A Project Chick (6 page)

"Two more minutes." At that point, Taj gave his love to his sister, told them both when he was going to call and before he hung up the phone, he pointed at Luck and said. "Don't make no moves, because this ain't over yet." As they walked to their respective cars, there was a guy riding by on what looked like a child's bicycle and a book bag on his back. "What up Luck. I got some VCR

movies fresh from the movie store."

Lucky smiled and looked in the bag and pulled out the tapes he wanted. He looked at Tressa. "Come and get whatever tapes you want."

She softly said. "I don't have a VCR, its broken." He looked surprised. "Don't worry, I'll get you one. Just pick the movies you want."

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She selected a few tapes that she wanted, but he knew she wanted more. So, Lucky just bought the whole bag from the guy. Lucky paid the dude in cash, but only because Tressa was there. Any other time he would have exchanged some coke or dope for the tapes. He asked Tressa if she was hungry and she said no. He gave her $50.00 to pay for her and a girlfriend to have dinner when she did get hungry.

Later that night, Lucky called and asked if it was OK

for him to stop by with the VCR's that he had gotten her.

The VCRs were still in the box. He had bought one for her living room and one for her bedroom. He hooked them up and told her to put in a movie. She chose the classic Ghetto Spoof, "
I'm Gonna Git You Sucka
".

As they watched Keenan Ivory Wayans act a fool, they both laughed hysterically and continued to watch more movies. When they finally noticed the time, it was 5:00

a.m. Lucky grudgingly left that morning, but everyday thereafter, he started making all kinds of excuses to visit Tressa, and he always came bearing gifts.

After a few weeks went by, Lucky came over late one night after a long night of gambling. He called when he was in her parking lot and asked for a favor. He needed to come in and get a good night's rest in her other bedroom.
Other
bedroom my ass
, she thought. But she agreed and asked if she could use his car. Tressa was pushing a 1985 short body, style Buick a.k.a. "baby 98", that looked like a drug dealers car. It had over 200,000 miles on it and was always giving her one problem or another. Without any hesitation, he handed over the keys and went into his pocket and gave her a crisp $100.00 bill. "Drinks are on me tonight." Out of all the times she had seen him before, at that moment and for the first time, Tressa really looked at Lucky, this man was fine!! This was the first time that she realized that Lucky was handsome. Lucky had a sensually dark brown complexion with two open-faced crown gold teeth spaced apart. One was on his front tooth and the other was a tooth over. His teeth were gleaming white. He had a fresh haircut, round up and all. His lips were soft and full and he had the longest jet-black eyelashes. He stood at 5'9, weighed about 175 pounds and his very holdable waist was a 34. He wasn't a big dude, but his 35

Triple Crown Publications Presents
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deep voice and gull carried much weight. He wasn't wearing anything fancy, just some black basketball shorts and a Michael Jordan T-shirt with the new Jordan's that just came out that very day. She glanced below to check out his package, and saw the imprint of his manhood sticking out a little bit and curving a little to the left.
Damn,
he's packing,
she thought to herself
.

When Tressa completed thoroughly checking out Lucky, she cocked her head to the side, smiled coyly and said. "Peace out." She headed for the door to go and pick up her girlfriend Dutchess. Noticing a small brown paper bag that Luck was carrying, she stopped dead in her tracks and suspiciously asked. "What's in that paper bag? It's not drugs or anything is it?"

Lucky looked at her as if she was asking a foolish question. "Hell no, it ain't no damn drugs! I would never bring drugs to where you lay ya head, its just money."

"Oh, ok." She said relieved. Trying to make it up to Lucky for not trusting him, she sweetly offered. "I cooked some baked chicken. I can fix you a plate if you're hungry.

Also, I put a clean towel and wash cloth on the bed in case you want to take a shower."

"Thank you, but I'm gonna warm me something up after I get out the shower. Just go ahead. Have a good time and be safe. I have my cell phone on, if you need me." When she arrived at Dutchess's house, her friend wasn't surprised to see her driving Luck's car. She had been in Tressa's presence when Lucky was around, and even a blind man could see that Lucky was head over heels for Tressa. "Girl, I see you finally came out of denial, huh?"

"What are you talking about?"

"I see you driving 'Big Money Grip' from the 'Getting Money Strip' car. And you know they say, that nigga don't LET
nobody
drive his car."

"Girl, please it ain't even like that. He's just my brother's friend." Tressa said innocently.

"Tressssaa, you know damn well he's more than Taj's friend. Girl, he ya man!"

Tressa burst into laughter. "Girl please, he ain't even thinking bout me that way. Plus, he got plenty of women I'm sure."

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"Chile please, the hell he ain't." Dutchess looked at her and rolled her eyes.

"Where he at now then? Why you got his car out flossing?"

"He's at my house getting some rest."

"Tressa, check this out, a man just ain't gonna give you his car to drive to the club like that. Believe what I am telling you." Dutchess shook her head in disgust. She could not believe how green her friend was.

"Whatever." Tressa responded as if she wasn't taking in everything that Dutchess was saying, but in reality, she was soaking everything in as she continued to listen to the words of Mary J. Blige's song,
Real Love
. How more effective the words sounded coming out of a booming 6x9 kicker box in the trunk of the car, rather than the tiny woofers she had in her Baby 98.
Damnnn, Mary!!!! You
make it sound so good. She be hitting home. If I didn't want
a real love, shoot, I want one now,
she thought to herself.

