Devilish Taste

Angelica, oh Angelica

Last night game left me utterly speechless.

Both Jessica and Stanley games were very entertaining. Jessica of course went out to clubbing with her teammates after their game, while Stanley took us straight home after not wanting to deal with his teammates. I was glad he wasn't upset over the game. I'm surprised he didn't say anything about Nino talking to me. I'm guessing no one snitch on me being seen with Nino, or I was just good at hiding it.

When we got home, I went ahead and cook up some of his favorite food he loves to eat to cheer him up. We stayed up all night watching television, and talking about our sister Angelica. He mostly avoided talking about how she passed away, and when I try to force it on him, he yelled at me saying to leave it alone. I shut up quick not wanting to get his anger or else he will kick me out or something.

All I knew about Angelica death was that Stanley was with her the night she died. It was a car accident that eventually blew up in flames. He said Angelica was messing with a crazy guy that fell in love with her, and was trying to hurt her. Stanley said he came over to pick her up after she called him, saying he kept hitting her. It didn't sound right to me, but then again I was away from home to know what were going on.

I know Jerome must be feeling embarrassed after last night game. I have never seen Jerome as anger as I saw him last night against Nino. I wonder what was the comments they're were sharing between the two. My social media news fed was filled with Jerome getting humiliated by Nino. I wonder how Jerome was taking it. Why am I thinking of him after I found out about Monica and Jerome?

Monica, I sigh sadly. How could she do this to me? We've been friends since middle school. I looked at her as one of my sisters. Is this what Stanley was trying to hint at me all these years? Ashely and Tasha seem to not be phase of this, but then again they're were never close to her like how I was. How come Jerome didn't mention it to me?

I haven't texted Jerome nor Nino since last night, and it was now three o clock in the afternoon. They've both been raping my phone with their text messages and phone calls since last night. I couldn't confront them now, since today was the day of Angelica celebration. Today event is Angelica viewing and then tomorrow is the funeral. I'm still not ready for this, for her celebration. Stanley, Jessica and I made shirts that had Angelica picture on it. We decided to wear it later on tonight for the viewing.

Our parents haven't been communicating with neither of us, and my heart continues to ache each second. I tried calling in the morning to see if they needed help, and they quickly decline me. Dad never responds to any of my text messages, and for that he was still upset about our argument a few weeks ago.

My phone began to ring once again; I look over to my phone screen to see it was Jerome. I took a deep breath and grab the phone to finally answer to end this non-sense Jerome have been creating.

"Jerome." I answer in a bored tone. I heard noises in the background, and after a while it became quiet.

"Ashanti we need to talk." Jerome voice fills my ear, and I sigh as I let his voice refresh my memory of when we use to talk on the phone so much.

I sigh. "Yes we do Jerome." I reply back to him. He's right, we both had things to say, especially me after my encounter with Monica last night.

"Then why have you been ignoring me since the game last night?"

"Because your little hoe and now my ex-best friend meet up last night before your game. She had a lot to say to me." I said with way too much attitude spilling out. My anger was now trying to consume me. I heard him curse under his breath, and the line went silent. He was stalling to find an answer, while I was beginning to get aggravated.

"Look Ashanti, I was supposed to be the one- "

I cut him off, not wanted to hear the bull s**t.

"How long Jerome?"

"How long what?" He questions me back, with a stupid question. I shake my head.

"You know what the hell I'm talking about. How long were you messing with Monica? Did you f**k her as soon as I left for college? After the fact you kept telling me you miss me, you love me, you want to be with me again, you said you change- "

"I did CHANGE!" He yells at me through the phone. He emphasizes the change part, and I suck my teeth loud.

"Change? You f**k my best friend Jerome- "

"Stop crying about it- "He said cutting me off.

My anger has officially consume my mind.

"Listen here, your selfish little d**k, I'm going to say this now and I hope you get it to your little brain of yours!" I yell back at him furiously. He stays quiet waiting for me to continue.

