: W60th Street

Seven on the dot and I was up with my cup of coffee heading to my studio room, I was expecting to see Erin still sleep in bed but she was up making the bed looking refreshed.

"I'm getting out of your way"

"I ain't gonna kick you out yo room you paying for, you can stick around see how I do shit"

"Alright" Erin sat back down on the bed sitting Indian style, I sat down in my computer chair.

"You smoke?"

"Who doesn't in California?"

Her response caught me off guard. I assumed Erin was too prissy to even touch a bag of weed. I sparked the blunt giving it to her first to see if she was bullshitting me.

" What strain is this?" Erin puffed at the blunt looking at it.

" Oh you an educated smoker? It's granddaddy purp"

I opened my laptop and put on my studio headphones, grabbing my notebook from out of the drawer.

"You gonna let me know if my shit suck right?"

"I'm all about constructive criticism towards art"

I turned the instrumentals a local producer had sent for me to rap over, I handed the blunt back to Erin while I focused on my lyrics.

" Is Cane not having a funeral?" I turned the beat down.

"Nah he's not, he ain't got no family out here where we can have his body released to us"

"So what? he won't be celebrated or acknowledged for saving a life?" I shrugged, I did enough tossing and turning thinking on my nigga.

"He not da first and he ain't da last"

"I can't let that happen I'm sorry"

I got why shorty was so invested in it, Cane used his own body as a shield to save her life, that's how loyal my nigga was since day one.

"He ain't do it for recognition he did it cause he was a stand up nigga"

"I don't care, I want to honor him somehow"

Erin was not gonna let up on this discussion, only thing to do was to let her do whatever she wanted.

"What you got in mind?"

"I don't know, what do y'all do if y'all wanted to honor your friend?"

"We usually have a party to keep our spirits uplifted nothing sad and shit" Erin unlocked her phone, looking up something.

"You know who to invite over your house for a party I'll handle the rest"

I knew my nigga Cane was hype as hell in Heaven that he was gonna have a party to acknowledge his loyalty.

"Aight, I'll let you know how many niggas sliding through how long you need?"

"It can be tonight, I just need to get started soon"

How could she pull off a house party before tonight? I didn't know and I couldn't wait to see what she threw together, probably some uptight ass party with finger sandwiches and champagne flutes.

"How you gonna get around?"

"Uber"

I nodded turning the beat up putting my headphones on.

"Where your backbone, nigga, where your code at? Where your down since day one real bros at? Where them stories that you tellin' unfold at? Where your heart nigga, where your soul at?"

I rapped into the mic, I could see Erin in my peripheral smoking and nodding her head.

"We got old school ways, we expose that

Ain't no guarantees, but you know that

Niggas die every day, can't control that"

Erin passed my blunt back I shook my head, pushing it back to her. I liked her vibe off the blunt not annoying and whining. I cut the recording turning to her.

"Take it, it's yours"

"Thank you" I nodded turning back away to start back up the recording.

"That's why I call my thing the marathon, yeah because I, I'm not gon' lie and portray, um, this ultimate poise like I been, had it figured out nah I just didn't quit"

Erin looked at me with her head tilted like she was in deep thought.

" You are good" She complimented smiling at me, I nodded keeping my attention on my laptop.

I didn't expect Nipsey to be able to articulate himself in this manner, he was intelligent and I slowly started to understand what John was telling me about not all criminals being a bad person.

"You need any cash for da party?"

"No it's on me"

After paying rent and utilities for the total of three months I had a total of $ dollars left to my name.

How would I survive off of 760 dollars or less for three months?

"Aight you gonna stick back when I go to Crenshaw and Slauson?"

"Yeah so I can start getting the party together do you mind if I use your laptop"

"Nah go ahead"

Nipsey's weed had me relaxed and ready to conquer the day, I was excited to meet other people from the neighborhood to get help with different personalities.

"It's gonna be like 15 people I don't like a big ass crowd , on hood I keep a tight circle"

Fifteen people wasn't a hard task, I didn't have to spend too much on food and drinks.

"I'll let my niggas bring they own bottles"

Another cost cut off my list, Nipsey gave me a head nod leaving out the house.

"God keep Nipsey and his brother Blacc safe while they make an honest living and let them get enough money today so Nipsey won't feel like he has to do what he did yesterday again, also God tell Cane I said hey"

I prayed shortly, I believed in the power of prayer and speaking life into someone. I sat down at Nipsey's laptop.

How to throw a party on a budget?

A budget was something I never had to utilize until now and it opened my eyes on how it didn't take a lot of money to pull things off and also that I wasted a lot of money just because I had it.

Bus routes near me.

If I wanted to accomplish making this party a night to remember I had to get moving and gathering everything I needed for tonight.

