Blame It On The Pain Episode 65
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π§ Blame It On The Pain SIXTY FIVE:
(Alyssa)
Last call ended 20 minutes ago.
Jackson, Tyrone, and Ricardo never showed up after the fi ght.
Iβve tried calling Jacksonβs cell multiple times but he still hasnβt picked up or responded to any of my text messages.
I would call Momma, but she doesnβt believe in cell phones.
Itβs obvious that something is very wrong. Which is why I locked up the bar and Iβm currently standing in front of Jacksonβs apartment door, pounding on it as hard as I can.
I thought for sure that Momma would be here, but seeing as Iβm still not getting a response, that only makes this bad feeling I have worse.
With no options left, I have no choice but to walk down the hall to Lou-Louβs front door.
She answers on the second knock. Her eyes are red and puffy, itβs obvious that sheβs been crying and sheβs upset about something.
βLook, Iβm sorry Iβm interrupting whatever it is that youβre going through right now, but I canβt get a hold of Jackson, and no one is at the apartmentββ
βYou donβt know what happened, do you?β she says, her voice raspy with emotion.
I swallow hard against the lump in my throat and tell myself to breathe before I shake my head.
βThere was an accident at the club tonight. Tyrone got stabbed by his opponent when the match started.β
My hand flies over my mouth and a sob escapes.
βEveryoneβs at the hospital because heβs having emergency surgery. Thatβs probably why you canβt get a hold of anyone.β
βThank you.β
I start running down the hall, but to my surprise, I hear Lou-Louβs footsteps behind me.
βItβs after 2am, Alyssa. Youβll never catch a cab because theyβre too busy picking up drunk id!ots and it will take you an hour to get there on foot. Also, itβs not exactly safe to go walking in the city by yourself this time of night. If you want, I can drive you,β she offers.
I nod my head, too shaken up to form actual words. My heart is breaking for Jacksonβ¦and Momma. Oh, god, poor Momma.
I pray as hard as I can for Tyrone the entire ride to the hospital.
I give Lou-Lou a questioning look when she pulls up to the front of the hospital but makes no move to get out. βYouβre not coming in?β
She looks down. βI want to, but I donβt think anyone really wants to see me.β
βLook, donβt take this the wrong way, but itβs not about you right now. Tyrone needs all the positive thoughts he can get. Plus, I think Ricardo would appreciate you showing up and offering your support.β
She gives me an odd look and I can tell sheβs ready to argue, but instead she gets out with me and hands her keys to a valet attendant. βDo you think theyβll give us any information? Weβre not immediate family and we didnβt come in with him. And you already said that Jackson wasnβt picking up his phone.β
Β’rap, I didnβt really think about that.
I scan the emergency room. The look on both the security guardβs face and the nurse at the desk, tells me theyβre both going to be hard nuts to crack.
Out of the corner of my eye, I see my doppelgangerβs blonde ponytail and pink scrubs.
βPenelope,β I call out, while taking Lou-Louβs hand and rushing over to her.
I quickly explain the situation. She looks sympathetic, and before I know it, sheβs leading us past the front desk and walking us toward a special section of the intensive care waiting room.
She tells us that Tyroneβs still in surgery but sheβll keep us updated if she finds out any information. I quickly thank her before Lou-Lou and I round the corner to the small waiting room.
Thatβs where I see Jackson and Ricardo in some kind of standoff, looking like theyβre about to rip each others faces off.
βYouβve gotta be kidding me,β Lou-Lou mutters. βStop it!β she screams.
Itβs no use. In the blink of an eye, Jackson advances toward Ricardo and holds him up against the wall by his th roat. βYou knew this was going to happen, didnβt you?β he sneers.
βYouβre out of your mind, Jackson. For fks sake, I snapped that guyβs neck. You think I would ever let anything happen to either one of you?β
Jackson shakes his head. βYou knew about them switching his opponent before the fi ght. You had to know something was up. You told me everything was okay right before the fi ght. But, it wasnβt okay. You knew about the meeting because he had to go through you to get one! You knew he wanted out and you never told me. And now, my best friend is in surgery fi ghting for his life.β
Jackson sIams him up hard against the wall again, but I see Ricardoβs eyes flash and that strange feeling washes over me. The very same one I had that night Jackson fought Dean in the bathroom and Ricardo showed up.
βI had no idea that any of this was gonna go down, Jackson. I got him a meeting, yeah. But I wasnβt privy to their discussion. It was a closed meeting. Tyrone wouldnβt tell me why he wanted the meeting either, he just said it was important. If I had known, I would have talked him out of it,β he screams, his voice cracking with emotion.
βYou guys are like my brothers. You both are the closest thing to a real family Iβve ever had. I would never be okay with someone taking either one of you out, ever. I donβt care who might have issued the order.β
Order? Taking them out? What is he talking about?
