Free Street Divas by De'nesha Diamond Page A

of reality.

9
Essence
    T a’Shara’s wild, gut-wrenching scream shocks the fuck out of me and causes each hair on my body to stand up. For a second, I back the hell up and look around to double-check that there ain’t nobody thinking we’re doing something to this girl. But as usual, the few dealers and crackheads who are hanging tough out here in the middle of the night are minding their business. They don’t see shit, hear shit, and damn sure ain’t about to call the po-po to come fuck up their cash flow.
    â€œWhat the fuck is wrong with this bitch?” Drey shouts, still struggling to keep Ta’Shara pinned down.
    I shake my head while my gaze falls back down to the ground to take in the whole scene. Despite it being dark as fuck, I am able to get a good look at T’s bloody body and the dark, purpling bruises on her arms, chest, and face. Somebody worked her ass over real good. What the fuck?
    Drey twists his head over his shoulder. “Essence! Are you going to help me with this bitch or not?”
    Blinking and then mentally shaking myself out of shock, I rush over and drop down next to my girl. “T! Please calm down!” I try to still her thrashing head so that she can get a good look at my face. The shit ain’t easy because she’s strong as fuck and blasting my eardrums wide open.
    â€œLet’s let her crazy ass go,” Drey shouts. “Clearly, she ain’t right in the head.”
    â€œHave you lost your mind? Can’t you see that something has happened to her?”
    â€œSomething happened to me, too! Look at my face!”
    Crude, jagged, and bleeding scratches ran down his face. “Shit. She did that?”
    â€œDidn’t you see her?” He pauses for a sec. “Wait. How bad does it look?”
    I ain’t about to tell him that Ta’Shara has fucked up his face. The vain nigga might retaliate or some dumb shit. “Let’s get her to the hospital,” I say, changing the subject. “T, look at me!” I lean down until we’re nose to nose. “See, Ta’Shara, it’s me.”
    â€œHospital?” Drey echoes.
    There isn’t an ounce of recognition in Ta’Shara’s eyes. Only fear.
    Oh my God. Who did this to you?
    â€œLook, Essence. I ain’t taking this girl to no fuckin’ hospital,” Drey says. “Ain’t no fuckin’ way.”
    I whip my head around. “We have to take her to the hospital. Look at her!”
    He’s shaking his head the whole time while I’m talking. “Ain’t going to happen. Those muthafuckas ask way too many questions, and I don’t know shit. Don’t wanna know shit and even if I did, I wouldn’t tell them any goddamn way.”
    â€œBut—”
    â€œShe’s your girl. Not mine. I ain’t getting involved in this bullshit. Look where the fuck we are. We’re in GD territory—our shit. You think I’m going to help the po-po bring heat over here? Shit. You’re out of your goddamn mind.” He foolishly releases Ta’Shara’s hands, and my girl comes up swinging, clocking both me and Drey on each side of our heads.
    â€œOwwww!” The shit stuns the fuck out of me, and while I’m reeling to the side, I hear this loud crack !
    â€œGoddamn it, bitch!”
    While I’m blinking stars out from behind my eyes, I realize that Ta’Shara’s screaming has stopped. I pick myself off the ground and look over to see Drey shaking his hand while T is knocked out cold beneath him.
    â€œWhat the fuck did you do?” I check to see if my girl is okay.
    â€œWhat the fuck does it look like? I shut her the fuck up!”
    There’s a pulse and she seems to be breathing evenly.
    â€œYou’re welcome.” Drey climbs off of her. “I’m getting the fuck out of here.”
    â€œWhoa, whoa. Wait!” I grab his wrist. “Where are you