(Slang will be used in this chapter)

Next Morning

Melanie's POV

I woke up as the alarm on my phone went off. Today was the beginning of the bet that Marc and I had agreed upon. Technically we had two days before Valentine's Day so our bet had been condensed with the payoff on Saturday.

This was going to be an easy bet as he had no clue what he was getting himself into. I did feel kind of bad throwing him to the wolves, but if last night was a taste of what was yet to come, I would take it and run.

I had texted two of my homeboys last night to keep an eye out on him. This was going to be good because Lucius and Jermaine were straight up gangstas. Marc would find out what thug life was really about.

I brushed my wild hair back with my fingers grabbing a twister from the nightstand. The last two days Evie had visited her sick aunt in Jamaica and now she was back. My scalped needed a treatment and I couldn't wait to feel her heavenly fingers. I rolled over to see that the bed was empty.

I will admit I was a little disappointed. After last night my Galician Thor had taken me around the world and back. I had climbed Mt. Everest, gone to Hollywood by sucking on the biggest lollipop you ever did see then to Italy where he feast upon my grapes and let's not forget that he took me to the motherland where he turned the desert into an oasis, where my river broke free.

I looked down at the sheets where my fingernails had done some damage. If the sheets were any inclination of the raw passion we shared from last night, then my next investment would be thicker sheets.

I heard the bathroom door open and I had to do a double take. I had to be dreaming. I just had to be. Flashbacks of Good Times, Welcome Back Carter and the show Flavor of Love seem to all be fighting in the forefront of my mind.

Marc was wearing a black leisure suit with cheetah print on the collar, sleeves and at the cuffs of his pants. Covering the leisure suit he was wearing a matching cheetah coat. The black and cheetah hat covered his head and he had managed to slick the back of his hair where it curled up in the end. Wearing black patent leather shoes and a cane, my eyes just couldn't take it all in.

I couldn't help the spit that went flying out my mouth from laughing so hard. A huge laughed came thundering out my gut and I rolled across the bed.

"Oh Gawd give me strength I...can't deal."

"Do I look that bad?"

I raised up only to sway across the bed laughing even harder. I couldn't breathe as tears rolled down my eyes. I had even started to snort, I couldn't take it. After a few moments I managed to calm down but I didn't know how long that would last.

"First off...what in the...oh Jesus help me...what do...you have on?"

"It's what people in the Hood wear."

"What hood? You look like a 1970's, hippie crackhead that went to the goodwill and bought everything on the rack."

I just couldn't stop laughing, I was about to hyperventilate. My breath had seized in my windpipes.

"Is it too much?"

"Did you look at yourself in the mirror?"

"Yes. This is the closest I could get to Dolomite. They say pimps rule the streets. I need to look like I belong."

He reached for something off the night stand. Was he holding up a gold pimp cup with Marky Marc trimmed in crystals? The bottom was black with more crystals lining the edges.

"Marc honey...," was all I could say as I held my heart. I laughed so hard again that I didn't realize I was on the edge of the bed when I rolled over and hit the hardass floor.

"Ouch!"

"Goody for you," he said coming to help me up.

"What's that smell. You smell like a dead man."

"Old Spice," he said pulling me up.

"Wait a minute, please tell me you didn't?"

"You like it?" he asked grinning from ear to ear.

"A gold grillz?! Oh lawd bury me now, this man done lost his damn mind."

"This grill costed me twenty-five hundred c notes. See it has a tiny diamond on the side." He pointed to a small dot.

My eyes got big because this fool had gone way off the deep end. I was trying to kept my composure but I was failing miserably.

"I'm telling you this because I love you." Deep breath, hold it in Mel.

"No one and that's including the Hood, dress like this. Dolomite was a movie from 1975. It was a movie baby and during those days even this wasn't acceptable."

"That's not what the internet said. Roscoe told me this was perfect."

"Roscoe who? I want his address and the name of the store."

"Why do you want that?"

"I'm going to burn the place down and make sure he won't ever sell this type of bull to anymore unsuspected people like you again. You need to get your money back."

"All sales final. You're just jealous," he said folding his arms.

"Jealous of what? Looking like a damn fool. You can't go out in public looking like that with me. Where is my phone?"

