SELFISH •L.B•

34

NOBODY

Gelo left his younger brother right on the floor where he knocked him out. He couldn't believe this was the type of stuff Melo had been doing. On the drive back he decided to call the one person he needed to speak to in the moment.

She didn't want to pick up. For all she knew this could be a trick to get her back in North Carolina. The last place she wanted to be.

Mariah- Hello?

Gelo- We know.

Mariah- We?? Who the hell is we and what do y'all know?

On the other side of the phone, Mariah became confused. What could he possibly know? A million things ran through her mind and her heart dropped at one of them.

Gelo- E and I. We know Melo hits you.

Her heart dropped. She was going to be in a shitload of trouble from Melo.

Mariah- What are you talking about. He's never laid a hand on me.

Evoni felt horrible for the way Mari immediately stuck up for Melo. Poor girl was being treated so badly she'll blindly lie for him.

Gelo- You don't have to lie for him anymore. E recorded his confession on voice memos.

Mari knew he would tell his family and Dmo which terrified her. That's the one thing they weren't allowed to know.

Mariah- LiAngelo. You know I never ask for much. But I am begging you not to tell Dmo, Zo, or your parents.

She didn't want to think of what was to come if from Melo they found out.

Gelo- I have to Mari, since you won't.

Mariah- You don't understand. Melo will literally kill me if anything gets out.

Gelo- So stay with me. He won't hurt you if I'm there.

Yeah right, Mari thought. He always finds a way, wether it be mentally or physically.

Mariah- How do you know?

Gelo- Cause I just knocked him out.

There was a lot of thinking Mariah had to do between now and whenever Gelo tells everyone. With Jaden, no one knows where she is. With Gelo, she had the constant fear of Melo coming over and finding her. But then again, she really needed to go to Durham.

Mariah- I'll think about it.

It wasn't much of an answer, but Gelo could take it. Anything was better than nothing.

Gelo- Let me know your answer on Saturday, because right after you hang up I'm snitching.

Oh shit. This wasn't an ideal time window. Today was Wednesday, which meant Mariah had only two days to decide if she wanted to return back.

Mariah- Way to stress me out.

The older male thought of different people who she could be staying with right now. It's almost been a month since anyone's seen her, so it'd have to be someone anyone would least expect.

Gelo- Jaden. You're staying with her, right?

How the fuck did he know?

Mariah- No one was supposed to know. How did you find that out?

Gelo- You and her were close when we were together, plus you don't have many friends.

Mariah- You only hang out with Ant.

He let out a small chuckle, knowing she's right.

Gelo- Whatever bum. Just let me know what you decided, so I can set up the spare room.

Mariah- Alright theif, I'll talk to you later.

Gelo- BRO.