Free Just Ride: Legion of Guardians by Xyla Turner Page B

reckoned, with were both at fragile places in their life. Their health was causing two seemingly invincible people to be taken down. My mom was deteriorating right before my eyes, and now my dad has issues too.
    I. Could. Not.
    I got into my car and drove and drove. I don’t even know where I was going, but I just drove until I couldn’t see anymore and had to pull over. My heart was broken, my head hurt, and I felt helpless. All the money in the world would not fix this situation. It did not matter who we knew or who we helped. When your body failed you, that was it.
    My fist started to bang on the steering wheel. It wasn’t fair. They were good people and didn’t deserve this shit. People like me who gave assholes blow-jobs in the back of a motherfucking movie theatre deserved this shit.
    “Fuck!” I screamed to no one in particular.
    After more screaming and banging on my steering wheel, I tired myself out and finally decided to head back home. It took a lot longer to get home than it did to get to wherever I was, but when I pulled up, Razor’s truck was in the driveway along with Shay’s car.
    Just great.
    When I walked in, I saw that my mom’s walker and some other things were missing. Shay emerged from the kitchen and said, “Hey Girl, everything alright?”
    “Yeah?” I said and looked around.
    “Your dad was here and took your mom with him. He said she would be staying with him from now on. He says he expects to hear from you as well.”
    “Oh my God!” I gasped.
    Wow!
    “Where’s Will? Did you go to the carnival? And why is Razor’s truck here?”
    “Will is upstairs playing with Mace and Razor. We all went to the carnival, and they loved it.”
    “Good.” I tried to think.
    “What’s wrong, honey?”
    Shit. Anytime Shay called me honey, that meant she was serious and she knew there was something wrong that was equally as serious. I must have looked a mess.
    Tears started rolling down my eyes and Shay was on the move. Neither of us was sentimental people. We were tough, but really we weren’t.
    “Oh honey, what’s going on?” She asked.
    “They’re s-sick.” I stuttered. “They’re both sick and I…I…can’t d-deal.”
    “Oh, yes you can.” She pulled me towards her and we embraced as she rubbed my hair and my back. “You can deal. You’re one of the strongest women, I know.”
    “No, Shay. These are m-my parents.”
    “I know. I know.” She let me cry on her shoulder some more until we heard a creak in the floor.
    We both turned to see Razor standing on the bottom stairs with a sleeping Mace in his arms. I wiped the tears from my eyes and said, “Thanks for letting Will tag along.”
    He didn’t respond, just laid Will down on the couch in the living room and walked towards me. His face was wiped clear of emotion, but his walk was deliberate.
    “Uh, okay. I’m going to uh, go now.” Shay patted me on the back and tried to back away.
    “No, Shay. I gotta talk to you,” I held on to her and looked her way, hoping that she could see the plea in my eyes that I didn’t want to be left alone with him.

    “ O kay , I’ll be in the kitchen then.” She nodded, and I let her go.
    When she passed the threshold, I turned to him and said, “Thanks again.”
    “We need to talk,” he said with a measured and deliberate tone.
    “Razor, I cannot talk right now, okay?” I shook my head. “I thought about what you said, and you’re right. Everything is too fast, too soon.”
    “I never said that,” he interrupted me.
    “No. No, you didn’t.” I leveled my eyes at him. “I’m saying that. I’m agreeing with you about the differences between us. I’m young, and I have a lot going on. Especially right now. And this,” I pointed between the two of us. “I can’t deal with this, okay? So, I’m saying all that to say, I agree that I’m too young for you.”
    “Kylie, I was frustrated and I didn’t mean that shit.” My head reared back as I started to shake it back