Blackheart Forever (Cody Culp)

Chapter 16

One our way home, Cody stopped at a light and he looked around at places we were at.
"I missed Angel's birthday did'nt I?'',I asked, and I nodded because my chin was still on his shoulder."Alright..."
And with that, he turned down a street to were there were a bunch of stores, and he went in and bought him something for his late birthday present.
What a good brother.
I waited outside on his bike as I smoked a cigarette and leaned on the handlebars.
Angel's birthday was 3 months ago, but I love that Cody's still makin an attempt.
I had got him that crazy purple jacket he always wore, and gave him the blackheart tattoo you always see on his face, cause he really wanted to be like us, and just could'nt wait till this year when he got jumped in.

I looked down at one of hands that were on the handlebars, and saw it was bleeding.
Probably from the skidding Cody and I did on the damn road a few minutes ago.
Just then, Cody walked out with bag and a case a beer.
"What'd ya get him?", I asked as I put my cigarette back in my mouth from takin a drag and resting my arms on the handlebars again.
To this, Cody just walked up real slow, then stopped and looked me up and down,shakin his head.
"What?", I laughed, then he shook his head again.
"You look pretty badass on my bike Jess", he said and I scoffed as I moved back so he could get on.
"Keep it in your pants huh Cody?", I laughed."So what did you get him?"
"You'll see", he smirked back as he started it and we drove off to his house.

Once we got there, we parked in the back, then came in the back door.
Cody walked over to his fridge and grabbed each of us a beer, so I nodded a thanks to him before popping it open on the counter then taking a drink of it and followed him into the living room where Angel was cleaning his gun on the couch.
"Hey", I said and he looked up at us, then went back to what he was doing, so Cody threw the bag down on the couch in front of him.
"Happy Birthday",Cody smirked then sat down on the couch.
"My birthday was 3 months ago",Angel said, and I walked over then sat down on the arm of the couch Cody was sitting on.
"I know....sorry I missed it",Cody said then he took a swig of his beer.
"It's ok",Angel smiled a little bit, and that alone made me smile.

I went to go and take a sip of my beer, but Cody grabbed the back of my jacket and yanked me down on his lap and I laughed.
Angel went to pick up the phone, and he pushed the thing a couple times but he sighed a set it back down.
"Mom forgot to pay the phone bill",Cody said as he leaned forward, holding onto me so I would'nt fall as he set his beer on the table.
"I see",Angel sighed then loaded his gun.
"Who were ya gunna call anyway?", I asked.
"Nobody...Maya",I heard him mumble and smile to himself.
"Who?",I laughed.
"Nothing", he tried to shake his head, waving it off but he kept smiling.
"Don't you "nothing" me, I heard you mumble a girl's name-who?",I smiled as I flipped on my side, still laying across Cody's lap and Angel closed his eyes sighing as he looked up and he was STILL smiling.
"Her names Maya, she's in my math class, and I was gunna call her today",he said and I looked up at Cody.

"Did you know about this?", I smiled and he smiled back then shook his head so I turned back to Angel."Aww, that's cute kid."
I took another sip of my beer, then sighed and laid back on Cody's lap.
"Alright, does anyone know what day it is, and what time it is?", I asked with my eyes closed.
"Thursday and it's 4:15",Cody answered and I groaned, breathing deeply in before I sat up off Cody's lap and stood up.
"I have to get ready for work", I cringed as I stretched.
"Awww, I thought you did'nt have to work today", Angel said.
"I know, I'm sorry baby", I said giving him a half smile, then I messed his hair up and ran upstairs to get ready.
As usual, I dressed in a black T-shirt, jeans, and my boots, then I grabbed my jacket and ran back down stairs to the door.

"Do you have to go?",Angel pouted.
"Yes sweetie, if i want money I gotta", I said sadly as i put on my jacket then knelt down in front of him.
Then I lightly squeezed his chin and kissed his forehead as I stood up again.
"I'll be back around 9 or so", I sighed then walked to the door and Cody stood up.
"You takin the car?",he asked.
"Nah it's fine", I shook my head, then opened the door."It's not that far. Bye baby!"
"Bye Jess!",Angel called back.
"You sure?",Cody asked right as I tried to walk out the door and I laughed but stepped back inside.
"Yea, Im sure...Ill be fine", I nodded, then we had a stared at each other for a second before he finally looked away.
"Alright",he said then kissed my cheek."Just be careful.''

I smiled after he stepped back then I looked up at him.
"I will", I nodded, then I walked out and closed the door behind me,walking down the ramp.
What was that?
Cody never kissed my cheek before.
He always either kissed the top of my head or my forehead, but never my cheek.
I smiled again and shook my head as I walked to work.
About 20 minutes later, I finally made it there at 4:35.
I was 5 minutes late, but they can bite me.
I clocked in, then got straight to work with like 50 people.
Around 6:00, everything was finally quiet and settled down, and I was tired already.

I had just remembered that it was Thursday, and I did'nt have to work as long as I thought.
Thank God.
I leaned against the counter with my hand in my hands sighing and then i heard someone else come in.
"Hi Jess", they said and I looked up to see Angel, who was smiling and bouncing a basketball in the doorway.
"Hey sweetheart, whatcha doin here?", I laughed,then I looked out the window and there was Cody leaning against the car.
"Cody remembered you get off in a few, and we wanted to stop by to see if you wanted to come play basketball with us cause we were heading for the nets",Angel explained.

I looked away from him and to the clock on the wall to see it was 6:22.
Why the hell not?
It's close enough to the time I do get off.
"Yea sure, lemme clock out and I'll be out",I smiled.
"Really??",he said as he face lit up and I laughed, nodding."Ok cool!!"
I laughed again, then went to the clock out thing about to punch my card in, but here came my manager.
"I need you to cover Brianna's shift",she snarled.
"And why can't she come in?", I asked leaning against the wall as I lowered my punch card.
"She was partying last night, and she can't come in she's too sick",she said.
"And that's my problem?I worked all last week and the week before that, and the week before that even...its not my fault Brianna's a irresponsible bitch, now move, or this card won't be the only thing getting punched", I said then tried to punch my card in.

"Let me put this simply then:You don't pull this shift, your fired", she said.
I looked at her, then turned around to Angel to see he was watching the entire thing.
He just lost his brother, I'm his only mother figure, who he needs, and this would be the first time him, Cody and I all hung out since before Cody was put in jail.
Do I choose my family or my job.
I sighed at him, and closed my eyes as I shook my head and looked back at my manager who was smirking and I shrugged as I ripped up my card.
"Guess your gunna have to fire me then", I said then I threw the bits and pieces of my card in her face, turned around and walked away.
"Fine then!!We'll find someone else!!",she yelled at me as I grabbed my jacket from under the counter, and threw a middle finger at her over my shoulder as I put my other arm around Angels shoulders and we walked out across the street to Cody.

"Cody!Jess just quit her job it was so cool!!",Angel laughed as he bounced the basketball threw his legs and I laughed as I shrugged at Cody.
"I hated this place anyway", I said."Now come on boys, we got a court waitin for us."