°Deanne's POV°
10:59 A.M.

Jesus, peez. Of course is him same one...!

I freeze on spot.

Wah him a do dung yasso?

A dung yah him live?

No...can't be.

Mi sure mi woulda know him if he did. Or, at least, know him face.

And the fact that I don't, means he doesn't.

So wah him a do so far?

Unless a smaddy him come to.

Probably him gyal.

Yeah, most likely.

The thought brings a scowl to my lips. Nah lie. And it's not that I don't expect him to have a girl, because: come on! But, mi still nuh waa think 'bout it. Yuh know them way deh?

Pulling at my shorts for the umpteenth time in the past couple of minutes, my frown deepens. And look wah mi decide fi wear come out yah tu nuh! Batty rider and piece a mesh.

Now, the wul a mi likkle body deh pon full display.

But ano like him nuh see it already stillz.

My eyes widen at the thought. Mi all figot 'bout that to rahtid!

Jesus, why yuh do this to mi?

Today of all days.

Yuh know say the devil know say this did ago happen. That's why him mek Mommy get up 'bout she feel fi soup.

Instead she bless the likkle franks weh mi boil, nyam it and belch.

CHO.

Wah mi ago say if him see me and say sum'n now?

...not a damn thing.

Nuh you say yaggo karate kick him when yuh see him? See yuh chance yah.

I almost laugh out at the thought.

Then hear this ya drama ya!

Mi? But uno hear mi dying trial? Mi look like Jacky Chan or Jet Lee?

Go see mi. The man might gimme a fuck box if mi try that.

Waii.

I purse my lips to quell the urge to laugh. Yuh know mi nawh laugh 'cause this serious.

And serious times call for serious measures. Like turn back go a mi rass yard.

Sigh.

The longer I stand there, the more I contemplate turning back; but Mommy really wants the soup and ago ask a bagga questions as to why mi nuh go a shop. And mi cyaa think of no lie weh mek sense, right now.

Sigh. Again!

Aye, mi nuh know if mi a overreact, I probably am. But...mi nuh business.

Mi nervous bad...!

Weh yuh say?

Mi say mi nervous...something about seeing this man sitting here, triggers my anxiety. Especially after having that wet dream of him the other night.

Then again, ano like him ago know that.

Unless him can read minds.

...but what if he can?

"Yuh watch too much friggin' cartoons eno, mad gyal. Yuh fi grow up, man," I mumble beneath my breath, followed by a scoff.

Spotting a fat lady, whose face I don't recognise, coming up the lane, I'm forced to think quickly, before people see mi yasso—— stand up inna the middle a di lane a chat to myself ——and think mi a idiot or mi a get off! So, inhaling a deep breath, I take a brave step forward.

Then another. And another.

And continue, using my hand to shield my face.

Until I'm almost passed the subject of my sudden anxiety.

Just when I think I'm in the clear, a dreaded sound makes my step falter and my heart leap.

"Pssst!"

CHO, shit!

Pretending I don't know he's catcalling me, I keep walking. Sorry mi never have een mi earphones.

But the sound gets louder. Accompanied by the crunching of gravel. Then a firm, "Schoolaz!"

Cho baxide, man!

A wah this pon mi inna the morning ya?

Mi shit inna church? Ee?

"Pssst! Yo, watch ya nuh."

Then a who him a chat to so strong? Continue walk fimmi yawh, Miss Apple!

Regardless, I stop and turn, placing my hands akimbo. "How yawh 'pssst' 'pssst' so? Yawh lose air, sir? One tire shop deh up the road eno."

'Cause mi nuh know a who and yuh 'bout: 'Pssst!'

Driva chuckles lowly, and his mesmerising smile melts my unbothered facade.

Teeth dem white like Jesus heart.

Cho, blowow.

"Easy nuh. A so mi do fi catch yuh attention, man."

"Well, you've caught it. What are you gonna do with it?"

He smirks, then bites his lower lip. "I can think of a few things. But they may not be appropriate, so mi ago lowe that."

Aye, gyal, nuh blush eno.

Instead, I frown. "I hear yuh. Anyways, yuh nuh 'fraid man draw yuh weh, weh yawh do so far?"

Woman ago be some a dem man ya downfall eno! Just fi likkle front, look how far him reach.

"Mi nuh fuck man. How man fi draw mi weh?"

"You naffi fuck them. Them will fuck you though."

"Aye, easy man." He hisses his teeth and looks away. "No bother wid that."

The man offended eno.

Murda to pussyclaat.

"But seriously though, are you lost?"

