OG Sanchez “A New York Love Story”

BEGINNINGS

[Brooklyn , NY 2018]

It's been 8 years since my parents passing.

And 8 years since Neal got locked up.

Having just lost both his parents as well, he went on a rampage looking all over the city for their killers. He was successful in finding them. But the cops had found him too.

Tio Juan’s first wife Tia Angie took me in right after. They made me promise them that I would keep the word I made to my parents about staying off the streets and continuing my education no matter how hard it got. I must admit that it became more difficult for me to keep that promise as time went on. Especially since the only friend I had growing up was their only daughter Shay, who had been following her father's footsteps from a distance since she was 13. And as much as her father had warned her now to be more careful since I was around, that didn't stop her hustle nor her flow.

What I loved about Shay was that no matter what, she’d always looked out for me. Whether it be money, clothes, shoes, weed, food, advice or a listening ear, she had me.

And I had her back, no matter what, even if that meant to help her with moving some weight...All I knew was that I will forever be grateful for her. For all the times, she let me be when I was crying myself to sleep after that night 8 years ago.

I sometimes felt guilty when I helped her with her street things, since I had promised my parents that I wouldn't touch any of that but to make myself feel better, I would say to myself that she's family & family should always help each other out. That's one of the main things my parents had taught me as well.

Now at 24 years old, I was doing alright for myself. I was keeping my promise to my family to stay in school. One more year, and I'll be graduating with my masters in business administration; although most of my tuition had been paid with dirty money, the part time assistant job I had was my front for it. Making money the legit way in New York was not enough to get me through school while also keeping up with bills and the such. So it was really helpful when Shay would give me some stacks whenever I would help out with her endeavors.

Shay and I had just recently moved out her moms house in Yonkers and had gotten an apartment together in Brooklyn. A gorgeous 2 bedroom apartment in Crown Heights with an awesome view of BK. Which was awesome for me since now I didn’t have to travel so far to school. Shay held it down with most of the rent due to me having my school bills but she didn’t mind it, she was making money out her a**.

Having just moved in, I was still unpacking some things into my room when I heard Shay call out to me from her room down the hall.

“Yo Maya, you tryna roll with me to the Stuy? I gotta make some moves” Shay told me. I knew this meant meeting up with one of her connects. I was running low on bud anyways so I didn’t mind rolling with her.

Yea, I'll roll with you…how you already got a connect out here?” I asked her while reaching to put on my dark denim jeans. I already had on my olive green bodysuit top so I just had to get my bottom half ready.

“Girl stop acting like I don’t got connects all over New York butttt if you must know, me and this dude go way back from High School and he moved out here to be closer to his kid...and we just never lost touch” she was saying as I reached the living room area where she was waiting for me.

“Oh ok, that’s what’s up but don’t be having me out too long cuz I still got unpacking to do and you stay taking me on some adventure” I said giving her a side smirk.

“Not today boo, just tryna get my stuff so I can get back and relax...So let's roll”.

“iight bet” I said grabbing my purse from the couch & headed towards the door.

The ride to Bed Stuy was about a 10 minute ride during which Shay was warning me as usual about the dangerous eye candy we were always running into. She would always tell me that when we were about to be around some dangerous men. But as much as I know how much messing with a street dude is no good for me, there’s something about these Brooklyn dudes. It was as if they were cut from a different cloth. And even though, she warns me about them all the time, Shay has the same weakness as me.

“Remember Maya...Look but no touching out here” she said with a smile in her voice and a side eye towards me.

Shay, you don't got to warn me every time. But as usual.. I won't make any promises“ I replied back.

“Aren't you glad we out here dolo instead of having your brothers clockin’ our every move?” I asked her making conversation.

Shay was the only girl in her family. She had four brothers, some with different mothers but all were Tio Juan’s kids. Tio was not playing out here with these women. And ever since Neal got locked up, they took it upon themselves to look after me as well.

“Uh girl, you have no idea, although they in the BX, that was just a 20 minute drive to Yonkers but now that we out here, this ain’t really they hood so they shouldn’t be checkin up on us so much now” she said.

“We still hittin up that barbecue this weekend?” I asked her as she looked for a parking spot.

“Of coursseeee, how we gonna miss a Sanchez get together?...Plus it’s Victor’s birthday and you know he would curse my ass out if I miss it” she answered laughing as she eased her way into a spot.

I was starting to take off my seatbelt when she stopped me halfway.

