"Far away"

Jaylen POV

  "Bobby wake up. You're gonna be late for work." I said as I tried to shake him awake. "Baby stop. I'm too comfortable right now." He mumbled as he cuddled closer to me. "You gonna be comfortabe in that unemployment line too. You not blaming me for that either." "Babe shhhh." he said as he squeezed me. Now when his ass gets cursed out for being a no call no show, my name is Bennett and I ain't in it. He's lucky this sectional is comfortable. I wrapped my free arm around him and went back to sleep.  

  The smell of food woke me up hours later. I quickly went to brush my teeth first. Can't catch a thug slipping. "Good afternoon baby." Bobby said as I walked in the kitchen. He leaned back to kiss me. "What ya making?" "Cajun chicken, dirty rice and broccoli. Is that OK with you?" he asked giving me a look of concern. "As long as you save me some to take to work tomorrow. I didn't even know I had all that." I said as he laughed. "Well I just went to get the chicken while you were sleep." he said as I took a seat on the counter. "Imma need that area though." he said as I tilted my head. "Should I move then?" "Nah. You right where I want you." he said as we walked over to me. "Watch your food sir." "I am. That's why I turned it down. Now come here." he said as I laughed because he was already dead in front of me. 

  "Move." I said breaking the kiss. "I wanted more though." "My food, I would like for it to be edible." I laughed. "Now I see how you feel when I use to fuck with you when you was baking." "Yup. Now back to work you go." I said pushing him back to the stove. "So bossy man." he said shaking his head. "Speaking of work, why aren't you there?" I said as I tilted my head. "Baby, I have the weekends off." "Oh." was all I could say as he laughed. "Ruined my good nap because you were loud and wrong." he laughed. "All right, that's enough on me." I said with my hands up. "I'm sorry." "Besides, I can make it up to you. You want to stay the night?" I asked as his eyes lit up. "If that's cool with you." he said as I laughed. "I'm pretty sure I was the one that asked you. Duh it's OK with me."

  "Ight but I gotta get some change of clothes though." "That's fine." "First, let's eat." he said as he had two plates in his hand walking to the table. I got off the counter and followed behind him. "Let's say grace." he said as he place his hands out. They're so soft. Once he finished, we began to eat. "This is so good." "Thank you. You making dessert?" "I am dessert." "That I can't wait to eat." he mumbled lowly, causing me to choke on a piece of broccoli. "You OK?" "Y-y-yeah. Just was eating to fast." I said as I continued to cough. "I told you to stop doing that. Now look at you. Sounding like the big bad wolf." he laughed. Glad he found my struggle funny. Once my coughing ceased, I continued to eat. "I got that." he said as he collected my plate. "You got Tupperware?" "In the second cabinet on the left." I pointed. 

  He was about to say something but was interrupted by my phone. It was Roman calling. I quickly went to answer it. "Roman!" "Wassup chump. You doing good in school right." "Yeah. You already knew that. I did ace all my test I had on Friday." "See and you was stressing for nothing." "Shut up. I told you about sending me money fool." I said sighing. "I know but it's the least I can do. Gotta make sure you good and that your pockets stay laced." "What about you?" "We good. I make more then enough money for me that sometimes I don't know what to do with it. So instead of wasting it, I figured why not help you out. Even though you can handle things on your own." I laughed. "Well thank you anyway I really appreciate it." "No problem but how are you really? Have you heard any word from him? Anything suspicious?" "Nah nothing really. I all the way on the other side so I doubt he has THAT kinda pull but I'm not being to careless."

  "Cuz all you gotta do is say word and I'm lighting shit up." he said as I laughed. Between him, Dion and Bobby, I don't think I need to worry about protection. "I know but how's New York?" "It's chill as hell. Got promoted again.  Been laying low and minding my business you know?" he said as I kinda felt a little sad. While I was happy for him, I could only imagine how he would've been with Darren. "Hey I know what you're thinking. I'm good. I still think about him from time to time too but I know he would want me to be happy. Right now, I am. So long as nothing happens to you, I'm good." "You not lying?" "With god as my witness." "Well OK then. Can't lie on the lord. That's not good for you." I said as we laughed. "Ight lemme actually get back to work. If you see more money in your account, mind your business. Peace." he said hanging up before I could even protest. "He's something else." I said shaking my head.

