Chapter 25: All Yo Fault !

                                    

                                          
"Who would've known, that you had to go but so  suddenly, so fast"
                          
A few days after we got the news about James passing, we went to visit Tommy. I haven't slept good and I haven't been eating like I use to. James being gone has really gotten to me. I just can't believe it. "I know you don't wanna see him Jada, but just make conversation with him.", my Dad tells me. "He's not dead. He's fine. That's all that matters. I don't have nothing to say to him.", I say.
                          
Deep down I had a lot to say to Tommy. We walk into the hospital. We go to the 3rd floor where Tommy is and where James use to be. We go to room 302. "Jada don't be rude.", my mom tells me. "Yea whatever.", I say. We walk inside to see Tommy watching tv. I sat in a chair from across the room. Elom, Dante, and my mom hugged Tommy and asked him if he was ok.
                          
At this point I could care less. "How did all this happen ?", Elom asked him. "Man me and the gang was just chilling bruh. Ole dudes ran up on us and started shooting.", he said. "You know the dudes that was shooting at y'all ?", my mom asked him. "Just one. Martin.", he said. My eyes widened. I walk over to Tommy. "You said Martin ? Did he shoot James ?", I asked. "Yea, shot him three times."
                          
I swear I could've burst into tears but I was more angry than sad. I notice a curtain covering up half of the room. I move it to see a bloody hospital bed. Just last week James was laying there. The tears came. I saw his clothes bawled up and thrown to the side. I saw his gold chain he use to always wear. "They could've saved him.", I say. "Aye, why you talking to me Jada ?", Tommy asked.
                          
I put James bloody clothes down on the bed. I had his blood on my hands. I turned around and smacked Tommy in the face, leaving a bloody hand print on his cheek. "That's why I'm not talking to you ! You being a dumbass, letting him join yo wack ass gang ! You got him killed !", I yell. "It's not my fault Jada ! He wanted to join so I let him !", he yelled back. "You could've talked him out of it or just told him no ! It is your fault ! All of it is your fucking fault ! Because of you, James is dead !"
                          
"Calm down Jada.", my Dad says. "No ! Ain't no calm down ! I'm tired of being calm !", I yell. "I'm sorry man. I really am. I told him this shit was dangerous bu–", I cut him off. "No. No don't say you told him shit ! You could've stopped him. I don't wanna hear that bullshit !", I say. "Well why you ain't stop him !?", Tommy yelled at me. "How could I ? I didn't fucking know he was having thoughts about being in a gang !", I yell. 
                          
"You can leave ! Ion got time for this shit !", he said. "Oh I'm leaving, don't gotta worry about it.", I say backing up towards the door. "Jada Wait you can't just leave.", Elom says. "Nah ! He know this is all his fault. He knew how we felt about this gang shit. How you choose a gang over yo own family ?", I say. "Ion need y'all man.", he said looking away. My momma gasped. "At least we know how you really feel.", she said.
                          
We all started to walk towards the door. "Come on now. I ain't mean it like that.", Tommy said. "Well what did you mean Tommy ?", I asked him crossing my arms. He hesitated. He couldn't get his words out. "Like I said. All yo fault.", I repeat. "Let's go home y'all.", my Dad said. We all walked out the door, leaving Tommy to cope with the words he had just said to us. 
                          
—
                          
It's been two week since James and Tommy were shot. We would have James funeral next week. Tommy was out of the hospital and back home. Mom thought about kicking him out but Dante said no because at the end of the day, he's still family. I could care less. I didn't want to be around him. Elom practically lives with us now too, only because I don't want to be alone and I don't want to leave the house. 
                          
Elom has been taking James death pretty hard. James was his best friend. Jacob was too but him and James were closer. I had just fixed us some eggs since we were both mourning and hungry. I go upstairs and go into my room. I hear a click, and it sounds like it came from a gun. I look up and I see Elom holding Tommy's glock. I put the eggs down quickly. "What are you doing ?", I ask him. 
                          
He grabs his jacket and puts it on. "About to go handle some business with Martin.", he says walking towards the door. I grab his arm. "No Elom it's not worth it.", I say trying to stop him. He snatches his arm away from me and walks downstairs and out the door. I curse under my breath and put on my Gucci slides. I grab a jacket and go to my parents room. They were all boo'd up watching tv.
                          
"Daddy, get the keys. We gotta find Elom.", I say in a panic. "Why ? What's going on ?", he asked. "Elom got Tommy glock. He said he finna handle some business with Martin. We gotta stop him !", I yell. "Shit !", my Dad said. I run and get the car keys from downstairs. "Aye why everybody running around ?", Tommy asked as he walked down the stairs. "Elom got yo glock, he finna shoot Martin.", I say pushing him out the way. 
                          
I throw the keys to my dad and we all head out the door. "I'm coming with y'all.", Tommy says. "Nah man you've done enough damage.", I say rolling my eyes at him. We all get in the car and start driving around. "Go to the corner store by the park. Martin might be there.", I tell my dad. He drives there and I was correct and just in time before Elom pulled the gun out. We park the car not too close to the store.
                          
We get out and run towards Elom. "What you want lil nigga ?", I heard Martin ask him. "I'm here to settle this shit.", Elom says. "Heard about yo lil friend.", Martin said earning a few chuckles from his buddies. Elom quickly pulled the gun out. It's loaded and ready for the trigger to be pulled. "Yea nigga ! Wassup wit it now ? Talk some shit !", Elom yelled. "Elom Stop !", I yell.
                          
He turned to look at us. "This ain't got nothing to do with y'all. I got this !", Elom yelled. "Aye man, come on. I ain't mean to kill him !", Martin yelled. Elom hit him in the face with the gun making him fall to the floor. His buddies had ran off. "You think you the shit just because you run a fucking gang ! You fucking shot my best friend !", Elom yelled. "I ain't mean to man I swear.", Martin said crying. "Don't fucking lie !", Elom yelled getting closer to Martins head.
                          
I walk up to Elom and place my hand on his. "Elom....baby give me the gun.", I say calmly. "No ! He fucking killed James !", he said through gritted teeth. "I know but, killing him won't bring him back. It'll be a waste of time.", I tell him. Tears fell from Elom's face. "He fucking killed my best friend.", he said. I slowly place my hand on the gun. "Baby.....he ain't worth it. Give me the gun.", I say softly as I cry and try to help. Elom slowly hands me the gun.
                          
I hug him tightly and he squeezes me back. "What we gon do without him man ?", he says. "We gotta move forward. He would want us too.", I tell him kissing his cheek. My mom had called the police. I had the gun in my hand. We continued to walk back to the car but was stopped when Martin said something. "Yea, listen to yo bitch !", he yelled. My dad turned around but my mom stopped him. "Watch yo daughter do her thang.", I heard my mom whisper to him.
                          
I turned around quickly and shot the gun slightly missing his head on purpose. He screams like a girl and rolled around on the floor. "But I'm the bitch ?", I say with a smirk. Martin gets up and starts running. We all walk back to the car. Elom was still upset. I cradled him in my arms on the ride home. We just lost James. I didn't want to lose him too.