by Lady Lissa
“I haven’t really been hungry mom. I’ve been worried about Starr so it was hard for me to eat anything,” I confess.
“Well, let’s go get something to eat then.”
“I can go myself mom. You guys came to visit Starr, so y’all visit and I’ll run down to the cafeteria and grab a sandwich or something.”
“Well, how about we men join you downstairs and let the girls visit?” my dad asks as he looks to Mr. Mark for confirmation.
“Y’all just wanna watch me,” I say smiling.
“Boy, ain’t nobody wanna watch you. I need a coffee,” my dad says.
“Uh huh, okay dad.”
I stand up and give Starr a soft kiss on the lips.
“I won’t be long baby,” I say.
“Take as long as you need babe. I’ll still be here when you get back,” she says.
So the three of us men walk out of the room and head towards the elevators. When the elevator car comes to a stop at our floor, I hit the first floor button. We ride down in silence, each of us in our own thoughts. As we make it to the first floor, my phone starts ringing. I pull it out to check and see who is calling me. It’s my friend Scott on the phone.
“What up Scott?”
“Aye Onyx man, how’s ya girl doing?”
“She’s good. The doctor may release her in a couple days,” I say.
The elevator dings and we step off at the first floor.
“That’s great man. Hey, I was wondering if it’s true what they say about Mandy being the one that hit Starr.”
“Well, we don’t know anything for sure, but I think so. Why do you ask?” I ask.
“My ex-girlfriend, Alexis works at the Circle K ya know? Well, Alexis says she saw Mandy yesterday and her windshield on her car was fucked up. I just thought you should know,” he says.
“When was this?”
“She said some time yesterday morning. Ain’t the police looking for her car?” he asks.
“Yea, they are. Does Alexis know where Mandy is now?” I ask.
My dad and Mr. Mark are looking at me sideways as the elevator beeps on the first floor.
“I don’t know. I can ask but I don’t think she’s seen her since yesterday. I was just letting you know,” he says.
“Aight, thanks for telling me man.”
We end the call and my dad rushes in with the questions.
“What was that all about?”
“My friend, Scott says his ex saw Mandy yesterday morning at the Circle K and her windshield had some damage to it,” I say.
“Well why the hell didn’t his ex call the police?” Mr. Mark asks.
“I don’t know Mr. Mark. I was wondering the same thing,” I say.
“So Mandy really is the one responsible for this?” my dad says.
“It sure seems like it dad,” I respond.
“I’m calling the police. They need to find that girl before she kills someone with her damn car,” Mr. Mark says as he reaches in his pocket and pulls out the card one of the detectives gave him the night Starr was brought to the hospital.
“Hello is this Detective Grandvale?”
There is a pause as he waits for confirmation from whoever answered the phone.
“Detective, this is Mark Landry. My daughter Starr Landry was involved in a hit a run a few nights ago,” he says. Pause.
“So you know who I am?” Pause.
“Good. Some new information has been brought to our attention and I need to discuss it with you. Can you come by the hospital?” Mr. Mark asks. Pause.
“Okay, we’ll see you soon.”
He hangs up the phone and says, “He will be here in a couple of hours. It’s sad that this little bitch hasn’t been apprehended and arrested yet. How the hell has she been able to evade police this long?”
“Don’t worry Mark. I’m sure the police will find her,” my dad says.
“Well they sure are taking their sweet time to do that shit!”
I can totally understand Mr. Mark’s frustration because I feel it too. How can the police still be searching for Mandy if she’s out there in the open? You would have thought with all the man power they have out there, they would have found her ass by now. I guess if Starr had died, they would have made the hit and run a priority.
Our trip to the cafeteria takes about forty minutes. We got our food, found a table, and sit to eat and converse about this newfound information. Mr. Mark doesn’t think that Mandy will be found, but I assure him that even if I have to go out and look for her myself, she will be found. There ain’t nothing I won’t do to find that little bitch and make her pay, especially since it seems as though she was responsible for Starr being laid up in that hospital bed. When we’re heading back to the elevator, I look at my phone for the time.
I need to contact Lucy again. I’m sure she knows something so I have got to get her to tell me what she knows. Once we have all finished our food, we throw our trash away and start walking back towards the elevators.
When we finally reach the elevators, I say, “Hey dad, I have something I need to do real quick! I’ll meet y’all upstairs in a little while.”
“Where are you going?” my dad asks.
“Trust me dad, I’ll be there soon. I just need to handle something,” I say.
“Okay, but if you ain’t back in thirty minutes, I’m coming look for you.”
Just like my dad to say something like that. I think he and my mom both forget that I’m eighteen now and a man. I can handle things on my own and don’t need them trying to protect me or anything like that.
“I’ll need a little longer than thirty minutes dad. Can you please tell Starr I’ll be back soon?” I ask.
“Where are you going son?” he asks.
“Dad please. There’s just something I really need to handle. Please,” I say.
“Okay. Just be careful son and don’t go out looking for trouble,” he says.
“I will be careful dad,” I tell him as he gives me a brotherly hug.
