33

Nikki

The show went on and it was glorious. I watched from the wings both the performance and Erik's reaction. They were both quite satisfactory. Through the excitement, however, a part of me, which was about the size of a kidney bean and hid well under the dress, was anxious about pretty much everything, even Erik.

After the show, the cast stayed behind for notes from Barry for the next performance. I dragged in all the letters sent by family and friends to cast members placed in plastic pockets attached to a sheet. I took out mine first and found three. I read them as Barry gave notes. From Auntie Tonya, Deshawn and Grandma:

Nikki,

Bravo and congratulations! We loved it! Auntie Tonya will meet you at home. I have to drop off Grandma.

Love,

T, Deshawn and Gma.

The next one was sealed in an envelope. The front of it read, For Miss Lasalle-Jones, to be read to the cast. I opened it and skimmed it for keywords. It was from Erik. Barry said to me, "Anything to add, Nikki?"

"Uh, nothing that wasn't already said," I said. "But I have a message from Mr. Y."

The cast looked shocked and murmured about it. I skipped the part congratulating only me and read aloud, "To the cast of Learning Lunacy, congratulations and well done. My expectations and confidence was low due to your inexperience and youth, but you have proved me wrong. I am especially pleased with the performance of Louis Luna." Lavon beamed. "The character's eccentricities were conveyed just as I had hoped they would be. I shall return for the performance tomorrow night and expect an even better one."

The cast and Barry cheered as I read the rest of the letter in my head:

Nicole, I need to warn you—Dante was in the audience. Something is wrong. I shall be in my theater if you need me earlier than tomorrow. I love you.

Erik

My phone rang. It was Auntie Tonya. "Hey, Auntie Tonya. Thanks for the note."

"Uh, Nikki, it's Deshawn," a shaky male voice said. "I, uh, think you need to come to the ER. Just tell whoever's at the desk who you are."

I froze. "Why?"

"Dante attacked us. Tonya, your grandma, me. I'm okay, but your grandma might not make it and Tonya…needs surgery or something."

I gasped. "I'll…I'll be there."

"Good. I, uh, gotta go." He hung up. I went to Barry and said, "Barry, there's a family emergency. I need to go."

"If you gotta go, go, but call me tomorrow," he said.

I nodded and ran to my car. A rose was sitting on the dashboard. I clenched it in my fist and bled a little. I had no time to alert Erik about what was going on, even though I now had his number. I sped to the hospital.

One of Tonya's nurse friends, Sarah, was at the desk. She saw me and said, "Nikki. They're in room five. Go ahead."

I nodded and jogged to room five. Three rows of curtains were opened, where I saw Auntie Tonya, Grandma and Deshawn on stretchers. Grandma was pale and too weak to moan, Auntie Tonya was breathing heavily and Deshawn had the most color and looked the strongest. "Guys," I breathed.

"Nikki," Tonya said. She turned to Grandma. "Momma, it's Nikki."

Her breathing, according to the beeping machine, slowed down as she looked at me and struggled to smile. I approached her and knelt beside her. She was dying. "You're dying, aren't you?" I muttered.

She lifted her chin a tiny bit. "It's okay, though."

"No, it's not. My so-called friend did it," I said.

She struggled to move her hand so she could touch mine. I took her hand instead. She said, "You'll do what's right." Her eyes fluttered closed and the beeping stopped and turned into one shrill ongoing beep. Auntie Tonya started to cry. Deshawn said, "Nikki, c'mere."

I hurried over to him. "Deshawn?"

"You ain't safe here," he said. "Dante said you were next before the police came. They haven't found him yet."

"Why did he do this?" I whimpered.

"Tonya called him on giving you a black eye and he…went crazy. He claimed you had a boyfriend."

My stomach churned. "Yeah. I can hide with him."

"No, you can't. You need to leave the state and…call him and tell him where you are or something. My wallet's on the table. Take what you need."

"No, Deshawn, I'll be safe with him, I know," I said.

"Leave," Deshawn hissed. "For your sake."

"Do what he says, baby," Auntie Tonya called. "Call us anytime."

"Go!" Deshawn yelled.

I took his wallet and ran to my car, but I didn't leave the state. I went to Erik's place to tell him what I had to say.