Lovers & Haters (12 page)

Romello had prepped Xavier. Slick Eddie didn't like a lot of questions. Xavier did just what he was told and shook his head no.

“You can walk away right now and we will both forget that this meeting ever took place. But if you wish to work for me, then that's it. You will be employed by me until I tell you otherwise. I'm going to tell you this like I inform all of my boys—snitching will get you killed. Xavier, if you ever bring the law to my front door, Zulu will take you out faster than the police can put the handcuffs on me. Zulu goes way past Coleman High. Your little friend Romello heads up our junior division. The grown man branch of Zulu . . . let's just say, you don't want any part of. Do you understand me, young brother?”

Xavier shook his head yes. It seemed like Slick Eddie was a very powerful man with a long reach. The slob was the brains behind everything and Zulu served as his own private militia.

“You can leave,” he told Xavier.

“Thank you,” Xavier said.

The fat man went back to his food.

 

Xavier didn't want to go out Thanksgiving weekend but he had no choice. Since this was his first night out on a snatch and grab, Romello wanted to show him the ropes. The first vehicle on the list was a Chevrolet Tahoe. It would be perfect for Xavier to cut his teeth on.

Go Go was driving a late model black Honda Accord through the dark streets of Bloomfield Hills, Michigan. Go Go made a left off Maple Road and onto Bentley Drive, so as not to arouse any suspicion. Romello and Xavier were sitting low in the backseat. Alex and Arson were driving a late model Buick LeSabre. They had been given specific instructions to circle the block on the lookout for police activity. If five-o was spotted, Alex was to immediately warn Romello with a text message.

A burgundy Tahoe sat in the driveway of a beautiful ranch home, five houses off the corner on the right-hand side of the street. There were no lights on inside the house and no other cars in the driveway. Romello was giving Xavier last minute instructions.

“Remember, we bump the car first to see if it has an alarm,” Romello explained to Xavier. “You got the tool we need?”

Xavier said nothing but held up a long, thin strip of metal about two feet in length. Unlocking the car door wouldn't take long when this tool came into play.

Go Go turned around in the driver seat. “Big homey, you sure you're all right?” he asked Xavier. “Don't throw up or fall out when you get out of this car, dog.”

Go Go and Romello laughed at Xavier.

Xavier answered yes with a faint head nod. He was trying not to show any signs of nervousness but his palms were moist and he felt nauseated. Somehow, the idea of stealing somebody's car sounded like it would be a breeze when he'd first sat in front of Slick Eddie's desk and signed on to boost some cars. But now his conscience was giving him a hot dose of reality. He couldn't simply look at the Chevy Tahoe as being a number on some list. It probably belonged to a family. There was a father or mother inside of that house who would depend on the SUV to transport them back and forth to work. It possibly belonged to a soccer mom.

Well, she's about to have her life turned upside down when she steps outside in the morning to take the kids to school and notices the truck missing,
Xavier thought.

The two boys stepped out of the Honda. They looked around first, making sure that a dog wasn't on the premises. Xavier followed Romello as they carefully crept up to the driver's side of the SUV.

He whispered to Xavier, “Hand me the tool, homey.”

But before he got to work with the long, flexible object, Xavier bumped the vehicle. Not a sound. No alarm.

There weren't many streetlights in this part of town. Romello removed a tiny flashlight from the pouch pocket of his black hoodie and handed the bright beam to Xavier to hold over the area while he worked. Romello stuck the tool between the cracks of the door and got busy. He didn't stop until he heard the door locks pop. He opened the car door and slid into the driver's seat. Within seconds of his working his way inside, the Tahoe roared to life. The headlights shined on the wraparound porch and front windows. Xavier slipped into the passenger seat. Romello backed the truck out of the driveway and took off down the street, with Go Go bringing up the rear in the Honda Accord.

“Told you, Xavier, it's like taking candy from a baby,” Romello bragged.

Xavier was still feeling nauseated and he almost threw up when he glanced in the back and saw a baby's car seat. He was right—the Tahoe's owner had a family. Romello was half right—they had taken something from a baby, but it wasn't candy.

T
he first Saturday morning of the new year found Ne Ne struggling, trying to judge the proper distance in backing up a twenty-four-foot U-Haul to the steps of the front porch. She couldn't drive a lick. Xavier and Alfonso needed their heads examined just for jumping in with her. The lady almost sideswiped a city bus, came close to turning the driver of a smart car into a not so smart corpse, and just barely missed squishing a stray mutt on the drive back.

