Page 1 of Hellcat Barbies: Imani
Imani “E” Marks
“It’s getting late, E. You need to take your ass back to Crescent Falls,” my girl and the founder of our riding club, the Hellcat Barbies, Breezy says.
“Yeah, bitch. You don’t live here anymore. Besides, you couldn’t wait to leave Diamond Cove anyway,” Aubree adds.
“And I still can’t live here but damn! Can’t a bitch come back and hang with my girls? I’m still a Hellcat Barbie and last time I check, this was our kick back.”
“Ouch! I’m just playing, hoe. Chill out,” she snaps back but it’s all love.
Today was our annual back-to-school bash. We are a car club but it’s more than just driving and racing our Hellcats. We also do a lot for the community and this is one of my favorite events. Each Barbie donates cash for the school supplies and some of us even collect the supplies at our respective jobs. Then,we have a big day at the track of racing, food, and fun and supplies giveaways. Today was that day so I had to come back.
We’ve been girls forever, all of us. The Hellcat Barbies are my safe place. During my lowest time, they were here for me. We are more than just a riding club; we are sisters. Like all sisters, we talk shit but it means nothing. However, because my words might have been harsh, I apologize.
“My bad, sis. This job shit is fucking with me. If they fire me for this bullshit, I don’t know what I’ll do. Being a surgical tech at Mount Sinai was my dream,” I sigh.
Losing my twin brother, Imari, was the original motivation to leave this place, the job chose the location. The day my brother was killed was the day my heart broke in two. We came into the world together, only sixteen minutes apart, and he was supposed to always be with me. A life without him, especially in the city that took him from me, wasn’t an option for me anymore.
“It will be fine, E. They can’t fire you for something you didn’t do,” Breezy tries to assure me but I know better.
In the hospital, there is definitely a clear hierarchy and the surgeons are the highest deity and everyone else are lowly peasants. They are worshipped like freaking gods. If the choice is between losing a surgeon and facing serious liability and a malpractice suit or firing a scrub tech, the scrub tech is gone each and every time. It doesn’t look good for my ass, not at all. I’m in no hurry to drive back and be told I’m fired.
“I hope so,” is all I say.
“I love you but it’s getting late as hell and you still have a three-hour drive back to Crescent Falls. You need to leave now; it’s almost two.”
“Three hours? Please, not with my baby. I’ll make it in two and a half.”
“You drive too damn fast,” Aubree teases.
“Like we all don’t.” I smirk and they laugh too.
We are the Hellcat Barbies for a reason. We all love fast, bad ass cars, and Hellcats are our babies. My baby is a 2023 Dodge Challenger SRT Hellcat Redeye. She is pretty as hell, inside and out, and fast as fuck with 797 horsepower thanks to her 6.2L Hemi V8 engine. She means the world to me because my brother did the majority of her customizations at his shop. He gutted her out and wrapped her. Her orange insides perfectly match her fire orange chrome wrap. When I’m riding, I know that my brother is always with me.
“Well, I’m out, sis. Five more minutes and my crazy ass husband, Lucci, will be rolling up looking for me,” Breezy says.
“I know he will,” I say with a smile.
We are parked in a circle and all three of us are leaning on the front of our Hellcats. Breezy raises up first and I follow. We hug then she embraces Aubree next. When she pulls off, Aubree tries to hang but I see she’s ready to leave too, so I let her make it.
“I’m gonna head back. I’ll be back for the next event.”
“I better hear from your ass before then though.”
“You will. I’ll call or text tomorrow to let ya’ll know what’s up. Give me a hug. I need to hit this road.”
We embrace then get into our cars. As usual Aubree has to show out when she leaves the scene. After revving her engine a few times, she peels out of the parking lot. I pull out behind her. My baby is beautiful but because of her engine, she eats a lot of gas. It takes a full tank for each one-way trip between here andCF. So, before hitting the highway, I stop at the gas station off Ocean Boulevard. They have a nice coffee section and I’m going to need a cup for this drive and for the bullshit at the hospital in a few hours.
It takes me ten minutes to make it to the station and another twenty to get gas and doctor up a good cup of coffee. In a large, twenty-ounce cup, I mix two different flavored creamers with pecan roasted coffee and about two ounces of mocha cappuccino. By two-thirty, I’m on the road, pushing my baby as much as I can without drawing too much attention, and vibing to my R&B playlist. By five, I’m pulling into my garage of my townhouse.
When I moved to Crescent Falls nine months ago, I lucked up on this one bedroom, one and a half bath townhouse in The Falls. The owner moved out of the country and she is subleasing it with an option to buy after a year. It’s everything: spacious and open floor plan, high ceilings, granite countertops, huge walk-in closet, stainless-steel appliances, and a private balcony.
As soon as I’m inside, I rush upstairs, put my cute ass faux locs back in a neck bun, shower, and quickly dress in my wine-colored scrubs, and my matching wine Brooks Women's Glycerin 22 shoes. After being a scrub tech for five years, I’ve finally found a shoe that remains comfortable after long hours in the operating room. I have them in every color.
At two minutes to six, I’m badging in and walking into the HR department. I’ve been on paid leave pending an investigation for a week. On Friday, I was called and told to come in Monday for my regular shift but report here. A final determination has been made.
When I walk in, I’m politely greeted then escorted in. My supervising nurse, Bonita Johns, the surgeon who really fuckedup, Dr. Rich Stetson, and the HR rep I’ve been communicating with Karen Black are all already seated. I choose the empty seat closest to Karen and sit down.
“Thank you for joining us, Imani,” Karen says.
