25 | Chapter Twenty-Five
June, 2015 | Harlem, New York
Time had passed by and gradually things were beginning to be okay. Normal wasn't an appropriate word just yet, but things were gradually getting okay. I liked it. School was over for me, well at least until the next semester started back up. I was happy. No more homework, no more having to stay up at night for the simple fact that I loved to procrastinate.
Isis and Reid still lived in my apartment and at times I hated it, and at other times, it brought me a sense of comfort for I didn't feel so alone anymore.
And though Isis was still in my apartment, our conversation was scarce. I didn't know if it was because she was regretting what she told me, or if she was trying her hardest to make everything she said true. I hated change, and the change that I was getting so far made everything I said about being happy fly out the door. I tried to keep to myself, and to not let myself get in between Isis and Reid, or just Isis versus the world. And at times, it was easy, but whenever she decided to wake up early around the same time I do, and sit down at the breakfast nook and drink a cup of coffee, her eyes staring out the window and my eyes staring at her, it got hard.
Or whenever she woke up in the middle of the night when Reid was sleeping, and I was still up and knocked on my door in her pajamas (which was really just a t-shirt and some shorts) asking for the remote for the living room with a subtle voice that I hardly ever heard her use.
But thankfully, I was a pro at hiding my feelings.
It was noon now, and the apartment was eerily quiet. School was out here in Harlem and though this was the case, no kids were outside playing and I couldn't hear the pool. Isis was in her room, and the only sound you could hear that let us know she was alive, was the sound of her laughter. She was Facetiming Leah on her phone, and it sounded like they were catching up on a lot of things.
I hadn't heard from Leah in a while, but according to Rakim, she needed 'some time to think' and took a vacation to Florida where her cousins were. She must have just been coming back.
Rakim and Leah have yet to talk.
I didn't exactly know if Rakim was going to really talk to Leah. All he told me was that he had to get some things off his chest to 'that chick.' He spoke it like he never once had feelings for her. Rakim, much like I, must have been a pro at hiding his feelings.
My phone rang on the dresser and I looked at it.
It was an Unknown number.
I scrunched my eyebrows at it before letting it ring.
I laid my head back down on the pillow in my room. The only sound now was the one coming from my phone, and once that ended it was just my thoughts and I. The TV wasn't on and everything was so silent. It was almost eerie. Like someone was watching me, and waiting for the right moment to stri-
Riiiing.
My phone rang again.
I glanced at it, expecting it to be that same Unknown number. Instead, it was my sister, Cassidy.
I answered.
"Hey Cass, what's up?" I questioned. The voice that responded, was indeed Cassidy, but it wasn't a happy Cassidy. Her voice sounded as if she was in pain and as if she had been running a marathon for three straight hours.
"Joey I need your help. Come to the house immediately. Bring Reid and Isis." She stated. She let out a dry cough before a groan of pain left her mouth. By now, I wasn't just worried, I was scared. "Okay Cassidy, stay strong, I'll be there soon." As soon as the words left my mouth, Cassidy let out another cough. I hung up the phone quickly. Grabbing a light jacket, I pocketed my phone and rushed to Isis's room. I didn't knock on the door, and I wasn't surprise when she jumped up and sent me a mean look. "Have you ever heard of knocking?" She spat, rolling her eyes at me.