Xavier had finally done it. The loot he'd made as a driver had been enough to afford a better crib in a nicer part of town. It was great being a big shot. He'd surprised his mother with the money on Christmas morning. Ne Ne didn't bother to ask the origins of this new fortune. Just took it, hugged and kissed her son on the jaw, and went to the Internet to search for homes for rent. Xavier hadn't left out Alfonso. He felt good being able to give his little brother an iPhone. Xavier would do it many more times if it meant seeing the joy inside his kid brother's eyes.

And today was moving day. Yeah, driving had been a big risk, but one filled with the reward of knowing his baby brother would have a fresh start, and a brand new school. Xavier wasn't worried about any getback from Fathead, but Apollo was truly a different tale. It was for that reason that Xavier had Ne Ne enroll Alfonso in the school around the corner from the new house, where he could keep an eye on the kid. Life at home was starting to fall into place.

Xavier had kept up his end of the bargain with Romello, and now that he was part of Slick Eddie's family, and had enough muscle to back him, the underworld over at Coleman High had a slightly different design. Over the last month Zulu had invaded, and every crew, solo thug, petty thief, shyster, down to the straight-up gang members, had been served with a warning. Whether they liked it or not, Zulu was in control and had the high school on lock. A new sheriff was in town and anybody not in their weight class better bow or beat it. With the exception of a couple hold-outs, the school's underworld was falling in line with the new regime. Xavier had put the word out that Felix Hoover and Second Street was not to be touched.

The school was in an uproar, and though it couldn't be proven, almost every student at Coleman knew that Xavier and Romello were behind it all.

Throughout the takeover, Xavier had never lost sight of his purpose. He needed to seize control so that he and the rest of his fellow students would be safe to pursue an education. He no longer believed in or relied on a governing school body to provide safety. What had happened to Samantha would never happen to another girl at Coleman—and that was real talk. It was a shame that he had to employ this type of warfare to keep peace. Xavier understood the old adage of responsibility being associated with great power. He considered himself one of the most responsible students at Coleman, somebody who wanted to just make it through high school to pursue bigger dreams. And if it meant locking down Coleman by using brute force to get it, he would do everything within his power to make it happen.

Xavier and Samantha were text messaging back and forth when his boys Romello, Alex, and Tyson showed up to give Xavier a hand on moving day. They jumped out of a decent-looking 2001 Buick Le Sabre when Ne Ne shut off the truck. Xavier introduced everybody and then they got down to it.

“I don't care who they are,” Ne Ne replied. “Just don't break my stuff and we'll be okay.” She smiled and went into the house.

“X,” Romello said, “your mama is off the hook—”

“Yeah, she's a straight dime piece,” Alex agreed.

Tyson put his hands up to his mouth and snickered. He looked in the direction Ne Ne had disappeared. “Yeah, I agree with you, Alex. X's mama has a nice—”

“Heyyy,” Xavier yelled at them. “Y'all get in there and grab some furniture. Never mind what my mother has.”

The three bedrooms went into the U-Haul first. The four boys were struggling to bring out an oak chest when Xavier heard his name called. It was Billy. He told Xavier that he wanted to have a word with him after the chest was loaded.

Xavier wiped his sweaty brow on the sleeve of his hoodie and said, “Yes, sir.”

Billy was dressed in a big winter jacket, scrub pants, and black combat boots. “Don't forget about an old man over here, youngster,” he said, with a gentle smile.

“Billy, you're like a father to me. I'll probably be over here more than ever after I move. You know a young man still needs his guidance from an older—”

“Watch yourself, ‘young man.'” Billy slipped his hand inside his pocket. “This old soldier still carries what he needs to keep you young fools in place.”

“That's what's up.”

“Billy, we are sure gonna miss you.” Ne Ne stepped onto the porch. “I sure appreciate what you did back in—”

A glass-smashing sound resonated from within.

“That sounded expensive,” Billy joked.

“I don't know which one of you rascals in there that did it!” Ne Ne yelled inside the door. “But somebody is gonna pay for it.”

“It was Alex,” Romello and Tyson and Alfonso snitched in unison.

She ran back inside.

