Disclaimer: I don't own the story or the characters. I just own Lyric.

~Chapter 7~

A few hours later, I take a shower and get dressed. I walk into my room and open my psychology book. I start reviewing a chapter that's going to be on the mid-term but I find that my mind is definitely not into it. I decide to call Isis. After the fifth ring she answers.

"Hey Isis." I say through the phone.

"What up girl."

"Nothing. Jack and Bobby left to handle some business so I'm by myself right now." I say a little disappointment in my voice but I try to hide it.

"Wait a second." Isis says.

"What?" I ask.

"There's something different in your voice. I'm trying to place it but I don't exactly know what it is."

"I don't know what you're talking about." I say trying to down play her suspicions

"You got some, didn't you?" She asks.

I don't reply I just stay silent.

"Oh my god. You did. Was it with Jack?"

"Yes." I say in a whisper but I know she'll here it.

"I can't believe it. Well does that mean you told them?"

"No. I didn't tell them."

"Lyric Justice Johnson, why in hell haven't you told them about your past yet?"

"It's not as easy as it seems, ok. It's not like I could just walk up to them and just burst all my feeling out about who and how I was raised okay. I don't want them to know about my past. That's why I moved in with Evelyn anyway. For a fresh start. Is that so bad?" I ask her.

"No sweetie it isn't. Is not bad to want everything in your past to just disappear. I know how much it hurts for you to talk about it but you're gonna have to tell them. Sooner or later."

"Can I choose later?" I ask but knowing what she's going to say.

"Just promise me, that you're going to tell them."

"I promise to tell them but at my own pace."

"That's fine. But now I only have one more question."

"Go ahead."

"How is Jack in bed?" She asks laughing.

I laugh with her. I go in to detail with her about most of the stuff that happened. After we talk, I get a call from Jack. He tells me to meet him at Playtime Bowl. They got some information from Councilman Douglas.

I put on a pair of dark jeans, a long-sleeved shirt, a jacket and one of my coats. I grab my keys and purse and head out. When I pull in, I see Jack and Bobby walking towards the door. I park and run towards them. I hear Bobby say:

"By the sound of his voice. I know my brother." Bobby says.

I walk to stand by Jack's side. He puts his arm around my shoulder as we walk into the bowling alley. When Angel arrives, Jack and Bobby already ordered a beer. I just have a water. I'm sitting on Jack's lap.

"What's going on, Angel?" Bobby asks.

"Was that councilman helpful?'

"Oh yeah. A real public servant." Taking a big sig of his beer.

"Do you remember a punk named Victor Sweet?" Bobby asks. I stiffen at the name. I don't think any of the others noticed it though.

"I remember a Malcolm sweet."

"Victor was his nephew. Used to deliver stuff for his uncle. Like firebombs to beatings. You remember Malcolm used to love to humiliate him all the time."

"Yeah, I remember that dude." Angel says.

"Seems like little Victor got sick of all the ass-whuppings and sunk his uncle in the river. He owns the whole neighborhood now."

"No shit?" Jack says.

Bobby nods his head.

"Look, Bobby. Word around town is that Jerry owes a lot of people money."

"What are you talking about?"

"Yeah Angel. What are you talking about?" I ask for the first time getting in the conversation.

"Recognize that dude over there with the fat head?" Angel says jerking his head in the direction of a guy in a big jersey bowling with his kid.

"Yeah, that Evander Pearson. He used to be all right that guy. He and Jerry used to hand out in the union days."

"He goes by Evan now. And he's working for a guy named Victor.

"You guys are coming up with this pretty quick." Jack says.

"Yeah we should've been cops." Bobby takes another gulp of his beer. He turns and walks past Angel, Jack and me. "What are we doing here, Angel?"

"Holy shit." Jack says. I look up and see Jerry walking over to Evan. "No. I am not seeing this right now." I say. I get up off his lap and walk closer to the bar to see. I start shaking my head hoping that it's all a dream but I know it's not. I feel all the other brother standing behind me. As we stand there and watching.

"I found out Jerry got a big insurance check for Mom's death."

"Forget Jerry. We'll find him later. Come on." Bobby says walking around the pillar. Angel following behind him. Jack takes my hands and I reluctantly follow.

"Yo, Evander. What's up?" Bobby yells as we approach them.

Evan tells his family it's time to go. He holds his daughter in his hands as we walk up.

"Nice to see you, boys, we were just leaving." He says since I was behind Jack trying to hide

"You ain't going nowhere. What where you talking to my brother Jerry about?

"Nothing. Just saying hello. Me and Jerry go way back to the union days. You know that, Bobby."

"Angel tells me that you one of Victor Sweet's boys now. Hear he's running things like his uncle. Treating you like a house nigger." Bobby says.

"What are you think about, Evan? That dude's a punk" Angel says

"You've been gone a long time, fellas. Times change."

"What's in that envelope?" Bobby asks.

"What envelope?

"You really wanna play that fucking game with me right now?" Bobby asks as he, Angel and Jack take a step forward. And by the way Bobby's standing he's showing his gun.

"You gonna do this here?" Evan asks.

"Right here. Right now." Bobby says.

"Hand me the envelope and take a walk." Angel says. Evan hesitates. "Now!" Angel says raising his voice.

Evan reluctantly takes the envelope out of the back of his pocket. Angel snatches it out of his hands.

