Chapter Twenty Three

Sonny

Matthias is my go-to on all things Kelly well ...and Robert apparently, Who can forget the punch he gave me ?

Anyways I need to get to the bottom of the Chiccoz situation. If she can't give me all the details. I will ask around and what better way. "Can I ask you about..."

'I knew sooner or later you were going to ask me about Murphy." Matt interrupts me. "It did not happen probably because Murphy didn't have your tenacity. Congrats, you managed to crack the wall that is Kelly's heart."

I shake my head, I want to laugh. "That's not what I want to ask but thank you?" I hand him a brush as we start painting the church. "Kelly mentioned a beef between Dem squad and the Chiccoz. Should I be worried? I was thinking she sets camp at my place for a while. Is it too much?"

He stops and looks at me. "Under normal circumstances I wouldn't say yes but in this case. Yes, take her. Whatever it takes. It isn't looking good."

That is all I need to hear.

Matt is that guy who likes his weed, low key very intelligent and loyal to the core. He is the best person to have around. He just has your back and doesn't take any bullsh*t from nobody.

During literature class I assigned Robert to work his magic on kelly. He owes me for the food he eats at my house every morning and gas money.

Kelly isn't gullible but I am hoping if Robert tells her I'm in some sort of trouble and my dad isn't around which he is not for a couple of weeks. I'm hoping she will come over. I'm hoping Kelly will come through after all I don't have that many close friends especially judging by the way, Reynold, Captain of the football squad is looking at me these days.

Kelly shows up at 7 p.m. complete with a backpack. Ready to save me.

"What is going on? Robert says your Dad suffered a stroke."

"What?"

I told him to say I got night terrors not to wish the worst on my father. I can't even hide it.

"My dad is perfectly healthy."

"What?" I shut the door behind her. "You have to stay a few days here. Matt told me the situation. The chiccoz are not one to lay low."

She is visibly shocked or pissed?

"So you lied to get me here? That was low Sonny."

She tries to walk past me but I block her path.

"Just until it's safe. Please do it for me."

Yes, she's pissed but on the bright side a mad Kelly is a very hot kelly. The schedule goes like this. We will have dinner, I will make corn and we'll watch another boring movie with subtitles and we'll make out as usual.

"Are you even listening to me?"

"Yes. I feel so bad. I'll do better next time."

10 p.m. I'm bringing corn. Things follow as scheduled.

"Yo, Sonny." Reynold comes by. My locker space is a little too small especially when his boys join us. "Rey, how can I help you?"

"Just wanted to remind you that Liebenberg is coming, be ready."

"Yeah, I know."

"... that they are one man short?"

"What did you say to me?" I push him.

"Hey!" one of his boys comes at me.

"It's okay," Rey calms him down. "What the hell man? I meant you, because you're one of us now. Isn't you used to be their captain? What's your beef man?"

D*mn it. My mind had gone straight to Neal. Man I need to get a hold of myself.

"I heard something else, my bad."

"Yes?" Rey looks less threatened now.

"Hey," Kelly comes through. I pull her in and nod at Rey. "Sorry..."

For some reason Kelly feels the need to work at kian's on a Wednesday afternoon. I have to let her go because I can tell she's home sick or neighborhood sick. Only I have to trust she comes back to me. I'm leaning on the school block facing her ready for football training.

"Can I at least drive you there?"

"No Sonny you've already done too much."

"Oh okay." I get off the wall.

"I didn't mean it like that." She puts her arms around me. I tell you these days the sexual tension between us is off the charts. Yes she has to go even for an afternoon. It's too much. "Okay. I'll be at home, waiting for you."

She gives me her great big smile. "I know, thanks."

Kelly

I didn't sign up for Sonny but this relationship that we have is something that I can't take for granted. It's literally the best thing to happen in my life. And sometimes I worry if I'm going to lose it anytime soon.

