#chrisbown

Destani and I exited the growing lunch line once we’d received our food and moved toward the now crowded lunch table. I slid into my seat next to Dontay and Destani occupied the seat to my right. “What’s up Sy?” He asked, “You lookin mighty fine today ma.” I nearly blushed as I smiled and stuck a cheesy fry in my mouth “Thank you Dontay. How are you?” "I'm chillin, you know... keepin it pimpin.” He replied proudly with a cheeky grin. "Man shut that shit up Don. You ain't keepin shit pimipin.” Rashad exclaimed from his seat on the other side of the table. "Oh really nigga? How about you ask your mama who pimp slapped that ass last night." He snickered as the table erupted into laughter.

My ears perked abruptly as I tuned in to the pitter-patter of heels against the linoleum floor of the lunch room… there were only a handful of girls who felt it necessary to wear heels to school, so it didn't take long to realize exactly who was approaching. I peered across the table as Gabby quickly made a beeline for Chris in her too high stilettoes. Jabbing an elbow into Chris's arm, Rashad closed the space between them to not so subtly whisper “Damn bro… fucked that ass up last night, huh?” He glanced at Rashad, oblivious to his approaching girlfriend "Nigga what are you..." He was quickly interrupted by Gabby as she weaseled up behind him and leaned in to place a kiss against the side of his ink adorned neck. "These hoes I tell you." Destani mumbled from her seat beside me. Tameka giggled and cleared her throat, bringing the attention to herself “Hey Gabby!" Tossing her hair over her shoulder, Gabby rolled her eyes toward Tameka and presented her with a tight lipped smile “Hi.”

"Bit..." Tameka started only to be shushed by Nalay, "Man, why you always stopping me from checking this hoe?" "Because, it makes no sense to start with that girl if she’s not even bothering you.” Nalay explained in a tone just as hushed. "Nay, she did start with me. I know you saw her roll her damn eyes." She argued. Nalay glared at her firmly and much to my dismay, Tameka scoffed and remained silent. "Baby," Gabby started as she leaned against Chris’s back and draped her arms around his broad shoulders, “Can I talk to you for a minute?" With a sigh, Chris clenched his eyes shut and shook his head "Gabby, I'm eating right now.” "But it'll only be for a minute and it's really important.” She was sure to lace her Latin infused words with mock innocence as she massaged her cat like nails into his chest. With yet another sigh, he parted his eyes into a squint and pushed back against her to maneuver himself away from the table "Aiiight."

She eased her hands away from him with a sneer as he towered over her. Reaching for her hand, he turned and led them away from the lively table toward the exit of the cafeteria. "I swear, one day I will jump that girl and rip all them damn clip-ins right up out her head." Tameka fussed, rolling her eyes at the couple as they veered out into the hall. "Girl yes, then when you get done ripping that shit out Imma put it in a bag then set it on Chris's doorstep and leave a note that says ‘Your girls hair lost in a fight with Meka’s hand... can you get this back to her when you get a chance? Love her number one fan, Dez’.” Erupting into laughter, they reached across the table to eagerly slap hands.  Over half an hour later, Chris sauntered back into the lunch room clutching his hat in one hand while he smoothed the other over the front of his shirt. Plopping down casually in his seat, he rand a tired hand over his face. “Where you been nigga?” Rashad asked as Chris perched his hat on his head and angled it forward to his liking. “Outside… talking to Gabby.” He answered. “For half an hour bro? I don’t think so.” Dontay chuckled. “Nigga have you never heard of a deep conversation?” Chris peered at him through squinted eyes with his head tilted slightly.

Before Dontay had a chance to respond, Tameka propped her elbows up onto the table and leaned forward to face Chris “Nigga nah, ain’t nothing deep between you and that brainless hoe except yo dick when she deepthroatin'. Just be real… you know she was slopping on your knob in the parking lot.” Her expression remained somber as the table shared a laugh. “Shut the hell up Meka,” Chris chuckled. Moments later the bell rang, signaling the end of the lunch hour. With laughter and chatter filling the atmosphere, everyone departed from the table to dispose of their trash and head off in separate directions for the last few remaining classes of the day.

