Chapter 2

Aria

Taking a quick shower after my light morning workout. I walked back into my room to check the time that read 9:15am. Carnell mentioned he'd be here by 10, so I had to hurry up and put some clothes on. I made sure to send him my address. I was thinking we could sleep in the guest bedroom or in the sun room. It was bad enough Im letting him come over my house and I don't even know this guy from a can of paint but exactly in my bed? I definitely wasn't to sure about.

I put on spandex shorts and a tank top with my black UGG slippers. After finishing my hygiene routine, I made my way to the hallway closet where we kept our spare blankets. I grabbed a big blanket and carried it to the sunroom. SaBree had to work today, so she left out earlier this morning so she could leave early from work.

Grabbing a water bottle from the fridge, the doorbell rung loudly through the apartment, followed by an off beat knocking. Opening the door Carnell fell right to the ground.

"Carnell? Wha-wha, .." I stumbled over my words while kneeling down to his level

Picking up my phone to call an ambulance and quickly grabbing a blanket that was on the couch. I ran to the front door with the phone between my shoulder and ear.

"9-1-1 what's your emergency?"

"Hi, he's been shot please send an ambulance." I said in a cry

Who would do this to him and when did this happen? I was so confused.

"What's your address ma'am ?"

"6234 Woodland Ave. please Hurry.. umm.."I said as I sniffled to catch my breathe "he's loosing a lot of blood." I said before hanging up and tossing the phone down

Grabbing the blanket and tucking it under his neck. At this point, he was unconscious and wasn't talking. I noticed he was shot in the abdomen so I knew to apply pressure and fast. Using all my strength I pulled him to his left side where he was shot, to pull the opposite side of his shirt off and then doing the same with the other side. Carnell almost instantly yelled out.

"AHHHHHH, FUCK." He yelled out, scaring me

Now that I got his shirt off, I used it to apply pressure to the bullet wound.

"Carnell, can you hear me?" I said

At this point I was numb. The tears kept flowing but my breathing began to slow down. I could not believe this is the first date. I don't wanna loose anybody this way. I honestly was so scared that it made me numb.

"What happened?" He asked as the ambulance pulled up outside the door where we were

He noticed blood everywhere and started to panic a little.

"Carnell you've been shot baby, you showed up at my doorstep like this." I said waiting for the paramedic to approach

"Aria, I'm sorry, I don't know what happened!" He said catching his breath

"Ma'am, my team has it from here, do you know what happened?" The officer asked as the paramedics came for Carnell.

"He was suppose to meet me here by 10 and when he came to my door. There was blood everywhere and he was shot. He fell right to the floor when I opened the door. Like he passed out." I tried my best explaining what happened but I honestly don't know.

Seeing Carnell getting put in the ambulance truck. I had the sudden urge to hop in the back. Yes I was scared as hell but I honestly didn't want him to be alone when he wakes up. What about his family?

Hopping in the back, I sat on the side while they did everything they could to save him from loosing so much blood. Carnell laid there unconscious yet again from all the blood loss.

"Victim was shot 3 times, I was able to get bullet 1 out. Others will need surgery." The paramedic said aloud into a walkie

"Copy, an OR will be ready." The person on the walkie said

He looked already dead to me. He looked pale. The last thing he said was. "I'm sorry, I don't know what happened." I thought. Seeing a clear space to touch him. I went for his pockets to look for his phone. Finding it covered in some blood. I wiped it off and tried to unlock it but of course couldn't figure out the code. I tried his birthday, I tried almost every code but the obvious one. Touch ID. Using his thumb to unlock his phone, I went to his recent call log and seen Dustin was the last person he talked to. Putting the phone to my ear waiting for the someone to answer. I got no answer. Taking Carnell's hand and holding it tightly, I went to his moms contact and pressed dial.

"Hey baby," she said answering the phone

Instantly, I started crying again. Who am I to her son to deliver this kind of news?

"Carnell has been shot. We just arrived at Capital Health. Please hurry." Hanging up I followed after the paramedics not trying to let go of Carnell.

"Ma'am you have to wait in the waiting room." the paramedics said as escorted me to the waiting room and into a seat

I was in and out of shock. It wasn't something I see everyday. I lived in the suburbs, where we leave our doors unlocked through the night and say hi to our next door neighbors without getting shot at. Shooting or death wasn't at a high in our area.