It can get hard sometimes finding my individuality, trying to remember who I was before I met him and the past three days living with him I swear I almost forgot why everything else matters even money.

Though it feels like heaven being with him I think it's only a matter of time before a brick hits you on the head and you realize you can't live in your own secluded world like a habit. Man I wish I was with him right now maybe I don't have to go to Kian's. I contemplate going back to him but now Kian's is right in front of me, a few blocks away.

I could go back but when I look up I see a burning building and several people looking over at it.

Oh no, Kian's factory is burning.

Oh no.

I start running this is my workplace and it has been for six years.

Matthias !

There he is in front of other spectators with soot on his face, looking at the burning building.

'Kelly?"

"What happened?"

He goes in and hugs me. "The Chiccoz happened." He whispers in my ear.

"Is Mr Kian safe?"

"The fireman went in there to save him. We are just keeping our fingers crossed." Before we know it the fireman comes out holding Mr. Kian with a blanket.

We go on and help him.

This is quite possibly the worst day of my life.

Kian's factory is no more.

I can't go back home. I can't go to detective Nori's house, he will want information on my crew's amongst other things. I pace back and forth and call Sonny.

He holds me during the night. This is my first time sleeping in his room, I always opt for the guest room.

His bed is the size of a football field. And over it is a wallpaper of a giant football jersey. His sheets are checkered blue and white. He also has a work station where all his books are stacked amongst other things like a football ball that's signed.

Everything is wonderful until I remember Kian's factory.

F*ck.

He holds me tighter for what seems like forever.

I know Mr. Kian is okay. I know...

It's just that with the crew gone and now the factory burning down that was the last of what brought us together.

Bit by bit. It's like Dem squad never happened. Nothing is for sure anymore. Nothing is for certain. The crew is just another memory.

When I open my eyes the next morning everything is new.

"So." I watch as Sonny hurries around the kitchen, packing his bag. "How are you feeling today is the big day?"

He smiles at me.

"I don't know... I thought I was going to be afraid or something to meet my old team again but I'm kind of okay."

Sonny's never tried to force me to get into football. He's also aware that I have never been to a game. Football was never a part of my day but today I'm surprising him. I'm going to show up well ...as soon as the play-offs are over.

Sonny

Liebenberg versus Coverton. It reads on the scoreboard.

If anyone had told me two years ago before the accident that this was going to be my fate, I would have punched them and told them to shut their mouth and yet here I am. A completely new person, playing my old team in what's set to be one of the biggest matches Coverton's ever had.

"Davis-" Rey shows up and gives me a firm Pat on the shoulder.

For the first time I think I get it now. Rey, as the captain of Coverton football has got my back, the Coverton team has my back.

'We got your back no matter what." He confirms it.

He knows. He knows about Neal. "Thanks." I shake hands with the rest of the squad. For the first time I feel like a part of the team. Robert appears with a look of relief on his face. "For a moment there I thought it was going to end up in a fight."

"Like we did?"

We laugh.

"lil bro, I got you tonight."

Not even the rainy showers can stop us tonight as we run into the ground - kisses to the ground.

I'm playing for the love of the game. For a town that never knew me but forgave me. For Kelly. For the gift I have in me. For my fellow teammates. I'm playing for Neal.

"Ey Sonny!" Sadie calls out to me. "Good luck!"

"Good luck to you too." Pedro retorts on my behalf. "Ok let's huddle up."

We huddle up as a team.

"On 3."

"1.2.3!"

"Coverton!"

The game begins.

This has got to be one of the biggest nights of my life. The rain is pouring down. I'm finally glad to be alive after two years. I look up to the sky.

That was a land slide.

When I look in front of me there stands Kelly Martins. Gorgeous curls, green and black checkered shirt and sneakers.

I love this girl.

I throw my helmet to the ground and carry her in my arm, kissing her like crazy. This continues all the way home. I want to stop.

"No don't." We go all the way. This is the best night of my life.