ANDREW

{AUGUST 24th, 2020}

"BRO, WE LITERALLY never have any food in this house." edwin groaned as he opened the fridge. it was true. we always ended up eating out, which isn't the best but, it is what it is.

if you were wondering who all lives here, this house consists of myself, edwin, brandon, zion, gilinsky, johnson, and austin used to live here up until he had his son this may, theodore. he's the absolute most precious thing ever. we try to keep our distance since he's a newborn and we're in the middle of a pandemic. i mean, we pretty much stay inside... well at least i do... if only venus knew how many people zion is around... he wouldn't be welcome around mateo.

"i don't feel like going to the store," zion spoke as he twisted his dread in between is fingers. of course he doesn't. he doesn't do shit. "so whose going?"

i sighed, standing up from the kitchen table. "i'll go." i said as i grabbed my car keys and my beanie off of the kitchen counter.

"i'll come too," jack stood up, sliding his shoes on. i nodded and we both made a short list before heading to my car. "so, you've been with vee lately." he smirked as he hopped in.

i rolled my eyes, "it isn't even like that. . . she was upset and i just gave her advice on the whole zion situation." i shrugged as i started up the truck.

"mhm." he hummed as he buckled up his seat belt. "whatever you say, man." i shot him a glare before heading towards the store. it was only about 5 minutes away so we got there quickly.

"shit," gilinsky mumbled under his breath, looking around, "i didn't bring my mask."

"this dumb ass pandemic shit." i sighed rummaging through my middle console for a mask. "some sticky pennies, hand sanitizer, cologn— found one!" i lifted a wrinkled mask out and handed it to him.

"really? teddy grahams?" jack asked as we walked in the store.

"only edwin, i swear," i chuckled to my self lightly. "i'm going to head to the snack aisle, i'll be back." i told jack before walking off to the aisle.

i spotted the chocolate teddy grams and grabbed them swiftly.

"mateo, you can't live off of junk it isn't healthy. . . fine, 2 snacks! thats it mateo." i heard behind me, along with a giggle. i turned to see venus leaning against the shopping cart, with mateo in the cart, picking out snacks.

"venus?"

she looked up from mateo with a smile on her face, "hey, drew!" she spoke as she stood up straight.

i grinned, "hey, vee." i said as i found my self wrapping my arms around her small body. i pulled back and smiled at mateo, "hey, lil man!"

"unc baz!" he smiled brightly and held his arms out for me. "found any eggs?" he giggled.

i laughed, "mateo! and no, i didn't, but between me and you. . ." i leaned down and whispered to him "I think uncle nick sat on one last night. he reeked this morning." i told him, causing him to erupt in laughter. venus looked at us and chuckled, shaking her head. i grinned at her and fixed my attention back to mateo, "what snacks you got bud?"

"well," he began, turning to the cart. "i got fruit roll ups, cheez-its, and i wanted chocolate teddy grahams, but there was no more." he pouted.

i looked at the teddy grahams in my cart before facing back to mateo, "close your eyes for me, for 3 seconds." i spoke softly to him.

"okay!" he smiled before throwing his tiny hands over his eyes. i reached into my cart and grabbed the teddy grahams.

"open up."

he uncovered his eyes and gasped, "oh. my—." he was cut off by venus giving him that mom look. "i can't say God, but yay!" he clapped and threw his arms around my neck. "are you magic? that was so amazing! can you make my grandma disappear? she's mean."

"mateo!" venus scolded. but, i could see her trying to hold back her laughter. venus and her mom never got along, which caused her mother to treat mateo pretty much like shit.

"no one has to know, mommy! it could be our secret!" he motioned to all of us. this time we couldn't hold back our laughter.

VENUS

i laughed lightly at my son, "i'm sorry, man. i wish i could make negative people disappear, but sadly, my magic powers aren't that skilled yet." i watched as andrew rubbed his back, giving mateo a small smile. it was a beautiful sight. i loved seeing my boy happy.

"unc baz, you should come— wait." mateo wiggled out of drew's arms, running over to me and tugging on my shirt.

i bent down to his level, "yes, love?" i asked softly.

"can unc baz come over sometimes? mommy, i love you and we have a lot of fun, i just want someone else to come play with us. . ." he whispered into my ear.

i smiled at him lightly and nodded, "ask your unc baz, baby." i gestured to drew. who was watching the two of us.

mateo waddled over to drew and wrapped his tiny arms around his legs, looking up at him. "can you come over and hang out with me sometimes?"

drew smiled down at my boy and ran his hand through mateo's hair, "of course, lil man. just call me whenever and i'll come over."

"okay!" he smiled up at drew before pulling away and running back to me.

"just call or text me, i'll be glad to come over." drew smiled down at me.

i nodded, smiling back. "will do, thank you. . . it means a lot. . . i'll see you then?" i asked.

"of course, bye vee," he hugged me. i wrapped my free arm around his waist and laid against his chest. "bye, mateo!" drew pulled back and poked mateos sides, making mateo giggle.

"bye!" me and mateo said in sync as drew walked away.

i watched as he walked away, smiling lightly. my heart felt warm at the relationship he had with my son. i don't want to shit on caleb, but he isn't very affectionate with mateo.

"mommy, when i get back from daddy's can unc baz come over?" mateo questioned me as i sat him back down into the cart.

i nodded, "that sounds good to me." i kissed his head lightly, proceeding on with the shopping.

ANDREW

"bro, what took you so long? where are the teddy grahams?" jack asked as began putting the groceries up on the cashiers counter.

"i ran into mateo and venus, and mateo wanted them, i couldn't not give them to him. . . it's mateo." i chuckled he didn't say anything and just held a smirk with me. i sent him a glare, flipping him off. "fuck off gilinsky. you and that smirk dawg."

"didn't say anything."

"you didn't have to," i shook my head, laughing lightly.