--

The remainder of the day crept by at a snail’s pace and after the final bell of the day rang, I stood at my open locker and gathered the books I’d need to complete the evening’s homework. I glanced up at the sound of Destani approaching to my left. Slowing down the closer she got, she leaned against the locker next to mine and sighed “Do we have to stay and wait for Chris?” I stared at her in amusement and couldn't help but laugh… her expression was that of a distraught child. “Unless you’d like to walk home, I think we do.” Closing my locker, I clutched her arm in mine and led her off toward the gym. We marched through the steel doors of the building and were greeted by the shrilling sound of whistles, the strong smell of hard work and sweat, and squeaking shoes racing up and down the court. We walked along the outskirts of the basketball court and once we reached the bleachers, we marched up a few rows and made ourselves comfortable.

“Brown… what are you doing out there boy? That would have been a technical in the actual got damn game! Control your got damn temper or your ass will be taking a nice little joy ride on the got damn bench next game, damnit… you hear be Brown?” Coach Wesler roared in his thick country twang with a reddened face and veins bulging violently through his neck. He was reprimanding Chris who’d just pushed a teammate onto the floor, then proceeded to hover over him and curse him to hell. I looked on as Chris furrowed his brows and gave one obligatory nod of his head in acknowledgement of his coach’s warning. Seconds later, my gaze met the hem of his jersey as he lifted it to wipe a trail of sweat from his forehead. The moment didn't last very long, but time seemed to halt as I gazed at the glistening indentions that was his abdomen. His body was sheathed in a layer of perspiration that accentuated the ink covering his brawny arms, chest, and half his stomach. My eyes traveled in a daze to the deep set v-cut that dipped impeccably into his shorts…

“Earth to Sy’Diyah… hello, are you there?” Destani snapped her fingers in my face, instantly bringing me back to reality. “Huh?” I muttered foolishly. “What the hell were you staring at girl? I swear I been trying to get your attention for the last five minutes.” She exclaimed theatrically. “Oh, um… nothing. What’s wrong?” I asked. “I was trying to tell you that queen bitch and her royal followers just walked in.” Destani explained, pointing not so discreetly toward the entrance of the gym. I followed her pointing finger and noticed Gabby and her two sidekicks, Sharissa and Melanie, strutting into the gym. They approached the bleachers and sat a few rows down from us, jumping right into their unnecessarily loud discussion.

“So Gabby,” Sharissa started as she tossed her shiny synthetic hair back over her shoulder, “I see you got yourself a lil limp today.” “Well, you know bae did stay over last night and girl trust me when I tell you… papa put in work all night.” She giggled. They shared a laugh and Melanie quickly cleared her throat “Okay Gab, please don’t get mad at me but I just have to ask. You know your boy used to get around… I've heard that nigga is crucial in the bedroom. That he’ll have your ass climbing walls and everything… is it true? Is it really that serious?” She asked, entirely too eagerly. Pressing a hand against her chest, Gabby stared out onto the court seductively at Chris as she nibbled on the corner of her bottom lip. “Señoras, listen when I tell you… papi plays no games, okay. I mean have either of you ever had multiple orgasms in one hour alone? Oh Dios mío, I damn near pass out every time… I swear my baby used to be a porn star in his past life!”

“It’s like that girl… damn,” Sharissa smirked and glanced up the court in Chris’s direction with a raised brow, “So I guess that explains why you can’t seem to get enough and fuck all in the parking lot in the middle of lunch, huh?” They laughed aloud, slapping hands with one another as they continued on with their obscene conversation. With a shake of my head, I glanced over at Destani. She rolled her eyes with a revulsion masking her face. “These hoes are dumb as fuck, I swear. I don’t see how Chris fools with that girl… do you hear this shit?” she asked rhetorically. I kept quiet beside her as my mind replayed every word of the conversation we’d just overheard. I wasn't even sure whether I was disturbed by all that we’d heard, or intrigued…

--

A short while later, the team had completed their practice for the afternoon. We stayed put on the bleachers to wait for Chris to make his way out of the locker room. After majority of his teammates had already exited the building, he finally walked out of the locker room in a stark white tank and a pair of black basketball shorts. He sported a flat brimmed red cap, angled effortlessly forward and raised at the brim. The Jordan’s that graced his feet didn’t go unnoticed as they complemented the hat resting neatly on his head. He quickly spotted us sitting on the bleachers and began to make his way toward us. It didn’t take long for Gabby to notice his presence and she quickly stood from her seat and stomped down the bleachers in her elevated stilettos. “Hey papa, you did so good in practice today!” She exclaimed as she approached his lofty frame and slid her arms around his waist. “Thanks Gabby. What are you doing here?” He mumbled, glancing at Destani and I. “Well other than to see my man practice,” She giggled, “I wanted to see if maybe you could come over. My mom is working late tonight.”

