Nookie (Nookie Series) Page 6

  “Josh, let go,” she screamed, panicking.

  “Give me the gun, bitch. I’ll show you how to use it,” he said, pulling her arm.

  There was a loud boom and a flash of light. Joy let go of the gun. Her arm hurt from her hand to her elbow, and her ears were ringing. At first she thought she had been shot, until she looked at Josh. Shock was all over his face. A spot of blood, initially the size of a small fist, expanded slowly across his chest, then he fell to the floor. She looked down at him; he wasn’t moving, and his eyes were wide open and dull.

  “Josh get up.” Joy yelled down at him. She took a few steps toward him and stop. He wasn’t moving. Joy picked the gun up off the floor and grabbed the bag she had carried it in. She then opened the door and ran back through the house and out the front door.

  Joey, who was hiding in the other room, didn’t come out until he heard the front door close. By the time he reached Josh, he was dead. After dialing 911, he slid on the floor next to his cousin and cried.

  Chapter Thirteen

  Joy raced to the car and started it, then pulled out slow, not wanting to attract attention to herself. She twice glanced in the rear view mirror as she drove. She couldn’t believe she killed him. She let out a sigh and began a deep cry. “Josh.”

  Feeling sure no one followed her, she parked the car. She turned the key ignition and rested her head on the steering wheel. Several deep breaths later, she tried to slow her pounding heart. When she closed her eyes, all she could see was the look on Josh’s face when she shot him. She shook her head, hoping to shake the memory from her mind. Snot flowed out her nose. She used the back of her hand to wipe it away then leaned back against the headrest. She felt trapped with nowhere to go. She had no money to leave. In order to get herself together Joy knew she had to find a way to get out of the city.

  She smoothed her hair down and wiped her face. Josh’s face flashed across her mind. To make it go away, she thought of the horrible things he did to her and her heart hardened. Calmness came over her as she started the car and pulled off.

  Twenty minutes later she was back at Kevin’s apartment. Kevin was sitting on the back stairs with his head in his hands, but he looked up when she pulled up. He jumped up and started coming towards her. He was shouting something but Joy couldn’t hear just what he was saying.

  “What you say?” she asked casually.

  “Where the fuck were you?” he asked, anger written all over his face.

  “I had to take care of something right quick. Let’s talk inside,” she said, looking around.

  “After you took my car, you think I’m letting you in my apartment again?” he said, snatching the keys from her. That’s when he noticed the bag in her hands. He grabbed that from her too. “You went through my closet? What the fuck is wrong with you?” he said.

  Joy thought he sounded like a bitch. “Now can we go inside?” she asked.

  Kevin didn’t say anything; he just walked towards the stairs and turned around to see if she was following. She walked towards him and they went up to the apartment and into Kevin’s bedroom.

  “Okay, so explain what the fuck you were doing with my gun?” Kevin demanded, trying to calm down enough to not want to beat the shit out of her.

  Joy told him about trying to scare Josh into leaving her alone, then how she accidentally shot him when he grabbed the gun.

  “Is he dead? Did anybody see you? Did you call the police?”

  “Wait a minute, calm down.”

  “What do you mean, calm down? Are you crazy? Why do I meet all the crazy bitches?” he said, pacing back and forth.

  Joy went over to him, grabbed his arm and sat him on the bed.

  “Here I was, trying to figure out why you took my car and if you were coming back, and you done shot somebody with my gun. Didn’t you think that the gun could be traced back to me?” he asked, looking at her. “Shit, I thought you went to the store or something. I was worried about you getting my car took. I didn’t know if you have a license or not.” “I don’t know if he’s dead. I didn’t even mean to shoot him, I told you.”

  Kevin turned the TV on to the six o’clock news. The reporter was talking about a fire in the northeast. They both looked at the screen and waited.

  “A father of four was gunned down today in the Kensington section while shielding his children in a shootout police believe to have been between rival drug dealers. Police don’t have any leads at this stage, and no witnesses have come forward.

