Page 26 of Dionysus
Damn Mars tell me how you really feel.
“How is he doing? Nobody is telling me anything, and I want to know!” she spat.
“He’s,” Chevy paused.
Don’t tell her, Chev, don’t do it.
“He’s resting. Just pray for him.”
“Dio is dead, and you guys won’t tell me! I can’t,” she said and hung up.
Goddamnit! I’m not dead! I’m not dead!
“Listen, Dio, I love you and hope you make it out of this. When or if you do. I want you to go to college, get your life together, see a therapist, and call when you need help.”
Don’t leave, Chev. I don’t want to be alone anymore. I don’t. I want to get help. I want all of that shit.
A nigga needs help!I screamed so loud in my head I could hear my voice ricochet out of my mind and back.
Wait!What was that? Did this nigga kiss my forehead?
Chev! Chev! Chev, come back!
I felt his kiss on my head. A weightless feeling washed over me, like I was laughing inside. I could fucking feel it. The coldbreeze swept over me, tickling my fingertips and the air against my face. Something was happening to me. I was coming back.
Mars, I’m not dead. I’m coming, baby!
SAMARA
I hung up with Chevy, upset. It wasn’t him asking questions about Bianca, but him not being honest with me about Dio. I couldn’t feel Dio’s presence or energy. I knew he was gone, and they didn’t want to tell me. Maybe that’s why I had been so angry. Since being in the Cove, shit was cool but also weird. I had become a middleman to Chevy’s and Bishop’s beef because only I knew who had set the nursery on fire, but because I knew no one, I couldn’t even say who did it.
Keith wanted to start a thing with me, but I had been too hung up on Dio to even give him a chance. I had gotten rejected from TSU, and now I didn’t know what to do. I had become so frustrated that I hopped out of bed to leave the house. I heard soft music playing throughout the home, and the smell of peppermint lingered through the halls as I exited the room.
Zaria was sitting on the couch when I came downstairs, reading a book and enjoying the music. Her big hair draped over her glasses as she relaxed. I didn’t bother her as I grabbed my keys to leave, but her voice stopped me. “You’re leaving?”
I slowly turned back to her. “Yes, I’m hungry. I’m going to go grab food. Do you want something?”
“Is it Vegan?”
I gave her an awkward smile. “You and Chevy can have that.”
Zaria got up from the sofa and came toward me. “I have somewhere I want to take you tomorrow.”
“O.K.”
She tossed her hand on her hip. “When is your birthday?”
I squinted at her. “What are you going to read my horoscope or something? I’m not into that type of stuff.”
She burst into laughter. “Girl, no, I want to know.”
“My birthday is in two weeks. I will be twenty.”
She nodded slowly. “Noted. Can I ask you another question?”
Now I was feeling uncomfortable. “Sure.”
“Did you and Dio?” she paused. “Did you two—”
