You Gone Learn Today
Kurt tilted his head, still smiling smile.
Kurt: “What’s up, baby? Why you looking at me like I did something wrong?”
Stacy: “MMmm!”
Kurt: “What?”
Stacy: “Oh nothing, I’m ready when you are.”
She grabbed her bag and started checking her stuff like everything was cool.
Kurt watched her for a second, like he was trying to figure out what the hell she was talking about or let it go. He chose to let it go.
He walked over to the dresser, grabbed his keys and wallet, and right when he reached for his phone—
Ring ring.
Both of them froze.
Kurt’s phone lit up on the bed. The screen said One.
Stacy’s eyes went to his phone, then to him.
Stacy: “You not going to answer your phone?”
Kurt glanced at the screen and waved it off like it was nothing.
Kurt: “Oh, that’s nobody but my homeboy. I’ll call him after I drop you off.”
Stacy: “Your homie? Your homeboy name is ‘One’? That’s what we calling people now?”
Kurt laughed, but it sounded forced.
Kurt: “Yeah, that’s just—it’s a nickname, babe. You know how it is.”
Stacy: “Mmm-hmm. A nickname. Right. And what you call your other homeboys? ‘Two’? ‘Three’? You almost got a whole lineup all you need is four?”
Kurt’s smile dropped.
Kurt: “Stacy, chill. Why you trippin’?”
Stacy: “I’m not Too Short I ain’t trippin’,” (she shot back)“I’m just asking a question. That’s your homie, right? So answer it. Let me say hi.”
Kurt: “Nah, it’s cool. I’ll hit him back later—”
Stacy: “Answer the damn phone, Kurt.”
Her tone wasn’t a request. It was a demand.
Kurt stared at her for a long second, his jaw working like he was chewing on words he didn’t wanna say. The phone stopped ringing. Silence filled the room, thick and heavy.
Then it started ringing again.
One.
Stacy pointed at his phone.
Stacy: “There muthaf——go again. Your homie must really need you, huh? Must be important.”
Kurt snatched the phone off the bed, but he didn’t answer it. He just held it, staring at the screen like he was going to answer.
Stacy: “You gonna get that or what?”
Stacy asked, stepping closer.
Kurt declined the call.
Stacy laughed.
It was the kind of laugh that came before:
Stacy: “Oh, so now you don’t wanna talk to your homie? That’s crazy. A second ago, you was all ‘I’ll call him back.’ Now you sending him to voicemail?”
Kurt: “Stacy, I don’t know what you think is going on—”
Stacy: “Nah, bitch! I know what’s going on.”
She stepped up on him, looking him dead in his eyes.
Stacy: “You wanna know how I know?”
Kurt had a confused look on his face.
Kurt: “What are you talking about?”
Stacy pulled out her phone, unlocked it, went to her photos and held up the screenshot of his contacts.
Right there at the top: Old Snapper
Stacy: “See that?” “That’s me. That’s MY number. And you know what name popped up when I called it from your phone?”
Kurt’s mouth opened.
Kurt: “I…. I……”
Stacy: “S. I. D. E P. I. E. C. E.”
Stacy spelled it out, her voice getting louder with each word.
Stacy: “So either you wanna explain why I’m saved as ‘Old Snapper’ under ‘Side Piece,’ or you can get to explaining who the hell ‘One’ is, and too ‘cause I know it ain’t no damn homeboy!”
To Be Continued……