New Title 1 (19 page)

“
Oh shit!”

If it were possible, Julez seemed to hear the blasting and the whizzing of the bullets simultaneously as he registered what was happening. Shots rang out disturbing the suburban evening peace, sounding like a Fourth of July event a few months too early, and they were all aiming for him.

“
Fuck!”

Julez’s natural street instincts kicked in as he ducked down and attempted to run for cover into the house. He cursed himself for not strapping up.

His life had gotten comfortable, too comfortable. He quickly maneuvered his way up to the last step, key in hand, almost at the front door and then, ‘Pow!’ A bullet ruthlessly ripped through the flesh of his shoulder, the force of it causing him to fall into his front door. ‘Pow! Pow!’

Two more followed, entering his body through his right side and thigh, as his blood poured heavily and decorated the white of his door and porch.

“
Arrghhh fuckkk!” He hollered in agony as he toppled down against his will, holding his side tightly. That seemed to be the wound that was the most crucial, and it was the most painful. He struggled to reach for his phone in his pocket, feeling himself going in and out of consciousness as he heard a car screech to a halt nearby. He wondered if Freckles had come to finish him off.

Might
as well, ‘cause he’s dead if he don’t.
Julez looked up and saw Jordin jumping out of her blue Honda, panic and fear in her face as she rushed to him and took in all of the blood and him crippled on the porch.

“
Julez! Oh my god! What happened? Somebody help!” Jordin was frantic. She ran up the stairs and knelt down next to him with tears in her eyes. “Julez,” she cried. “Oh my god, it’s gonna be okay. It’s gonna be okay. Oh god…” She patted her jeans and realized she didn’t have her purse.

“
Just let me get my phone!”

“
Jordin,” he managed to say. “My…my pocket…”

A brief pause passed before she realized what he said, and when she did, she moved swiftly, knowing that time was not on their side. She knew she’d have to get over her shock and really be here for him. She dug into his pocket and pulled out the phone, dialing 911 quickly.

“
911, what’s your emergency?”

“
Yes! Yes! 2700 Randolph Road, Piscataway, New Jersey! Someone’s been shot… there’s blood everywhere! Please, please come! Hurry!” Jordin looked down at Julez and could hear the operator asking who had done the shooting, was the perpetrator still around, but all she could do was see the look in Julez’s face, and see him drifting away. She grabbed his hand tightly and stared him in the eyes with her own tearful ones.

“
No! You stay here, Julez! You stay with me, you hear me! Do you fucking hear me?”

Julez had never heard Jordin curse, and it caused his eyes to open a little wider in brief shock. He managed a half a chuckle while blood trickled out of his mouth and his consciousness began to fade.

“
J-Jordin…you…you a... G?” She laughed at his comment as tears streamed down her face. She could see the wound on his side staining his whole white business shirt... red. There was so much, too much blood. Jordin removed her cardigan and quickly wrapped it around his waist, tying it tight and applying pressure to the wound.

“
Ahhhh shit,” he groaned in discomfort, the pain bringing him to again, but she just pulled it even tighter.

“
You need pressure, okay? The ambulance is on their way…just… just hang on.” She grabbed his hand again for dear life and nestled close to him, keeping an intense stare on his eyes trying to keep them open. Julez just looked at her, unblinkingly, as he felt the pain fading. He didn’t know if that was a good or bad thing.

He could hear the faint sounds of an ambulance and he felt Jordin’s grasp grow tighter in anticipation. She was so scared, yet so brave, and he was truly thankful for her coming when she did.

“
Th-thank-”

“
Ssh,” she ordered him. “Save your energy.” As the ambulance came to a stop and the paramedics approached, Julez could hear Jordin say a prayer for him. It was short and sweet. “Dear God, please let him be okay. Please God.”

“
Oxygen! I need oxygen!” A female paramedic yelled, reaching Julez. “He still has a pulse, let’s get him inside!”

Jordin stayed by his side as they placed him on the stretcher and began carrying him down the stairs and toward the ambulance.

“
It’s gonna be okay, Julez. I’m right here,” she kept repeating to him, tears lining her face. And as she climbed in the back of the truck with him, holding his hand along the way, he knew that she was telling the truth.

Not So General Hospital

“
I wanna see him! Oh my fucking god, I wanna see my husband
puta! Ay dios mio’! Maricona!
Julez….oh Julez!” Noelle screamed in the lobby of the emergency room. “Where is he? Bitch, you better tell me!”

The woman at the receptionist desk only asked Noelle to calm down, which really was about to grant her an ass whooping before Jordin approached.

“
Noelle! Over here… they said the doctor will let us know what’s going on shortly. Come on…come with me.”

She placed her hand gently on her friend’s shoulder and guided her to the small waiting area. She could see the pain and fret in Noelle’s face, and she could only imagine how worried she was. Probably twice as worried as she herself was.