  "Who's Roman?" Bobby said accidentally scaring the shit outta me. "He's a friend of mind from back home. Just calling to check up on me." "He sends you money?" he asked with his eyebrow raised. "Yeah, he's like my big brother so he always looks out for me. Though I can take care of myself, he still does what he wants." I shrugged. "That's what's up. Glad you have a friend like that though. Those are rare." he said picking me up and spinning me around. "Put some sneakers on." he said as I looked at him confused. "Come on let's go." he laughed as I stared at him. "Sir I ain't even wash up. I'm not going outside with the same clothes I had on yesterday. You crazy." "Come on baby. Real quick. I promise you won't sweat or anything." he said as I thought it over. 

  "Hold please." I said as I ran into the room, slathered an extra coat of deodorant and powdering the important areas. "OK come on." I said grabbing his hand. We made small talk along the way. We ended up walking to a nearby park. "Look at my baby. God took his time with this one. Damn." he said pulling his phone out and taking a picture:  

  "Damn even the picture fine." he said as I laughed. "Lemme see though. I said peeking over his shoulder to catch a glimpse. I looked so happy! "That's all me right there." he said placing his arm around me." "Shutup." I watched him make that my contact ID. "It's a beautiful day today isn't it? he asked as I smiled. The weather was nice, skies were a beautiful cerulean blue and the air was crisp. "Yeah it is." I responded as I watched the little children run about. "I want to have a lot of memories like this with you so I'm gonna make sure I do. You deserve the world Jaylen." he said as I smiled. "Aww shut up." I responded. After a few minutes of us just sitting there, his stomach started to rumble.  

  "You just ate!" "I told you I'm a growing boy." I just shook my head. "Come on. There's an ice cream parlor around the corner. That'll hold me over." he said standing up as I followed. He paid for our ice cream (ignoring my constant protests for him to let me buy my own) and we were now on our way back to my place. "Lemme get some." "You have a big ass bowl in your hand." "I know but yours look good." he said as I sighed before caving in. "Stop that, come here." He said as he kissed me. Tasted just like my Ice cream. Love that for me. "Ouch. Why you do that?" he said pulling back because I bit his lip. "Nigga if you wasn't being sneaky, I wouldn't have." I said looking down as he had a spoonful of my ice cream scooped up. "Damn. You do miss nothing.""Nope now come on." I said walking ahead of him.

  As soon as we made it in, I wasted no time going into the shower. "Baby Imma be right back. I gotta go get my stuff." he yelled. "OK lock the bottom lock." I yelled back as I heard the door close. As finished my shower, I took the time to reflect on my life. What a rocky road this has been. I decided to watch some TV as I waited for Bobby. Within a few minutes, I was out cold. 

  I was awaken by a loud banging on my door. "Now this better be the police." I mumbled as I walked to the door. I looked through the peephole but nobody was there. I opened the door to see Bobby walking down the hall. "Hello sir?" I said as he turned back around. He flashed me a smile as he walked back. "Were you sleep?" he asked as I nodded my head. "I see. Had these people about to call the cops on me." he said as I laughed. "Mind if I use your shower?" he said as I nodded my head. I grabbed a blanket and got comfortable on the couch. He returned a few minutes later in a tank with some ball shorts. "May I join you?" he asked as I smiled. I moved over and opened the blanket for him. I laid on his chest as I rubbed circles on my back. 

  "Something is on your mind. Talk to me." he said as he stopped. "No it's not." "You've been staring at the wall for past 5 minutes. Come on." he said as I sighed before sitting up and moving away from him. I guess it's now or never. "Hey I-" "It's OK. Bobby if we're gonna make this work then I have to be honest with you about who I am." I said as he sent me a confused look. "When I told you I was a whore for men, I wasn't lying. I was one but not by choice. At the age of 16, I met this guy. We kept bumping into each other and after the third time, he asked me out. Everything was going good until after our first date. That's when he kidnapped me. The life I once had was stolen from me and there was nothing I could do about it. Watching my mom cry on TV broke me." I said as I started to tear up. I continued to him about everything that happened there, including our attempt to escape and Darren's death. As well as our successful escape.

  "That's why I honestly scared to fall in love with you. I can't do that to myself again. I won't do that again. I also understand if you want to leave. I won't stop you nor do I want to drag you in my mess." I said as I curled up and cried to myself. "So that's explains why you came to Denver." he said as I nodded my head. "Hey look at me." he said as he removed my hands from my eyes. "I'm not leaving." he said as I stared at him. "You got out. You're making a name for yourself. To imagine you going through some shit like that at that age while putting up a facade to your friends. I feel powerless for the simple fact that I didn't come into your world sooner. Though Dion and Roman have my upmost respect for everything they've done for you thus far. I also understand now why Roman continues to do what he does. Jaylen, you're brave and strong as fuck. Anyone else would've crumbed under all of that pressure."

