Gangsta's Paradise

She's Different

Samantha

Man, when Nip sees Lauren's face, he is going to freak. That nigga tried to slap the fire out of Lauren! His fucking hand print is even showing up. Emani has been holding an ice pack to her face. They're so cute. Emani has perked up considerably being around Lauren. They've been talking and laughing since we got to my house.

"Mani, hold it just a little more. We gonna have to put some makeup on it."
"Daddy is going to flip out Auntie Sam."
"I know. But maybe he won't notice?"
"Nope. Daddy notices everything about Lolo."

Ermy can't stand Eric. He's known him since they were children. They were even in the same gang. But Nip never liked Eric because he always tried to get him in trouble. If you ask me, Eric has always been jealous of Nip. Eric got in trouble a few years back and we all thought he would be locked up for a long ass time. But then he was released after only two years. Word in the hood is that he snitched. Because a few months after he got picked up, at least eight other people did too.
I got a warm rag and sat next to Lauren. I can't lie, sis a G. She ate that slap and didn't back down. And the fact that she did it to protect Emani, touched my heart. I really want for Nip to get custody so him and Lauren can raise her together. And with this recent shit that Tanisha pulled, we certainly got enough ammunition.
Nip has called me twice but I didn't pick up. Mostly because I know he's going to flip his shit once he finds out everything. And the fact that I didn't tell him... oh my God. I took the rag and placed it on Lauren's cheek and she sucked in a breath. I gave her an apologetic look.

"Sorry Lo. I'm trying to get the swelling down."
"That mothafucka hit hard as shit."
"But girl, you a bad bitch because you didn't flinch! I was like okay sis! Damn right!"
"Can't show these niggas no fear."
"I got to tell Nip he got him a rida."
"I saw him stepping to Emani. And my instincts took over."
"Mama bear type shit. I understand it."
"Who was that anyway? He said your name?"
"Eric Holder. He grew up with us, well Nip. He's a bitch nigga though. He'll probably be ghost for a minute cause he knows he done fucked up."
"I don't want Nip getting into anything..."
"Girl please, you don't know your man. He's protective as fuck and over you, he might just kill a nigga."
"I don't want him to do anything like that."

There was a knock on my door and I got up to see who it was. I told Emani to go out back and play with the kids. Blacc Sam was standing there so I rolled my eyes and opened the door. Him and Dominique used to mess around so I knew she had probably called him too. I opened the door and he rushed in, closing the door behind him.

"Man, What the fuck is going on?"
"Tanisha's bitch ass! She left Emani home alone for two damn days!"
"That bitch is a sick mothafucka. Where Mani at?"
"Outside with the kids. She's okay but we got another problem."
"What?"
"Eric was at the park and he grabbed on Lo-,"
"Wait, Lauren was with you?"
"Yeah, we were hanging out when I got the call."
"Okay, go on."
"Well, he was at the park and grabbed on Lauren's arm as we were leaving. I told him to let her go and Emani said some shit to him and he was acting like he was going to walk up on her. So Lauren stood in front of her and pushed him back and he slapped her. I mean SLAPPED her! Now her cheek is swollen-,"
"Are you fucking kidding me? Where she at?"
"In the living room on the couch."

He walked in and turned on the light. We both winced and let out a whistle when we saw her face. He sat by her and tried to gently grab her face but it still caused her to flinch.

"Damn Lo. You good?"
"It hurts like hell Blacc."
"Yeah, it look like it. You still cute but damn!"
"Gee, thanks Blacc."
"Sam, you ain't got nothing that can make it go down? Cause you know when that nigga sees this, all hell gonna break loose!"
"I've been trying! I might put makeup on it."
"No offense sis, but that ain't gonna work. He know his woman."
"Trust me, I know."
"In fact, this that nigga right now."

I tried to gesture to tell Blacc to stall him a little bit but I rolled my eyes as he told him exactly where we were. He hung up the phone and shrugged his shoulders.

"You know that nigga got ears and eyes everywhere. Especially with the gang. Might as well get this shit over with."
"Lo, you good?"
"Yeah, you got any Tylenol?"

I gave her two Tylenol pills while Blacc laid Lo down. I saw his truck pull up in the yard and I took a deep breath. He knocked on the door and I let him in. He looked at me.

"Why you nor Lauren been answering y'all damn phones?"
"I didn't hear it."
"So neither one of y'all niggas heard y'all phone? Where she at anyway?"
"Laying over there on the sofa. Look, Ermy, I got something to tell you..."
"DADDY!!!"
"What is Emani doing here? That bitch dropped her off again?!"
"Ermy-,"
"Daddy, I tried to make Lolo feel better but her face is really messed up. It started swelling."
"Fuck is she talking 'bout Samantha? What's wrong with Lauren's face?!"
"I got a call about Emani missing so we-,"
"Wait, what the fuck?"
"Damn Ermias! You gonna let me explain or not?"
"Please do. Emani go play."

He put her down and she ran outside. Nip went to walk over to Lauren who was now asleep but Samantha stopped him. Blacc walked up and put his arm around his shoulder, walking him to the kitchen table. I took a deep breath.

"What's going on?"
"I got a call earlier today about Emani missing-,"
"WHAT?!!!"
"Emani was missing so Lauren and I went to see what was going on. Dom said Tanisha left Emani in the house for two days alone. So Lauren and I went and found her at the park..."
"I'M GONNA KILL THAT BITCH!"
"So when we found her, Eric was there-."
"What the fuck??!"
"So he grabbed Lauren, and he tried to walk up on Emani and Lauren pushed him and he slapped her."
"TWO DEAD MOTHAFUCKAS!! Where my baby?"

He rushed over to Lauren and pulled her into his arms. He turned her over to face him and he saw her face. He started cussing and yelling and I wanted to hide. My brother is scary. He kissed her lips and cupped her cheek. That's when I knew: Lauren is different. Very different.