I grabbed it and snapped a picture of him. He even had the nerve to smile.

"Don't hate Melanie, I see you green with envy."

"Please you're the one that looks like a cheetah attacked you. You ought to be hot in that synthetic costume. Are you on your way to the Pimp Ball? If so you should win first place. You can't go with me. Bet off."

"What about if I add this?"

He pulled out a thick rope gold chain.

"You need to give Rev Run his chain back. Then secondly you need to burn these clothes along with the hat, belt and shoes."

"What about the socks?" He raised up his pants legs and had cheetah print socks.

"Those too."

"Why? I kind of like them. Reminds me of BamBam from the Flintstones. I use to love that show."

I threw a pillow at him. He laughed catching it.

"Okay since you don't like this, give me one more chance. I got one more outfit."

"If it's close to this, then don't waste your time."

"No, I think you are going to like it."

He rushed off as I put my face in my hands laughing hysterically. I looked down at the picture shaking my head.
My baby needed a history lesson. I needed to bring him up to date. I needed a store that didn't sell old stuff.

Moments later he came out in a white wife-beater, a tattoo with my name going across his right bicep and jeans sagging below his waist with Calvin Klein boxers. On his feet were Jordan's with the strings untied and that damn gold chain around his neck with the gold grillz in his mouth. His hair was slicked back and as I looked closer a diamond stud in his ear. I looked him up and down.

He put a Dodgers snapback hat on and turned it around.

"What do you think? Did I get it right this time?"

"I'm...speechless. What is on your face?" I sat up from the bed.

"My teardrops. I figured two colored in would show how hard I am and that no one would mess with me.

"Lawd, have mercy," I said trying to wipe it off with my fingers.

"Then I got it right. Some guy on the internet called Lil Wayne was rocking this. He looked like he was from the streets. Did you know he is from New Orleans? I wonder if he needs an investment broker?"

"Oookkkk Marky M."

"The name is Marky Marc. Get it right girlfriend, before someone else takes ya man."

I looked up at him in shock. "Boy please you betta recognize."

He pulled out a small pad and took out a pen from his back pocket.

"What are you doing?" I asked.

"Writing, duh Melanie. One day I will speak hood fluently and you will regret the day."

I rolled my eyes and got out the bed.

He shook his head. "Maybe Marky Marc and Lady D should hang out?"

"We will see, my little thug," I said.

"I figured this would be the one," he said grabbing his jacket.

I took one more look before I took a shower. I just shook my head as he looked in the mirror and started to fix his gold grillz in his mouth.

An hour later we were pulling up in front of Evie's hair salon. Lucius and Jermaine were standing in front of the salon waiting.

Jermaine was wearing a bandana around his dark bald head with a cigarette hanging out his mouth. His pants were sagging and he had on a green t-shirt sporting his Timberlands. He had an earring in both ears and teardrops coming down his left cheek along with a nose ring.

Lucius had long dreads. With a black muscle shirt and long basketball shorts on he was rocking black socks with his Nike flipflops. He had a tattoo of a skull with thorns going around his neck and a earring in his left ear. He did have pretty eyes that made the women do a double take as he says.

Marc opened my door and I got out. He was about to walk in the salon when Lucius stopped him.

"Say man where ya going?"

"Excuse me?"

"I said where ya going? This not yo neck of the woods."

"I don't see any woods here," Marc answered looking around. I had to cover my laugh.

"You trying to be funny?" Lucius asked.

"No."

"Who is this little honey walking whichcha? What's ya name shorty?" Jermaine asked.

"Boy please. I'm not telling you my name. You're going to make me late for my appointment so excuse you," I said walking into Ms. Evie's shop. I stood behind the door and watched the interaction between the three. I could feel Ms. Evie walking up behind me.

"Chiles what are you up to?"

"My boyfriend and I have a bet that he would never make it in the hood. I got Lucius and Jermaine to show him how rough it is."

"Baby you been gone too long," Evie said. "Lucius owns a mechanic shop as Jermaine owns the tobacco store down the street. That's the best you could come up with. Those two ain't gangsta no more, tha business men now."

"I just need them to rough him up a little so I can win this bet. I told him he wouldn't last a hour in the streets."

