by Lady Lissa
It doesn’t matter because I will sit here until she does wake up, no matter how long it takes. I love Starr more than I love my damn self and I do feel responsible for her being in this hospital bed. I knew that Mandy was beginning to spiral out of control and unravel, but I didn’t think she would have taken it this far. She could have killed Starr.
Even though the police haven’t named her as the person who hit Starr, I know that she did it. The feelings she has for me, mixed with her hatred towards Starr lets me know that she is not only a person of interest, but the culprit.
So far, they have yet to identify her ass as a person of interest or a suspect. I’m hoping that the footage they retrieved from the video surveillance will point them in that direction. Starr’s mom yawns and I know she’s tired. Her dad went to work earlier today but asked that we call him if anything changes.
“Ms. Nina, why don’t you lie on the sofa? I’ll wake you up if anything changes,” I say to her.
“I’m not tired Onyx. I just want my baby to wake up,” she says.
“I know. So do I but we’re no good to her if we don’t rest,” I say.
“I can’t rest until my baby is awake. You will understand when you have kids,” she says.
There’s a knock at the door and Doctor Links walks in.
“How’s everybody doing this afternoon?” he asks.
“We’re fine doctor. When is my baby going to wake up?” Starr’s mom asks.
“I’m coming to check on her now. She should be up real soon. I don’t want you to worry about her because she’s doing really good. Her blood pressure is down, her heart rate and pulse are good, so all that’s left is for her to open her eyes. We expect that to be very soon, so just be patient a little while longer,” the doctor says.
“So, I shouldn’t be worried that my baby has been sleeping for two days?” Starr’s mom asks.
“Not at all. Just give it a few more hours. I bet she wakes up before morning,” he says.
“Okay. I’m trusting you doctor. If anything happens to my baby, you will have to answer to me,” Ms. Nina says.
“You can trust me Mrs. Landry. I’ve been a surgeon for a long time. Your daughter will be fine by morning. When I come in, she will be awake and waiting to have these tubes removed. You’ll see,” he says.
“Thank you doctor,” Starr’s mom says.
“You’re welcome. I will check back with you guys before I head home,” Doctor Links says.
“Okay,” Starr’s mom and I respond at the same time.
Doctor Links leaves the room and Miss Nina looks at me and says, “You know you don’t have to stay Onyx. I can call you when she wakes up.”
“If it’s all the same to you Miss Nina, I’d like to be one of the first people she sees when she opens her eyes,” I say with a smile.
“What do you think will happen to you and Starr’s relationship when you leave for college in the fall?” she asks.
“What do you mean?” I’m confused by her question because even though I will be away on campus, I have every intention of continuing my relationship with Starr. I truly believe that she and I are soul mates and were put on this earth especially for one another.
“I mean, you will be away at school and she’ll be home. How do you plan to make this work?”
“I plan to come home on weekends,” I say.
“What about practice? You are a star basketball player. How will you be able to visit on weekends if you will be expected to be on campus for practice?” she asks.
Now I’m sure she is asking these questions as a concerned parent. But, it’s kind of annoying because you would have thought that I had proved my love for Starr by now. I have been by Starr’s side ever since the accident and I intend to stay here until she recovers. I love her. I don’t know what is so hard for her mom to understand about that.
“Miss Nina, I love your daughter with all my heart. I love her more than I love myself and if I could have traded places with her so I could be the one lying in that hospital bed, I would have. I don’t know what else I can do to make you and your husband understand that this isn’t some fly by night type of thing here. I am truly in love with Starr and one day, I hope she will be my wife. I would never do anything to hurt her or bring harm to her. I plan to visit her as often as I can. I’m going away to school but that doesn’t mean that I won’t be thinking about Starr or that she and I won’t be together. She’s my soul mate and that’s just how it is,” I say.
By the time I finish talking, I have to dab at my eyes because they feel misty. I’m not no punk ass nigga but I have such strong feelings for this young woman right here. She’s my love and my life.
“Wow! Well okay. I guess we’ll just have to see what happens when you head off to college then,” she says.
“I guess so,” I respond.
The two of us continue to sit in silence until Mr. Mark comes in. Once he comes in the room, I stay for a couple of more hours, until visiting hours are over, then make my way down to the waiting room until seven o’clock in the morning. At that time, I will go back to Starr’s room and sit with her until she wakes up. Hopefully, she will wait to open her beautiful eyes when I get back.
CHAPTER SIX
Lucy
The next day, I wake up feeling on top of the world. I am at peace with the trouble that I have caused in Gregory’s marriage to his little porker. My mom is heading to the mall today, so I think I will take that ride with her. Who knows? She might buy me something extra special for my graduation. I hope she does.
I see the green light blinking on my phone so I check to see who it is. I’m surprised to see a message from Gregory and I was right, he is pissed.
Gregory: U brought your ass to my house. U fucked with my wife…I will fuck u up for that shit Lucy!!!
Damn! Three exclamation points. He must really be pissed at me, but it serves him right for trying to play me and keep that shit a secret from his wife. Should I respond or just leave him hanging? Hmmmmm. My mind is telling me let him hang but my fingers are not listening.
