"Shot For Me"

Nayeli Krystan Bennett
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Hitching my bag up my shoulder, I rubbed my hands together as I waited for my bus. It was nearing winter time in Minnesota so the weather was dropping with each day that passed. Every time I saw a bus I thought it would be mine but the bus would just continue driving or display Not In Service across the front. I hated depending on public transportation but it was the only way that I had to get to school.

My father had gotten sick last year and the hospital bills were getting higher and higher so we had to sell our house and our car. My moms sister agreed to take us in but I knew she didn't really want us there. She was one of those people who did things for you so she could hold it over your head forever. I know it took a lot for my mother to ask her for help but we had no other choice.

My aunt had no kids and a five bedroom house but my mom, two siblings and I had to share one room. I would rather stay in a shelter than stay with her. She goes out and eats so she doesn't have to put much food in the house. She claims she's single and child free so she shouldn't have to use her money to take care of anyone but herself.

My mother didn't want me to stop going to college so most of the money I was making at my job went towards school. I helped out as much as I could but I didn't get paid much to make a difference.

"You need a ride sweetheart?" Mr. Johnson, the neighborhood pervert asked pulling up alongside the bus stop. He was in his mid forties but still tried to flirt girls who are younger than his own daughters.

"No I'm fine thank you" I gave a fake smile hoping that he would drive off.

"Yes you are" he mumbled. After giving him a look, he looked surprised that I had heard him and quickly drove off.

Rolling my eyes, I sat down on the bench and slid my cell phone out of my back pocket. Checking the time I saw that it was almost 2 pm and my class started at 3. The bus ride was almost an hour long so if it didn't come soon I was going to be late.

I sighed in relief when I saw my bus coming down the street. I plugged my headphones clicking on Pandora before getting on the bus. It was crowded but I didn't have a choice at this point. I swiped my monthly bus pass and gave the driver a smile before moving behind the yellow line. These drivers always got anal when it came to the yellow line. Some threatened to not move the bus if you weren't behind it.

I looked behind me and let out a breath hoping that people would start piling off the bus soon. I didn't want to stand the entire ride to school.

Although I hated taking the bus it was worth it because I enjoyed school. My major was information technology, I was hoping to become a software programmer or IT when I graduate. I wanted to find success so that I could take care of my family. I didn't want to have to depend on any man or family members with ulterior motives to take care of me. I didn't need any of them holding me back.

That's also why I didn't have sex that much. I wasn't trying to have any kids any time soon and most of these niggas weren't worth my time. I was focused on being something myself before being in a committed relationship. I didn't want to pick up a bum ass man and what man would want a bum ass woman.

A lot of females look for men to complete them when they should be looking for God. They constantly wonder why they aren't fully satisfied when they fall in love. If a relationship isn't blessed by God then it will never be stable.

I wasn't perfect, in fact I was far from it but I like to think that God blessed me with a lot of wisdom. I was constantly told that I was mature for my age growing up. I guess that's why I've been single for so long. I haven't met any men only little boys who were interested in playing childish games.

The last boyfriend I had was when I was 17 and I'm currently 20. I'm still young and I'm still finding myself so all of that could wait. I was more focused on growing myself emotionally, mentally, and spiritually. People could call me what they wanted to at least I had my priorities in order.

I looked out the bus noticing my stop was coming up so I yanked the line signaling the bus driver to let me off. I stepped off in front of the community college and made my way towards the front door.

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I sped walked off the campus trying to make it to the bus stop in time. I had packed my work clothes in my bag so I didn't have to waste money going back home and leaving out too late. I worked at Wal-Mart most of the week and I worked part time at TGI Fridays as a hostess. I couldn't afford to be late so I hope I made this bus.

I looked behind me seeing the bus quickly approaching the stop so I began to run for it. The bus driver looked at me but kept driving right past me. I know I didn't make it to the stop but I was close, she could've stopped for me.

"What am I going to do?" I whispered to myself. Another bus wouldn't becoming anytime soon. I spent all my money that was on my card so I couldn't afford an Uber. I felt like crying because I was stuck with no way of getting to work. I quickly texted my manager letting him know I would be late.