"You hurt me and I'm not going to lie to you about that. I had to find out what's going on with you through other people. So what! We're not together, but the fact that you f**k my best friend, someone that was close to me, that knew my business made me piss off. You didn't say anything to me when I use to come down from college on my breaks and we would hook up at times. You know I will always have love for you, and s**t I did think about us being back together. I would have been okay with you messing with any other girls, but no you choose to stick your d**k inside my best friend well my ex-best friend. You hurt me Jerome." I whisper the last part to him. A tear fought out, and I quickly wipe my eye.

"Ashanti, don't even start crying." He reveals what I'm doing. He knew me so well. I sniffle softly as tears were beginning to pour down my cheeks.

"Look Ashanti, I love you and I always have and always will. Monica came out of nowhere like she was stalking me. Yes, I bed her, but I wasn't looking at her as if I wanted a relationship with her. I knew she was your girl, but I thought you knew she was a hoe."

"I knew she a hoe! Oh come on Jerome really?" I yell back at him; he sighs eventually becoming quiet.

"I made a mistake baby, you know I'm not perfect. Don't let that hoe get between us. I still need you." He confesses. My heart jumps the moment he says this. He still need me?

"Baby?" He calls out to me. Before I respond I hear shuffling in the background.

"J?" I heard a woman voice. J? I said to myself. Who is the woman's calling him J? I know it's not his mom or little sister. I decided not to confront him about this as I finally found my answer as whether I will ever be with Jerome again.

"Ashanti?" He calls out again.

"I think it's better if we just be friends Jerome." I admit to him, not trying to let my attitude come out of hearing the women voice in the background.

"Friends? So what, you let that nigga Nino get in your head now?" Jerome questions me hard. So this what it was about. Nino? I shake my head hard at Jerome outburst.

"This has nothing to do with Nino. I don't even know what he told you- "

"Stop f*****g lying! I saw you with him when you came out the restroom. I saw the way he grabbed you, like ya'll was f*****g each other."

"Don't you ever accuse me off f*****g a nigga I barely know, learn your facts before you start voicing out your opinion!" I yell at him. How dare he accuse me of f*****g Nino already.

"I thought he was lying when he told me ya'll was together- "

"Together?" I cut him off. At this point my mind was stuck on one word, together. Nino told him we were together?

"Don't act like you surprise, you mine don't ever forget that."

"Jerome, how many got damn time do I have to tell you I'm not yours anymore?"

"Well, seem like you forgot how you use to scream my name and tell me numerous of time how you will always be mine." Jerome admits. I laugh an actual laugh.

"Bye Jerome." I said, trying to cut this conversation off.

"I promise if you really get with him, I'll- "

"You'll what Jerome? Tell my daddy? Come on man, we not in high school anymore." I scoff.

"You right baby, all I got to say is he better not be around you like that or else he is going to be six feet and under." Jerome words caught me of guard. Six feet and under? He was willing to kill Nino over this.

"I'm guessing you starting to understand what I'm telling you. You better watch how you talk to me also, you lucky we over the phone and not together talking. You seem you lost respect for me, don't worry, I'll take care of that later on." I was still stunned. Who am I talking to? This can't be Jerome I'm talking to. I hang up the phone, not knowing what I was supposed to say.

A knock on my bedroom door has me out of thoughts. I yell come in and Stanley walks in with a cup of orange juice. He hands me over the juice and sits on the side of the bed watching me closely. I took a sip and roll my eyes.

"You heard me on the phone didn't you?" I start the conversation getting straight into the subject.

"I wasn't trying to eavesdrop, but yeah, you were a little loud." He admits and I shrug my shoulder.

"You were right." I told him, giving him credit. He looks a little sad.

"I wish I wasn't."

"It's okay, things happen. But he sounds like he changed, the way he had talk to me on the phone shock me so hard."

"Yeah he has. Once you left for college, he was miserable." Stanley admits truthfully. I decided to change the topic, not wanting to talk about my love life.

"Are you ready for tonight?" I ask him. He already knows where I was heading at with this question. He nods his head slowly.

"We have to get over this whether we like it or not." He responds and I agree with him.

"Look I'm going to chill with someone right now, and I'll be back later to pick you up so we can go to the viewing." He tells me as he gets up and take our empty cup that was filled with orange juice. He glances down at me, expecting me to bomb him with some questions about where he's going, but I went against it.

"Okay."