At my words, his eyes find mine again, narrowing as he says, "Why yuh say that?"

"Because mi nuh expect fi see yuh here so."

"So yuh expect fi see mi someweh else?"

Yes?

I blush, turning my head away from him, staring at the blue and white house across from us; the tarpaulin draped over both sides of the grill.

The lawn is a bit overgrown too, but it's no wonder. Only two females live there: Miss Dawn, who's up in age, and her granddaughter Tash.

"Jussa mess wid yuh, man," he adds, taking my silence as offence, I'm guessing. "But how yuh know say ano yasso mi live?"

"Trust me, I'd know."

Mi know almost all a the bwoy dem pon the lane. Especially the cute ones. And trust mi, ano nuff.

"Them way deh? A you run off the community watch and them thing deh?"

"Sum'n like that."

"Ah." His smile is teasing. "So mi know who fi call pon when mi get inna problems then. When mi feel unsafe and such, mi just link Schoolaz."

Why him always a call mi 'Schoolaz'?

Not that I don't find it kinda cute, but it mek mi feel like likkle pickney.

Well, technically I am, to him, but that's not the point.

As if reading my mind, he clears his throat.

"I'm a gentleman, and, as a gentleman, it doesn't feel right holding a conversation with a beautiful female and not know her name. You are?"

Aw, watch lyrics.

Ano gimmicks.

Purrrrr!

Watch intelligence.

Aye, mi nuh know but when a man sound sensible it just...mmm.

Don't blush now eno, idiot.

I smile. "Deanne."

"Deanne," he sounds it out and bwoy, I tell yuh. Mi name never sound so nice yet. Like the man all put a likkle accent pon it. "It suits you. I like it."

Blushings!

"Thanks." I shrug, shyly. "What's yours?"

Mi kinda nuh like call him 'Driva' either.

"Dada."

"Dada?" I frown, not liking how it sounds rolling off of my tongue. It nuh too moan-able. Sounds too close to 'Daddy'. Ew. "What's your real name?"

"Tyrone," he says, his voice deep and low, sending butterflies fluttering in my stomach. Mi feel a spite him do tha likkle bass sum'n deh fa too eno. "But everybody calls me 'Dada'."

Tyrone! I try moaning it in my head. That nuh bad.

Giving him a bashful smile, I say, in my sweetest voice, "Well, I don't like being like everyone else."

Watchya!

Uno run come look pon Apple a flirt!

Apple-Man-Hating-Bradshaw?

This need crowd.

Crowd!

Driva——I mean Dada——I mean Tyrone, bites his lip as he looks at me in a way I can't really describe. But damn. "Point taken."

His stare is intense, causing me to shuffle on my feet, gripping the money in my hand a bit more tightly. His eyes follow the movement of my hand before they settle on my face again.

Jeezam sir, tha look deh. A wonder if yuh know say mi easy fi yam?

"Look like yawh go shop." He's back to patois.

Shop?

Then it clicks.

Kacka fart! Then watch mi weh the lady send out!

Jeezam Crime!

My heart skips a beat. Lawks, Mommy ago hang mi pon the line by mi clit to rass!

Mi just affi go tell her say dung a Miss Dassa did full, or sum'n.

"Yeah."

"You won't mind if I accompany you?"

Accompany me?

Yam head activated.

I can't help but giggle a bit. Then nod. "Sure."

As soon as I say that, I start walking again, and he too moves, quickly falling into step with me.

"So, Deanne, I don't mean to be inquisitive, but why aren't you at school?"

Hear yah! Hear 'Mr Not Inquisitive'.

"I didn't have any classes today." I don't know why I'm telling him my business, but something about his energy pulls me in. Did from the first time we met.

"Oh." He nods. "Ah."

"How that sounds so?"

"How?"

"Like yuh did think a sum'n else?"

Tyrone shrugs, and his hand, that's tucked in his pocket, brushes against mine, making the hairs on my skin rise. "Nuh really," he says. "Just did hope ano scull yuh scull fi go have fun."

Wah that mean?

"Fun? Wah yuh mean?"

"Yeah. Yuh nuh have fun?"

The last time mi 'bout mi waa have fun, mi get big hood inna mi nastiness. So the only fun mi have nowadays a mi book.

Shaking my head, at both the thought and at him, I say, "Mi? No sah. My mother is the enemy of fun."

He laughs. And it's so refreshing to hear. "Know dem way deh."

I hum. "Act like yuh mother did stay so. A bwoy yuh name eno! Bet your mother did lowe yuh fi do anything yuh want."

