“He’s your daddy, Boog, not mine,” Hendrix shot back, calling her by the nickname he had given her. Girls around the way called her bougie. They meant it as an insult, one they could joke about and pretend it was love when really it was a bit of hate laced in the undertone. Henny peeped game and instantly shortened it, calling her Boog, making it cool. The most popular boy on the block, giving her clout because hood niggas wanted bougie girls anyway. It didn’t take long for the name to stick and others to follow suit.

“He gave you a job. I don’t understand why you still want to be out there with the Crew,” Bella stated.

“Ethic look out for me. Keep me in the books, helped me get my GED and all that, showing me about managing money and investing and shit. I got to have something to invest, though, smart girl. Them eighteen dollars an hour on some part-time shit ain’t going to get me nothing close to what your daddy got you used to. I got to make my own way on the block, earn my respect, so when it’s time for the real world your pops teaching me about, I’m ready. I got to make it out the hood first, though, before I can think about the shit Ethic’s teaching me. It ain’t forever, but I got to stack right now. Real paper, not no nine-to-five shit.”

“If something happens to you—”

“Nothing’s gonna happen, Bella. Come on. I didn’t come all the way out here for no speeches.”

“Well, stop doing dumb stuff, and I can stop giving them,” Bella said. Her body language was everything as she leaned closer to the door and crossed her arms across her chest.

“You know I hate when you mad, Boog,” Henny said, smirking. “You get real mean, and your nostrils start flaring.” Henny teased Bella, sticking his finger up her nose. She slapped his hand away.

“Stooop, Hendrix!” she cried out. “You play too much!”

She swatted his hand, and he kept bypassing her protests, aiming for her nose until she fell into laughter. She grabbed his finger tightly. “I’m going to break it.”

“Pretty girl love breaking shit. Hearts and all,” he said. He leaned across the armrest and planted a kiss to her cheek. Bella turned suddenly to give him her lips. He pulled back in surprise, and Bella blushed as she lowered her head.

“You got to stay focused, Hendrix,” Bella said. “You’re more than a dope boy. I wouldn’t love a dope boy like this.”

His eyes widened. He was taken aback by her candor. “I luh you too. More than everybody.”

A true teenage love affair.