Game On (14 page)

“You have me curious.”

“I won't kid you. There will be a lot of talented kids vying for the same opportunity. Your essay has to be original and it has to be compelling.”

This opportunity had come out of nowhere. Was this God's way of trying to make it right for the bullet he took? Xavier didn't know. He took it as a blessing and ran with it.

Xavier shook Mr. Chase's hand. “Thank you. I got this.”

When Xavier walked into the lunchroom, paranoia jumped all over him as tight as spandex, so many people in one tight area. Anybody could start trouble with him at any time. All eyes were on Xavier, though. His nerves were on edge and fear made his blood run cold. Trying not to show weakness was tough, but he had to put his big-boy Fruit of the Looms on and boss up. Judging by the silence that fell across the cafeteria, you would've thought that Principal Skinner had entered and announced the suspensions of everybody sitting in fourth period lunch.

The tension finally eased up with students patting Xavier on the back and congratulating him on his return as he headed to his favorite table. Dexter was sitting there by himself. Everything went back to normal once Xavier took his seat.

Dex said, “So why'd you ice out your boy?”

“Honestly, homeboy, I just wanted to be alone. Nothing personal. Had to get my thoughts together, you feel me?”

“These fools have been up here trippin'—rumors flying around left and right.”

Xavier was having trouble coming clean with Dexter. Smack dab in the middle of a busy lunchroom was not how he wanted to bring his homeboy up to speed. The potential for cats ear-hustling on their conversation was real and could quite possibly put him at risk.

Xavier didn't know who he was looking for but he searched the crowd for faces that looked like they didn't belong. “Seems like every time I close my eyes I can see the flash from the barrel.”

Dex asked the obvious. “Who do you think did the deed, homie?”

Xavier stared into space for a moment and then he turned his attention back to Dexter. “Didn't get a description. All I saw was the blast. For all I know it could've been you on the trigger.”

“You think Slick Eddie is trying to keep his word?”

Xavier was inspecting his fingernails as if looking for dirt underneath. “Now you sound like Doug. Tell you the truth: I've stepped on so many toes, I couldn't even tell you. Might be that fool.”

“Did you say Doug was back?”

“Yeah. Returned today from back surgery and it was a good thing too. Dakota was getting a beating again from those SNLG chicks and Doug stopped it.”

“What happened?”

“That's a conversation for another day, homeboy.” Xavier pinched the bridge of his nose, like he was mentally worn out. And on top of it, his shoulder was starting to ache. “You know my dad bought me another ride and I took the bus this morning.”

Dexter had a frown on his face. “The bus?”

“Can't bring myself to get into another car after that night. Too closed in. Nowhere to run.”

Dex couldn't do anything but shake his head and feel bad for his best friend. “Man, I wish I had been there.”

“And you probably would've ended up with a slug in you”—Xavier looked at his shoulder and then back to his boy—“or worse.”

“What now?”

“I'm gonna finish school, my dude, you feel me?”

Dexter said with an immense smile, “I hear you, cuz. That's what's up.”

“That big fool Chase just hooked a brotha up. He wants me to enter some writing contest. First prize is a book deal with a major publishing house. Could be some college loot, you feel me?”

“That's what's up,” said Dex. It was as if he were measuring his words to ask, “So, what's up with you and Samantha?”

Xavier shrugged. “I haven't talked to her since the night at the skating rink. Basically I've been busy, you know, trying to heal from a bullet wound.”

“Was that a low-key diss?”

Xavier just shook his head.

“You know she's starring in that Christmas Eve dance program.”

“How could I miss that info? The posters are nearly on every wall of the school. I'm happy for her.”

“Are you planning on hollerin' at her?”

Xavier wasn't able to answer the question because Bigstick walked up.

“What up, fam,” Bigstick elatedly said to Xavier. “Man, I'm glad to see you back.”

Xavier stood and gave his friend the homeboy hug. “Good to be back. I thought I would never get back here, you feel me?”

Bigstick said, “You? Get out of here. You can't keep a good guy down. X, if you need anything, holla at yo' boy. I gotcha back, see what I'm saying?”

Xavier smiled and said, “That's good to know, family.”

“Listen, X, the coach wants to see me so I'll holla at you later.” Bigstick pushed Dex on the shoulder. “Now you're back, X, this scrub can stop looking so sad and trippin' over his bottom lip.”

Xavier slapped Bigstick five. “Later, superstar.”

Bigstick bounced and walked out of the south door of the cafeteria about the same time that Linus Flip staggered in.

Dexter looked on as Flip clumsily bumped into other students and rudely pushed them out of the way.

Dexter said to Xavier, “This ninja's been up here wildin', dude. Straight up out of control. It's a wonder that this fool hasn't been kicked out. I bet you he's smashed right now.”

Xavier stayed cool. Ever since that skating rink scuffle Linus caused, Xavier had been leery of him. He didn't think that Flip had anything to do with the shooting, but he wasn't going to rush into ruling the clown out.

“X, my ninja,” Linus said as he stepped up, “what up, doe?” He was so drunk that he didn't recognize his own strength when he grabbed the hand on the same arm as Xavier's wounded shoulder.

Xavier grimaced. “Watch what you doin', fool.”

Linus's eyes were small and red. He got up in Dexter's grill. “What up, doe?”

Dexter was quick when he said, with a hand up to his nose, “Definitely not yo' breath, homeboy!” He took a step back. “What did you brush your teeth with this morning, horse doo-doo?”

Linus tried to laugh it off. “Nah, just finished kissing your mama. Tell her the next time I come over to take some time out and scrub her dentures with some bleach.”

Dex went back at him strong. “I noticed you've been snuggled up with the bottle lately. What, are you depressed because we will be graduating and leaving you and your ninth-grade credits behind?”

At first Linus was snarling, but it simply faded into an inebriated smile. As tall as he was, Flip walked up on Dexter and looked down. “Don't make me have to come down there, little man.” He laughed like the snap had a Kevin Hart flair to it. He looked at Xavier. “X, man, I really need to talk to you”—he cut his eyes at Dexter—“privately.”

Dex went off. “So no ‘how you doing, X?' or ‘do you need anything?' Not even a simple ‘X, can I kill somebody for you?' Nothin'? What's your deal, homeboy?”

Linus disrespectfully turned his back on Dexter and said to Xavier, “Like I said, boss man, can I get a minute?”

Dex was about to go off, until Xavier placed a hand on his shoulder and said no with a simple head gesture.

Xavier extended his hand toward the south entrance. “Let's do the thing.” On the way out Xavier continued to study the faces in the crowd, thinking that he had to deal with Linus Flip carefully. The boy had turned into a stone-cold alcoholic over the last year and now he more than likely needed a favor.

When they stepped out the door, Linus asked directly, “I need your back, man. I need some cheese like ASAP. Kinda got myself into a little situation and I need like 3Gs to get back right.”

Xavier said, “I'm not holding like that anymore, guy. You gonna have to find some other way up out of your dilemma, you feel me?”

Linus looked around and saw that they were all alone in the hallway. “I got a way to make some bread. Got this cat that's gonna put me down to deal some pills. I already got the spot, a few workers. All I need is a lookout.”

The light bulb going off inside his head stopped Xavier from checking out on this clown. Linus was acting strange and Xavier needed to find out why. He was down for his crew like that. This would be the perfect opportunity to keep an eye on Linus and probably do a little research for his essay.

“Why me?” Xavier said, playing the role.

Linus made that “why not you?” face. “You'll be watching my back. And a guy's back is trusted to those he can count on. I promise you, the cake will be sweet, dog. What do you say?”

It wasn't about the money. Xavier was just looking out for his homie.

“Give me a little time to think about it and I'll give you my answer in a few days,” Xavier said.

“All right, homie,” Flip said excitedly. “By the way, I'm glad you're back. And anything you need throughout the day, get at me.”

As Flip walked away, Xavier thought that Linus had been straight tripping and he was going to get to the bottom of it. The boy had been drinking heavy—something was stressing him. But to do this, Xavier would be putting himself right back in the eye of the hurricane. Sitting up inside one of those houses would be dangerous. If the police weren't trying to raid them, stick up kids were trying to get their action on. Anyway, Xavier was taking a big chance to research the origins of Linus's problems, and then try to solve them for his friend.

When he walked back into the cafeteria, Xavier asked himself one thing: Was Linus's life worth potentially going to jail for, or worse—possibly getting himself killed?