His smile drops and his body goes rigid for a few seconds before he masks it, with another small smile. But I still caught the shift in his mood. He clears his throat then says, "Nah. My grandmother was strict. But mi kinda did get my own way yes. Especially when mi stay wid mi father."

My tongue itches to ask about his reaction to me mentioning his mother. But the better part of me convinces me to leave what doesn't trouble me, alone.

"Is your grandma still alive?"

Hearing him speak of his grandmother brings my mind back to mine, before she died. Sigh.

A year fly past fast e man.

"Yeah, man. A she mi come look fa dung ya too."

See why yuh nuffi judge?

"Eeeh? She live a Parkland?"

"Yeah, right up desso," he points over his shoulder.

"Who?" I furrow my brows upon seeing him point to the blue and white house up the road. "Miss Dawn?"

He nods.

"A lie! Miss Dawn did have grandson?"

He chuckles. "Last time I checked, yes."

I stop walking. Mi cyaa believe this. "So how mi never know that?"

Quirking the corner of his top lip, he narrows his eyes to give that smoldering look. "Do you know all your neighbour's business?"

I blush. Him never did affi say it so eno. Mek mi sound nosey.

Playing it off, I smile. "Neighbourhood watchman, remember?"

"Touché."

Aw.

The bwoy sweet eno. Him have a buzz.

Like mi woulda want him read sum'n to mi while him have mi a bubble pon him hoo——

The sound of my phone going off, startles me, making me jump.

Looking at the caller ID, my heartbeat quickens. Lawd. Swiping across, I put it at my ear. "Yes, Mommy?"

I purse my lips, bracing for her heap a cussing.

"Apple, weh yuh deh how long wid the likkle soup? A you a boil it?"

"Mommy, mi soon come. A lunch time now and dung yah full up eno!"

She waa ketch yuh pon the lie fi wring yuh bloodclaat throat, or whatever Derrick did say.

She hisses her teeth, and I frown. "If mi did a dead, mi stretch out already to how long yuh leff ya. Tell Dassa say mi a breed and nuh waa the baby mark."

Cho. Hear the lady, man!

"Mommy, mi soon come! How yuh so extra?"

"Apple, yuh baxide! Mi hungry!" she shouts in my ear, causing me to pull the phone away and skin up mi face.

Beside me, I hear Tyrone make a sound, but when I look at him he acts like he didn't. Wah yuh find funny driver bwoy? After a him come chat mi out mek mi nuh reach a shop all now and mek the woman out fi nyam out the likkle wax outta mi ears.

I can see the shop in view now, which makes me relax a bit. I sigh. "Eat two a the franks meanwhile nuh, mi soon come. Mi ago get served now."

The line goes silent so I remove it to check that the call is still connected.

"Mommy, yuh hear mi?"

"Aii," she reluctantly says, then hang up.

And I sigh. Again.

"Mommy a bad yuh up so?"

The sound of Ty's question draws my attention to him, noting the mischievous smirk that's on his face.

Ignoring it, I say, "A so she gwaan, man."

Miserable plus tax.

"Mi nuh wrong her stillz. Look how long the lady send yuh ga' shop, likkle girl!"

But watchya...I gasp, feigning offence. "Yuh see how black people stay? After yuh deh yasso a chat mi out, yuh fling mi under the bus?"

Tyrone laughs and I roll my eyes, walking away from him.

Although I can feel him staring at my ass, I continue walking.

"A who that, Apple?" Miss Dassa greets me as soon as I reach the cookshop.

"Yes, Miss Dassa!" I walk up the three little concrete steps. "Yuh alright?"

"Yes, mi baby." She comes up to the counter, wiping her hands in a clean, floral dish cloth. "How yuh nuh deh a school?"

"N'ave nuh class."

"Awoah. Yuh muss glad deh now!"

Nodding, I hum, stepping further underneath the board awning.

I feel as Tyrone comes up behind me, the scent of his cologne tickling my nose. It smells like Armani or one of dem nice, expensive one deh.

Yum.

"Wait! A who this yah nice, chaptin man yasso?" Miss Dassa peers over the counter, fixing her glasses on her face. "Apple, a yuh boyfriend?"

I wish.

Feeling the heat rush to my cheeks, I shuffle on my feet. "No, Miss Dassa. It's my friend."

"Friend nuh! A that uno girls nowadays call it?"

Hear ya. A wah this pon mi tho?

Beside me, Tyrone is having a field day, staring at me with that same look from before.

I roll my eyes and he smiles.

