Page 67 of Stay Dangerous

The sun was just coming up when I rounded my house and stepped onto the sidewalk. It was in my face, but not enough for me not to see the car pulling up to Turkey’s house.

“Shit,” I mumbled, as the car parked on the curb and Turkey bounced out.

“Where you going, Wyn?” he asked as the driver door opened. I glanced over, and exhaled when I saw a ponytail instead of fuzzy plaits.

“I can’t be going on a morning stroll?”

Turkey smirked and rolled his eyes. “You gon’ be around today? G-Pops wanna take us driving and you the one who need it the most.”

My stomach dropped just thinking about driving. If I could, I’d never get my license, but Pops was adamant about us being self-sufficient.

Turkey chuckled, knowing full well I hated our lessons. He nodded to Fredo before going inside the house.

I walked into the street as Fredo closed the door to hug me.

“So where you really going? ‘Cause I know for a fact Rick wouldn’t have you walking nowhere.”

“It’s a secret.”

I smiled at his scowl and hugged him closer to me. “Not like that, Fredo. I just… I can’t tell. I’ll be indoors though, and tucked away just like Rico likes.”

Fredo stared me down, but I knew I wasn’t on bullshit, so I just stared back, grinning in the morning light.

Then suddenly, Fredo grinned too. “Fine. But I’m taking you wherever you going, and I’m not taking no for an answer.”

Knowing he wasn’t going to let it go, I let it go instead, getting into the car on the passenger side.

“I texted you the address… this isn’t stolen, right?”

Fredo plugged in the address to his GPS and alternated looking at his phone and the road.

“Nah. This the homie’s whip. But I just got my license in the mail, so Nan said she would put her name on a car for me. I just gotta figure out what kind of car I want. I might get some lame shit so no one asks me to use it. The fuck you going to East Kenton for?”

Part of me wanted to keep it to myself. But then I thought about if that whole “stay in a child’s place” shtick was an act, and no one knew where I was. I took a deep breath, and prayed Rico would wait until we were alone to press me.

“I met this producer yesterday and he invited me to come to the studio. Color me curious.” I shrugged, trying to play it off, but Fredo wasn’t buying it.

“And he not on no bullshit? You know niggas be weird.”

“No. I think it’s cool… it’s Grimey’s producer.”

Fredo did a double take before grinning. “Aw shit. Rick gon’ be pissed you met the Get Money niggas before him. He’ll never admit it, but he rock with Grimey. You know, Peanut knows him.”

“Where the hell Peanut meet Grimey? Jail?” I giggled. When Fredo laughed too, I laughed harder.Figures.

We stopped to get donuts and orange juices before crossing over to East Kenton, and Fredo pulled up in front of the studio since we were earlier than I would have been if I took the bus.

“You sure you straight being here alone? I could stay.” Fredo yawned, wiping crumbs from his mouth.

I simpered at him. “I’m sure you and Turkey have been up all night. I’ll be fine. You know where I am.”

“Aight. Call me if you need a ride later on. I’ll be around.”

I finished my donut and grabbed his trash when I saw Trippy’s car pull up to the parking lot gate on the side of the building.

“How’s Rico?” I asked, biting my lips.

Fredo sighed. “Some days, I don’t even know. But I got him, Wyn, don’t trip.”