Alley-Oops I Think I'm Falling in Love (With the Wrong Guy)

|  ROSCOE  |

I glanced at Aria who was wringing her hands like a nervous raccoon. She loped beside me, her long ass legs easily matching my pace. I considered doing an extra lap around the block just to see if I could shake her, it was unnerving.

I scoped out the area as we crossed the street —taking in every car, person, or house within sight. Aria thought I was lost, as we'd circled back twice, but I knew this neighborhood like the back of my hand. I'd lived just three houses down until a few years ago.

Zaire, or one of the other Kweli brothers, threw a block party every summer. I used to look forward to it back in the day. This party was so illustrious, that even the "kids with a view" tried to get in.  Now I was one of those kids and it just didn't hit the same way.

I wasn't exactly welcome here, either. Not anymore.

Biting my lower lip, I scanned the Kweli house one more time before approaching. I couldn't let anything pop off tonight, the stakes were too high — Coach Brown was grinning about my moves again and that was something I couldn't risk.

DeLang was apparently more potent than I thought — one day on the job and she was already getting results.

Coach didn't invite Aria to run with us out of the goodness of his heart, nah... On day one, I knew exactly why she was there. So that's exactly what I gave him. She was here to bring me to heel. Whether or not she was complicit in his schemes was yet to be determined.

"Will you chill?" I asked, as I hopped up the steps. Trap music was blaring from the speakers out back, but the volume was loud enough to rattle the windows and door.

Aria made a face at me, but dropped her hands.

There were a few of people gathered on the front lawn, more at the entryway, but the main party would be in the backyard, as their property butted against an old baseball park.

"Roscoe?" A familiar voice called.

My muscles relaxed when the owner of the voice pushed out onto the porch. He dapped me up. "What's good my man? I didn't know you were planning on coming through."

"Well, when I heard you'd be here, you know..." I said, eliciting a laugh from the big fella. He slapped me on the back and stepped aside so we could pass.

I ducked through the doorway and stepped into the narrow hallway. I pushed through the mess of bodies, red solo cups, and the layered scent of weed and incense. Part of me missed this place, or at least, missed feeling like I belonged here.

Someone — he looked vaguely familiar — eagerly pushed a drink into my hand as I passed through the kitchen. I navigated through the house with ease, but I tight as a bow string on the inside. I didn't even hesitate. I downed the contents in one gulp.

Aria rammed her knuckles into my spine just as I finished the dregs. I sputtered, eyes flashing in annoyance.

"What are you doing?" She demanded, eying the cup with a furrowed brow.

I gritted my teeth. If this was going to work, she needed to believe that I was a changed man. Then she could run to Coach, clear my name, and I could cut her loose.

With reluctance, I handed Aria the cup and gave a little bow. "Happy?" I groused.

She just looked at me. She was such a peach.

"Aye, time for you to run along to your real friends. Come find me when you want to go." I said, leaning down to speak into her ear.