Can see say him ego tall eno.

I turn to Miss Dassa and smile, and she returns a soft one. "Anyways, mi nawh fass inna young girl business. Wah mi can do fi uno now?"

Thank God, the shop is practically empty so I get a chance to make my order.

"A the Lemon flavour Arizona that?"

Miss Dassa turns to face the direction I'm pointing, and nods. "Yes."

Jeezam!

"Mi love it eno."

"Eeeh?" She walks over to the see-through fridge and take out a can. "Yuh want one?"

Why mi never walk wid mi money?

A them time ya yuh see everything yuh want eno. Cho.

Shaking my head, I frown. "No sah. Mi n'ave nuh money. A Mommy send mi out."

"Can you give her one please, elder?" Tyrone comes up behind me, outstretching his hand, around me, so it brushes against my skin.

I stare at him and he holds my stare. "You don't have to." My voice is soft and squeaky.

"I want to," he deadpans.

OK then, sir.

As long as ano my money a spend.

Awah, ano my fault mek mi licky licky and frighten nuh fuck.

Mi young, mi soon grow it out.

I watch as Miss Dassa places the drink on the counter and pick up the money ——a crisp five thousand dollar note—— which Tyrone slides towards her.

"Collect fi the food outta it too,"  he says, his voice firm.

My draws——I mean jaws—— drop.

"Mi have money fi pay fi it eno," I tell him, struggling to find my normal voice.

His body being so close to me is intoxicating.

"Keep it." He steps away. "And the change."

Three thousand add dollar?

Him have sense?

"Thanks for paying for the food, and for buying the drink, but you can keep your money." I pick the money up and outstretch it towards him.

But he simply stares at my hand then at my face. His expression is impassive, effectively concealing his emotions.

He then steps forward, picks up the bag with the items I bought and walks away. "Yuh ready? Forward nuh."

But——

"Oi!" I run to catch up to him, tugging at his shirt. "A your bag, badman?"

Bright eeh!

He chuckles but keeps his head straight as he continues to walk ahead.

So, I huff then sprint past him, stopping in the middle of the lane with my arms spread, blocking his way.

Yuh know say tha man ya love the ramping?

Pity him nuh know say mi nuh play too long.

His eyes rake over my body, and I slowly start to feel self-conscious under his gaze.

Suddenly, my shorts feel way too short, and my blouse is see-through. It's almost like I'm naked.

Raw meat set out to trap a predator.

Especially when he says, "So wah yuh man ago say if him hear say yuh wear this pon road mek other man a see yuh? Mi cyaa tek nuh buss head eno."

I scoff, looking down at myself. "FYI, there's no man to say anything. And secondly, wah do mi clothes?"

It's a bit revealing, yes. But, it's not that bad.

He smiles. "Yuh mean fi tell mi say yuh n'ave a man, Deanne?"

A that alone catch yuh ears?

"First of all, why yawh stretch out mi name so, Tyrone?" I match his energy, folding my arms under my breasts. "And, secondly, so what if I do?"

"Nuh say noth'n." He shrugs. "Just affi scope out the threat, yuzeet."

Threat to what exactly?

I hum. "Whatever."

"Parkland him live too?"

"Who?" I quirk a brow.

"Yuh man." He smirks.

I hiss my teeth. Sum'n him a fish fa eno. "I'm single, so yuh don't affi worry."

Not like mi a say yuh did a worry, but——

"So every woman say, until yuh see you and dem deh pon a endz and issa big, black bredda that pull up a the gate and yaffi run and hop fence, naked, clothes in hand, wid yuh t'ing a swing from side to side."

Kacka fart!

Then hear descriptive writing.

Feeling my cheeks burn, I snort. "Sounds like that happen to yuh before."

He shrugs. "Issa possibility, nah go lie."

Yuh know say...!

Swatting his arm, hard, I giggle. "Yuh terrible so?"

But Tyrone only laughs, although his grin his short-lived as his phone pings loudly from inside of his pocket. He pulls it out, and I watch as his smile turns upside down.

Awah now?

My mind goes into overdrive as we continue to walk in silence. Tyrone's attention is fixed on the phone in his right hand, while he balances the food in his left hand; his biceps flexing.

His brows are narrowed and a frown sets on his lips, but he isn't saying anything.

Who him a text deh now?

Mussi him gyal.

Awah she say mek him look so vex?

Hmm.

Not wanting to disturb him, or further invade his personal space, I peel my eyes away.

But my heart skips a beat when they meet the man sitting at the wall by Trudy's yard gate.

