A Love So Hood: Forever My Baby

By Ebony Diamonds

In 2008, two young ladies come of age on the gritty streets of Washington, DC. They were raised as sisters in the same foster home, but along the way, jealousy and resentment crept in and severed their bond.

December was orphaned at the age of seven when her parents were tragically killed in a car accident, while Milina’s parents died at her hands after years of abuse. The girls reach their teen years, and Milina’s shady ways begin to surface when December catches the eye of the handsome DarQuise. As the relationship blossoms between December and Darquise, Milina commits an unthinkable act that shatters December’s relationship and all her plans for the future.

Years later, when December and DarQuise meet again, the connection is still there, but the misunderstanding between them may be too much for them to overcome. With a love so hood, things are bound to get to get out of hand. Find out if December will be forever DarQuise’s baby, or will she forever be the one who got away.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Leo Sullivan Presents
• Release date: Mar 26, 2018
• ISBN: 9781648543937

Book preview

1

December Patterson

2008 Heartbreak

S o many things I’m goin’ through, so much that I wanna do… I sang and danced in the cracked mirror on my dresser as I fixed myself up before I left for school.

We were already late, and my foster sister, Milina, sat on the bed looking in her notebook as she kicked her leg back and forth. We were both in 12 th grade, even though I was sixteen and she was seventeen. For some reason, the state claimed they couldn’t find my school records. They just placed me in any grade and said fuck it, so I was a year ahead. Anyway, we had been living in the same foster home for girls on Sherman Avenue for the last five years,

Milina and I were so close that it was almost like we were blood. We had different situations, though. My mother and father were killed in a car accident when I was seven, and I had been in and out of foster homes ever since. Milina, on the other hand, had killed her parents when she was twelve. They were fucked up people who used her as a punching bag and would starve her for days with no reason behind the shit. She proved the abuse and a judge let her off and threw her in the system.

It wasn’t so bad living there. I didn’t get along with all the girls, but they ain’t want this ass whooping, so we stayed cordial. We were all different ages and had different reasons for ending up there, but out of all the girls who came and went, it was always Milina and me. Everybody called us salt and pepper because I was dark chocolate, and she was light skinned. I was also taller than her and a little thicker, but we were both pretty girls. We had the cute button noses, nice, high cheekbones, and large, almond shaped eyes.

Y’all need to get goin’ now! Grace our foster mother came in and shouted.

I jumped and scrunched my face up at her.

Come on. Milina rolled her eyes and got up.

Oh, y’all need to calm y’all asses down. Roll them eyes again and watch me slap them the fuck out your head. Grace slammed the door, and we both laughed.

Her fat ass ain’t gon’ do shit, Milina said as she got up.

Let’s hurry up so we can smoke before we go to school. I grabbed my purple book bag, and she picked her black one up.

As we left the room that we shared, we ran into one of the other girls, Paris, who was late too.

Wait, bitch, I know that’s not my jean jacket, Milina said to her.

Girl, please, don’t nobody need to take none of that dusty shit in your closet. Try again. Paris smacked her teeth and flipped her braids.

Girl. Milina giggled.

Girl, she got your ass. I laughed because I knew she didn’t have a slick come back.

Fuck her buckwheat lookin’ ass. Milina put her middle finger up to Paris.

Milina, see, that’s how you got into it with Dedra. Stop starting shit. Grace came out of nowhere as we all headed out the door.

Milina just smacked her teeth and kept walking.

Once we got out front, I looked over at the apartment building across the street and saw the boy, DarQuise, sitting on his porch like he always did. He was a lil dope boy and shit, but I liked him from a distance. I was always intimidated when I saw him. Like when the truck came around, if he walked behind me or something, I always froze. I already knew he didn’t notice my lil ass. I mean, I wasn’t in the newest shit all the time, and he always was. The girls he liked around there always had them fresh hairstyles, nails done, and shit. I wasn’t that girl, but it wasn’t like I ain’t wanna be. I got a job at the mall, and I was on the way to being cute.

As we continued our walk to Banneker, our high school, we stopped in the alley and hopped the fence to the abandoned storefront we always smoked in.

