12 | Chapter Twelve
March, 2015 | Harlem, New York
"I'm going to check on Cassidy." Joey stated one morning. Cassie had been in the hospital for three days now, and in those three days Joey had visited her twice, and I hadn't even gone once. I shot up from my seat on the couch. "Okay, cool, wait for me. I'm coming." I stated getting up. Joey let out a dry laugh. "You're not coming with me. It's family only, girl." Joey stated. I rose an eyebrow. "So I'm not family anymore?" I questioned. I had always thought I was family. I had met his mother and his sister, and at least two of his cousins. I didn't know if that was considered "family" but I knew it was more than just his roommate. "I mean, you were, but you fucked up." He stated as he continued to get himself ready. I sighed. "Joey are you serious? Cassie is my friend. I can't even see if she's okay?" I asked. Joey let out an aggravated yell.
"No, Isis, you cannot. Are you not able to take 'no' for an answer? Are you so much of a brat that 'no' is not part of your vocabulary?" Joey snapped at me. I was taken back, for Joey had been mad at me before, but he had never yelled me. He had never called me a brat or looked as if he was this close to putting his hands on me. And I could honestly say that I was glad: it was quite scary.
I nodded slowly.
"So that's really how you feel?" I questioned.
Joey let out another dry laugh, and by now, those stupid laughs were getting annoying. I wanted to pull him by his collar and scream in his face. I wanted him to shut up and just let me check on Cassidy. I wanted him to forgive me. I wanted a lot of things, and I wasn't getting it and it made me angry.
Maybe I was a brat.
"I mean, people say things that they feel right?" Joey spat back.
"Goddamn it, Joey! I said I was sorry about the whole Reid thing! I really don't know what the hell you want me to do, go back in time and fix what I said? I can't Joey, I really can't." I yelled at him. We were causing a ruckus, I could tell. But I honestly didn't care. It was clear we both had things that we needed to get off of our chest and though it consisted of us both yelling, it was a start.
"I mean, yeah, since we're on the topic." Joey stated, sarcasm dripping from his tone. I shook my head. "You're so picky, you're so unable to please and you're being a complete bitch right now and I can't even." I spoke shaking my head. Joey laughed. "Really, I'm being a bitch? Hm, okay. I'm being a bitch because I'm allowing you to stay in this apartment rent free. I'm a bitch because I've done nothing but protect you. I'm being a bitch because I fell in love with you right? If anything, you're the bitch." Joey's words were curt and straight to the point. This wasn't our first argument, but this was by far the worst one.
"So I'm a bitch?" I asked crossing my arms over my chest.
Joey nodded. "That's what I said, right?"
"Well maybe I'll go be a bitch somewhere else." I stated, grabbing my shoes and slipping them on. I founded a thick enough coat hanging on the coat hanger and I threw that on as well. I was pissed the hell off by now. He called me bitch. A bitch. I mean, he was mad, but was that really necessary?
"Maybe while you're out you can go find Reid and get the fuck out of my life for good." Joey spat.
I felt a tear fall down my face.
"Maybe that's what I'll do, Joey. I'll find Reid and I'll just get out of your life. I'll forget about you like we haven't spent two damn years together. I'll forget about you like we didn't kiss and make love like we're some kind of couple. I'm sorry I've been so difficult but that's no reason for me to a "bitch" when I've done nothing but try to be by your side." I stated. By the time the last word left my mouth, at least a waterfall of tears had fallen from my eyes. Joey's hard glare had soften, but he didn't move from his position. I took that as my time to leave, grabbing his keys from the counter. He called my name, but I ignored him. I was going to please him. I was going to go and find Reid. I was going to keep him close to my side, and we were going to go back to Compton where we'd live happily ever after.