"And you let him leave the house like that, looking like a Mexican Wannabe Hammer. Chiles I'm notta goin let you worry me, come on and go to the washbowl."

I followed Evie instructions. You see Ms. Evie was from the islands but being in New Orleans for over thirty years you couldn't tell when her island accent ended and her New Orleans dialect started. She had been doing my hair since I was a little girl. My mom use to bring me every Saturday morning so I could wear my curls on Sunday for church. Coming to Evie's hair salon was like coming home.

"So tell me about cha new man."

"He's great. He treats me like a princess and I couldn't ask for a betta man."

"I saw his feet."

"Exactly. I've had frequent trips to heaven and back. Evie."

"See that's what im'ma talkin about. Ohhh Lawds have mercy that's what I want in my valentine's box!" She said doing the holy ghost dance. We were laughing so hard I bumped my head on the bowl. We continued to talk about my new love affair laughing and exchanging stories.

Two hours later I sent DJ, Evie's nephew, to find Marc. I had lost track of time and now I was getting worried. DJ had been gone ten minutes when he came running through the side door.

"What's wrong DJ?" I asked as he came in out of breath.

"You (huff) said to look for the tall white man with the white shirt and Jordan's on?"

"Yeah, did something happen?" I was easing out the chair to grab my purse.

"He's fine. He's at the cafe up the street eating. He asked me to tell you if you wanted a pochop sandwich?"

"Pork chop sandwich?"

"That's what I said Ms. Melanie."

"Oh okay." His thick accent got me sometimes.

"You can tell him no, but I will be done in a few minutes so I will meet him there."

"Okay Ms. Melanie, but I think he might be in trouble."

"You just said that he was at the café."

"He is but some guys I don't know was walking in with Jermaine and Lucius and they were headed to his table, while Miss. Sandra was bringing out his food."

"Oh no! Evie I will be right back I need to go check on him before something does happen. I never told Jermaine and Lucius to beat him up. I sure hope they haven't touched him."

"Calm down Mel. I'm going withcha," Evie said pulling out her piece from her station. She grabbed her purse and we headed to the café.

We both ran and when we got there, I didn't see Marc. My heart started to pound in my chest and I started to sweat. Maybe this bet had gotten out of control. I could feel my eyes watering up. Evie went and asked Miss. Sandra where did Marc and the guys run off to. She pointed at the back door and I could only imagine what was going on. I followed Evie out the back and I still didn't see Marc.

"Marc where are you?" I called out but I didn't hear anything. Evie walked out by the dumpster.

"Do you see him?" I asked.

"No, but Jermaine and Lucius hang out at the old apartments. They are not that far from here. I know the way lets go."

"Evie if I caused him to get hurt I will never forgive myself," I said crying.

"Oh honey ev'thing will be fine. I got my piece and I will bust a cap in the're asses if I got to. Don't you worry, Miss. Evie don't play!"

I felt something hitting me in the back of the head but it was just a roller. I snatched it out as we got close to the apartment building. It was raggedy and needed to be condemn. I was holding my heart as we got to the stairs. Two young guys were standing watch at the front door.

"Damien is that you?" I asked the light-skinned teen.

"Mel Mel, girl you looking good. You want to buy this knock off Gucci. It says Cucci but you gottta look close to see its not a G. Or I got some pretty stainless steel nose rings."

"Did you see a tall white man come here with Jermaine and Lucius?"

"Yeah he's in there with JuJu, T-Dog, JJ and the boys. I heard some yelling earlier."

"Oh God."

"You can't go in there," the other young dude said.

"Excuse me?" I asked with my hands on my hips. I looked at Evie.

"Boy ya betta move before I cap yo asses. Now move," Evie said but they blocked her way.

"Miss. Evie gon back to yo shop," Damien said.

"Whoever ju is, cha betta move, before I lose my religion on ya." She pulled out her gun and the little dude moved out the way. He held his hands up and Damien did too.

"See they say we violent, but it's the old folks like ya'lls that bring it gangsta. We was gonna let ya in, dang," Damien said.

"What apartment are they in?" I asked Damien.

"Fifth flo. Number 5 oh 7."

