I REFUSE •Stephen Curry•

•21•

A A L I Y A H
I woken up to a bright white light blinding my vision. Was I dead? That thought went away quickly as I turn my head to see a sleeping Klay. His eyes held bags underneath them making my stomach knot in guilt knowing I was the cause.  I slowly look to my hand. It was numb and wrapped up in gauges. I was a mess. A sigh escapes my lips a headache was formed across my forehead. I grab my head in pain.

"Ms. Haughton I see your facing the side effects of your medicine. It should only last for no longer than hour." A lady no taller then 5'2 in a white nurse scrubs with wrinkles adoring her face showing her aged but she didn't look old but not young. Her red lipstick was smudged on her teeth ever so slightly. I just nod my throat dry from the lack of water. The lady seemed as if she knew what was wrong. "Water is on the table to your left." She says pointing. I grab the small cup and give her a kind smile. She exits the room and Klay was now wide awake.

"I leave you for one night and next thing you know I get a call from the little guy saying you've been hurt." He says almost humorously. I bite back a smile trying to frown.

"It's not my fault I actually have a good explanation for this." I say. His eyebrows furrows his eyes telling me to go on so I do. "You will never believe this but Steph is my neighbor." I tell him. His brown eyes go wide. His mouth opens slightly as his stunned expression makes me nod.

"No way." He says.

"Yes way." I tell him as I lay back on the bed looking at the ceiling.

"Well that explains why he's in the waiting room." Klay says looking down his hand scratching the back of his neck.

"What?" I ask with unbelief.

S T E P H E N
Red and blue sirens went off outside. Confusion takes over my mind. This was a quiet neighborhood so I wouldn't understand why there was such a disruption going on outside. I peer out the window seeing the ambulance go right next door. The people jump out the car and knock onto the door. Aaliyah comes out gripping her hand tightly. Klay's car comes pulling up next to the ambulance. I run to my room throwing on a pair of joggers and a shirt and throw on my slides.

"Where are you going?" Ayesha asks annoyance clear in her voice.

"None of your business." I spit. My teeth grinding against each other.

"Is it with her again?" She asks her eyes not interested in the subject. I grow confused and upset

"What happened to you?!" I shout. She used to be so sweet and understanding and now she could care about nobody except herself. Selfish much? She opens her mouth but I stop her.

"There is no time for your crap right now I have to go." I tell her getting out the room. I stop at the door way. "And I want you gone when I come back." I tell her. I go out the front door locking it quickly and  running next door.

"Klay!" I shout as he is about to get in his car and drive away.

"Steph? What are you doing-"Just let me go with you." I interrupt him. He stops for a second almost hesitant. He then nods.

"Hop in." I run to the passenger side and slam the door behind me. What if she did this because of me? Guilt feels me immediately.

A A L I Y A H
A knock is heard on the door. The nurse comes in again.

"Aaliyah you have a visitor may I let him in?" She asks. I look to Klay and I shake my head.

"Let him in." Klay speaks for me. I open my mouth but Klay stops me. "At least hear what he has to say." Klay offers. I huff crossing my arms and roll my eyes. "Thats my girl." He says trying to lighten my mood. Steph comes in he offers a smile but I just look away. Out of the corner of my eyes I see Klay shooting me a glare.

"What are you doing here? My boobs aren't out this time and if you thought that you might get a glance of my ass because of this gown then you better leave before I let security escort you out." I growl. He stares at me shocked. He raises his hand in surrender.

"I was actually worried if you would like to know." He responds. I could tell I was pushing his nerves and for once I was amused with the situation. He was worried about me. At least he knew how I felt when I spent all those years staring out the window wondering if he would actually keep his promise and come home on time and be the responsible man I wanted to be with.

"Didn't seem like you were much worried. Where's your little girl toy of yours, didn't wanna come?" I ask pretending to be sad at the fact Ayesha wasn't with him.

"Uh Klay can you give us a minute?" He asks. I look to Klay almost silently begging him not too. He shook his head at me. He nodded to Steph. He leans down next to my ear.

"Don't worry I'll be right outside the door scream if you need me sweetheart which I know you won't." He assures. He leaves but not without gently kissing my forehead. I look to see Stephen's face emotionless but his eyes hold hurt. Once the door closes and we are finally alone.

"I'm sorry." He starts. I look to him.

"I've heard." I reply giving him a bored look.

"I know I've told you this many times before but I didn't want things to end up like this. I wanted to always be with you then and still now." He says coming to sit closer him grabbing my hand caressing it ever so gently.

"Did you realize that before or after you were fucking Ayesha." I say bitterly snatching my hand from his grasp.

"You can't tell me you haven't done nothing with Klay." He indirectly accuses. I arch an eyebrow.

"And what is that suppose to mean?" I ask my tone full of disgust.

"You know exactly what I mean, him kissing your forehead and the hugs I know you've guys fucked so don't make me feel like the bad guy when your just as guilty." He says lowering his voice showing his temper slowly rising.

"Well shit Sherlock you must can't see because of what you've done to me I can't even fucking imagine being with anybody else. Sure me and Klay have kissed have once but nothing more cause I refuse to." I spit. His eyes grow guilty. "Yeah, now how do you feel I was the one who got cheated on not the other way around and if that's your apology then that's one of the shittiest ones I ever heard." I go on.

"I just thought." He stops.

"You just thought what? You thought I would do that to you even though we aren't together I'm not a heartless person any average person would know that that's messed up and low." I tell him.

"I'm sorry." He says again. His eyes become unreadable. He kept messing up and somehow, he always does.

"If that will be it I think you should leave." I whisper. I look away. I hear him come close to me his breath on my ear.

"I'm truly am sorry for what I've done I've broken something that was once so great. You still are and always will be don't let me be in the way of your happiness." He whispers before kissing my cheek. I then hear the door close. A tear runs down my face. I touch my cheek lightly it burning from the lost of contact.

"I know." I whisper even though I know he wouldn't hear me. But it was better that way I was meant to be broken and somehow I needed to accept the fact Steph wasn't gonna come back not because he didn't want to, but because my mind wouldn't let me. I can't fall for his tricks anymore, I can't, I refuse too.