Devilish Taste

He need some milk!

I quickly try to shake the thoughts that were forming on to my mind.

He might think I'm a hoe!

Stop it! I scream mentally.

He continues staring at me with so much emotion that I wanted to personally jump from the bleacher and run to him telling him that, this is my brother warm up shirt. I wonder what's he thinking right now.

Get a grip Asha!

I barely know him, and remember he's dangerous. My parents, no everyone will kill me for even talking to him. I can't let myself fall for someone like him.

Who am I kidding! I wanted to talk to him, I wanted to hear his voice and see that sweet devilish smile he gave me that night at work.

"Let's go Cheetahs!" The crowd screams. My mind gets startled by the noise.

"Girl! Your sister is on fire tonight man." Tasha yells in my ear, and I turn my attention towards the game.

I watch as Jessica team mate steals the ball from the offense team and start running down the court in lightning speed with Jessica running side by side. It's a three against two as three of the opposing team are trying to defend their basket. I look up with fear as I now see the clock with less than fifth-teen seconds counting down.

Two of the opposing team members began trapping the girl in an angle where she can't proceed towards the basket. Jessica coach scream for the other girls to join them. Another team mate of Jessica runs down the court to help out. Once the girl who was getting trap saw her teammate, she quickly makes a bounce pass between the defendant legs and the ball lands accurately on the girl hands. The girl with the ball begins dribbling in control at the time starts ticking down. The girl fakes her opponent by doing a crossover between the legs and head towards the right side of the basket. While the girl tries to drive towards the basket, Jessica does a V-cut; bringing her opponent down by a shooting block and dash up to get open. The girl with the ball quickly passes the ball to Jessica.

"Three, two, one!" The crowd screams, including Jessica team mates that were sitting on the bench. While the crowd was screaming the count down, Jessica creates space by doing a step back with her opponent getting fake, she jumps high in the air shooting a three pointer shot. The ball spins in the air as everyone in the gym, quiet down to see the results.

SWISH!

We Won!

The crowd goes wild as the buzzer fills the gym signaling that the game was now over. Some people from the crowd runs into the gym floor towards Jessica team hugging them. Jessica team mates pick up Jessica and began chanting their team names. I smile hard as Tasha, Ashely and I walk down from the bleachers.

"That was an amazing game, your sister went hard in the paint girl!" Ashely began talking to me. I didn't pay attention to her as I now saw the familiar pair of eye's staring at me again. He was now standing, leaning back on the wall as he talks to his boys next to him. His eye's never leaving mine.

He waves his finger back and forth signaling a come here motion. My lungs stop taking in air, as my eye's budge out a little in surprise. I point my fingers at myself, making sure I wasn't crazy. He nods his head while sending a smirk my way. That smile, that sexy devilish smile.

Asha go!

My subconscious screams to me, and I begin moving through the crowd on the gym floor as I made my way towards him. I didn't even bother letting the girls' know where I was heading. We both kept our stares intact, not letting one of us break the connection.

Once I came in closer, and was about to call out his name, someone else beat me to it.

"Hey baby." The girl ran into his arms. He smirks at her, breaking the connection with me. I was stun in this position watching the random girl in his arms. He smacks her ass and she squeals excited. I couldn't move from where I was. I wanted to snatch the girl from his arms and slap him for humiliating me.

My hands ball into a fist. Did he do this on purpose? Did he think just because I wore my brother warm up shirt, he thinks he can embarrass me like that? He didn't even know if the shirt was really my brother and not some random nigga.

The girl wasn't even all that as I glare at her. Who am I kidding she's beautiful. Her long dark red hair hung closely to her light brown skin face while she smiles looking all lovely dovely for him. She had nice tone legs while she wore her black wedges. The skirt made her ass look nice, I can see why guys next to her were staring at her. The tank top she wore was a bit tight where her chest couldn't breathe and was about to bust out.

Let me stop being a hater, I couldn't be a sour puss at the girl being lucky in his arms.

Let's leave, my imaginary heart voice out through my mind, as my heart ache more and more as I stare bullet holes at him.

I guess it wasn't meant to be.

"Asha, there you are!" Ashely voice caught my attention. I thank God as she came to my rescue. Her voice was a little loud, letting some people around me look towards us, including the one person I didn't want to see anymore. I turn my way and began walking towards Ashely and Tasha.

"Yo Ashanti!" The voice I already knew who it belongs to call out my name. I wanted to turn around and give him the finger, but I compose myself. I didn't want to attract a crowd, especially start a fight with the girl he was with.

"Ashanti!" He once again yells for me and I ignore his calls as I disappeared into the crowd, heading my way to my girls.

"Everything cool? I think someone was calling your name." Tasha eyed me worried. Glancing back behind me, I shrug my shoulder.

"You sure? I didn't hear no one actually." I lied to Tasha. I was happy Tasha didn't continue, and we made our way out the gym and towards the concession stand to get something to eat. After we purchase our meal and sat at one of the tables, we began talking about random subjects.

"Your brother playing next, right?" Tasha question me.

"Yes girl that's why I'm wearing his warm up shirt." I told her.