"Call me if you need anything." He walks out the door. After a few minutes, I heard the door shut meaning I was now alone in the apartment.

During my time alone in the apartment, I had time to read a book, cook some food for Stanley and I, clean every room except Stanley's room and even workout in the living room from a DVD I played on the television.

It was now six o'clock in the afternoon and the viewing was at eight. I made my way to my closet to start ironing my clothes. I took out the shirt that had Angelica picture on it and stare at it in belief.

You're gone sis, I whisper to myself. No tears had escaped since I've been crying during the night. The shirt had Angelica smiling hard with wings attach to her, meaning she was an angel now watching over us. I felt like she never left me for some odd reason. Call it a sister thing, but I felt like she was still out there somewhere maybe in danger or just lost.

A knock on the door had me out of my feelings as I now hurry over to the door looking through the peep hole.

Nino?

That couldn't be Nino. I never told him where I live, s**t I never even talk to him like that for him to even know where I live. The knock continues to pound on my door, and I mentally curse to myself.

"Ashanti, I know your in there, open the door, please." He begs behind the door.

What should I do? If Stanley catches me with him, he will kill me!

"I won't take long I promise." He said. Right, like that supposed to help me with my decision making on opening the door for him.

"I'm not leaving until you open the door, so if your brother see's us that's on you, girl." He admits, and I sigh in defeat unlocking the door revealing myself to him.

"Finally." He mutters. He walks inside taking off his coat. I close the door after he walks inside. I follow him to the living room waiting for him to start talking, but instead he watches my movement as I went and sat on the opposite of him.

He licks his lip, and my eye's falls right on his lips. Lord, those lips can get it man. I take in his appearance as he continues to watch me lustfully. He had on a dark navy shirt that clung to his muscle, making his muscle pop out more. The silver chain was big enough for me to see as I now look down to see he had enormous silver and black watch on his wrist. His black pants made his ass look good and firm as he walks over to the couch, I was shocked his pants weren't sagging like other niggas do.

He's a real man, I thought to myself. He had on some black and navy shoes that match his outfit, so in all he was handsome. His chocolate skin that covered in tattoos had me licking my lips every second, as my lips kept getting dry. His muscles had my legs going weak as I wanted to go over to him and let him have his way with me. I accidentally lick my lips, letting him see in the process and that form a smirk on his face.

"You like what you see, baby?" He questions me, and I unconsciously nod my head at him. His eyebrows shot up and his smirk soon turns into a childish smile.

"I wasn't expecting you to answer that. I thought you would answer my question how other girls answer, saying uh uh boy you ugly or something." He told me. I continue to watch him as I didn't even listen to him talk. His deep voice had me in a trance.

"Ashanti?" He says. He stands up from his seat and began walking over to me, and I snap my way back into reality as this was not a dream.

"Yes Nino." I reply back to him steadily, and not letting him know he's effecting me hard. He takes a seat next to me, grabbing one of my hands in the process. My breathing quickens as I now didn't know what to do. My mind began to think of different ways to get him to touch me.

"You got a nice place, this your brother place, right?" His questions threw me off. Is he trying to get information out of me to get to my brother? Oh hell no!

"Look Nino, I don't know if you are trying to get information out of me to get to my brother, but if you are then you have life mess up." I told him snatching my hands away from him.

"I was just trying to make a conversation with you chill ma." I try snatching my hands away from him and this time he threw a little strength as he kept my hands in his tight. All traces of lust and being in a trance has disappeared from me. I was back to normal not letting his touch affect me anymore.

"What you want? You already got me in s**t with Jerome last night at the game." I said changing the subject. I wanted to get right into it. His whole mood changes and he sucks his teeth at me.

"We really going to start our conversation with that stupid nigga?" He states. I roll my eye's looking away from him.

"Look if he bothers you then say the word and I'll take care of him- " I quickly cut him off.

"No Nino, that's not the way you take care of someone. We not together like that for you to be dealing with my problems. Don't you got a girl to be taken care of?" I question him. I'm not going to lie; my heart beat was pounding out my chest as I waited for him to answer.

"Like you said we not together, so why I should I even answer your question?" He throws at me, and I sigh knowing he's right. We both look at each other with so many emotions swirling around us.