He's wearing a white marina, blue cut-off foot jeans, and black slides. His head is covered by a black do-rag, the ends tied together behind his head.

Before I can look away, Chance's eyes meet mine. And I freeze.

Jesus. What a lucky thing Tyrone did deh ya.

Speaking of Tyrone, who's walking close behind me, the sudden stop causes him to bump into my back. He looks up from his phone, upon impact, and frowns. "Yuh good?"

Inhaling a deep breath, I smile and nod. "Yeah, sorry."

Chance is legit staring us down at this point, but I keep my eyes trained on the road. But I'm actually nervous as hell. He's always been extremely jealous. That's one thing I never liked about him.

Good thing uno leff.

I heave a heavy sigh.

"Yuh sure yuh good?"

Wordlessly, I nod my response.

Thankfully, Ty doesn't push it.

Pretending I'm OK, I continue to lead the way, feeling Chance's eyes piercing through the back of my head the entire time.

Just imagine wah him ago come wid when him buck mi one-away now.

Ah boi.

When we're no longer in his view, I sigh.

As Tyrone finally asks, "A who him? Yuh linky?"

Once upon a time!

"No."

"So how him a pree yuh so hard?"

By his tone, mi woulda swear say a jealous him jealous.

But that would be doing too much.

Shrugging, I keep my eyes from meeting his. "He's my neighbour. Mussi a look thru him see mi and yuh a walk. Mi nuh know."

He hums.

Yup...

We fall silent again.

About five minutes later, we've stopped by the Daveys' gate. I don't want Mommy to see me talking to this man, so...yeah.

While mi might feel mi big, mi nuh big so yet.

I turn to him and outstretch my hands for him to place the bag with the food in. He does, and I smile, telling him,"Thanks."

"Ah."

Silence.

And I shuffle awkwardly from foot to foot.

"Um, see yah around?"

Tucking his hands into his pockets, he leans forward so his face is inches away from mine. His smile is teasing. "Yuh waa see mi?"

Yes?

"Maybe."

He smirks, reaching out and pulling at the hem of my blouse. Sir, mi see yuh waa turn mi inna mascot eno. But mi nawh say noth'n. "That can be arranged still."

I make a face. "Yuh too much, move, man."

This causes a small laugh to leave the man's lips. "Yawh run mi now?"

"No, but Mommy a wait pon mi." Unless him waa wait mek mi go gi' her this and come back.

"Oh, word?"

"Yeah."

"Nawh hold yuh no longer then." He chuckles. "Nuh waa Mumz buss yuh likkle ass."

And try know she bad fi that.

"My ass is not likkle!" I find myself saying before I can stop myself.

He lifts a brow. "Self praise is no recommendation still."

Mi bombo...

Shame!

Aye, mi gasp eno. This cocky bastard! "Move!"

Again, Tyrone's response is to simply laugh. "Nuh yuh say yuh mother a wait, likkle girl? Go in, man."

Mrrrr.

Rolling my eyes, I playfully hiss my teeth. "Naffi shame mi so still. Tell yuh 'bout black people eno."

He smiles, bringing one hand to scratch the stubble lining his jaw. "Just a fuck around, man. Offence isn't the intention, yuzeet."

I hum. "OK, Mr Tyrone. Whatever you say."

Shaking my head, I turn to leave, but he stops me in my tracks when he says, "So nuh likkle hug?"

Hear ya!

My heart skips a beat. But I manage a teasing smirk. "No...you don't deserve it."

And the yam inna mi well waa do it eno. God know.

He doesn't seem phased though. Instead, he rebuts with a firm, "Aite, gimme yuh number then."

Hear authority.

Hear bass inna voice.

Hear fertiliser fi mi yam root.

To pussyclaat.

Fighting not to laugh at the thought, I pause as if contemplating...then say, "Now that I can give. But guess wah?"

His eyes narrow and his Adam's apple bobs as he swallows. "Wah that?"

Stepping closer to him, I tip up to reach his ear, as he cranes his neck, before whispering in it that, "Yuh affi work for it first."

Yes, gyal!

Tyrone grunts softly, sending a chill running up my spine. 

My clit jumps, but I ignore it long enough to plant a quick chups on his cheek, before turning on my heels and jogging up to my gate and up to my house, before going inside.

Through the living room's side window, I can see the top of his head. He's standing in the same spot, as if dumbstruck. The man shock eno.

Waiii.

This brings a triumphant smile to my lips.

Yes, goodie!

Mek a bwoy affi chase yuh, yes.

Right desso.

Purrrrr.