Page 23 of On Everything

Ciara

The sound of the metal on metal clanking of the garbage truck as it hissed down the block wasn’t a noise I usually wake up to.

My eyes were almost blinded when I moved just enough to have a sun ray shoot straight to my pupil through a crack in the blinds.

Usually, by the time the trash is running in the projects in the morning, I’m on the bus headed into work with a bacon, egg, and cheese in one hand and an ice coffee in the other.

When I grabbed my phone that was pinned under my back, I saw that I’d slept four hours past the time I get up for work and felt great about it.

I made my way to my social media accounts before checking my email which was full of the usual spam.

I’m not sure what I’m ever looking for inside that app, but I check my email every morning religiously.

I guess just because I have hopes of a good job offer popping up for a job that I applied for in the past.

I threw the covers off my body and then sat up looking for my phone only it fell off the bed and into a bowl I had on the side of the bed.

I grabbed the phone and the bowl from the bed and stood up stretching all the way up to my tippy toes because I slept great as hell.

I needed it too because my body felt like it was giving out at work yesterday.

Then the gun range with Hov really wore me out from all the adrenaline that was running through my body.

I legit felt like I had sex when I came up these steps last night.

I Still have my doubts about Hov but that doesn’t stop me from being absolutely excited for what he has up his sleeve for my birthday.

Just even a trip to the corner store would be more than what Kairo has been able to do the last few years, but I’m sure Hov had so much more planned.

As long as whatever it is has nothing to do with guns then I think I will be okay with it.

Tonight, I knew I would wear the black bandage dress that I’d gotten for a New Years outing one year when me and Kairo were supposed to go to times square and other clubs but just ended up at a kick back in the Towers.

I’ve been wanting to wear this dress again since then because I don’t feel like enough people saw its magic.

I’m sure Hov would appreciate it too. At least I hope so, I know what he’s used to with Cashmier’s beautiful ass.

I took the dress out of the closet and then laid it across my bed now thinking of what shoes I should wear tonight.

I know it’s way before our date time, but the excitement made me want to be prepared way before.

I’ll probably start curling and flat ironing my leave out in a couple of hours.

With Flexi rods in, they will be perfect by the time he pulls up.

Knock, knock. Knock, knock, knock.

From the pattern of the knocks outside of the door, I knew it was my bestfriend.

“You saw my active status on Facebook, didn’t you?”

Pernelle walked into my apartment with her favorite pair of SpongeBob pajama shorts and an oversized white shirt.

“Yes. I knew your ass was off today. Fuck it’s already hot out there. Happy birthday my best bitch.”

“Thank you, friend.”

She plopped down on my sofa. Pernelle hasn’t been here for a whole minute, but because she wasn’t already talking my ear off, I knew something was wrong.

“What’s wrong?”

She exhaled deeply.

“Emoney didn’t come back home last night, and I’m really worried about her ass.”

“Did you check the jail roster?”

“Yep. Did that before I came over here. I wish it was a way to check the dumpsters and dumpster trunks in the Bronx on a map too. Call it the dead body roster.”

“Why are you going there friend? She could be in jail and just not booked in yet. Let's pray not even that. Let's just hope she's sleeping.”

I made my way into the kitchen to grab a bowl to eat the last of my favorite cereal.

“I know, I’m just worried about her regardless. After all, jail could be a disaster too depending on why.”

“True, but let’s just hope for the best. Do you want a bowl?”

I held up the Captain Crunch box, but Pernelle shook her head no and then leaned over on the couch, kicking her shoes off, and grabbing a pillow.

“Have you talked to Hov today, Ci?”

“No, not since last night. He and I went to the gun range and then he dropped me off here.”

She sat back up on the couch instantly. Pernelle knew how terrified I was of guns or weapons of any matter.

“Wait, your scary ass went to the gun range?”

“Yes, I have a gun now too.”

“What! Is this nigga changing you already?”

“Well, not in a bad way. I need protection since I will be here by myself.”