  “A young male, believed to be in his late teens, has been found dead in the northeast of Philadelphia. A cousin, the only other person home at the time, said he didn’t see anything but heard a noise he believed to be a gunshot and a door slam. When he went to check it out, he found his cousin’s dead body. He is not a suspect but is being held for questioning. This makes the crime rate higher than last year … ”

  Kevin turned off the TV and looked at Joy. “We have to get rid of the gun,” he said.

  “I know, but where?”

  “I’ll figure it out. We have to wait until it’s dark, though.”

  “I’m sorry. I never meant to jeopardize you in any way. He grabbed the gun … It was an accident; but for some reason, I don’t feel guilty.” She moved in front of him when he wouldn’t look at her.

  He turned and stared hard at her. “After we get rid of this gun, I don’t want anything else to do with you.”

  Joy said nothing. She tried to kiss his lips but he pushed her away. Tears fell down her face. She needed him. He was the only one in her life who made her feel special. She had to make him see how much she needed him. Still sitting on the floor, she looked up at him, seeing the hurt and anger in his eyes. He turned away when he noticed her looking at him. Joy stood up and removed her clothes. Kevin saw the movement out of the corner of his eye but refused to acknowledge her. She moved in front of him but he just turned his head away again. They played this back-and-forth game for a few minutes, then Kevin snapped.

  “You think I want to fucking touch you? Not that I really give a fuck about the dude, but how could you do something like that? You come off as this wounded girl who needed love, but you’re a coldhearted bitch to involve me in something like this. If you wanted me to handle him, I would’ve fucked him up, but murder is something totally different. I ain’t trying to go to jail behind some shit you did; and I ain’t no snitch, so you don’t have to worry, but I don’t want to see your face again, ever.”

  But Joy didn’t give up. She moved closer and tried to massage his dick, which was noticeably hard, through his pants. Kevin only got madder and smacked her hand away. She climbed on the bed behind him and began to play with herself, moaning loudly. He tried to ignore her but he got harder as her moans grew louder. He pulled his dick out, grabbed her leg and flipped her over. He entered her from behind and pumped hard, grabbing a fist full of hair and pulling her head back until she screamed out. He then let go of her hair and smacked her ass hard. He pulled out and busted all over her back.

  “You can get your shit and leave now. I can dump the gun myself,” he said as he picked her shirt up off the floor, wiped his dick on it and threw it at her. He then went to the bathroom, picking up the bag with the gun on the way there. “Just in case you decide to accidentally shoot me,” he said, slamming the door behind him.

  Chapter Fourteen

  Joy sat there for a minute; she couldn’t believe he had treated her like that. She jumped up and ran to the kitchen, grabbing the first knife she found, then went back to the bathroom door and listened. She didn’t hear anything, neither running water nor any movement. She waited to see if he was going to come out, not knowing if the door was locked and not wanting to alert him to her presence by trying it. Sticking the knife in the door, she popped it open, thanks to the cheap lock.

  At first glance, the bathroom appeared empty. She looked at the shower curtain, but before she could say anything Kevin jumped out.

  “Right here, bitch,” he sai
d, grabbing her and holding her from behind. “You didn’t think I heard you out there, hun? I waited, just to see if you would try something,” he said as he dragged her back into the bedroom.

  “Kevin, wait, I was just trying to come in there to talk to you,” she pleaded.

  “You think I’m going to trust you? You must be crazy.”

  “For real. What you think I was going to do with a butter knife? I didn’t even try to stab you,” she said, lifting the knife only high enough for him to see. “I only used it to get in the bathroom. I want you to understand everything. I didn’t really want to hurt Josh, I just wanted to get him to leave me alone. I’m not sorry, I guess, because of all the shit he put me through.” She dropped the knife to the floor.

  Kevin let her go and sat on the bed, shaking his head. “I must be the stupidest nigga alive, because anybody else would have beaten the shit out you and threw you out.”

