Sweet Fall

“I’m sorry… I’m so so sorry… I couldn’t keep my promise to Daisy…” I whispered.

Then it all went black.

Chapter Twenty-Five

Austin

“You get that homework done, kid?”

Levi looked up from his American History books and nodded his head. He was chewing on his pen when he asked, “Any word on Axe?”

Sighing, I ruffled my hand through his sandy hair and said, “No word yet, kid. No word yet.”

It was the same every day. Had been the same answer every day for over a damn month. Axel had split the night he escaped the cops, and we had no idea where he was.

Fuckin’ A.

Bright headlights lit up the trailer, and looking out the window, I saw a huge Dodge truck turning in. Some rich college kid, no doubt, coming for a fix. Since the night Porter OD’d, we’d had to do business from our turf. Porter was still in a coma, and until he woke, the cops had Axel as the prime suspect for dealing. Axel, who was on the run.

“Lev, I got business to attend to. Check on Mamma in fifteen, yeah? She needs her next dose of meds.”

Levi nodded and watched me leave the trailer with a sad expression on his face. He hated me dealing, hated that I’d replaced Axel as Gio’s right-hand man.

As soon as I jumped out of the trailer, the truck door opened and Rome Prince stepped out, surprising me to all hell. The trailer door behind me flew open, and Levi ran past.

“Rome!” he shouted, and Rome smiled at my brother’s enthusiastic greeting. Holding out his hand and bringing him into his chest, Rome said, “Lev, my man. How are you doing?”

Levi nodded his head and shrugged. “Okay, I suppose. Axe is missing, but Austin’s around more now. My mamma… she ain’t too good.”

“I know, kid. But try to keep strong, yeah?”

“Yeah.” Levi’s face brightened. “You were awesome in the championship game, Rome. That winning TD was insane!”

Rome laughed and play-punched Levi in the arm. “Thanks, kid. It wasn’t too shabby.

“Lev,” I said as I watched the two of them. “Get inside. I need to talk to Rome alone.”

“But—”

“In. Now,” I said sternly, and, giving Rome a final look, Levi headed inside.

“What the f**k you doing out here in the boonies?” I said as I walked to Rome, searching the park for any sight of Gio. I didn’t want my best friend getting any shit.

I didn’t even see it coming, but Rome walked with purpose toward me and punched me straight across the face. I stumbled back but recovered enough to straighten and push him until his back hit the bed of the truck.

“What the f**k, Rome!” I hissed and spat blood from my mouth.

Rome just knocked my hands off his shirt and met me chest to chest.

“What the f**k you doing, eighty-three?” he said quietly, his eyes boring into mine. “This your life now?” he said, gesturing around me with his hand. “This what you choosing to be?”

“Fuck off, Rome! You don’t know shit!”

“What I know is that my best friend, a guy I see as my brother, is digging himself into a hole he ain’t gonna be able to get out from. I ain’t seen you in weeks, have no idea what the f**k is going on in your life!”

Dropping my head, I stepped back and put my hands on my waist. “I gotta do it, man. I gotta provide for my family. Axe is off somewhere laying low. Mamma’s getting worse.”

Rome tipped back his head and said, “You know the dean is convinced you had something to do with Porter’s OD. He’s searching the campus for anyone who can tie you to the deal. You being here, obviously selling coke with the Heighters, ain’t gonna do you no favors.”

“Fuck! I know, but—”

Rome’s hand suddenly held my arm, and I lifted my eyebrows in surprise. “Look, eighty-three, I ain’t here to rip you a new one over the dealing, the crew. I get what you’re trying to do. I’m here to let you know that Le—”

“AUSTIN! AUSTIN!” My blood ran cold as Levi’s voice cut through the quietness of the night, cutting off Rome, and I turned to see him bolting from the trailer, pale as all hell and tears streaming from his eyes.

I sprinted to meet him, and as I held his arms, his body shook like a leaf in a windstorm.

“It’s Mamma, Aust! I can’t wake her up! She won’t wake up!”

I felt Rome behind me and heard him curse. But my feet were already moving into the trailer and into my mamma’s room. She looked like she was sleeping, but as I approached her bed, I could see she was eerily still and her chest was barely moving.