She scrambled for a towel and came to her knees in front of him, pressing the towel to his wound. Huge tear drops clung toher lashes and Demi took her hand, pulling her into his lap. “You gon’ have to get me to a hospital, baby. Shit kinda deep.”
He dug in his pocket and pulled out his key, handing it to her.
He didn’t know if she was nodding in agreement or just completely in shock, but she helped him from the chair. With his arm around her shoulder, he left a blood trail through the house as they made their way to the car.
“Fuck!” he hollered as she helped him into the passenger seat.
Charlie hurried to the driver’s seat and threw the car in reverse, clipping the curb as she pulled out.
“You don’ fucked enough shit up tonight, Bird. Try to keep my whip in one piece,” Demi grunted. The towel in his lap was soaked.
“I didn’t mean to. I just grabbed it. I thought you were going to hurt me. Demi, I’m so sorry,” she stammered.
“Bird,” he moaned. “Sing, baby.”
“I can’t, Demi,” she was panicking.
“A nigga in hella pain, Bird. Just sing me a song,” he insisted.
What have you become? What have you becomeeee?
Matter fact, nah that’s what you’ve been
I was blind. I was in it. I was blind. Ohhhhh
Charlie glanced over at Demi and her stomach sank at the sight of his closed eyes.
“Demi, wake up, wake upppp,” she cried. She punched him and then shook him. He groaned in pain.
“Fuck, Bird!” he shouted.
“I’m sorryyyyy, I thought you were dead!” she shouted, completely overwhelmed. Terrified as her adrenaline terrorized her.
Demi sat up, struggling, blood-soaked towel in his hand as he leaned across the armrest. He arrested her face between pinched fingers, denting her cheeks, and pulling her toward him. Hekissed her. He kissed her like he was okay... like she hadn’t just put a hole in him.
“I ain’t gon’ never die on you, Bird.” He whispered the words like they were true.
“You’re not invincible, Demi,” she sniffled.
“Sing to me, baby. That shit make a nigga feel invincible. Sing to me and a nigga gone be A-1,” he replied, leaning back into the seat.
“Let it go, let it go-ooo.”
“Fuck Summer Walker, sing something else,” Demi interrupted.
Charlie laughed as relief flooded her. Even in this moment, he was trying to make sure she was okay. Even though he wasn’t. Even when he was hurt, he didn’t want her to feel the weight of it.
“Ma’am. The longer you continue to lie to us, the longer this will take. We can tell from the wound that he was assaulted. Telling the truth will make this easier for everyone.”
Charlie’s eyes were wide with fear as she shook her head. “I...I...”
“Ayo, my man, she said what she said. It was an accident,” Demi said as the doctor stitched his side. “As a matter of fact, y’all can get the fuck out. Ain’t nobody going to jail today. I was walking with a knife and tripped. There’s nothing more to the story, so quit asking her the same shit over and over again.”
Charlie couldn’t believe he was lying for her, but she was grateful.
“Yes, well, this is a pretty deep cut. You’re lucky it wasn’t worse,” the doctor said.
The police officer closed his notepad and gave Charlie a skeptical glance before exiting the room.
