Chapter 7 — Kayla

That evening, once Kayla's head finally touched the pillow, her dreams made no sense. She kept seeing the face of Tyrone Sloane at the end. In one, he was eating a bagel just staring. Kayla got up and went to check on him. She thought everyone in the house was asleep but she heard someone in the living room.

"Tyrone?" Kayla whispered, opening his door and peeking inside. His bed was made and he hadn't come home yet.

Kayla headed to the living room and made herself a cup of tea. 

"Tyrone's not home yet?" Terrance said coming to the kitchen.

"I don't think so. He was going to drop me off yesterday after my car broke down and then we had an argument," she said, setting her mug down.

"Okay—what happened? Terrance grabs a mug off the shelf. "Is the water still hot?"

"Yeah." Kayla figures this would be a good time to tell Terrance what's really going on. "Tee, can I tell you something?"

"Ok. What's up?"

"I'm—" Kayla gets cold feet. "Can you call him and see where he's at. I'm worried."

"Just call him a bunch of times. That's what I usually do. He'll pick up eventually."

"Tee, I know he won't answer."

"What's the deal though?"

"Really—I need a ride to work. He was my only hope."

"Here, use my car. I have a meeting with a client who's picking me up." Terrance dropped his keys on the counter.

"Thanks, Tee. You're a lifesaver." She hugged him.

"Don't destroy my ride," Terrance said taking his mug with him back to the living room.

"I won't."

* * *

Later in the morning, Kayla called around to find a cheap mechanic. The guy told her that they can take the car from the towing company and repair it but it would take a few days to get the parts.

"Fuck!"

Kayla took Terrance's car to the Aldi's and then came back home. Tyrone still hadn't come home. After putting away her groceries, she plopped down on the couch. Kayla for hours, sat in the same exact spot watching the morning news. She kept looking at her phone and still no one hit her up.

"Hey Kayla, want to go get something to eat? It's on me," It was Maurice coming out of his room.

"Okay but I have to work in a bit," Kayla said.

"Thai or fried chicken?"

"Thai."

"We can walk to Umai if you'd like. Gyu's too far."

"I have Terrance's car, so let's hit up Gyu. Give me five minutes. I'll be out," Kayla gets up to get dressed.

* * *

On the way, Kayla sang to a sad song on the radio while Maurice was glued to his phone. Everyone who rode with Kayla got used to her singing.

While being waited on, Kayla and Maurice just looked at their phones.

"So how's work?" Maurice said breaking the ice.

"Good." She looked at her phone again. "Have you seen Tyrone?"

"No. Now that I think about it, I haven't seen him since yesterday."

"Me, either. I think I might have driven him away.

"What you talking about, Kayla?"

"Maurice, I hate to say this but I have to. I'm in love that boy," she paused, trying to formulate what she was going to say next. "I mean you know like, love—whatever. We've been seeing each other on the low for a bit."

Maurice just stared like he didn't believe a word she said.

"Okay—"

"Okay! That's all you have to say."

"Well, that's news for today. Have you tried calling him?"

"No., but can I use your phone?"

"Why? What's wrong with yours?

"He won't answer from my number."  

"What did you do to him?"

"Nothing, boy. Just hand me the phone."

Maurice hands her his phone and Kayla dials. After a few rings, Tyrone answered but it was hard to hear.

"Maurice?"

"No, ass. It's your girl, Kayla."

"Hello?"

"Hello? It's Kayla!"

"Kayla? What are you doing with Maurice's phone?"

"That's not the point!"

People in the restaurant began to stare. Maurice did his best to shush Kayla seeing she was talking too loud.

"Where are you? Why didn't you come home?"

"I don't want to talk right now, Kayla. I'm busy."

"You need to tell me something. You left me alone at a gas station. I could have been kidnapped."

"I told you I'm going to Vegas."

"Las Vegas?" 

"Yeah, I'm busy."

"You're a clown. Where's your car? Where are you staying?"

"Well, I drove here and I'm parked in the garage at a Hooters outside the Golden Sands Casino. I've been here all night." Tyrone sounded a little drunk.

"I'm coming."

"No—" Kayla hung up the phone and handed it back to Maurice.

"What's going on?" Maurice said while eating a tuna sandwich.

"We're driving to Vegas to get Tyrone. Right now!"

"Excuse me?"

"You heard me! We need gas," Kayla said.

"Kayla, you're crazy. Terrance is going to kill you."

"I'll call him and tell him I'm using his whip for a few more days. As long as I bring it back in one piece, we're good."

* * *

Maurice and Kayla got in. Maurice was rapping to a song on the radio when Kayla texted Terrance.

"What the fuck? Are you kidding me?" Terrance texted back.

"I'm not. I have to get Tyrone. He's in trouble." Kayla texted back.

"Don't fuck up my car or yours is mine."

"Okay, I won't."

* * *

"Are we really going to drive all the way to Vegas? Right now? Why can't we just fly?" Maurice said.

"I need to practice my driving," Kayla said.

"So, you're kidnapping me?"

"Yes, I am. Turn up the radio."