Page 10 of Mr. Calloway

A weak smile spread across my face. “Thank you.”

Morgan laughed loudly. “Alyse, please, speak for yourself. I’m not a Zoo baby. Anyway, let’s smoke some weed and chill with our girl for her last night in the States. Samara, you’ll be fine. Be free and have fun. Just don’t get over there and start fucking on that pink meat.”

We all burst into laughter. “I cannot with y’all.” Paige giggled. “Seriously, go and have fun. Before you leave, make sure you tell Chevy about Clark so that shit can get handled before the fallsemester. If not, he’s going to make your life a living hell. I’m sure.”

I nodded. Morgan hopped up and turned up the music. She started dancing, and we all joined her. Moments like this were what I was going to miss, but I knew that even in lonely moments, all I had to do was call.

As long as I had my tribe, my man, and my parents, I was going to be just fine.

June

When Zaria left, it was my moment to start digging. Even though she was aware of my intentions with Clark, I still chose to keep certain things away from her. I knew how nasty this was about to get, and protecting my family was my top priority. I sent Dio a text and waited for him to call me back. Just like clockwork, my phone rang.

“Sup, little nigga?” I greeted him.

“Sup, Chev? How can I be of service?”

I looked around as if Z were somewhere lurking with her ears perked. “Are you still able to track Samara? I need to make sure?—”

He smacked his lips. “Chev, nigga, chill. I got it.”

I knew Dio was trustworthy, and the little nigga always stood on his word, but this was a big deal. I just needed to be sure. Peace started baby-talking, and with every sound he knew he could make, it got louder. “Oh shit! Is that my twin, Peace? Tell my little nigga I said what’s up,” Dio chimed in.

How the fuck did he know which twin it was?“How do you know it’s Peace?” I asked.

Dio laughed. “It’s called paying attention. I just know. They look alike, Chev, but they're not the same. Look, I got Mars, Ipromise. None of us want her to leave, but the reality is she’s grown. She knows where home is. Besides, you need to focus on that grandaddy of yours. I’m not trying to see his ass next semester.”

“You let me handle what’s my business, not yours.”

“Ditto, nigga. I don’t know. It’s like you say you're good but haven’t let go. I swear, if you don’t do it, it’s going to kill you. Not living is just like having cancer; those four walls will consume you until it spreads and you're dead. Stop trying to be the hero and be the man God has led you to be. You got a pack of lions ready to kill behind you. Just give the word. You don’t have to do this shit alone.”

All I could do was laugh. “Who gave you all this fucking knowledge? A young nigga trying to school an OG,” I told him.

“An OG taught me everything I know, but somehow, he got lost in the kingdom. He needs to find his way back to his throne. I’ll hit you later.”

A smile eased on my face. “Ight.”

After hanging up with Dio, I had a proud moment. I didn’t question my ability to find my way back to my throne, but I couldn’t sit comfortably until everything I’d built within and around my savanna was straight. This wasn’t about being a hero, but about a man whose story was nearing an end, and the final act needed to happen. I knew there would never be a happily ever after in my story, but I wanted a happily forever knowing there would never be an after.

Dionysus

After hanging up with Chevy, I walked back over to the table with the guys. I ended up catching the tail end of what Scooter was yapping about, and the shit sounded dumb.

“So, what you’re saying is you want to storm up to Lexington Heights with no fucking plan, and you think Hype Records is going to give you a deal? Twin, you’re out of your fucking mind,” I said to Scooter.

We came to Hoodoos trying to figure out our summer plans. Stutter Man, Scooter, and Morgan had decided to drive up here for the day since I still had some moving to do. Morgan went off with the girls while Stutter Man, Scooter, Beans, Streets, and I chilled. I knew I had promised Beans I would act as Scooter’s manager, but this nigga was moving like he was already a star.

He bit down on his chicken wing as he glanced at me. “Shit, why not?”

I shook my head as I pointed to Beans. “This nigga. You ain’t do shit. You ain’t rap nowhere to get yourself out there. You ain’t made a hit demo, and clearly you still on jail nigga time because look how you eating that fucking wing.”

They all started laughing except Scooter. “Keep talking shit. I know what I’m capable of doing.”

“I never said you didn’t. However, what I think you should do is lay off the spicy shit and spice yo ass in Beans studio, build up some tracks, then let’s throw you, like, a little summer concert in the Cove. Why go to them when they can come to you?” I explained.

Honestly, I needed more things to do with myself than storm up to a record label. I needed an activity that would keep my mind occupied while Mars was away. After talking to Chev, the only thing that played in the back of my mind was my girl’s safety. I knew Chevy’s paranoia was beginning to rub off on me, and I needed to get my mind off it.

That was when an idea struck me. I slammed my hands on the table, causing all four of them niggas to jump. Streets’s head snapped my way.