De'Maria's POV:

5 minutes.. 10 minutes.. 20 minutes late. I check my phone once again to see it was a now a quarter past three. Dad, where are you? I say to myself. He said he'd be here exactly at 2:55pm to pick me up from school. This doesn't look good on him trying to make this things better between us.

As I sit on the bench in front of my school, I write. I write, I write, and I write some more until my fingers hurt. It's something I picked up from Shawny. I noticed she does it when she's upset or like most times.. Sad. Right now, I'm having a combination of the same potions. I'm in a spell, spilling my magic unto this sacred notebook paper with this wand I call a pen. My eyes began to tear up as I continue to write. I sniffled whenever my nose became moist. But, nothing could stop the tears from coming. What is happening to me? Where is my father? Why can't I have a normal life? Shoving everything back into my purse, I lifted my legs onto the bench wrapping my legs around them as I bury my face into my knees. Every tear seeped it's way through my denim jeans as my cries were muffled. Believe me or not.. This was the first I really cried since the day my mother died.

Moments later, my cries settle down to whimpering and eventually down to just sniffles. I slip my legs down as I wipe my face and take a few deep breaths calming my nerves. After a failure to get ahold of my dad or Shawny, I decide to walk home. Yes, I know its a very far walk but you gotta do what you gotta do, let's hope I don't get lost.

10 minutes into the walk, I began to get this weird feeling like someone is watching me. I glance over my shoulder continuously to see that no one was there, so now I'm feeling paranoid. I know it's someone looking at me from somewhere, so I stop and turn around scoping out my surroundings. I peep a car door open but before I could scope out who it was, I shot out in a full sprint down the street. My track star feet carried me 3 block in a little under a minute before I heard my name. The voice sounded pretty familiar which instantly caused my body to freeze. My head shot back and my eyes were met with Terrence's. He glared at me from just a few feet away as he tried to catch his breath.

Tee: "De'Maria, get in the car, now." He demanded. I jogged to the car and did exactly as I was told to. Still shook from the adrenaline, my racing heart decreases slowly back to normal. I sit in the passenger seat avoiding eye contact with Tee as he entered the car. I know I'm in trouble so I won't even attempt to look in his direction. My hands have caught my attention already.

"What the hell were you doing walking alone and in this damn neighborhood? Do you not understand what the word dangerous even means? Have you not heard the term, common sense?!" He shouted causing me to jump. He startled me so bad that I began to cry again on accident. Great. Now, I'm sad, mad, & embarrassed. I hate crying in front of others, it makes me feel weak.

Me: "My dad was supposed to pick me up and he never showed up so I decided to walk." I explained. He chuckled a little a shook his head while starting the car, I swear he reminds me of my father so much these days. I'm surprised they don't like each other even though Tee works for him.

Tee: "I don't know why you giving him a chance to redeem himself when you know all he's ever done was disappoint you." He mumbled as he pulled off. A frown grew on my face and I processed it in my head.

Me: "And, what the hell do you mean by that?" I requested him to clarify. He smirked, shaking his head as he drove on the back roads through the neighborhood. The route I would've walked. He seemed like he wasn't going to answer my question until he felt me staring at him as if my eyes could cause pain.

Tee: "Come on now, don't cover up for him because he needs you for now. As soon as he gets what he wants, he's gone fuck up again. He just needs you to take care of the kids whiles he's gone since his girl is a hoe." He exposed with a devious chuckle.

Me: "Terrence, you should be the last one to talk shit about him." I frowned as I shook my head in disappointment.

Tee: "What? Cause he gave me a place to stay? He gave me a job that I can't mention to nobody? He spared my life the night he caught us in the closet? Oh wow, let's give him a fucking cookie. What a saint!! Your dad ruined my fucking life!" He shouted as he came to a stop at the light.

Me : "YOU ruined your life! You're so damn stubborn, selfish, and ungrateful! I can't-"

Tee: "For You!" He cut me off, shouting in my face. "I did this shit for you, De'Maria. I got into this shit because of you. If anyone is at blame its yourself. I shouldn't have even let you influence me to be so stupid." He shook his head and pulled up to my house.

Me : "The feeling is mutual. I guess my dad was right about you." I mumbled and shook my head as I got out the car, running to the front door of my house in tears. I can't believe what just happened.

De'Shawn's POV:

Me: "Why must you be so worried about him? I don't understand this. We've over for like, what? Five months? Almost six. I've been with you this whole pregnancy. Dre, come on now." I argued as we stood on opposite sides of the bed, staring at each other as we shouted across the room.

Dre: "That's besides the point. I'm not worried about him."

Me: "Oh, you're not?" I asked sarcastically, interrupting him. He frowned as if he was surprised I'd say it.

Dre: "Fuck outta here with that shit! You're mine and I'm not finna let him waltz in here and take you from me." He claimed. I blinked for a moment and chuckled. The front door slammed in the background and soon I heard cries shifting down the hallway.

Me: "Last time I checked, neither one of you own me. And Babyboy before you start calling dibs on this pussy, you better have a ring to show for it. At least he was smart enough to know that." I shot back as I tried to storm out the room but he beat me to the door and grabbed ahold of my arm, yanking me towards him.

Dre: "You can get that nigga fucked up if you want to. Don't play with me. You belong to me and a ring ain't shit but a leash. He still got you on one, but don't think I won't choke you with that bitch." He threatened. I couldn't help but laugh in his face.

Me: "Boy, I made you. Just cause I stopped working don't mean shit, I'll still handle yo ass myself. I'm not scared of you, neither am I of D. Don't fuck this up for yourself, Dre. I'm not a snitch but I know a few heads that'll want yours if I come up missing again." I laughed as I snatched from his grip and left the room, walking towards Maria's room.