No. 99 (Joey Bada$$)

73• My Heart Is Leaking Out

Joey looked at my arm then looked up at me. "Yo! Why you hurting yourself? How come I'm just now seeing this?!"

"Joey, I stopped."

"It's not about you stopping! It's about-" He was clearly angry.

"It's not even like that! I stopped, alright?! Stop making it more than what it is. I don't wanna feel bad about the past."

"IT IS MORE THAN WHAT IT IS! AND YOU SHOULD FEEL BAD! WHY WOULD YOU DO THAT TO YOURSELF?" His voice cracked and he held back tears. So did I.

"I'm sorry. I didn't know it would affect you like this." I said

He stopped yelling and took a breath. "I don't want you to hurt yourself or maybe even take your life."

"I understand." I said. I just told this nigga that I stopped right? Shakin' my damn head.

"Good, cuz I'm callin' the Pro's over here. Call up your hoes." He pulled out his phone and cleaned his face from tears.

"What we 'bout to do?"

"Talk. Shit." He put the phone up to his ear.

•

4:54 p.m.

After everyone came and we were in the living room. I got a text.

"Hide." I said out loud to everyone.

"Hide fo what? I ain't no lil bitch!" Kwon said.

Something in the kitchen dropped and we all got quiet and stood still.

Nyck was about to go to the kitchen but Joey stopped him. The radio in his room blasted and we jumped.

"I'm warning you guys. Hide." The text said.

"Hide where?" I texted back and said out loud.

"Anywhere. Anywhere in the apartment. No one hide with someone, you go by yourselves."

"This apartment isn't even that big for about 10 people to hide." I texted

"There isn't? Look around. You have 3 minutes to hide."

We all ran and I hid inside of the closet in Joey's mom's room. I heard footsteps and covered my mouth from making any sound. I jumped slightly at the sound of the person balling up plastic.

Crush...crushhhh...CRUNCH!

I felt my heartbeat in my ears and tried my best to hush.

"You're smart." A male voice said that didn't belong to any of the Pro's. "Wanna know how I know you're in here, Leslie?"

I kept quiet.

"Of course you do. You know how small this apartment is, right? At least one or two of you are in each room in different spots, shouldn't have listened to me."

My gulps sounded like an airplane crashing in the silence. Typical movements sounded like a ruckus.

"I know who's in here and I know who you are. I don't wanna end the game just yet so sit tight and enjoy." I heard the heavy footsteps walk out the room but I didn't uncover my mouth. I still feel like something is in the room. Something still.