Syn drove her Camaro like she was auditioning for Nascar. Serenity gazed out of the window, tears spilling freely down her face. Her phone buzzed- him. Just like the first night they met,his timing was right on cue.
Bentley: Hey there gorgeous.Been a few, hope I didn’t do anything to run you off, lets hangout soon please.😏
She wanted to respond with a million heart emojis and an immediate yes to hanging out, but right now her mind was so clouded. With Chance back on his foolishness, she’d be lucky to return to school this year.
Syn pulled into Patience’s yard on two wheels, barely threw the gear in park and jumped out all in one motion. Patience sat on the porch waiting. “What’s up Patience, I sure thought we were done with this crazy ass boy.” Syn said. Patience looked a Syn, gave a nod, took a pull from the joint and exhaled slow “yeah me too my girl,” she said, passing the joint to Syn.
Patience yelled to the car, “ come on here Serenity, your girl inside waiting on you.” Serenity slowly opened the door, let out the breath she had seemingly been holding the entire fifteen minute ride over to Paige’s. Sluggishly she approached the porch, “Hey Ms. Patience.” She walked right into the house. There was Paige, slumped at the kitchen island, head buried in the cavity created with her arms. “Bestie,” Serenity mumbled. Paige looked up at her best friend, eyes red, puffy, snot running down her face. She was a mess, physically and emotionally. Mentally, she was beyond disheveled, in a matter of thirty-six hours it seemed as though her life had stopped, reversed, then stopped again.
“What happened P?” Paige handed the phone to Serenity. Serenity couldn’t believe what she was reading. “P, what are we going to do?” Patience looked at her friend with defeat glistening in her eyes. “I don’t know Serenity!” In that moment, the girls were broken, confused, and of no use to each other. They held each other and sobbed just like they had done on prom night their junior year.
Syn and Patience walked in, looked at their girls, and at each other. Both realizing this time was going to be different from the last.
****
Dr. Sylvie reviewed his notes, making sure nothing was left unturned. Chance’s release was a big deal – too big to ho wrong. The kid’s face had been plastered all over the papers for weeks when his incident happened. Dr.Sylvie picked up the desk phone, and waited until a young woman’s voice speak. “Have Chance monitored around the clock for the next thirty-six hours. Leave no room for error.” He hung up the phone, opened the bottom left drawer to his desk, pulled out a black bag. He placed the bag on his desk, closed the blinds, and locked the door.
Inside the bag, a burner phone and a pill bottle. He threw the pill back and swallowed, dialed numbers on the phone. “Yeah,” a man answered. “Thirty-six hours,” Sylvie said. Click.
****
Jhaylen prepared for the sixty minute drive to Syncere’s residence. He was furious and nervous at the same time. He hadn’t laid eyes on his daughter in three years. He blamed himself for a lot of the things Serenity had gone through. However, he also knew he should have done better to stay around. Serenity was his heart and if this was the only way to prove it, then so be it. His phone chimed. He Glanced and the message.
Syn: we are at Patience’s house either meet me here or at the crib.
He responded back to her, see ya at the crib. He didn’t want the first time seeing his child after so long to happen in front of people. He found him a decent playlist to play, but before hitting play, he dialed a number. The male answered after the second ring, “Yoooooo, what’s good Jhay? Been a minute.”
Jhaylen laughed, “I know my guy, apologies about my absence. I’m back now though. You heard from Patience?” Michal went quiet.
Michal’s heart dropped for a second. He wasn’t expecting Jhaylen to mention Patience’s name. “Nah Jhay,something wrong?” Michal asked tension building in his voice. Michal didn’t know of to brace himself for the absolute worst or to expect good news. His mind began to spin with thoughts, was Paige okay?!
Jhaylen broke the silence, “yeah somethings wrong alright. That boy is back.” Michal’s head exploded! “WHAT THE HELL YOU MEAN HE’S BACK JHAY?!?!”
