JR SWAT 2: Two, Taken

Chapter 11: Order up!

Leyla's place, 7am...

While Kelly finished getting ready, Leyla checked her phone. Truth is, it's not that uncommon for her to be up so early in the morning. She lived in a small apartment in a two story house with a family of six on the top floor, all four kids were under the age of 5. So, sleeping for long hours was next to impossible! This not to mention the incidents with neighbors, constant dogs barking and chickens clucking, occasional gun shots or fireworks nearby, ambulances and police sirens every other hour and, of course, car honks whenever anyone felt like it. Not necessarily your typical neighborhood, but it was where her mother could afford rent.

She was surprised Rubio hadn't answered her texts at all. She was expecting at least a thank you or a good night. She knew it shouldn't matter to her, but...it did! She also feared what cap would do to him. Everybody in the whole world knows that lady doesn't play!

She couldn't resist, so...

"Hey! You up?"

"Wepa. (Hey) Yeah, I'm walking Topo." Rubio answered, yawning, trying to  sound tired.

Leyla frowned and paused. She knew something didn't add up. "Rubio, I know you ain't tired...coz you aint ever tired! What's up? You didn't answer my texts last night and now you trying to play it cool. What happened with cap?"

"Nothin. Pa talked to me. Ma was busy." he answered dryly.

"So, what's up with you?"

"Nothin" he answered slowly.

"Rubio!" Leyla snapped.

"I don't know if it's important, ok?" Rubio said, shaking his head.

"Team meeting!" Leyla said. "You call Chen, I'll get Kaykay and Marv."

"Ok!"  Rubio responded, showing a bit more energy.

After the teens dialed the numbers and set up the conference call...

"Why do y'all hate sleeping? Damn!" Marv snapped angrily.

"Marv, relax!" Kelly said, between the giggles. Both girls laid face down on Leyla's bed.

"What is wrong with y'all?" demanded the annoyed teen.

"Hey guys!" Matthew interrupted.

"Marv, chill out. I bet sarge doesn't sleep much, so think of this as your practice for when you become a real OG" Leyla said.

"Hell nah!" Marv complained annoyed.

"Hey peeps!" Chen responded. "On my way to work. What's up?"

"Kaykay, ain'tchu 'pose to be sick?" Marv asked.

"¡Wepa! (Hey)" Rubio greeted.

"Hey, guys! Kaykay, how's it going? How you holding up?" Kelly greeted.

"Rubio, you alive? I thought captain was gonna kill you!" Chen said.

"Guys, one at a time! Geez!" Leyla pleaded.

"Kaykay!" Marv called.

"Hey! I'm ok. It's a disaster zone here, but...we're surviving. I'm sooo tired." Matthew lamented.

"How's everybody doing?" Chen asked.

"Yeah, how's it like?" Rubio asked curiously.

"Well, my dad and a nurse that was here yesterday, divided the house in three zones. So, since all of us have different symptoms, we're isolating each other. I'm the only asymptomatic one."

"Asym what?" Chen mocked.

"Asymptomatic. It means he doesn't have any of the bad symptoms." Kelly responded.