Jackson eases up on his grip and bangs the wall beside his head. βI swear to god, Ricardo; you better be telling me the truth. Because if I find out that you knew about thisβ¦weβre done in every way you can think of.β
The dangerous intensity in Ricardoβs eyes is replaced by sadness. βI didnβt know. I swear. Iβd let him take me out before Iβd ever let him do it to either one of you.β
What should be a somewhat comforting statement, instead forces the hairs on the back of my neck to stand up.
Jackson pulls him into a hug. βI donβt know what Iβm gonna do if he doesnβt pull through this.β
My eyes water because the thought of losing Tyrone is heart-wrenching, but the moment turns tense again when Jackson fixes himself and his eyes darken. βActually, I do.β
Ricardo shakes his head. βNo, man. Get that thought out of your head right now. He didnβt order it. It wasnβt him. Iβm telling you.β
Jackson sIams him up against the wall again, but Ricardo deflects it and now heβs the one sIamming Jackson up against the wall.
βIt was. I know it was,β Jackson screams. βAnd you can tell him Iβm done.β
Ricardoβs hand wraps around his th roat. βDonβt be stupid. Youβll get yourself ki lled. You canβt be done with him. That ainβt the way it works and you know it.β
Two thoughts hit me simultaneously at that momentβwhat else is Jackson keeping from me? And more importantlyβ¦what kind of dangerous situation is he involved in?
Jackson lifts his arm and maneuvers out of the choke hold. They face one another again, but this time, itβs clear itβs not going to end in a hug. Jacksonβs fist flies out but Ricardo blocks it at the last possible second. Jackson ja bs him again, though and gets him right between the eyes.
Lou-Lou and I start screaming our heads off, trying to get them to stop, but they ignore us completely.
βYouβre not out,β Ricardo says before punΒ’hing Jackson across the face. βIβm not gonna let you ki ll yourself,β he screams before he throws another pun Β’h.
Jackson has that wild look in his eyes when he issues a kiΒ’k straight to Ricardoβs side. My hearts in my th roat because I know that once Jackson gets started and heβs in this mindset, the only one who can make him stop is Ricardo, but since heβs fi ghting Ricardo right nowβIβm terrified of how this is going to end.
Ricardo spits bIood on the ground and motions for Jackson to come at him again. If Jacksonβs eyes are wild, Ricardoβs are purely menacing and downright murderous.
My stomach drops and my hands shake because this time, I know Iβve seen that look and Iβm not mistaken like before.
And I think I might just know what, or rather who Jackson is involved with. But my god, I hope Iβm wrong.
Before I can focus on that, though, I have to stop this fi ght. My instincts are taking over and I surge toward them. Lou-Lou tries pulling me back but I twist away. She lets out an ear piercing whistle but it still doesnβt stop me or them.
Both of their arms are pulled back and I know itβs the last possible second that I have before they both strike each other again.
Lou-Lou screams my name when she sees what Iβm about to do, but I do it anyway.
Thereβs no way to describe how it feels to be punΒ’hed full force by two massive men at the same time.
Well, except one. It really hurtsβ¦a lot. Way more than I thought it would. Enough to almost make me regret doing it in the first place. Itβs literally the complete opposite of βdouble your pleasure, double your fun.β
Jacksonβs fist lands on my cheek, and Ricardoβs fist lands somewhere in my stomach region. Seeing as Iβm 5β3 they were both obviously going for some low bIows.
I let out a sound somewhere between a cry, a yelp, and a scream before hunching over and falling to the floor. Thatβs when I hear Mommaβs voice. βOh my god. Look what you boys did! How could you?β she screams.
Both Jackson and Ricardo drop down to the floor, their expressions ho..rrified. βAlyssa? Fk, baby. Iβm sorry. Iβ¦god,β Jackson says. He cups my face and I wince. βIβm so sorry.β
βMe too,β Ricardo says. βI had no idea you were even here. What were you thinking getting between us?β
βI just wanted you both to stop fi ghting. I didnβt know how else to make you stop.β
βWhat is going on here?β another voice calls out. I look up to find Penelope standing over us concern splashed across her pretty face.
βIt was an accident,β I say. When she raises an eyebrow, I stand up. βHonest, Penelope. I was the one who got in the middle. They didnβt even see me.β
She crosses her arms over her chest. βIβll get you a few ice packs.β Then she looks at Jackson and Ricardo. βGentlemen,β she scoffs that word. βThis is the intensive care unit of a hospital. This is not a zoo. Keep your hands to yourself. If it happens again I will have security escort you out,β she snaps, before she turns on her heels and storms out.
βWhat were you boys thinking?β Momma whispers, her voice shaking.
