast it ended up falling to the ground. Leaning to pick it up I asked. “Huh?”

“Section three wants to see you.”

“Me?” I asked for clarification.

“Yeah you. Go see what he wants and come find me when you’re done.” He retorted snidely.

Even Shunta was confused, prompting her to ask. “What’s his issue?”

“I don’t know.” I shrugged. Plucking my shorts out my butt I stepped around her. “I’ll be back.”

Ambling from behind the bar I hit the main floor and walked up the few stairs until I was standing at the entrance of the roped off section. “I was summoned.” I said to some light skinned nigga that was standing there like he was guarding the section.

Instead of saying anything he kind of stepped to the side and waved his hand for me to enter. Narrowing my eyes into slits I cocked my head to the side. “Look I don’t have time for games. Who asked for me?”

“I did.” A deep and gruff voice boomed from behind him. When I realized where it came from, I chuckled under my breath. Now I knew what had put Chucky in a foul mood. I was getting ready to walk over to see what he wanted when the nigga patted the seat beside him.

“I’ll pass.” I gave him a fake smile and turned to walk away.

“Nariah, wait up.”

Huffing, I halted my stride and turned to face him. “How you know my name?”

“Chucky told me.” He shared once he was standing directly in front of me.

“Figures.” I rolled my eyes and slammed my hands on my hips. “What’s up?”

Chuckling, he stroked his chin. “I ain’t want nothing. Just trying to see what’s up with you.”

Looking him up and down I quickly deduced that he wasn’t my type.

He was handsome no doubt, but the nigga was wearing shades in the club.

If that wasn’t the corniest shit ever. Then he had on one of those big ass chains that rappers wore.

Which had me remembering that Amp said he had just signed a record deal.

Deciding to dead the conversation before he got any ideas I voiced. “I have a boyfriend.”

A smirk formed on his face. “You want a husband?” He challenged and stroked his tongue across his teeth.

“Cute...real cute, but I don’t do rappers.”

“Who said I’m a rapper?”

“Seriously?”

“I’m just saying.” He held his hand out. “Juice.”

“Nariah.” I placed my hand in his. “But you already knew that.”

“I did.” Removing his eyes from my face he looked over my head. “That’s you?”

Turning in the direction he was looking I quickly spotted Chucky standing in the cut eyeing the hell out of us. “Chucky. Fuck no.” I don’t know if it was the look of disgust on my face or the tone in which I said it that caused him to laugh but Juice tossed his head back and chuckled.

“I ain’t think so. Nigga was trying to throw salt in the mix.”

“How?”

“Don’t matter how. But for real.” He rubbed his hands together. “I know you said you don’t do rappers and shit but uh…think I can get ya number?”

“Why you want my number Juice?” I mused.

“Cause I’m tryna see what’s up with you. Ya know…get to know you a lil bit.”

“Awww. That’s so cute.”

“Cute. The fuck.” He based, making me laugh.

Getting serious I added. “No seriously, outside of the fact that I don’t fuck with rappers and me having a situation I’m flattered but I can’t.”

He tossed his chin up and requested. “Why not?”

“You’re cute and all but I’m too focused on school right now.”

“I ain’t tryna distract you lil mama. A nigga ain’t tryna do nothing but be in your world.”

“I hear you, but my answer is still no. Congratulations on your deal. I wish you much success in the future.” I winked before walking away.

Juice was cute, intriguing even. But I’d seen this story play out a time or two and wanted no parts. All I wanted to do was make my little money and get through school. I had goals and dealing with a rapper would deter me from those.

Pushing my way through the crowd of people I walked to the back of the club where Chucky’s office was. When I made it to the door, it was wide open and he was sitting at his desk.

“Have fun?” He questioned, without taking his eyes off his phone.

“You wanted me to come holla at you.” I implied, getting right down to business.

“What that nigga want?”

“Nothing.” I lied. “Just making conversation.”

Putting his phone down Chucky gave me his undivided attention. “I like you Nariah, so much so that I took a chance and gave you a job.”

“And I appreciate it.”

“Right...you do know it’s against club rules?—”

Holding my hand up I cut him off. “Let me stop you right there. I’ve read the rule book from front to back. I know what’s against the policy and what isn’t. I’m guessing it applies to everyone but you.” I specified, calling his bluff.

It was no secret that Chucky gave me this job cause he thought he could talk me out of my thong. The nigga had been pushing up on me since I applied. Shunta had already warned me that he would try it and when he did, I shot his ass down.

Chucky thought because he’d put me on the weekends where I could make more money that it would make me wanna give into his advances. He was fucking wrong. He was no more closer to getting between my legs today than he was a month ago.

“That’s not what I’m saying.” He lied. “I’m trying to look out for you. I done seen plenty of niggas blow through here and make promises to my girls that they have no intentions on keeping. Juice ain’t no different.”

“Well lucky for both of y’all I’m not in the market for anything. Can I go?”

“Yeah, yeah, yeah.” He stuttered.

Giving his fat funky ass a fake smile I turned and walked off. First night on the weekend and already some stupid shit. When Chucky hired me, he claimed I ain’t have enough sass to work the weekend shift, so he stuck me on middays.

The money at Stax was good but I knew I could make more.

I begged him for a chance to work the weekends cause I saw the type of bread those girls were making, and I wanted in.

Like I said I wanted to stack as much money as I could, get my degree, and get the fuck away from Atlanta.

The plan was to get out before I got sucked in to the bullshit and so far, I was doing a good job at avoiding it.

Hopefully Juice got the hint that I wasn’t beat for the bullshit and moved around.

When I made it back to the main bar Shunta was there waiting. “What did them niggas want?”

“Juice was trying to holla, and Chucky was trying to assert his power.”

“I can’t stand his fat ass.”

“Me either.” I laughed.

“You gone hook up with Juice?” Her nosey ass asked.

“Nope.” I popped. “Not my speed.”

“Mind if I try that? I mean I ain’t tryna step on your toes or nothing.”

“Go for it my girl. He ain’t my nigga.”

“Bet.” She smirked and hopped off the stool.

Landing a balling ass nigga was more of Shunta’s speed than mine.

She was the type of bitch that wanted a nigga to choose her.

Her only ambition is life was getting pregnant by a rich nigga so she could be taken care of.

I didn’t know nothing about that life. If she hollered at the nigga and he went for it, kudos to them. Better her than me.

“Nari!” My mama yelled, jarring me from my dream.

Sitting up in bed I pulled my sleep mask off. “Huh?”

“Yo ass about to be late for work!”

Swiping my phone off the nightstand I checked the time and groaned.

“Shit.” Pushing the covers back I stood from the bed and popped my back.

I didn’t leave the club until six. After shutting down for the night, I counted my tips, cashed out, and helped clean the club before hopping in my car and coming home.

I didn’t have to be at the club until one, so I didn’t mind sticking around this morning. Judging by how drowsy I felt I was starting to regret that shit. Meandering into my bathroom I cut the shower on before standing at the sink to wash my face and brush my teeth.

After securing my shower cap over my ponytail, I hopped in the shower and let the steamy water pelt down my back.

“You working all night tonight?” My mama asked after barging into my bathroom.

“I’m working until five for one of the girls then I get a break and don’t have to be back until nine.”

“Oh okay.”

“Why? What’s up?”

“Lariah gone need a way from work and I won’t be back in enough time to get her.”

Lariah was my little sister. When school started back, she got a part time job at the sneaker store in the mall. She was a sophomore in high school and wanted to make her own money. I felt exactly where she was coming from. We weren’t rich by far but my mama never let us go without.