Page 55 of My Brother's Keeper
If not, the driver will be gone in ten minutes.
I giggled. Then looked at the clock.Ten minutes.I looked a mess. My hair was in a messy bun, and I had on a pair of grey tights, an oversized TSU sweater, and a pair of Ugg boots.Fuck it!I snatched my keys and went out the door. I hurried downstairs and into the lobby.
When I glanced outside beyond the window, I really burst into laughter. Bishop and Lulu were waiting outside. He was in a full suit, which was no surprise, but it was Lulu; she wore a dark blue dress with a little train adorned with rhinestones. A part of me wanted to be angry, but another part of me was happy to see him. When I came outside, I was so fucking tickled I couldn’t stop laughing. Bishop looked at me, “What’s so funny. Shit, she wants to go to prom too.”
I gripped his arm as I lifted myself up. “I’m sorry, you know we love Lulu,” I said, glancing down at her. “You look good, girl.”
Bishop lifted my chin, “Symphony, you are one of my best friends, not to have you in my life, I will be forever fucked up. I am sorry. I really am.” He said to me.
I knew he was sorry, but when it all came crashing down, I was hurt. A part of me still was, but for all that I did, nothing changed the fact that the damage was done. He stood there, then pulled me in for a hug. “For real though, a nigga will never forget the way you held it down for me when I had my time, so a nigga is going to be there when it’s your time, whether you want me to or not. Seven to da Cove,” he said to me.
I hugged him tightly, knowing my friend’s heart was truly genuine. I also knew he would never stop bugging me, just as he did in school. “Seven to Da Cove forever.”
Bishop pulled away to open the car door. Lulu stood in front of the back door, patiently waiting for him to open it. I laughed because I couldn’t believe what I was witnessing. “She’s high maintenance, isn’t she?”
Bishop opened the door for her, picked her up, and gently put her in the car. “She is. If I don’t show her how she should be treated, these little nigga dogs are going to think they can run over her. She’s used to a lifestyle.”
I rolled my eyes. “Bishop, she’s a dog.”
“She’s my sweet girl; you let me worry about her. Now come on, let’s find your ass something to wear.”
We rode in silence until we pulled up to Cara’s Noir, which was one of the expensive dress shops in Lake Hill. Bishop, help me then, Lulu, of course, out of the car. When we stepped inside, the ladies were waiting. I turned to glance at Bishop, and he sat and pulled his phone out. In my heart of hearts, I hoped Indigo would say yes because he was so deserving.
It took about thirty minutes for me to get dressed and a quick flat iron to my hair. The royal blue dress was simple, strapless, sheer cut-outs on the side, straight with no flair, but a high ass split with orange rhinestones trailing down the split. When I came out, Bishop stood. “You look beautiful, Symph. Now come on, before we miss pictures.”
When we arrived at Seven to Da Cove, the parking lot was packed. “What the fuck?” I gasped.
Bishop glanced at me, “The city came out to celebrate for a real one.” He winked.
He got out, grabbed a blue diamond collar, and attached it to Lulu. Her dog’s dress swayed side to side as we entered the lounge. I threw my hand over my mouth when I had gotten past the wall. “Oh my God.”
The lounge had been redecorated to look like my high school prom. “Now that everybody is in the building, let’s get this party started,” someone said on the mic.
Everyone was dressed up but me. I spotted Lani, Synai, Bleek, Pierre, Tuesday, and even Vari was here. I wasn’t familiar with all the Zoo members’ names, but I knew who Chevy and Zu were, and who Xavier, Jalen, Monfua, and Braylon were, and I assumed everyone else was the Zoo family.
A group of beautiful women approached me and introduced themselves. “Hi, I’m Harvey.”
Another stepped up, “I’m Rayana, the DJ is my man.” She cheesed.
“I’m Lakia.”
“I’m Alyse.”
“I’m Samara, and Chevy’s my dad,” she smiled widely.
“And I’m Zaria, it’s nice to meet you officially. Anyone who deals with our guys is a tough cookie.” She winked.
Did this make me a Zoo lady now that I was dealing with Mison? Was I now part of the orange? My eyes scanned the room. When they landed on him, my heart skipped a beat. “This is for the lovers and lovers only. Preach, nigga you’re not in love, get off the dance floor.”
The slow tune came on, and the first thing I wanted to do was run into his arms.
MALI
When the music cued in, I walked closer toward Symphony. A nigga felt like he was floating. I had done some fucked up shit, things that I’m working on forgiving myself for, but this, Symphony, I had to right my wrongs. Everything she said to me at the Zoogiving was true except for one thing. I wasn’t looking to be rewarded because I had stopped drinking. I was looking for peace and happiness. I was looking forward to what life was like outside of the bottle. Whether anyone believed it or not, it was my truth.
I had never gotten the chance to go to prom, so this was my version of what I wanted it to be like. I watched as she swung side to side as I approached her with an orange and blue corsage. She held out her hand, and I gently placed the corsage on her wrist. “This dress was all I could find. I didn’t have much time,” she mumbled.
“You're perfect the way you are. Always have been. Can I have this dance?”
