The Anarchy Princess

17. Open wounds

EZ
~
I wasn't sure how to explain it to her. "Hey July, you're my soulmate. And also, I had held up your caretaker at gunpoint because his dumbass killed my mom." I scoffed. "Yeah, that would go over well." I said. "July. We've only dealt with drama. When I first laid eyes on you I knew that I didn't want Emily. It was you I want. It's always been you." I said. "Shit, that's even worse." I groaned. "July. We've been through so much. Ups and downs, left and right's. But there's no one else that I'd want to ever spend it with. Through high school, you visiting me weekly in county. And you ending up in a coma, after Coco almost lost his eyesight, and Riz's death. I realized how much you meant to me then. And that I can't picture my life without my best friend in it. Will you be my girl?" I had read the speech out loud and I sighed. "It's perfect." I smiled. I had sped to the shop. Taking the sight of her in. I smiled, as we had argued over which bike to take. Pop threw me the truck keys, and I knew just the place to go. She had been quiet most of the drive. "I got you something." I smiled as she stared at me with confusion. "What is it?" She laughed. "Open it and see." I said. "A fork?" She asked. "It's for my place. The spoon, knife, bowl, plate, and a cup. Well, two. A glass, and a mug are all waiting for you there." I smiled. "It's perfect EZ. I love it." She said. I pulled over onto the curb once I saw the stand I was looking for. "Take my sweatshirt." I said, as I had wrapped it firm around her shoulders before she could protest any of her objections, as she smiled.
"I'll be right back." I said as I got out.
~
July
~
He had held up two plates as a kutte had stood behind him and aimed a gun. "EZ!" I yelled, he had quickly dropped the food and wrestled with the man. "EZ!" I had cried out when the gun went off. "EZ?! EZ?!" I had breathed as he quickly got in the cab.  "Get down! July! Just stay down." He ordered, he was panicked. The worry and fear were clearly evident in his voice. "Are you okay?!" He asked, he was checking me over. "I'm okay. I'm fine." I said. "July. Are you sure." He asked. "Yes. I'm sure. I'm okay." I breathed. He held me close as I had felt something sticky, I paled at the sight. I pulled my hand away as I started to shake. "Ez." I stated. He looked over at me as I mirrored his expression. We were both in shock. "H-Hang on." I said as I let out a shaky breathe. I drove us to the ER.  "Stay with me EZ." I ordered him.
{"Stay with me Donna." I echoed. I shouldn't have been in that truck. We shouldn't have been in that truck.}
My breathing was slightly uneven as I raced EZ to the ER as fast as I could.
{She was grabbing a CD out from the glove box, it fell on the floor. On my side, at my feet. I had reached down to pick it up. The sound of glass breaking had quickly put me on high alert. I had grabbed my gun but the damage had proven as fatal. "Donna! Donna?!" I screamed out. I cried as I sat there. I'd just lost my best friend. "No! No!" I sobbed as I sat there in the seat next to her. I broke down at the memory.}
"HELP US! He's been shot!" I yelled. My mind had replayed Donna's death. I was breathing heavy, and shaking. He squeezed my hand tighter. "It's ok. I'll be here, ok. I'm right here!" I cried slightly as they rushed him out into a restricted area. I had sat in the waiting room doing exactly that, waiting. The Mayans had arrived shortly after, once I had dialed Angel on Ez's phone. He was in surgery, and I would've wanted to know right away if it had been Jax. We had all camped out in the waiting room, until Angel got fired up and he had been scaring the civilians there. They transferred us to a more private area to sit, and wait Ez's outcome. I was smiling sadly at Angel. He had glanced over at me every now and then. "What?" He asked me finally. "Angel-" Bishop started. "No. Let her talk." Angel replied as he stared at me. "You-you wanna medal or something? Huh, princess? What, for saving my baby brothers life? You think I owe you that? Huh?" He asked. "No. I don't expect anything from you, or any of you." I said, to all the Mayans in the room. "So, you've got a damn staring problem then sweetheart." He said. "It's nothing. I'm sorry." I replied quietly. "Yeah. Well, thanks." He said. "I'd just want the same done for me." I smiled. "He likes you, y'know. A lot." He said. I nodded. "I like him too." I reached my hands into the sweatshirt pocket, only to feel paper. "What?" I breathed as I read the words slowly.
