Dahlia

Snake Sh*t

Johnny sat on the stoop in the backyard of the Flores’ home watching the family interact with Demetrius. He couldn’t help but feel jealous of Cortez. Cortez picked Demetrius up and swung him around. Demetrius giggled and clung to his father’s neck. Their bond was growing every time they were around each other. Dahlia had taken to calling Demetrius “Demi” as a nickname. Johnny hated it. He hated her. Everything about her. He hated her from the moment she ran into the back of Cortez two years ago. He couldn’t understand why Cortez was ignoring Anita and treating her so badly. He would have never treated Anita like that. Johnny had been pretending to flirt with Regina, Anita’s sister in order to try to get closer to her. He had seen Regina earlier today on the stoop in front of Anita’s house. He purposely went that way hoping to catch a glimpse of her but Regina was there instead. He wanted to tell Anita not to even worry about Cortez. He would adopt Demetrius and help her raise him. He had been lusting after Anita since they were in high school, but back in those days he had so much respect for Cortez that he never acted on it. As Johnny sat on the stoop and puffed on his black & mild he let his mind wander to Anita. He decided that when he left this so-called celebration he was going to go check in on Anita, maybe take her out to dinner. 

Cortez came over with Demetrius and sat on the stoop next to Johnny. “Demi, say hi to Tio Johnny.” Johnny smiled but felt sick inside. He imagined he, Anita and Demetrius enjoying family days. He could see him teaching Demetrius how to play handball, teaching him how to drive, and being there for him with his first date, first break up,  and all of that. It's what he wanted, and it was what he was going to get. He didn’t care what it took, he was going to mend Anita’s broken heart and be a better father to Demetrius than Cortez ever could. “Hey man, I wanted to talk to you.” Cortez said. Johnny signed, put out his black and turned to Cortez. “What’s up man?” He said with annoyance in his voice. “I feel like s**t between us has been real weird lately.” Cortez said. “I wanted to know what was going on with you.” “You been distant for a long time.” Johnny scoffed. “Its not me bruh.” “Your girl don’t f**k with me.” “She doesn’t want you hanging around me and she doesn’t want to let you out of her sight.” “You just let her do and say what she wants and you just follow her like a little puppy.”  Cortez screwed his face up. “You serious?” He asked Johnny. “First of all, Dahlia has every reason not to like you.” “You were rude as f**k when you first met her.” “Despite all of that she has never said she doesn’t want me hanging out with you.” “And where are you getting this about her not wanting to let me out of her sight?” “She has her own life, especially now that her cousin is here.” 

“I’m not getting it from anyone.” Johnny said. “I’m just calling a spade a spade.” “It’s what I see.” Cortez shook his head. “Well, I don’t know what you are looking at Johnny.” “That’s not the case at all.” He shifted Demetrius on his lap to face Johnny. “You’re my best friend, man.” “But I have noticed that lately you have been real distant from me and kind of rude to Dee.” “I just wanted to try to smooth things over.” “But I gotta let you know that you can’t be disrespecting my lady.” “I wouldn’t let her do that to you, even though she’s not that kind of person.” “So I can’t let you do that to her.” Johnny shrugged his shoulders.”But you can just walk out on Anita?” “I don’t understand you bruh.” Cortez looked at him, clearly confused. “Why are you talking up for Anita so much?” Johnny chuckled. “Because she deserves to be loved by the person that she loves.” He rolled his eyes and said Look man, Imma be honest, I don’t have any intention to be friends with her or her cousin.” “You are abandoning your child’s mother man.” “How can you live with that?” Cortez said “Hold up a fuckin minute man, what are you talking about?” “How am I abandoning her when she never told me about him in the first place?” “Now that I know Demi is mine he will never want for anything.” “Between me and Dahlia, my parents, Buckey, Titi and Uncle and the rest of my family, Demi will be good.” 

“Yeah,” Johnny said. “But what about Anita.” “What about what she is going to need over the next few years.” “She’s still your son’s mother and she needs to be taken care of.” “Seems like she did just fine for herself.” Cortez said. “She’s not helpless.” “What was she doing before she decided to tell me that I could possibly be the father of her child?” “Sorry but I have no sympathy for her.” “I really hope that you can find it in your heart to see Dahlia for who she is, because she’s not going anywhere” “I thought you were better than that man.” Johnny said to Cortez. “Never thought you would leave your BM hanging.” “She is so helpless right now and I just can’t help but think about my mami’s situation.” “That’s a whole different situation bruh.” “And, your mami has a helpmate now, even though you don’t like him.” Johnny sucked his teeth. “Aight man.” “For your sake, I will be respectful to her, but don’t expect me to be best friends with her.” He got up and walked away from Cortez, leaving him sitting on the stoop with his son, confused. 

Cortez knew that Johnny could be difficult but even he was surprised at how Johnny was acting about Dahlia. And what was his deal with defending Anita. He sat with Demi on his lap; A few minutes later  Dahlia came and sat next to him. “Hey babe,” Dahlia said. “What’s the matter?” Cortez sighed and hugged Demi close to him. “Nothing baby.” He said, not wanting to ruin the celebratory mood. “I am really excited to get Demi home this evening.” Demi reached for Dahlia and Cortez passed him over to her. “You mind holding him for a bit baby?” “Sure.” Dahlia said smiling at Demi and kissing his chubby cheek. “You wanna go see your Titi La La and Titi Nina?” She asked him. She leaned over to give Cortez a quick kiss on the cheek and took Demi to the twins to play.

Johnny went out to sit on the front porch of the Flores’ house after his conversation with Cortez. It was official for him. He didn’t want to have anything else to do with Cotez. f**k him. If he couldn’t see that what he was doing was wrong then Johnny couldn’t associate with him. What he really wanted though was to ruin Dahlia’s life. To him, it all started with her. Cortez didn’t start actin’ reckless until she came into his life. He wanted to hurt Dahlia, which would in turn hurt Cortez. He pulled out his phone and scrolled through the numbers. He smiled when he found the number that he was looking for and shot a quick text. “What up bruh?” “You busy?” He waited for a few minutes when he saw the person was typing back. “Nah, what up?” Johnny picked up his phone and dialed the number. “Yo?” The other person answered. “Jason, what up?” Johnny said. “Ain’t shit.” “Chillin.” Jason said. “Listen,” Johnny started. “I know you feelin’ my dude Cortez’s girl.” “You want her that bad?” “I got a proposition for you bruh.”