He sighed and began to unravel her arms from his waist “You know I can’t Gab.” “And why not?” Her words were brash as she gripped her hips and balanced her weight on her right leg. “I have to take Dez and Sy home… and I have to pick up my nephew from the youth center.” He explained. Smacking her lips loudly, she rolled her eyes and sighed “I don’t even understand why you have to take them home. Can’t they walk or something? I swear it seems like you spend more time with them than you do with me.” With a noticeable intensity in his eyes, he stared at her with an irate expression masking his reddening face “I drove them to school this morning and I plan to drive them home.”

“What the hell are you driving them around for… don’t they both have a car? You are not their damn chauffeur.” She fussed as she jabbed a finger into his chest. “Gabby,” His tone was calm and deadly as he swiftly pushed her hand away from him and took a step away from her, “Listen, apparently you don’t understand the fact that I will do for them the same way I know they would do for me. We look out for each other… that’s just how the fuck this works. If you can't handle that and you wanna sit here and get in your feelings about it, then that’s on you.” “No baby, that’s not what I…” She paused and her face began to morph into a scowl as she realized exactly what he’d said, “Hold on estúpido, no one is getting in their feelings because of them. I’m just trying to give your ass an opportunity to spend some time with your woman and you’re acting crazy.”

“Aiiight Gabby, I don’t have time to stand here and fuckin fight with you. I’ll call you later or some shit.” He muttered as he whipped around to face us. “Let’s go.” His voice was firm, yet hushed as he sauntered past us toward the exit. He slammed a hand against one of the double doors, smacking it into the brick wall behind it. His cheeks were a rosy tint and I knew he needed some soothing words to calm him down, but I chose to remain silent as I began to follow him out the door. Destani was well on her way to turning around to confront Gabby, but I snatched her by her forearm before she had a chance to utter a single word. As we arrived at his truck, I took it upon myself to quickly climb into the passenger seat and leave Destani to the back. I knew that an argument would quickly ensue if she sat near Chris and I was determined to avoid that. The ride from the school to our neighborhood was awkward and quiet, with the exception of the radio. Reaching Destani's house first, he pulled parallel to the curb just outside her driveway and she quickly gathered her belongings and climbed out of the backseat.

“I’ll probably bring Imani over later.” She said. “Alright.” I replied. With significantly less enthusiasm than she had less than a second ago, she glanced at Chris with a raised brow “Thanks for the ride.” “No problem.” He mumbled, not even glancing back in her direction. Destani swiftly turned on her heels and marched toward the front of her house and Chris drove off down the street toward my house. He pulled into my driveway and shifted the truck into park, laying his head against the headrest as he turned to face me “I’m sorry Hope.” I peered at him and my face instantly contorted from utter confusion “What?” “I’m sorry,” He repeated staring at me, “You know, for earlier… for the way I spoke to you and for makin you upset. Like, years ago I promised myself I would never neglect you or hurt you and look at me… doing exactly what I swore I never would, all because of Gabby. I tried to put you at fault for the lack of time we get to hang out, when in reality it’s my fault… so, I’m sorry.” I gazed at him, taking in every genuine word that’d just spewed from his lips. Without thought, I began to giggle nervously and I tore my gaze away from him as I shook my head.

“Are you laughing at me?” He asked, leaning forward from his seat and moving closer to peer directly into my face, “I spend like thirty seconds of my life pouring my feelings out to you in this heartfelt apology… and you laugh at me. Girl, you ain’t right.” He chuckled. Calming my laughter, I turned to face him with a smile “I’m sorry Chris… I wasn't laughing at you. Your apologizes have always been the cutest… ever since we were kids. It’s that sincere look on your face that just gets me every time. You don’t have to apologize to me though.” He smirked with a shake of his head as he leaned comfortably into his seat. His head rested back against the head rest and he bit into his bottom lip as he peered at me, never uttering a single word.