In the middle of it all

Diego

School was over. Asad, Tanisha and I had finished our first year of university and had begun to enjoy our three month break. I slept over at Xavier's. When I woke up, Xavier was already awake. He was laying shirtless on his side, his eyes on me. "Slept peacefully ?"

"Yeah..." I say giggling half-asleep. He pulls me near and wraps me in his arms. We snuggle for a while until Xavier's phone rings. He lets me go and turns around to hold it. "Yeah, I'm with her." He begins answering. "Oh really ? Yeah, we're on our way." The caller hangs up and Xavier lowers his phone.

"Who was it ?"

"Tanisha. Izzy gave birth." He says. I sit up and cover my mouth.

"Her baby is born ?" I shriek. "What are we waiting for ? Let's go to the hospital, asap !" I get off the bed and rush to the bathroom. He follows me there, we shower together and leave the house.

On our way to the hospital, I checked my phone only to notice 20 notifications coming from Aneesa, Nate and Tanisha. Most of them came from Neesa though.

"I texted you." That's the first thing Aneesa told me when my boyfriend and I made it to Isabel's room. Everyone besides Kyle was gathered in front of the room whose door was guarded by a jail guard. They were waiting for the nurse's signal to get in and see the child.

"I know, I'm sorry I only saw it on my way here." I looked around the room and no one was making eye contact with me. "How long have you been here ?"

"The whole time. I came here with Kyle and Nate. My brother, Jessie and your sister only came a few hours ago." she explains. The nurse finally comes out and allows us to enter.

"It's a boy." she says.

We pass the guard, walk in and gather around her bed. Nate was on Izzy's right side. Neesa was besides him, so was Jessie. Kyle was standing on her left beside her bed, holding their baby. Xav and I were next to him while Tanisha and Asad were facing the bed. "I did it guys..." Izzy cheered, fatigued.

"Yes you did." Jessie nears her and kisses her forehead.

"What's his name ? Did you guys think of it ?" Nate neared the baby and Kyle let him hold him.

"His name is Diego." answers Kyle.

"Diego Micheals born july 17th 22'60." adds Izzy.

We stayed for another thirty minutes, each one of us holding the sleepy baby for a bit. When we weren't conversing in a group, Jessie was mostly talking to Izzy, Tanisha. Asad kept quiet or was chatting to Nate, the couple , me or his sister. Never the both of us at the same time though. Nate talked to everyone but Xavier.

"We'll let you rest." eventually comments Tanisha.

"Yeah, you must be tired." Aneesa gives the baby to his mother.

"You guys as well..." She looks down at her child before looking back at us. "I'm so happy to see you guys !" she says, tearing up. Aneesa lowers herself to hug her.

"See you soon, Izzy. Love you."

"Love you too."

"We'll wait for you in the car Kyle." adds Aneesa. He nods. The rest of us hug her goodbye then Sha, Jessie and Asad make their way out soon followed by Aneesa. and Nate.

"Take care." Xavier comments. Izzy and Kyle nod and we leave.

Wasn't there a guard around ?

"You tired ?" Kyle asks.

"You don't need to wait for me, you know." begins Izzy when the door closes. She got out of the bedsheets and sat on the bedside.

"I'll wait. I can wait." he vowed.

" I won't be with you for years and..." she quavered, "and Diego needs a motherly figure..."

"I'll stick with you forever, Isabel."

"Don't be stupid, Kyle please !" she begged. The baby started crying. She placed him in his crib and made her way to the door "Let's talk outside."

"Izzy be for real."

"You know what I've done Kyle..."

"Yes I know. I know but I'd rather die than be with someone else !"

"Kyle please! Diego doesn't need a murderer as his mother !"

"What about me ?" he cried out. "What about my needs ? I need you, Izzy ! I knew what you did but I still chose to be with you. Don't you have faith in us ?"

" I just don't want you to feel alone when I'm gone." She mumbled in a shaky voice. He brought her against him, her face against his chest.

"Don't you get how much you mean to me ? Even with another, I'll think about you. I ain't gonna stop loving you just because I'm alone. I ain't gonna stop loving you just because you're gone. I just can't stop loving you. "

The guard made his way towards them. "Miss Gomes, you are to be in your room at all times." orders..

"Yes sir."

"Fucking criminal..." He mumbles. "I'm bringing her back in a few hours." He notifies Kyle before he walks away.

* * *

When Xav and I made our way to the parking lot. Neither Aneesa's nor Sha's car was around. I called Neesa to ask where she was but it only led me to her voicemail. Xavier then drove me to his place.

"Still nothing from her ?" He asks as we walk towards the kitchen. I shake my head. We sat at the table island. "I can drive you to the crib if you want to."

"It's okay." I sigh.

"What's on your mind then ?"

"It's the 17th of july, huh ?" I say.

"Yes, why ?"

"July 17 22'52. I'll never forget this date. It changed my life forever. I decided to run away from the orphanage. Not alone of course but with my two closest friends, Keshawn-"

"Keshawn ? Your ex ?"

I nod. " and Renee."

"Renee?"

"Yeah, we were young back then. Keshawn and I were 10, while Renee was 11, not to state the obvious but we didn't really know where we were going." I laugh to myself. "After managing to escape the orphanage,we wandered around the city, knocking on doors hoping someone would let us in."

"You know Renee ?" he mumbles to himself.

"What'd you say ?"

"Mika." He says my name in a pensive way."I was wondering."

"About what ?"

"What if Jax was behind Diego's death? He could've been the one who pulled the plug."

"Jax ? I mean it's true he's roaming free but-"

"Why haven't we gone after him yet ?" questions Xavier. He seemed more curious than usual.

"Only the ones who were at the fight saw him, but all of them passed."

"We don't have a name, face or anything ?"

"Nun of that. He's been keeping a low profile ever since, barely anyone knows him. He's like a legend. All we know is that he acts behind Naveen, hence his name the Shadow."

"How do you know all of that ?"

"Keshawn."

"Your ex ? He's been giving you information from the Rox gang ?"

"No but yes. I don't talk to him though, if that's what worries you."

"No I'm not worried, I trust you. I think it's good that you can use him for info." He concluded. I smiled at him and he kissed me on my forehead.