| |
Ace squinted to try and get a better look at the young man that was walking away from a known trap house of one of his rivals. It was dark out outside, but he could have sworn that it looked like Aviare.
He didn’t want to risk rolling up on the wrong person so he fell back and cruised along behind him for several blocks as he turned several corners. He finally stopped and watched as the young man met up with a couple of crack heads that hung out around the homeless shelter.
As he watched the transaction take place he moved in for a closer look. “That is Aviare! What the fuck is he doing out here?”
Once the Aviare started walking away Ace zoomed up on him and yelled out his name.
“Aviare!”
“Man I’m glad it was you, you scared the shit outta me,” Aviare joked but in reality he was about to piss him himself. Ace had scared the living daylights out of him. “How you gon’ roll down on a nigga like that?”
“Get yo’ punk ass in this car!”
Aviare didn’t know what was going on with Ace, but judging by the tone of his voice he was clearly upset about something. Once he got in the car he couldn’t get a word in edgewise before Ace started yelling and slapping him upside his head.
“Man what the hell! Why you trippin’?” Aviare asked as he attempted to block the blows that were being inflicted upon him.
“What the fuck are you doing way down here?” Ace was fuming and not in the mood to hear some weak ass excuse.
“Nothing man.... damn. I just came out to get me some air.”
“Bullshit! I saw that house you came out of. You think I don’t know what that shit is? And I saw you with them crackheads. Yo’ aunt know you down here this late?”
Aviare let out a sigh and straightened up his clothes. “Nah man she don’t know I’m here. She thinks I’m spending the night at one of my friend’s house. What you doing, playing daddy now?”
“Nigga watch yo’ tone with me before I take this Glock and smack you upside yo’ fucking head. I saw that shit that went down back there. I thought I told you stay out of these streets. Who you working for?”
“I ain’t working for nobody dang!” Ace was the last person Aviare thought he would run into down here. That was the whole point of not working his neighborhood, making sure no one recognized him. He knew that Ace was disappointed him, but he had to do what he needed do to get over.
Before he knew it, Ace had snatched him by the collar of his shirt. “Nigga don’t play games with me! I said who put you on? You working for that piece of shit that runs that house?”
The tears fell freely from Aviare’s eyes. Regardless of how grown he thought he was, he knew he was no match for Ace.
“Yeah, I’m working for Marcellus, why do you care? I asked you to put me on, and you wouldn’t do it. I had to take matters into my own hands.”
Ace released his grip, lit up a cigarette, and began to drive off. His whole demeanor changed to one of calmness, and his voice softened as he began to speak.
“Look lil’ man I’m just trying watch out for you. What you know about that nigga you working for?”
Aviare shrugged his shoulders. “I don’t know.... after you wouldn’t help me out I started asking around to see if I could get some work and somebody put me up on him.
Aviare accused Ace of trying to play daddy and truth be told that’s exactly what it felt like he was doing, or at least big brother. He had taken a special interest in him and his future. He saw something in him that he could never get back; it was youth and a chance to do it all over again.
He knew Aviare wasn’t bout’ that life and he also knew that Marcellus was as grimy as they came. He would hire young boys just like Aviare, who were desperate to make a quick dime and put them on the block. Once they came back with his loot he would rarely give them the cut he promised them, some didn’t get paid at all. They didn’t dare question him. And if they called themselves quitting... well let’s just say it would be another crying mother on the news that night.
Ace went on to explain all of this to Aviare, but he wasn’t trying to hear it. As far as he was concerned, Ace was just a washed up OG, who was trying to rain on his parade. True enough he did appreciate Ace looking out for him, but he would be 18 soon, and it was time he looked out for himself.
“Wait a minute, where are you taking me?” Aviare asked.
“I’m taking you home. Look around you,” Ace replied pointing to the tricks and drug dealers working the strip. “Ain’t no place here for you. Now imma talk to Marcellus and see if he will let you go. That nigga owe me a favor anyway...”
Aviare was livid. “I ain’t no kid, I don’t need you to talk for me! I told you I can handle myself. And I’m not going home. Pull over and let me out.”
Aviare knew it was a steep request, but he had to give it a shot. If Ace took him home that meant he would have to figure out a way to sneak back out the house and start all over again. For once, he wished this nigga would just mind his own business. Much to his surprise Ace actually pulled over.
Ace sat silently as he waited for Aviare to get out of the car.
“That was easy... you ain’t gon’ try and stop me?” Aviare asked.
“I just did,” Ace replied, staring straight ahead. He was in Aviare’s shoes once, and he knew all too well about thinking he could handle the streets on his own when he was his age. He also knew what it was like to turn a deaf ear to someone older who was trying to talk some sense into him. Not to mention the fact that even if he took him home, he couldn’t babysit him around the clock. All he would do is sneak back out once he left. If he wanted to be in the streets there was nothing him or anyone else could do to stop him.
It was true, Aviare was becoming a man and he had to make his own decisions. All Ace could do was to pick up where Aintee Maven left off and try and sway him in the right direction but in the end the choice was ultimately up to him.