SUMMER 1983

Nicole eyed Leon from across the dingy room. He was avoiding her. Franklin snapped his fingers in her face catching her attention, "Like I said, we keeping this shit in the fam."

The apartment was almost vacant. The paint was peeling off the walls and the sink dripped frequently. Nicole looked up at the ceiling watching the dark brown water spots spread. She wouldn't have been there if it wasn't for Leon's invitation.

"Rule number one, don't get high on your own supply." Franklin announced earning a snicker from Kevin.

"How we supposed to sell this shit if we don't even know what it feel like." Leon questioned making Franklin turn around.

"Don't ever do it. This ain't no game." Franklin said seriously. 

"And we supposed to cook it up too?" Aunt Louie asked.

Uncle Jerome crossed his arms over his chest, "And how long we supposed to cook this shit?"

"Y'all asking too many questions. We here to work and get rich, that's it." Nicole voiced tired of the bickering.

Franklin pointed to her, "See! This is what I'm talking about. Money. Freedom. Watch real close cause I'm not telling y'all again."

Nicole tied a scarf around her face just like the others. It was like magic. She watched as Franklin voiced the directions and then turned to the stove holding the glass container into the water. The group stared at the table once the job was finished. The cocaine turned into crack. The white rocks seemed to sparkle in the low light. 

"Damn, that's all it cooks down to?" 

"It's small but it's potent." 

Nicole followed the group outside to the apartment parking lot. She had a lot on her mind. Between her new degree and this new drug, she couldn't decide what she wanted to do. Leon crossed her mind too as he came into her vision. She stepped out to touch him when she heard a loud voice by his car.

"Hey Lee!" The ecstatic girl shouted jumping up and down as he spun her around.

She was beautiful in a sense. Leon smiled kissing her lips. Nicole looked away feeling sick. He was playing right in her face. 

Franklin pulled her aside despite her anger. Her back hit her car window, "What Saint?"

"Don't worry about Leon. There's gonna be some things we do and see that will fuck with us. I need you by my side, Cole."

She paused to process what he was saying, "Whatchu mean?"

"You got that fancy finance degree right?"

She nodded. Franklin smiled touching her chin, "When the money comes in..."

Nicole filled in his words, "I got it. I'll take care of it."

...

Her father, Julius, sat at the table reading a newspaper, "Cola, where you been? It's late."

She sniffled eyeing his police badge and gun on the kitchen table. "Out. Why?"

"You can't keep running in and out of this house without letting somebody know." Her father's dark skin seemed to turn evil in the midnight sky easing through the kitchen window. 

"I'm nineteen. Didn't think I needed to check in." Nicole was growing irritated with her father as the days went by.

He slammed his hand on the table making her jump, "You will follow the rules under this house or you can get out."

"I know the rules, Dad."

He folded the newspaper back into its crisp squares, "And what's this I hear you hanging out with Leon again?"

Nicole turned around to face him, "You following me now?"

Her father turned around, "No. But I do have eyes everywhere."

"He's changed. And it's not like I'm hanging out with him, it's the group." Nicole was trying to convince herself and her father at the same time. 

Julius shook his head, "If I catch you around him again, I'll shoot him my damn self."

Nicole tried to hide her shaky feelings as she stood on the dark block of the projects with Leon and Kevin. It was her first time on the block and her adrenaline was racing. 

"He got us giving this shit out for free," Kevin said angrily as feinds approached them. They'd take anything free.

Nicole plastered on her poker face as she gave out the free baggies, "It's simple supply and demand."

Kevin waved her off, "Not everybody got a fancy college degree."

Nicole rolled her eyes, "Listen, we give them a free taste. Shit is pure as fuck. They come back running. Supply and demand. Or don't tell me you're jealous that Franklin put us here."

Before Kevin could respond, Leon cut him off, "Man get back to work. I'm tired of y'all fucking arguing."

...

The next afternoon, Nicole jumped when hard knocks sounded at her window. She sat up and checked her clock, it was after 2pm. "Shit."

Franklin stood in front of her window trying to peer inside, "Cole!"

She moved the curtain out of view, "What nigga?"

The boy smiled, "It worked! 

"Franklin, I just woke up. You gotta be specific." Nicole rubbed her tired eyes, being on the streets so late at night wasn't helping her sleep schedule.

"The free crack idea. The shit worked. Leon said fiends were crawling still looking for that shit. Tonight, I need y'all to hit the streets. Start selling that shit for cheap before it hits the streets." She could see stars in Franklin's eyes, more like dollar signs. 

"And how are we supposed to keep up with high demand? We only had a few keys." 

He smiled even wider, "I got a connect."

Nicole leaned her pounding head against the window pane. Franklin hit her arm, "Get your head in the fucking game Nicole."

She looked over her shoulder making sure her door was locked, "Alright, Franklin. Damn, can I breathe for a second?"

"After today, no."

A dark feeling passed over her as she nodded, "Family meeting tonight? We should discuss the financial means for everybody involved."

Franklin nodded, "Make sure you go see Leon. I need a team of soldiers. Can't have y'all out here doing my dirty work anymore."

His words made her crack a smile since she woke up, "Aight. I'll handle it."

Franklin held out his hand egging her on to complete their handshake. She giggled going along with it. Franklin was one of her best friends at nothing would change that. If she was in it, she'd have to commit no matter what happens. 

Authors Note:

besties I'll be deviating from the actual plot of the show for some chapters

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