Monique's Thug

Epilogue (Part I)

~ 4 Years Later ~

• Monique's P.O.V •

"Class of 2018, congratulations!" The dean of the school exclaims.

I look over at Domonique and we both break out in smiles, throwing our caps up. We did it. We graduated college. Four years ago, if you asked me if I planned on going to college, I would have said hell no. In these years I've grown a lot as a person, and for the better. I now have a degree in nursing and have a job in New York that I'll be starting next month. It's time for me to leave Los Angeles and all of my past behind. I will miss the family, especially DJ, Diamond, and Jerome. They're all getting so big now!

Never in my whole four years of college, did I date anyone, and I'm completely fine with that. Dom thinks I'm such a loner and sometimes. I am, but I'm better now. In the past, I jumped into many premature relationships. I was so naïve. College was an asset to my life in a lot of ways. It helped me realize my life was not in the right place and it helped me through a tough heartbreak.

Dejour has moved on, yes. I don't know the girls name, but I've seen her a few times. Dom and Jermaine have gone on double-dates with them and always bust off of her, but I don't have any issues with her. I'm very happy for them, actually. He and I share small talk, occasionally. I see him whenever he comes over to the house for parties and stuff, but we're basically how I want it; strangers. I do that he is still in the game, sadly. He could have done so much more with his life, but whatever.

"Congrats, baby sister!" Chris comes up to me, with his one-year old son, Cameron.

"Congwats Auntie." Cameron smiles, tugging on my finger.

I look down at him and flash a smile back, "Thank you, Cam."

"The whole family came out, I see?" I raise my eyebrow and laugh as everyone is approaching us.

"Congrats!" Everyone cheers.

"Thanks y'all! I finally did it!"

"When do you leave again?" Niesha asks, picking up Cam.

"One month from today."

"Imma miss you so much baby!" Jas runs up to hug me and starts crying. Emotional ass.

"Facetime me, call me, text me." I laugh, hugging her back.

"Hey, I wanted to give you this..college grad." Dejour jokes, handing me an envelope.

"Oh, you didn't have to," I attempt to hand it back.

"Save it, Monique, I wanted to." He shrugs and walks of with his girl.

Oh, it's Emily, I think? Or no, Emani? Dammit, I don't know. I feel bad because she always smiles and waves when I see her, but I can't remember her name.

"You still don't remember her name, huh?" Jermaine chuckles, reading my mind.

"I just can't!" I defend myself, laughing a little.

"It's Erica," Alexis confirms. "I used to go to middle school with her. She was such a bitch."

"Aww! Mommy said a bad word!" DJ looks up at Darius and points to Alexis.

"Yea, mommy needs a whooping, huh?" Darius picks DJ up and he nods. We all start laughing.

"She's not really a bitch, just too whiney," Dom shrugs.

"Y'all needa stop talking 'bout her! Let her be," I butt in.

"Whatever, Dejour and her aren't a good match, end of story." Almost everyone nods their head in agreement.