The Art of Falling | Szn 1, ep. One

Three years later…

Brother’s N’ Shit

Flashing yellow lights, accompanied by a loud buzzing as the jail gates opened, the only barrier that stood between Shameek and his freedom. Freedom he only had because of a technicality that, ever since the scandal that led to his release transpired, he’d thanked God for daily.

Rubbing his hands together to protect them from the frosty air, he released a breath and put one foot in front of the other, making his way toward the car awaiting him.

“My boy,” Hendric laughed, extending his hand as soon as Shameek climbed into the car. “It’s about time you joined the rest of the world, nigga. I was getting tired of making this trip and seeing you behind glass.”

“Man, listen. It’s been too fuckin’ long.”

“Who you telling?” Hendric said, maneuvering his car away from the curb. “What’s the first stop?”

“Run me by my spot right quick so I can pop up on Amber,” Shameek instructed, his blood boiling at the mention of her name.

Their goodbye exchange the night he’d been arrested was the last he’d seen or heard from her the entire time he was locked away. She hadn’t visited or answered any of his attempts to reach her. It was as though she’d completely erased him from her world—which he understood for the most part. He just wished she’d been woman enough to tell him face-to-face.

“What?” he said, noticing Hendric’s expression.

“A’ight, look. I haven’t said anything because you’ve been dealing with enough. But Amb ain’t really been around, Meek. She disappeared maybe a month after you got locked up.”

Shameek’s jaw ticked as he sat back in the seat, trying to understand how a woman he’d known for most of his life would disappear without a word. Her sketchy actions would make the average person wonder if she went missing because she played a role in him being arrested. He’d considered it himself, but talking to Hendric now, the timing didn’t make sense.

If he’d been set up and Amber had been involved, there would have been no reason for her to disappear years before his release. He'd been sentenced to ten years with no hope of seeing the light of day until his time was up. Two and two would have only equaled four to him if she went missing after hearing he was coming home early. So, for now, he was at a loss.

“You know what, fuck it,” he finally replied, shaking his head. “It is what it is. I’ma leave the past where it’s at.”

Hendric raised an eyebrow but didn’t press the subject further. “Cool. I didn't want to discuss any of this during our visits because I didn't know who might be listening, but I've been working to ensure you'd been straight when you got out. I moved all the cash out of you and Amb’s spot—”

“You went to the crib?”

“Nigga, how the fuck do you think I knew she disappeared? I dropped by a few times to ask if she needed anything because regardless of whether or not I thought she was good for you, that was your shorty. She was never there. So, after a month, I moved all the money you had hidden to my spot and paid the complex to break the lease with no problems.”

“How the hell did you pull that off?”

“Told them we were brothers and then fucked the leasing agent. It’s crazy what dick will make a bitch do.”

Shameek chuckled. “I see some things never change.”

“Aye,” Hendric said. “Focus. You know you can’t touch or spend the money right now without bringing attention to yourself. So my pops and I came up with a plan when you told me you were being released early. He’s down to list you as an employee at one of his dealerships as a front for you earning the bread and ensuring you can prove you have the income to get a new spot.”

“You know I appreciate it, bruh, but y’all don’t have to jump through those hoops for me. I—”

“Need to shut the fuck up because we’re family,” Dric interrupted. “If the roles were reversed, you’d have my back the same way I have yours. Don’t piss me off in this car, Meek.”

“You keep talking to me crazily, and I’ma fuck you up.”

“Yeah, yeah, whatever. You want to roll to look at a couple apartments around the way? Everything is pretty much the same and—”

“Actually,” Shameek interrupted. “You in the mood for a quick road trip?”

“Depending on how long this road trip is.”

“About threeish hours.”

“Boy,” Hendric shook his head. “I wouldn’t do this shit for anyone but you. Where the hell are we going?”

“Blue Note Falls,” Meek answered swiftly.

“And what is out there?”

“Gabriella has been in my ear about—”

Hendric’s eyebrows dipped as he maneuvered his vehicle onto the highway. “You and Ella been talking?”

“Yeah. She reached out when I got locked up, and we’ve been chopping it up. She’s been on me about jumping back onto the music scene ever since I told her I was getting out early.”

“Word. That’s what’s up.”

Turning, Shameek studied his friend’s behavior. “The fuck is up with you?”

“Nothing. And we might as well plan on staying overnight cause you still have to hit a couple stores so we can make sure you’re straight for the next couple weeks. Starting over after losing everything isn’t an easy hill to climb, Meek.”

“I know,” he murmured, growing serious. “I don’t even have words enough to express how much I appreciate you staying solid, Dric.”

“It’s nothing. We’ve been having each other’s backs since we were kids. Ain’t nothing changed.”

“You still rolling with Polo?” Shameek inquired, only to be met with silence. “Hendric.”

“That’s a conversation I don’t even want or need to get into, Meek. Polo’s still at the top, but a lot has changed since you’ve been gone. He was already off the wall, but that nigga changed for the worse after having a kid. And I ain’t ever let go of the idea of him having something to do with you being locked up.”

“I haven’t either, but I can’t think of a good reason for him fucking up his own operation. I was one of his top distributors, and he lost out on product when the cops seized it. Not to mention, I could have turned snitch.”

“And have fucked up my bread? Nigga I would have killed you.”

“Dric, focus,” Shameek laughed. “My point is, the risk outweighed the reward, and I can’t think of one solid reason for him to do that shit.”

“That nigga is nutty as fuck. He doesn’t need a reason to do stupid shit,” Hendric shook his head. “But it is what it is. He’s in your rearview, and that’s where he’s going to stay. You have way too much going for you to get caught back up in that bullshit.”

“And you don’t?”

“Let’s just focus on getting you back on your feet,” he cryptically replied, making Shameek wonder what was happening with his friend. “We can deal with everything else later.”

“A’ight. Bet.”

***

After a three-hour ride, a trip to the mall so Shameek could grab some clothes, and a check-in at the hotel where they’d be staying for the night, the two were on a hunt to find some food and finally catch a moment to breathe.

“I’m just saying, bruh,” Shameek laughed as they approached the doors of Bar-B-Qutie. “You didn’t have to cuss out shorty at the front desk.”

“The fuck if I didn’t when she was talkin’ out the side of her neck. I requested two separate rooms at check-in. Why the fuck would she assume we were together?” Hendric demanded as Shameek chortled.

"I mean, technically, she wasn't wrong."

"Meek, I will shoot you," Hendric grumbled. “Shorty's lucky Sisi ain’t with us, or I would have let her beat her ass.”

“Speaking of your sister,” Shameek said once they were inside the warm building. “How’s she been?”

“Man, off the fuckin’ chain. I warned my pop that they were being too lenient on her when she was a teen, and now that she’s about to turn twenty-one, her ass is out of control. She has me ready to strangle her every other day.”

“Damn, she’s wildin’ like that?”

“Dawg, we’d be here all night if I ran you the list of—”

Shameek’s attention diverted from a friend when he connected with a stranger who immediately stepped back as though she was repulsed at the thought of him touching her.

“My bad,” he held up his hands, unprepared for how his entire being shifted when his eyes met hers.

“Just watch where you’re going,” she snapped, storming past them before he could get a good enough look at her.

“Damn, who the fuck pissed in her cereal this morning?” Hendric frowned, watching as she exited the building.

“I don’t know, and I don’t care,” Shameek shrugged. “Anyway, what were you saying about Cersi?”