Free Tampa Black: Part ! by Unknown

Before he could get any deeper into his prayer, he felt Tasha softly pinch his thigh.
    “What are you thinking about baby?”
    Opening his eyes, Trion kissed her on the neck and looked out at the ocean as the tide begin to roll in.
    “Just the future bae.”
    Tasha knew the toll that the war in the streets were taking on her man, but deep inside she prayed that it would be over soon; so they could move on with their life as a family.
    On the way back to Tampa, Trion drove down Main Street before turning into the projects. Every Sunday was like a holiday driving through the bricks, and tonight was no different. Pulling up on Spruce Street, he pulled in; and parked behind an electric blue 1974 Impala sitting on some 28 inch Assassins. As Trion’s head lights illuminated the interior, the unmistakable pattern of Burberry could be seen etched into the car upholstery through the back window.
    Getting out of the car, Trion and Tasha walked past a 10-man c-lo game. Money and empty beer bottles clutter the walk as the couple stepped over a few objects heading to their destination.  Dressed in a cream colored pair of Giorgio Armani slacks, Trion wore an eggshell white Armani dress shirt, and a pair of eggshell white Armani loafers. Standing out like a ghetto superstar, Tasha complimented her man by looking flawless in her hip hugging Fendi summer dress, and Fendi stilettos.
    Seeing his cousin Tonya step out of her crowded project apartment, there was no mistaking that there was a party going on. The occasion was life. In the eyes of the streets, everyday above the ground is a holiday, so that's how the residence of West Tampa lived; one day at a time. Noticing her cousin and his girlfriend walking towards her, Tonya begin to smile as she opened her arms and ran towards Trion screaming.
    “Oh… my… God!... Trion! ...”
    Hugging his crazy cousin, Trion noticed two shadows moving in the darkness on the side of the building. Looking over his cousin’s shoulder, he strained to make out who the shadows belonged to. Stepping back; he looked down at Tonya, and smiled.
    “What's up cuz?”
    Torn between talking to her favorite cousins, and getting the money that her sugar daddy had promised her if she came to see him; Tonya chose the latter.
    “Hey cuz, look I gotta go, but y’all gone on in and have fun. There is a full bar, and plenty of drinks and food.”          
    Before letting his cousin leave, Trion kissed her on the forehead,
    “be safe cuz.”
    Breaking the hug, Tonya looked at him with a devilish smile.
    “I'm always safe cuz.”
    Walking away, Tonya looked back over her shoulder.
    “You need to talk to your mannish ass cousin. He over there on the side of the building getting his freak on like he's too broke to get a hotel room. His behind gone catch something if he keeps playing. Watch ...”
    Hopping into her Kia sports truck, Tonya turned up her system as she pulled off bobbing her head to an underground throwback Jackie-o mixed tape. Looking at Tasha, Trion began to shake his head and smile.
    “That girl is crazy.”
    Stepping into the small apartment was like stepping into an overcrowded family reunion, bodies were everywhere. There were so many different aromas of marijuana in the air that even if you didn't smoke, your piss would undoubtedly be dirty for the next 30 days. The party was in full swing, and like any other hood celebrities; Trion and Tasha were bombarded with handshakes, and hugs as soon as they arrived. As the ladies whisked Tasha way laughing and asking a million questions about everything from her outfit for her due date, Trion’s cousin Carlos walked up with his eyes so low that you could hardly tell if they were open.
    “What up dog?”
    Carlos’s drawl was so low and drawn out that it was almost a slur. Smiling and shaking his head, Trion gave his cousin a pound.
    “I’m good my nigga, but you look like you're doing better ...”
    Both of them laughed knowing that the weed