DOWN BY LAW // WHEN THEY SEE US *DISCONTINUED*

Chapter 13

He was better than this.

They painted a picture of us, putting the image into the public's eye.

We're better than this. We aren't what they make us.

1991 Queens, NY
Queensbridge

Dmirikel Jackson

"You smoke like this hyna," I looked at Rogelio in his Nike Cortez's. I'd been hanging out with him more often and he started looking out for me. He started teaching me the rules of the streets, helping me out at the diner he even bought me a camera after I told him I wanted to be a photographer. He believes in me, so anything he asks me to do, I'll do it no question.

"I don't smoke," I coughed swatting the smoke away from my face, "Keep playing games Rogelio," I laughed, sitting on his couch. This was the only place I could be myself in besides Megan's. And my little sister Dejah kept bothering me, the little shit was spoiled.

"Her-" I saw someone I thought I'd never see again, Raymond? His name couldn't even come out of my mouth. What was he doing here out of all places?

"You need a quarter piece Ray?" I looked at both of them, "you two know each other?" Rogelio looked a little bit puzzled to say the least.

"I know you aren't selling drugs Ray," I pushed up against him, "you're going to go back if you keep playing with fire," I scoffed. It's been 4 months and this asshole didn't even value his freedom. He's lucky he's out. While my people still locked up, while his friends are locked up.

"Oh yeah? Why you care about me huh?" He pressed back, with his thick Mexican accent. Hard enough to make me feel like jello, "Huh?," his voice boomed, "I'm bad for you, I was the reason we got locked up in the first place. I'm just tired of hurting you so I figured it would be better for me to leave your life than stay and make you feel hurt," he grabbed my hand, looking me deep into my eyes. He had some nerve.

"So you thought it was okay to just leave me?" I pushed him. Strike One. "Who gave you the right to decide what's best for me?" Strike Two. "All you did was hurt me even more," He lifted my chin up, why would he do this. I know he's better than this.

"You ruining my business," Rogelio grabbed the $250 from Raymond, "enough with that sentimental shit Dmirikel. You two go make love or something"

"Aight," he waved at Rogelio, tugging my hand & leading me down the hallway, "I never stopped thinking about you D"

Oh shit.

My heart.

"Ya' smile, with that pretty face, and those chocolate eyes"

"Everyone has brown eyes Ray," I deadpanned, damn did I just ruin the moment?

"But everyone ain't you"

•••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••

1991 Wyoming County, NY
Attica Correctional Facility

Lyric Jackson

"You're free to go," Rose, Monica, and I followed Tupac to the gates along with the three guards.

"How does it feel to be free?" We all gave him a group hug. He deserved everything, after all he was one of the only people fighting for our freedom. For my sisters freedom, she still had to finish high school while the three of us finished ours in juvie. We also took college level classes with PRI, which was enough to get us a decent job somewhere.

"Where's Korey?" I glanced, sitting on top of the van, "he's getting out too right?"

"Y'all go together like Salt and Pepper," Monica smiled, "I can't wait to get a job, and when we seeing Juice?"

"When it premieres, I'll call you guys when it drops," he chuckled while we all got into the car.

He still didn't answer my question.

Where's Korey?

"As for your durag wearing boyfriend, he left this mornin', but he definitely didn't stop talking about you," he looked back at me, smacking his gum, "y'all parents are in Queensbridge waiting for y'all, I had my homie Nasir keep them company"

"You mean Nas?! Like RAPPER NAS!" I squealed, that was like my brother and I hated doing rap battles with him, he'd always beat me.

"Why wasn't you this serious when you met me? I'm way better than him," Tupac fake frowned.

"Sorry to bust y'all bubbles but what about Megan? Yusef, Antron and everyone else? Are they getting out too?" Rose flung her hands while she talked, she sure did miss Yusef and I knew that as a fact.

"Yeah what about my sister?"

"They been out for months?" He looked back in all seriousness. I cut my eyes at him. What did he mean they been out for months?

If I got out, I would've told Dmirikel.

Maybe she sent me a letter and I didn't get.

Maybe she forgot about me.

He raised his eyebrows at me, "I thought they told you guys, but yeah, they're at home getting themselves together to move out, they still can't leave NY since the case is still open," he continued on telling us that the rapist turned himself in. Matias Reyes, but they're trying to convict all eleven of us for raping that girl.

Eleven people raping one girl? It didn't make sense nor did it add up.

At this point they wanted somebody to blame.

But as for Dmirikel, I had a few words for her.

•••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••

A/N: Another short one :(

I'll continue the book ofc, but they're out so.

Sorry I guess?