"You guys there's something I need to ask ya'll, and if you can answer this I would be happy." I said, taking both the girls attention from their phone.

"What is it girl?" Ashely reply.

"I need to know about Monica and Jerome." Both Tasha and Ashely stay quietly watching me. The fact they didn't say anything got me upset. The only thing that could be heard was random people coming in and out the gym. I crunch my eyebrows at them waiting for their answer. Tasha broke of the silent.

"I've been seeing them together lately Asha. I didn't want to tell you, because you know Monica be chilling with us and all. You like hard evidence before you go and confront stuff." Tasha right, I do like hard evidence before I go ahead and make my decision.

"I saw them the other day at the mall together. They were holding hands and s**t like they're in a relationship. While at the mall, I got one of my cousins to pretend to go ask her if she knew who you were and she replied to her saying who is that." Ashely pitch in. I sigh, looking around the building. I slump on my chair and fidget with my fingers.

"What are you going to do Asha?" Tasha voice pipe in. I didn't know what to say to them.

"Say the word and we'll jump her in front of her house." Ashely says, and I smile over to her knowing she will love to start a fight. I shake my head at her. Ashely the fighter.

"No Ash, we too grown for that now. We not in high school anymore." I told her. Ashely groans, while Tasha eyes stay glued on me.

"So is that why she hasn't replied to any of my calls and texts?" I question them.

"We don't know about that now." Tasha says truthfully.

"I thought you were done with Jerome though?" Ashely questions me.

"I am, it's the fact that out of all the girls he messing with why it's got to be one of my friends you know. That's messed up to me, she should off at least have told me so I won't have to find out like this, looking all stupid and shit." I told them honestly.

"Well boo hoot, Stop crying hoe." A voice startled us and we turn our head towards the voice.

"Monica who you calling a hoe? I know it's not us." Ashely reply back to a smirking Monica. Ashely stood up first, Tasha quickly grabs Ashely arm and yank her back down to the chair.

I look down on what she's wearing and I almost fell from my chair. I have never seen Monica wore this outfit before. She wore a pink crop top that was a see through a little, with some black booty shorts that had her cheeks hanging out literally. Her make up on her was heavy and I sigh in disappointment. She had on a pair of heels as if she was going to a club. Her whole outfit screams a hoe, and I couldn't believe my eyes.

Is this what Stanley meant about my friends?

"What happen to you Monica?" I question her. I wanted her to answer me truthfully. She was never like this when I met her. She changed painfully. I stood up at the same time Ashely and Tasha stood up also.

"I upgrade that's what happen to me. I became a woman. I don't have time to explain myself to ya'll anymore. As you can see."

"Are you f*****g him?" I blurt out by mistake. I wish I could swallow those words I blurt out, but I couldn't. I need to know the truth.

"What do you want to hear." Monica said.

"The truth hoe!" Ashely yells back at Monica.

"Oh yes, honey I am f*****g my handsome man." She replies in a normal tone. We all stay quiet as all three of them watch me carefully. Monica smiles sinister at me and turn around letting the sound of her heels click as she struts through the gym entrance.

"Well there you have it Asha, that should tell you about Jerome and that hoe!" Ashely says a little too loudly. My mind was spinning frantically with how the night was going. Ashely was right though, everything that just happens answer my questions about her and Jerome. Well I can take the notes out my phone about my investigation. It's been solved.

I lost a friend.

"Alright we've been ready for the next game to start, are ya'll ready!" The announcer voice fills the speaker.

"Let's go grab out seat ya'll" Tasha said. We all agree to sit on the first level of the bleachers, since more people were filling in the gym.

I watch as my brother do lay ups with his team. He caught my stare and wave over to me. I smile, waving back and yell good luck. Jerome was next to him, so he automatic wave at me. I gave him the finger, now knowing the truth, I didn't want nothing to do with him anymore. He facial expression had shock written all over his face.

"Man oh man, the other team got some fine brothers that's playing." Tasha broke my thoughts. Ashely and I glance over to where the other team was now stretching, and the first thing that took me was him.

Nino, I was definitely shocked as I took in his appearance. Their team uniform was black, with numbers and names in a white color. They all had the same basketball sneakers, including same color socks. He caught my gaze and we now get into yet another staring contest. The only difference was now his facial expression I couldn't read. I roll my eyes at me, and avoid his glare.

The whistle blew loud as three referees walk up to the middle of the court. The crowd begins chanting the team they wanted to win.

"Black birds and Blue storm." One of the three referee call out, pointing them which basket was theirs to score.

"Let's go Stanley, make your sister proud!" I scream at Stanley. Stanley of course smiles at me. Jerome and Nino both look over at me. Jerome smiles at me and that got a hit on my shoulder from Ashely. I half yell at her saying what and Tasha laughs. Nino on the other hand watch me with a new facial expression. How many damn facial expression do this boy got, I told myself. Nino then looks over to Jerome mouthing something to him, which in his turn ball up his fist. They both look over to me again, and I got the feeling this was going to be a long game.

It's now been thirty minutes into the game, and when I tell you the tension in this room were strong, it was strong. Jerome and Nino are both their team highlight as they both coming after each other. Other than them two, Stanley has been showing out also causing him to be his team second highlight.