  "You didn't and for that I thank God for because I would've never met you. Baby you made it out, you got your life back and this time around, I WILL protect you. Even if it cost me my life." he said as I gasped. "Bobby you-" "Nah. You deserve to live a happy life and if I gotta lay down mine just to see that beautiful smile one last time, I will." he said as the tears were steady streaming down my face. "I understand that words are just that but my actions damn sure will match it if they already haven't by now." he said as I recalled all of the things he's done for me thus far. I mean he honestly could've left me on the street but he didn't. He didn't have to risk his career just for me to get my life back but he did. "Hey, even if we don't work out, I'll remain by your side." he said cupping my chin. "You don't have to call me your boyfriend if you're not comfortable with it. Like I said before just knowing that you're even allowing me to do any of this is more then enough for me. Especially now knowing what you been through" he said as I nodded my head. 

  "Have you heard from him since?"  he asked as I shook my head no. "Knowing him, he's scrambling to recoup his losses because Allure told me a lot of people escaped as well." "How has she been? Have you been talking to her?" "Yes. She called me last week. She's a licensed nurse. She's doing amazing things down in Texas. Like me though, she also keeps her eyes and ears to the streets just in case he comes back." I said as he nodded his head. He just makes me feel so damn warm and loved on the inside. "Well when he comes, we'll be ready. That's a fact." he said as he pulled me to him. "Right now, I don't want you to worry about that. I want you to focus on the life you got back. Though I can't take away the pain and heartbreak, I can try to create more positive and happy moments with you." he said as I smiled. "Thank you." I whispered as he smiled. 

  He grabbed a tissue and wiped my face before kissing me. "No thank you for being honest with me. I know that wasn't easy for you. Though it was a lot to take in, my desire to be with you outweighed all of the doubts." he said as he kissed me. Every time he kisses me, I feel butterflies. He wrapped both of his arms around me as I rested my head on his chest. "I got you now Jaylen." he said as I smiled before drifting off to sleep. 

A few days later.

  "I'm not understanding why I gotta meet him" I sighed as he drove. "Well I told him I was gonna show him the city and since we're together, it's a packaged deal." I rolled my eyes as I looked out the window. I guess he took the hint because he didn't say anything after that. When I got out the car, he caged me in by the door. "Please? For me?" he asked as he kissed me. "I need another one of those to change that no to a maybe." I said as he smirked. "How about that and I make those scallops you liked so much?" he said as I raised my eyebrow. "Deal!" I said happy as hell. He knew that was the key to my heart. "I knew you'd like that." he said leaning in. He grabbed my hand as we walked to the pickup terminal. When I saw P walking out, I don't what demon possessed me but I walked over to him and gave him a hug. 

  "I'm so sorry." I said as he stood there stunned. Hearing his story really made me feel bad for him though. I heard a sniffle followed by a tight grip. "I'm sorry too. I shouldn't have been an ass to you. Nor should I have tried to ruin the trip for you.  You've been nothing but nice to me and I was being a dick to you. I'm glad he finally confessed his feelings for you too." he said as a brief moment of confusion hit me. Then I remembered that they are best friends. Once we broke apart, P did something he hardly ever did, he smiled. "See and you talking all-" "Aht aht say another word and I won't bring you anything for a week." I said as he quickly shut up. "Damn he got you in check." Prince said as I laughed. "Yo shut up before yo ass be calling a cab." he said as I laughed.                 

  The whole ride, we cracked jokes. I let Prince sit in the front, much to Bobby's dismay. Prince kept apologizing the entire time. It was actually funny to see. "You sure you don't want to come?" Bobby asked me. "Nah. Have fun with your boy. Show him around. I have a paper to type." I smiled as he pouted. Nope not giving in. "See you later Bobby. Enjoy yourself Prince." I said waving to him. I started walking but did a double take to see Bobby still looking at me. "Nigga drive." Prince said taking the words right out of my mouth. I watched as they rode away before heading to my apartment. 

   I was staring at a certain contact. It said 'call when you're ready'. In my years of having the phone, I never paid attention to this particular contact. What if it's a killer? Or a scam artist? Maybe a therapist? I know they wouldn't set me up like that. I noticed that the contact was able to video chat. "What's the worst that could happen?" I said aloud as I pressed the button. As soon as the call connected, my heart dropped.

"Mom?"

Cue the waterworks!

Thoughts?

Bobby?

Prince?

Jaylen?

A treat: