When It's All Said And Done (You're The One For Me) 1

Chapter Sixteen

As I drive home, I replay the images of Tai being arrested and taken from me over and over again. I can't stop the tears from falling. I pull into the driveway behind both Momma and Kaylin's cars. I walk inside and go straight to my room. I undress and get into bed. For hours I lay there crying because I cannot sleep. All I can think about is Tai.

    Around 5am when I begin to fall asleep, my phone begins to ring. I start not to answer, but it's probably Tai calling.

    "Hello," I sit up.

    "You have a collect call from: Tai Alsina. Do you accept the charges?"

    "Yes."

    "Your call is being connected. Please hold."

    The silence on the line seems like forever and then I hear his voice.

    "Hello? Kaydence?"

    "Yeah I'm here, are you okay?"

    "Yeah I'm good. You make it home alright?"

    "Yeah."

    "I'm sorry I got you caught up in all'at."

    "Tai, why the hell are you on probation and why didn't you tell me?"

    "Look, I got into some trouble a while back and I ain't say nothin' cause it ain't come up."

    "What about the gun?"

    "I put it in the car after I came out the hospital. I needed to protect myself if homeboy tried to send anybody after me."

    Instantly, I begin to feel bad. If it weren't for me, he would have never got the gun. But then again, he knew he was on probation and having the gun was in violation of that.

    "Tai, why are you on probation?"

    "I can't tell you right now."

    "Why? I could've gotten arrested along with you and—"

    "But you didn't. Look, I don't wanna have this conversation right now. Leave the shit alone."

    I am shocked and completely caught off guard by his statement. He's never talked to me like that before.

    "All I did was ask you a question."

    "And I answered you. Dead that shit."

    My feelings are lowkey hurt and I don't say another word.

    "Look, I'ma get off this phone. I got court tomorrow. I'll call you and let you know what happens."

    "Okay," I whisper.

    "Love you."

    "I love you, too."

    I hang up and lay back down. My head is pounding and my eyes are burning. I close my eyes and within minutes I'm sleeping.

    The next morning, I wake up to someone knocking on my room door. I turn over and act like I don't hear it hoping that either Kaylin or my mom will go away. The knocking continues and I grunt before getting up. I yank the door open and Momma is standing in the hallway.

    "Who's car is that?"

    "It's Tai's," I rub my eye.

    "I know you do not have that boy in your room," she looks past me.

    "He's not here. He let me hold his car," I lie.

    "And why would he do that?"

    "Because he knows I'm always stuck in the stupid house because I don't have a car. No big deal."