Waiting

20

After I got myself together, I took my journal full of reminders and snuck through the back of the cafeteria. I then ran across the street just to make sure I wouldn't easily get caught. I waved crazily down the block, waiting for a cab. It took a good five minutes, but I sighed in relief when a yellow cab pulled over.

"You go where?" The Asian cabby asked. I never was comfortable with the whole cab driver name. So, I said cabby. Done deal.

"Uh, um..." I trailed off. I pulled out a sticky note from my jeans pocket. "Oh yeah, take me to the nearest Toys-R-Us."

"Yes yes sir. You need money to go there." I rummaged through my wallet and pulled out a 20 dollar bill. I politely handed it to him and he sped off. It was a pretty quick ride, but there were too many people at the front of the entrance.

"Many bodies stand there" he said. Shit. I didn't want to get her flowers, that shit is wack. I wanted to get her something special.

"Hey um, do you know anyone-places-any place where y-y-you know presents and stuff?

"Ahhh, very good place near here. Many many stuffs. I take you there now?"

"Y-yep." He swerved out of the parking spot and continued driving. I was really enjoying the Little Einsteins show I was watching right now. The shit was litt. My mood toned down a bit when I noticed that he was parking. Until next time, I shall finish watching my show.

I went into the store and immediately started looking for chocolate. I don't know what it was with women, but they didn't mess around with chocolate.

I also looked in the stuffed animal section. Tori wasn't into teddy bears and stuff; she was more a penguin type of gal. So, I grabbed two mini penguins and headed over to the check out section.

It took me a moment to figure out where it was, but I did successfully buy my items. When I was about to exit, I saw a few thugs huddling around in the corner outside. I won't remember what happens after this, but I might as well enjoy myself.

"Sup guys" I said while casually walking over to them. I had already loaded my stuff in the cab while my cabby continued to eat his Chinese Takeout and watch tv.

"Well, well, well, it seems like we got a white nigga tryna join us" said one of them. He wore a bucket hat with no shirt and khakis. Fucking khakis.

"White, black, orange, yellow, my color doesn't change anything. At the end of the day my mouth can curse you out the same way one of your groupies can." His homies from the back got real quiet. "If anything, one of your groupies in the back is white" I said, pointing to one of the three men in front of me.

"Aight then show me 'homie'." I knew I was definitely going to lose. I could barely remember where I was when I woke up. How the hell was I supposed to fight all three of these dudes alone?

Lord have mercy on my poor soul. These men were probably going to try and jump me when I was done. I cleared my throat and began.

"Yo, I'm not t-t-trying to start anything w-with ya. C-can I just g-go?"

The leader of the crew laughed. He took out an electric cigarette and lit it while the other two glared at me.

"C'mon Chris, get him white thug style" he nodded. Chris started walking forward. I turned left and right, thinking about where I was gonna go.

"Hey wha-what's that?" I lied. "Sounds like my pigeon crew is calling me to take flight. I'll get back to you guys. Have a nice day." I was only able to make five steps before Chris pulled my shirt by the collar.

"Bring that ass over here boy" Chris shouted as he pushed me to a wall. "You not gonna leave this place so easily. You either get slapped, or never come back. Unfortunately, the last choice is no longer available for you."

The other two guys jumped from behind and punched me continuously in the face. The leader pulled out pepper spray and pointed it directly at my face. The sad part was that this was taking place right outside a damn gift store.

"You. Don't. Run. This. Place" Chris kept screaming as he punched me. Blood came gushing out of my mouth. I used all my force to roll over and stumbled back up. These guys aren't gonna hurt me so easily.

The leader tripped me, but I dodged and he ended up falling. I spit out some blood and took a cheap shot at Chris' face.

Luckily, my cabby quickly got out of the taxi, slurping his noodles and rushing over to my side.

"No no, you no hurt client. Client still owe me money. Let me take him to car over there. And put shirt on, it chilly out here."

The leader silently put the spray back in his pocket and the other two got off me. But, Chris seemed to be the only one who continued to glare at me as the other two turned around. "This ain't the last time you gon see me you little dick"

"You are what you suck" I smiled. I crawled over to the cab before I could get another blow to the face.

"Thanks cabby, p-pl-please just take me home" I said, shutting the car door.

"I no want to go home with you. Me straight. I take you home if you want."

"Yeah, of course" I murmured. I gave him my address and he immediately drove away. During the whole time, I wrote everything that happened in detail in my journal. In less than five minutes, we were in a location that I was definitely not familiar with. "Where we at man?" I asked, scratching my head.

"We started from you house, now we at you house. You live in big building closely by."

"You sure man?"

"Yes indeed sir." I went on my phone and looked at my pictures. I took the picture of the actual hospital and tried to match it with the place in front of me.

Ohhhhhhh. My cabby was right. Well now I seem like a dumb fuck.

"Thanks for saving me out there too" I said handing him another 20. He kindly took it and waved goodbye.

I went to the back of the hospital and climbed up the ladder to the top of the building. When I got there, I stood and wondered why I was here. Hmm...what to do..... Bam! I ran back to the cafeteria and asked the lunch lady for a while aluminum foil tray. She knew I didn't know what I was talking about, but reluctantly agreed.

I went to our mini buffet and got a lot of Mac and cheese with a few chicken wings on the side. What next..... oh yeah. I got two sodas and paid $2 extra for a small cake. Now I'm a broke nigga. I shook my head as I quietly sneaked back up to the top of the building.

I was about to take my phone out, but what was I going to use it for? Shit, I forgot. I scratched my head and looked around me, looking for a clue. That's when it clicked. Tori. I was doing this for Tori.

So, I took out my phone and texted her, telling her to meet me on the top of the building ASAP. I was still in a grey hood with matching baggy sweats, but I was gonna try to make it as romantic as possible.

My face was still all bruised up, and I looked like a bloody king right now. But as long as I had her as my queen, I'll be fine. At least I wasn't the only one who dealt with blood.

She cuts. I don't. I've always thought about it, but I guess I was too much of a wimp to actually press the blade against my skin. Tori always had more balls then me, and I guess that's why things didn't work out. I never could go on and beyond for her. I was too scared to lose her when we were dating, and I'm too scared to date her now that we're not.

But this time, I was gonna make sure it did work out. Even if it's the last try, considering if she makes it through this. She's having a hard time right now, and the longer she pretends to hide it, the more it's killing her on the inside. I need to keep her alive. Nah, fuck that shit. I need her.