Simple, Unexpected Crush ~Book 1 of Life Matters~

Chapter 36~Cups and Bowls

I woke up to Erix pouring a cup of water at six in the morning. He was dressed in yesterday's clothes and he had a new mark on his face as if someone punched him. Everyone else was still in the room sleeping except for Kaya who most likely left after I went back to bed. Erix looked at me with a confident smile and he patted my head as he pulled a chair at one end of the bed.

I had this weird awkward feel inside of me. I decided to call in a nurse to give me food. Maybe that would make it go away. Hospital food is not the best food but I made sure I got pancakes. I don't like their eggs. It's so...nasty.

Erix came to my side and stared at me who knows how long. Little by little everyone began to wake up and went downstairs to the cafeteria. I made Angie bring me back some Starbucks so I can have that energy I needed to be up. I'm not a Starbucks fan but a Venti Frappuchino would do.

"Lucky is fine." Erix said when there was no one in the room. "The bullet was stopped by his bone and it would take a couple weeks for recovery. He can go home today."

"Thank God." I said. I was so happy that Lucky was alright. That's one Lucky dog...haha..pun..

"Are you alright?" Erix asked. I turned my attention back to Erix.

"Couldn't be better. I'm alright Erix." I managed to smile. "As long as he's locked up, I'll be alright."

"Ebony?" I heard my uncle Edgar's voice. I turned around and saw him there in full uniform with my Aunt Gomez at his side. I couldn't stop the tears rolling down my face. How dare my aunt and uncle manage to get here and my parents haven't visited me at least for twenty seconds? 

"Dear Lord!" My aunt Gomez rushed to hug me and kissed my forehead about twenty times.

"As long as you're alright." My uncle Edgar sat down next to Erix. "I could of sworn he had a sensor brace." 

"It's okay." I wiped the tears from my cheeks. "I still can't believe you're here."

"Obviously I am little girl." He ruffled my hair. "I ain't going nowhere."

"But aren't ya going to live down in Brazil?" I asked.

"No. I resigned. I can't live far from my family, look what happened and I couldn't do anything from where I was. Plus, I won't have your aunt at my side to tell me to watch over my food." I laughed.

"It's good you'll be here. But what will you do?"

"Gonna train some soldier down in San Diego each weekend." He nodded. "Away from the gunshots will do me good."

"Dad?" Josh said. 

"Hello Joe." My uncle waved. Josh handed me my Starbucks before he hugged his father. 

I got out of the hospital a couple of hours later. The test results were negative so I'll be alright. I just got pain killers from the doctors and I went straight home. I was able to go up to my room and lay there just remembered what happened a day ago. I still had to get changed because my dear family still wanted to come over for that party which I wasn't planning on attending. Xavier went home after I got released and I haven't seen him since then until the new semester started.

Donna and my other cousins wouldn't look at me. My crazy Aunt Helen Chavez was kicked out of my aunt's house simply because she kept threaten me. I was happy about that. That woman needs to get on medication. 

"You good for nothing! You deserve to be in the slammer! Girls like you don't deserve to live!" Talk about a Christian who wants someone dead. I'm not as religious. I do believe that everything's connected and if there is a God, I just hoped that he knew what he was doing because right now, my life is going down a shit hole. 

The court hearing wasn't long. Roger was sentence to fifty years in prison with no patrol. It turned out he escaped from jail and now he will have maximum security due to my Uncle Roger's connections. I was thankful for that. My aunt Helen went silent as Roger totally cussed her out. My Aunt Helen had not spoke a word to me in the last eight years until my first born turned one.

My parents acted as if this whole mess affected them severely. I didn't give a damn what they were saying for the rest of my break. I know I don't care about them but I expected them to visit or send something. According to Brandon (He went to the office party since his mom works with my mom too) that they went and they all disappeared along with Xavier's parents. Who knows what they went to do. Xavier's mom sent me flowers each week until my mother told me that my bruises were disappearing. Xavier's father did a favor of getting me a new television so 'I could have something to do' while I was getting better.

They're nice people and all but it was sad how their son was a total jerk. Asshole.

When school started the news spread like crazy. Pam started to cry because she was all the way in Maine visiting family members and she couldn't be there when it all happened. I always ask myself how can a person love another even if you don't love them back? I'm not saying I don't love Pam, I adore her but it's just weird admitting that she's someone important. Almost like Angie...no...she's important to me like Angie.

Kaya went back to being a complete bitch. I even got in a fight with her that we got detention for two whole days. Xavier stopped all the bullying and started to avoid me again. Just when I thought everything was getting better but I guess I was wrong. I'm always wrong. Tyson on the other hand was more attentive towards me. He stopped threaten me including Jim and the others. Sometimes after practice Tyson would be waiting for me with Chinese food on the passenger seat. 

I'm not suppose to trust him but I can't blame the poor boy. After all that's happen, I gave up too quickly. Tyson gave me a ride for the next months. I got used seeing Xavier with Kaya, I got used to people ruining my training time with my girls and I literally kicked out five girls from the team because they were not following my orders and Coach Benny agreed. Now they were begging to be back in the team. I made them go on toilet washer duty and I meant it. They had to clean all the restrooms of the school including the boys. Oh how they regretted it.

I guess things were getting back to normal. It was hard moving on. Each night I opened the drawer and stared at it. I accidentally cut my finger while touching it that I dropped it back to the drawer and rushed down to my parent's bar room. I took two shots of tequila before I went to bed. It wasn't everyday but it was on occasions when I just felt miserable. I felt that I have been breathing fire and all of my body kept burning up as each day went by. Tequila relaxed me like water but I knew it was bad but I did it anyways. Erix caught me once and he didn't say anything until I was out of it completely. He then knew how it was looking after a drunk bastard. How I felt when he came home all drunk and I had to clean up the mess.

Just when I thought everything was getting any worse. One Saturday morning, I heard the doorbell ring. I got out of my covers with a major headache. I slipped on my sandals and knocked on Erix's door. He wasn't home. I dragged myself down the stairs grabbing a coat from the coat hanger and opened the door. My jaw dropped. I couldn't believe it. The cold air kissed my face like a romantic poet and my eyes burned like hell.

"Norma?" My voice made a hasty noise.

"Ebony...Can I come in?" She asked. Norma had grown out her hair that it was wavy all the way down her back. Her eyes were somewhat red and she was dressed in normal clothing, jeans and her blue Doger shirt

"What happened? I...Norma?" I asked. Norma broke down into tears and I had to pull her in and sat her on the couch. When she managed to find her voice again she looked at me full of sorrow and regret. I shook my head and grabbed the box of tissues. She grabbed my arm and stared at me. 

"Have you started again?" She asked.

"Only twice." I said. "What happened? Why aren't you at England? Why are you here?"

"I saw Erix..." She began to cry again. "Erix..." What the hell? I have never seen Norma like this before. She broke down completely and I had no idea what to do but just to watch her. "I saw Erix. I thought I could surprise him but I surprised myself."

"What happened?" I asked again.

"Erix...is with someone else." Well shit. Nice move bro...how are we related?