chapter 24

Prudy's POV,

That moment in life where you are tired of everyone trying to describe you, or like that one time in the library when someone smiles at you, only because they want you to watch their spot for them? It felt like that, when Abbie got mad for some reason, well majorly me, and decided to take it out on me. I mean, I just did not appreciate everyone ganging up against me. I'm sure no one would want that. It's not 3:00 pm yet, so I move back to my room to get freshened up before I go yelling at Kayc.

The room is cleaned. No more sprawling liquor or broken bottles, no smell of pot. I smile to myself. Kiara must have done that. She always comes through for me and I love her for that, maybe I just don't like people judging me. I am not a drug addict, it was a one time thing.

"Where is that son of a bitch! You do not tell me right now and..."

"He got shot." Milena cuts me short and I stop at my tracks.

"Milena! We were supposed to do this together!" Henry shouts and Milena just shrugs. I stand still.

Abbie's POV

"We're at an amusement park." I say obviously surprised.

"I thought you would let off some steam. If you don't want to, we can..." I cut him off mid sentence.

"Are you kidding me?" I say in excitement. He smiles.

"Open sesame." He says as he presses some buttons and the doors open and I dash out I rush to his side of the car and hop on his back. He holds me in place and walks. We get a few snorts from people and a few smiles from others, that's their opinion and we don't blame them for it. I remind myself. We get to an ice cream shop and I want to hop out but he holds me tight and requests for a vanilla ice cream cone with a mint topping and sprinkles.

Prudy's POV

I still do not know what to think. Is this what Kiara was trying to say earlier? Tears run down and I let go of Kayc's hand to wipe them. He looks peaceful and his chubby features are more clear now. I didn't watch him in his sleep because I was too scared of getting attached. No spooning was one of my rules and I made sure to follow it. It almost feels like people always leave when I start to get attached. Kiara, Allan, my parents.

"Noooooo." I'm raising my hands towards the house I just walked away from as I see it flame up. I tremble

as I reach for my phone and dial 911.

I watch as a bunch of dudes dressed in red and yellow march out of a fire fighting truck towards the house. They are out a few moments later without my parents and I scream out to the streets. I don't know how to feel. There is all this confusion and uncertainty, guilt and regret. I can't even cry, I am motionless, seated and numb from the cold floor by the road side. I have moved as far as I can from the house so that nobody notices my presence. No, it is not how it works, a lady walks towards me and I feel this chill down my spine, like I'm just going to break down if she says much less of a 'hi'.

"Are you Prudence Grey?" She has this thick Italian accent which I prefer to notice than cry my ass out. I nod my head, unsure of my words.

" I'm sorry about your home, was anybody else in there?" She has a book and is ready to scribble what I say. I can't find my words, so I nod again, this time, a tear drops and I wipe it off fast. She writes something down and looks up to me.

"Prudy.," Kiara brings me back.

"You need to rest, I'll watch him for you if you want."

"Thankyou." I manage to say and let out a slight smile as I walk past her giving Kayc a blank stare from the door and getting rid of a nagging tear that was threatening to fall.

"Prudy." I look back at Kiara who stands by the door and looks at me sympathetically.

"He is going to be alright." She smiles.

I smile at her hoping that would take the pain away.

"I'm here if you need anything." She says as she reaches out to hug me. I need it so I don't refuse her. I sniff on her shoulder trying hard not to cry.

Is this what it feels like?

"Actually, I need something." She lets me loose, enough to look me straight in my eyes. "I need a shower so badly." I smile when she releases one hand to reach for her house keys and hands them to me. She throws one sympathetic glance at me and then at Kayc then back at me.

"Be careful Prudy. I love you." I'm not used to hearing that so I simply smile and walk away.

I don't really have the time to think of towels or all the girly things. I just open the running water and let it slide down my fully dressed body. I feel the ice cold water drain all my energy and I slide down the bathroom wall. I want to think of one great moment with Kayc or Abbie or Kiara. Anything that will not make me feel shitty. How did I get here? I want to cry so hard. I let out a scream and somehow I feel some relief. I laugh at how shitty my life has turned out. I remember laughing with other kids in 5th grade, when a girl was asked who she wants to be when she grows up and she says, her mother tells her growing up is boring and she really didn't want to grow up. I mean, who doesn't want to have a life for themselves right? No one threatening to ground you or take away your toys? She was right though, being an adult should not be the dream of any child. At least as a child all you have to worry about is toys and Christmas and birthday presents. I stand and move to get a bottle of gin off Kiara's bar and slowly stumble my way back to the soothing cold of the shower. Everything seems to be upside down for me and I'm not sure I can really hold myself together at the moment. It's getting warmer under this shower and I think of what everyone says about everything happening for good. I mean what good is there for my parents dying or Kayc getting shot? Or God wiping our tears when we grief? I don't get it. Why do people have so much faith in someone who keeps doing them dirty? Blacks keep giving everyone an ultimatum about how dirty everyone does them yet they worship this one being that doesn't even care if they live or die. I take a gulp of the dry gin and scream as it burns down my throat.