“Looks like you got some new friends,” Billy said, as he watched Tyson and Alex carry out a mattress.

Xavier looked over his boys. “Just some guys from my school. Some help. Ne Ne is not gonna be breaking my back.”

New friends,
Xavier thought. He'd been so busy with his master plan, he didn't have time for his old friends. Dex had taken a backseat to Xavier's new peeps. The two boys only spoke in passing. Xavier felt bad about it, but there was nothing he could do.

There was something about the way Billy looked at Ne Ne when she stepped onto the porch. Xavier had taken notice. It wasn't the presence of the Louisville Slugger she was leaning on, a clear threat of the violence she intended to bring if her movers slipped up one more time. The old man wanted to ask him something, and it probably was regarding where they'd gotten the money to move. After all, nobody knew Ne Ne's pockets like her landlord. She was late paying him eleven out of the twelve months of the year.

Billy pursed his lips. “Well, I better get out of your way and let you get back to work. Xavier, just remember, a man's reputation is hinged on his integrity, and showing genuine respect for what the Maker has created, you feel me?”

Xavier couldn't do anything but laugh. He knew what the old man was talking about. He wanted to ask Billy what he should do if what the Maker had created didn't respect him, but thought against it.

“Yeah, I feel you.” The two shook hands.

“You take care yourself, and watch out for your mama and the little brother.”

“I won't tell you to take care yourself.” Xavier playfully patted Billy's right pocket. “I know you're a Vietnam vet and ain't nobody trying to step to you with that noise.”

They both laughed.

“What's that phrase that you young people use? Oh, yeah . . . ‘Keep it real.' Continue to keep it real, son.”

“That was hip,” Xavier said. “Did you hurt yourself, old man?”

They shared another laugh.

T
he end of January saw numbing low temperatures. But it was toasty inside Xavier's Advanced English class.

Ms. Gorman had everybody writing in their journals when the classroom door opened and ruptured the somber silence. The students looked up and expected to see Mrs. Jenkins, an English teacher from next door, coming in at her usual time to sponge a cup of coffee from Ms. Gorman's coffeemaker. But instead, they received the shock of their lives. Samantha Fox walked in with her head held high, an attitude brimming with confidence.

The look on Ms. Gorman's face said that Samantha's appearance wasn't a surprise but a relief. She stood from her desk, holding out her arms and wearing a warm smile. “Welcome back.”

“It's nice to be back,” Samantha said.

They hugged.

“I believe you know the way to your desk.” Ms. Gorman hadn't planned on the tears that were flowing.

Samantha was determined not to let any fly. She had done enough crying at home. She had vowed not to give Coleman High any more of her tears. From there, it was one big hug-a-thon—boys and girls welcoming her back.

Even though the joy of her return was buzzing around him, Xavier remained at his desk. This was a welcome surprise for him. They had been kicking it for a while now and she's never told him she was due to return. He dropped his head on his desk, closed his eyes, and thanked God that Samantha was back.

“Xavier,” Samantha asked, “are you all right?”

“Mr. Hunter,” Ms. Gorman said. “Are you all right or do we have to send for the school nurse?”

Slowly, very slowly, Xavier raised his head off the desk. He allowed himself to take in a section at a time. Her casual shoes came into focus first, a funny sand-color UGG lace-up—real nice. He let his eyes roam up Samantha's gray skinny jeans.

Okay.

The black lambskin women's lightweight jacket, with a belt and button front, hugged every curve of her torso.

He loved it.

When Xavier got up to her chin and discovered a smiling face above, he thought to himself—
phew!

She smiled down at him. “Aren't you going to say anything, Xavier?”

She was so beautiful. How could he not? Xavier rose from his seat and gingerly put his arms around her. She felt so soft and frail in his arms.

“There, you happy?” he said, a big grin on his face. “I'm happy to see you back.”

Samantha playfully nudged the big man with an elbow. “Well, act like it.”

The class settled down so that Ms. Gorman could explain the assignment to Samantha. Samantha was two pages into her journal when she snuck her cell phone and texted Xavier:

A black GMC Acadia Denali sat idling near the back entrance of the school. The back passenger door was open and a man with the height and girth of a small elephant stood dressed in a dark suit and long black top coat. Dark skinned, clean shaven, no smile on his face, and a chauffeur hat perched on top of an egg-shaped head.