Let’s hurry up. You know Grace be pressed to calculate our walk. She’ll prolly call the school. I shook my head and pulled out my lighter then lit the jay.

Ohh, I meant to tell you. Remember that bitch, Nisha, from school? Milina asked as she accepted the weed from me.

Yeah. I spit on the floor after coughing.

Man, she pregnant by Tyna’s boyfriend. Girl, they was wreckin’ like shit yesterday. I was lookin’ for you in the cafeteria after it happened. Bitch, it was funny as shit. Tyna can’t fight. She cackled.

Man, I was in Mr. Gunyo class. He was geeked up, making us stay behind and shit. Fat ass. I turned my lip up at the petty shit he always pulled.

His pressed ass. I’m glad I ain’t have him this year. I did algebra one and two last year.

Who the fuck in here! a loud voice boomed, and we both jumped. We were about to run when we saw it was the guy, DarQuise.

You scared the shit out of us, I said to him.

My bad. The fuck y’all lil’ asses doin’ in here? He looked at my hand and saw that I had the weed still lit.

Minding our business. You followed us for what? I asked with my hand on my hip.

I didn’t. I was ridin’ down the street and saw y’all jump the fence, so I got curious, he responded and pushed his hands into his basketball shorts.

Yeah, right. Creepy ass, Milina chimed in.

I’m creepy, and you ugly. He chuckled and pulled out his own jay.

Ain’t shit ugly on this side. Me and sis don’t know the word, she retorted.

So, y’all real sisters or like foster sisters? I only been ‘round here about three months, but I heard that y’all all state kids, he said.

We might as well be blood, but yeah, we foster sisters, I told him and took the weed he handed me.

Oh, okay, cool. He nodded.

My heart was pounding out my chest because there he was up close again, and I was ready to die. We smoked his shit, and I knew we were way behind for school by now.

Y’all gon’ smoke and run? he said, walking behind us.

We gotta get to school, Milina said as we climbed the fence back into the alley.

Aye. He called out to me before I was about to climb over.

I turned around ready to scream that he was even addressing me.

Yeah? I played it cool.

I think you came on your period, he said.

That’s not what I was expecting.

Wha-what you mean? I asked embarrassedly.

You got a blood stain on your pants, he said as he climbed the fence and then helped me over.

I touched between my legs and felt that it was wet. How the fuck did I not feel this shit? I wanted to run and hide.

It’s cool, women are supposed to do that, right? He smiled and jogged off.

Sis, I bled through? I asked Milina when I caught up with her at the end of the alley.

Oh shit, you did, she said and snickered.

Just go ahead, I’ma be there, I told her and fast walked to my house.

When I got there, Grace was gone. She rolled out fast as hell. Must had to work early today because usually, she went in at 1:00.

I ran upstairs and grabbed a pad from the bathroom under the sink and set it in the fresh underwear. I took a whole shower and got dressed all over again. I grabbed two extra pads and put them in my purse. As soon as I opened the door, DarQuise was standing there like he was about to knock. He had since changed into a pair of black jeans, and he was shirtless with a chain on.

You all cleaned up? He chuckled.

I rolled my eyes to let him know that joking about something so embarrassing wasn’t appreciated.

I’m sorry, I’m just messin’ with you. You need a ride? he asked, pointing to his Cutlass.

I don’t know you. I could be driving off to my murder, I teased and locked the house up.

Girl, bring your ass. He walked down the stairs and led me to his car.

I hopped in the front seat and looked around to make sure nobody saw me and reported back to Grace.

So, you go to Howard? he asked.

I started laughing.

No, Banneker. I fidgeted with my book bag, which I had placed in my lap.

Damn, I thought you was older. He looked over at me.

Nah, I’m sixteen. So, we gon’ drive? I said, feeling anxious.

You tryna run from me? He flashed a beautiful ass smile.

No, I’m already two hours late. Ain’t nobody scared of you, boy. I leaned my head to the side like he didn’t have my ass ready to do a handstand.

You scared, shorty. Scared as fuck. He chuckled and pulled out.

As we rode down Sherman, we exchanged smart remarks until we got to my school.

Thanks for the ride. I jumped out and ran in before he could respond.