I walk out of the hospital and hit up Lucy as soon as I get outside. By the time I make it to my car, I have her on the phone.
“Onyx?” she asks.
“Lucy, I need to see you,” I tell her.
I know the only way I’m going to get answers, truthful answers from Lucy is for me to go and see her.
“What? You want to see me?” she asks, sounding surprised.
“Yea, can I come by your house or you can meet me somewhere?”
“What is this about?” she asks.
“I’ll explain when I get there. Can I come see you?”
“Sure. Do you know where I live or do you need me to text you my address?”
“Please text your address to my phone and I’m on my way,” I say.
“Okay,” she says.
I end the call and soon after, a text from Lucy comes through with her address. I don’t need to put the address in the navigation system because I know exactly where that street is. It doesn’t take me long to get to Lucy’s house. I make it there in about thirty minutes. This is a pretty nice house in a very nice subdivision.
I park my car in the driveway and get out. I hope that Lucy gives me the answers that I need.
CHAPTER NINE
Mandy
I am on my way to Lucy’s house to get everything that I loaned her. After that fight we got into, I don’t consider that bitch my cousin anymore. I mean, first she told my business to Onyx about the pregnancy. Why would she even do that? If it’s one thing our family has taught us growing up is that we stick together.
No matter what goes on between us, we are always supposed to remain loyal to the family. That bitch sold me out. I’m still trying to figure out why she did that. I mean, she doesn’t even like Onyx as far as I know. She only tolerated him because he and I were dating. So, why would she turn on me to let him off the hook?
Don’t get me wrong, my relationship with Lucy was far from perfect. I mean, we have had our fair share of
arguments and fights, but never over a dude. I think that’s why she fought with me; because she’s just jealous of the relationship I have with Onyx. Sure, he and I aren’t together right now, but it won’t be long before we get back together.
I just can’t get over everything that has been happening to me lately. I think God is punishing me for something. I just wish I knew what I did to deserve all these punishments. I’ve tried my best to behave myself and do what I thought would make my parents proud of me. It isn’t my fault that Onyx and I broke up and then that bitch Starr slithered in and sunk her hooks into him.
I should have been watching that bitch more closely. But when I expressed my concern about their so called “friendship”, Onyx would get upset with me for demanding that he give his girlfriend, which was me at the time, the proper respect and attention. If I had been more conscientious and demanded what was supposed to be mine, my man would still be mine. I should have played basketball with him.
I know how much basketball means to him and had I learned the sport, I could have played with my man. If I had done that, he would have been playing with me instead of his precious best friend, Starr. That bitch ain’t special because she can play basketball. She ain’t shit!
I wish she had died when I hit her with my damn car. I guess I should have been driving faster, but I thought the hit I had given her was enough. I wanted her to die. Man, did I want her to die. I don’t know what her condition is, but hopefully her ass is on life support or something.
I need to get to Lucy’s house and I’m gonna have to pass the back way. I don’t know where those stupid cops are or how much they know about me and the incident. I just think that since they haven’t found me yet, they don’t have enough evidence against me for an arrest. These police out here in Atlanta don’t play no games. If they had enough evidence to put me in jail, trust me, I would have been locked up.
I finally make it to the street Lucy’s house is on and I can’t wait to see that bitch again. If she thought our fight at Ernest’s house was over, she needs to think again. I hope my auntie isn’t here because I know she will try to jump in between us and get us to make up. I am not in the mood for that shit right now. All I want is to get in Lucy’s face so I can kick her ass.
But I was in for the surprise of a lifetime because when I get closer to Lucy’s house, the car that is parked in her driveway surprises me so much, I almost hit the fucking ditch. What the fuck is Onyx doing here? Why the hell is he at Lucy’s damn house? How the hell does he even know where she lives?
Are they fucking? Is that why she was so quick to turn against me and rat me out? How the hell did I not see something was going on between them? All these questions are pissing me off and making my head spin. I am about to go in there and bust up there fucking party.
I park my car behind his, blocking him in and get out my car. I ring the doorbell and let myself in, like I always do.
“Mom is that…” Lucy says until she sees me.
“No bitch, it’s me.”
“What the hell are you doing here Mandy?” Lucy says.
“Don’t worry about why the fuck I’m here…” I begin but don’t get to finish.
“Mandy! You bitch!” Onyx says as he grabs me by the neck and starts squeezing and shaking me.
“Onyx wait…” I’m trying to get him to get his hand off my neck. I look over to the side to see if Lucy is going to help me, but she is standing there smiling with her arms across her chest. I can’t believe this bitch is actually letting him choke me out.
Damn! I know that we aren’t close anymore, but we’re still cousins. She is just going to let him kill me. Why is she not stepping in to help me?
“Stop Onyx! Stop!” she finally says.
“No, she is the reason that Starr is laying up in that hospital bed right now!” he says.
This nigga is so mad, he could very well kill me.
“DON’T DO IT ONYX! SHE’S NOT WORTH IT!” Lucy says.
What? She said I’m not worth it. So she is stopping him from killing me because I’m not worth it. She don’t even give a shit about me. She’s only worried about him.