"Go ahead, Evander. Take the kids home. We'll see your ass again real soon." Bobby says turning away. Angel turns after him. Jack grabs my hand. I turn with him. I look back at Evan. I see his eyes widen as he sees me. I shake my head but continue to keep up the pace with Bobby, Angel and Jack.

I'm sitting in the car with the rest of the guys, as we sit in front of Jerry's house.

"I ain't playing no more. I'm gonna go in there and bust that melon and find out what's he's thinking. " Bobby says as he opens the door.

"Hey." Angel says holding Bobby's jacket to keep him from leaving. Bobby puts his foot back in the car and closes the door.

"His family's in there." Jack says.

"Bobby, you are not going to go in there with your hot-tempered ass. You are not going to hurt my nieces." I say sitting next to Jack in the back.

"Bobby you're going to have to calm down." Angel says.

"I don't give a shit, man. Oh, I'm calm. He thinks I'm an idiot. He thinks I don't know what the fucks going on."

"Let me just call him." Angel says. He brings out his cell phone. We can hear Angel's part of the conversation. When he's done he closes his cell.

"Is he coming?" Bobby asks.

"Yeah, he's coming."

"Good."

"Look, let's just get home before Bobby does something stupid." I say.

"Okay." Angel says as he starts the car.

Once we get home, I walk into my room. I lock it. I take off my jacket and throw it on my bed. I grab one of my knives. I walk into the bathroom. I shut the door and turn on the shower. I look at myself in the mirror.

My reflection is not the woman I was staring back at me. No this was the little girl that died so long ago. The little girl that should have never returned. I turn the water on from the sink. I roll up my sleeve on my shirt. I take the knife and cut a line across my wrist. I bit my lip to muffle my screams.

I haven't cut in 5 years. I never thought I would be doing it again. But watching as the blood pool down my arm, it feels as if the only way to get through this. The only way to feel. I fall to the floor with a thump. I don't even care anymore. I make another cut in my arm but this time I can't hold it in. I let out a little scream.

I hear the door open. Next thing I know Jack, Bobby, Sophia and Angel are standing at the door. I hear Sofi gasp. I know what there seeing isn't a pretty sight. I don't even look up. I just sit there. Watching the blood flow out. I feel someone walking towards me. I don't even move. The knife is taking out of my hand. I finally look up and see Sofi grabbing a towel and wrapping it around my wrist to stop the blood. Angel is holding the knife in his hand. Jack, Bobby and Angel just stare at me.

"Would you all stop staring at me? God. I can't take it."

"Firecracker, what the hell do you think you were doing?" Bobby asks.

"Well gee, Bobby I had a knife in my hand and there are two cut marks on my wrist. What do you think I was doing?" I snap back.

"Why would you cut yourself?" This time Jack asks me softly.

I look into his eyes and as soon as I do. I wish I hadn't. I see the pain and hurt in those blue depths.

"I just needed to release it all. I needed to feel okay."

"But, why?" Angel asks.

"I couldn't take it anymore. Everything that's been going on and I just wanted it to stop. I wanted it all to stop." I say in a sigh. "That's the first time in 5 years that I've cut myself. I don't want to go back to that girl, but I didn't see like I had another choice."

"You always have a choice. But the next time you feel like this. Come talk to one of us. Because if I ever see you like this again, you will regret it. That's a promise." Bobby says.

I laugh with no humor. But nod my head anyway.

"Is there any bandage tape?" I ask.

"Si, I'll go get it." Sofi says as she walks to the medicine cabinet. She comes back holding the tape. I grab it with my other hand. I stand up. I look at the floor.

"I'll clean this up tomorrow. After we deal with Jerry and I clean up, I have to tell you guys something."

They all nod their heads as they walk out. And then there're two. Whoa, déjà vu.

"Jack, can we talk in your room? You can help me wrap this tape up."

"Yeah." He says. He turns and walks out of the bathroom. He walks into his room. He waits for me to walk in. I walk in and he closes the door. I sit on the floor with my back against the bed. Jack sits in front of me.

He takes the tape from my hands. He starts to unroll it a little. He reaches for the towel and moves it from my wrist. I see him wince. I wince too. Knowing that it's because of what I did. He gently pulls my arm out. He starts to wrap the tape up around my wrist. I try not to make too much sound or flinch at the pain. When Jack gets done, he sets the tape over to the side. We stare at each other. I know I should say something.

"I'm sorry." I say.

"Me, too. I still can't believe you were cutting yourself. Why would you do it?" He asks.

"Do you mean a few minutes ago or before?" I ask.

"Tell me why a few minutes ago."

"Well, I was just so overwhelmed with everything that's been happening lately. I guess I just couldn't handle it all anymore. I couldn't deal. Cutting seemed like the only way."

"Would you tell me about before? Please?" He asks.

I take a deep breath. I stare at him straight in his face.

"The first time I cut myself was after I got rapped." I say.


A/N: I hope you guys liked it. Cliff hanger. I know I'm evil. I know you guys probably hate me but I had to do it. The next chapter will probably be up tomorrow or sometimes this week. I have to work and get off late so I wont be updating as often as I like to. But don't worry I'm going to keep writing the story in between.

I hope you like it so far.

Chapter 8 up next.

(Review Please. I like to know you're enjoying reading it as I am writing it.)

XOXO,

BellaRosa