SUMMER 1983

Nicole raised an eyebrow at the knock on the front door. It was early morning and no one was home but her. She peered through the window and gasped. Franklin stood on her porch beaten and bruised.

"What the fuck?" Nicole led him to the couch watching him grunt in pain.

Franklin held his bleeding face, "I got jacked."

"And you couldn't go home?" Nicole asked returning back to the living room with a first aid kit.

Franklin tried to laugh but coughed, "I figured it's easier if I came here. Moms would have a fit if she saw my face like that."

Nicole grimaced as she dabbed the cold paper towel on his face. Franklin winced from the contact. "What did they steal?"

Franklin was silent for a second. He was testing her, "My motorcycle and my bag."

Nicole whistled, "Damn, I won't even ask what was in the bag. Here."

She handed him a bag of frozen peas before cleaning up the mess. Franklin cleared his throat, "Can you take me to Leon's?"

Nicole laughed, "Is that why you came here? Cuz you know I have a car?"

...

Nicole and Franklin rolled up to the projects. Kids seemed to ignore the cars rolling through as they skipped in the street. The California heat was raining down on them, "Leon still lives in the PJ's huh?"

Nicole wiped her sweating forehead as they exited the car. "Wait here."

She nodded watching as Franklin went to his friend's apartment. Nicole's ear perked up when she heard them approaching the car, "Nigga, why you bring her here?"

Nicole opened the car door, "Hi, Leon. It's nice to see you too."

The boy looked at her with energy she couldn't quite read. He sighed getting in the back of the car. Franklin gave Nicole a sincere look, "Where are we going?"

"You remember Karvel?" Leon leaned forward finally giving the girl some time of day.

Nicole nodded, "Yeah, my cousins used to run with him back in the day."

"He's gonna help me get my shit back." Franklin sounded determined. Nicole sighed pressing on the gas. The sooner this was over the better.

...

"Stay here," Leon told Nicole as the three men exited the car.

She sucked her teeth, "For what? If they just took his motorcycle why I gotta stay in the car."

Without another word, Leon slammed the car door shut silencing her. Nicole watched through the window as Karvel knocked on the door. She squinted trying to make out their conversation.

She took the time to exit the car and stalk towards the back. She could hear Karvel shouting with another guy inside. The back door was ajar giving her access inside. Nicole wandered lightly to the living room where the guy was shouting at Karvel with the door closed.

Her eyes blinked when she saw the gun on the table. Picking it up she clicked the safety off. The man instantly stopped talking and turned around. Nicole smiled, "Open the door would you?"

Slowly he followed her directions. Karvel and the guys peered inside surprisingly. She pointed the gun back at him, "Sit down, please."

Franklin closed the door. Karvel and Leon began tying the man up to a chair. Nicole gulped as she placed the gun out of sight. Leon looked at Franklin before looking at the girl. She still had the hood in her blood.

"Still think I'm not useful?" Nicole asked playfully.

Hours seemed to pass as Nicole watched them beat the man before them. She averted her eyes and tried to ignore his screams and pleas. It wasn't until Karvel took the man inside the bedroom and shut the door that she popped up.

"Franklin, what the fuck is he hiding?" Nicole wanted answers.

He sighed making his jaw tick, "Cash. A lot of it."

"What you into drugs now?" Nicole stated the obvious.

Leon elbowed the girl before lowering his voice, "We trynna get this money and that's it."

The squeaking from the bed caught their attention. Nicole looked towards the closed door, "What's he doing to him?"

"It ain't what he's doing to him. He's giving it to him." Leon replied not wanting to open the door.

After Karvel was finished the door opened revealing the man crying in pain on the bed. His hands were tied behind his back. Karvel dug through Franklin's bag.

"Just a few grand huh?" Karvel's rhetorical question sent warning sirens in Nicole's head.

"Hold up, that's my money Karvel." Franklin stepped up reaching for the bag.

Karvel looked at the cash before shaking his head. He eyed the gun on the table before walking outside leaving them alone. Nicole let out a breath she didn't know she was holding, "Now what?"

...

Nicole pulled back up to her neighborhood with Franklin and Leon, "We'll figure something out Franklin."

The dejected boy nodded before exiting the car without another word. Nicole eyed Leon from the rearview mirror, "You want me to drop you off somewhere or.."

Leon shook his head, "Nah. I'm cool."

Nicole put the car in park and stumbled out feeling drained, "Well okay. You can come inside you know."

Leon followed taking a look around the house, "Damn, shit still looks the same."

Nicole giggled opening the fridge, "When was the last time you were here?"

Leon shrugged standing next to her at the kitchen counter. The house was quiet and left little to imagine. "Before you left. I remember you sat me down at the table and in your high-pitched voice told me you was going away."

Nicole pushed his shoulder, "Man shut up. If anything I told you I got an opportunity and I made it."

"Right. How is that working for you. Cuz you right back in here the hood with us." Leon tapped her arm before moving to the front door.

Nicole rolled her eyes when he slammed the door shut. "I thought we was getting somewhere. Guess not."

Authors Note:

some chapters will be based on off original Snowfall episodes/therories

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