Forgotten Love and Goodbyes – Ch. 7
Akisha awoke a few hours later, feeling a little better. She immediately went to the bathroom to check up on her bruise. She was glad that the swelling had gone down a bit, but the color was still a very deep purple. It didn't matter to her since she knew it would've really affected the rest of the team. She was also glad not to be racing tonight, knowing mentally how it's affect her and that Rico wouldn't be either. She wanted to go over and check on Leon but decided to just skip it. She went downstairs to get something to eat, but realised she had nothing to eat. She went back upstairs to put some concealer to hide the bruise, before heading out to buy some groceries. At the supermarket while getting her groceries she ran into Cho and Tai. Cho immediately winced at the sight of the bruise peeking through the concealer. "Ouch that must've hurt," she said touching it lightly."
"Are you okay?" asked Tai giving her a hug.
"I'm fine, thank god it was only a slap on the check," said Akisha as she rubbed her cheek.
"Benny told everyone about it, after he heard about it from Leon. Man you're lucky he was there to help you," said Cho.
"Mario and Rico don't know about Benny firing Rico yet, he wants to tell them when they come tonight," added Tai.
"I'll bet that neither of them will be happy especially Rico, he'll be pissed and probably blame me for hit," Akisha said frightened by the thought of Rico attacking her again.
"Hey don't worry about that," said Tai as he put a hand on her shoulder, "you won't be alone this time you'll have the rest of the team there and behind you.
"Yeah besides Rico's a jerk anyways if he refuses to be kicked out. Hey believe me if I was in your situation, I'd want him gone too."
"Cho's right he made the mistake not you. I'll be even surprised if Mario isn't aware of the hitting until hears it from Benny."
"Thanks guys, I'll see ya at the race."
"Sure see ya Akisha," said Cho as she and her brother walked away. Akisha continued with her shopping and headed home.
When she got back she found Leon waiting for her on the front porch. He headed down the steps as she drove in and parked the car. He was at her car the moment she stepped out. He gave her a hug and kiss on the lips. "Hey glad to see you're back, I was worried about where you went."
"I was at…"
"The grocery store, yeah I know, saw the near empty fridge." He opened her backdoor and began carrying out some of the grocery bags.
"Leon you don't…"
"Yeah I know, but thought I would anyway," he said smiling and started walking to the house. Akisha sighed, grabbed the rest of the bags, shut the door and followed Leon to the house. When she got inside she was putting away the groceries, he turned around when he heard the screen door slam shut. He stopped what he was doing and went over to her and took the bags from her hands and set them on the table. He then went back to putting the groceries away.
"Leon please just stop I can do it," she said walking up behind him; he ignored her and kept on going. "Leon please listen to me," she said as she put the bread and ice cream in the freezer, Leon still didn't respond. She finally walked up to him, hugging him from behind. "Leon please," she pleaded, almost in tears," just stop and look at me." Leon stopped putting the groceries away and let out a huge sigh. He turned around and hugged her back, seeing the tears streaking down her face and wiped them away.
"I'm sorry for ignoring you it's just that I can't stop thinking about what happened to you earlier. Ever since it happened, I can't seem to get the image out of my mind; it really scared and hurt me; to hear something like this happened. I really blame myself for it."
"I know you do; you feel that had you not left, I would've never gone to Rico. You feel so guilty that you couldn't live with the fact that had you been here, Rico would've never done what he did."
"What's worse is watching you race like that tonight, it just kills me," he said gently rubbing her cheek.
"I'm not racing tonight," she said as she turned away.
"What, why not?" he said, letting her go.
"Because Benny doesn't want me to because of this," she said pointing to her check, "he knows that mentally and emotionally my mind won't be totally on the race."
"I guess he figures that with you not in racing mode, it'll affect your judgement and could make you end up in an accident."
"Precisely which is why he doesn't want me to race, he also want to be my lookout. Mija and Tai aren't racing either."
"What about the twins, what if they don't want to leave?"
"He's got some buddies of his standing by to help 'escort' them out," Leon laughed knowing what she meant.
