Chapter Three: Legacy to Become

I posted up on the wall against the restroom entrance. You wouldn't know I was there unless you were looking. Anyone looking for dro knew where to find me. The only reason I was here now was to meet with a client. I looked down at my watch; I had been waiting for five minutes already.

A querulous kid walked in from around the corner. He looked around as if he was seconds away from having an anxiety attack. At first glance, you'd probably think it was his first day at the school and he was scared of getting jumped while taking a piss. Probably why he ended up in the west wing bathroom. Vulgar, but it happens.

But no, I knew better. He was looking for me. Some kid (probably a freshman) walking around nervous about buying for the first time. Probably didn't even know how to roll up right. Don't know why I deal with fresh meat. I shook my head, but I knew why. It was easy money. And the more clientele I built, the more bread I brought in. He finally turned his head and saw me. He looked left, then right, then back at me before he started to speak.

Before he could usher a word the look on my face said it all. And just like that, I was gone; into the stall (third from the end) and closed the door behind me. I slid the lock until it was secure and leaned against it for extra precautions. With a quick around, I verified that this was my stall. Looking at the toilet paper dispenser you could see it was lopsided, there was just enough wiggle room for me to store little things. As long as nothing was fixed, it was the perfect hiding spot.

I loosened my belt. With one hand on the buckle I kept the tension tight on my left side and let the right half slack a bit. I wiggled my hand between the fabric of my waistband and my pants, until my hand was cuffed underneath. Loosening the right side of my belt a little more, just enough for 2 dime bags to drop. I pulled them out and walked over to the toilet dispenser, just enough to put them behind it. I then pushed it back in at an angle where it wouldn't fall unless disturbed. Before walking out the stall I fixed myself up and put my hands in my pockets. I walked over to the sink and motioned the freshman to come closer with my head.

"Behind the dispenser."

He left a roll of money on the sink and disappeared into the very stall I just left. I went through and counted before he could walk away. Three fives and five singles, all there. After counting I checked to see what time it was. The bell was about to dismiss the next class.

I leaned up against the wall, waiting for class to end. I was waiting for Eclipse to get out. I had something I wanted to ask her. It wouldn't be much longer, i told myself as i pulled out my phone and checked the time again. Just as I was putting my phone in my back pocket the bell rang. Everyone came rushing out at once as we disappeared into the crowd in the hallway.

I made it to the water fountain at the corner of the hallway. It was the rally point for my squad. Pretty central location compared to where our lockers were located. I peeked around the corner to see if Eclipse was free from the stampede. To my disappointment Hype beat her to it. He spotted me through the crowd and fought his way through.

"Is you ever in class," he asked as he approached me.

"Ain't shit they can teach me 'bout history I don't already know," I answered casually. I kept searching for her, making sure she didn't pass me in her rush to the next class.

"Word, so you 'Supa Smarh', huh? So you don't need school, then why you here?"

"Don't go putting words in my mouth. All I know is you learn from mistakes. I learn from others' mistakes and don't fuck up in the first place," I stopped scanning the crowd to look Hype in the face. "I ain't here to learn history. I'm gone MAKE history!"

I was about to continue my search, but something caught my attention.

"And how do you intend to make that happen?"

I turned to see Eclipse walking up to us. She must've heard our conversation.

"If you doubt the movement, you don't deserve the insight of the ordeals," I responded with a smart-ass tone. I gave her a wink and smiled.

She snickered. "Besides, smart-ass over here is half right. Most of what they teach us discredits us and our accomplishments are a means for oppression." She snickered, "but you still your own kinda special,"

"Good, that makes me irreplaceable."

"Don't start feeling yourself, Beyoncé," Hype was quick with the comebacks.

"Y'all ain't cute!" I couldn't help myself. I laughed so hard I threw my hands in the air and put them behind my head. My fingers ran through my braids and reminded me what I had to talk to her about. "Aye, Eclipse, mind braiding my hair later today?"

"Really," she asked rolling her eyes, "what was Shantel too busy to do your hair? Or do you just fancy my touch?"

"Take it how you wanna," I laughed. "I just need it done."

"I'll think about it."

"Oooh, look at y'all. Don't know why y'all be flexing. Just link up one time," Hype chuckled.

It went quiet, and Eclipse, Hype, and I strode ahead. We were going to the same direction.

I looked at her from the corner of my eye. She did the same. The moment our eyes locked we both looked away embarrassed.

"Boy, bye! What you think this is," she gave me an egoistic look from head to toe. "I know how y'all get down. Ah-ha! I ain't like your basic ass, entourage groupies."

"Daaaaaaammmmmmnnnn!!" Hype and I both shouted hysterically. It hurt to laugh that hard. Yeah, it was true to an extent. I mean, we're still young. I didn't take commitment too seriously, why should I? We were still in school and most of these females couldn't even decide on what to wear this morning, how they gone choose who they wanna be with til death do them apart?

