The Heist

part six

"Mani," Kehlani mutters. "You fucked up. The girl has never gone this long without speaking to you." The darker girl sips her Heineken beer, looking around nervously. Lauren had been giving her the silent treatment all week, shooting her glares occasionally. She was stuck to Dinah's side the entire time, always whispering something.

"I know," She agrees, taking another large gulp of beer.

The front door opens, and the Polynesian and Cuban girl enter their temporary beachside home. Lauren places the groceries on the counter before heading upstairs. She smells like cigarettes, the box peeking out of her jacket pocket.

"Lo," Normani tries, going after her girl. "Please talk to me." The paler girl keeps walking, ignoring her.

"Lauren please," The darker girl begs, grabbing her wrist. "Hear me out."

"What Normani?" Lauren snaps. "What do you want?"

"I want to apologize," She confesses. "I went too far last time, and I'm sorry. It's just, you're so lucky Lo."

"Lucky?" Lauren scoffs. "I was abused as a child. How is that lucky?"

"Fuck your parents," The darker girl dismisses. "I'm talking about your siblings. They actually care enough about you to check in on you, and to wish you happy birthdays. They actually want to be involved in your life. Arielle doesn't give a rats ass about me. The last time I spoke to her was four years ago, and that was when she said she never wanted to see me again. She doesn't acknowledge my existence because she doesn't care about me. You're lucky that the family you have truly cares about you and wants to be in your life. I can't even say that I have a sister anymore."

"Aww Mani," Lauren softens.

"That's why I got so pissed about it," The older girl explains. "To see you basically give up the privilege of being able to say that you have a family who loves you breaks my heart. Maybe I'm jealous, jealous that for whatever little family you have they still care about you and your existence."

"I never knew you had that problem," Lauren whispers. "I have an idea."

"An idea?" Normani asks.

"Why don't we visit Arielle?" The Latina suggests. "At the end of the day, you do have more than her. Why not flaunt the cash? Flex on 'em."

"Lets do it," The darker girl smiles. "But first." She pushes her lips into Lauren's, moaning at the touch. She's surprised that her lips don't have that same desert texture.

"I haven't kissed you in a week," She gasps. "That's too long." The kiss is resumed.

They end up falling asleep together, perfectly fitting into each other. The Latina had collapsed on top of the darker girl, her head resting on the girl's breasts. Light snores fill the room as she sleeps, feeling like she was in a perfect world. Normani plays with the girl's hair, slowly drifting off to sleep. She doesn't know any place that's more perfect then here.

Home is where Lauren is.

Lauren stands in the corner of Arielle's office, her leg bent against the wall. Normani kicks her feet up on the desk, playing with the bubblegum in her mouth.

"Thanks Sawyer," Arielle says as she opens the door. Her back is to the other girls, and the darker girl has a smirk all over her face. Arielle yelps when she turns around, jumping backwards.

"What the hell!" She squeaks. "Get out of here!"

"That's no way to talk to your sister Ari," Normani snickers. "Didn't Mama teach you anything?"

"She taught be not to go down the road you did," Arielle snaps. "What are you doing here?"

"I came to say hi to my lovely sister," The darker girl says.

"You lost the privilege to be my sister when you were sixteen," The older woman snarls.

"Is it because I busted out of juvie?" Normani asks. "I did nothing wrong."

"You killed a security guard!"

"He was in the way," The darker girl shrugs.

"What happened to you?" Arielle murmurs. "What happened to the little sister I had who loved to dance and sing and act? Where is she?"

"She grew up," Normani growls. "She raised herself on the streets cause her own family wouldn't take her back. She robbed a gas station just so she could have something to eat for at least a week. She is now a billionaire."

"I'm sorry Normani," Arielle lies.

"No you're not," The older girl calls her bluff. "You wouldn't have said to me all those years ago that you hated me and never wanted to see me again. You're just scared now."

"You could've done so much more," Arielle exclaims.

"More?" Normani scoffs. "Arielle, I was fucking homeless for two years. I resorted to hurting people because I had absolutely no idea what else to do. I robbed because I had no other way to support myself. You hear those things about me in the news? You hear how I'm wanted in twenty countries? That's the outcome of me being on my own."

"That's not our fault," The woman answers.

"You could've tried to help me," The darker girl croaks. "Instead, you decided to throw me out because I wasn't this perfect little girl anymore. It's fine, I have Lauren."

"Lauren?" Arielle's voice shakes. "Lauren Jauregui?"

"In the flesh," The pale girl rasps, twirling a knife between her fingers.

"Aww she's scared," Normani taunts. "What's wrong Arielle? Scared of the big bad criminals?"

"Y'all are murders!" She yells. "Killers."

"Lo," The older girl observes. "Hear how much complements we're getting?"

"You're insane!"

"I'm brilliant," Normani corrects. "I'm rich, I'm feared, and I have the best girlfriend in the world." She turns and makes out with Lauren, pushing the girl up against the wall. They exchange a heated kiss before pulling away, breathless.

"You're gay?" Arielle is dumbfounded.

"Got a problem?" She asks while Lauren kisses her neck.

"What is wrong with you?" Arielle screeches.

"You're homophobic too?" The darker girl says, pretending to be shocked. "I outta kill your sorry ass." The older woman freezes as Lauren throws her pocket knife, just connecting centimeters away from her head.

The older girl presses herself close to her sister, carving the letters NKH on the wall. She throws the knife back to Lauren, not taking her eyes off of Arielle.

"I hope the you stay afraid of me for the rest of your life," Normani prays. "I want you to be trembling at the very thought of me. You have no fucking idea of what I'm capable of, Arielle. You should never forget your sister." Normani walks to the window, preparing to jump.

"Tell Mom and Dad I say hi,"

She jumps.

A/N: BEST FAN ARMY STAND UP!

We need to show this same ferocious support for all of 2017. The girls need us as much as we need them, so let's support them no matter what.

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