I was already late plenty of times before so I couldn't keep doing this. I began my walk towards my job after getting myself together. The walk would probably take me an hour but I'd rather be late then absent.

I quickly crossed the street not wanting to get stopped by the light. I was thankful that it was daytime because it could get very scary walking around here. Most times I would be the only girl walking down this road.

I decided to put my earphones in and listen to my music as I walked. I made sure to leave one out so I could hear what was going on around me.

"Hey beautiful you need a ride?" Some guy asked hanging out the passenger side of the car. I rolled my eyes focusing my attention back on my path.

"Nigga how you offering rides in my shit?" The driver asked making me laugh and shake my head to myself. The passenger seat riding ass nigga got out the car and started walking alongside me.

"Babygirl you look exotic, what you mixed with?"

"Exotic? What exactly does that mean and why do I have to be mixed?" I questioned as I stopped walking. The street was basically empty and not a major road so no one else was around. I had my pepper spray in my bag in case anybody wanted to try something.

"You got that nice hair and that nice skin so I know you can't be black"

"Black woman are the most exotic ones out here if you ask me. They have nice hair so come correctly nigga." I continued walking annoyed with this nigga.

"Damn chill miss great debater, it's not that serious bout to kill a nigga for complimenting your ass" he laughed looking at his friend for backup but he just shook his head and leaned back in his car listening to his music.

I was about to respond when I heard gun shots ring out. I was quickly pushed to the ground  and I instantly covered my head. I jumped feeling something heavy fall on top of me. Figuring it was the guy trying to protect me, I laid there without protest.

The guy in the car was shooting at whoever was sending shots then the gunshots stopped. I soon heard sirens in the distances and watched the guy get back in his car. His tires squealed as he drove off leaving us there.

"Your friend left you" I groaned pushing him off of me. Army crawling over to some bushes, I sat up against this vine covered brick wall. I looked at the side walk and saw the guys body laying there motionless. He had been shot and blood was everywhere. I quickly crawled back over to him and checked for a pulse. It was very faint but it was something.

I wasn't an medical student but I watched enough Greys Anatomy to know what to do. I quickly applied pressure to his wound as I pulled out my phone to call 911. I made the report and they said an ambulance was already on the way. He could barely keep his eyes open but I was trying to keep him up.

"What's your name?" I asked as my eyes started building up with tears.

"Marcellus" he breathed out faintly. I nodded thinking of more things to ask him.

"I'm Nayeli"

"Exotic name too" he chuckled but ended of coughing and wheezing.

"Shutup" I laughed through my tears. I didn't know this guy at all but I wouldn't know how to recover if he died in front of me.

"I thought...you wanted...me too talk" he said slowly closing and opening is eyes.

"I do, where did your friend go?" I asked as I heard sirens approaching.

"I signaled him...they were gonna to kill him too"

"Okay just stay with me, the ambulance is almost here." I didn't move my hand from his wound in fear that he would bleed out. At this point I know I was probably going to lose my job or get my hours reduced but I didn't care.

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Not long after we were brought to the hospital was I questioned by officers. After checking for any injuries they let me go and officers came asking me what I knew about the shooting. I didn't want to snitch on Marcellus and his boy so I left that part out but I basically wasn't lying. I didn't know any of them and I didn't know why the shooting happened.

"So one more time can you tell me what happened?" This fat white cop asked for the hundredth time.

"I was literally walking and heard gun shots so I dropped to the floor" I said honestly.

"And you have no relations with the guy you arrived here with?" He questioned.

"No never met him until today. He was trying to get my number then I heard guns and got down quickly.

"There is evidence showing that more than one was fired, was there anyone else besides you two? Maybe a friend of his?" He pushed staring into my eyes.

"No there was no one else" I lied smoothly. They questioned me for a little while longer before releasing me.

One of the officers decided to drop me off back at the hospital after the questioning and I was grateful for that. I had called my mother and told her I was working late. I didn't need her to start going crazy. Most of all I didn't want her to tell my father what happened. He didn't need something like this worrying him, he needed to focus on getting well.