I got myself together including my money, after last night it had taught me a new lesson. Never walk outside with a large amount of money without protection.

The gun I used last night was on safety underneath my bed, I looked around the room finding an empty book bag that belonged to Nipsey, stuffing the gun and my wallet inside I put it on my back heading down the steps to the door.

I had an eight minute brisk walk to the bus stop luckily I didn't have to stand outside and wait, it pulled up beside me opening the doors. I put the money in taking my seat.

" Yo you look just like dat girl Erin London she act in all them white movies" I decided not to give up my identity because I didn't know who this guy was.

"I get that a lot"

He left me alone letting me listen out for my stop, the grocery store was my first venture it was always cheaper to cook food than to order out.

Party Menu

1) Taco in a bag bar

2) Wings ( Hot, BBQ, Garlic Parm)

3) French fries

4) Street Corn

5) Pound Cake shaped into a "C"

6) Ice-cream

7) Soda

I went inside of the grocery store with my cart grabbing the ingredients for each meal I was cooking, things were a lot cheaper here than what I spent at my trips to Whole Foods back home.

" 130 even"

My money dwindled down to $dollars, at least I had enough food to have left overs to eat during the rest of my week.

"That's a lot of bags you should get a personal cart it's 30 dollars"

"Okay add that on" I had another store to go to before walking home.

I was now at $dollars thankfully my next stop was the dollar store something I never took advantage of back at home in the Hills but with how fast my money was vanishing I needed to slow down on spending.

I haven't heard from you so I hope everything is okay and you are safe

He didn't know the half and I was going to keep it to myself because as soon as he knew what I had already been through he would shut it down and give my role to someone else.

Everything is going smoothly just been busy shadowing Nipsey

"Excuse ma'am you need to leave that basket up here with me and take a number after you are done shopping you get it back"

"Are you serious? I have the money I'm not going to steal" I handed my cart over to the security guard taking a number, I grabbed another cart.

So far things were running smoothly for me and it was almost noon, I had plenty of time to cook and decorate the house in time for the party.

" Your total is is twenty dollars"

Now at $ all that was left to buy was balloons that I could get closer to Nipsey's house.

"Have a good day"

I took my cart back rolling my eyes at him exiting the store and heading straight for the bus stop. This was a new experience that I actually didn't mind at all.

When Nipsey got to his place I would ask to borrow his speakers for music and plug my phone up to them.

"Last Stop Crenshaw and Slauson"

I could see Nipsey and his brother with a line of people buying their shirts and socks, so much so the table started looking empty.

"Boogie!" I heard Nipsey shout but I kept walking knowing good and well he wasn't calling for me.

"Ayo Boog"

He pointed at me then waved me over to their table, I frowned walking to him.

"Really what the hell is a Boogie?"

"What was on yo face last night when you was snotting and shit"

His positive energy was radiating off of him, I knew it had to do with his tables almost selling out.

"I thought you said you was getting a Uber? look like to me you caught da bus wit all dis shit" He squinted his eyes reaching out " nigga is dat my fucking book bag?"

"Oh yeah, I have a good reason for why I took it"

I took it off my back handing it over to him, he unzipped it looking inside he shut it closed quickly.

"Blacc come see what dis girl carrying"

Blacc leaned over peeking into the back pack ,he looked at me with his eye brows raised in surprise.

"I was carrying a lot of money, it's for protection"

"You learning but don't touch my shit no more without asking"

"Sorry about that I didn't pack any of my purses" I took the back pack putting it into my cart.

"What else you got to get for tonight?"

"I need to drop this off and go to the party store then I'll be done"

Nipsey patted his pockets before digging into them taking out a pair of keys tossing them to me, I looked down in my hands.

"Don't mess my baby up, get what you need"

"What about you? should I come back and pick you up" He shook his head.

"Nah Blacc got me we got to head to deposit dis money then round up our niggas for dis party you planning"

"I didn't actually look too deeply into the house but do you have some sort of yard?"

"Yeah it's big enough for us tonight if you need it, you just got to clean it up"

"Thank you, I'll see you tonight then" I clicked the button to the trunk, Nipsey pulled up his sagging ball shorts taking the cart and putting it in for me.

"On hood dis shit better be lit if not Cane gonna haunt you"

I frowned not liking the joke, the last thing I wanted was to be haunted by a Crip.

"Be careful wit my baby I just finished paying her off"

"I know how to drive especially a Benz, I got a few " I winked climbing into his car falling back instantly into the reclined seat that sat against the back seat, my short ass couldn't even reach the pedal with how Nipsey had his seat adjusted.

" Take my number, don't make sense you in my crib and we ain't got each other number"

I rolled down the deep tinted windows handing over my phone, he put his number in passing it back.

