Forbidden Fruit (Completed) [Short Story]

Chapter 11 : Locked Up

Ava

Ever since the night after the club, me and Elijah had been becoming closer and closer. I was sleeping in his bed every night and we'd been spending so much time together. He even declared that he was falling for me. And as for sex, let's just say that was a daily routine for us. Things were finally looking up for us until Elijah got the phone call. I was laying on his chest after our "afternoon session," when his cell phone rang.

"Hello?" He answered, calmly, stroking my hair. "What?!...Iight I'm on my way."

"What happened?" I asked, as he sat up, slightly pushing my head off of him. He got up, getting dressed quickly as I ever seen him. "Elijah, whats going on?"

"They caught Justice. He got locked up," He said, grabbing his keys. I ran off the bed, falling on my face as the sheets caught my foot. I guess falling on my face was a habit of mine. I got up, and found whatever I could to put on, following behind Elijah.

"Elijah, I wanna come," I called after him.

"Hurry up, I'm in the car," He said, walking out. I found a pair of my shorts and a tank top and rain boots. I looked crazy but I could honestly could care less. I ran out to the car with Elijah. He looked at me like I was crazy once he'd seen what I was wearing.

"Ava...nevermind," He said speeding off.

...

I waited as Elijah talked to his lawyer and Justice about something. Of course I was receiving looks because of my choice of clothes but I didn't care. I was finally close enough to talk to Justice. Elijah came back to me with a look of worry.

"Well?" I questioned, standing up to be in front of him.

"My lawyer is doing the best he can," Elijah explained. "But they have a lot of evidence to put Justice away for life."

I sighed, feeling tears form in my eyes. I couldn't imagine living without my brother permanently. Elijah rubbed my back.

"You wanna talk to him?" He asked and I nodded.

"Please?"

He guided me to the backroom where Justice was sitting with Elijah's lawyer, Mr. George. Justice looked like he hadn't slept in weeks, with a beard and mustache on his face. He looked like he had grown a couple of years, too, even though it was only a month since I'd seen him. I felt bad for him.

"Wassup, Av?" He smiled, trying to lighten the mood. I sat down before him, speechless. He looked at me with concern. "Whats wrong?"

I looked over at Elijah and Mr. George, who were leaving to give us privacy. Then turned back to Justice.

"Hey," I said softly.

"With all the shit you be talking, thats all you could say?" He joked, smirking. I knew he was trying to lighten the mood but I couldn't smile seeing him like this.

"I just- Justice I was worried about you," I admitted, holding back a few tears. "And I still am."

"I know, but you gotta stay strong for me, Ava. This shit is gonna pass and if I end up in jail, then fuck it. God is making me pay for my sins," He said, calmly. "All I'm asking you to do is keep ya head and don't stay worrying about me. Live ya life and do better than I ever did. Iight?"

I nodded, can't helping but let the tears fall. "Justice, I don't want you to go to jail. How am I suppose to be okay without you around?"

"Its not certain that I'm goin'. But if I do, Elijah is there for you. I know he loves you like a sister as much as I do. He'll be there for you," He said and I automatically became uncomfortable. If he only knew.

"How's he treating you though? He tried anything with you?" He asked, going into his protective, big brother mode.

"No, no," I answered quickly, shifting around in my chair. "He's good."

"Iight, good," He sighed, leaning back in this chair, running a hand over his beard. "What about mom and pops?"

I shrugged. "They don't know about the situation at hand."

"Good, and it needs to stay that way. I don't want them to look down on me more than they already do."

I nodded in understanding. "I won't say anything."

He smiled and stood up. "Come give me hug."

I got up too and embraced him. It felt nice to have my big brother's arms around me again. I wished he'd never let me go.

"I love you Ava," He said. More tears fell down my face.

"I love you too, Justice."

"Make sure you remember all the shit I taught you about these streets and these niggas, iight?"

I nodded, still hugging him tightly.

"And one more thing," He added, looking down at me.

"What?"

"What the fuck you wearing?"

...

I looked out the window, thinking about my conversation with Justice, as Elijah drove back to the apartment. I prayed to God that he would be able to come home. I couldn't stand the fact that he was put up against 25 years to life.

"You okay?" Elijah asked, looking over at me as he drove. I nodded, not really in the mood to talk.

"You didn't tell him about us...did you?" He questioned, nervously. I shot him a look but I kept my thought to myself.

"No, Elijah, I didn't," I replied, simply.

He sighed quietly, with relief I guess. "You hungry?"

"No."

"I could stop off at Wendys-"

"Look, Eli, I just want to go home right now. Okay?"

He sighed again and nodded, making a turn for his apartment.