Thug Mentality

The Project

~Harlem~
Me and Malcolm were downstairs eating breakfast. My mom made pancakes and Eggs.
"Harlem, where's Lani?" Malcolm was stuffing his face.
"She's sleeping, stop stuffing your mouth, you'll choke" I put my dish in the sink and my mom walked in.
"Har, I'm off to work, Malcolm has Soccer practice today at 5" My mom kissed our cheeks and put on her nurse badge.
"Okay, have fun, love ya"
"Bye mommy, I love you" Malcolm yelled.
"Bye" She walked out and Lani walked downstairs.
"Morning Mal, Morning Harlem" Her bruises were fading. She sat and I handed her her plate.
"Morning Lani" Malcolm and I said simultaneously.
"Ma made breakfast, I'm gonna get Mal ready, then we can do what we gotta do"
"Aight, thanks" I picked Malcolm up and put his plate in the sink. I took him upstairs and got him ready.

~Leilani~
I walked into Harlem's room, and found an outfit in my suitcase. I laid it out and got in the shower.
After I finished and I looked over myself. I had on a Pink and White Tee with the sides cut, Black Skinny Jeans, and My Pink, Black, and White Jordan 4's. I added my Pink and Grey "Lani" Beanie. Har and Cece got one two with their nicknames on it.
"Well don't you look cute" I turned around and Harlem was french braiding her hair. She had on a Red and Grey Chicago Bulls tee, Ripped Shorts, and her Grey and Red 10's.
"Thanks, but this stupid cut down my arm is messing everything up" I looked down at where my step dad cut me with a broken beer bottle.
"Girl, you still cute, but come on, my mom left the keys to the Altima, she rode with a friend, and I still gotta take Mal to school"
"K" I grabbed my backpack and purse and we headed out.

~Claudine~
The girls and I walked into History. We sat in our seats, when a unknown lady walked in.
"Y'all know what this means?" I said smirking.
"SUBSTITUTE" Everyone started going crazy, but Lani just kept her head down.
"Yo Har, what's wrong with Lani?" I asked whispering.
"Parents"
"She staying witchu?" She nodded.
"Alright class, I'm Ms. Wadger, and your teacher left and assignment, you will be partnered up" The sub stated.
"So what is it?" Some random kid asked.
"You and your partner will write a page about each other and their background, it will be due Friday"
"Today's Tuesday, so we good" Harlem started.
"Okay, the names are up here on the board" Everyone ran over to the board. I looked and saw some nigga named Xavier.
"I got some dude named Ja'Quan" Harlem stated. She looked upset.
"I got Xavier?" I still ain't know who he was.
"What about Lani?" We both looked and our jaws dropped. We walked and sat down. "Yo Lani"
"Huh?"
"You got Alonte" She shrugged.
"So"
"Bitch, you got partnered with the Drug Lord of Cali...practically the whole West Coast" Harlem told her.
"Great" You can tell it was sarcasm.

~Leilani~
"Um is there a Leilani over here?" I looked up and I'm guessing Alonte was standing in front of me.
"That's me"
"Well can I get your number, so I can text you my address later?" Why wouldn't he just write it down. I wrote my number down, and he walked off. Well fuck yo ass then too.
"Rude or Nah?" I laughed.
"Rude"
We Finished History and went on to our next few classes. After we Finished, we met at the lunch room.
"Sleepover at my place?" Harlem asked.
"Yeah, what time?" Cece asked.
"7, Mal has a game tonight, at 5"

~Alonte~
"So you got it?" Zay asked. I nodded.
"Hell yeah, and she look right" We was talking bout this Leilani chick I was partnered with.
"Forreal, so what, y'all gone talk today?"
"Yeah, I'ma invite her over my house today after school.... Well more like drive her over, but y'know"
"Yeah" We finished eating, and walked over to gym. We changed and walked out.
"Damn, look" I looked at where Quan was pointing. "What happened to her ass?" He was pointing at the gash on "Leilani's" arm.
"Probably got her ass beat for not obeying" We bust out laughing.
"They put her ass in check" We dapped up and walked on the gym floor.
~~
School's out, and Zay and Quan went to talk to their partners. I saw Leilani and walked over to her.
"Wassup ma?"
"Hey"
"You okay?" She looked at me and rolled her eyes.
"I'm fine, is there something you need?" I smiled.
"I was wondering if you need a ride?"
"Nah, I'm good, Harlem's my ride" She pointed to the chick partnered with Quan. You could tell they would be there for a while.
"Just let me give you a ride, that's all"
"Fine, but don't try nothing" I nodded. "HARLEM, I'M RIDING WITH-" She looked at me.
"Alonte"
"ALONTE"
"K, Call Me" She nodded and we walked off. I opened her door, and got in on my side.
I pulled up to my house, and we got out.
"Um why are we here?"
"Just a quick stop, come on" She followed and we walked to my room. Tay was at my mom's house. I sat on my bed and she sat at my computer desk. "So can we just do the project here, I won't try nothing"
"I guess, It's hot as hell outside"
"Well can you come sit over here"
"I-Ion know"
"Girl, just come on, I said I wouldn't try nothing" She huffed and sat on the other side of me. I was immediately drawn back to the gash on her arm.
"What you looking at?" She covered her arm.
"That big ass gash on ya arm, what happened? Daddy got mad at his lil girl, and put her ass in check?" I said while laughing.
"You really think that's funny?" I looked at her smiling.
"Hell yeah, y'all females be thinking y'all run shit, somebody done showed yo ass" A tear fell down her face. She got up, and started walking out. I got up and ran after her. "Wait, Why you leaving?" She turned around and lifted her shirt up.
"You should really watch what you do, All this shit on my body, is cause my parents beat me constantly over and over, and this gash on my arm, my step-dad cut me with a beer bottle, and you need to get the whole story before thinking shit is funny, jackass" She ran out, and I just stood there. Damn, I don't even know her, and I feel bad. I shook the feeling off, and called one of my hoes.

~Leilani~
I walked all the way to Harlem's house, showered, and went to sleep. The time said 4:26, so I know she took Mal to his game.
~~
"Alright, let's watch 'The Other Woman'" Harlem requested.
"I'm in" I said raising my hand.
"Me too" Cece agreed.
"Aight, Lani put the movie in, I got the popcorn" I nodded and we did that. When we finished, we grabbed blankets and started watching the movie.

~Alonte~
"So she just ran out?" Quan asked, I told them about what happened earlier.
"Yeah, and I feeling fucking horrible"
"Dude, don't worry about it, just hit that shit, and be done" Zay said.
"I-I Can't, I had sex 5 times today after she left, and She keeps popping up"
"Damn Lonte, I'm starting to think you feeling shawty" I shook my head.
"Hell no, Alonte don't fall in love, and don't catch feelings, she just another girl"
"Aight, whatever" Zay rolled and lit his blunt. My mom wanted Tay to stay with her, so we turned on some Drake, and we got high for the night.