"SHUT THE FUCK UP AND GET IN THE CAR IF YOU WANNA LIVE BITCH!!!"
Breathing hard and heavy, Deidre had few alternatives, the taxi was getting peppered with gun fire and was rolling back, she could see the black Mercedes making its way clear to the alley where they were. She snatched open the door and jumped in.
"LAY THE SEAT BACK AND GET THE FUCK DOWN!!!" Chaka ordered, slamming her trans into reverse as she got on the radio.
"I GOT HER... I'M IN ALLEY 11 - GET THE FUCK HERE NOW!!!" She screamed into the radio, tearing up the rear end of her ride trying to back out of the alley.
"WHO THE FUCK ARE YOU?!! WHAT THE HELL YOU DOING HERE?!?!" Chaka screamed.
"I'M DEIDRE WHERRINGTON - SOMEBODY'S TRYING TO KILL MEEEEEE!"
"NO SHIT!!! BUT NOT UP IN THIS MOTHA'FUCKA THEY AIN'T - HELL GODDAMN NAAAW!!!"
Maxwell popped in his CD flipping to 'The Crystal Method - Busy Child' and blasted it. If he was about to die, he didn't wanna hear anything but the music until oblivion. He was gonna ride it out on adrenaline! The music hyped him and made him floor the Merc' and the power trans engaged and it flew. He wasn't far from Chaka... pissed because she'd followed them.
"YA'LL HEAR THAT?!!! GET TO CHAKA ON 11 - NOW!"
Jeremiah walked into the ceremony again, looking for Terra. He spotted her, made eye contact and shook his head. Then walked back out and tried to phone Deidre again, then looked up as a helicopter flew pass over head with its search beams on. Feeling uneasy, he turned back into the large coliseum walking to Terra's table. "Something's wrong. I'm going to her place now."
Terra looked up at him, then at her family. She turned to her mother, "I gotta go... if I'm called.... accept it for me."
"What's going on Miha?"
"I don't know mom... Deidre was suppose to be here... she's not... something's wrong. I'm gonna leave with him. I'll call you later to let you know what's going on." She stood and grabbed her purse and shawl. "Can I ride with you?"
"Let's go."
"CODE 2 CODE 2 CODE 2!!! NEED BACK UP NOOOW!!! GANG WAR!! REPEAT - GANG WAR!!! WE'RE IN A WAR ZONE!!!"
"I'M HIT ... I'M HIT BAD!! SOMEBODY GET HERE QUICK!!!" Chaka cried just as she saw another Mercedes speed from the alley right in front of her car, which was limping along, tires blown out. Five other vehicles merged onto the scene. All she could hear was music, gun fire and screaming. Suddenly her car door was snatched open and she was pulled out. Deidre pulled from the other side. Everything happened in a blur as they were shoved into the other car.
Max had them. His boys were surrounding them, shooting like crazy at the five other vehicles.
"HOLD ON GODDAMNIT!!! HOLD ON!!! YEAH MOTHA'FUCKA'S - YEEEEEAH... MY SHIT BULLET PROOF - TOO!!! DIDN'T KNOW THAT SHIT DID YAH!???" He raged with tears in his eyes, his ears ringing, heart racing, temples throbbing, he swore he rode with the grim reaper riding shot gun. Racing hell bent for the hospital, helicopter overhead, police screeching to a halt as they were speeding towards him while a Mercedes at each side of him fired upon him determined to kill all inside.
"HANG ON SHORTY - HANG ON!!!" He yelled as the police tried to catch up and open fire on the two Mercedes' on his tail.
They were all that was left of the five cars, his boys had blown up the two Chevies, and wrecked the Ford T-bird. Whoever could fade into the alleys to get away did. Those with wrecked vehicles, threw the doors open and laid down on the ground, hands over the back of their heads. Leaving Max to lose the two Mercedes. They had him hemmed in from both sides, emptying clips on them. He couldn't stop, if he did they would kill him, and if not them, the police would.
"BIG MAC MAN!!! I NEED YOU - I NEED YOU NOW!!! I CAN'T SHAKE'EM... THEY BURNIN' MY SHIT UP!!! "
"COME TO ME MAN!!! BRING'EM TO SLAUSON!!! STAY ON CRENSHAW AND BRING'EM TO SLAUSON - I'M ON MY WAY MAX - I'M ON MY WAY!!"