Me: Boy bye…u brought this on your damn self…u played my ass for two fuckin’ years…next time maybe u will think twice before u play another female like that
I’m getting myself together when he texts me again.
Gregory: Bitch I will fuck u up! How dare u! This is my marriage n my family u fuckin’ with!
Ooohhhh shit! He’s really mad. He threatening me and shit. Well fuck him! I ain’t worried about that fuck nigga. Let him crawl back home and beg his wife for forgiveness because love don’t live here no more so I could care less about his ass.
Me: Like I said, u brought this on yourself…u wanna blame somebody try looking in the mirror u bastard!!
I am going to block his damn number because I don’t have time for this shit. I am going shopping with my mom and the last thing I want is for my day to be ruined by these bullshit text messages from Gregory’s weepy and whining ass. He really needs to find someone who gives a damn about his pleas and threats because I sure don’t.
I head downstairs after I’m finished getting dressed. My mom is sitting at the bar drinking her normal cup of coffee and reading the newspaper.
“Hey mom,” I greet her.
“Hey baby,” she says.
She looks at me above her newspaper.
“Where are you off to this morning?” she asks.
“Well you said that you were going to the mall, so I thought I would tag along.”
I grab a glass and fill it with orange juice. I also get a breakfast pastry and pop it in the toaster, pushing the button down to allow the heat to penetrate the pastry.
“Hey did you hear about that girl from your school that got hit last night?” she asks.
“Yea, that’s sad.”
“The driver just drove right off. They didn’t even have the decency to wait around and make sure she was alright.”
“I know,” I say.
“Who would do so
mething so heartless?”
“I don’t know mom,” I respond.
I wish she would stop talking to me about this shit. While I feel for Starr and the condition that she is in, that has nothing to do with me at all. I’d rather talk about what she’s going to buy me at the mall.
“Did you know that the car matches Mandy’s car?” she asks.
“What are you talking about mom?” I ask, grabbing the hot pastry from the toaster.
“The car that hit that Starr girl. The newspaper says that the car is the same kind and color as Mandy’s. Have you seen her since this has happened?” she asks.
“Why would you ask me that? You know that girl ain’t talking to me right now,” I say.
“That girl happens to be your cousin, your first cousin. Why is it that the two of you can’t get along like you used to when you guys were kids?” she asks.
“I don’t know mom. I guess we grew up and just went our own way,” I say.
She stops talking and I can feel her eyes on me. I lift my eyes up for just a minute and I can see my mom looking at me, as if she’s studying my face. Even though I have applied some makeup to the bruises and scratches from my fight with Mandy, I know she can still see some evidence of the fight.
It doesn’t take her long before she is out of her seat and in my face. She grabs my face between her thumb and forefinger and looks at it closely.
“Mom what are you doing?” I ask as I try to move my face out of her grasp.
“What happened to your face?” she asks.
“What do you mean?” I ask her.
“Don’t play dumb with me little girl. Who have you been fighting with?” she asks.
“No one mom.”
“So you’re going to just lie to me?”
“No mom, but it’s nothing for you to worry about. I can handle my own affairs. I’m not a little kid anymore,” I say, hoping that will get her off my back.
“I know you aren’t a little kid anymore but that doesn’t mean I’m going to stop worrying about you. What happened to your face?” she asks again.
“I got in a fight, okay?” I ask, trying to go around her.
“Luciana Renee Tanner, who the hell do you think you’re talking to like that?” she asks.
Oh God! She used my full government name so that means I pissed her off. I didn’t mean to get snippy with her, but I really don’t want to talk to her about the fight I had with Mandy. She was already riding me about ratting Mandy out to Onyx. If she finds out I kicked her ass, she will surely have a cow.
“I’m sorry mom. I didn’t mean to sound disrespectful. I just don’t feel like talking about this fight,” I say.
“Well, you may not feel like talking about it, but I do. Now who were you fighting with?”
I take a deep breath and release it because I know that she will not stop unless I tell her what she wants to know.
“Mandy,” I say quietly.
“What did you say? I know I didn’t hear what I think I heard,” she says.
“I got in a fight with Mandy,” I repeat.
“Are you out of your mind? What has gotten into you lately Lucy?” she asks.
“Mom, she was disrespecting me and stuff. You know how we are about people who disrespect us. We don’t take no ssshhhh,” I say.
“That is your cousin, girl! I just finished talking to you about the importance of family and you pull this! What is going on with you?” she asks again.
“Nothing is going on with me. You should blame our genes for this because we fly off the handle because of the way we were raised,” I say.
“Oh no you didn’t. You have got a lot of nerve young lady,” she says.
“Mom, I’m sorry if this upsets you but she got what she deserved and I refuse to apologize for it,” I say.
I don’t think the two of us will be going to the mall after all. As mad as she is, she may just try to ground my ass.
“You know what? You are grounded for the next two weeks! You need to think about your actions and how you need to do better,” she says.
