Dawn wept before the window shining its orange rays and shyly lays a kiss on my head as I rested. Morning hair, saggy face, and a mind over yonder my consciousness was slowly coming back. Kicking the covers and stepping out of bed making my way to the bathroom I wet my face and my vision was restored. Looking at my post it on the mirror "Carpe Diem", well I can't waste the day. Grabbing clothes and books I go to school.
School is a hardship, focus far away from my grasp that my consciousness seemed to have gone rouge.
"The answer Mary?" said Mr. Jones
"Umm... It is letter A" not so sure of my answer since I did the work over the matter of five minutes. The guessing game is the newest method to the senior class, the Russian roulette of want to be scholars.
"Correct, pay attention", he said pretty mad
At that very moment all I could think of was, Are you mad? Or not?
Time passed on the clock's face and mine also. Hearing the bell I left and packed for home.
Walking off the bus I walk and think to myself. We find the biggest fault within our self only to find out that people don't see them. Walking into the yard I grab my keys and walk into the house changing into my street clothes and check the time, 2:30. Grabbing my cell and heading out the door I started walking, making a phone call on the way.
"Hey"
"Hey, you coming?" she said as I heard the video game in the background.
"Yea, you got the stuff?"
"Duh, hurry up", she hissed
With that I hung up and walked up the hill. Coming to Dez's street I started walking with caution, remembering what happened a few weeks ago. Opening the door of the apartment scents engulf my senses making me have an ill feeling, liquor, weed and an unidentifiable scent that sets off my gag reflex. Once I get to her apartment the sent departs and all I smell is chicken.
"DEZ!" I was happy to see her and relived as well.
"What heifer?" she said jokingly knowing our friendship started with a few insults in the first place but she has always been loyal to me knowing the misfortune herself of un-loyal faces with painted on smiles.
"Where's your mom?"
"She's at work, she left us some food and told us to stay inside the apartment", when she told me that a smug grin appeared on her face which I returned acknowledging that we are going out.
"Do you have the stuff?"
"For the last time yes." I could tell she was exhausted having to answer the same question for a whole day.
"Ok, let's see it."
She walked away as I made myself a plate and came back with a baffle bag.
"Here", she huffed as she threw it on the floor between us.
"This is what he got shot for?" I questioned the unnecessary actions taken to get this bag and the toll it took on Dez.
We stood there for a while looking at it in silence, the air felt thin just like the night when this inanimate bag judged whether we should live or not. Looking over to Dez I saw pain in her eyes we were both hurt but we knew we could not stop now.
"Let's open it" I shot out playing to the tune of my emotions more that the sanity of my mind.
We looked at it a little more and then Dez looked at me.
"I can't bring myself to it." She was to the point of tears and her eyes were turning red.
I walked over to the bag slowly, like it was an animal about attack for some unexplainable reason I had no control over my fear just like the night I graded the bag and James and ran. Slowly and carefully I unzipped it and the notes of green where visible.
"Crap James" Dez sobbed as she curled into a ball on the floor.
Keeping my composer I searched the bag and also found a 9 mm pistol, ammo, hand knives and weed. The cash in the bag was quite a large sum and I knew it had to be drug money. Walking over to the human ball Desiree has retracted into I hugged her and tried to comfort her.
"He wanted to be on top, now look where he is. He was a good brother when I was younger, but as soon as the streets, drugs and girls grabbed him he was not a Bother or James he was just a stupid idiot running the streets living for nothing to be nothing. My "poor" mother has to drink to that, but shit I guess she'll drink to anything." I feel like she said that out of anger but the truth rang through.
Thinking back a few weeks ago I was bewildered how things can change, all I can do was wonder if we can measure how change can affect us like a function in physics. I can still remember when I woke up the morning he died.
Rain poured on the window I was sleeping over at Dez's I smelt pancakes and eggs, bacon, corn beef hash, home fries and syrup. Footsteps became audible and the light yet stern voice spoke in my ear.
"Guys, Come on get up I made both your favorites get up" Nomi, Dez's mom said as she woke us both.
Like the walking dead we rose and when to the bathroom.
"MOVE" James scowled as he pushed us aside "I'm going to be late!"
"Late for what the streets and don't forget to bring that dirty hood talk with you before your "Friends" think of you some way" Dez taunted as she picked me up from the floor.
He gave us an angry leer and walked out the door. Pitter pattering to the kitchen we made our plates and said good bye to Nomi as she left for work. Dez and I started calling her Nomi because she not really a mother but more like a friend and Dez, after many nights of ease dropping she lost a lot of respect for her mom
Dez looked at me and rolled her eyes jokingly.
"Ok, be stank" and we both laughed
Once we knew James was coming back with a girl since he always does we were on patrol. The snakes he brought in could make your skin crawl, they were sneaky and conniving.
"Jay yo place look good" the snake yabbed as she looked around.
"Don't take anything" Dez said looking her dead in the eyes.
"Shut up" James hissed
"Look he's even staring to hiss like a snake" knowing that would get on his nerves.
"You can get out this house" James was furious at this point
"She has as much right as you do to be in this house "James" tell your snake to get out" Pissed and tired of the same thing over and over again Dez was determined to make this one leave.
"By the way honey, did you know his real name; because it's defiantly not "Jay".
With that we exploded with laughter.
"You must be Mary, huh?" the snake seemed to be upset like someone was setting her up for embarrassment.
"Why yes I am" wondering how she knows me
Then she laughed and what comes out of her mouth confused the hell out of me.
"You know what James you a mothafucka" now she was mad
Dez and I watched a his face showed guilt.
"And you a hoe" he said unfazed
"Just like her?" the snake was furious at this point
"Fuck are you taking about? "
"DON'T CALL HER A HOE!!!" he screamed making me scared and setting off my anxiety.
The home was silent.
"Leave "Dez said " And don't forget to leave the keys too"
I didn't even see her take anything she grabbed the keys and threw them at James.
"Fuck you" she hissed and she walked out like the bitch she was.
"Bye Bitch" he said with what seem to be no worries.