"HURRY MAN HURRY - I GOTTA GET TO SINAI - JUST HELP ME GET TO SINAI!!"
Max yelled, listening to the women moan, Chaka was writhing in pain trying to be brave, looking into the back seat at the white woman half on the seat, half on the floor. She shook her leg. "WAKE UP!!! DON'T YOU DIE BITCH!!! DON'T YOU DIE!!! WAKE UP!!! They ain't pinning this shit on us!"
Deidre could only lay and blink, she was bleeding, bleeding bad. Suddenly she realized she hadn't spoken to her daughter all week. She decided she would call her in the morning, just to make sure... she was alright... just to make sure.
Max's Mercedes began to shake and knock, smoke was bellowing from the front end.
"We not gonna make it... we not gonna make it." Chaka whimpered growing short of breath, she was growing light headed, losing blood.
"BIG MAC!!! BIG MAC!!! I SEE SLAUSON!!" Max called barrelling towards the intersection of Slauson and Crenshaw.
"MAX - BREAK - NOOOOOW - RIGHT - NOOOOW!"
Max slammed on the breaks, his Mercedes careering to the left, tires screeching to a halt as the two other Mercedes' beside him flew onward, not expecting him to break. They crossed into the Slauson intersection just in time to collide with a massive Mack truck, girded with an iron front grill guard that smashed into them, sending one into the air to land on top of the other one. Both vehicles were stopped cold as Max, hit his gas again and turned down Slauson heading for interstate 10 - pell-mell to merge with traffic, praying his Mercedes made it there. A line of police cars on his tail, sirens wailing, lights whirling and flashing with a helicopter keeping up with him overhead.
Big Mac threw open his truck door, hopped down and laid on the ground, hands on the back of his head, waiting for the officers that were leaping out of their cruisers to approach him, guns drawn and yelling. Offering no resistance he prayed none of them were trigger happy.
Cedars-Sinai emergency team were rushing to set up in preparation. They'd heard all the panicked commotion over the scanner, and were standing by after hearing about a gang war and a hail of shots fired at Crenshaw.
"Alright everyone! Its rock and roll time! We don't know who's coming through these doors or how many! Get ready and lets expect the worse!"
No sooner had the words been yelled, when the big doors sprang open with a black male struggling in with one woman over his shoulder and another barely able to stand held at his right side.
"I NEED HEEELP! WE BEEN SHOT - WE NEED HELP NOOOW!"
The Reception...
As the evening was being brought to a close, Shawn and Sylvia found themselves standing at the door as many of his family began picking up to leave. The hour was growing late, they'd had a good time and now sought to wish the couple best of wishes for their future. With not many left, Shawn's parents decided to leave, feeling that everything would be okay since Jake seemed to be engaged in conversation with Sylvia's friend, Vivian. Believing that all was fine, they loaded up all the gifts and decided to drive them out to Sylvia's for them so they wouldn't have to, knowing that soon everything would be closing up. The only persons left, were Shanna, Kathy Ann, Jake, Derrick, Meribel, Mundo and some of his friends who'd shown up, Shawn's friends and Sylvia's friends, who were getting ready to leave soon.
A bit hot, Shawn had taken his jacket off and draped it over his wife's shoulders because she was chilly from all of the doors they'd opened around the hall to cool the place off after all the dancing. Shawn was still warm and stepped outside with his friends. Because Mundo's friends had shown up in the last hour, they were trying to talk him into doing another set that night somewhere else as he stood playing background music for Shanna and Kathy Ann while they cleaned up, packing away food.
Sylvia finally found time to sit at the table with her girlfriends. Everyone wanted to hear from Vivian how things went with Jake.
"It's not a big deal... we really didn't talk that much. We walked over to the bar, he ordered himself another drink, asked me if I wanted one, I had a Sprite. He grinned at me eyeing me up and down in this dress, and we laughed a bit about the coincidence of meeting at Kwik Trip and then both of us being here."
"That's al
l?!"
"Well no... he teased me about my effect on the men at that store, saying my body is a deadly weapon, I need to learn to leave it at home before I hurt somebody with it." She grinned.
"That's all?!" Edwina asked again.
"Well I'm not gonna give you word for word."
"Well did you get his number? Did he ask you for yours?"
"No... I didn't give mine, and he didn't ask for it. As you know, I don't ask... not about to."
"So - is it dead then?" Ellen asked.