“You can stay in the car if you want, there's a couple of heads outside right now and I don't want you feeling uncomfortable” she said getting herself together while checking her surroundings.

“Nah it's cool, I'll come with you… if anything, I'll just go into the bodega if I do” I replied.

Shay and I always stick together. I wasn’t gonna have her make these moves by herself. The feeling was always mutual.

Ok cool, let's go then”

We walked up the block to the front of the apartment building where there were 5 men posted up outside. Some were rolling up but most were just talking amongst themselves. Shay walked up to one of them who had long braids with an all black fitted on, he was about 5’9 , brown mocha skin with a goatee and was fresh from head to toe. I was just a few steps behind Shay.

“What's up Dre? You got that for me?” She asked nonchalantly.

“What's good Shay? Who this?” He said while looking at me up and down. It wasn't to the point that I felt uncomfortable , I knew it was a look of checking out a new person he never seen before.

“This is my little cousin Maya, she good money..” Shay answered back.

He looked me up and down one more time before he said “iight , I just gotta go get that ready for you...come with me”

“Ok, I'll come up with you” she said while turning to me. “Wait for me here iight?”

“Ok” I replied.

I didn't want to stand too close to the men as I waited for Shay to come back so I moved more towards the street. I peeped an all black BMW and made myself comfortable leaning against it. I was entertaining myself with my phone to pass the time when I began hearing the guys behind me mentioning something about a car but I wasn't paying enough attention to what they were really saying.

A couple of seconds later I heard a smooth deep voice close to me:

You like leaning against other people's cars lil momma?”

I turned to apologize to the voice but was speechless when I laid my eyes on this man. He was about 6 feet tall, mocha caramel skin with a fresh cut caesar fade with a thick king like beard. His eyes were reflecting green and hazel colors as the sun was hitting them. Wearing a semi tight white tee v neck low enough to make his collarbone tattoo visible. His left arm carried his full sleeve of artwork but not to the point of being overbearing. While wearing dark Blue faded jeans and all white Fresh air Max's. I didn't mean to stare but damn, I couldn’t help it.

“You just gonna stare at me or you gonna answer my question?” He said getting impatient but I could make out a sly smirk hiding underneath his seriousness. Even though I was staring and mute, he was looking me up and down too discreetly but by this point his homies behind him was starting to snicker.

Blushing and finally breaking my stare I said “Sorry, I was just waiting for my cousin to come back down”. I said when I noticed that Shay had made her way downstairs and was rushing towards me and Mr. hazel eyes.

“Hey, what's up this my lil cousin Maya, everything good?” She said sounding almost frantic. I would of gave her more of a curious look but I was still too busy looking at him.

“Everything good over here… I was just asking your cousin why she think it's cool to lean on others people's cars like she paying car notes out here or something” he said grinning at his own smart remark.

I knew Shay seemed shook of this man but me? I wasn't scared of nobody walking this earth.

“I already apologized , so there's no need for the smart remarks” I said with the best attitude voice I could muster out.

He wasn't about to be sassy with me...but he was now smiling from ear to ear exposing his pearly perfect smile which made my attitude go away for the moment. I realized now that his swag was screaming out that he was a man of importance and respect. I realized that because he had everyone that was within reach at attention with all eyes on us.

Before I could say anything else , Shay grabbed my arm and started walking away from the group while saying “My fault, we’ll just go..I’ll holla at you later Dre”

As we were walking back down the block towards the car, I could still hear them laughing.

“Shay, what the hell?” I said irritated. Mostly because she pulled me away from him.

“Maya ,out of all people to catch an attitude with, you had to go and catch it with him?” She said.

“What are you talkin’ bout Shay? Who is he?” I asked her back.

“That was Melo...anything moving in Brooklyn runs through him first..Head honcho. Without him, nobody eats… he got hittas on speed dial that would have your whole family in the river by sunset.” she responded back while quickening our pace.

Damn. Her answer surprised me...when I thought of what the plug looked like, I pictured someone looking like they were apart of the Mexican cartel or some Dominican looking dude like my pops. But what surprised me even more, was that now knowing this, it didn’t change anything for me. I was instantly attracted to him from the jump and that didn’t waver one bit. It actually made me want to know more about him.

I looked back at him before we hit the corner and to my delight he was looking back at me. We made eye contact before he disappeared from my view. I could've sworn I seen him grinning still and it made my heart flutter.

I knew then, that I had to see him again.