Ganja on Fourth Street

Chapter Twenty One

Laken Rivera

I didn't know what was going on. One minute I was sitting on the couch nearly passed out, next minute I feel a pang to the face and I'm on the floor. I heard a couple of clicks and some arguing.

"Shoot me, nigga! Shoot me!"

"Denver?" I recognized his voice.

"Just one flinch and ya brains gon' be all over this floor!" EJ yelled back.

I gasped and quickly got on my feet, standing in front of Denver holding my hands up to EJ, "don't shoot him!"

EJ looked at my funny, "the fuck?"

"Don't shoot him...it's okay."

"Okay? Laken he just fucking punched you in your face!" He yelled at me.

"It's okay, I'm fine."

"Fine?" He scoffed, "nah you stupid as fuck. You and this dumb ass nigga can get the fuck out!"

"EJ---"

He held the gun up again, pointing directly at me. Only the faint beat of his music could be heard as we stood there. I shook my head and left the apartment with Denver behind me.

As we got to the main floor I heard Denver mumble, "stupid ass."

He grabbed my shoulder and turned me around, slapping me once again. I screamed and moved back from him, holding my face.

"This what the fuck you been doing! Walking around here making me look stupid!" He yelled.

He stared at me crying. He grunted and wrapped his hands around my neck, pushing me back into the wall. I screamed before getting silenced by the lack of air. I tried to pry his fingers off as he tighten his grip, muttering hateful things to me.

The suffocation slowly started to set as I looked in his eyes. I've never seen Denver so angry or see him this violent. A couple seconds later, a few officers came into the building and ran over to him, hustling him off of me. I held my neck and rubbed it as I coughed a little to catch my breath. I looked at him in disbelief.

"Fucking loved your ass." He mumbled to me as they took him to the door.

"Fuck you." I hissed at him as I kept rubbing my neck, rushing out of the apartment  as they took him away.

Couple days later...

I sat down in the park with Xae as we waited for his friends to come chill.  I've spent my whole day in the park, getting endless stares from people who noticed the dark red bruise along my cheekbone and red finger marks on my neck.

"You good?" Xae looked over to me.

I shrugged, "I guess."

"Don't be afraid to tell these niggas mind they business and stop staring at you." He said, also noticing the amount of people were looking at me.

"Nah, let them stare. Here come ya' friends." I said, pointing to the group coming over together.

"Hey Laken! Haven't seen you in a min---what the hell?" Brandee said as her eyes bulged out at the sight of my bruises.