Johnny’s heart raced as he tossed his phone onto the passenger seat. The dim glow of the screen illuminated the car’s interior, casting shadows on the dashboard. His grip tightened around the cold metal of his weapon.
“otw,” the text finally came through.
Minutes dragged by like hours. Johnny’s eyes darted to the door, every creak or rustle making him tense. He picked up his phone, checking for Andre’s text. Finally, it came through: “otw.”
The plan was coming together.
…
Kam walked home, head down, lost in the glow of his phone. The city buzzed around him, but he navigated the streets with practiced ease. Jasmine’s messages were a lifeline—a connection to normalcy amidst the chaos of exams and paperwork. They’d find time, even if it was just a stolen hour. Tomorrow at 6, after her study's partner shift. Kam tucked his phone away, anticipation building.
Kam stuffed his phone into his pocket, looking forward to their first meet up in days as he walked up the steps that led into his apartment. He turned the key and entered the quiet apartment that didn’t remain that way for long.
“Surprise!”
Kam’s heart skipped a beat, a look of relief coming upon his face once he recognized the smiling faces. In a corner, his grandmother and grandfather excitedly clapping their hands as they rose up. Next to them, Lana and Jamal, throwing confetti into the air. His dad, Justin and Taylour all held balloons while Katy blew bubbles from her toy.
…
Johnny’s patience wore thin. Curtis lingered inside, and this was Johnny’s chance.
He considered calling Andre, but paranoia held him back. No records, no traces.
He grabbed his weapon, opened the car door, and crouched toward the door. But sirens wailed, lights flashing.
“Tampa PD! Get on the fucking ground!”
“Fucking Andre,” he muttered to himself as his face met the concrete floor.
…
“The food was getting cold,” Jamal defended himself from Lana’s cold glare.
“Enjoy yourself,” Kwame reassured him, “We’re all good with the scanner and everything?”
“Yup,” Jasmine tilted the laptop toward Kwame, “We just need Kam to press send.”
“Where is Ball State?” Kam’s grandfather, Dustin, asked the question that everyone had been thinking since the news broke.
“About an hour from Indy,” Justin answered, the only one in the room to ever been.
“Direct flights to Newark, I checked,” Kwame assured them, “He’ll be alright.”
“If he ever shows up,” Lana stood up, “Come on, Jamal, let’s get this show on the road.”
They walked over to Kam’s room, knocking on the door.
“You’re ready?” Lana asked, leaning her ear against the door for an answer, “Kam?”
“I’m coming in,” Jamal grew impatient.
They found Kam on the edge of the bed, frantically rubbing the sleeve of his shirt across his face. Once he put his arm down, it revealed redness all around his face.
“You’re okay?” Lana asked tenderly, taking a seat next to him.
“Yeah,” he cleared his throat.
“Nah, nigga, you were crying,” Jamal joined them, “Shit, I cried too when I signed my shit. I was just a real nigga and held it in until the shower, it doesn’t count there.”
“Fucking idiot,” Lana scoffed.
“He’s right, I should have,” Kam laughed, “I don’t know, just seems like…do I really deserve this shit? Am I just going to go over there, fuck up some more? Like, all I’ve done is do dumb shit since I came down here and what, I just get to leave and leave everybody behind? They can’t, they’re fucking stuck here, forever.”
“Kam,” she held his head in her hands, “You’re just like every other college student, trying to figure shit out. You’re going to mess up.”
“Plenty of times,” Jamal chimed in.
“Yes, plenty of times. I’m going to mess up, Jamal’s probably going to have at least three baby mommas by the time he’s done at Louisville.”
“Way more than that,” Jamal joked, “Don’t sell me short with them Southern women.”
“I’ve messed up, you saw me. I was a mess most of last semester, still am! Just do your best and be the man that your momma raised and your father, both of them, raised you to be. Keep making them proud, keep making Anna proud when she looks down on you, be there for Katy, just be the great Kam we know you to be.”
now we just gotta hope that Snow is done getting his get back