The blue storm which Stanley and Jerome was in were ahead by three points. The blackbirds were very aggressive, especially Nino the fact he had three fouls in the third quarter, made his team at a disadvantage, because now Nino had to watch his defense carefully.

One of the black bird team mates pump a fake shot and was able to pass his opponent from the blue storm. He dribbles his way into the paint and dish out to the three pointer in the corner of the court. When I made it out who it was, I smile undercover from Ashely and Tasha as Nino takes the shot and he makes it. The fans go wild as they cheer for black birds. As black birds transition their way back to defense, Nino sends a wink my way and I instantly look around making sure I wasn't tripping.

That gets Jerome even more heated as he dribbles down the court, and sends a hatred glare over at me.

"What is up with Jerome man, he looks crazy looking at you Asha." Tasha reply. Ashely pitch in saying yeah.

"I don't know girl, probably Monica said something to him before the game started or something." My lies went through my teeth. I couldn't tell them what I knew yet.

Blue storm continues to pass the ball quickly moving the defense around, until one of the teammate was able to break the defense and dribble in going for a lay-up. Nino jumps up to block the guy shot, that is until the guy with the ball quickly pass the ball behind his back in midair to Stanley. Stanley jumps up and do nice dunk hitting Nino in the process.

"Go Stanley!" I scream as everyone else around me screams excitedly. Of course Nino is consumed with anger as he got embarrassed by the dunk Stanley perform. The referee blows his whistle signaling a time out from one of the coaches. I glance up to the scoreboard and saw that the blue storm was still up.

"I'm going to use the rest room ya'll." I told them. Tasha asks me if I need her to come with me, and I instantly said no.

I walk out the gym and into the restroom. After I finish using the toilet, I wash my hands and walk out heading back to the game.

"You look beautiful." A deep voice startled me, and I stop walking, waiting for the person to reveal himself. I didn't turn back to the person.

"It's like that now Ashanti?" He questions me and I already knew who the voice belongs to. I didn't reply to his question. I heard him sigh and his footsteps came closer to me.

"I didn't know you got on your brother shirt." He confesses. I knew it! I knew he was over reacting about my shirt.

"So you not going to talk to me?" He questions me the second time. I sigh, taking in his scent.

"You didn't have to hurt me like that when your girlfriend ran up to you and hug you like that." I said to him. I finally turn to face him, and his eyes were staring glued to mine. I suck in my breath as he came closer, putting his hand on my waist.

"I'm sorry, she came out of nowhere..."

"So you admit that's your girlfriend?" I cut him.

"No." He says with a hard tone. I mentally do a happy dance. I suddenly take a step back, and his facial expression becomes hard.

"Damn I didn't even take you out and you are already acting sour with me." The voice now fills with hurt replies to me. I shake my head.

"You f*****g him, huh?" His question took me off guard and I stare at him with so much confusion.

"Who the hell you talking about?" I ask him.

"You know who I'm talking about, don't play dumb. I see the way he stares at you." He reveals and the first name that comes to mind is Jerome.

"Jerome is my ex, and he is trying to get back with me. I don't even know why I'm even telling you this when you still didn't tell me who that random girl is." I tell him. Nino stays quiet, watching my outburst. I took that as a chance to walk away from him not looking back. I enter the gym and walk over to my girls while they were screaming. Nino walks back to his team, sitting on the bench not looking my way anymore, and for that I was thankful.

After a few minutes, the coach lets Nino get back into the game and I can tell Nino was ready to play. The way he grabs the ball for the rebound and began dribbling the ball hard and loud passing each opponent swiftly had people cheering him on. When he slows his speed in front of Jerome, however, he tells all his teammates to clear out, leaving both men on a one on one. The fans that were on the black bird team begins chanting Nino to cross him, or break his ankle.

The score was now tied as the clock was running down from ten seconds. Nino begins dribbling the ball while doing a series of moves on Jerome. Jerome stays firm on his defense, but he slips up once he got fake thinking Nino was going for the right, but really the left. Nino begins driving towards the basket with Jerome hot on his tail.

"Ohhhhhhh!" The crowd goes wild once they saw Jerome trip to the floor as Nino did a step back and shot a free throw shot. The buzzer made the sound of the ending of the game. The crowd was still going wild at what they saw just a couple of seconds ago. I was in shock as he walks over to his loud team mates running to him clapping him up.

"Did you see that folks!" The announcer screams into the microphone.

"Get that boy some milk, he need some milk!" The announcer continues to scream, and the whole crowd starts laughing including Tasha and Ashely. The blue storm walks out the gym, heading to the locker room I assume. The blackbirds were still celebrating with the fans. I felt the vibration of my phone and I check to see who it was.

'Wait for me by my car.' – Stanley

I reply an okay. Right when I was about to put away my phone another text came in, actually two texts came in.

'Can we talk?'- Jerome ugly ass. I mentally sigh ignoring his text and went ahead and check the next text.

'We need to talk, and I'm not taking no as an answer. You got me mad and I had to do it on your boy to let him know not do disrespect me,' – Nino.

Great! There's no escaping this now.