Don't Judge the Thug

Thinking out

I'm standing in the waiting room. I saw some nigga bust in the waiting room and look around. I ain't sure if that was dude I called but he was about my height, Brown skinned, and had a construction uniform on. I figured that gave it away.

"Yo you here for Jasmine?" I asked when he looked my way.

"You the one who called me? Where she at?" he asked. "She good? What happened?"

"She passed out and I drove her here. That happen before?"

"Yeah she's anemic so if she don't eat enough or take her pills she gets light headed and goes weak," he said fast. "I keep telling her to carry fruit on her at least."

Seeing this nigga with his hand on his head I wanted to smack him. "Look man calm down, you can't be out here acting like a girl."

"My wife passed out, what you mean calm down?" He shot back.

"As in relax nigga. Panicking ain't gonna help shit," I say straight.

"Who are you anyway?" He shot a crazy glare at me.

"Her father is my father so call it what you want," I say sitting in the chair.

"You-"

"Don't ask me nothing when I just told you who I am," I say.

"Soo uh, I'm her fiancee," he leant out his hand. "Leon."

"Prince," I say looking at his hand. "You don't gotta put on that preppy boy shit, I ain't bout to hire you."

He nodded and put his hand away. "So what exactly happened when-"

"Wait that's the doctor," I cut him off. "Jasmine?"

"You're the brother right?" He asked with a blank face looking at his clip board. He only glanced at me which got me angry.

"Yo, what's going on?" I clapped I his face making him jump.

"Ooh, I'm sorry sir," he said. "She's fine though. I'm going to ask that she stays here for a couple hours though because she didn't take her iron pills and that's what made her pass out. And she's really weak. So until she builds up her strength."

"Aight," I say and look at Leon next to me. "Ask the man anything before he go to his clip board."

"Uhm hi, and what's your relation?" He smiled really weirdly. It was a little gay to me but I ain't say nothing.

"I'm her fiancee, would I be able to sign her out cuz she's not eighteen yet?"

"Yes sir, as long as you're eighteen or older you can. Just have to show I.D to the front desk," he explained.

"Okay thank you sir," Leon nodded. The doctor started walking away and I looked at Leon cuz he's stupid.

"Yo, she could be seen?" I called to the doctor.

"Oh yes I'm sorry. Room 145," he says. "Around this corner."

I nodded and led the way finding the room in no time. I opened the door seeing Jasmine in the room sitting up eating strawberries. This girl is crazy, I swear. She looked calm as hell and I'm over here like what the hell is going on? Or maybe this is really normal.

"You okay?" I asked.

"Didn't the doctor tell you-"

"I don't trust what the doctors got to tell me," I cut her off and she pauses staring at Leon behind me.

"You called him?" she asked me.

I look at him who look like he about to cry. "Look I know we were arguing and you said you wanted your break but you know I had to come."

"I'm not mad you here Leon," she said blankly staring at the strawberries. "How did you find his number?"

"I'm trained to find people," I say it simple as that. Even if the phone book ain't tell me I could've easily hit up Dez. She gave me enough information about him.

"You don't have to stay here but thanks for bringing me," she said. "I could've died. Doctor told me this was the lowest my iron has ever been."

"So you need to do what it takes not to die," I say and she smirks.

"Seriously," Leon agreed.

"I know. I'm gonna get more serious with my iron pills," she said with a smile. "I promise."

With that smile I saw that she's not as tough as she made herself look. Leon came over to her and kissed her forehead. She looked slightly annoyed which confused me.

"You good?" I asked making eye contact with her.

"Yeah I'll be okay," she smiled.

"Alright, ima take you home when they say you can leave."

I don't know why but I had a funny feeling about this dude. I don't know what's their beef or if it's temporary but I do know she was just smiling about him earlier. Can't be serious since she was able to smile about him not I still went with my gut. I'm not leaving her here.

"Oh it's fine. Leon you got your car?" she asked.

"Nah I took a cab," he sighed. "I was in a rush."

"Ooh alright, then thanks," she smiled at me.

I nodded and then sat down in the seat across from her bed. I checked my business phone seeing no messages or calls, then my regular phone. I saw two missed calls from Janaia and a text saying she was taking Tresey to the park.

I called her back and she answered fast. "Wassup? Where you?"

"You don't wanna know," I sighed. "But y'all at the park still?"

"Yeah Alicia came with us, she wants to talk to you before she leaves tonight," she says fast.

"Talk about what?" I asked getting frustrated. "I thought she was leaving-"

"Well she stayed longer, she's never been away from her child and she wants to talk. Stop being so nasty all the time Trelly," she said going off. "I'll talk to you later, well be at home. She's gonna wait for you there."

Before I could respond she hung up. I was taken back. What the hell? My sister never spoke to me that way. I ran my hand across my face and kicked my lips.

"Everything cool?" Jasmine asked.

"Yeah," I say casually. I just sit back and think for the rest of the time there. When they released her she seemed perfectly fine.

"Where I'm driving?" I asked.

"East Flatbush," she says then tells me the address with her fiancee in the back.

I drove there just thinking about all the shit I had to deal with this past month. The lies, drama, and the deadly shit I've had to sort through. Lately business has been too close to family, and I don't want nothing to happen to nobody. Tresey mostly. I won't be able to live with myself if something happened to her. As crazy as things are I don't want her down here. But I don't know if Cali niggas did enough research to find out about Alicia and Tresey. I got a trial on my hands. I'm going to jail. I could try to beat the extended time but I'm going to jail for giving a minor a gun. This took a crazy turn. I need to get through this shit and make sure everybody safe. Nobody gonna die on me.

"Prince!" I heard my name being yelled.

"Wassup?" I look at Jasmine who's staring at me crazily.

"I've been trying to say bye for about two minutes now, you okay?" she asked.

I nod. "Yeah I'm straight," I say then kiss her forehead. "Call me if you need anything. Ima call you soon, you family now. So don't be a stranger."

"I won't, thanks again I-"

"You don't gotta say thank you," I say.

"Thank you man," I hear this dummy in the back say lending out his hand for me to shake. He quickly out it down and then just nodded. "Sorry, but uhm good looks."

I nod and watch them get out. Jasmine turns and smiles and I smile back. I knew she wasn't as she made herself seem. She's just hidden.