nothing less ➸ demar derozan

twenty-seven

Isabella

"Where is Reggie?" I ask my dad as he comes into the house. I can tell he is mad about what happened to Reggie and Arion. His face was cold as he walked past me. I stare at him and then turn my attention back to the door as it opens. Reggie comes in and so does that other boy, Arion. I wondered why my father brought him instead of taking him home, but I didn't care. Reggie was here.

"Reggie," I say and hug him as soon as he steps fully into the house. He has a scratch above his eyebrow that has dried up blood in it. I hadn't noticed it before. His arms wrap around my shoulders and he holds me tightly. I could hear Haro's footsteps coming from the stairs.

Haro goes up to Arion and gives him a bro hug. It was evident on Arion's face that he was still shocked. He looked frightened even.

"Boys," my father calls out. Reggie lets go of me and turns his attention towards my father. "Reggie, you're sleeping with Ella tonight--on the couch. Arion you can take this couch," he pats on the living room couch, "or sleep with Haro. It is late so please go shower and then go to sleep. Haro give them a pair of clothes. We will talk about all of this tomorrow morning."

Arion nods and follows Haro upstairs. He was walking like a robot--meticulously. Reggie stares at the ground and then slowly follows behind. I wanted to ask Reggie what happened to him, but now wasn't the time. I quickly follow behind him and he had already beat me to my bathroom. I could hear the shower running.

I missed my date with Paul. The worst part is that I didn't even bother texting him that I wasn't going to be able to make it. I stayed home with my mom and Haro waiting for Dad to come back with Reggie. I don't know what went down over there, but it took nearly ten hours for them to return. Dad was heated and he brought back two frightened boys. I dig out my phone as I feel it ringing in my pocket. My throat clamps up as I realize who is calling me: Rozan.

I decline the call and shove it back into my pocket, but then it rings again. I sigh and answer it without even paying attention to the Caller ID because I know who it is already.

"What, DeMar? It is past midnight, the hell is wrong with you?" I ask bitterly.

"DeMar?" They say and I gasp. It was Paul's voice. "Ella, hold up, you still talking to DeMar?"

"N-No, Paul-"

"You really about to lie, Ella? C'mon man," he sighs. I knew he was hurt. He had already seen me hugging DeMar during the incident and now I didn't show up to his date. "What's going on?"

"DeMar called me and I don't know why. I declined the call and then my phone rang again so I thought it was him but it was you."

I hear another loud sigh on the other line, "Is that who you have been with the whole time?" His voice is low.

"No, I've been home this entire time with my mom and Haro. We've been waiting for my dad because he was going to go get Reggie from the police."

"You didn't even answer when I called," he sighs. "How come you didn't just tell me?"

I shake my head although I know he can't see it, "I'm sorry, Paul. I didn't have my phone with me during the time. Why are you even calling me this late?"

"Because I knew you wouldn't be asleep. I just wanted to check how you were holding up with everything."

I mumble, "I'm fine. It's a lot at the moment. My dad just came back with Reggie a while ago."

"Is Reggie good?"

"I think still a bit shaken up," I rub my hand on my thigh.

Paul pauses, "Wait, why would he be shaken up? I would think that Reggie is a hard motherfucker-"