Innocence

💥Fire💥

🥀J•E•S•S•I•C•A🥀

The bell rang, and everyone shuffled out of their seats. I slung my backpack on my shoulder and stared at a piece of paper that sat in my chair. I snatched it up and examined the paper with squinted eyes. It must've belonged to somebody else, but I didn't want to leave it in here and figure out it was my work later. I unfolded the paper and perused it with curiosity.

Dear Jess—

"—Jess, you coming?" Leah asked.

I waved her off, "Uh, just go without me." I continued to read, I could tell it was Tyler's handwriting.

Dear Jess,

I'm writing you this note cause this girl keep telling me to. You left me in that hospital, Jess, that hurt. Soon I'm finna be making some real money. Ima leave all this shit behind and live my own life. I'm still me but, I'll never forget your betrayal. I'm giving this to my brother to pass it on to you, I hope you get it. Tell Hakeem to watch his back cause he got another thing coming.

I ran out the classroom hoping to catch up with Chris. Besides all the boys Tyler was friends with, Chris and Hakeem were the only two he claimed as brothers. Since Hakeem and Tyler weren't on the right page, the only person he would've given this letter to was Chris. The hallways were scarce, but I still didn't know where to search for this boy. I made my way to the cafeteria where he was yelling in Tina's face as she sobbed. I knew that confronting him when he was mad wasn't the best idea, but Chris wouldn't talk to me once lunch started, he'd get too distracted.

"Chris!" I ran up to him.

He pointed to his chest, "You fucking other niggas in the apartment I pay for!" He looked down the hall but ignored me. "Then you got my son seeing the hoe shit you doing. That's the real reason he crying for me." His voice cracked.

I tapped his shoulder and bit my lip; I was scared he'd turn around and yell at me.

He glanced at me and mouthed 'hold up', "Don't worry, cause Ima take full custody." Tina started hyperventilating and he turned on his heel to face me.

We walked together, "Wassup?" He sighed.

"Where's Tyler?"

He put his finger on his chin, pretending to think, "I ain't heard from Tyler or seen him." He lied.

I stopped walking, "Yeah, well, how did you get this note?" I shoved the paper in his face.

He moved me out of the way and kept walking. I huffed, he was acting so difficult. All he had to do was tell the truth, and I'd disappear. I grasped his arm and yanked him back.

He chuckled, "Better chill cause you know I like me a feisty female." He grabbed my ass. "How you been baby?"

I sighed and slapped his hand away even though I didn't want to, "Those days are over Chris. Stop trying to change the subject."

He facepalmed himself, "Baby girl, I can't tell you where he is." He looked up. "A'ight I'll tell you he gave me the note, but I can't tell you anything else."

My eyes watered, "Chris! I need to find him he's not thinking straight he will get himself killed!" A lone tear trickled down my cheek and I quickly wiped it away. I was exhausted from crying, I did it too much and I swore I wasn't sensitive.

He pulled my chin up, and I gazed into his deep brown eyes. I could read him like a book It was like our minds were intercepting. I was aware of everything he felt; he was suffering just like me. Chris's family and crew were breaking up. He thought he'd be alone, just him and Aries. Chris eased in and our lips clashed, we were kissing through the pain. We embraced each other as I gripped his back and he clutched my waist.