"Text me, so I can get yo number"

"Alright I'll see you later"

I put the car in drive peeling off down Crenshaw, the last place I needed to go was the party store for balloons. a lot of balloons.

"How can I help you today? Oh my god!"

The white woman became flustered seeing me, her cheeks turned red and she couldn't stop squealing.

"How you doing? how much for blue latex balloons"

"Four for a dollar Miss London" I bit my bottom lip calculating how much I would be spending.

"Alright I want two hundred and two letter C aluminum balloons"

"Alright it's going to take at least an hour to get them together" I nodded

"Okay I'll come back to pick them up" The woman reached into her apron pulling out her phone, I knew what to do, I smiled leaning back taking a selfie with her.

"Thank you so much my daughter isn't going to believe this"

"No problem, I'll be back in an hour"

It was nearing one o'clock when I reached the house, I had about five hours to get things done and I forgot I couldn't just wear a sweat suit to the party so I needed to go to a thrift store and pick up jeans and a simple tee or a basic dress.

It was crunch time.

..............................

Me and my niggas rolled in deep to my crib for the party Erin had put together for Cane, I hoped she had done shit right and ain't embarrass me in front of my set.

"On hood shorty in there bumping"

Tupac's Gangsta Party could be heard echoing from my crib, I ain't know she even knew about rap music, my niggas all walked in with me to the back yard with bottles and bags of weed.

"Damn nigga how she make yo little ass yard look nice"

My shit did look clean as fuck and was decorated with blue balloons and tables of food and drinks, I had to give it to Erin she had come through for my nigga Cane, I knew he was looking down lit as fuck knowing we was gonna turn up for him.

"Damn" Erin stepped outside of the back door wearing a black dress with a slit up her thigh and some furry slippers holding a pan of food.

"On hood she gonna be my sixth baby moms"

My nigga Slim shouted out making her look up, she smiled showing off her famous dimples putting all my niggas in a trance.

"Hey everybody the food is ready, get as much as you want"

They all raced to the table almost knocking her short ass over, I made strides towards her.

"My nigga Cane would be proud, thanks for not letting his memory fade"

"It was really nothing, your keys are in your room in your dresser beside that big ass box of condoms" I chuckled rubbing the side of my face.

"Damn you gotta stop going in my shit"

"How about you find a better hiding spot for your little rubbers" Erin smirked folding her arms over her chest.

"I ain't tryna hide shit and ain't nothing little about my rubbers Boogie"

"Can you please find me another nickname?"

I shook my head, walking with her into the kitchen that smelled like cake.

"It got two meanings, one cause yo nose be having boogies when you cry and you boogied down"

"What does that even mean?" Here she go with the questions.

"Boogied down mean you cool as hell"

"You think I'm coooooool"

I frowned going into my freezer getting my personal bottle of Moet.

"You ruined shit dat fast, you only cool cause you put dis together wit no help"

"Whatever go enjoy your guest"

"You ain't gonna join us? I'm tryna see how you get when you lit" As uptight as she came off to be I wanted to see how she got when she let her hair down and had fun.

"I will I just have to ice this cake and I'll be out there"

I popped the bottle of Moet, tapping her chin she knew exactly what to do.

"Waterfall"

Erin tilted her head back with her mouth open letting me pour the alcohol into her mouth, she cringed swallowing it down.

"On hood I'm getting you drunk and I'm smoking you out tonight"

"We shall see"

I went back outside to see my niggas eating and talking while the music bumped in the background, Blacc nodded his head pointing the fork at his plate.

"Shorty put love in dis shit you can taste it" Slim talked with a full mouth of food.

"I heard when you and Cane went out there to rob niggas and they start bussin one of ya'll caught a body"

I saw some niggas shot but I didn't remember any of them being dead.

"It was me, him and Boog there, I ain't catch a body and I don't think Cane did"

"Then who did nigga? couldn't be no ghost"

On cue Erin stepped outside with a pan of wings sitting it on the table, me and all my niggas looked in her direction.

"Oh no, what did I do?" She asked staring back at us with a worried expression "Is the food nasty?"

"You got to be fucking kidding me she caught da body?" Slim shouted out, Erin looked baffled at what we were talking about.

"Caught a body? What does that mean?"

"Shorty you killed somebody"

I elbowed Slim to shut his big ass fucking mouth, Erin didn't move she opened her mouth and closed it like a fish out of water.

"Based off of rules ain't catching a body initiation into Rollin 60's?' Another one of my niggas commented.

"Oh shit"

"Wait what does that even mean?" I sighed grabbing my blue rag handing it to her.

"You officially a member of da Rollin 60's Crips"