"How did you find me?" I question and he smirks.

"You forgot I'm in a gang?"

"Yeah, I actually did." I told him honestly. He looks taken back.

"Look ma, that girl you saw me with came out of nowhere. She was my old girl and was together for more than two years. I got love for her until last night when I got some news about what she did. You see she was pregnant with my child when we first met at the restaurant on my birthday." He looks me in the eye as he says this, and for some reason my heart drops at hearing this. I didn't say anything as I looked away. He grabs my chin softly directing it towards him.

"But then one of my boys came at me, saying she been visiting the clinic lately and so my suspicious started getting to me. I got one of my boys to follow her and access her medical record to find she gotten an abortion with my child." He said with so much sadness. I was honestly shock by his news. He looks so hurt and heartbroken I didn't know how to comfort him. I can't lie, but I felt as though God was looking out. I felt bad though, this girl aborted their baby not telling Nino why.

"Last night after the game my boys had revealed the news to me and I almost kill her with my bare hands."

"What did you end up doing to her?" I question nervously. I look away not wanting to see my expression.

"What you think?" He questions me back, and I stay there quiet not wanting to answer him.

"I didn't know how to tell you ma- "

"Don't even trip about it, we not together- "He cuts me off.

"I want to be though." My heart jumps excitedly, and I try to hide my blush. He gets a call from his cell phone making him groan in anger. He told me to wait as he answers the phone. His expression changes and became angrier.

"Alright, I'm leaving then."

His response made me upset. Nino was leaving already. I check my phone to see it was now seven thirty. Damn I only had thirty minutes till Stanley comes to pick me up.

"I got to go, since your brother on his way."

"You had someone follow him!" I reply shocking.

"How else was I supposed to know it was a good time to come see you?" He said standing up from the couch. He grabs my hand as we walk to the door.

"When am I going to see you again ma?" I shrug my shoulder as I didn't know myself. We stop by the door and he watches me closely.

"You got my number so hit me up, I know about your sister and I'm deeply sorry. I will give you space until your ready. I want to be with you, ma, so I don't want no nigga coming around you like that. That Jerome nigga better watch out. Just cause he in that gang- "

"Gang?" My eye's bulges out. Gang? Seriously, this is getting out of hands now. Jerome in a damn gang? Does Stanley know about this since they've gotten close? I shook my head in disbelief.

"I take you don't know then? At least I let you know what's up about me. Seem like there's a lot he didn't tell you." He said shaking his head. He opens the door and unexpected kiss my hand before leaving. He eye's never leaving mine as he did this. I blush hiding my smile with my free hand.

"Bye beautiful." He said as he walks away, leaving me once again by myself in the apartment. I watch his figure until I couldn't see him anymore. I close the door running to my room to get ready. Good thing I already took a shower and iron my clothes.

"You look nice sis." Stanley said, walking into my room, as I fix my hair. I look at the time to see it was now eight o'clock. Stanley had on the shirt with Angelica picture, black pants and black shoes. Even though he was dressed in all black he still looks handsome.

"You too Stanley." I walk over to get my purse and walk out my room following Stanley to the exit of our place.

The viewing and funeral was going to be held at our parent's church of course. This will be the first time seeing them after that argument at the restaurant. I can't lie, I was really nervous. I hadn't step inside the church in a good while. I was going to see so many old faces and memories were going to be filling in my mind constantly. We pull up to the church parking lot at the same time Jessica pulls up, parking right next to each other. Jessica came over to us hugging us in the process.

"Looks like people were already here." Stanley said as we made our way to the entrance. When we walk in, my eye's pop out as I saw the church had made a lot of changes in the designs. There were people passing out paper of the funeral schedule for tomorrow. All three of us ignore the people that were trying to hand us the paper.

"I see mom redecorate the church finally." Jessica mention answering my thoughts.

The new designs made the church alive and breathe taking. The colors I remember back then was a boring and dull cream, vanilla with Jesus pictures hanging on the wall. Now seeing this church would have made me think I was at the wrong church. The colors on the wall were now like an outdoor color. I would have to say it was beautiful with the colors matching a sunset feature. There was a large painting of the sky behind the pastor podium on the stage and it looks wonderful. There was angel's statue standing in different locations of the church, and the Jesus picture was still hanging on the wall, but since the wall were painted in a vibrant color, the pictures made it pop out more in awe.