She looks so heartbroken and devastated right now, I feel myself break.
Jackson and Ricardo stand up. βWeβre sorry, Momma,β they say at the same time. βIt will never happen again,β they promise.
Then they walk over to her and wrap their arms around her.
I hear her sobbing softly and I lose it. Iβm not the only one though, Lou-Louβs also weeping quietly in the corner. I donβt miss the look Ricardo gives her. For a moment, I think heβs going to walk over to her, but instead, he gives Momma and Jackson one last hug and leaves the waiting room altogether.
I look at Jackson and I want to confront him, but with everything else happening, I donβt have the heart to just yet. I donβt want to accuse him of lying to me and committing the ultimate betrayal until I have absolute proof and I know for a fact that itβs DeLuca heβs involved with. Iβm going to need a little more to go on than just a gut feeling about Ricardo.
That doesnβt mean Iβm not still pissed to know that DeLuca or no DeLuca heβs obviously been keeping something from me.
He walks over to me and holds out his arms. I take a deep breath and look down before he hugs me. He senses my hesitation and says, βIβm so sorry, Alyssa. I would never hurt you on purpose. Please forgive me.β
The tears fall harder thenβ¦because if heβs lying to me about DeLucaβ¦Iβm not sure that I can. Hell, for all I know, Jackson could be the one setting me up for DeLuca.
Oh, god. What if he is?
That thought sends a chill right through me and I have to push myself away from his embrace.
The look he gives me breaks my heart, but I canβt stand the thought of being in his arms right now.
I slowly back away from him and he looks both crushed and stunned.
Luckily, Lou-Lou comes to my defense by taking my hand and saying, βI think sheβs in a lot of pain, Jackson. Probably not the best time to be hugging her. She did just get punΒ’hed by two huge guys, remember?β
He winces and rubs his face. βIβm gonna go get those ice packs for you.β
Momma looks at us. βIβm gonna go see if thereβs any news.β Before she leaves, I run over and throw my arms around her. βIβm so sorry, Momma. I know heβll make it through this. Because heβs tough just like his Momma.β
She hugs me tight and gives me a kss on the cheek before leaving the room. Thatβs when Jacksonβs eyes connect with mine. There are so many emotions in those eyes of his right now, I have to force myself to breathe.
He walks over to me and hands me two ice packs. βHere.β Then he turns and walks out the door.
βIβm being a real bch, arenβt I?β I ask Lou-Lou, because letβs face it, who would know better than her?
She considers this for a moment before saying, βItβs probably not the best time to be so angry with him seeing as Tyroneβs still in surgery and we donβt know the outcome.β She shrugs. βHowever, you canβt really control how you feel when someone you love hurts you. And the fact that you canβt even stand being touched by him combined with that look you gave himβ¦tells me that whatever Jackson did to you was unforgivable.β
I turn around and face her. βLike what Ricardo did to you?β
She closes her eyes in agony and I feel bad for even asking the question. βNo,β she says, opening her eyes which are now glassy. βLetβs just say that Iβve been right where Jacksonβs standing. I know what itβs like to be on the receiving end of that look and have the man youβ¦β She pauses and wipes a tear. βThe man you love, look at you like the thought of touching you is unbearable and heβd rather die.β
She clears her throat. βIβm gonna go grab some coffee. You want anything?β
I want to know more about what happened between her and Ricardo, but I know sheβs not going to tell me. I sit down in one of the chairs. βNo, Iβm good. Thanks.β
She leaves and I curl my arms around myself while saying another prayer for Tyrone.
BLAME IT ON THE PAIN : EPISODE 61 β 70
A moment later, I look up to find one of the most gorgeous women I have ever seen in my life staring at me. Her eyes are bIoodshot and thereβs a look of utter despair on her face, but that does nothing to diminish her beauty. Her skin is smooth and mocha colored, her dark hair falls around her shoulders in soft curls, and her bright green eyes are mesmerizing.
βIβm sorry. The nurse told me this was where everyone was waiting. But I must have been mistaken, seeing as thereβs hardly anyone in here,β she says in a Southern accent.
The accent gives her away and I immediately know who she is. βShelby?β
She blinks and looks surprised. βWhy yes,β she says. βI donβt believe weβve ever met before. Iβm not from around these parts. How do you know my name?β
I stand up and hold out my hand. βIβm Alyssa. Iβm Jacksonβsββ I donβt have a chance to finish that statement because her arms are around me and sheβs hugging me so tight I have to force myself not to yelp.
