S.O.S

Chapter Six - Not So Pinky Promise

Danny and I got home on one bright Sunday morning. We kinda snuck in because Danny wouldn't quit warning me to act as normal as possible so his mum would not find out that something had happened. How abnormal he thought I would act? Dumbass.

"There you guys are, where have you two been all night?" Cody's voice broke the silence and shocked us right on the target.

Danny and I gasped spontaneously and looked at each other, both were speechless. I praised the Lord anyway that Danny managed to bring his black leather jacket with him the night I dragged him to the hospital. He could use that to cover his bleeding blue shirt.

"Y-you don't wanna know, bro. This rat screwed up big time." He stuttered at first but I was so relieved that he managed to make up a reasonable excuse, which was putting me on the blame which was the only possible excuse for everyone in the house to buy, I'm used to it anyway.

"Again, J?" Cody shook his head and continued assembling his breakfast sandwich.

"Where's your mom?" Danny asked as he quickly made his way to his room, preventing anyone to notice the blood stain on his shirt.

"Out with Steph." Cody replied and soon caused Danny and I to exhale in relieve.

As I walked pass Cody to get to my room, he raised his sandwich as a sign of offering me to eat. I smiled and made a gesture with my hand meaning 'no, thanks.'

"Haven't seen you in a while tho, J." the thing about Cody, he always called me with that nickname consisting only my initial. I like it how somebody actually made a nickname for me.

"You too, Cod." and that was the best nickname I could make up for him. Lame.

I stopped by Danny's room and broke in. His shirtless back was facing me before he turned around in shock. Pretended not noticing, I threw his phone in and it was good to see it made its way to Danny's bed.

"Remember you owe me a story." I said as I turned my back and left.

"Yea but next time, try this method called knocking before breaking into one's room, bitch." he shouted before I closed his door perfectly.

---

I was watching a random TV series - I don't watch TV a lot so I'm not quite sure which series are good and which aren't - when Steph and Tia came home. The clock struck 8 a few moments before, they were pretty tough shoppers I thought as I saw bunch of bags on their hands. I offered some help to bring some of those.

"Take this yellow one bitch, that's for you." Steph said as she motioned to a yellow plastic bag.

I took it just as she ordered and checked inside the bag, a dark grey peace sign sweater. To be honest, I loved it, I love wearing sweater all the time - even during summertime. "Thanks, ho."

"Thanks, Mam." I said as I walked pass Tia, she was kind of busy unpacking her new outfits - and some of Danny and Cod's - but she managed to point out a thumb as an 'ok' at me. I got into my room and was just getting under my blanket when I saw my phone screen woke. One text message.

Danny: at the Intersection ASAP

That's the name of a coffee shop, which was actually located in an intersection. Kinda funny actually. Seriously Danny? Two nights in row messing up with my sleeping schedule. This guy needed more stabs all over his body. Or maybe no, I would have to drag him again. No, he was heavy as fuck.

"Been waiting long?" I asked as I found him sitting alone at the corner of the shop sipping down his americano.

"Straight to the point," he straightened his position and his eyes met my gaze, staring me so deep, "you sure you want to know about this?"

"I am."

"Okay."

---

Back at his age of 19 - nearly 20, Danny was at the lowest point of his life. His dearest mum neglected him and his two siblings - plus me. He was forced to get a part time night shift job at a 24 hours convenience store to help Tia support the family.

One night, he had just been in a major fight with the mum when he decided to go out past midnight, wandering the street beneath his feet. His right temple area was severely bleeding because of the liquor bottle his mom threw over him and hit him right on the target, which caused his sight to blur. He was half running when he collided with a guy, a few inches taller than him.

"Sorry, I was... I was just..." Danny muttered.

"No, no, my friend, that's okay," he said kindly, "been on a rough day, huh? Come, I can help." he held Danny by his shoulder and took him to his place.

That was the night when Danny met Robert and his gang for the first time in his life and got to know that remedy called narcotics.

They were buddies for sort of a year, until Danny broke and he couldn't pay for the drugs Robert had supplied for him.

"I ain't giving it for free, Danny Boy. It costs a lot of my goddamn money!" he busted Danny on his face a several times until his face was all bruising and blood began to ran out from his lips.

"Alright, Robert. I promise I will pay for that, don't let me die now," he cried, "please."

"With what, Danny? Your motherfuckin salary?" Robert laughed sarcastically and pushed Danny against the floor.

"I'll get you my sister."

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