Joe.
I didn't mean to do it, well— I kind of want to BUT NOT TO INTENTIONALLY KILL HIM MY GOODNESS WHAT I HAVE DONE.
"Joe, hey.. calm down. You're talking your thoughts out loud again." Mary had her hand patting my back as she speak. We've been like this for almost an hour now since we got here in the police station. Mom is already talking to the cops about what happened but my mistake is that I've told them it was me.
Mary said that didn't sound pleasant to the police's end.
What do they want me to say, that I accidentally snapped the trigger and it went straight to my father's eye?! I know what I did, but I want them to know why I did that. He's going to shoot me and if I didn't tug the fucking gun out of his hand he would've shot my sister in the face then me.
I can't handle that anymore.
They said he's still alive, which I'm baffling if I should be thankful or not. But atleast he had to do jail time when proven guilty. Yeah no shit, he is fucking guilty. He could've had break my sister's pretty face.
"Joe, you are creeping me out." Mary mumbled and I've only realized I was talking my thoughts out loud— which only happens if I'm nervous.
"Sorry, it's just.." I sighed and just launch myself to her, gratefully she was attentive enough to catch me into her arms or else I will fall off the bench and land on the ground, face first.
Mary mentioned she spoke to Lucy and brought the news. And knowing Lucy, she must've told the guys and before I know it they're already on their way here.
That means I can see my boyfriend's face again.
"Ben the bitch hasn't replied to me." I whispered, clutching myself closer to my older sibling.
"They took our phones for the investigation, remember?" Shit, I forgot. "And don't call your boyfriend a bitch."
"He's a bitch. My bitch. My British bitch." I don't know what I'm talking about actually, I'm blabbering words. Then I remember, they had to sedate me earlier. "What did they inject me?"
"That is for you to calm down but I'm not sure what exactly it was. You're sleepy?" I nodded and yawn loudly, I'm just exaggerating things to get more attention.
My sister nodded and ask one of the cops where I should be taken to put on rest. I feel exhausted and I could really use a couple hours of sleep until Ben arrives. I must look good for him, god I look shit.
But he should love me still even if I look shit.
I was brought into a room with a small bed. It looks boring but I couldn't care less. All I need is a place to sleep and bet your sweet ass I've fallen into some sort of coma when my body hit the mattress.
Later..
I was awaken by several voices around. My first thought was it is all just a dream and everything about now is reality. But the voices are not yelling at one another, I can't hear any breaking of glasses. They are in fact, whispering to each other.
"How long do we need to wait? He's been sleeping for hours!"
"Lower your voice down, Gwil."
"I will slap him no—"
"Rami no!"
I immediately shot my eyes open after confirming it was my friends' voices. Rami had his hand already aiming to slap me while Gwilym holds his wrist. Lucy in the other hand was pulling him away by his waist.
"Joe!" They all screamed in unison and attacked me with a hug. My throat is sore that all I could do is hug back. I missed these idiots so much and it's been just a couple of days.
"Are you okay?" Lucy inspected all areas she could place her hands and one part made me twitch. She poked my pelvis. "Sorry."
"I'm okay, don't worry." I mumbled, my voice was hoarse.
"Whoa, did you scream so much?" Gwilym commented about it and I gave him a glare.
"We're so relieved that you're okay and I'm so proud. You're a big boy now, darling! Such a sharp shooter. Make sure you shoot your cu—"
"Rami!" Lucy slapped his boyfriend's face before he could say anything nasty. His mouth is just unstoppable.
I'm trying to figure out who is missing from the group but I couldn't pin point who. Was it Sami? My sister? My mom? Mister Jim? Uncle Fred? Grannie Kash—
"Where is Benjamin?!" I bolted out of the bed and sat straight, my eyes began roaming around the room to find his figure but no avail. "Guys, where is Ben?!" I started panicking for unknown reasons, Gwilym and Rami hold me back.