"You ain't had to do ' em like that. Besides, I'm just keeping my options open. I ain't trynna rush in' none. Whate'r happens, happens. Ya'feel me?" It took me a minute to calm down enough to stop laughing and get it out. When I finally did, we had arrived and were just standing around. But Eclipse's classroom was across the hall. We had time before the late bell rang. Hype and I were on both sides of our classroom door, and Eclipse was off to the side of hers.

"Whatever, smart-ass. You couldn't handle me anyways." The arrogance was radiating off her very being.

"Says e'er 'basic ass entourage groupie'." I laughed, but Eclipse gave me a real stern glare. It was written all across her face, she had a slick remark. But before the words could leave her lips the bell rang. Hype and I went our way and she went hers.

The last bell of the day finally rang. I couldn't get up fast enough. By the time I had my notebooks in my backpack Hype was already making his way out the door. Honestly, he might have just been the first one out of school. The thought amused me.

The crowd around the door died out and the hallways grew quiet. I calmly made my way to the door and continued down the hall towards the exit.

The sun was bright and felt like it was directly over us. I had to put my hand in front of my face as soon as my foot hit the pavement stairs, waiting for my vision to refocus. That's when i noticed a familiar shape, just a few paces ahead of me.

Nicole Eclipse Clinton, I knew her frame from anywhere, from any angle. I sped up my pace and ran on the ball of my feet. My footsteps became silent the closer I got. It helped that she seemed distracted by her phone. I was gaining on her; just short an arm's reach.

SMACK! My hand made full contact. A cuffed handful of cheek. I grabbed and squeezed, all in about three seconds.

Eclipse jumped in affright. Her phone fell out her hands. It hit her foot and landed on the ground. She turned and swung her books in my direction. I laughed and flinched, I felt the breeze of her books as she barely missed me. I was sure she was going to try again, but she just knelt down to grab her phone. she had her phone in her hand she stood up and acted as if nothing happened. I waited for her at a stop sign nearby. We made our way down the street; Hype wasn't too far ahead of us.

"You coming over, right," she asked over her shoulder.

"Yea, figured I'd just walk you home. You could do my hair then...you know, if your pops don't try to kill me."

"What exactly are you trying to do?"

"That's up to you. Just don't mess up my charming good looks, iight?"

"Now see, you asking for too much. I ain't no miracle work," she laughed at her own joke.

"What took y'all so long? Getting' lost in each other's' eyes? And all that sentimental bullshit," Hype was waiting at the corner of our street.

Nicole and I just walked passed and ignored him. He followed silently until he caught up. I guess he caught the tension from his jokes being played. The three of us walked down our street. We were next door neighbors in the back, with Hype's house in the middle. We were (for the most part) born and raised here. With the exception of Eclipse, who moved to the area when we were in third grade. The rest is history.

"Okay, okay. Chill," I laughed, "should've seen that one coming. But one of these days someone's gone love my ugly ass."

"What you know about love? Boy, you talking out the side of ya'neck

. You wouldn't know the first thing bout if it was staring you in the face."

"You right." I hesitated before i responded. Then i turned towards her front door and stepped to the side. She waltzed past me to unlock the door, while i stepped out of her way.

"Hype, you got that white grape on you?"

"Oh now you see me? Yea, I got you though," he reached behind his ear and pulled out a rello still in the wrapper. He threw it my way.

"Cool.  Finna roll up right quick," I turned back to Eclipse to let her know i'd be in after a bit.

"Ugh! You know I can't stand that crap, Ayden. Just why," you could hear the anger ascending in her voice. The question was rhetorical, but you could hear the menace...forewarning me to answer.

"Well, we got two options: Either do it, or deal with it. Cuz you ain't stopping me. I'm either getting lit over here, or I'm smoking on your porch.

I pulled the swisher out the wrapper as we progressed to one of those old green generators that was in-between our yards. I slowed down so I could pinch the lip of the gar. Leisurely and carefully, I pulled at it until a small tear was visible. Inching my fingers down the split every bit, it grew. I tried to keep the line as straight as possible.

Tilting my wrist forward I discarded the sweet smelling tobacco beneath my feet onto the asphalt.

"Or you cannot do it at all! Fuckin' stupid," I heard her whisper that last part to herself. I returned my attention to rolling up. Hype was already beside me; fishing through my bag. He knew where I kept my stash. He withdrew my grinder and passed it to me. And with that Nicole's attitude was on 10.

"Do you," she scolded us. "Better not have my porch smelling like smoke, either!"

The wind started to pick up, or maybe it was consistent and I was just oblivious to it before it interfered. The generator was our chill spot. It was a seat, flat surface to roll on, and the meet up spot all in one. Eclipse didn't come back out. I assumed she would do my hair on the porch since she didn't want us smelling up her house. I didn't expect her to; she really couldn't stand the smell. I gripped the paper between my index finger and thumb, careful not to crimp the gar's skin too much.