Once they arrived at the club, she parked the car and got out. With much swing in their step, they walked toward Ivory's Uptown Lounge. A guy named Motor noticed her walking away from the
only
black on black brand new 1993 Mercedes Benz in town driven straight off the showroom floor, by a young black man a few weeks ago and it was 1992. He spoke first and then asked. "Where Luck at?"

Tressa hesitated for a minute, not sure who this nigga was and if she wanted to respond. "Oh he's at home." She said cautiously.

"Tell him that Motor said what's up and make sho he come round the way tomorrow and give a nigga a chance to win his money back."

"A'ight." Tressa replied nonchalantly.

Tressa and Dutchess approached Ivory's. Tuesdays was College night and there was always a long line.

Although it was the designated College night, it was the middle of July and school was not in session.

Consequently, the club population may have only been 10%

actual college students. The rest were big time, mediocre, nickel and dime or perpetrating, wanna be hustlers of Richmond, VA and surrounding areas. There were UPS

workers and the other fellas who worked jobs paying legit 37

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money. The majority of the playas in there looked, dressed and wore the jewelry that drug dealers wore. Anybody knows that when there's a club filled with money getting men, money hungry, sack chasing and booty shaking females were sure to follow? The club was filled with all kinds of females, from conservative ones to the freaks.

The temperature outside was a blazing 90 degrees, with the highest humidity level in Richmond, VA. The females' gear made it known that it was definitely summer in the capital city. Barely covering up their titties and asses with the halter shirts and Daisy Duke shorts, the females were clear-cut representing.

Back in the early 90's, the sister's of Richmond, VA, turned Tuesday's College Night at Ivory's into a fashion show. Though there was no cash prize, had there been one, the owner would have to give it to each and every one of them, because every week, the chicks would outdo themselves. Almost all the girls sported the bamboo name earrings that they went to Georgetown to get and the pendants with their names. If they couldn't get to DC to hook up their ensemble for the night, they would go to

"Merry Go Round" in Cloverleaf Mall to get an outfit. It was a pity when Ivory's shut down, so did Merry Go Round.

This particular night, Ivory's was off the hook! The party was going on outside too for those who couldn't get in.

The dude with the Cherokee jeep illegally parked across the street, opened up his back window and the bass was shaking almost the whole block. It could be heard miles away. People would just stand in Hardee's parking lot and dance and mingle. This didn't concern Tressa and Dutchess, until the club closed, and they too hung out in Hardee's parking lot.

Inside of the club, Tressa and Dutchess had a ball.

They hadn't been out in a while, so they were embraced with love from just about everybody. Tressa's new found stardom increased the love she was already being shown.

See, Motor was the town's version of Tom Brokaw. As a matter of fact, that's how he got his name Motor, from being a "motor mouth". He was a dude that was cool with everybody, but gossiped like a female. He was always in everybody's business, male or female, he didn't care. He hustled everyday and got much money selling drugs, which 38

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was his second priority. Being nosey was his main concern.

He kept company with a lot of girls naturally, because he gossiped just like they did. But he also had a lot of homeboys, because he had money and always kept good dope, the dope he got from Luck.

Tressa wasn't in the club fifteen minutes before the news had traveled. Everywhere she went, people were talking about her, "Oh that's Lucky's girl." A dude stepped on her shoe, and another guy told him. "Man you better say excuse me cuz that's that crazy nigga Lucky's girl.

Shoot, that nigga might kill you for that shit."
How come people always gotta draw conclusions just
because they see somebody driving your car? Shoot, how
they don't know I'm not his cousin?

At first, she kept setting everybody straight, because she didn't want the rumor to get out, but soon after, Tressa began to think about the possibility of her being in a relationship with Lucky. She thought about how sweet he was and how giving he was. She sure could use the financial help, and Lord knows his pockets were as long as the New Jersey Turnpike. But would he play fair with her?

All kinds of thoughts went in and out of her head. She thought about his bad boy image, and people did say he was a murderer and a psycho.

After the club, Tressa dropped Dutchess off and went home. She kicked her shoes off, and before she was in the door good, Lucky who was sitting on the sofa, looked away from the TV at her and smiled.

"Thought you needed and wanted to get some sleep?" She stepped across his feet and plopped down beside him on the sofa.

"I couldn't sleep because everybody was blowing my cell up wanting to know who the cutie was pushing my whip." He smiled.

"I know they were because they were constantly in my face. Some dude named Motor told me to tell you to come by tomorrow to let him win his money back." He nodded his head. "I was sleeping good, but every time I dozed back off, somebody else was calling."

"I hope me driving your car didn't get you in no trouble with any of your girls."

"What girls?"

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"Please, I seen the looks they were giving me tonight." Tressa looked at him trying, not to let on that she liked the feeling of envy and the thought of being his girl.

He looked her in the eyes and told her with a slight smile on his face. "Oh, they just jealous hoes cuz I already told them you was my girl. So, starting tonight, it's official." He continued to smile as he grabbed her feet and started rubbing them.

He didn't give her any time to respond before he asked her, "Why ya'll females always wear shoes to the club that you know are going to kill your feet?"

"The same reason why ya'll dudes be sticking ya'll dick in some coochie raw dog and you know it may be a chance that it can kill you!"

He laughed. "I don't do that." She giggled. "Yeah, that's what they all say."