Silent Whispers

19

Veronica Chandler

I sat up and looked over at Renzo as he slept. Usually he puts his arms around me when we sleep but after he told me the whole situation with his brother, he just kind of shut down. He hasn't said a word to me , I didn't even get a kiss good night and he always does it.

I cuddled up next to him and he pushed me away turning on his side.

I shook him. He mumbled something.

Bambi - babe I can't sleep.

Lorenzo- put the gun down please Scar

The fuck?

I shook him violently  and he jumped up looking scared.

He was breathing heavily and sweating.

Lorenzo - wh- Bambi you okay?

Bambi - can you hold me?

Lorenzo -  it's hot in here. I can't.

He got up.

Bambi - where are you going?

Lorenzo - sleeping on the couch.

Bambi - we always sleep together

Lorenzo - I know but it's just hot in here and with the two of us in here , it just makes me sweat more.  It's just for tonight baby I promise.

Lorenzo White

I kissed Bambi's forehead and walked out.

I laid on the couch staring at the ceiling.  I really just need to be alone right now.  Next month will be 3 years since Leonidas has been gone and talking about it with Bambi  brought up some regrets.

Maybe if I wasn't selling drugs , and wasn't stealing money from Sean  at the time, Leo would still be here. I was making a decent amount of money , selling drugs but it wasn't enough for what Scarlett wanted.  I was so in love with that girl I was willing to steal and she knew I was holding extra money for us , so that we could build a life together and  when  she was to blow the money on expensive shopping trips and I told her no , that's when she ratted me out to Sean. She admitted everything to him.

At that point I owed Sean well over 50,000 dollars and I had to find a way to pay it back before he decided he wanted me dead which was only a few days. I told Leonidas and he gave me the money, the money that he and Teana had saved up for  Leona's college fund at the time. They planned to have children and started saving early.

Didn't matter that I had the money anyway, Sean decided he wanted me dead because I stole from him and Scarlett helped because she was mad at me. 

They ended firing rounds into my grandparents house despite me coming outside to give them the money but they didn't want it.  I was grazed by a few bullets and when I went back into the house,  Leonidas was dead in a pool of his own blood, and my grandfather had multiple gunshot wounds but was still alive , and my grandma was injured pretty bad herself but she was able to get to a phone and call 9-1-1.

We didn't know one of the bullets tore my grandfather eardrum making him deaf.

For a long time , Teana blamed me and it was my fault because I got my brother involved in something I should've deal with on my own. She didn't want the money back either, because she felt it had Leonidas' blood all over it and was dirty in her eyes.

After his funeral , I packed up and left without saying a word.  My grandparents weren't talking to me  either so I just up and left without a plan as to where I would end up and I landed in Paris.

When I got there, I drowned myself in sex, alcohol , and drugs because at least for moment, I wasn't thinking about my brother. But when everything was over and done, I still blamed myself. I still blame myself even after I was forgiven by everyone.

Bambi walked in the living room.

Bambi - you okay?

Renzo - I'm fine

Bambi - I heard you crying.

I wiped my face.

Bambi - babe

Renzo - go back to bed, I'm fine

Bambi - but you-

Renzo -   GOD DAMN IT VERONICA, LEAVE ME THE HELL ALONE.  I'm fine, there's nothing you can fix so leave me alone.

Bambi started to speak but didn't.

Renzo - wait

I grabbed her hand and she snatched it away.

Bambi - I'm sorry.

She came out of the room with a suitcase.

Renzo - what are you doing?

Bambi - leaving you alone.

Renzo - Veronica go back to bed. You aren't going across the hall.

Bambi - I'm going to stay with David.

I stood up , blacking the front door.

Renzo - like hell you are. 

Bambi -  move Lorenzo

Renzo - no

She hit me in my chest.

Bambi - you don't want to be bothered with me so I'm going.  You wanna be left alone.  Get out of my way.

Renzo - go sit down

She pushed me but I didn't budge.

Renzo - stop hitting me and go to bed.

Bambi  started to cry.

Bambi - you don't want me here Renzo, I wanna leave.

Renzo - I didn't say I didn't want you here.  You're not leaving , especially not with him.

The buzzer went off.

It was David.

David - Ronni I'm here.

Bambi - move Lorenzo

Renzo - no

Bambi threw her suitcase at me , causing me to move.

She picked up the suitcase and  reached for the door.

I grabbed her.

Renzo - if you walk out this door-

Bambi - or what Renzo?

She stared me down.  I grabbed her suitcase.

Renzo - I'm sorry.  Baby I can assure I'm okay. I shouldn't have raised my voice at you. You were only trying to help me.   I just have some stuff I need to work out on my own.

She opened the door.

David - you ready to go?

Bambi - I'm staying. I'm sorry I made you drive all the way out here.

David -  that's your problem Veronica, every time you don't like something , your solution is to leave. You gon leave every time you and this nigga get into a fight? 

Bambi - it was just a misunderstanding.

She walked back into the apartment. David looked at me.

David - I'm waiting for the day , you fuck up with her.

Renzo - she's not going anywhere.

David - I can play the long game. I'm the one she'll run to when you fuck up. Remember that.

He walked off.

That nigga is gonna be waiting forever because me and Veronica aren't breaking up.