Xavier walked out with Romello and Alex. They were stunned when the big guy in the chauffeur hat pointed at Xavier. The back door of the school was about seventy feet away from the curb, so the trio couldn't really see if anybody was in the back of the SUV.

“You, I have a car waiting for you, sir,” dude said to Xavier.

“Yo, homey,” Xavier said, pointing to himself. “You ain't got no car for me. Sorry, wrong guy.”

“Yeah, he is talking to you, big time,” Alex said to Xavier. “I've seen enough scary movies to know if you get in that car with the black Lurch from
The Addams Family
, you'll never be heard from again.”

Romello waved to the black GMC Yukon sitting five cars behind the SUV. Zulu members were deep inside. They understood Romello's body language. The guys didn't get out of the car, but they were alert to the situation. Zulu had dusted so many punks off that they had created enemies everywhere and Romello wasn't taking any chances.

The tension in the air hung over the area. Students had been exposed to so much that they knew a showdown when they saw one. Zulu's calling card always rolled a fleet of GMCs. Although this vehicle was solo, nobody was taking any chances. Students who had been loitering vacated the area.

“Sir,” the dude in black said to Xavier, holding the door open. He looked at his watch. “I'm afraid that I'm on a tight schedule. Can you please?”

The three cautiously approached.

“You sure you got the right guy?” Romello asked the man.

“Positive.” He pointed to Xavier. “Xavier, right?”

“Dang, Xavier,” a female voice said from inside the vehicle. “The way Alex and Romello are acting, you would think that they were the Secret Service guarding the president.”

Samantha stuck her head out the open door, smiling suspiciously.

“Aw, bet, Samantha, it's just you.” Xavier waved his hand, somewhat relieved.

“Who did you think it was, Xavier?” she asked him.

Romello said sarcastically, “We didn't know. You see, us po' folk don't usually get curbside service down here in the ghetto.”

“I'm going to borrow Xavier from you guys,” Samantha said. “Xavier, get your big butt inside.”

“Where are y'all about to bounce to—” Alex tried to ask.

“She's about to whisk him away in a private jet and they're probably gonna have lunch on some exotic island,” Romello said sarcastically.

“Whatever,” Samantha said. “Xavier . . . please.”

“That sounds like an order to me,” Alex said. “X, you let her order you into the truck like that, come tomorrow, you'll probably be wearing a potpourri-scented thong that's going to read ‘she's the boss' across the top of it.”

Xavier shook his head at his homeboys. “I'll get up with you two later.”

“You sure?” Romello asked.

“Yes, Romello,” Samantha said. “He's sure.”

“Pushy little something,” Romello said to Samantha. “I don't remember talking to you.”

The man in black closed the door and went to slide behind the wheel. He carefully navigated the Acadia through the crowds of students walking in the parking lot. He then signaled left at the exit before pulling out into traffic.

 

Xavier could only describe walking into the Somerset Collection shopping mall as an experience like stepping into a glass palace made of marble. The upscale shopping mall had over 180 stores. Located in the metro Detroit area, the center was anchored by Nordstrom, Macy's, Neiman Marcus, and Saks Fifth Avenue.

The interior finishes of marble and wood, and a continuous skylight and tons of sculpture had him gawking like a tourist. The place was simply awesome. This was the closest Xavier had ever been to laying his kicks on the superclean pavement of Rodeo Drive in Beverly Hills. He didn't know if he'd ever get a chance to get out to California and enjoy Rodeo Drive, but for now, he considered walking the same floors as the resident rich and famous a privilege. Although Xavier could count on one hand how many times he'd been to the mall, the visual was always astonishing. He figured himself as having an eye for art and sculpture—this place had plenty.

Xavier and Samantha and the driver must've walked around for hours. It was always good to get away from the stress and grind of the hood. He could be himself, silly, childlike. Xavier could breathe without some young black insecure idiot trying to stare him down. And he loved it.

He posed to let Samantha get a picture of him in front of a fountain. Xavier tried to get as close as he could to the giant Sorvikivi Floating Stone fountain, which featured falling water from an enormous two-ton ball of granite. Just before she snapped the cell phone picture, Xavier stuck out his tongue and made a funny face.

“You are silly, Xavier,” Samantha said. “I didn't know you were this goofy.” She showed Xavier the picture on her iPhone. “That came out good.”