  She sat next to him and grabbed hold of his hand, but he snatched it back and moved further down the bed, away from her.

  “I’m listening,” was all he said.

  Joy told him about how Josh took her virginity and the incident in the hallway afterwards. Kevin didn’t say anything, just shook his head.

  “When we first met he was sweet and patient. Then one day he just change,” she continued.

  “Why did you stay with him? It wasn’t like ya’ll was married.”

  “I felt like he was all I had; he at least showed me love, at first. That’s more than I can say for my parents. I thought if I just stay with him, no matter what, he would realize that he didn’t need to treat me that way, because I would be there.” She turned away from Kevin and laid across the bed. “He started controlling everything I did. I mean, I didn’t do much, but I wasn’t allowed to talk to anybody at school; not even females. He checked my cell phone every day to see if I was talking to anybody other than him. He would hit me every time he was mad, no matter if I did something or not. Sex was always violent. I did everything he liked. I even had sex with one of his friends. He watched the whole time. When his friend was finished, he called me a whore and spit in my face. He dragged me in the bathroom and made me take a shower, with the water hot all the way up. After he pulled me out, right there on the bathroom floor he choked me as he fucked me. I thought he was going to kill me. I was stupid and I held it all in. I didn’t have no one I could talk to; I felt so alone.” Kevin pulled her to him and held her as she cried. “You must think I’m stupid and a whore,” she said, refusing to look at him.

  “No I don’t. I think that you stayed with him out of hope. You never received love from your parents; they showed you that it was okay to be treated as if you don’t matter. What you need is to know that you should love yourself and that you don’t need anybody else to, even if you feel you do.” He held her face with both his hands and looked into her eyes. “When I look at you I see a beautiful woman who isn’t stupid or a whore. I was mad at you but I still shouldn’t have treated you that way. I’m sorry.”

  Joy nodded and they kissed. They then both laid on the bed, face to face, looking into each other’s eyes while both thinking they had met for a reason.

  Chapter Fifteen

  Joy woke up and looked into Kevin’s face. It felt good to wake up in his arms. It was like the first night they spent together. Kevin was awake. He reached behind him to look at the clock. It was a little after midnight.

  “We have to dump the gun,” he said, getting up and smoothing out his clothes.

  “Okay, but where?”

  “I know. Come on.” He reached out to take her hand.

  They drove for 15 minutes, with Joy still having no clue where they were going. She looked out the window and was able to read the street sign, Godfrey Ave., even though it was dark. Finally, Kevin pulled into a dark road. There weren’t many people out. They came to a little intersection just past an apartment complex. Joy looked out ahead of her—all she could see was grass. Across the road was another forest-like park, but she couldn’t make anything out, really, because there was very little light. Chills ran through her body; but instead of being scared, she felt excited.

  “Where are we?” she asked, still looking out the window.

  “Tacony Creek,” Kevin replied, getting out of the car.

  Joy opened her door to get out but quickly closed it again when Kevin hollered for her to stay in the car. Three minutes later, he was back.

  “Do you think anybody will find it?”

  “No. I ran down a ways and threw it in away from where people swim at.”

  “What? Are you crazy?”

  “Well, I figured that this was the safest place to dump it.”

  “Yeah, a few cars drove by, but they probably think we were fucking or something.”

  “The only other place I could think of was Kelly Drive, but it be people out there and the cops be down there a lot. Besides, if it is found, it’s no prints on it, so fuck it. I brought it from my cousin last year, so it’s not in my name or nothing,” he explained, pulling back onto the road and going up the hill.

  Neither spoke for a long time as Kevin drove. Joy didn’t even say anything when she noticed they were going towards her house, though she dreaded going home. Kevin stopped the car in front of her house; Joy still didn’t speak as she opened the door. When she put one leg out onto the pavement, Kevin grabbed her arm and pulled her back in the car. He kissed her soft at first but then stuck his tongue in hers. The kiss was wet and sweet. Joy got out of the car, feeling lightheaded as she made her way up her steps and into the house. She waved to Kevin as she stepped through the door, happy he had kissed her that way.