Taking a seat in the waiting room. I sat there sad and confused. One of the nurses seen me sitting there in bloody clothes still and offered me to come with her. Following her, I looked around at any door that could've showed me or even lead me to Carnell. I was extremely worried, but I failed. I'm not sure if I'd be able to deal with being a witness of someone dying. I also want to know who did this and why?

"I seen you when you came in. You can get cleaned in here and here's aclean spare of scrubs I bring to work. You can put that on." She said showing me the shower and turning it on

"Okay, thank you." I said politely

"Alright I'll be at the front desk if you need me-"

"No wait. Could you actually stay in here with me?" I asked

She nodded and took a seat near the showers. I made a mental note to genuinely thank her once I get my mind together. Taking off my clothes, I adjusted the water temp and got in.

"Do you wanna talk or do you just want the company?" She asked

"We can talk." I said wanting to clear my thoughts of seeing Carnell's blood everywhere.

"Alright I'll introduce myself and something about me and you do the same." She said

"My name is Jennifer Bryant. I've worked here for about five in a half years. What's your name?"

"My name is Aria Jackson. I'm a hiring manager for six flags."

"Ooo, what's it like working there?" She asked

"Umm , okay for the most part. Is it possible I could ask for a favor?"

"Sure?"

"Could you check on a patient for me?"

"Your boyfriend that came in here? I can peek though, I think he may still be in surgery."

"His named is Carnell Hunnicut." I said finishing my shower not denying her assumption

Cutting off the shower and grabbing the towel next to the clothes I was going to put on, I dried off.

"Okay sure, will you be okay to go to the waiting area yourself?" She asked

"Yes, I will be. Thank you."

"No, Thank you. I can't even believe you guys are still together." I heard her say before leaving out the shower room

"Still?" I mumbled confused but I shook it off, thinking she was mistaken

Getting dressed , I walked to the door and froze. Examining the door a little to ease my mind, I reached for the door knob and stopped. Even knowing I was in the hospital, opening the door was starting to get to me. I reached and opened the door and walked out. I inhaled and exhaled deeply as I walked back to the waiting room. There I saw Carnell's brothers and their mom standing around each other. When she saw me. It was as if she'd seen a ghost.

"Aria?!" She shouted and ran over to give me a hug and I returned it

"Your a nurse here now?" She asked

"Umm No I was the one who called you. How do you know my name?" I said fiddling with my fingers

She turned back to the boys who were slightly confused but didn't say anything.

" I'm going to go talk to her. We will be back. If a nurse comes out, call me." She said then wrapping her arms gently around me to lead me outside the hospital to the nearest bench

"You don't remember me sweetie?" She said sitting down on the bench next to me

"I mean, I know you are B5's mother an-"

"Sweetheart. I-" she started in a cry but stopped covering her mouth

My heart pounded while my eyes stared to sting, I was in great suspense on what she was going to say next. Why would I remember her personally? She cleared her throat before responding again.

"Sweetheart.. you and Carnell dated before. Five years ago to be exact. From what Carnell rememberers-"

"Carnell remembers? You're telling me that I know you and your son how can that possi-"

She pulled out her phone and showed me an old picture of Carnell and I together. In this picture we were in mid walk and smiling. We were happy and pregnant?

"I-I was pregnant?" I said in a cry

Why couldn't I remember this? What could've possibly happened to me that I forgot? Why hadn't my mom told me about this?

"Ma!" Bryan called out marking us both hurry inside

Walking inside the guys were crowded around the doctors but made enough room for me and his mom

"My name is Dr. Davis and I'm Mr. Hunnicut's Dr. He suffered from severe bullet wounds. Two to the chest and one the the abdomen. He lost a lot of blood but we were able to restore some red blood cells with a blood transfusion and removed all bullets. He needs plenty of rest. From his heart rate during the procedure, he's lucky to even be alive. He's stable and you guys can see him now." He said before leading the way to his room

"I'll wait until you guys have seen him to go in." I said taking a seat in the lobby

I'm at peace with knowing that he's okay. I just wasn't sure what was going on and I can't believe we fucking dated! I was filled with mixed emotions which made seeing him first harder for me to do.

