Page 4 of Bern and Isley
The scowl on Unique’s face discouraged me from taking him up on that offer. I wasn’t in the mood for any drama.
“Nah, I’m ready to go to bed anyway. I had too much to drink.”
“Yeah, your ass is lit,” he chuckled. “Well, let me walk you out to the car.”
“I’m good, you don’t have to do that,” I assured him.
“I said I’m going to walk you to the car… Come on.” He gently grabbed my arm and led me toward the door.
“Ugh… if you insist,” I relented. “See you later, Unique.”
“Bye,” she replied dryly, not bothering to hide her frown.
If looks could kill, my aunt would be planning my funeral by morning. I knew Unique was pissed at both me and Bern. I could feel her staring a hole in our backs as we exited the house. We walked side by side down the driveway toward Snow’s car.
“I appreciate you coming by to kick it with your boy… I missed you.”
“I missed you too. I’m still lightweight pissed that you wouldn’t allow me to visit you. That was fucked up.”
When he first told me that he didn’t want me to come visit him, I thought he was just talking. But when I realized he wasserious, I was furious. In my mind, I thought that was what helped inmates get through their time, visits, letters, and phone calls.
“I didn’t want anybody to visit me in that hell hole, especially my mama and you. I know it’s not easy for y’all to understand, but it was best for my mental not to see y’all’s faces. The phone calls and the letters broke me down enough. Not seeing y’all’s faces was my punishment to myself. I knew once I got out of there that I wouldn’t put myself in a position to go without seeing you again.”
Hearing him say that made me feel warm and fuzzy. Bern and I had been best friends since we were ten years old. I moved to Douglasville Projects, or what we called D-Ville Projects, when my mom and brother passed away. I didn’t know my dad or his family. My mom had two surviving siblings, my Uncle Jack who was serving in the Army overseas and my Aunt Fee who lived in Diamond Falls. My aunt didn’t hesitate to come to Arkansas, pack me up, and bring me into her home. Bern and his mom also lived in the same projects. We lived right across the hall from each other. Because I was quiet, I was an easy target for bullying. Claybern noticed a group of boys harassing me one day and stood up for me. He picked the biggest of the pack to fight. After Bern beat that boy’s ass, none of the others were interested in the same fate. I didn’t have any issues with anyone going forward, not at the complex nor at school. Everyone quickly learned that Bern didn’t play about me.
When we made it to Snow’s car, Bern opened the passenger door for me. I leaned in and gave him a quick hug. He kissed the top of my forehead before releasing me.
“Y’all be safe… text me and let me know when you make it home safely.”
“Sure thing,” I replied as he closed the door.
I waved as Snow pulled off.
“Girl, that man is in love with you.”
“What are you talking about?”
“Bern is trying to be more than your friend, girl… you blind as shit if you don’t see it.”
“Whatever… you talking crazy, girl.”
Snow’s words kept replaying in my head long after she had dropped me off. Bern didn’t see me as more than a friend, did he?
Chapter 2
Bern
“Man,you need to hook me up with Isley… she was looking fine as shit at the party last night.”
My brows furrowed as I mugged my cousin Antwan. “Nigga, don’t play.”
He and my homie Theo had stopped by my mom’s house to help me straighten up from the night before. We were all too faded to clean up immediately after the party. It was true that Isley was sexy as hell. The way her titties were sitting up in that white tank and her ass was looking good in those distressed shorts. Although they were a little baggy, any man would notice she had a wagon back there. But I still didn’t appreciate my cousin speaking on that shit.
“What?” Antwan shrugged. “Hell, you ain’t making no moves on her. Might as well let me shoot my shot.”
My nostrils flared and my fists clenched. “She’s off limits to you, nigga. Besides, she got a man.”
The truth was I’d always loved Isley Baker Simmens, ever since we were ten years old. The day she moved into the D-Ville Projects, I thought she was the prettiest girl I’d ever laid eyes on. She had medium brown skin and back then she was skinny as hell. Her hair was long, but she always wore it in a ponytail.As cute as I thought she was, there was always a sad look on her face. And rightfully so considering the devastating loss she’d experienced at a young age. She’d moved to Douglasville Projects with her aunt because her mother and older brother had tragically died in a car accident. I had never lost a close loved one. My mama was my entire world; I couldn’t imagine how fucked up I would be to lose her. Especially as a kid.