Noelle sat down and Jordin took the seat next to her, rubbing small circles on her back as Noelle just looked at the ground dazed, with tears falling from her eyes.

“
It’s gonna be okay Noe,” Jordin told her and Noelle just sobbed.

“
Jordin, what happened? Who would hurt him, J? Oh god…what if he dies? Oh god, I can’t lose him J, I can’t. He’s my everything…”

Jordin just stared on sympathetically, and before she could say anything, Slim made his way through the doors and toward them.

“
What’s going on?”

“
Slim!” Noelle cried, jumping up and running up to him. She buried her head into his chest and sobbed.

“
Someone shot Julez! Oh my god, Slim…”

She continued to cry as Slim looked on in shock, half because of the situation and half because of Noelle’s upfront display of affection. He figured that it was her emotions that had her forgetting where she was and who was around. He cautiously put his arms around her, very delicately, as he looked down at her, hating to see her in pain. He looked up at Jordin and saw a glimmer of question in her eye.

Jordin had a sinking feeling in her stomach and she couldn’t put her finger on what exactly was bothering her. Was she worried about Julez? Was she scared? Or was she upset at how Noelle had jumped up and ran to her man and cried like he was there to comfort her. Jordin knew that this was neither the time nor place to say anything, but it definitely didn’t sit well with her.
Maybe I’m being ridiculous. Paranoid. Insecure, like I always am with Noe. She loves Julez, look at how upset she is.

“
It’s gonna be alright mami,” Slim whispered to her. “Come on, go sit down. You gotta sit down. It’s alright.”

His words seemed to calm Noelle a little and bring her back to reality as she lifted her head and gave him his respectful space back, although she wanted nothing more than to stay in the comfort of his arms until she was soothed and calmed. As she took a seat, Slim walked over to Jordin. He sat down next to her but made little eye contact as she just stared blankly ahead, deep in thought.

“
How long you been here?”

“
Um…about an hour,” Jordin answered blandly.

“
Why didn’t you call me sooner?” Slim asked.

“
Because Slim, everything was so hectic... I rode in the ambulance with Julez and then when we got here, I spoke with the nurses, the doctor….my mind was all over the place. And I was calling you not too long after I arrived, but you weren’t answering. Neither was Noelle,” she added lightly.

“
Oh…well, my phone been on some bullshit lately. But hold up, you rode in the ambulance with him?”

Jordin didn’t see the point of the question but she could see Noelle, who had taken the seat across from them, perk her ears up for the response as well.

“
Yeah, of course I did. He had just been shot, and I was the only one there.” She looked up at Noelle, and could see that the comment had made her feel bad. In reality, it made Noelle feel guilty.

The room fell silent for the next few moments.

“
Mrs. Payne?” The doctor asked, emerging from the hallway.

Noelle jumped up and Jordin raised her eyes, looking for hope in the doctor’s face. He looked at her and then over at Noelle, and then he sighed.

“
Mr. Payne has lost a lot of blood. He was shot in the shoulder, the leg, and the kidney and the bullet almost damaged his renal artery. But, I believe with the proper care here, and the results of this surgery, that Mr. Payne will be okay. We will be keeping him here however, and he will be in strict observation and remain in our intensive care unit.”

Noelle breathed a noticeable sigh of relief and Jordin closed her eyes.

“
Oh thank god,” she whispered.

“
Can we see him?” Noelle asked anxiously but the doctor only shook his head.

“
He's heavily sedated and at this moment, I will have to say no. First thing in the morning though.”

Noelle rolled her eyes and Jordin nodded understandably. She was just thankful that he would be okay.

“
I'm gonna stay here J,” Noelle said as Jordin and Slim stood, preparing to leave.

“
Okay. I'll be here first thing in the morning, alright?” Jordin was ready to support her friend and Julez in any way that she could. Noelle nodded and shot a brief look at Slim as Jordin hugged her warmly, and then Jordin and Slim headed for the exit.

She sighed and took a seat, picking up a copy of Elle magazine and getting comfortable.

Noelle stayed right there in the hospital that night, all night. And it would be the first, and the last time that she would do so.

One Week Later

Julez sat up in his less than luxurious hospital bed watching an episode of
Judge Mathis
. He didn't get a chance to watch television too often before the shooting incident, but in this past week, television had become his new best friend. That and...

“
Hey you. I didn't know if you were up or not...I didn't want to wake you,” Jordin beamed with a smile, stepping inside of the dimly lit room. In her hand were a bouquet of flowers, lilies this time. She had brought three different bouquets over the course of the week.

“
Nah, I'm up. Been up for a while,” he added, sitting more upright and adjusting the tight and ill-fitting hospital gown. He hated that shit. “I aint sleep much last night.”

“
Again?” Jordin asked, putting the flowers down and walking over to the windows. She stood on her tippy-toes and drew back the curtains and Julez couldn't help but to take in an eyeful of her ass in her tight jeans before he had to shield his face from the bright light with his hands.