ATL Hoe

Chapter 23: Sebastian L. Nelson

"Where's he at?" Derek asked as we ran to the waiting room where Mia and Mario were already at. I rushed to Mia's side as she cried quietly in one of the chairs. It felt like every time we took a step forward we got knocked ten steps back.

"Surgery," Mario spoke quietly.

"He was on his way to pick me up," Mia sniffled, laying her head in my lap. "They shot him in the car," she explained. I looked up at Derek who was a few feet away from us whispering with Mario. It didn't take long for everyone else to get there. It felt like deja vu. We had just done this for Mia a few months ago. I didn't think I could take anymore.

We sat for hours not knowing how he was doing. The guys kept whispering and I knew they were plotting. I had a feeling Clyde did it even though he claimed he wouldn't do anything to them for declining his offer. I sat there holding Mia's hand and praying as hard as I could. When a doctor finally walked over we all stood up, ready to hear how he was doing.

"Are you all the family of Sebastian Nelson?" he asked and we nodded. "I'm sorry to tell you all this but Sebastian did not make it," after that everything was a blur. I remember Mia screaming and falling to the ground, crying. I remember Derek storming off but I couldn't get my feet to move and follow him. Everyone just stood there, stunned for a long time. We all kept looking at each other, none of us believing Bash was really gone. I felt dizzy like I was going to pass out so I took a seat and stared at the floor. Bash couldn't be dead. He was just at Derek's house talking to my brother on the phone and showing me Mia's necklace. I wanted to cry but couldn't bring myself to because I was still in shock and disbelief. The doctor was playing. Any minute now they'd come out and say we could go back and visit him. Just like they had with Derek and Mia. He was just in ICU right now, maybe that was it. I sat there for what seemed like hours not knowing what to think, not even able to move. Derek reemerged out of nowhere, eyes red, and grabbed my arm lifting me to my feet.

"Y'all are going to ride back to Bianca's. We got business to handle," he said, walking me towards Bianca and Kingston. Mario had to help Mia to her feet. She could barely walk out the hospital. Derek held my hand as we walked out and I looked down noticing it was swelling up.

"What'd you do?" I asked, my voice caught in my throat.

"Punched a wall," he said with no emotion.

"Was it Clyde?" I asked when we reached the car. He opened the door, helping me in and gave me a kiss.

"I love you," he responded before closing it. I assumed that meant yes. I wasn't sure what they were about to do but I was scared he'd be next. I couldn't imagine losing him. Mia sat next to me in the car, silently. Right before we pulled off I remembered the necklace again.

"Wait! Can we get his clothes?" I asked Kingston who was in the drivers seat.

"We can try, it'll probably be taken to evidence for the cops though. Y'all stay here," he instructed everyone else and he walked back into the hospital with me. When we got to the area he had been in for surgery I lied to the nurse at the desk and said I was his sister. She couldn't let me take the clothes but she gave me his wallet and made sure to pull the necklace out of his coat pocket. In the car I gave Mia the wallet but kept the necklace until later. I wanted her to have a moment to process before I gave her something so special.

The next few hours we all laid in Bianca's king sized bed together. No one cried or said anything, everyone was just numb. Kingston sent Roman to Bash's house to get some jackets for Mia since his keys were part of the belongings they gave to me. Mia put one of his hoodies on and fell asleep in it. None of us got out of bed until one in the afternoon the next day. Derek was asleep on one couch downstairs and Rodney was asleep on another. I went down there for some tea but decided to go lay with Derek instead. I got under the thick blanket with him and stared at him for a long time. Bash was someone he considered a friend. One of very few people he considered a friend. I knew Derek and I knew he was beating himself up for letting them catch Bash slippin. D wanted him to stay here and protect us while he was in Harlem and he didn't even get the chance to.

I stroked Derek's face some, feeling each of his features softly. He was so perfect but this life he lived was not. I was constantly scared of what would happen, who would get shot or die next. I dreaded the day it was him and I knew one day it would happen if he continued down this path. He must've sensed me overthinking because he wrapped an arm around me and pulled me closer. I laid on him, crying quietly on his chest. It was the first time I had cried since hearing Bash was gone and once I started I couldn't stop. Derek woke up and took me to the bathroom so I could get it all out. He sat there rubbing my back for a while until he picked me up and let me sit on him. I pulled my knees into my chest and he cradled me like a baby as I sobbed. Bash was really like a brother and what hurt even more than losing him was trying to imagine what Mia was feeling. He was there for her through everything and they didn't even get the chance to enjoy each other like they deserved. The one thing I was grateful for was that we all went to Miami before this happened.

"What did you guys do last night?" I asked D, once I had calmed down some. He was quiet for a long time, I'm sure debating if he'd tell me or not.

"We killed Clyde," he finally said and I nodded. I expected nothing less.

"What will happen now?" I asked, already knowing Clyde's men would be after them.

"I really don't give a fuck. They can do what they want I should've killed that nigga when he shot Mia," he said, shaking his head. We were both quiet and I noticed he was tearing up. "He really killed Bash, man. I should've trusted my gut and got that nigga before he got the chance," he said, getting worked up. I wrapped my arms around him and buried my face in his neck.

"It's not your fault, baby," I said.

"Nah it is. He shot this nigga in the car. He had been watching him and my dumb ass was sitting here thinking everything was straight," he said and he was really crying. I had never seen him like that. I knew his tears were out of anger mostly. "You're coming to Harlem with me," he stated after a long pause. He wiped his face, helped me stand up, and left the bathroom without another word. I regained my composure before leaving as well. I found Mia sitting in the guest room alone, staring at the wall.

"Hey, Mi," I smiled, sitting next to her on the small love seat in there. She looked up at me with a faint smile. "I'm not gonna be the idiot who asks if you're ok. But, I will let you know I love you and I believe Bash did, too,"

"I never told him," she said quietly, tears falling.

"Told him what?" I asked.

"That I loved him. I was too scared, but I did love him," she admitted. She leaned on my shoulder crying some more and after a moment I got up and grabbed the necklace from the other room.

"Last night there was too much going on. I wanted to give this to you when you were able to fully process," I said and handed her the black box. She opened it and put her hand over her mouth as she cried some more.

"From him?" she asked and I nodded.

"He planned to give it to you at dinner. He had been working on getting it since Miami," I explained. "He wanted you to know he was committed to you and was sorry for putting you in the situation with Clyde and everything,"

"I didn't blame him. He didn't need to apologize," she cried.

"That's exactly what I told him. He also said you were different from any other girl he'd been with cuz you held him accountable and didn't take shit and you made him want to do and be better," I added trying to remember everything from that day on the beach. "He may not have said it either but he loved you," She wiped her eyes, smiling at everything I'd told her and gave me a hug.

"Thank you. I don't know what I'd do without you," she said.

"Of course. I love you. We'll get through this together,"
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