Tore

thirteen | put it on the floor

Leigh

Where's Kaine?

It's going on four in the morning and I'm not feeling the vibes I'm getting.

In addition to my worrying, I didn't like being in a big space alone—at night.

I stopped by to get a few more things but something was off.

I called and called , "Kaine, answer the phone..please.."

He better answer the fucking phone.

What if he's with a bitch?

Not that I care..

But I don't go out enough to even get some—by 11:30, I am in my bed chilling—being a child of God.

Unlike Kaine, I respect the house and he'll bring his—stank skanks in my kitchen and shit.

Technically, it's his kitchen but everybody knows he's not cooking.

The constant ringing was making my heart beat even faster, until he finally answered,

"Hello..."

"How you?"

"Kaine, where are you?"

I could hear loud music, different voices growing louder, and the louder the voices the worst the connection got.

"I don't know if I'm gonna be home..but--but if I don't make it.."

"Kaine, what's going on? Where are you?"

"Business.."

He was lying—his voice is very deep and it went an octave up.

"What the hell Kaine! I'm on my way."

I got out of my big t-shirt and slipped into the first pair of jeans I see.

"No. " He voice quivered, ever so slightly.

"No."

I stopped, what the hell does he mean no?

"Why? I know you can't drive home. I'll get a car. You're drunk."

"It's not safe."

He's probably talking about roadblocks.

"I don't care—you gotta go home..big meeting tomorrow, hello.."

"I'll call you back. If you hear anyone knocking on the the door—or on the Ring—I don't care if it's Jesus—don't answer."

He sounded soberly serious and it frightened me.

What if something happens to him?

What if--I predicted his death so many times it's going to actually happen.

Lord, I was just saying those things out of anger.

I don't really want him to end up dead.

But what if it's not that serious?

What if it's just another one of his pranks?

"What's going on?"

"It's a lot to explain. I'll call you when I get in the car.
I'll be there in a minute—"

"No, just put the cornbread in the oven and wait until I get back."

What fuckin cornbread? He wants cornbread? Kaine doesn't eat cornbread.,

"Oh my God, do I need to call the cops?"

I can't take these riddles.

Just wait and wait for something to happen.

Wait until I get back.

"Wha--? Oh, oh. Okay, but what if that's not until—I don't know."

"Don't worry, it won't burn."

Don't worry, be patient.

"If you're not here by—six, I'm calling somebody or I'm going to hop in one of your cars and hunt your ass down. Kaine, I'm not playing—do you hear me laughing?"

He chuckled, "Watching tv?"

They're watching me.

Eyes were on him.

"Okay, but you have an hour."

"Okay, bye."
--
Kaine

"Your girlfriend?"

Nico asked sarcastically,

"Nah."  I raised my eyebrow.

"Seems like it Mack—look at that.  The Bachelor. All grownup."

His crew chuckled, "Ain't shit funny."

"Back to business. I'm gonna be watching y'all—you better have my money--or give me the fucking chip."

He was interrupted by Eazy, "How many fuckin' times do we have to say it? We don't have your money! We--ahh!"

One of Nico's goons shot Eazy in the leg,

"Yo, what the fuck?" 

I got up but got pushed back down with a gun to my neck,

"Might not want to do that. "

Eazy was screeching from the burning of the gunpowder.

"Shut the fuck up. I want the money by November you have one month—or that's,"

He pointed to Eazy's leg,

"Gonna end up being a bullet to the brain instead for each and every one of you mothafuckas. Same amount of money—drive or no drive. 2 mil each head."

Everybody looked around and didn't say nothin'—I decided to make the decision.

"Aight, man." We shook heads and I made sure the burners were  removed from our temples before moving.

"Mack!" They yelled in protest,

"We got the money—lets just get E, to the hospital."
--
I have Eazy's blood all over me and it's 4:45!

Leigh's going to ask questions about this and that—I might have to sneak inside my own house.

I pulled into the driveway and all the lights were on,

"Leigh.." I sighed,

Hopefully, she's upstairs. 

I know that she didn't like being here by herself but I was so use to living  by myself that I didn't think twice about leaving her but I'm glad that she came back.

Once I stepped foot into the house, Leigh was there waiting for me.

Her back was turned and I didn't think that she could hear me.

"Kaine, I know your big foot ass is not trying to sneak into your own home and try to get past me."

Spoke too soon.

She turned around, with her arms crossed, her hips swayed as she walked towards me—her eyes grew wide.

"Kaine! Why is there blood on you?"

"Uh-umm, Eazy got--um hit with a um–bottle and I was cleaning the wound."

"Ezekiel? He was actually the nicest out of all of you back in high school. What'd he do?"

Only because he had a huge crush on her,

"The whole thing was out of control. I really wanna get out of these clothes and we're not going to the office tomorrow—we can work from here."

"That's fine."
--