20

SAMANTHA

 

U
nder normal circumstances, Samantha would've been jumping up and down at seeing Xavier walking toward her on the wide sidewalk in front of the building near student parking. Those emotions were kept in check by Sean Desmond's threat. The maniac had promised that his two henchmen would give Xavier the
business
if she ever went near him again.

The boy was sick and possessed a whole storage unit of mental issues. After he'd threatened her parents, it was chilling for Samantha having to watch Sean bond with her dad. He was charming and clever at convincing Mr. Fox that his affection was sincere. The two had become real chummy lately too. They were even spotted sitting courtside at the Palace of Auburn Hills, taking in Detroit Pistons games—or in Sean's luxury suite at Ford Field on Sundays to watch the Detroit Lions. So of course Sean Desmond stepped in as a volunteer when Mr. Fox casually announced while they were out enjoying a game that Samantha's driver had put in for a week's worth of personal days. Samantha could've choked, but said nothing because she didn't want to hear the
Sean is husband material
speech.

It was real cold out and fluffy snowflakes had started to fall when Xavier stepped to Samantha. The two let the awkward silence between them settle in before speaking, with each one remembering the blazing insults that were traded before everything went bonkers the night at the skating rink.

Sean was due to arrive at any moment, so Samantha was keeping a sharp eye out. “How have you been, Xavier?”

He took a moment, letting his gaze fall up on the scores of students walking home. “Me? I'm good.”

Samantha nervously looked around. “Funny, you don't look
good
.”

Xavier went all LL Cool J on her by smoothly licking his lips. “This coming from a girl whose eyes are darting around like she's expecting the bogeyman to materialize from somewhere.” Xavier rubbed his cold hands together, blowing on them at the same time. “Why you look so jittery?”

There was no hiding the truth from Xavier. The boy was a genius at seeing through lies. Samantha knew she didn't have anything coming if she went there with him. She ignored the question and asked, while fidgeting with the strap around her shoulder belonging to a Louis Vuitton Palk backpack, “So did they catch who did it?”

“Naw—honestly, though, with all this crime in Detroit, I don't think the police care.”

Samantha shifted her weight to her left leg and anxiously peered at the traffic jam in front of the school. She was trying to carefully ask questions that wouldn't generate any long responses from Xavier because if she knew Sean, the boy probably was in the company of his two thugs, Ozzie and Cash. It wouldn't be a good look when they pulled up and saw Xavier in her face.

“Sam, what's up with you?”

“Nothing. Why do you think there's something wrong?”

“You look nervous.”

Samantha tried to play everything down by smiling. “Long day in dance class, that's all. Hey, look, I'm glad you're okay.”

Samantha wasn't the only one looking skittish. Xavier was watching his back too.

“So, I guess congratulations are in order,” Xavier said. “Look at you, every poster around the school has you featured to perform a dance solo in that Christmas Eve program, ‘Snowflakes in Wonderland.' That sounds like it's goin' be hot.”

Samantha smiled.

Xavier cautiously looked around. Didn't want anybody sneaking up on him. “Sam, I'm happy for you, honestly. It took some time for me to get here, but I can truly say that you've been more of a friend to me than I've been to you.” When he reached for her right hand, Samantha's jumpy self snatched it back.

She looked down, as if embarrassed and ashamed of her reaction.

Xavier stepped back like he was trying to get a wider angle on the situation. “Sam, I've been around you long enough to know when something's wrong. Now, out with it. What's up?”

Lord knew Samantha wanted to tell him everything, but what would she have to gain from it besides putting Xavier in more danger than he was already in? Matter of fact, Sean had also threatened to harm her parents if Samantha tried to get cute and reach out for help.

She quickly changed the subject. “How's your dad and baby brother Alfonso doing?”

“Sam, why are you avoiding the question?”

Her nerves had tightened into a ball inside her throat. Part of her wanted to grab and hold on to Xavier until the end of the earth, but it was that other part that wanted to see him get to steppin' before trouble erupted. The trifling thought hadn't materialized fully before she saw Sean recklessly weaving in and out of traffic until he pulled up into the parking lot in a black Range Rover with Ozzie and Cash tailing him tightly in the same color Chevrolet Silverado Z71. They were all trying to look hard, like they were about to jump out and beat the brakes off Xavier's monkey behind.