Xavier looked at it. “Of course, the kid is every camera's BFF. And I better not catch this thing on Twitter or Facebook—even though I know you want to brag to your friends how you were chilling with a celebrity and all.”

“That's just how everybody at Coleman seems to be treating you, Xavier. Why is that?”

“What can I say? I'm a likable guy.”

“Yes, you are a likable guy, Your Majesty,” Samantha giggled.

“All right. I see you got jokes,” Xavier said, laughing. “How was your first day back at school?”

Samantha smiled, looped her arm through Xavier's and leaned in. “It was way better than the last day before . . . you know?”

Xavier kissed her on the forehead. “I know. But you will never have to worry about any of that again.”

“I hope not. I don't think my heart can take any more drama like that.”

Her smile made it easy for Xavier to justify making a deal with the devil. And he would do it again if it meant getting to see her angelic smile every day.

“Remember when we first met I offered my bodyguard services to you?” Xavier asked, devilishly grinning.

Samantha started laughing. “Yeah, I remember. I turned you down. Just going to throw it all up in my face, huh?”

“Well that was then. If you want my services now, the price has just gone up.”

“Tell me what the going rate is for a big strong man like you, Xavier.”

He shook his head. “I'm afraid Papa Fox would have to break the bank trying to afford my type of protection for his precious baby girl—but we can start with that Rolex your old man was sporting in Principal Skinner's office that day.”

“Boy, please. My father would take off from running his companies and protect me himself before he gives up that thing—now that's his precious little baby.”

“Mr. Fox's timepiece is competing with you for his affection.”

“Shut up, Xavier.”

“I can't help it if you're jealous. The Presidential Rolex is clocking more time with him than you are.”

“What is that? A play on words? You think you have mad flow now? You're a rapper—what's your stage name, Your Majesty?” Samantha cracked up laughing.

“Oh. You're trying to clown me?”

“Go ahead and spit something, Your Majesty. Maybe we can get you a record deal.”

“Don't quit your day job trying to be Kevin Hart.”

Tears were welling up in her eyes, Samantha was laughing so hard. “Okay, MC Your Majesty.” Samantha laid her head on his shoulder as they walked through crowds of people. “Well, enough of this playing around with you. Time to shop. It's a girl's therapy, you know?”

She dragged him and the big black Lurch into the Grand Court. There was so much to see there: three levels of high-end shopping, an exquisite glass elevator, fountains that surrounded a huge palm tree, and a beautiful gazebo, uniquely capped off by a full glass dome.

“The Louis Vuitton store is on the other side,” Samantha said. “It will be our ultimate destination.”

“Lead the way,” Xavier said.

With the big black Lurch bringing up the rear, Samantha and Xavier shared school gossip. They rode the escalator up to an enclosed bridge with a moving skywalk that stretched over Big Beaver Road. Their first stop was an extravagant store with a tremendous glass showcase displaying expensive goodies. Even though Xavier had a few dollars in his pocket, the store's intimidation factor was off the hook. Samantha took to the glass cases and shelves with no fear. It took a while, but Xavier could see why the girl refused to be bullied by the exorbitant prices. Samantha whipped out her father's Visa Black Card and charged an Eden MM monogram handbag without breaking a sweat. Xavier doubted very seriously that he would ever remember the style of the bag, because it was the price that left him doubled over on the floor, clutching his heart: $2,860. What regular high school student could afford to spend that much on a purse?

Forever 21, Macy's, Nordstrom . . . Xavier and the big black Lurch were just trying to keep track of the shopping bags they were carrying from Samantha's shopping spree.

“So, tell me about yourself, Xavier,” Samantha prompted over food.

While shopping the sista had worked up quite an appetite and now they were sitting at a table in the food court. On the table in front of her sat a small grilled chicken Caesar salad and a bottle of Fiji water. Xavier wasn't really that hungry. He snacked on two thick chocolate chip cookies from the Cookie Factory. The big black Lurch sat out of range of the conversation but kept a direct line of sight on Samantha. She was nibbling at her food while suspiciously running her eyes over Xavier's new clothes.

“So, Xavier, why is it that you never say anything about your family?” Samantha asked as she toyed with her food. “You know almost everything there is about my folks. Don't you have parents or did you just appear on Earth one day?”