We took our seats at the front saying hello to our family members and people that were close to us. The casket was a newly fresh small brown size. The light made the shine of the casket glisten as I couldn't take my eyes off it. My sister body is in there, I thought to myself. My heart aches as I thought about my sister lifeless body lying in there. For some odd reason, the casket was close and not open. Did they find her body? Now that I actually take in the size of the casket, it was too small to fit her body. I wanted to ask Stanley or Jessica, but both of them were in their own world.

The music began playing softly and in walk our father and mother holding hands as they smile at everyone. I couldn't help but watch mom as her smile was bright like a diamond, but fake as her smile didn't reach her eye's. They walk down the aisle stepping onto the stage where they took they're seats. Mom seems to catch our attention and wave at all of us including Jessica. Jessica smiles back at mom while Dad of course didn't even look our way and we didn't mind at all. After the music stops, he stands out the chair, walking up to his podium taking in the microphone.

"I want to begin by saying thank you all for coming tonight to celebrate my wife and I daughter. The fact the you all came, when you could of have been occupying yourself with something way important truly makes me happy." He said, he pauses a quick second glancing at everyone in the church. He smiles a small smile and continue talking.

"Angelica, my baby and now my angel have left us. It was her time to go as God sent for her invitation to enter her true home; Heaven. It was unexpected and caught everyone off guard. That is how God works! That is why we must love one another, showing love for each other every second we have. You never know when God will send invitation for people to enter his gate of heaven. This is not the last time I will be seeing her, as I know I will see my daughter once again." He preaches speaking through the microphone. A bunch of amen sang throughout the church as everyone began clapping.

"Tonight will not take long as we know the big celebration will be tomorrow morning. Right now I ask that everyone take the time and begin praying to God about you're love one you lost and ask for comfort from God." Everyone cheer as another song begin to play. People begin shouting their prayers and crying out for Angelica. I look beside me as I saw Jessica tears were streaming out fast. I put my arms around her and she lean in onto my shoulder letting her head rest. Stanley wasn't crying, probably because he cried out everything at home. I on the other hand was similar to Stanley as I too didn't cry.

After about an hour and thirty minute's people begin singing along to the song as my mom stood up in front of the audience singing with them. She was one of our chorus director for one of our chorus group. She sang loud, making it seem like Angelica could hear her from heaven. Her voice is beautiful making sure her feelings were pouring out to us. When mom was done, dad told everyone that it was now time to greet everyone as it was time to leave.

"We need to go over to our parents' house." Stanley voice out as we all walk out to the parking lot.

"We'll go tomorrow after the funeral." Jessica replies to Stanley, we all stayed silent getting into the car. Jessica got inside her car and speed of not saying bye to us. I honestly didn't get upset as I wanted to leave here.

When we got to the parking lot, Stanley look over at me with so much sadness in his eyes.

"I'm going somewhere sis, so I'll be home later on." Stanley said to me. I didn't want to argue with him. I told him okay and walk the stairs up to our apartment. After I unlock the door, I glance over my shoulder to see Stanley had already left. I went inside the kitchen turning on the lights as I place the food I cook that I left in the microwave for Stanley into the refrigerator. I walk over to my room, removing the clothes on me, dropping them on the floor having no energy to place them back in the closet. I jump on my bed, pulling the covers over me.

A sound on my phone beep, signaling a notification of a text message. I swipe my phone screen to unlock the message.

'I hope you're feeling better ma; things happen for a reason. I can't wait to start making you happy, just know you on my mind right now and I had to make sure you know. You don't have to text back beautiful just hit me up when you ready to try us out. Don't worry about that ex nigga.'- Nino.

I smile at his text, turning my phone screen off. Nino, I said his name. He really wants me. My heart feels like jumping out of my chest thinking about him wanting to be with me. I couldn't stop smiling until I thought about everyone else around me judging me with Nino. I frown at the thought of my dad and brother reacting when they'll found out about Nino. I sigh, why can't he just be normal I thought to myself.

Because being normal wasn't how he got your attention, my heart imaginary screams at me.