Page 17 of Without You I Have Nothing To Lose

“Aye, this the lil’ homie, Daizha. Daizha, this Dre, and that nigga is BJ.” Demetric introduced me to his friends while I sat down by Jaylen, visibly nervous as hell.

“Hey,” I simpered.

“When the bottle girl comes back, y’all get whatever y’all want. Jay, don’t make me fuck you up either, bruh. I don’t want to hear Zeus’ mouth about me letting you get drunk off yo’ ass on my watch.” He glared at Jaylen, and all she did was roll her eyes and waved him off.

“Are you okay?” she asked as soon as her brother’s attention went back to his friends.

“I’m okay. Thank you for having my back down there.”

“Girl, stop thanking me. We told you that we got you now. Fuck any and everything else. Now, come on so we can continue to turn up and celebrate your new beginnings.” Jaylen dragged my hand to an area by the small wall that separated us from everybody else and she started dancing on me. I couldn’t do shit but laugh because this girl was a clown. We danced a few songs before the bottle girl brought us a bottle of tequila. I wasn’t twenty-one yet, but Jaylen was. Usually when you go to clubs, they give you a wristband if you are underage. They didn’t even ask for any ID when Demetric ordered it, even though he was old enough. A few shots later, and I was out of my body and loving every minute of it. It was rare that I got to let my guard down and have a good time. I haven’t been out in almost a year, and I forgot how much fun I had. I was having the time of my life when I heard Jaylen cheer me on as I danced to JT’s ‘No Bars’. I was rapping along with the lyrics and having the time of my life. By the time the song was over and two more played, I was feeling the effects of the liquor.

“I gotta pee,” I leaned over and told Jaylen. She got up and followed me. Before we got out of the section good, Demetric was questioning us.

“Where y’all going?” he asked.

“To the bathroom,” Jaylen answered before I could. He gave me a look and nodded his head like he was giving us his approval.

I almost ran to the bathroom. The liquor seemed to flow straight through me, and if I didn’t empty my bladder soon, I’d pee on myself.

“Girl, you out here having the time of your life,” Jaylen voiced as we washed our hands.

“It feels good, too. Thank you for pushing me to come out,” I countered.

“You don’t have to thank me. I don’t have any friends because these hoes be hating. I like hanging out with somebody my age and of the same sex. I was ’bout sick of hanging out with Meechie and his friends.” After drying our hands, we headed to leave out of the bathroom and ran right into Erica as she waltzed in with another girl following her.

“I thought I saw you. You can’t come to work, but you’re out having the time of your life? What you think Gabe would say?” she smirked, crossing her arms across her chest.

“I really don’t care what he thinks, and you should stay out of my business,” I snapped.

“Yeah, whatever,” was all she said when me and Jaylen exited the bathroom.

“You know she fuckin’ that nigga, right?”

“I had an idea, but I don’t care. Let her deal with his bullshit.” I was serious when I said it. I finally got away from Gabe’s narcissistic ass and I’m not looking back. I couldn’t care less what he had going on.

When we got back in our area, there was another girl up there. She was sitting and staring at the side of Demetric’s face while he talked to his boys. She looked like a creep staring at him like that, but that wasn’t my business. Continuing to follow behind Jaylen, we passed the small group, and Demetric called my name, halting my steps.

“Dai, you still straight?” he asked.

“I’m fine. Thank you.” I kept it short because whoever this girl was, was staring a hole in me.

“Who are you?” she asked with her nose turned up.

“None of your old ass business,” Jaylen snarled.

“I wasn’t talking to you, lil’ girl,” the girl snapped back.

“Aye, watch that shit, and Jay chill,” Demetric ordered.

“Get yo’ auntie, Meech. I ain’t playing wit’ her geriatric ass tonight.” I tried to cover my face so she wouldn’t see me laughing, but I wasn’t quick enough.

“Is there something funny? You full of giggles and shit,” she said. Now, most people thought I was timid, but that wasn’t the truth at all. I just tried to avoid confrontation. Mostly with men, but a female could get it. Plenty girls tried it at the youth center and fucked around and found out.

“Girl, ain’t nobody thinkin’ ’bout yo’ ass. I don’t even know you. Sitting over there looking like a chaperone. Ol’ sit down and be quiet head ass.” My statement caused everyone to laugh except for whoever this chick was.

“Demetric, are you going to let her talk to me like that?” she asked.

“Man, P. You started with that girl. Leave people alone,” he brushed her off.

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