Change (Stud-x-Fem)

Chapter 14: Why?

When I actually fell asleep, the birds were already chirping and it was already getting lighter outside. That was around 6 AM, and now it was around 7:30. An hour and thirty minutes of sleep. Great. I sat up in the chair and saw that KD had gone and laid down on the couch Joell had in her room, and Joell was still sleeping. Her eyes were all puffy like she had been crying again, and I started to get upset all over again. I felt sick as a dog because of the stress and lack of sleep, but I needed to find a way to put an end to this. I decided I needed a shower and some fresh clothes, and that meant I needed to go home. I wrote Joell a letter instead of texting her because my phone had gone dead and my charger was at home. 

            Goodmorning Beautiful,

I hope you don't mind me going home for a bit. I need to shower and change my clothes. I gotta charge my phone too. I hope that you're sleeping peacefully. No bad dreams or anything. You're so cute when you're sleeping. I won't make this letter too long, I just wanted to let you know where I am in case you wake up wondering. Text me when you want me to come back.

                                                                                                              I love you. -Jayy 

I put the letter next to Joell's pillow, and then went over to where KD was sleeping and woke her up and told her that I was going home and she said she'd follow me to the house in her car because she had to go get gas before we stopped by the house. I had left my shattered phone on the floor from the night before, so I went and picked it up and got my keys. I went over and kissed Jo on the cheek and then we headed out. 

We got home and the first thing was put my phone on the charger. When it turned on, I had 3 texts. Two of them were from B and the other one was from my brother. I only responded to B's texts because my brother Jayshaun only texted me when he wanted something and that's exactly why he had texted me. I locked my phone and went ahead and started the shower in the bathroom so the water would be warm when I got in. I connected my phone to my bluetooth speaker and played some music. I took a long ass shower and thought about everything that had been going on. I still couldn't figure out how I could put an end to this easily, and even worse, I couldn't figure out what else was wrong with Joell. I could feel myself getting a stress headache so I went ahead and finished my shower and went to lay down. I checked my phone again before I laid down, and before I knew it, I had fallen asleep. 

"Jayy, I need to talk to you."

"Yeah baby, what's on your mind?"

"Don't call me that."

"What? Baby? Well, why not? You are my baby."

"Jayy... No.. I need to tell you something."

"Well I'm right here baby, tell me."

*SLAM*

The sound of a loud door slamming startled me awake. I sat up and heard KD down stairs.

"Yo Jayy! I ain't mean to slam your door bro, my bad!" She was yelling from downstairs. I could tell she had stopped and gotten groceries. When she put them down she came upstairs to my room. "Yo, you good?"

I sat up on the bed and took a deep breath. "I mean I'm ight I guess. My head still hurt and that door scared me but I'm straight I guess. Still worried like hell. Let me call Jo right quick." KD nodded and went back downstairs. I picked up the phone to call Jo. I figured she'd be up by now since it was after 12 noon. I dialed her number and let it ring. Maybe she was in the bathroom without her phone. I got up and went to the bathroom to freshen up while I waited a few minutes for her to call back. 

I came out the bathroom with still no call back so I decided to call her again. I dialed her number once more and heard nothing but the phone ring. She didn't have her voicemail set up because she hated voicemails for some weird reason. I figured Jo might still be sleeping so I went downstairs with KD to see what she was doing.

"She ain't answer?" KD was at the stove cooking eggs.

"Nahh bruhh. I guess shorty still sleep." I sighed and put my head on the bar counter when my phone vibrated. I quickly took it out my pocket and looked at the lit screen only to be disappointed because it was my brother again asking me for money. I sort of slammed my phone on the counter and put my head back down.

"Bro my head hurt like fuck," I mumbled with my head still on the counter. KD put the eggs on a plate and came and sat next to me and put her arm on my shoulder.

"Bro, I know this shit frustrating and stressful and everything else. Honestly, I'm hella proud of you and how you handling this shit. You know how you get when shit happens that fucks with you. You used to be out there fighting and shit and fucking folks lives up nigga. You was a bad muhfucka. I know you aint did anything this time because Joell doesn't want you to, but it's hella good that you're paying attention to what she wants and you're keeping her best interest in mind. You doing hella good Jayy, we'll find a way to end all this shit. You hungry bro? You need to eat." At that point I was deadass trying not to cry. I managed to keep my tears from flowing down my face and I picked my head up and laid on KD's shoulder. Yeah, she was my nigga but since we met, from day one, she been my lifeline, my family. Always picking my head up when I was going through some shit. 

"Nahh I aint really hungry. Imma just get some water and go back and lay down. Yo, thank you KD. Real talk." I got up and got a bottle of water out of the refrigerator and went back upstairs to my room to lay down. When I got up there I took out my phone and put it on my night stand. As soon as I put my phone down and closed my eyes, my phone vibrated. I looked over and saw that it was Joell and picked it up.

"Hey baby, I called twice, I was starting to get worried about you. Are you okay?" I tried not to sound too worried but I couldn't help it.

"Hey Jayy, yeah I'm fine, I just wasn't feeling well so I stayed in the bed a little longer. I'm okay." Something felt off while I was talking to her.

"Babe, are you sure you're okay? You're talking hella low."

"Yes I'm okay, I promise."

"Okay baby. Well I'll be back around 2, is that okay?"

"No! I- I mean, I won't be home then, I'm going to my cousin's house today. I don't know when I'll be back." She answered that quick af and it threw me off.

"Baby how come you're talking so low? And how come you answered like that? Do you promise you're okay?" I waited for an answer.

"Yes. I have to go now, my cousin is waiting on me, I have to help her with something, I'll talk to you later."

I paused. "Uhh... Okay baby.. Have a good day then. I love you babe."

"Love you too." *Click!* 

I was left sitting there in the bed with a puzzled look on my face. What the hell had happened?? Why was she acting so differently? I laid there thinking until I felt my eyes closing, and I didn't stop them.