Constance

“So sick.” I said again while playing in my hair.

I looked over to see Mitchel take a seat on the steps and looked back when Malorie spoke to him.

“When you moving up out of here, white boy? I don't see how you stay. I can't do it. I gotta be in my own.”

“I'd want to be in my own too if I did as much coming and going as you.”

I laughed obnoxiously at his shot at Malorie. He leaned forward to avoid Malorie's kick. He caught her ankle and yanked her forward. She hopped a couple of steps before yanking her foot away then slapped him across the back of his head.

“Whatever. How's college life?”

“Acing. Courses and girls. You know.”

“Ha! You got two years in and you think you big shit.” She mushed him before leaning into his back. “Can't say I never taught you something.”

“Lord knows we don't need another big ego around here.”

I spoke up while dropping my leg to the porch to push the swing more because it was slowing down. Malorie cut her eyes in my direction and flipped me the bird. She patted Mitchel on the shoulder.

“Well I'm not rushing you. You stay here as long as you want. Ain't no telling how she's gonna act when you come up out of here. I think she be on my ass now. Nobody in the house and she'll really be on my ass.”

“Nobody would have to be on your ass if your ass wasn't always into something.”

She cut her eyes at me again.

“You were always my least favorite.”

“I bet.”

“Let's not forget how I was introduced to this lifestyle.”

“Then I grew up. You've been past due.”

“Miyra's not going to have y'all bickering on today.” Mitchel interrupted causing it to go silent for a minute.

Malorie slid her hands into her back pockets before pushing her body away from Mitchel's back and heading over toward the swing.

“As much as I can't stand this heffa, she knows I love her.”

She threw her arms out and fell on top of me dramatically. I groaned as she scooted her entire body onto me and swung her legs onto the swing.

“And even though you're the baby, I'll always be the baby.”

She spoke up again while staring at Mitchel. I dropped my hand and slapped her on the butt.

“Big ass. You're nobody's baby but Mile's because you damn sure ain't mine. You better be getting in there to let her know you're here. You know she's been blowing up your phone.”

“I lost it.”

“Yeah, that's the lie you told me.”

“That's the lie she told me too.” Mitchel added behind my comment.

“Mitch, shut your cosigning ass up. Always amening shit.”

She lifted her head and stared at him. He leaned back resting his elbows on the porch. I slapped her on the butt again.

“Go on now. You damn near bigger than me and tryna ride me like this.”

She released a stretched exaggerated sigh before pushing up off of me. She sat next to my body while staring at the same thing Mitchel and I had been staring at while she was sitting up. The dark truck slowly drove by and a bird flew by too close for comfort. Malorie and I screamed at the same time as we hopped off of the porch swing damn near knocking each other over.

“Damn!”

I shouted upset at the bird that nearly scared my skeleton out of my skin. Mitchel laughed while standing up and opening the door.

“A bird though?”

Malorie pushed him away from the door and walked in the house. He laughed while catching himself from his stumble and looked over at me.

“You coming in?”

I looked down the street for the truck that I know I saw while in route shortly after picking up Malorie.

I sat on the swing again and threw my legs across it to reposition myself back to my comfortable state before Malorie hopped her grown ass on me.

“I'll be in soon. Just let me get a little more air.”

“Don't let me come back out to find you fighting a bird.”

“I won't fight it. I'll just shoot it. Bring me your bb gun.”

He laughed as he walked into the house pulling the door up behind him. I folded my arms across my chest and looked around the yard before turning my attention back to the street.

“What have you gotten yourself into now, Malorie?”