Meet Austin

Poppie

By the time the weekend came around, I was fucking ready to party. I had complained the entire week that I was dog-tired but when Friday came around? A Bitch was not tired at all. Shayla said that the party would start around 9 pm, which meant I would arrive around 10 pm.

I had dressed in my best outfit, a light blue jean mini skirt, multi-colored striped halter top and nice pair of kicks - a pair of Timbs. The fall had come in like a beast in Chicago which meant winter wasn’t far behind. In Chicago, it seemed as though seasons were bipolar because it could be hot one day and cold the next. I didn’t need to get sick because I couldn’t afford to miss any work.

Shayla and Mike’s place wasn’t far from me as I could walk, but with it being cold I needed to catch an uber over to their place. I used almost the last of the money I had until payday next week, which meant I needed to make some cash tonight.

When I pulled up to the house, I could hear the music bumping outside. There were a few guys hanging outside smoking cigs in the cold. Mike and Shayla smoke weed but they don’t like the cigarette smell so those that smoke cigs, had to brave the cold for those much needed squares. I jumped out of the car and walked towards the house and got the attention of the guys outside.

“Yo, look at this thick ass white girl coming ova here,” Dude number one said. He looked like John Legend’s little brother with his light brown skin and almond eyes.

I ignored him and kept walking towards the house. I felt all eyes on me as I got closer to the door.

“Wassup up Snow Bunny, you coming to play?”

I always got ′Snow Bunny or Snowflake′ as a nickname because I’m white. It didn’t bother me, but I’m like y’all can’t come up with something better?

“You coming to pay?” I gave so much attitude. Shayla swears I must have been Black in a past life.

“’Oooo shit, she got you dude.” Dude number two said as I walked past him going up the stairs.

“You for sale?”

“Depends on who’s buying and if you can afford me, because I know I’m worth it.” I smacked my lips and looked at him.

“Day-um dude.”

“It’s like that Shorty?”

“You already know it is. Don’t think I’m stupid because I’m white, I know how to deal with slick motherfuckas like you.” I pointed in their direction.

“A’ight. Ok Amber with the red hair.”

“Funny,” I rolled my eyes. “It’s Poppie with the freckles,” I said as I opened the door, walked in and closed the door quickly behind me.

“Poppie! Wassup girl!” Shayla said as she was coming from the kitchen with a bottle of Hennessy.

“Hey, who are those fools outside?”

“Oh, that must be Mike’s cousins, don’t mind them, they ain’t got shit.” I nodded and hung my coat in the closet.

Mike and a few guys were in the dining room playing bones like always. He knows he loves playing dominoes. As I looked around, there was a bunch of people in the fucking house. There was a gang of people all over the place. I walked into the living room and there were a few people I recognized - Shayla’s cousin Tanya and her girlfriend, Stephanie.

“Heeeeyyyy Poppie! My favorite white girl!” Tanya said as she got up to give me a hug.

“I ain’t seen you in a minute, how you been?”

“Shit you know, making it do what it do,” I said. “Hey Stephanie.”

“Hey Poppie.” Stephanie didn’t talk much, she was always watching Tanya to make sure she wasn’t stepping out on her. She wasreallyinsecure. They had been together for at least 5 years but I guess there is a trust issue, I don’t know.

“Well I’m glad you here cuz we need to get a card game going. I’m ready to play some spades and get my drink on.” Stephanie laughed.

“A’ight, let me get a drink and I’ll be back,” I said as I walked to the kitchen.

I waved to a few people on the way. There were a few people I recognized, basically from them being more so customers of Mike. Mike has been slinging as long as I’ve known Shayla. I only get weed from him through Shayla, which means I don’t pay for shit. I don’t deal with all of that other shit, I’m good with just weed. But I must admit Mike does have a good selection of shit if anyone wanted to get high - he could get you fucking lifted.

I walked into the kitchen, where the drinks were lined up on the counter like a bar. I went straight to the red solo cups, picked up a cup and grabbed the Crown Royal Apple.

“You gonna need this little mama,” a deep voice said behind me. I turned around and there stood this sexy ass motherfucker looking like Boris Kodjoe, holding a gallon of apple juice. Smooth, peanut butter skin, nice ass face and a fucking amazing body.

“Yes, I will need that.” I wasn’t implying the apple juice.

“Let me help you,” he said as took the CR out of my hands. “You want ice?”

“Yeah, a few cubes will be nice,” I said looking at him. He winked and smiled at me as he poured the liquor in my cup.