I went to the office for my late pass and ran into Thea. She was a close friend of mine, and next to Milina, it was her. She transferred in senior year, but we had been thick as thieves since we got into an argument on her first day. She sat in my favorite seat, and I wasn’t having it. We exchanged words, but while we sat in the principal’s office, we started talking about how ugly Ms. Daniels, the principal, was, and we got cool.

Look at my pooh. She came up, and we did our lil’ smooches on each cheek.

Yes, boo, why you ain’t answer the phone for me last night? I smacked my teeth as she placed her hands on her hips and inhaled.

Girl, I had to go to that whack ass baby shower for my cousin’s stank ass. I left that shitty ass Boost Mobile phone in the house.

Don’t y’all need to be in class? the office receptionist asked.

Can I get a pass? I said with attitude.

I gotta go back to class. Meet me by the computer lab when the bell rings, Thea said and ran down the hall.

I got my pass and went to class. Milina was already sitting in the back talking to Shani, her lil butt buddy. I didn’t like Shani. She looked like Biggie Smalls and had a fucked up attitude. I didn’t see how Milina dealt with her.

Finally, where was you at? she whispered like she wasn’t already making a disturbance.

Girl, I changed, and that boy, DarQuise, gave me a ride, I said.

His ugly ass. She rolled her eyes.

Girl, ain’t shit ugly about him. I think he likes me, sis, I gushed.

Shiit, he prolly just wanna hit. And your virgin ass ain’t givin’ up nothin’. She cackled along with that Shani bitch.

Well, I ain’t gotta give it up to everybody like your ass, I snidely responded. I didn’t get how being a virgin a bad thing.

I’m sorry, is our learning interrupting you? My teacher glared at us.

Sorry, I said and pulled out my binder.

The rest of the day, I was in a zone. I couldn’t stop thinking about DarQuise. This was the first time I actually had any words with him, and he was just as attractive personality wise as he was physically. When the final bell rang, we rushed out the class and headed to the gym. Me and Thea were on the cheerleading team, so we had practice. Milina only came because she didn’t have shit to do.

After changing, I went back out and stopped cold when I saw DarQuise and two dudes sitting on the bleachers.

Girl, that’s the boy. I tapped Thea.

At lunch, I told her all about him and how fine he was.

Damn, he definitely a lil’ cutie, girl. Matter of fact, he be with that dude Lance, the one who got locked up last month, she reminded me.

DarQuise nodded in my direction and winked when I caught his eye. I smiled and went to start up. I was the captain, so I led all the cheers. The coach, Demetri, stood in front of us and watched our every move. He was gay as hell, and a serious perfectionist. He sometimes kept us late to work on routines. I always hated that shit.

Go, sis! Milina called out after the last cheer where I was on top of the pyramid.

DarQuise stood up and clapped after I twisted out. I was blushing so hard that I knew that shit was showing through my dark skin. After we wrapped up, I started toward the locker room, and DarQuise ran up.

Aye. What you boutta do? he asked.

Umm, prolly head in the house and do homework. I shrugged.

Well, come fuck wit’ a nigga. I’ma be outside waitin’. He coolly walked away and waved for his friends to join him.

What he say to you? Milina asked when she ran up.

He wants me to come kick it, sis. He said he gon’ be outside waiting, I gushed.

Girl. Well if you are, I’ma about to go over Andre spot, she said, talking about her new boyfriend.

Okay, see you when you get home. I hugged her and went to change. I had butterflies.

As soon as I ran out the locker room, I went full speed ahead without even saying bye to Thea. When I got outside, the same Cutlass DarQuise dropped me off in was waiting. I walked up and opened the passenger side door. As soon as I did, the smoke hit my face hard as hell.

I noticed it was just him now, so I slid in, and he handed me the fat ass blunt he was smoking on.

What’s good, lil’ mama? You was in there doin’ ya thing, he said, turning down his music.

Thank you. What was your ass doin’ in there? I asked as he pulled off.

I go there. Well, I’m supposed to. He chuckled.

What? I ain’t never seen you, I said in a high pitched tone.

That’s because I don’t want to, ma.

So, you like my age then? I asked.

I’m seventeen. He licked his lips and made a right on Georgia Ave.

