SUMMER 1983

"Freeze fool." Mel pointed a fake handgun at Nicole as Franklin stood at the cash register.

Nicole laughed, "Drop that fake ass gun, damn."

Franklin smiled a bit enamored by the girl. "Y'all come in my store, underage at that, trynna buy some liquor."

Nicole leaned against the counter, "You gone let us buy it or what?"

Franklin rung it up and bagged it before returning to his duties, "Y'all going to Jerome's party this week?"

Nicole watched their interaction cutely, "Yeah. Jerome is like my uncle for real."

Melody giggled, "Franklin why you don't drink?"

The dark skin boy shrugged, "I don't know. It makes you all tired and sluggish and shit."

"So what does make you feel good?" Her voice came out sultry yet seductive.

"Working." Franklin's answer was simple.

"What like this job?"

"no making money. getting paid."

"What's the point of you going to that fancy school in the valley if you was gone end up back here."

Nicole's jaw ticked. "So what do you want in life, Franklin?"

"Freedom. Freedom from it all." He replied getting back to his sweeping.

Bangs at the front door drew the trio from their somewhat deep conversation. Shouts from the glass door could be heard, "Why is my shop closed!"

Nicole laughed pushing Mel from the view of the door. Franklin peeked around the corner but smiled noticing Kevin and Leon looking through the glass. They entered playing loud music. Nicole rolled her eyes, "Do you always have to enter so loud?"

He smiled turning up the music. "What's up, Mel."

Kevin nudged Nicole, "Damn, Cola you always this uptight?"

Nicole nudged him back, "Get off me."

Leon danced in front of Nicole causing sweet giggles to escape her lips. "Come on, you know you wanna dance."

She smiled taking his hand.

...

The sounds of fireworks made Nicole duck as she walked through the crowded front lawn, "Uncle Jerome, it ain't even nighttime yet!"

The loud man laughed lifting the grill, "Well, if it's time for fireworks, let them shoot 'em off!"

Nicole laughed digging through the coolers full of ice for a soda. She sat on the porch with Mel, "You sure you're daddy said it's okay for you to be here?"

Crystal sat on the couch behind them eavesdropping with her daughter bouncing around. "Yeah, cuz we know how that goes."

Melody turned to give Crystal a dirty look, "My daddy doesn't know I'm here."

Nicole shook her head and cracked open the can of soda. The sun was at its peak. Sweat dripped down her back. LA seemed like it was getting hotter by the minute. Nicole scanned through the people walking back and forth across the lawn.

"Looking for Leon?" Bethany, Nicole's younger sister asked sitting next to them on the porch.

Nicole wanted to spit back instantly, "And are you looking for Franklin?"

Her statement made Melody look at them both. Everybody on the block knew Franklin was Mel's. Bethany sucked her teeth, "Chill, Cola I was just playing."

Soon enough the sun set and colorful fireworks charged off the residence. Franklin appeared to watch them. Nicole bumped her hip against his catching his attention, "Where the hell have you been?"

Franklin smiled, looking at his mother, Cissy Saint, across the lawn before looking down at Nicole, "Took care of some things."

She lowered her voice, "Karvel?"

Franklin shrugged, "Maybe. Look after today, I gotta talk to you."

"Okay." Nicole left him alone standing with her sisters as they watched the fireworks.

Red and blue sirens clashed with the loud pops of the fireworks. The group turned around noticing a few cop cars. Nicole pushed Bethany behind her.

"We got a call about fireworks. You know they're illegal?" The white cop asked the crowd.

Uncle Jerome pushed through, "And why can't we do it from my house that I pay for?"

Cissy Saint held onto his bicep before smiling at the officer, "We do it every year. Is there a problem?"

Before Nicole could even hear what happened Franklin was all in the cop's face. Cissy pulled him back but he continued shouting obscenities at the officer, "What? You just like terrorizing us now?"

Nicole jumped when the officer pushed Franklin to the ground. Andre, Melody's father jumped out of the cop car afraid for Franklin. Cissy tried to shield Franklin but it was no use. He had already pushed it too far.

Nicole saw her father standing next to Andre. "Dad do something."

He turned towards her with furrowed brows, "Cola? What are you doing here?"

But the beatings continued, ignoring the pleas to stop. Nicole covered her ears as they drove away still trying to get the sounds of Franklin screaming from her mind.

...

Nicole jumped when her window cracked open. Leon hopped through trying not to make a sound. She sat up and went to lock the door, "Leon? What the fuck man?"

He flashed her his famous playboy smile, "I missed the fireworks."

"And you missed Franklin getting beat down by the police."

Leon took his shoes off shocked, "What?"

Nicole shushed him trying to listen out for her parents. Leon waved a hand at the door, "Ain't nobody coming in here."

Nicole rolled her eyes ignoring the way he looked at her. She desperately needed to buy new pajamas. Only dressed in a tank top and her pink panties she felt exposed, "What Leon?"

"Come here." He whispered taking his shirt off.

Nicole stood in between his legs while he sat at the bottom of her bed. Her skin sizzled when his hands raked through her curves. He kissed her exposed skin, "I missed you."

"You didn't exactly call me while I was away." Nicole pushed him back onto the bed. They lay side by side staring at each other.

Leon shrugged, "Once you left I got sent to juvie."

"For what?" Nicole's voice was sweet yet endearing.

"Don't wanna talk about it." Nicole could see thoughts racing through his mind.

She sat up pulling the covers over both of them, "Did y'all go see Karvel today? Heard he decked out a car with Franklin's money."

Leon snickered, "Yeah."

Nicole waited for him to continue, "And?"

"I can't say much. Just know we won't have a problem with him again." Leon said kissing her cheek and turning over, "Get some sleep."

The next morning, Nicole woke up alone, her bed empty and cold. He didn't even leave a note. She sat up rubbing her eyes, "Fuck."

Authors Note:

hi loves, sorry I've been absent

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