Page 13 of Kassir and Rebel (D-Ville Projects #2)

Kassir

The block party is on swole as always. It’s not even noon and the closed-off street is packed. Everybody is out and music can be heard all around. Although DJ Flex is blasting our little homie’s Krist’s latest mixtape, I hear other music too.

“Damn, nigga. You late,” Leem scoffs as soon as I’m out of my ride. “From the cradle to the casket.”

“Cradle to the casket,” I reply then dap him up. “The damn van and Linnea got me off track. Her ass wasn’t home and she knows Kassan’s supposed to kick it with me today.”

“Bruh, Rebel’s home. Yo’ ass had to know she would act the fuck up,” he says.

“Rebel ain’t got shit to do with her. I already warned her ass not to try me about my son.”

While shaking my head, I pull out my cell and hit Linnea’s ass. I text this time since she didn’t answer my call.

Me: where the fuck you at?

It takes a few minutes but she does respond.

Linnea: Finishing up my hair.

Me: Where?

Linnea: Why?

Her text immediately gets me heated. She’s really acting off brand, beside her damn self.

As Kassan’s mother, she gets a lot of passes, but I’m not for her shit today.

Kassan needs to be out here, having fun.

We added all the extra kid shit because of him.

We always had a few things, but I can’t lie, he inspired a lot of the new shit, including the basketball jump from Gravity Zone.

Me: Don’t try me.

Linnea: At my sister’s. I’m bringing him in 30.

“Baby momma?” Leem asks when I place my cell back in my pocket.

“Yeah. She’s finally bringing him.”

“I don’t know how you deal with that shit.”

“I focus on my son. That’s it.”

“Bet.” He nods. “But check this. You got any empty chairs at Fadez?”

“Nah. I’m full but what’s up?”

“Yah. After she hooked me up, we talked about Fadez and I told her I’ll holla at you about it. She’s tight with the clippers and licensed,” he says, selling me on Yah but he doesn’t have to.

“Say less, bruh. For Yah, I got space. You know that. I’ll get with Niecy, but let’s get something straight, Yah will be working there, not yo’ ass. I can’t have you coming in there crashing out and shit. She will be there to work and you can’t get involved.”

“Nigga, I know that,” he scoffs.

“Do you? You can’t be coming in there trying to fuck my shit up,” I warn because I know him and how he is about Yah.

“Bruh. I got this,” he assures me.

“Aight. Then it’s settled.”

“’Preciate it.”

“Speaking of Yah. I need to see if Rebel made it.”

“Oh, she made it. Wait till you see sis,” he says while smiling hard as shit.

This nigga trying to start something.

“Why? What’s up?”

“You’ll see. She’s over there with Yah, dancing and shit,” he says while nodding to his left. I look over and see her. My entire face gets tight as fuck. “Told you,” he says before walking off, laughing.

I don’t see shit funny though. Rebel has on some little ass shit with holes everywhere. From here, she looks naked. The fuck! Before I can even blink, I’m heading toward her.

As soon as I’m Rebel’s space, her face lights up and she throws her arms around my neck. “When did you get here?” she asks.

Her soft body crashes into mine and her sweet ass scent takes over my nose. My anger temporarily fades and I just hold her. When my hands gravitate to her ass and I feel the bottom of her cheek, no clothing or fabric, my anger returns.

“Where the rest of yo’ clothes?” I grit in her ear and she drops her arms from my neck. Mine stay cupping her ass though. “What’s this little ass shit?” I ask as I glare down at her.

“Just say I look pretty,” she counters.

“You know you look pretty. Fine as fuck and that’s the problem. You’re naked.”

“I’m far from naked. Tell me what you actually can see. Huh?”

“Too much skin.” I pinch her ass cheek to prove my damn point. “Man, go change this shit.”

Her arms return around my neck then she kisses me as if I didn’t just tell her to change. “This isn’t coming off until you take it off later. If you want it off now, then later is off the table.”

“Yeah, right.”

“You are so mean. Let go of my ass before Kassan sees you. Where is he anyway?”

“Not here yet. Linnea is bringing him,” I say and I don’t miss the little roll of Rebel’s eyes. “You gon’ behave right?”

“I always behave. I didn’t beat her ass back then; I can refrain now. Besides, your hands are on my ass, not hers.”

“Can you release my bestie? We about to do another Cliqued Clip with Miss Mae,” Teaira says.

“Auntie making videos? Does Leem know?”

“He’s been watching,” Rebel says.

“You bet not be twerking or shaking ass,” I warn and Rebel just grins.

“You know I can’t twerk.”

I lean in and whisper in her ear, “But you can throw it back though.”

“Get your mind out of the gutter and go; let me dance.”