"I just met the man today. He was nice, polite, funny... flirted a bit, but... I don't know. I get a feeling he was doing it for the sake of his parents, his mom. I don't think he's interested."
Sylvia felt her heart drop... she was so hoping that Jake would like Vivian... that they would hit it off. "So you don't like him?" She asked Vivian.
"I'm not gonna force myself on him. Besides... he got something else on his mind." Vivian stated, looking directly at Sylvia.
"What do you mean?" She asked breathing deep.
"Hey... Mundo?" Jake called below the stage where he'd come in from outside using the side entrance.
"Aye... what's up?" Mundo asked smiling.
"Do me a favor... I need you to play a song."
"Sure... I was just about to wrap it up too, I can do one more request - what you wanna hear?"
"Got anything by Prince?" He asked.
"Man - of course... you know it! Which one?"
"I mean... he was distracted... his eyes kept wondering off... looking for you." Vivian said directly.
"Huh?" Sylvia gulped playing dumb.
"What? What is you saying?" Sheila asked, looking from Vivian to Sylvia.
"I'm saying... lil'brother Jake... got it big time for Miss Sylvia."
"No he doesn't Vivian." Sylvia denied.
"Girl I know you ain't brought yo'butt up here to stand between two brothers?! 'Cause you don't need that kind of goddamn drama!" Sheila stated, neither of them aware of the sudden music change. Or the fact that it had been turned up a bit, not quite as loud as before, but loud enough.
Baby, baby, baaa-by
What's it gonna be
Baby, baby, baaa-by
Is it him or is it me?
Don't make me waste my time
Don't make me lose my mind baby
"Look... it's not that! Jake is no more interested in me, than the man in the moon! He is just trippin'!" Sylvia defended.
"I'm sorry Sylvia, but every time your voice could be heard, or when you laughed at something, he was looking for you. Trippin' or not... you got a situation on your hands." Vivian warned.
"Lord girl! I can't believe it! Who the heck playing that song? For a wedding? Ya'll choose that?" Edwina asked.
"What's wrong with it, I love that song. That's a jam! I wouldn't play it at a wedding, but it's straight." Ellen added.
Baby, baby, baby
Can't you stay with me tonight
Oh baby, baby, baby
Don't my kisses please you right
You were so hard to find
The beautiful ones, they hurt you every time
Sylvia stared at them listening and suddenly realized what was playing. She sat up and pulled Shawn's jacket around her looking around the room. Shanna and Kathy Ann were laughing and cleaning up. Other than them, no one else was in the hall. She looked up to where the music was playing from. Mundo was gone, leaving it to play.
Paint a perfect picture
Bring to life a vision in one's mind
The beautiful ones
Always smash the picture
Always every time
"Ah! Cool song! That's the coolest album Prince ever made man... I never cared for his other stuff! But that one... nice." Paul stated as they were all outside sipping their beer, Shawn smiled and then the song and the lyrics penetrated his senses. He didn't remember that being a part of the line up. He turned in the doorway wondering who asked for that to be played? It would have to be a request, because song for song had been arranged, even the dance mixes. Shawn finished off his beer and turned, feeling a bit unsteady on his feet, knowing he'd exceeded his limit and headed back inside, suddenly feeling a need to touch his wife, see his wife.
If I told you baby
That I was in love with you
Oh baby, baby, baby
If we got married
Would that be cool?
She couldn't shake the unease.
"Sylvia's what's wrong?" Sheila asked.
"I'm gonna turn that off." Sylvia shot up from her seat heading towards the stage, stepping up to look for a way to switch it off when suddenly Jake stepped into the door from the side entrance. "Don't turn it off, let it play!" He called to her. Sylvia's eyes grew huge. He stepped up on stage walking towards her. "Let it play... let it play."
"Jake... don't do this... no - please..." She ignored him and desperately messed with all the knobs and buttons trying to turn it off. Laughing, Jake grabbed at her hands, "Leave it! Leave it! It's just a song! That's all... just a song!"
"No! Stop it Jake!" She was almost in tears, not realizing the song played from her son's laptop instead of the console, so no matter what she did, it played on.
You make me so confused
The beautiful ones
You always seem to lo-o-o-o-ose
Baby, baby, Baby, What's it gonna be baby?
"You know... all I needed was a little more time... just a little more..."
"Please please please don't do this!" Sylvia pleaded with him, her heart hammering.
Do you want him?
Or do you want me?