"July. We've been through so much. Ups and downs, left and right's. But there's no one else that I'd want to ever spend it with. Through high school, you visiting me weekly in county. And you ending up in a coma, after Coco almost lost his eyesight, and Riz's death. I realized how much you meant to me then. And that I can't picture my life without my best friend in it. Will you be my girl?" I inhaled deeply as I read the question. I started to cry. "Yes." I breathed out through tears. Angel stood quickly, he offered his hand, I looked up at him. "Reyes." A voice behind me called out. "Yeah. We're here." Angel said as I stood at his side. "Oh, are you family miss?" He asked. "I-" "yeah. She is." Angel said quickly as he glanced down at me. "Right then." The doctor said as he had begun to quietly fill us all in on EZ's condition. "He's gonna be just fine." The doctor smiled. "Oh thank god." I sighed out in relief. "No. Thank you July." Angel said as he hugged me tightly. "He wouldn't have made it if you weren't-. If you hadn't been-" He choked. "He's just lucky to have you."
- the week during Donna's death-
"July!" Donna slurred. "There you are!" She laughed. "You're drunk, D." I said as she waved me off. "So what!" She said. "Come on D, let's get you home." I said as I took her arm. "No! I'm not ready to leave yet." She sassed as she pulled her arm away from me. "Your husband requested you home." I said. "Fuck that." She slurred. "D. We gotta go." I said, seeing two men walking our way. "Donna. Now." I said quietly, as I dragged her towards my car. "Why are you so pushy!" She asked. "Because I love you. And I need you to be safe. I need my sister safe." I said quietly as I flew down to Opie's. "I love you too J, so much." She cried. "I'm so lucky to have you as a sister."
-present, July-
Her words rang through my ears. I had to excuse myself. "I uh, I should go clean up and I'll bring EZ a bag." I said as the men all nodded at my exit.
~
I got to EZ's trailer. To our trailer. I packed him a bag, and I stepped in the shower. The water warm, welcoming. I had started to wash myself off when another flashback hit me. Donna's last expression had been haunting me. I saw it, as I scrubbed her blood off my body, my breathing shaky, no matter how hard I tried to get rid of her blood it had kept pooling around my feet. I screamed and cried as I slid down the shower wall. "Jesus." Jax called as he heard my panicked cries. He jumped in the water fully clothed as he shut it off. He wrapped a towel around my shaking body. He sat in there with me. We had cried, but we also laughed. "It's all my fault- if I h-had just d-done something." I said. He had held my shaking body while I cried. Soothing me. "It's not your fault." He said. "It wasn't anyone's fault but that coward bitch killer's, ok?" He said. I nodded.
~
"Sorry I'm no help to you now sis." His voice rang from the other side of the shower curtain. "It's fine Jax." I replied quietly. "Hang in there." He said. When I got out, he was gone. I sighed as I got dressed and grabbed the backpack of items I picked out. I got there as everyone was with him. "Sorry." I said at the group of men all standing around at his bedside. "No, no. Please." Bishop said as his hand motioned for me to step inside. "I brought you some clothes." I said. He smiled. "Clothes sound nice, but you sound better. Come here." He said as he extended for me to hold his hand. I smiled as I took it, he pulled me into his embrace. "EZ!" I laughed. "Sorry." He said, a smile playing on his lips. "I know you're not." I smirked. "Mhh, you're right." He laughed, then I had dipped down and quickly kissed him. I pulled away shyly as he tried to study my thoughts. "Uh, I read your letter." I laughed quietly. "Oh, uh, wow." He breathed. "I- I didn't mean for you to find out that way." He had chuckled nervously. "My answer is yes." I said. He had looked up at me in surprise. "What." he laughed. "Yes. EZ. I'll be yours." I laughed as he beamed and then pulled me in for another kiss. "You need time to heal, bed rest." I said. "There's something important I wanna show you. Maybe ride bitch just this once? For me?" He asked. "Not a chance." I whispered playfully. "It was worth a shot." He laughed.