“Tell me when,” he said as he poured. I watched it get about a third of the way up the cup.

“That’s good.”

“Okay, here’s the ice,” he said as he dropped a few cubes in my cup. I immediately swished my drink around and took a sip. His eyebrows raised as he watched me. “You want it straight?”

“Is that how you give it?” I had a smart ass mouth and I knew it. It made him blush but he controlled it.

“Oh, I’ll give it any way you want it.” This was the type of motherfucker I wanted to hook up with, but was he willing to pay for it?

“Oh really? I don’t give refunds.”

“That’s cool. I don’t mind paying extra.” I blinked hard. He came to play as he continued to stare. His green eyes were mesmerizing and I felt myself getting lost in them.

“Okay. I like what I hear,” I said, holding up my cup waiting for the apple juice to be added as we got off subject. “You gonna give me some juice?”

“As much as you want,” he said, grabbing the juice to pour into my cup. “So what’s your name?”

“Poppie. What’s yours?”

“Austin, nice to meet you Poppie.”

“Nice to meet you too Austin.” Austin put the juice on the counter and picked up a cup to make himself a drink.

“So how you know Mike and Shayla?”

“Shit, me and Shayla go way back, she’s like my sister.”

“Oh, I know you. You’re Poppie, the one Mike has been telling me about. You grew up with Shayla right?”

“Yup, that’s me. How you know Mike?”

“Mike is my nigga, we went to school together.”

“Oh ok, that’s cool.”

“Cheers,” he said, holding up his cup. We clinked cups and took a sip.

“You always come to their parties?”

“Yes and no. I usually come over to hang with Shayla and smoke. Sometimes I play, sometimes I don’t. Sometimes I come over ’cause I ain’t got shit to do.”

“I feel you on that. I just got into town. I was thinking about moving back.”

“Oh, so where you live now?”

“Miami.”

“Fuck, Miami! That’s nice. I ain’t never been, but always wanted to go.”

“Well maybe you can come and visit sometime,” he offered. The invitation was nice, but a Bitch ain’t got money for a fucking plane ticket. Unless this motherfucker is paying, I ain’t going nowhere.

“That would be nice, but I don’t make money like that at my temp piece of shit job to get a ticket.”

“No worries, I got you.” My eyes got big and I raised my eyebrows in bewilderment.

Did this mofo just tell me he was going to pay for my trip?

“POPPIE! Bring yo ass so we can play Spades and beat these Bitches!” Shayla yelled from the living room.

“That’s my queue. I’m Shayla’s partner for Spades.”

“Oh ok, well I’ll see you later on,” he said smiling while reaching for my hand. He held it up to his mouth and slowly kissed the back of my hand, keeping eye contact with me.

I blushed. “You promise?”

“Fo’ sho baby girl.”

This motherfucker had me in a daze. I smiled and slowly strolled out the kitchen to the living room where the table was set up with the game ready to go.

“So I see you met Austin,” Shayla said as she placed the deck of cards in front of Tanya to cut.

“Yeah, that motherfucka is fine as fuck.”

“I know right. Mike told me that he was coming and that he told him about you.”

“Shut the fuck up. Mike told him about me?”

“Girl yeah, he was like if anyone should get with him, it should be you. Dude got money. He used to play basketball.”

“For what team?” I said, as I watched Shayla pick up the stack after Tanya finished cutting the deck and dealt them out.

“He didn’t make the NBA, but he made the G-league and has been playing overseas.”

“Aw damn, okay. At least he is still playing,” I said as I picked up my cards and rearranged my hand.

“I know right. But he had been asking about you since he arrived.”

“Damn okay.” I sang. He was looking for me.

“Y’all Bitches gonna play and stop all this damn talking?”

“Why the fuck you worried about it Tanya, y’all gonna lose anyway?” Shayla said, slamming down the ace of diamonds.

“Shut the fuck up,” she said playing her card.

“You know y’all gonna get her mad and I gotta go home with her,” Stephanie said as she played her card.

“That Bitch can’t play, that’s why she get mad.” Shayla said as I played with 2 of diamonds.

“I ain’t gonna be mad, ’cause we’re gonna fucking win,” Tanya said as she slammed down a 2 of Spades.

Shayla and I just looked at each other ’cause this Bitch just fucked up our strategy. Stephanie started smiling while Tanya danced around as she took our ‘book’. This was going to be an interesting game and night, I see.