“Onyx stop! Is she worth losing your career and everything you worked so hard for? If you kill her, you will go to jail for the rest of your life! LET HER GO!” she says.
Finally he releases me. I fall to the floor, gasping for air. I have never been so happy to be able to breathe in my life. Why would Onyx treat me this way? He and I have been so close. How could he try to kill me? Is that bitch Starr that important to him that he would want to end my life?
“You’re right. She ain’t worth it but we need to call to cops so they can come get her ass. I’m sure they have questions they would like to ask her pertaining to her whereabouts the night Starr was hit. I can’t believe I ever loved your ass!” Onyx tells me.
“Why would you try to kill me? I love you so much,” I say, my voice barely above a whisper. I’m rubbing my neck because he really hurt me.
“Fuck you and your damn love! Lucy call the damn cops!”
“What are you doing here? Why are you at my cousin’s house?” I ask Onyx.
In the background, I see Lucy on the phone. I know she’s calling the police and I need to get out of here, but I can’t move. My body feels weak from having been deprived of oxygen for so long. I wanna drag myself to the door, get in my car and go home.
“Don’t fuckin’ worry about what I’m doing here! Why did you run Starr down Mandy? She ain’t never did nothing to you. Why would you do that to her? And then you just drove off without even checking to see if she was okay,” Onyx says.
“I didn’t…” I begin but he interrupts me. He seems so sure about what he’s saying and that’s making me wonder if Lucy told him anything. Did she tell him that Ernest changed my windshield? Did she tell the police where they could find my old windshield too?
I have never hated my cousin, Lucy as much as I hate her right now. At this very moment, I wanna kill her for everything she is putting me through. I squint my eyes at her and mean mug her because I want her to know that I know what she’s doing.
I just can’t believe that she is bringing me down this way.
“Stop lying! It is not a coincidence that a car fitting the description of your car just happened to hit Starr! You did it! Admit that you did it!” Onyx says.
“I didn’t…” I begin again.
“Don’t say another fuckin’ word because I know you are lying. Every word out your fuckin’ mouth is a lie!” Onyx says.
He is looking at me with such disgust in his eyes. I’ve never seen him look at me that way before. It really hurts my feelings that he is treating me this way. I finally get up off the floor and I look at Lucy. She is looking at me and this look in her eyes is one that says she knows for a fact that I did it and if I don’t want her to tell Onyx, I need to stay cool.
I need to get out of here before the police get here. I just can’t believe how things have played out. I did all this shit and I still don’t have my man. What was it all for if he’s still not going to belong to me? Why are you punishing me this way Lord? I’ve had enough pain.
“I have to go,” I say as I make my way over to the front door.
“You ain’t going nowhere unless the police are driving you,” he says, blocking my way.
“Why are you doing this to me Onyx? I’ve done nothing but love you for the last four and a half years. Even when you threw your new relationship with Starr in my face, I still loved you. I held on to that love in hopes that you would come back to me. You gave her your graduation ring, your letterman’s jacket and you have been giving her your time, yet I still love you. I would never do anything to hurt you,” I say with tears in my eyes.
“You did hurt me! When you ran Starr over in that parking lot, you hurt me! I will never be with you, EVER! I don’t give a shit if you are the last bitch on this fuckin’ planet, I would never go back to you! I HATE YOU!” he says.
“Don
’t say that,” I say as I shake my head from side to side. He just said he hates me. He can’t mean that when I have so much love for him.
“I HATE YOU!” he tells me again.
“I love you so much,” I cry.
There’s a knock at the door and Lucy smiles as she goes to open it.
“Did someone call for the police?”
Lucy steps to the side to allow the police entrance into my auntie’s house.
“Officer, my girlfriend was hit the other night by a tan Honda and I think my ex-girlfriend, Mandy is responsible. That’s her car outside and it matches the description of the car that hit her. Earlier today, a friend of mine called and said they saw her at the Circle K with a smashed windshield,” Onyx says.
“Are you Mandy Brooks?” the officer asks me.
I just nod my head.
“I need you to come down to the station with us for questioning,” he says.
“What for?” I ask, getting nervous.
I don’t know how long I thought I could evade the police, but I certainly didn’t think that they would have picked me up at my cousin’s house. Lucy did not have to call them. She didn’t have to let things go down this way. She could have helped me get away from Onyx, but once again, she turned her back on me and took a stranger’s side over mine.
“We need to ask you some questions concerning what this young man has just told us,” the other officer says.
“But I didn’t do anything,” I say.
“Are you going to come with us willingly or do you need me to put these handcuffs on you?” he asks as he pulls his handcuffs from the leather pouch.
“I’ll come but can I call my mom so she can get me a lawyer?” I ask.
“Yea, sure. You can make that call from the backseat of the squad car. We are also going to get your car towed to the impound yard so we can look it over,” he says.
“Um, do you have a warrant for that?” I ask him.
They think I’m stupid. I ain’t stupid though. For them to move my car, they need a warrant. If they don’t have a warrant, they cannot touch my car.
“No, we don’t have a warrant but we don’t need one if you give us permission.”