It Started With Joy - A Schoolboy Q Fanfic

Chapter 18

Seeing Quincey leave was hard. Seeing Joy cry as she watched her father leave, was even harder. It was such an emotional moment. Everything seemed so raw and real. I didn't want to believe it was all happening, but I had to stay strong for Joy.

If there was ever a time she needed me, that time would be now. To think about how sad this moment was for everyone, then about how much worse it was for Joy. It breaks my heart in ten million more pieces.

'I've gotta make this the best day ever' I thought as I woke up the next morning. I wanted to make Joy feel better since Q wasn't here anymore. She seemed in need of some serious fun time or more like girl time.

Getting out of bed, I went and did my usual morning routine. So far, I was having a pretty good morning, aside from missing Q. Putting on my clothes, after taking a calming shower I decided on what to do for Joy.

Checking the mirror one last time to see if I looked nice, which I did, I walked down the hall to Joy's room. She was still sleeping when I entered. As always, she looked adorable. Shaking her gently, I whispered "Wake up, Joy". At first she was a little groggy and she seemed a little out of place but once she spotted me her eyes brightened up then she hugged me.

It's nice to know that I can brighten up her day by just being around. It isn't everyday that people become instantly happy from my presence. To know that I've affected her in that way makes me think that maybe, I'm not so ordinary after all.

"Morning Tina!" Joy giggled as I tickled her.

"Morning sunshine" I said smiling.

"But I'm not the sun"

"I know silly" I laughed.

"Then why do you call me sunshine?" she questioned.

"Because you are beautiful and when you smile, you shine just like the sun" I told her.

Nothing but honesty left my mouth.

Whenever I started to think of my past she would automatically know I was getting sad so she would  make funny faces at me. Once, I asked her why she was making faces and do you know what she said? She replied with a question of her own and asked "What faces?" From that moment on, I knew that no matter what, Joy could always lift my spirits up.

Remembering that brought a smile to my face. One that didn't go unnoticed by its creator.

"Why are you smiling?" her voice filled with wonder.

"Oh nothing, I was just thinking about all the fun we're going to have today" I said with a sly smile.

"What are we doing?" she asked curious as ever.

"Well I was thinking, that maybe we could invite your friends over and have a sleepover!"

Joy squealed at that moment. Jumping from my arms and out of bed she went to her walk-in closet. Did I mention she had a walk-in closet?

As I was watching Joy, she started rummaging around in her closest. I figured, she was going to change into a new outfit or her new tutu but what she came out with was not what imagined at all.

She pulled out a giant sleeping bag. That thing was at least two times taller than her. She nearly fell over taking it out from the top shelf. Call me a bad person, but it was pretty funny and I couldn't help but to burst into a fit of laughter. Joy's reaction to sleepovers were priceless.

Suddenly, the door opened. Tez was standing in the door frame looking happer than the day before.

"Hey whats going on? It sounds like a party in here!" he joked. Well someone was in a good mood.

"Joy here, is having a sleepover with her friends. Which I need to call, so if you don't mind watching her for a few that would be great." I told him of my plans, hoping he would watch Joy.

"Sure, just dont be too long." he smiled. Smiling back, I headed out of the room with my phone after telling Joy that I'd be back. She really wasn't paying attention though because she was still running around her room trying to gather all of the things she needed for her sleepover. Laughing, I exited the room.

Walking down the stairs and into the den, I dialed the first number. Explaining to the parents what I was doing was easy. The hard part came with convincing them to leave their child with me. Nonetheless, most of the parents agreed, saying they would drop their kids off later.

As I was making the last call, I spotted something brownish-red on the floor in the corner of the room. Walking a little closer, I gasped. I told the parent a quick goodbye, after promising to call them back, and I hung up.

On the floor, was a very noticable blood stain. It looked as if someone tried to clean it up earlier, but I could still see it.

Why was there blood on the floor? Who was bleeding in here? It was a lot of blood, meaning that person died.

I had so many questions. Maybe Tez would know. Running out of the room in a hurry, I bumped into someone and nearly fell on the floor.

"Hey are you okay?" Tez asked helping me up.

"No I'm not." I was afraid to find out what happene about the blood but I might be overreacting.

"What happened? Did something go wrong with one of the parents?" he asked concerened.

"No, I saw something. Tez, why is there blood in the corner of the room in there?" I said rushing the words out.

At first, he looked shocked. Then, he loooked scared but it went away as quickly as it showed up. If I wasn't paying attention, then I might have missed it. Lastly, he looked sad.

"Oh, That's a long story."

"What happened?" I was fishing for answers and I hoped he could give them to me. Sighing he spoke.

"Jenny was being abused by her boyfriend, Albert, yesterday. When she showed up here, she had blood, bruises, and scars all over her. She had been beaten so badly, that she had to be taken to the hospital. Once we arrived, they took her to the intensive care unit. The doctors really tried their best to save her, but it was impossible. She had lost too much blood. Later that day, she died."

I searched his face to see if he was joking. All I saw was a mixture of seriousness and guilt. I knew what he said must have been true, but what I didn't understand, was the guilt. Thinking nothing of it, I said

"Hey well, I'm sorry for your loss"

"I don't really wanna talk about it anymore. I'm a little beat. I'm going to go to sleep. Joy is upstairs in her room, waiting for you.:" he said before sulking upstairs to his room.

Maybe before I go to check on Joy, I should make another call. Scrolling through my call log, I found the number I needed. Hitting the dial button, I waited for them to pick up. As soon as I heard the line connect, I hurriedly spoke.

"Hello? We need to talk."