“Chile, I’m scared of you. My bitch preparing for her role.”

“Girl, I felt such a rush when he was teaching me how to shoot and be confident with it in my hand.”

“Good thing your new man has plenty.”

She made me roll my eyes. This girl was worse than Hov referring to him as my man already.

Knock knock.

I hurried towards my front door when I heard the knocking. Expecting it to be Hov, I was disappointed when I opened the door and saw Emoney standing in front of me in some oversized gym shorts, a white muscle shirt, and a durag.

“Yo, is Pernelle over here?”

“Yeah, she in here.” I stepped to the side to let her in.

Her head was on a swivel looking from side to side at the new furniture and other fixings in my apartment.

“Damn, Ciara. You hit the lottery or some shit?”

“Kinda.” I kept it short as she admired everything.

“Don’t come in here making small talk when I’m about to beat your ass. Where the fuck you been?” Pernelle stood up from the couch.

“Chill baby, I was out making money and I left my phone at home in some of my pockets.”

“Yeah fuckin right.”

“I swear. I wouldn’t lie to you, and you know I damn sure wouldn’t cheat.”

Pernelle just shook her head from side to side in response.

“So baby, let’s go home, get dressed, and go eat some brunch at Brooklyn Beso or some shit.”

“That high ass place Emoney?”

“Yeah, that high ass place. I told you I was out making money last night. Good fuckin money?”

Emoney chuckled pulling out a wad of cash from her pocket and I shook my head not making a comment because that’s not my relationship. Pernelle was always calling me love after lockup but that’s going to be her soon if Emoney doesn’t find a real fuckin job.

“Damn baby, how much is this.”

“Enough. Enough to go eat brunch, get your hair done, your nails, get us a car and a new penthouse or something.”

Pernelle had heard enough and started jumping up and down clapping because shit was now good between them.

Once those two started kissing, I went back into my fridge to grab my milk. It’s funny to see how much money changes the way bitches accept things. Just five minutes ago she was ready to kill her. Now she’s about to go have brunch.

“Wait, babe wait. We can’t go out to eat without my girl and it’s her birthday today.”

“Oh yeah. Happy birthday Ciara.”

“Thanks. But that’s okay. I’m already about to eat cereal.”

Pernelle rushed over to catch my arm just before I could pour the milk.

“You WERE about to eat cereal and now you are not. Go in that room. Get something Kairo would hate for you to wear and get dressed.”

“But you know I’m going out later. I can’t be doing stuff all day.”

“Says who? It’s your birthday. You better live a little.”

“Living and doing too much are too different things. I’m going to stay here. I want my hair to be curled tonight so you know that’s going to take me a few hours.”

Pernelle stumped her foot and rolled her eyes.

“Whatever, you bug.”

She walked back over to Emoney, and they hugged up again. My phone then chimed with a text message notification from the counter, and I saw that it was Hov so I almost broke my thumbs trying to get to his message.

Hov: Yo Ciara, Happy birthday mama. I’m sorry but I don’t know if later today will be able to happen after all. I’ll keep you updated because I really did want to take you out today. If I can’t make it. Send me your zelle so you can do what you want.

I read the message and heard his voice but that made me even more irritated.

“Just like I knew you fuckin would. Whatever.” I said to myself after responding, K, to his message. I don’t want any money from him. That’s not what this is going to be about.

“Yo, come lock the door, Ciara.”

Pernelle called out from the front door. I put my phone down on the counter and changed my mind completely about the plans just offered a few minutes ago.

“I’ll actually go out with y’all to brunch. What time we leaving?”

Pernelle smiled bright as hell because due to my disappointment from Hov, she was getting what she wants.

“We trying to make it there by 4:00. They stop their brunch menu at 6:00.”

“Okay, I’ll be ready.”

Hopefully this outing and fixing myself up help me get over feeling played. After all, I knew better and still put myself in this position so there is no need to sulk in my misery. I just have to move carefully from here on out.