I hovered over the green top and pinned the paper to the cool, metallic surface with my fingertips. My other hand balanced the grinder in my palm. With my fingers I twisted the lid slow and steady until it was loose. I brought the grinder closer to the paper as I completely removed the lid and emptied the moss-like substance. I kept it all in a pile in the middle as best I could manage. Bringing the opposite sides together and letting everything settle and evening it out, before pinching just above the lump. Balancing everything on the edge of my middle finger, I applied pressure with my thumb.

I pinned everything down and rolled my index forward, flattening the excess in a circular motion, sliding the blunt back and forth to keep everything as proportional as possible. With little to no hang left, I licked my lips just enough to give them a light layer of moisture. I bit down on the inside of my lips and embedded the excess, my tongue dabbing at the fresh roll until it layer flat. I pulled my Scorpio lighter out my pocket, sparked it and ran it under the blunt. It was hovering but still touching the flames without catching fire. It grew sticky, it wasn't the best but it was quick and tight enough.

The joint was warm and sticky, hanging out between my lips. It balanced perfectly while I brought the lighter to its tip. Dragging my thumb over the gear as it squeezed down on the button, the flame arose. You could see the tip started to glow a bright orange-red. Smoke drifted in the air, flowing whichever way the wind blew.

I sipped, focusing on inhaling through the cramped space of the blunt. I was careful not to take in too much before inhaling the rest of my lung capacity through my nose. I held it in as I looked around to see if Eclipse made it back outside.

She finally came back but sat herself at the top step of her front porch. I repeated the process as I approached her before taking my last hit. I held it in as i passed it to Hype. He did the same, two puffs and he held it in. But he walked back towards the generator.

Finally letting my breath out, this time a little longer and harder. I held it in my chest and felt a burning sensation rise. Seconds went by and I felt affected. Time slowed to a crawl, my eyes felt heavy. I could feel my every breath slowing down; my eyes were low as I made my way to Eclipse

My vision was out of focus and I knew my reaction time was delayed. I must have been walking slower than usual; the irritation was growing all over my face. I just smiled carefree.

"Bout time. Now come on, I'm not waitin' all day for you and you ASKED me to do your hair..."

"Yea, I know...I'm coming," I smiled shaking my head even though I couldn't stop smiling.

"Having fun? A hee-hee-hee my ass

," she exclaimed sarcastically. My smile dissolved instantly. I sat on the third step from the top

. She gestured for me to sit between her legs. It wasn't long before she was diving into my head, and tearing my head up.

"Ever noticed how real ya'conversations be when you ain't sober," I asked as i winced in agony.

"What is you talking 'bout? Actually," she thought about it as she separated one of my braids, "what was up with earlier?"

"What 'bout earlier," I asked puzzled.

"Whatever you and Hype were goin' on about in the hallway."

I was silent as I thought it over, but it was hard to concentrate. She was already straightening a quarter of my head. I knew she was trying to be gentle, she would hold a handful of my hair with one hand but comb out whatever stood on top of that so it wasn't tugging on my scalp.

"Oh! You mean about me making history. What, you ain't know? I'm a gonna be legendary," I laughed half jokingly, as I shouted so Hype could hear me.

"How the friendly neighborhood doughboy plan to make that happen," he shouted back.

"He has a point."

I could tell she was genuinely interested. Maybe that's why she was trying to be gentle this time, so i could actually concentrate.

"By enticing respect."

"Humor me. How does one persuade the populace into respecting him?"

"You PERSUADE them by obtaining power. But you need money to make that shit real. It's a triple threat, or actually an 'equivalence'. If one were to depreciate, the others would cripple.

"Uh-huh...so, ya'braids looking kinda dry. I got Kinta oil and coconut. It'll add a shine to your hair, and probably make it easier to work with."

I turned my head to look at her, my eyes still only able to open half way. But my bewildered look was indisputable. I leaned my head back to get a good view of her as she turned my head back around.

"Keep ya'head straight," she demanded, slapping the back of my head playfully. I complied and she maneuvered her way behind me. "Okay now scoot back."

It was quiet for a bit as she dragged her fingers through my hair. She dug through it to the scalp.

"So you make Montana money? Got that Luca Brasi Bank?" She was making light of the situation, but she was right.

"Keep mocking me, but you ain't too far off. First thing I'm gone do after breaking bank, get a suit."

I idolized them: Tony Montana, Luca Brasi, and Frank Lucas were all prime examples. They made the people respect them, they had the power, and most of all they started with nothing and made their way to the top. They built their empires, and that's exactly where I wanted to be.

"Get a suit?"

"Yea, you gotta look the part. Doesn't mean they'll think you have it, but they might actually humor you enough to see you the real deal. And it'll fall into place. These the concrete jungles. Dress like the king, be a savage, run these streets. I just need the means, the way to elevate from dope change to kings' play."

It was quiet as she pondered over my words. I could only assume she was weighing the truth of everything I said. Her hands bobbed and weaved until my braids molded into one solid intertwinement.

"Since when were you a philosopher—"

That's when

my alarm decided to go off.