"Simmer down! Ben is outside talking to your mom and sister? Jesus Christ you're such a clingy ass motherfucker!" Lucy poked my forehead with her long nail and honestly it hurts. And it actually snapped me back to sanity.
Then the thought of him talking to my family crept into my mind, giving me an obvious blush that they squealed about.
"Did you see him turn from a raddish to a tomato real quick?" Gwilym asked unbelievably which the couple nodded on as an answer.
"Shut up."
—••
Ben.
Joe's mother hasn't taken my eyes off me even after Mart walked out to go to a nearby vending machine. It was a fond look, as I can picture Nana used to look at me like that. It brings blush to my cheeks, her eyes were a constant reminder she gave birth to the most beautiful thing to ever enter my life.
"Have we met before, Ben?" She finally spoke and I'm thankful she did because it starts to get awkward. Her question was quite weird. I haven't been to New York since I was fifteen.
"No, I don't think so madam—"
"Ah, call me aunt Fel. Or even mom!" She swayed her hand in the air as a dismissal, it made me chuckle. "You just look really familiar. Or it's just me and all these things that has happened."
I smiled apologetically, I couldn't find words because I can only imagine how hard everything is for her now. She was stuck between protecting Joe and letting her two children be apart from her or the other way around. I can't help but to feel proud of her. Unlike my own mother, she fought for her right.
I felt her hand taking mine and giving it a tight loving squeeze. "You don't know how happy I was when I learned about you. You make Joseph extremely happy, I haven't seen him smile so much by just the mention of your name— I know I don't have the right to say that because I haven't really seen him for ten years but I can feel how special you are for him." Her eyes began to tear up, but her smile never leaving her face. She looks so much like Joe, except for the now-grayish short bob.
"Your son is special for me as well, never I had met someone in my life that can bring me so much joy. I promise to take care of him, to love him and to make sure that he's happy and safe— mom." The last word ended up like a whisper but I'm sure she heard it, I can see her eyes lit up as she pulled me into a hug.
"Oh, Ben." I hugged her back, allowing the mother of my boyfriend to sunk into my arms as she sobbed. "I'm so happy for the both of you. You make a cute couple."
I chuckled at the comment. "It is because your son is a cute bean to begin with."
We ended up laughing as she softly pulls away from our hug. It was nice to have a motherly hug, not that I complain about receiving hugs from Uncle Fred but you know the softness and their soothing voice. This is as comforting as hugging grannie Kash.
"I'm sure Joe is looking for you, he misses you a lot." She placed both of her hands between my cheeks. "Go."
I nodded a few times before standing up from the stool and waved at Mary who's walking closer to us. I turned around, marching towards the small room where Joe is sleeping. He was already inside when we arrived, Mary said they had to sedate him because he's having panic attacks after what happened. I hope he's feeling a bit alright now.
I turned left, suddenly bumping onto someone. I looked straight to the person's direction to mutter apologies but I was taken aback.
"Officer Leech?"
The man looked up to meet my gaze and was amused. "Oi, Ben!" His face lit up for a moment and went to furrow. "You doing here, mate?"
Office Leech was the person who took over my grandparents' case years ago. It was his handled case and he was extremely helpful. He didn't let me down and even if it ended as unsolved, I'm still thankful for him.
"Ahm, I'm here for Joseph Mazzello. The one who shot his d-dad in the eye?" I'm quite sure that the incident was all over the local news.
His brows furrowed even more, snapping his fingers. "Right, right. Good thing that you're here. I was planning on contacting you about your.. that." I nodded in understanding, but still confused why he brought up the case.
"What about it, Officer?"
"Can I take atleast five minutes of your time? This is important."
𝐈𝐬 𝐭𝐡𝐢𝐬 𝐜𝐨𝐧𝐬𝐢𝐝𝐞𝐫𝐞𝐝 𝐚 𝐜𝐥𝐢𝐟𝐟𝐡𝐚𝐧𝐠𝐞𝐫 𝐨𝐫—