Zero Degrees Part 1

Chapter 5

1996

Peaches was pacing back and forth nervously because Buff and Zeus were coming for their first visit. Buff had already seen plenty of pictures of her and thought she was fine. I had no idea why she was tripping so hard. Over the past couple years she’d put on about ten pounds and was proud of her thicker frame. She had wash board abs that she maintained by doing one hundred crunches before she went to bed at night. After washing her hair and pressing it out bone straight she put on some mascara, eye shadow and some shimmering lip gloss.

My hair had grown out pass my shoulders and I decided to wear it naturally curly. I didn’t do make up at all, but put on some clear lip gloss. My pouty, thick lips would give him something to think about when he left. I was now 5’6 and weighed a tight, curvy 135 lbs. Shit, I had ass for days and firm, perky breasts like my mother. I knew that if all else failed on the outside, I’d have my looks to fall back on. It was just a thought. There was no way I’d sell my soul or ass for money, but I figured I could use my looks in other ways.

“Chill Peaches, damn. You look fine,” I told her in annoyance.

She sighed. “Where’s Teena?”

“In the restroom,” I said reading an issue of Vibe. Tupac had been murdered and that shit had me all f*cked up. I was reading the article about his untimely death and he was on the cover looking fine as hell. I just thought he was so sexy and I loved his lyrics. It was as if we were kindred spirits because he spit my pain in his verses. He would’ve been the perfect boyfriend, because he was a thug with a sensitive side. Why did a sensitive man appeal to me when I wasn’t really that sensitive at all? Maybe someone like him would balance me out.

“You think they’re still coming?” She asked anxiously.

I rolled my eyes at her and shook my head. “They’re coming.”

Mrs. McGee walked into the cottage. Peaches and I had been moved to the same cottage two months earlier thanks to her. Next thing we knew Teena came a few days later. Mrs. McGee had pulled some strings to get us back together. We were finally growing up and she felt that we deserved it. We’d earned our respect and were examples for the new girls who came into the camp. Plus, we were all getting out within a year and we didn’t want to f*ck it up.

“Ladies, there’re two very handsome young men in the visitation room waiting for you.” She was grinning from ear to ear. Winking at us, she turned and walked out.

“Shit,” Peaches panicked. “I wanted to ask Teena how I look. She likes p-ssy, so she’ll tell me the truth.”

I laughed and pulled her. It had been three years since I’d seen Buff and Zeus in person. Of course they’d sent pictures, but that wasn’t the same. When I spotted them my heart melted. It had been so long. I walked over and hugged Buff first and Peaches stood back to give us a moment. He’d finally made it to Zeus’s status in the looks department. He’d matured and his body was just as built and toned as his brother’s.

“What’s up lil’ girl?” He grinned showing his dimples and straight, white teeth. “You lookin’ good Killa. Growing on up I see.”

“I missed you Buff.”

“I missed you too Zero, for real.”

I pulled away and looked at Zeus. He was even finer and I didn’t think that was humanly possible. I felt like I couldn’t breath as I stepped aside so Peaches and Buff could get acquainted. As I hugged the sexy, chocolate man I’d been in love with since the moment I saw him, I felt his hand travel up and down my back. I wished I didn’t have on a simple pair of jeans and Air Ones. I felt so young and boyish, but Zeus was looking at me like I was a woman.

“You’re lookin’ good Ze,” he said grinning. He had pretty white teeth and dimples too. I fell in love with him all over again. How someone with a heart of stone like mine could feel that was beyond me.

“You too Zeus.” I cleared my throat. “Let’s sit down. They’re gonna come over and break us up in a minute.”

We sat down and everyone was silent for a minute. I glanced at Buff who was staring into Peaches’s gray eyes like he was hypnotized. “You’re even sexier in person than you are in your pictures,” he said like he was out of breath. “Damn, now I want some naked pictures.”

Zeus chuckled. “I bet he thinks he’s really mackin’ over there.”

We all laughed as he clowned Buff’s talk game.

“I’m just sayin’ shorty’s gorgeous. When you get outta this muf*cka I’m goin’ wife you up. You comin’ to live wit’ me, shit.” He was holding her hand like they were already an official couple. “Mind your business Zeus,” he added.

By the end of the visit I had talked to Zeus about everything under the sun. It turned out that he was into a lot of things I liked. He was a sensitive thug, like Pac.

Before they left Zeus went to the restroom and I showed Buff a picture my mom had given me on her last visit. It was a picture of my uncles and two of the men my mom thought killed them and my father.

“Take this and find out whatever you can about them. Their names and everything else you need to know is written on the back.”

“Gorge and Jose Gutierrez. Okay, you know me and my brother will do anything for you. Your mama broke bread with me and gave me that work. A nigga ain’t looked back since,” Buff said putting the picture in the pocket of his jeans.

Suddenly he looked really serious and his brow formed a tight line across his forehead as he asked, “Why do you wanna find them?”

“We can’t discuss that right now. Just know that I have a good reason. My birthday’s in a few months and I’ll be released soon after that. In the meantime do whatever you have to do to get some info for me. Ya’ll deal in the same trade and you never know who you’re connected with,” I explained.

His eyes sparkled with mischief. “A’ight Zero, anything for you Killa.”

We hugged and then I turned my attention back to Zeus who’d returned to the table. He hugged me tightly before giving me a soft peck on my lips. “A few more months baby,” he whispered in my ear.

Time couldn’t go by fast enough.