Sean didn't waste any time clowning. He rolled down the window and said to Samantha, “What did I tell you I would do if I saw you near”—he pointed at Xavier—“that little underprivileged ghetto bum?”

Ozzie boldly stepped down out of the passenger compartment and was in pure combat mode. Dude's black skinny jeans were sagging halfway off his butt. The laces on his wheat-colored Timbos were loosely tied, and the thick black leather jacket made his upper body look like the tiny man from the Powerhouse Gym logo.

“Hold tight. I got this,” he said to Sean, trying to intimidate Xavier by cracking the knuckles on his right fist. “My ninja, I've been looking to get into a good scrap for a while.”

Cash thought everything was funny. He just sat behind the wheel of the Chevy, chuckling arrogantly.

“Get 'im, my little Hercules-Hercules,” Cash spurred Ozzie on.

Sean stayed in his vehicle, left arm resting on the windowsill and staring directly at Xavier through the open window. “You're about to pay for that disrespect at the skating rink, ghetto trash.”

Xavier silently stood his ground, like he was sizing up the entire situation. His eyes were darting back and forth, to each face. Samantha was simply praying that her ex walked away. But she knew that that would never happen. As students started to catch on to this long-anticipated throw-down from the skating rink, Samantha was so shaken that she didn't know what to do. Xavier was a hard-nose bruiser who didn't give a damn one way or another about some dude's street cred or the size of his bank account; he was going to take the fight straight to 'im without flinching. And she knew from experience that it was hard to stop him once he got going. Ozzie was another nightmare. Samantha had heard tons of stories about how ruthlessly he dealt with his rivals, with a few of those tales ending in gunplay. The boy was nothing nice, but Cash was twice as violent. They both carried guns, the type of brothas you didn't play with. And the way it looked, Xavier and Ozzie were about to go heads-up.

Samantha stepped in the middle of the two hood gladiators. “Please, you two, calm down. Haven't we learned anything from the violence in this world today? It never solves anything.”

“It ain't gotta solve anything, as long as it gets rid of fools like this,” Ozzie said, pointing to Xavier.

Everybody outside was now hip to the drama that was going down in front of Coleman High. Students didn't crowd out of respect for the possibility of gunplay.

Samantha just shook her head at Ozzie. She was aware that it was only a matter of time before Xavier went Xavier. Although the smirk on his face indicated sarcasm, Samantha knew the boy would stop at nothing until the threat in front of him was neutralized.

Xavier said to Ozzie, “Don't remember your name, homeboy, but I never forget a face, especially one I put my knuckle prints on at the skating rink that night.”

That did it, but before Ozzie could push Samantha out of the way to get to Xavier, security rushed out of the main door.

“Samantha, get in the car,” Sean ordered.

She was so confused. Xavier didn't quite catch the helpless look on her face because he kept his eyes focused on Ozzie, who happened to be slowly backpedaling toward the Chevy when security finally stepped up.

Ozzie said before stepping up into the truck, “This ain't over, playboy.”

This was a hot mess and Samantha felt that it was all her fault. She was in terrible trouble without means of escape. Oh, only if Xavier knew about her agony. Sean had literally hijacked her ability to choose him as a boyfriend by threatening to harm her loved ones. She didn't want to get into the Range Rover with him. If anything, Samantha wanted to walk over and stand with Xavier, and she hesitated, looking in her ex's direction. That was until Sean played dirty.

“Samantha, remember me and Pop are going to the Pistons game tonight,” he said on the sly. Sean devilishly looked back at his two goons and then back to Samantha. “We don't want him to be
late,
now do we?”

There was no other play. She was his prisoner. She was scared because he was growing bolder, like this whole thing was a game to him. He could have any girl he wanted, but why was he torturing her?

“Tick, tock,” Sean said to her, holding up his left wrist with the expensive, phat timepiece strapped around it.

Instead of security coming out and immediately dispersing the crowd, Samantha watched a few of them walk around to the driver's side of the Range Rover. They asked for an autograph. She had no choice but to play ball. Xavier looked like he was about to say something to her, and she wished he would. It probably wouldn't have stopped her from getting into Sean's SUV, but it sure would've been nice to hear the voice of an angel before going back to her own personal hell.