  Chapter Sixteen

  Joy closed the door behind her. Her mother was at the top of the stairs.

  “Oh, I thought you were your father,” she said, frowning. “He hasn’t been home since he walked out when he found out Curtis was here.”

  “Is he still here?”

  “No, I told you, not since he walked out,” she said, looking at Joy like she was stupid.

  “Not daddy, Curtis.”

  “Yeah, he’s upstairs, sleeping,” she said, smiling.

  Joy walked up the stairs and passed her mother. She went into her room and closed the door behind her, hearing her mother’s footsteps return to her parents’ room. Kicking off her shoes and taking off her clothes, she went to the bathroom to take a quick shower.

  After her shower she couldn’t sleep, so she decided to get something to eat. She threw on some pajama pants and a wife beater then walked down the back stairs to the kitchen. When she reached out and turned on the kitchen light, she screamed.

  “Why are you naked?” she asked, turning her head away.

  “I … I … I, um, sorry,” her uncle said, shielding himself behind the refrigerator door.

  They heard footsteps and looked at each other. Joy turned and ran back up the stairs before her mother walked in the kitchen. She closed the door behind her, hoping her mother hadn’t seen her. She wanted to leave so badly but had nowhere to go. Her own father could care less about her. She wished she had a different family. She laid back on her bed and closed her eyes. She thought of Kevin and wondered if he was thinking of her. Sleep wouldn’t come, so she just laid there until the sun came up. She got up and threw some clothes on, knowing she had to go to school but really not feeling up to it. There didn’t seem much point. She just didn’t care about anything.

  The front door opened. She looked out her bedroom door and watched her father come up the stairs. She couldn’t even remember the last time they had a conversation.

  “Hey, Dad,” she called out to him.

  “Hi Joy. How’s it going?” he asked as he continued walking to his bedroom, not waiting for a reply.

  Joy didn’t bother to answer because he had barely looked at her and didn’t slow down. “Fuck you, too,” she said under her breath.

  She closed the door and grabbed a duffle bag, stuffing in some underwear and a few
sets of clothes, along with her toothbrush and other toiletries, making sure she didn’t forget anything she would need over the next few days. She would beg Kevin to let her stay with him.

  Joy moved to open the door and heard a whole bunch of commotion. She stood with her hand on the knob, not sure whether to open the door or not. Waiting only a second longer, she opened the door and saw her father dragging her mother out of their bedroom. Her uncle was trying to pull him off her, but with one hand, because the other was holding the left side of his face, which was already swollen.

  “You nasty bitch,” her father cried.

  “Let her go, man.”

  “Don’t fucking touch me.”

  Joy went back into her room to grab her bag. She just wanted to get away from them. As she walked out the door, her mother flew into her, causing her to fall back against the door. The back of her head felt warm. Blood trickled out. She couldn’t move and her vision blurred. Her eyes became heavy and everything got dark.

  Chapter Seventeen

  Joy woke up to a beeping sound. When she tried to move she felt severe pain. When the nurse helping a patient in the bed next to hers noticed Joy moving, she ran to get the doctor. A white man in his forties walked into the room with a goofy smile on his face.

  “Hi Joy, I’m Dr. Greenspan. The nurse is going to bring something for the pain. I know your head hurts; you have five stitches in the back of your head,” he said after looking into her eyes with a light. “We only had to cut away a small portion of your hair.”

  Joy pointed at her throat and made a drinking gesture with her hand. Dr. Greenspan poured some water into a cup and helped her drink it.

  “Thank you,” she said, her voice still somewhat hoarse.

  “You will have some pain for the next few days, but I prescribed something to help lessen it. You should be fine in a week or so. You will have a MRI before you leave, just to make sure everything is still okay, and then you will be able to leave after that.”