I know my mom too well. I knew she was going to try and ground me, but I am eighteen now and she can’t ground a grown ass woman.
“You can’t ground me! I’m eighteen years old,” I say.
“I don’t give a damn if you are thirty. As long as you are living under my roof, I will ground you for as long as I see fit,” she says.
“Mom please, you can’t do this to me. Mandy asked for it. This is all her fault,” I say.
“How is this her fault? Did she hit you first? Huh, how is this her fault?” she asks.
“She hit that girl with her car at the hotel,” I blurt out.
Oops, did I really say that shit out loud to my mom. The look on her face lets me know that I did say it out loud. I didn’t mean to tell this to my mom. I wanted to hold it over Mandy’s head for a little while. You know, threaten to call the police or tell Onyx. But I definitely did not mean to blab my big mouth to my mom.
“What did you say?” she asks.
“Nothing mom. I didn’t say anything,” I say.
“Did you just say that Mandy was the one driving that car? I thought that was just a coincidence that a car like hers was involved,” she says.
“Yeah, that is too much of a coincidence. She did it mom but I wasn’t supposed to tell you,” I say.
“Does her mother know?”
“I don’t know,” I say.
“Oh my God! I can’t believe this. She has to turn herself in,” my mom says.
“She won’t mom,” I say.
“The hell she won’t!” she says.
“Mom just let it go. This is Mandy’s problem, not ours. Let her and Aunt Miranda deal with it,” I say.
I don’t really mean that. I’m just saying that so my mom will put this business with Mandy to the side. I wanna be the one to tell Onyx about Mandy’s guilt. I wanna be the one to tell the police. Me. Not my mom.
“I can’t just let it go. I’m going to have to speak with Miranda about this. She should know that her daughter was involved in that hit and run,” my mom says.
“Can we just go to the mall please? There’s something I need to talk with you about,” I say.
“The mall? Didn’t I just tell you that you’re grounded?”
I can’t believe this shit. She is still grounding me, even after I told her that shit about Mandy? Oh my God, why does she have to be so unreasonable?
“Mom, are you serious? You are still grounding me?”
“Yes, I’m grounding you. You got in a fight with your first cousin after I spoke to you about the importance of family. Oh honey, you are grounded.”
“Mom, this is not fair. I just graduated high school and should be celebrating, not stuck in my room for two weeks,” I say.
By this time, I am frustrated and judging from the look on her face, I’d say she is just as frustrated. But this makes no sense. How can my mom ground me like I’m some little kid when I’ll be going away to college in the fall? This has to stop and I need for her to see that I’m not a little girl anymore.
“Mom please reconsider. I’ll be going away to college in the fall. Please, be reasonable. I’m sorry. If you want me to apologize to Mandy, I will but don’t ground me. I only have the summer left to enjoy myself before I’m back in school. Don’t take away my freedom for two weeks,” I beg.
“I just don’t think that you understand what you have done by starting this feud with your cousin. What happened between the two of you that would make you want to fight her and throw her under the bus the way you have?”
“You wouldn’t understand,” I say.
“Well, you will have plenty of time to make me understand since you will be in the house for the next two weeks,” she says.
“UGH! This is not fair! You treat me like a child!” I say as I run upstairs to my room, slamming the door.
A few minutes later, I hear a knock on my door.
“What?” I a
sk.
“I wanna talk to you,” my mom says.
She pops her head in and comes to sit on the edge of my bed.
“I don’t want to fight with you honey. We have always been able to get along with one another and I don’t want us to get off track. We’ve always had a great relationship,” my mom says.
“I don’t know what you want me to say,” I say.
“Well, I need you to make me understand how you ended up fighting with Mandy yesterday. When I spoke with you yesterday morning, you were on your way to surprise Gregory. How did you end up fighting with your cousin?” she asks.
“I don’t know mom. Things didn’t work out with Gregory since he was at work instead of at home. I meant to come back home but of course, things never go as planned,” I say.
“Oh, well didn’t you know he was working before you popped up at his place?”
“I knew he was supposed to work but wasn’t sure if he would make it in yesterday morning since we had such a late night the night before,” I tell her.
“Speaking of that night, how was it? You’re finally a high school graduate. I’m so proud of you honey,” she beams.
“Thanks mommy. I’m proud of me too. I had a lot of fun for graduation night. We celebrated until really late. Onyx’s party was the ultimate party of the year,” I inform her.
“Really? You enjoyed yourself that much huh?”
“I really did mom. I danced like my life depended on it,” I say, leaving out everything that happened between me and Gregory after we left the party. I don’t see any reason to worry her about our little altercation.
“That’s good honey. So, how do you feel?” she asks.
“What do you mean?” I’m confused by her question. Does she wanna know how I feel about being grounded? How would anyone feel about being grounded when they should be out partying and celebrating?
“I mean, now that you’ve graduated from high school. You know now that you’re done with high school, you’re entering the world of adulthood where there’s more responsibilities and less clowning around. You have to make better decisions. You can’t go around fighting people because things don’t go your way,” she explains.