βIβve heard so much about you, Alyssa,β she says. Then she starts sobbing. βHave you heard anything? Is he still in surgery?β
βThe last I heard he was. I know a nurse who works here, sheβs myββ I pause because Iβm not entirely sure what to refer to her as at this point. βFriend and she promised to update me as soon as she can.β
βThank you, tell her I appreciate it. Iβm so scared, Alyssa,β she sobs. βI wonβt be able to go on if I lose him.β
βHeβs a fi ghter, Shelby. Heβs going to make it.β
She pulls away and wipes at her tears with a tissue. βI canβt believe this happened.β Then her green eyes turn angry. So angry I become alarmed. βI swear, if that son-of-a-bch DeLuca did this to him. I will raise hβll.β
My heart constricts and Iβm pretty sure I make a choking sound from somewhere deep in my throat.
Thereβs a world of a difference between suspecting something and having it outright confirmed.
Because now I have to face facts, I have no choice but to acknowledge whatβs happening.
I have no choice but to realize that DeLuca wants his revenge. I have no choice but to accept that Jackson was setting me up.
Somewhere in the back of my mind, I recall Jackson telling me not to go to the club. But before it can hit the surface of my thoughts, I stuff it down. He has to be setting me up, this is the only reason I can come up with for him lying to me. Why else would he be actively working and fi ghting for a man who he knows bru.tally ki lled my father?
The room spins and Iβm struck with the feeling of wanting to call Ford for some kind of protection, but I force myself to stay strong. Despite my father, I already know that I canβt trust Ford, heβs already shown his true colors to me. Thereβs no way in the world I would ever put myself at his mercy again.
βAlyssa?β Shelby calls out.
Her name sounds so far away now but I donβt know why. Itβs only when Jacksonβs face appears right in front of me and I let out a scream that I realize Iβm on the floor.
βTalk to me, baby. What happened?β Jackson says, searching my face.
I quickly crawl away from him and stand up. I look up just as Lou-Lou walks in the room.
The face Jacksonβs makes when I walk over to her and reach for her hand is unlike any Iβve seen.
As messed up as it sounds, itβs my way of letting him know that Iβm on to him. Itβs my way of telling him that Iβd rather hold Lou-Louβs hand than ever touch him again, the traitorous mother fker.
He steps closer to me, but to my surprise, Lou-Lou lifts her chin and glares at him. βLeave her alone, Jackson. I have no clue what you did but she doesnβt want you near her for the time being. You need to respect that.β
His eyes narrow and he opens his mouth, but the look I give him halts him and he looks taken back.
I thought Iβd break down over his betrayal. But Iβm not, far from it actually. Iβm straight up seething. Iβm so outraged I want to put my hands around his neΒ’k and st. rangle the sht out of him. I want to el!minate him and wipe his beautiful face off the planet.
They always say thereβs a thin line between love and hate and right now, Iβm standing on it, planting my flag, ready to build a house on my newfound land made out of pure wrath. βTouch me again and youβll be in a jail cell,β I say deadpan while pointing to my cheek.
Shelbyβs eyes open wide and she gasps.
Jackson takes a step back and shakes his head. βThat was an accident and you know it. I would never, ever hurt you on purpose. You stepped right in the middle of a full-on fight between two grown men, Alyssa. I didnβt even see you until it was already too late. You have to know that I would never hurt you! I love you!β he screams, his voice thick with emotion.
He looks completely wrecked right now and part of me wants to take back what Iβve said, but then Momma and Ricardo walk into the room and announce that Tyroneβs out of surgery and the doctor will be updating us on his condition momentarily.
Any altercation brewing between Jackson and I goes on the back burner as we wait for the doctor to enter the room.
When he finally does, we all hold our breath, until he says, βHe made it through surgery.β
Thereβs tears, shouts of happiness and smiles.
Until the Doctorβs face falls. βHeβs still not out of the woods quite yet, but weβre hopeful about his recovery from the surgery.β He pauses and looks at Momma. βBut there was extensive damage inflicted to his spinal cord. Specifically his thoracic vertebrae region, and more specifically, his T11 and T12 thoracic nerves.β
Momma shakes her head, confused. βI donβt understand what that means, Doctor.β
Beside me, Jackson closes his eyes. βIt means heβs paralyzed, Momma.β
Momma gasps and Jackson walks over to her and envelopes her in his arms.
The Doctor nods sadly. βYes. Although we wonβt know the full extent of the damage or his injury level until he wakes up, recovers from surgery and we can do further testing. And now that the surgery is over, Iβll have to ask that only immediate family remain here to see him. The rest of you can come back tomorrow during scheduled visiting hours.β
The Doctor leaves after that and no one says a word, but there are sniffles and sobs from both Momma and Shelby.
Jackson and Ricardo look like theyβre about to lose it but are trying to remain strong. Lou-Lou looks down and her lower lip trembles.
My heart just breaks for poor Tyrone. Iβm so happy heβs alive, but this is devastating in its own right.
TO Be Continued