“Man calm down, I don’t know exactly what that means yet. Syn called me and said he threatened Serenity. I don’t know anything else, I’m on my way there though.” Jhay said.
Michal went quiet but his mind was loud. Why hadn’t Patience called? Is Paige okay?
“Jhay, the minute you find out something let me know. You think I should gas up and head down too?”
Jhaylen thought about how this might end up on the other spectrum of bad if Michal just showed up without Patience telling him anything, but he also understood the position Michal was in. He’d be absolutely unhinged to find out something was going on with Serenity from someone else.
“No Michal. Let me go and see what’s going on and I promise I got you on the info. I don’t want to make anything worse than what it already is and I already know how you thinking.” Michal listened at his boy tell him he’d scope it out and give him the play. Although he was ready to show up, he definitely had to weigh all his options.
“I hear you Jhay. Thank you for letting me know, I appreciate you for real! Hit me up as soon as you hear something.” Michal muscled out. “Already my guy,” Jhaylen replied just before disconnecting the call.
***
Serenity couldn’t help but look at Paige’s messages again.
Chance: P, you thought you could get rid of me, but I promise you I’m far from removed from your life. You should have never ousted me, you’re going to pay for this. If it’s the last thing I do. You were supposed to be mine…. It’s only right I come to claim that. One way or another. See ya soon! Real soon 😏
Serenity never thought Chance would be able to get to them in this manner again. Yet, here they were, weeping for the unknown. Patience approached the girls at the kitchen island. “Okay girls, let’s get this out and in the open. How long have these messages been coming?”
The girls looked at each other, and Serenity sighed as she knew she had to be the first to speak up. “Since the block party. That was the first time he contacted Paige.” Patience looked at Paige with her mouth gapped open. Serenity knew she had to keep talking but she also didn’t know what all was already said, but at this point, everything needed to come out.
“Paige caught a panic attack and I had to call the ambulance. That night once we got home and I got her calmed, he began texting me.” Syncere stared with rage and concern on her face. “Keep going Serenity, because I need to know why you never said this crazy boy contacted you!” Syncere let out.
“Momma, I didn’t think it would to come to this. I thought maybe he was just saying stuff to say stuff.” Syncere looked at her daughter in confusion, because what the hell did she mean saying stuff to be saying stuff. Serenity pulled out her phone, went to the message thread, and gave her phone over to Patience.
Patience was beyond livid. She didn’t know why Chance felt the need to want to seek revenge and threaten these girls almost three years later but this wouldn’t go away silently. Patience then handed the phone to Syn who was in need of another blunt to steady her thoughts.
Jhaylen pulled up in front of Syncere’s house. It was just as he remembered, memories flooded his thoughts, and a tear formed in the corner of his eyes. He wasn’t sure what was going to happen, but he knew damn well something had to happen if this mental case was after his daughter. He parked his all black Mercedes AMG E Class sitting on all black rims that matched his swag behind the gate so Serenity couldn’t see the car there. He walked up to the back door, turned the knob, and just like old times, he was home.
Patience looked at her daughter and watched as she saw her glow slipping away. As much as she likes to handle things on her own, she knew this had gotten beyond her reach. Paige looked as if she was on the verge of a mental breakdown. “Girls, forward every message he has sent to you to my phone. I’ll contact our lawyer to see how to handle this.”
Syn looked at her friend with one eyebrow lifted. “Lawyer, girl we let the damn lawyer handle this the last time. I think this lil psycho need some damn street action.” Syncere said while pacing the floor. Patience knew exactly what that meant. “Syn, just let me see what he says, please.”
Syncere chuckled, “Call him P. Do your thing, let me know what he says.” Serenity looked at her mother, she saw a different Syncere in this moment. “We shall keep a close watch on these girls, but I’ve gotta get Serenity home. Paige, babygirl, we got you okay. Please try and keep yourself together.”
Serenity hugged her best friend tightly before leaving. She had no idea- the real havoc was just beginning.
Kae Jaye The Writer 