Stokeley was nervous. He sat at the coffee shop waiting for his boyfriend to return with their drinks. With everything going on back home, his grandmother thought it was best if he stayed in Augusta for a bit longer. That only resulted in Darold staying longer too. Stokeley had hoped he was going to leave after a few days but it's been a week now and he's still here. He loves the company but this new found information about his lover is starting to make things a bit hard.
He needed to know the truth. Things aren't adding up and it's just so weird how Omar suddenly died right after Stokeley told Darold what happened. Could it be that he really killed him? Stokeley's thoughts were interrupted when Darold sat down with two cups of coffee in his hands. He smiled at his boyfriend and took the coffee from him. "How are you feeling?" Darold asked and Stokeley tugged at his sleeves. "I'm ok I guess. My arms still sting from the you know...but everything else is fine." He mumbled and Darold nodded his head. "If you ever feel like that again call me. I'll always be here for you." He said and Stokeley smiled as he took a sip of his coffee. The hot liquid slid down his throat and felt himself wake up a bit.
He set the cup down and looked up at Darold who was busy doing something on his phone. Stokeley knew he had to ask the question now or later. And now seemed like the best time to do so. "Ferg." Stokeley said and Darold looked up at him; confused that Stokeley even used his nick name. "Yeah?" He responded and Stokeley took a deep breath. "I'm gonna ask you a very serious question. And I want you to answer truthfully, no bullshit or lying to me. Okay?" Stokeley started and Darold has a serious look on his face. It some how made Stokeley feel even more nervous just to ask the damn question.
Darold didn't say anything and Stokeley took that as a sign to keep talking. "Okay. Did you....kill Omar." He said quietly and slowly and looked at the older boy waiting for a response. Darold looked at him; it was almost as if he was debating with himself to tell the truth or not. There was no way he can lie to him, it would eat him alive knowing he lied to Stokeley. Darold let out a deep sigh and Stokeley already knew. "You don't want me to answer that." Was all he said and Stokeley felt his heart drop into his stomach. He couldn't process the fact that Darold had pretty much just admitted to killing Omar so nonchalantly.
"Why?" Was all Stokeley could say back and Darold looked down at his hands. "You." Was all he said back and Stokeley felt even more guilty. He was wondering had he not said he attempted suicide if Omar would still be alive. (He'd still be alive right now if you niggas ain't gas him up) "Fuck Darold, what are you going to do?" Stokeley asked and Darold shrugged. "If it really comes down to it I'm gonna have to go off the grid. This was a shotty job and I cant risk your safety because of my mistakes." Darold said and Stokeley frowned. Yes Darold killed Omar, but he did it for him. And if that isn't what real love is then love is bullshit. He placed his hand on Darold's and gave him a determined look.
"If you go off the map, then I'm going too." He said and Darold sighed. "No you're not. You're staying your ass right here. Heading back to school when you can and graduating. You're gonna make something of your life and be great you hear me?" Darold commanded and Stokeley wasn't having it. "So I'm just going to let you run away after all the shit you've done for me? You can't just do that you know! You can't just waltz into my life make me fall in love and then fucking leave." He said getting more and more upset as he spoke. Darold raised an eyebrow at him and a small smile appeared on his face.
"Fall in love?" He questioned as Stokeley realized what he even said. He wasn't the type of person to admit he loved someone first. Shit Jahseh was the first person to say I love you in their relationship. Now here he was confessing his love to a man he only met a few months ago. A lot of shit can happen in such a small period of time as you can see. "Yeah, and what about it? Maybe I love you." Stokeley muttered and Darold looked at him with amusement. "I love you too don't worry." He reassured the younger boy and Stokeley just sighed. "You sure you're not saying this because you're scared I might hurt you?" Darold asked and Stokeley shook his head.
"Granted you did kill Omar and I'm a bit afraid, I know that you could never bring yourself to hurt me." Stokeley said and Darold nodded. "I still don't think you should go with me. I killed one of your friends for Christ's sake." Darold reasoned with him and Stokeley gave him a dumb look. "Nigga you think I give a fuck about Omar? Half of the readers don't give a shit about him. All he did was bully and mess with everyone. He's better off dead." Darold chuckled a bit before grabbing Stokeley's hand and giving it a kiss. "Whatever it is we do just know we're in this together okay?" Stokeley said and Darold nodded.
The two finished their coffees and headed back to Stokeleys grandmas house to hang out. Stokeley felt a bit better when he returned to her house but he was still on edge. What's gonna happen to them?
More importantly, should he tell the others?