After pecking my lips, she pats her hand on my chest and I reluctantly release her ass. Next thing I know, she’s stepping back but she falls. It happens so damn fast, I can’t catch her. She lands on her ass.

“The fuck! Shit!” she yells.

“Bestie!” Teaira screeches.

“Bae, you good?” I ask as I lean down and she shakes her head.

“I think I broke my ankle. Shit,” she groans. I kneel down next to her and so does Teaira. Gently, she reaches for Rebel’s leg. “The other one,” Rebel says. “It was a rock or something. It’s broken. Shit. I feel it; it’s broken for sure.”

Teaira places her hand under Rebel’s calf and gently takes the strings off her leg. Then she removes the shoe and rubs her hands across Rebel’s ankle. “Can you move it at all? Try but don’t do too much,” Teaira says calmly. The panic and pained look on Rebel’s face has both of us concerned.

“It hurts,” Rebel sighs as she slowly moves her ankle.

“But it’s not broken since you’re moving it. That’s good. You need a wrap and some ice. Like an ace bandage. I can wrap it for you.”

“Let’s get her upstairs,” I say, then scoop Rebel up. When she’s cradled in my arms, she rests her head on my shoulder.

“Ma has a wrap,” she says.

“And I got an ice pack. I got you, bae.”

“I’m coming too. I’m the nurse, remember?

I’ll make sure it’s wrapped right,” she says and I just nod.

I carry Rebel through the crowd into the building.

Teaira is behind me, trying to keep up with my long strides.

When we reach Ma’s door, Teaira catches up then grabs the key out of Rebel’s bag.

“I’ll just go in. Where’s the bandage?” she asks Rebel.

“In the bathroom in the hall. It’s under the sink. She has a whole medicine cabinet down there. Grab some Tylenol and Advil too,” she says and Teaira enters the apartment. “Only me,” Rebel sighs. “A rock. If I had on my Nikes, this wouldn’t have happened. These stupid sandals.”

“You gon’ be good. It’s not broken, bae, and besides, Teaira seems like she knows her shit.”

My words cause her to smile. “She definitely knows her stuff,” she agrees. A few minutes later, Teaira walks out with a small bag. “Damn, what all did you get?” Rebel asks.

“You were right. She has everything. I got two bandages, an ice and heat pack, and the pills. She even had a foot elevation pillow. Ma is legit,” Teaira says, sounding impressed.

“With all of us kids, she kept that cabinet packed.”

“Good thing,” Teaira says.

We trek to the elevator and head up to my crib.

As soon as we are inside, I carry Rebel to my bed and leave her in there with Teaira.

While she takes care of Rebel, I shoot Linnea a text then grab a few water bottles out of the fridge.

When I walk back into the room, Rebel’s white fit is off and she’s resting on my headboard with both legs on the bed.

Her left ankle is bandaged and propped up on a round, blue pillow.

One of the ice packs is inside the pillow.

“That was fast,” I comment as I place the water on the table by the bed.

“I’m an ER nurse. Everything is fast there. She’ll be good in a few days as long as she keeps this elevated and iced. I’m off tomorrow; I can come over and take care of her.”

“I got her.”

“But can I walk?” Rebel asks.

“If you can prevent it, no. Just hop to the bathroom,” Teaira says.

“This really sucks,” Rebel sighs.

“It’s only a sprain. Four or five days and you’ll be good as new,” Teaira says.

“Seriously, I leave in two weeks. Who wants to be crippled for four or five days,” she says and my damn chest tightens.

“Leaving where?” I ask.

“Oop! Time for me to go. Another drink and somebody’s son is out there calling my name. I’ll check on you before I head home,” Teaira says. After stepping back to the bed and hugging Rebel, she walks to the room door.

“I have to let you out,” I tell her, then walk her to the front door.

“She needs to ice for at least fifteen minutes every other hour. Make sure she does.”

“I got her,” I assure Teaira before letting her out. Then I head back to the room to holla at Rebel about her leaving.

“Not now, Kassir,” she sighs as soon as I walk back into the room.

“Not now what?”

“My ankle is killing me. I want to take these pills and not discuss our long distance relationship.”

I open the Tylenol and Advil bottles and hand them to her. She pours out two Tylenols and one Advil then I open one of the waters and give it to her. As she takes the pills, my phone vibrates in my pocket, so I pull it out. It’s Linnea and she’s at the gate to drop Kassan off.

“Kassan is out there. Let me go get him. I’ll be right back to talk ’cause ain’t shit going to be long distance about me and you,” I tell her, then kiss her pouting lips.

“Don’t rush back up here. I’m fine. Between that strong ass drink I had from Emma before I fell and those pills, I should be out like a light in a minute.

If I wake up and need you, I’ll text. Just go and have fun with your son.

I’ll be fine,” she says, ignoring my words, but it’s cool. We will have this convo.