Chapter Four
Battle between Friends 1985
Brooklyn decided to head out to school early. She wasn’t in the mood to be bothered with Stacey and wanted to avoid the confrontation she knew would eventually happen. She was still angry that her friends hadn’t been there for her the day before when she fought with Maxine. As she headed in the direction of school, all sorts of things cruised around in her mind. She wondered how her friends could be so jealous of what she had that they would leave her stranded knowing that Maxine would attack the moment she was alone. She also thought about Sincere and the fact that, with all of the drama, she’d finally achieved the one thing she wanted for so long. She had Sincere all to herself.
She reached the corner of the school when she heard her name being called. The voice was all too familiar, and instead of carrying a happy tune, it was loud and angry.
“Brooklyn, I know you hear me!” Stacey yelled as she walked faster to reach where Brooklyn was standing.
Brooklyn turned around and huffed, “Yeah, I hear you, but I don’t really care to listen to what you have to say.” She shook her head and put one hand on her hip.
“What the hell is your problem?”
“You’re my problem, Stacey,” she screamed and pointed in her direction. “You and your selfish attitude.”
“How am I selfish?” she replied, shocked by the comment.
“You know exactly what I’m talking about. If you weren’t so busy acting like a jealous bitch, things would be fine. But, no, you can’t stand to be happy for me. You can’t stand that I got the man that everyone wishes they could have.”
“Jealous? Brooklyn, don’t kid yourself. I have nothing to be jealous of. Ever since you got your little modeling contract, you think your shit doesn’t stink. Well, let me tell you one thing—Don’t be so sure you’ll keep him. He’ll drop your ass the same way he dropped Maxine.”
Brooklyn laughed. “You are so pathetic, Stacey. It kills you to see me doing better than you.”
“You know what, Brooklyn ... I’m not going to stand here and argue with you any longer. It’s not even worth my energy. Just remember the next time you’re getting your ass beat or when you’re alone after he dumps your ass that you could’ve had friends to lean on.”
Brooklyn stood there unfazed as Stacey brushed past her and walked across the street and into the school. Maybe she was a little hard on Stacey, but she hadn’t found a way to forgive her. And she believed that since she was with Sincere, she wouldn’t need friends. She walked into the school a few minutes later and went through her day without much conversation with anyone.
Anxious to get out and hoping to see Sincere waiting for her, Brooklyn exited the building at three o’clock to find that he wasn’t there. Instead of looking around for him and risk being embarrassed, she began to walk home. Soon she heard her name being called. It turned out to be Sincere.
“Why are you walking home? I can’t have my girl walking around with sore feet, not when I have this nice-ass ride.” Sincere smiled as he walked around the car, which was double parked near where Brooklyn was standing.
“I wasn’t sure if you were coming, and I didn’t want to look like a fool standing out there waiting.”
“Come one now. I would never have you looking like a fool. Matter fact, I’d prefer if you looked like new money.” He reached into his pocket and pulled out a wad of money. Then he peeled off three hundred-dollar bills and placed it in Brooklyn’s hand.
“What’s this for?” She looked down at the crisp bills in the palm of her hand.
“Just like I said, I want you to look like new money, so that means take that money and buy you something nice. There’s plenty more where that came from.”
“Sincere, I can’t take this money.”
“Why not? You’re going to hurt my feelings if you reject my gift.”
“I’m definitely not trying to hurt your feelings, Sincere. It just feels weird to be taking this kind of money from anyone, that’s all.”
“Well, I’m not just anyone, Brooklyn. I’m your man.” He moved close to her and wrapped his arms around her waist.
Brooklyn’s stomach was doing flips as she felt the heat of his body next to hers.
“Now, I need you to put that money away, hop in the car, and let me take you home. Could you do that for me?” He smiled.
Brooklyn stood there feeling like a kid in a candy store. She knew there wasn’t any point in debating with him. He kissed her softly on the forehead, backed away, grabbed her by the hand, and led her to the passenger side of the car. She got inside and watched Sincere walk around to the driver’s side, a huge smile on his face.
He got inside and looked over at her before grabbing her hand. “Don’t be afraid, all right. I promised you that we would be together, and we are. I don’t need you chickening out on me. That’s the only way this thing is going to work.”
“I won’t.”
He turned on the music and began to drive off. At that moment she was reassured that things between them would only grow from that point. She couldn’t let the words that Stacey shouted earlier that day mess up a good thing. She believed that this relationship and her modeling career were the blessings she needed.
Once they pulled up in front of her house, he kissed her on the cheek and gave her a hug before she walked into the house floating on cloud nine.
Brooklyn’s smile was turned upside down as soon as she opened the door and found her mother standing in the hallway with her hands on her hips and her face twisted.
“Who the hell was that dropping you off, with your fast ass?”
“That was just a friend from school, Mom.”
“Friend from school, my ass. Last time I checked, teenagers weren’t driving around in BMWs. Do I look like a fool to you?”
“No, Mom, you don’t.”
“Well, I know one thing. If you’re going to be giving your time to some nigga and missing doing your chores and shit around here, you better make sure his ass give you some money. We could use some things around here. Do you hear me?” Janice yelled, waving her hands in front of Brooklyn’s face as she stood daydreaming.
“I hear you, Mom.”
Janice turned back around and walked into the living room. It was just like her to turn the tables and try to make things work in her favor.
Rubbing her hands across the pocket that contained the money Sincere had just given her, Brooklyn debated if she should reveal it to her mother. After a few moments of pondering, she decided to pull out a hundred dollars. Without a word, she walked into the living room, placed the money on the coffee table, and turned to head up to her room. Then she quietly retreated to her bedroom, where she spent the rest of her evening looking forward to the future.
Janice looked down at the money on the table and quickly scooped it up and placed it inside of her bra.