Unintentional

Prologue

The sound of my sandals smacking on the linoleum floors echoed throughout the hall as I made my way to room 2016. The closer I got, the more it felt like my airways were closing up. 2009.. 2011.. 2012... by then my breathing was becoming shallow. 2013.. 2014... there was a loud whooshing noise in my head; I could hear the blood pumping through me, my heart racing. I could feel my temple throbbing with the anticipation, and the feeling I had in the pit of my stomach was making me feel sick. I stood there, staring at the bold metal numbers 2016 engraved on the wooden door that stood before me. "This is a bad idea", I whispered to myself; I had no idea what I was doing here.

For the past two weeks I had been getting calls from a number I didn't recognize. Being a Texas native, I knew that whoever was calling from the 214 numbers knew exactly who they were calling. The problem was I didn't  feel like being  bothered with my past. I cut off all ties with everyone I had left behind, excluding my parents and even then, I barely spoke to them. I had just made it home from work when my phone rang for the fourth time that day. I figured if I ignored them long enough, they would get the hint but nope; they only tried harder. Finally realizing that this person had no intentions of giving up, I reluctantly picked up the phone to answer. "Nyree, how have you been sweetie?".

I stared at the phone, trying to figure out how she got my number."Mrs Juanita?". Juanita chuckled before answering. "Yes honey it's me". "I-I'm fine, how have you been?", I stuttered, still in shock. "Trust me when I say I could be doing a lot better than I am at the moment". I heard the front door close and smiled when I saw my fiancée walk in with our drowsy daughter in tow. "Hey", Jourdin smiled, giving me a quick peck on the lips before sitting down on the couch, patiently waiting for my phone call to end. I sat down next to him and he held my hand while I continued on with the conversation.

"What do you mean by that?". Juanita sighed, "I'm not sure how to tell you this Nyree, but it's about Courtney". I just sat quietly, hoping she wasn't calling for bail money. "Courtney's been shot. He got into a fight with some guys in a bad neighborhood and they wound up shooting him". Knowing Courtney that's not exactly how it went down, I already knew he had to have been doing something he wasn't supposed to.

"I'm sorry to hear that and I hope he's okay, but why are you telling me this? You know our history and what he put me through". I didn't mean to sound heartless, but she of all people know what I went through with her son. I'd like to say I forgave him a long time ago, but that didn't mean I was willing to be all in face wanting to be his friend again."I know honey, I know you two haven't been friends for a while now, but I still felt like you should know". "Mrs Juanita, is there something you're not telling me?". I knew she was calling for more than that; nobody calls to tell someone that their ex-best friend was shot. If he died however, I would understand but he wasn't so what else was there? There was a long pause before Juanita sighed.

"He's been unconscious for days, but he's been talking in his sleep... I think he's dreaming about you. I wasn't gonna mention it but he woke up about two weeks ago. He's been in and out since then but every time he's awake he's asking about you. He keeps saying he had to talk to you, but he goes back to sleep before he can tell any of us why. Do you think you could come and see him? I know I'm asking a lot but we both know that he wouldn't ask you to come for nothing".

I gripped the phone a little tighter; I knew it was more to it. "Mrs Juanita I don't live in Texas anymore, I'm in Louisiana now."  I said, hoping that would get her off my back."I can buy you a plane ticket, it wouldn't be a problem". I didn't want to say no to her; especially after everything she's done for me, but I really didn't want to be bothered with this. There was no use in even trying to put up a fight though; Mrs. Juanita doesn't take 'no' for an answer."Okay I'll come, but I'm gonna need two more tickets". "You need three tickets?". "Yea, for my fiancee and our daughter". I hoped she didn't think I was coming alone. If I had to go back to visit, my  little family was coming too. Juanita laughed, "Well excuse me! Just let me know what day is good for you and I'll get you those tickets, alright?". "Okay Mrs Juanita, nice talking to you again". "Nice talking to you too sweetheart. I'll send you the info whenever I get your tickets; Goodnight". I hung up the phone and smiled at the sight of Jourdin and Lacey drifting off beside me.
I leaned toward Jourdin, kissing him awake. "Wake up dimples, I got news". He opened one eye and smiled, "What". "What's your schedule looking like? Think you can take off a few days?" He sat up on the couch, taking a minute to think. "I might have a few vacation days; why, what happened?". I rolled my eyes at the thought of Courtney. Lucky for him I couldn't say no to his mother; if it weren't for her, he'd be forever waiting for me. "Pack some clothes, we're going to Texas".