The Games You Play : A Hood Love Story

Loren ( 20 )

October 19th

"Lo!" Kenya ran up to me so fast I barely saw where she was coming from. She hugged me so tight I could feel her pain. I couldn't imagine what she must be going through.

"You're okay baby. I got you." I whispered in her ear and hugged her tighter. Layla came over to us and I hugged her too. I wish I could do more to help. I really hope being here is enough. "Tell me what happened." We walked over to the boys and sat together so that Kenya could tell us. Jayvin and I needed to be caught up.

"Well..." Kenya started. "I called him because he was late for dinner. I wanted him in the house at a certain time. You know niggas start shooting after 8 and shit. He told me he was just around the corner and when I heard the shots, I just figured they was way too fucking close. Then, your brother came over to make sure I was okay. I told him I had just talked to him and then I heard the shots. We got in the car and drove until we saw hella cops. I asked them who it was and they identified me from a picture in his wallet. That's how I knew." Kenya put her face in her hands and started to cry. I felt a tear drop on my hand, Jayvin started to cry too.

"She called me as soon as she found out." Layla added. "I came as soon as she called but she didn't wanna bother y'all."

"Lay told me to call anyway tho." Smoke said.

"You okay?" I grabbed my brother's hand.

"I'm good." He lied to me.

"Y'all don't understand." Kenya's voice started trembling. "He can't die. I need him."

"He's not gonna die." I looked at her. "He's not dying."

************************************************
Jayvin

"Baby?" That gentle, soft voice always catches my attention.

"Hey pretty girl." I turned around.

"You just disappeared, I just wanted to make sure you were okay." Loren looked worried.

"Come here." I motioned for her to come closer to me. "What's really wrong?"

"Just something you said to me." She looked up at me. I felt my stomach knot up. "You remember saying that there's a lot you want to tell me?" I nodded. "Well can you? I'm not trying to be overbearing but.... This, being here, is just putting a lot of things in perspective. Somebody could be here and gone just like that. I just want you to be honest and open with me. I don't ever want to leave anything unsaid or undone. If you still don't want to, it's okay. I just wanna let you know where I'm coming from-" She stopped. A few tears fell down my face. "I'm sorry was this the wrong time to bring it up? I can stop-"

"Nah, no." I wiped my face. She was right and I never want her to feel like I lied to her. "I'm sorry-"

"No. I promise I'm not mad. I just- I don't hound you because I want to wait until you feel it's the right time. But who knows when the time could be right, look where we are. Your best friend is facing death right now. I just don't know what I'd do if I ever had to say goodbye to you because-"

"Stop." I held her chin up so she could look at me. "Stop. Don't even finish that. I'm not going nowhere. Ever. Don't even think like that."

"Please. Just be honest with me. Whatever it is.... I can take it. Why are you so apprehensive about telling me?"

"Because." I said. She looked at me like she wasn't saying shit else unless I started talking. "Some shit I just- I need you here. I don't need you walking away from me."

"Bro. Did you cheat on me?" She asked.

"The fuck? No. I would never." I responded

"Do you have a secret kid I don't know about?" She smiled.

"Baby no." I started laughing

"Then tell me. I'll take whatever else comes with you because that's what I signed up for. But I want you to be honest."

"Okay." I gave in. "But.... I wanna tell you differently. Not here. I wanna take you somewhere tomorrow. Deal?"

"I'll take it." She smiled at me. "Come on. The boys need you."

***********************************************
Loren

"Excuse me?" A nurse walked up to us. We all got up at the same time.

"Yes?" Kenya said.

"Bryce Washington?" The nurse asked.

"Yes that's my cousin. This is our family." Kenya gestured towards the rest of us.

"He's good to go." The nurse said. There was a sigh of relief from everybody. "He'll be out of here in a few days. Today he's going to need rest because he's heavily sedated. You all need rest too you've been here for hours. Go home and you can all come back
tomorrow morning. I'll be here myself to let you in the room."

"Thank you so much!" Kenya hugged the nurse and turned around. "Thank y'all for staying here with me. I love you." We all smiled and went in for a group hug.