"No your not missy. Let's go." She said demandingly while holding her cellphone to her ear

"Get your ass to Capital Health right now Cassandra!" She yelled over the phone

"Cassandra?! Wait was that my mom?!" I said following after her

"Yes it was. We are going to have a serious talk and right now gone be the time for it."

I could not believe the fucking day I am having man. Can it get any worst?!

-

Carnell

Waking up in the hospital after being shot was crucial for me. I couldn't help but try to think of what happened. Suddenly my eyes popped opened at the thought of Aria. She was there. Soon I felt a wave of emotions hit me and tears started falling. Truth is Aria and I do know each other. We dated from our second semester in 10th grade all the way through college. We graduated together just about five years ago. We were  celebrating the pregnancy and got into a car accident. While driving on a two lane road, I noticed quickly there was a tractor trailer truck coming our direction recklessly and fast. Driving off the road to what I thought would be a safe shoulder stop, it turned into a mild hill but there was one problem. The brakes weren't working at all even. I felt like the accident was my fault. No one founds us for days. When one of the construction workers realized a car flipped over they called and got us help and that was two days later. Aria never wanted to go that day. She pleaded for us to go to the beach, but I insisted on showing her a good time. We both were in and out of it within that time being stranded but Aria, she lost partial memory. I did too but a year after the accident I got my memory back and my mom put me in therapy immediately.

Aria doesn't remember anything that has to do with us. We made each other happy when our world around us got small and judge mental. Knocking me out of my thoughts everyone came in the room including Ari. Dapping my brothers lightly and hugging my mom, there was only one person that hadn't greeted or hugged me. She stood there looking at me, unsure. I knew this would be this time for me to talk to her alone. I think it's best to hear it from me than our bragging and always arguing moms.

"I know you all just came in here, but could you guys give me and Aria a min?" I said trying my best to sit up on my own

"It's fine, t-they can stay." She said pulling up a chair along side the of the bed

I nodded understanding her wishes. I looked at Dustin and hinted to block the door. I knew what I was going to tell her was going to be overwhelming.

"Ari, we dated a five years ago for a few years. College graduation day is the day you told me were pregnant. It was a week before we were going to find out the sex and-" I felt myself getting worked up but Aria was already crying

We lost a lot because of this accident and that drunk driver that was never found. We lost ourselves, our baby. Shit we didn't even know who the other one was. Our moms thought it was a good idea to "give us new lives" and if we remember then they would deal with it then.

"We were in a bad accident. We lost our baby and each other. After the accident, a year later I started to regain my memory and surely my brothers was here to help me. Once I remembered everything that happened. I had to find you again. I wanted too. I wanted to know if you were okay and what you remember. Being here showed me that I wasn't remembered, you didn't remember anything for that matter. So I wanted to ad least try because I still love you." I said wiping my face

She was crying her heart out. I felt bad and wondered why her mom didn't tell her. Was she really that jealous of our relationship? Did she really hate me that much?

"I didn't want to remember. Every year for the last five years my mom has been wanting me to remember something I just simply cannot remember?! She didn't mention you or us dating she just said I was in a car accident. I wanted to remember because the only thing I can remember is waking up in the hospital broken and..." she stopped to catch her breathe. "I was in so much pain I didn't want to remember. Then you come around pretending you don't know me. You would've let me fall inlove with you all over again. We're you even going to tell me? Why should I have to remember something that pained me?" She said crying

"Aria, I would've told you. If I didn't you still would've found out. It was no hiding that. I've spent these last few years regaining my strength and learning how to walk again and you couldn't even remember me. We've been together since 10th grade. We were prom King and Queen. We were going to start a family. We just bought a house in Decatur, GA. All these things I went through just to get you back. It's you I want, I'm willing to do whatever it is to make it me and you again." I was pleading and I was still hurt

It was silent. I glanced around and seen the expressions. It looked as if they realized that this is actually Aria. Kelly and Dustin thought it was all a joke when I said I was actually talking to Aria again. I guess Patrick didn't tell them about the girl on the phone.

She wiped her face and held my hand. Moving her chair closer to the bed, she just stared at me for a min. It wasn't uncomfortable but maybe she was taking it all in? I wasn't sure, but I was going to find out.