Complicated

40. Untitled, Pt. 1

"Just keep breathing! Everything will be fine!" Michelle exclaimed, fanning Abby of her sweat in her hospital bed. They tightly gripped their hands into one another, rapidly breathing in and out in sync. Holding onto Abby's other hand was Courtlen. He paid her no mind and gave all his attention to the basketball game on the television in the room. Abby let go of his hand and reached for the remote to turn off the tv; she snapped her fingers in his face, "Hellooooo?! Did you forget that I'm in labor, asshole?!"

"But Miami Heat is playin'!"

"Fuck them!" Courtlen groaned and went back to holding her hand. "Courtlen, please. Your first child is on the way. The least you can do is be mindful right now."

"Fiiiiine.." Michelle looked at her phone to check the time; It's been almost four hours since she's talked to Chresanto. By now, he should be at the house; If not, Michelle was going to get him unless told otherwise. She grabbed her purse and headed towards the door, "Guys, I have to get Chres at the house. I'll be back. Call me if anything happens."

"You can't leave me with him, Michelle!" Abby cried. "I'll be back before you know it, I promise." With that being said, Michelle was already out the room. Abby looked over her shoulder and saw Courtlen glaring at her. "..I just wanted to watch the game. Don't judge me!"

On her way out, Michelle stopped by Kiloni's room to check on her and let her know what's going on with Chresanto. She poked her head in and saw Kiloni watching the same game that Courtlen was watching. "You know your brother was watching the same game instead of paying attention to Abby. It was pretty funny how mad she got," she explained, walking into the room. Kiloni giggled and looked over her shoulder. "You think it's okay to leave by themselves?"

"I have to. I'm not that baby's parent. Some things, they have to deal with themselves." Kiloni nodded and turned her attention back to the tv. "When can I leave? I don't need to be here anymore." Michelle pulled up a chair next to the bed to sit and put her hand on Kiloni's arm. "You're not completely stable so you ca--" She snatched her arm away from her mom, "What's that even mean? I'm too 'suicidal' to go home? I'm fine. I made a mistake. I won't do it again."

"Do you not realize you took a full bottle of unprescribed pain killers? If I found you later than I did, you'd be dead. That was too much of a close call to just let you walk out the hospital without making sure you're okay so watch that quick attitude." Kiloni sighed and tucked in her lips. "So where's Chres? I thought he'd be here.." she lied. "I don't know why or how but he ran off to Arizona with that girl he fought. He should be at the house right now waiting for me to come get him." Kiloni faked a shocked expression, "What?! That's so stupid of him.."

"I know. If he's not there, I'll go get him in Arizona, that is, if he wants me to. If he doesn't want me to adopt him and he wants runs off, the police would know and consider him a criminal because of the case.. that boy is nothing but trouble." Michelle sat back in her chair and rubbed her temples for an incoming headache. "But mom, you're not gonna let that happen, right? Him running off and all that?"

"Only if he wants to let it happen. Chresanto obviously doesn't want to be a part of this family if he continues with all this foolishness he feeds us. He doesn't understand that it's tough love that we have in our family because he just makes things worse! I know you and him are close but this can't keep happening. It's for the best.." Michelle got up, kissed Kiloni's head and made her way out the room. "Wait!" Kiloni shouted. Michelle was halfway out the door and she looked back, "you need something?"

"My phone.. Do you have it? This basketball game is boring and I already know Miami's gonna lose."

"Oh right! Here," Michelle went into her purse as she walked back to Kiloni's bed and handed it to her. "Now I really gotta go, I'll be back." Michelle finally left and went to go get Chresanto. As for Kiloni, she laid in her bed and unlocked her phone. The first she did was call Chres herself. "Hello?"