"Well that's good to know he said smiling, "it'll make winning a lot easier."
"Yeah Leon about you having to win to be back on the team, Benny says it's not necessary."
"Not necessary, you mean…"
"Yep win or lose, you're back on the team," she said smiling back.
"That's great but…"
"I know, you're thinking about the team in L.A., you're doing to them what you did to us, and it hurts. I know I shouldn't have said anything, now you're in the same boat as me."
"Hey don't worry, like I said I'm going to win that race, not just for you but for all of us."
"Thanks, you better go, I can finish up here."
"You sure, I don't…" seeing her look made him say, "okay fine but if you need…"
"Just go will ya!"
"Okay I'm gone," and he left out the backdoor.
When Leon got back home, he wanted to call Mia so bad and see if there were any changes. He was afraid that she would ask if he was ever gonna come back, knowing that if he said no, she'd be heartbroken. He also wanted the number for the hospital where Vince was at so that he could call him. He dialled up the number and waited, the phone began to ring on the other end. It rang for a while before he decided to hang up, thinking Mia wasn't home. She came on at the last minute, "Hello?"
"Hey Mia."
"Leon, hey how are you?"
"Great I'm fine, how bout you?"
"I'm good kinda lonely with no one around, Hector stops by sometimes. So when are you coming back?"
"Yeah Mia, that the thing I'm calling about."
"Wait you're not coming back, why?"
"I've really gotten back to my old life here, besides I only came because of Jessie."
"Jessie, what did he have to do with this?" Leon went over the story of how he met Jessie and how the day after he slept over; they left San Francisco for L.A. "What about Vince, are you going to talk to him?"
"That's why I called; I wanted to know if you have the hospital where he's staying at?"
"Hang on a sec I'll get it," she left then returned, "OK the number is 555-6150 and the room # is 356."
"Thanks Mia for everything, maybe I'll come and visit sometime."
"Thanks Leon, that would be great, bye," Mia hung up so did Leon. After he hung up the phone, he took a breath before calling the hospital.
"L.A. County General," said the women answering the phone.
"Uh yes could I have extension 356 please?"
"Just a moment I'll patch you through," she said as she put Leon on hold.
"Nurse's station," said the nurse who came on the line.
"Yes could I please have extension 356 please?"
"I'm sorry sir, but that patient in that room is unable to receive phone calls, all privileges have been removed."
"Please it's important that I speak with the patient at once."
"I'm sorry sir, I can't no one but family…"
"I'm his brother."
"I see sir, just hold on a moment," there was a short pause before she came on, "I'm sorry sir, but there's no record of him having any known biological siblings."
"I'm his adopted brother."
"Fine sir, please hold," said the nurse as Leon let out a sigh and waited.
"Hello, who is this?" said a gruff voice.
"Hey Vince it's me Leon."
"Leon, where the fuck are you man?"
"I'm in San Fran…"
"San Francisco, what the fuck are you doing there?"
"I came here after the med helicopter left with you. I dropped Letty at the house and left."
"So you've been there all this time, why didn't ya call me sooner, what you had cops scoping you?"
"No."
"So why not then man, its' been hell here all by myself. Even with the drugs they've been feeding me, it's still hell here."
"Yeah man, I'm really sorry for everything and about Jessie too."
"Yeah I heard about him through Mia, she came a few days later and told me what happened. I miss him man, but am glad that Tran's dead."
"Yeah she told me about it, so how are you by the way?"
"Like I told ya before, I feel like shit. My entire arm's been bandaged up and I had to have a blood transfusion. Thankfully I'll live, but I wish I had people to talk to, it can get pretty lonely."
"I'll come by and visit sometime."
"You better man, before I get outta here and find ya myself."
"Don't worry man I will," said Leon as he hung up the phone. Leon was glad that he was able to finally talk to Vince and that he was okay. He felt bad that no one was there to keep him company besides Mia. He thought about maybe taking a trip up there after the race and take Akisha along. He went to the garage to take one last look at his car before heading out to the race.
To Be Continued