Dang, so your people don’t care if you in school? I asked him, also wondering where the hell we were going since we lived the opposite way.

Nah, I take care of that fuckin’ house. My mother don’t give a fuck, he said harshly.

Damn, well at least you got a mother, I said sadly, thinking of my parents. I only remembered that they treated me good and my father used to call me his angel.

Shit, you can have her pipe head ass, he said angrily.

Damn, sorry I asked. I giggled nervously.

You hungry? I like Ruby Tuesday’s. We can hit Gallery Place.

What’s my name? I asked him. He looked at me strangely. You don’t even know, do you?" I laughed.

December. He smirked.

I didn’t—

I asked somebody, he cut me off. Why you ask me that? he questioned.

Because, you talkin’ ’bout taking me to eat and shit, and don’t know me for nothin’, I replied.

So? I been lookin’ at you look at me for a minute, he said stopping at the red light at Florida Ave.

I wasn’t lookin’. I mean, I just wondered why you always was outside. I don’t know, I said, embarrassed that he saw me stalking him.

It’s cool, I was lookin’ too. He looked me up and down.

You fine as fuck, I said, looking at him and not believing what I had just said.

That’s funny, I was just thinkin’ that about your cute ass.

Oh my God, oh my God.

So, I mean, where you wanna go again? I tried to change the subject.

Nah, don’t get scared now, he fucked with me. We can do Clyde’s instead of Ruby Tuesday, and then the movies if you want. DarQuise grabbed my hand, and I started to shake. He squeezed it when he felt the nervousness.

We had to park far as hell away since there weren’t any parks. I had only been places with Grace. A boy had never taken me anywhere. I had a boyfriend named Fredo, but we broke up for no reason in my eyes. I mean, I wanted to have sex with him, but I wasn’t just gonna do it because he said. And, that was that. That’s how these clown ass niggas were. Banneker was pretty much a school for smart kids, but I swear what some had in book smarts they lost in common sense. Fuck him, though.

As we walked, DarQuise talked about how his father used to work for metro, and he would bring him down there when he was younger on his bus route.

What happened to him? I asked.

Double life, he responded coldly and kept it moving. I could tell he didn’t wanna talk about it.

December, what the fuck you doin’ down here, and who is this? Grace yelled, almost causing me to piss on myself.

Grace, I was—

Come on, get the fuck over here. She pointed to the ground in front of her.

I’m DarQuise. I was tryna take your daughter to get some food and to the movies, if that’s okay with you. I’ll have her home by nine, DarQuise said respectfully. That shit wasn’t gon’ work on Grace.

Well, I don’t know you, and I wouldn’t feel right. Grace pursed her lips.

I live right across the street, ma’am. My mother is Beverly Copeland. I think y’all work together, DarQuise said.

I scrunched my eyebrows because he ain’t even tell me that.

Oh yeah, she’s my supervisor. Mmm, you know I’m the one who told her about that apartment for rent. You know, now that I think about it, I always see you across the way. I ain’t know you was her boy. Grace smiled brightly.

Yeah, that’s me, he responded.

Oh okay, well shoot, you can’t be that bad then. I want her home by 9:30, Grace said, looking from him to me.

Damn, I ain’t even peep the time. She worked at the Martin Luther King library down the street, and I didn’t even think about the shit. Grace disappeared, and we moved on.

Why you ain’t tell me your mother worked with her? I thought you said she was a pipe head, I said.

I ain’t say she wasn’t functional. We ain’t never seen a check of hers, that’s why me and my lil sister always been my problem. Matter of fact, she only a year under you. Y’all should get cool, he said.

Oh, aight. Well, damn, you got Grace’s heart, so I guess I’m good. I laughed as we continued our walk. As soon as we got to the restaurant, I heard chiming.

Damn. He pulled out his phone and rolled his eyes.

Yeah, man, he answered forcefully.

Aight, I’ma be there. He looked at me with regret. My bad, boo, I’ma have to drop you back off. Some shit—look, I promise I got you, aight? he said as he ushered me back to the car.

I was so disappointed. It was too good to be true, I knew it.

2

DarQuise Cole

Ihated that I