I'm Trouble

It's Not Your Fault

"Junior,you like this show,huh?" I asked.

"Yeah,Gumball is hilarious! This is my favorite episode," he chuckled when Gumball and Darwin were in the tv,pretending to be in a music video. It is kinda funny so I chuckled.

After a while,KJ fell asleep. I guess the ride here wore him out or something. I picked him up and put him in 'his' room, tucking him in. Bella stood in the doorway with a big smile plastered on her face. "What?" I asked in a whisper.

"I just think its so adorable seeing Big Z turn into a soft bunny rabbit when she comes in contact with a kid she hardly knows."

"He...reminds me of my brother. When I looked into those light brown eyes, I saw Kenya at his age. He laughs like him,he sounds like him,he even sleeps like him."

"That's so sweet..." she kisses me.

"Yeah,let's go in the room,that Gumball character made me tired," I said,stretching.

"That makes zero sense,Day and you know it," she shook her head.

*****
2 weeks later

Me,Bella,and KJ decided to go to the store. I got KJ some Peach Rings, Grandma Chocolate Chip Cookies,and a Root Beer. Bella a bag of Lays Potato chips and a Dr. Pepper, and me some cupcakes and a Strawberry Lemonade Brisk. We walked out eating our snacks, heading back to the car,when I see someone I thought I'd only see in my nightmares. Joey,G-Tiger's big cousin.

He came up to me. "Bells,go take him back to the car. Leave this nigga to me," I stared at him in the face. "So,you're the one that killed my cousin?"

"Only because he killed my brother," I said,not taking my eyes off of the much larger man. He pointed a gold hand gun (Desert Eagle) in my face. "Well,I'ma kill you, like you killed G,"

KJ got scared and ran towards  an alley. I tried to get him,but Joey fired his gun and I ran faster. When I saw who it hit,my heart damn near stopped. I saw KJ lying on the rocky pavement,scraping his feet on the ground,holding his shoulder,crying.

"Aunty!! Help me!!"

Joey ran the opposite direction. The owner of the store we were outside of came out to help.

"Call 911!! Please,my nephew's been shot by that fucking bastard!!" I yelled. The owner called for an ambulance while I help KJ from blacking out.

"C'mon,man. You got it! Stay up!" I kept saying,holding his head in my lap and I cried hysterically. This is exactly how his dad was. Bella came to help out.

About 10 minutes later,KJ was in the back of an ambulance,along with me and Bella. We arrived in the hospital,where I had to wait 2 hours before seeing my nephew!I was saying a silent prayer,(even though I'm not so religious)when the doctor came out. "Kenya Coleman,Jr.?" Me and Bella stood up. She squeezed my hand she was holding.

"Is my son okay?" The word fell out of my mouth easily,without me thinking about it. A month ago,I didn't know this boy,now he's my son?

"Are you his biological mother?"

"No,I'm his biological aunt. His parents are dead." That's true. His mom died after he was born, he never knew. I found out 3 days ago.

She led us to his room. He had tubes and bandages on him. He looked at me and smiled. "Hey,Aunty Z!" He said in a raspy voice. I went over to him and hugged him gently. "You scared me,mijo," I said. I never spoke my grandma's language unless I was really scared,which hardly happens.

"I was scared,too," added Bella.

"I'm sorry,Aunties,I was afraid. He had a gun. I never thought he'd shoot me."

"He was trying to kill me,mijo. I did something bad and he was after me."

"What did you do?"

I shook my head,"No need to tell you now. Let's just say it involves your dad."

He nodded slowly,not saying a word. His eyes start to droop.

Bella rubbed his hair back. "You need to sleep,that medicine would kick in at any moment."

"Ok,Aunt Bella," he slowly fell asleep. The doctor came back in. "He needs his sleep, you two need to go home,he'll be ready to come home tomorrow afternoon." She said.

I continued to look a KJ sleeping,crying silently. Bella looked at her,"Can we stay here longer? You have to understand,please?" The doctor nodded and left. Bella hugged me tightly.

"It's all my fault...." I whispered.

"Its not your fault. Its never been your fault." She sooth.

More hot tears flowed out my eyes. "If I never went into the alley,Kenya would still be here. If I never killed Tiger,KJ wouldn't be in this hospital bed,shot. Its all my fault." I dip my head down,and sobbed bitterly.

Bella kissed my head and hugged me tighter. "Zendaya,its not your fault, KJ was scared and he ran,you ran after him," I cut her off.

"But Joey wanted ME!" I whispered shouted. "He wanted me and Junior took my bullet. 8 years old, haven't been with me a full month and he almost lost his life because of my dumbass decisions! He should have never been at my door. It would've saved his life better. Now he's in here....because of me." I shake my head.

Bella squatted down in front of me. "Day,stop blaming yourself for something you can't control. You didn't have the gun,Joey did."

"Might as well had it," I mumbled.

"Shut that up! You keep blaming yourself for things that's not your fault. Z,nothing is your fault." She soothe.

I sobbed even more. "He wouldn't be here if it wasn't for me." I repeated.

Bella looked at me deeply in my eyes. She kissed me tenderly. "Zendaya Maree Coleman,nothing's your fault. You were just being human. KJ is okay. He's fine minus the stitches. But he's okay nonetheless. You're a good aunt,baby. This was an accident. KJ is coming home with us tomorrow afternoon and we'll be a happy little family. This will bring us closer together."

I nodded. She wiped away my tears and I smiled weakly. "C'mon,Z. Lets go home before they kick us out," she smiled. I stood up,kissed KJ on his forehead and we left.

TBC
*****
Preview of next story

"Waddup,Bo$$?" I greeted him.

"How's your nephew?"

"He doing better. What about this transfer?"

"Yeah,before we get to that,guess what your brilliant boss did?" He said with a devilish smirk.

I could tell it wasn't good at all by the look on his face. But I couldn't have been more right.
*****
---KJ pictured above