Cause I want you
Shawn walked through the bar area into the main hall and immediately saw Sylvia up on the stage by the console, Jake there with her grabbing at her hands. Derrick and Paul were not far behind him. "Ah shit! Ah shit! Ah hell no!" Derrick blasted speeding up to catch up with Shawn. "Shawn..." He grabbed his brothers arm, Shawn snatched it away and kept moving forward.
Said I want you
Tell me, babe
Do you want me?
Sylvia snatched her arm from Jake who was trying to pull her from the player, she went to shove him away from her when she looked up and saw Shawn staring at them as he suddenly slowed his approach.
I gotta know, I gotta know
Do you want me?
Baby, baby, baby - Listen to me
I may not know where I'm going (babe)
Jake looked over at him too and let her go. Shawn's eyes went from him, to Sylvia... her hand was at her stomach, breathing hard.
"TURN THAT FUCKING MUSIC OFF!!" He suddenly shouted over the blaring hit.
"I CAN'T - I'M TRYING!" She screamed back, on the verge of tears.
"WHAT THE HELL ARE YOU DOING UP THERE WITH MY WIFE!! PUTTING YOUR FUCKING HANDS ON HER!!?"
Jake smiled, "Not the first time!" He smiled and turned to Sylvia, "Is it darlin'?"
"AI-I-IH!!!" She screamed and attacked him, aiming for his face, Jake had to move back and block her blows.
"YOU SONOFABITCH!!!" Shawn roared and charged up the last step going for him. Jake shoved Sylvia out of the way as his brother jumped him.
They were so loud that Mundo and his friends heard them from outside on the other side of the hall, were they snuck out to smoke a little illegal tobacco. Mundo passed the joint back and started making his way back to the door of the hall. Kathy Ann and Shanna were outside loading up her Jeep. Meribel in the kitchen wiping up some of the dishes she brought to add to the banquet. When they all heard screaming and shouting.
I said I may not know what I need
One thing, one thing's for certain baby
I know what I want, yeah
and if it please you baby please you, baby
I'm begging down on my knees
"DERRICK STOP'EM STOP'EM STOP'EM - HURREEE!!!" Sylvia screamed.
Sheila and friends rushed to the stage yelling at her, "SYLVIA GET YOUR ASS DOWN HERE
OUT OF THE WAY - NOW!!!"
"SYLVIA MOVE BEFORE YOU GET HURT!!!" Ellen yelled. Paul was up on the stage and grabbed her swinging her to the edge and off out of the way as the brothers struggled on the floor, Shawn on top trying to punch Jake, but Derrick was grabbing him back, so he couldn't land a punch.
I want you
Yes I do
Baby, baby, baby, baby
I want you
Yes I do
Having not a clue of what was going on or why, Mundo and his friends ran up on the stage, all trying to pull the scuffling men apart as Sylvia stood down stage screaming and crying.
"DERRICK!!! LET ME GO! I SAID FUCKING LET ME GO!!!" Shawn shouted, his nose bleeding from Jake getting a punch in when they'd snatched Shawn back. "I'VE HAD IT WITH YOU - YOU FUCKING BASTARD - I'VE HAD IT WITH YOU!!!" Shawn shouted at Jake as he struggled to free himself from Derrick and Paul. Jake jumped up from the floor wiping the blood from his mouth, his shirt was ripped. "FUCKING LET HIM GO! I'M NOT A LITTLE BOY ANYMORE SHAWN!! YOU WANNA FUCKING FIGHT ME??? HM?... BRING IT ON!! I'M NOT FUCKING SCARED OF YOU!!!"
"JAAAKE - JAAAKE - JAAAKE - COME DOWN HERE NOW!!! STOP IT JAKE!!!" Kathy Ann screamed from below.
"SHAWN PLEASE!!! DON'T!! NO MORE PLEASE!!!" Sylvia wailed.
He turned and looked down at her, his eyes were blazing with heat.
"Let me go! Now!" Shawn bit out, now that he could be heard with the song finally ended. He snatched his arms from them and jumped off the stage and rushed up to Sylvia and grabbed her arm. "Shawn!" She cried out, his sudden rush to her scaring her.
"Shawn! HEY MAN!!! Let go of my mama man! Man... let go of my mother!" Mundo bit out shaking.
"STAY OUT OF IT! THIS IS BETWEEN YOUR MOTHER AND I!!!"
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