STAY HIGH | Zion Kuwonu

𝔖𝔈𝔙𝔈𝔑𝔗𝔈𝔈𝔑✔️

I quickly pull up to Ms.Plateo's house, and hop her back gate, then her back fence, landing in Julio's backyard. I see a few of the homies at the kitchen table, through the open sliding door, discussing something serious because they all have their eyebrows furrowed and they look visibly stressed.

I guess one of the homies saw me from the corner of his eye because he quickly turned and pulled his gun out at me making me rapidly put my hands up. Once he sees me he lowers his gun and ushers me inside.

We almost run to the room Joseph is supposed to be in. Once I enter I see Joseph on the bed with dark circles around his eyes while Oscar is talking to him. I know what Oscar is doing, he's tryna distract him from the pain and also keep him awake. Linda is sitting at the foot of the bed staring down at Joseph with worry etched across her face.

"Hola mi familia.." I say lightly making all their heads snap up. Linda runs to me and hugs me, making both me and her immediately start crying. I pulled away from the hug but still stayed in her arms while I wiped the tears off her face. I kissed both of her cheeks and gave her a soft smile to let her know everything is going to be okay. I quickly pulled away from her and go to Joseph.

"How you holding up guapo?" I ask Joseph making him weakly smile at me while I pick up the first aid kit and start rummaging through it.

"I've been better hermosa." He laughed making him groan for even moving.

"I'm gon fix you right up," I reassure him, "Do you want some Advil before we start?"

He nodded so I pull the pills out of the container in the first aid kit and he swallowed them dry.

I hear a lighter go off behind me making me look really quick and I see Oscar lighting a blunt by the door facing us.

"Really? In here? We are not tryna hotbox estupido!" Linda says and smacks his arm making him frown at her.

"Nah it's good Linda, gimme a hit of that Oscar." Joseph says and nods to Oscar. Linda scoffs and opens a window while Oscar hands the blunt to Joseph.

Joseph takes deep puffs and winces while I disinfect his bullet wound which went straight through his shoulder, which is as lucky as it gets for a bullet wound.

"Am I gunna get that bac-" I quickly cut off Oscar by throwing him my container of weed from my pocket.

"I don't need your weed chula, I got my own remember?" He says and puts my container next to me on the nightstand.

"Then go roll another blunt, because right now, Joseph needs this." I tell him while I thread the needle and prep it to begin stitching.

I hear him walk out of the room and I see Linda do a quick prayer in the mirror.

I insert the needle for the first stitch making Joseph jolt a little and let out a groan while the blunt sits between his lips.

Oscar comes in with a joint between his lips as well. He closes the door and walks over to Linda.

"I can see the worry on your face chica, don't trip, we won't let nothing happen to you." He tells her making her let out a deep breath.

"You will stay here with all the homies, we will all protect you." Joseph adds supportingly. It's amazing how he's tryna keep her calm while I'm literally stitching his bullet wound.

"Aigh!" Joseph jolts making me stop suddenly,
"A little softer por favor."

"How the fuck am I supposed to go soft with a needle?" I tell him making a face. He makes a face back at me but nods to continue.

——

I was finally finished with stitching up Joseph. It's been 3 hours, the blunt was long gone so I handed him 2 more Advil.

"You can sleep now cholo, we'll be in the kitchen." I tell him and Oscar, Linda, and I walk out to let him rest.

We ended up walking to the living room. Oscars fatass plopped onto the couch and Linda sat  on the other half of the couch while I sat on the arm rest next to Linda.

"Why did you take so long to get here?" Oscar asked while turning on the boxing match. My mind instantly wandered to Zion and my mood turned sour. Not because I'm mad or anything but because when I left his house, things weren't right.

"Complications." I nonchalantly say wanting to brush it off.

"With what?" Linda asks curiously.

"Boys but it's nothing.." I wave my hand in the air and shrug my shoulders.

"Do I need to step in?" Oscar said sitting up straight and his face changed his whole demeanor. He looked scary, like if I didn't know him I would shit my pants, but I do, so when he looks mad like this I know he means business. Gangbanging business.

"Nononono." I say really fast.

"Is it that light skin foo? With the dreads?" He questions again with his eyes squinting as if he's figuring out something. And that's exactly what I don't want, if he figures out who Zion is he's gunna wanna raid his house and question him while scaring him about treating me right. He already knows where he lives.

"Oscar," I say seriously, "why you trippin foo? He ain't did nothing to hurt me. He just heard our conversation on the phone and he doesn't understand my lifestyle, the person I am when I'm not with him." I explain.

Oscar curtly nods, "well tell me if he ever steps outta line, okay hermosa?"

"Alright feo." I smile at him while he makes a face making me and Linda instantly laugh.