🐞MTOABB🐞

I watch as her lips part, moving up and down to be able to read her words. "How was your sleepover with Cassandra?" Mom asks as she twirls her wavy brown hair into a loose low ponytail and ushers it to the back.

I was in a daze and I wished I could go back to last night. I wanted a do-over. I was not looking for a boy named Prinse, but now that I have found him, I do not want to lose him. I am only a seventeen-year-old girl that still cries over boys that are inked on the writing of pages. So, what could I possibly know about caring for a baby? I can't even make my own bed and she is meant to be my own little child.

"It was fine, mom," I say, buckling the seatbelt.

"I'm glad you had fun."

Sometimes I am appreciative of the little things that mom says. It doesn't have to be much but knowing that she cares about my happiness is enough to make me smile. She brings the car to halt at the side of the road that leads to our road, where our house sits alongside similar designs.

"Jump out, and wake your sister up for me," she says as she presses the button to unlock the car doors.

"Why? Where are you going?" I ask, curiously.

"I need to go collect the cake."

"Why can't I come with you?" I whine.

"Because who will wake your sister up?" She gives me a stare and I groan as I open the passenger door to her black Toyota car.

I wait before starting to walk. I watch as her car becomes a blur until I can't make out the colour of it. I turn and start dragging my feet in the direction of my house. I wave at Kay, who is seated on the stairs in front of her house. Her worn out jeans have had more visits with the washing machine than I have had with my dentist. I have always known her all my life and Chloe thought Kay and I would have been best of friends forever, but that never happened as she was shipped to boarding school on the first day of elementary school. I remember crying that morning as her mom drove past my house with baby Kay in the backseat.

Now, we have the occasional awkward waves from time to time when our eyes meet, and we feel obligated to greet.

I quicken my pace, not wanting to live this awkwardness any longer.

I reach my yard and I have to allow myself to stop, to take in a deep breath and realise what this actually means. How will I be able to pretend like everything's alright when deep down, I know that this changes everything. My heart yearns for space for it to feel sorry for itself, but no, I have to suck it up and go in there with a smile. Its Chloe's day and I would be stupid to ruin this for her, especially since Brody's presence will be a lingering ghost that was meant to appear. If love is meant to hurt as much as everyone says, then I don't think I want love, I want crushes that last a lifetime.

I make my way to the front door and grab the house keys from my satchel. I make my way inside to find Chloe wrapped in a blanket as she sits indulged in the movie on the screen.

"Morning, birthday girl," I say, making my way to the empty space next to hers. I pull her into a hug, and she groans.

"Okay, Rossita. This is too much now," she says, but I ignore her as I continue to smother her with my love.

"I want you to really enjoy today," I tell her.

"Do I really have to?" She asks.

"Umm... yes." I state the obvious.

"So how was your sleepover?"

"We'll talk about that another day, today is all about you. Now get your ass up and go shower, mom will be back in a minute and she wants you cleaned up."

Chloe rolls off the couch and leaves the room.

I sink into the couch, thinking back to this morning in the kitchen with Gomes.

Sadness is a disease that no one can avoid.

🐞My Type of a Bad Boy🐞

A two tiered chocolate caramel cake with the number eighteen placed on top was situated in the middle of the table that is covered with a blush polyester tablecloth.

Chloe begged mom to keep the party small so a group of twenty was gathered around the table as we all sang her happy birthday.

"Make a wish," Juliet tells her and at the corner of my eye, I can see Zack staring at me.

I take in a much needed deep breath as I focus my attention on Chloe. She bends her head to blow the candle and everyone brings their hands together for an applause.

Gomes hasn't spoken to me since this morning. He has made sure to keep his distance and I haven't made an effort to walk up to him. "Not today", I tell myself, knowing that I could make a scene on a day dedicated to my sister.

"Your sister looks so pretty," Cass whispers as she comes to stand next to me.

I nod, still staring at my sister as she conveys in conversation with Zack and Juliet. His hand envelops Juliet's waist and I involuntarily clench my hands into fists.

I turn to Cass. "Do you also smoke?" I ask her.

"That's so random," she says.

"I'm just curious."

"I don't smoke."

"So why does Prinse?"

She titters. "He does a lot of things."

"What do you mean?" I ask.

"I'll let him tell you," she says.

"No one ever tells me anything - it's always someone else's secret," I say under my breath. It wasn't meant for her ears to hear, but she did.

"Oh, Rossita, it's not like that," she says.

"It isn't?"

"It really isn't. The reason why we left Miami was because our uncle Ju-ju wasn't at all happy with Prinse getting Holly pregnant. Prinse left the night of the big argument and came back the next morning to fetch me. He promised he would never leave me behind."

"Where were your parents?" I ask and Cass turns in search of Prinse.

"We're orphans, but don't worry about us, Prinse has us all sorted out."

"Can I at least hug you?"

"Sure, why not." She lightly chuckles.