"Jamal, what would I do without you?" those words played over and over in my head all night. Chantel's voice had so much hurt in it. It wounded me to see her hurt. I had known her since we were in 5th grade; back then she would bully me because I sucked at "Down by the Lake". It wasn't long before I out smarted the bully though. Back then she was stronger than me, but I was faster. I still tease her now about how she hits like a man. Back then though, brace face had me running scared. I remember many a days she would sneak up on me and sock me in the arm. "Damn Brace Face" is all I would say and take off running. She only chased me twice though, I guessed she figured out she couldn't catch me pretty quick.
That was my life all of fifth grade, I was in a hit and run relationship and didn't even know it. Sixth grade changed our relationship though, it was the first week of school and we got on the bus to head home. My friend Nelson and I had found or seat for the year, or so we thought. I was approached by an 8th grader looked to be on someone's high school varsity football team. Low and behold the mother fucker had flunked twice.
"Yo, this is my seat." He said with this deep ass voice.
"I don't see you name on it" I shot back. He cocked his arm back, but before he could get good momentum Chantel swung on him. He turned to her and I jumped up, needless to say we whooped his ass thoroughly. That changed everything in our hit run relationship.
We began hanging pretty heavy after that tag team showing. I would always be at her house just cooling, our favorite pass time was watching 106 & Park. It had just came out, I'm talking AJ & Free, with her fine ass. I would eat dinner her, her mom, and sister I mean our friendship really blossomed. We used to play fight, talk people we liked, what high school we wanted to go to, all kinds of shit.
Over the years I had witnessed my best friends heart be stepped on, broken, shredded, and torn to pieces. I had seen her date guys I knew where no good for her, I seen her date guys whom she was out of their league, I had seen it all. As a friend all I could do is be by her side and help her pick up the pieces of her heart. Each the pieces got smaller and smaller and we'd find fewer pieces each time. I wanted my friend to win so bad, but she often struck out in the love department. No matter how many times she would fall I would always be there for her; that was the promise I made to myself.
That night I couldn't sleep, I couldn't help but hurt for my dawg. I couldn't help but wonder how much of her heart would we be able to salvage this time around. I was prepared as always but I would be lying if I said I wasn't tired of seeing her hurt like she had all these years.