I wanted to check on Marcellus before I went home to see if he was okay. When I left hours ago with the police he was going into surgery. Walking over to the front desk I got the attention on one of the nurses.

"How can I help you?" She asked while going through some papers.

"I'm looking for someone" I started not really knowing what to say. I didn't know his last name or anything about him.

"What's their name?" She asked hovering her fingers over the keyboards.

"Marcellus" I said simply hoping there wasn't many people with that name admitted in the hospital.

"Last name?"

"I don't know it, he was admitted with me early for a gun shot wound to the chest" I told her hoping it would help. She stared at me for a while before typing something into the computer.

"Do you have an ID?" She asked.

"Yes here you go" I handed her my license and waited as she processed whatever she needed to process.

"Okay he's in room 234, you can take that elevator and when you get off the arrows will show you where to go" she directed me before going back to what she was doing. I was thankful she didn't give me a hard time. I got on the elevator pressing the number two and waited as it went up. Getting off I looked around and saw a sign that had the numbers 230 to 250 on it.

Making my way towards the room I counted down until I stood in front of 234. I took a deep breath and walked in seeing Marcellus standing up throwing on some clothes.

"I know they are not discharging you" I said surprising him. He pulled his shirt over head and walked over to me hugging me. I hugged him back happy that he was okay. The way we were acting you would think we knew each other when in fact we only knew each other's first name.

"I'm discharging myself" he smiled.

"You can't do that" I frowned. He just got shot in the chest not too long ago and now he wants to leave like nothing happened.

"You do what you want when you popping" he shrugged. The sound of a door opening in the room grabbed my attention. The same guy that was driving the car earlier walked out on looking down at his phone.

"Nigga we gotta go" he said looking up. He looked at me then looked at Marcellus.

"He can't leave, he might need follow up surgeries, he did get shot"

"Bitch and you think I didn't" the guy said lifting his shirt up. His left side was bandaged and I noticed him limping when he left the bathroom.

"Yo Reese chill, she a cool female. Doctors said if it wasn't for her I would've bled out and died" Marcellus defended me. I gave him a little smile appreciating what he did.

"Thanks for saving my bro" Reese mumbled walking past me.

"You coming? Reese would be more than happy to take you where you need to go" Marcellus said making Reese suck his teeth.

"She could walk to wherever she going like she was walking before" Reese said making me roll my eyes.

"Nah my guardian angel ain't walking nowhere" Marcellus joked.

"Let's go nigga" Reese said yanking open the room door.

They quickly exited the hospital and miraculously they weren't seen by any of Marcellus' doctors.

"Why didn't you sit up front?" I asked Marcellus as we sat in the back on his brothers car. He slid into the back seat with me when we left the hospital. His brother had a completely different car from earlier and his clothes was changed too.

"Cause I wanted to sit back here with you" he smirked putting his arm around my neck and pulling me closer.

"Y'all better not fuck in my car" Reese said killing the mood. Marcellus had been flirting with me the entire car ride to my aunts house. I decided to just let him be because most likely I won't see him again after this. I didn't give them the exact address but it was close enough so I wouldn't have to walk far. They seemed cool but I couldn't trust them that easily.

"Nigga shut up, your bipolar ass stay angry. Go see one of your thots when you get around the way" Marcellus said clearly annoyed with Reese's attitude.

"Don't get fucked up in front of your little girlfriend" Reese warned as his jaws twitched. He was actually very attractive and I like to guys who were aggressive but he was just rude and mean as hell.

"Man keep driving and shut the fuck up nigga" Marcellus sucked his teeth and leaned back.

"This yo crib and your ass was walking?" Reese asked eyeballing the neighborhood we pulled up in.

"Thank you for the ride" I smiled ignoring his question and got out of the car. I barely closed the car door and he pulled off without another word. Rolling my eyes I strolled down the side walk making my way up towards the house. I knew I would be hearing a mouthful from my family when I got inside.

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Naya🤘🏾