Evie and I ran up the stairs. Of course the elevator would be broken and this would be the day I wore stilettos. By the time Evie and I got to the fourth floor we were drenched in sweat. The sun-rays were beating down on the metal stairs and heat radiated off of them making the place a hotbox. She stopped and I nearly ran into the back of her.

"Old people chain't made for this suga," she said trying to catch her breath. She had pulled out a tissue trying to wipe her face but it was breaking up leaving trails of paper across her face.

"We got to keep going. Here give me the gun Miss. Evie."

"Do you know how to even hold it," she asked.

"I guess I will have a crash course today." I took the gun and headed up. I looked back down and she had taken a seat on the bottom stairs.

I needed to get to him quickly. I finally made it and heard the music vibrating through the halls. I scrambled through the hallway until I found #507.

I knocked on the door but no one answered. I tried calling Marc's phone and no answer. I heard shots fired and I automatically fell to the ground to take cover. Then all of I sudden I heard laughter. I began to beat on the door twisting on the knob and it opened. It was dark when I entered with music music blasting all around. I put the gun in front of me, I wasn't taking any chances. I heard more laughter coming from a closed up room so I took a deep breath. I slowly opened it and my eyes nearly popped out my head.

I saw Marc bent down on the floor playing craps. His snapback was turned backwards and he had a cigar hanging out his mouth. He was so into the game he never saw me behind him. I stood there watching some hoochies macking on some dudes in the corner.

I watched as some guy took his turn.

"Yo mane pay up," Marc said holding out his hand while the guy gave him a twenty. I continued to watch still trying to figure out what was going on.

"Ah snap Marky Mar, yo lady here."

"Please, she getting her wig done. I still got time. I need to win this paper. Me and my old lady got plans tonight. I'mma rock her world from one end to another. It's goona be on and popping."

"Is that right?"

He turned back and looked at me. He had to biggest grin on his face. Was he high or just glad to see me?

"Yo baby girl, you miss ya daddy uh baby boo?"

I walked away. Evidently this fool didn't have a clue. I had made it to the door but he jumped in front of me.

"Where ya going?"

"About my business. Marky Mar. It seems you done got acclimated to the hood so you don't need me."

"Why are you carrying a gun?" He asked looking down at my hand.

"Because I thought Jermaine and Lucius had kidnapped you and brought you here to beat you up and steal your money. I was worried and I was ready to cap somebody."

"Why would they do that?

"I don't know, I got worried."

"I can tell because you still have three big rollers at the top of your head. You can't be my baby mama looking like that."

"Real funny Marcelin."

"Don't be using my government name. Call me Marky Mar or Marky Marc."

"Have you been drinking?" I asked smelling him.

"A little of that Yak. This cigar is good, taste a little peppermint," he said puffing.

"Say Marc, you said if I invest five g's I can get a rate of return at eight percent?"

I looked around to see Jermaine on his phone. He looked up at me and then put his face down. I walked up to him and slapped him across his head.

"What in the hell did you do? Where is Lucius?"

"Uhm...."

"I asked you a question!"

"See what had happened was that this fine ass Hispanic beauty named Rosa was walking down the street. Lucius had been tryin to get with her for months. She would always smile at him but since he don't speak Spanish, she just keeps walking by until my boy Marky Mar saved da day. He started talkin that Spanish shit and old girl got excited. He officially introduced the two and now Lucius got a date with h'er tonight. We couldn't hate on the dude so we took him to the café, where Lucius bought him a porkchop meal with rice and gravy. Then JuJu, T-Dog, JJ and Tim walked in and we introduced them to Marky Mar. Since you were still at Ms. Evie's shop we brought him back here to chill. He was teaching us on how to invest our money so we can keep paper in our pockets. You know this weed bout to be legalized and if we get in now, we all can retire off these streets. Don't be mad. Marky's a cool guy."

I looked back over at Marc where he was leaning against the brick wall trying to look cool.

"Don't hate the playa hate the game baby boo," he said nodding.

"What in the hell is in that cigar?"

"New Orleans best. It's the best weed money can buy. I got six different flavors. It's my side hustle and if we are going to help them old sick ass people I need an investor. How can Marky help me if he hasn't tried the merchandise?"

I grabbed the cigar out of Marc's mouth.

"Hey there, get ya