Ariya

"Khyson is Rylans biological father."

"What?! What." She yelled then whispered.

"How did, you know him? Well Rylans four, your twenty three. Nine months of pregnancy.. eighteen? Did you go to school with him?" She asked.

"Yeah, yeah I did." I breathed. It felt nice letting some of this go. Gosh, my life is so screwed up.

"Fuck. Fuck! And he doesn't know?" She asked.

I shook my head and she gulped back while running a hand over her head.

"Ariya, I'm so sorry. Come here." She pulled me into a hug and I sobbed.

"Please don't tell anyone, Amara, please. Please tell me I can trust you." I begged.

"I won't tell anyone, I promise.. come on let's get you home."

The car ride was silent. Very silent, until I spoke.

"We we're friends, best friends. Since the fourth grade, we planned our future together. Then we got into different universities, and we wanted to peruse different things." I sighed, wiping my cheeks.

"Mhm." She nodded.

"It was the night before I left, he let me stay over. Confessed and one thing after another.. I left and two weeks later found out I was pregnant."

"You didn't think of going back and telling him?" She asked.

"I was miles away and I had gotten into my dream school. I know this is what he wanted to do, and a kid would just halt his plans.. I think I was just afraid of what he'd say. If he'd want it or not." I shrugged.

"I've lived five years of my life with that secret weighing painfully down on my shoulders, I'm just-I.."

"I'm sorry, I can imagine how hard that would be." She nodded. I nodded while leaning back in my seat. Letting the darkness engulf me.

-

The night was very stressful, Amara insisted on taking Rylan trick or treating instead. And I spent the whole time in bed.

But now it was twelve in the morning and I couldn't sleep.

Pulling the covers off of my body I made my way into the bathroom. Turning the light on and staring back at my tired expression.

"You're okay."

I splashed some water on my face and walked out into the kitchen, glancing into Rylans room before filling a glass of water and sitting on a stool.

Until my phone vibrated and I picked it up.

From unknown number: recognized contact number number as; Khy :)

I wanted to apologize for what I did, I'm sorry. Whatever it was that made you leave.

Add contact

"Oh my god!" I whispered yelled, dropping my phone on the counter. How does my phone still recognize his number? It's been almost five years. I leaned back so my back hit the edge of the stool. Placing my arm on my upper stomach I took a breath. Breathe, breathe, Ariya.

I shakily reached for my phone and opened the message.

In order to respond add contact number.

"Dammit!"

I added his contact and opened the message.

No, I'm sorry I shouldn't have left so abruptly. :)

Delete the smiley face.

We always used to put smiley faces, and he seemed to remember that part. He remembered my necklace and the smiley face, but not me.

Is it me?

A single tear slipped my cheek and I wiped it.

I'm such a cry baby.

It's so hard keeping a straight face for Rylan, he looks up to me. I have to keep that persona.

"Mama?"

I quickly wiped my tears and shoved my phone in my pocket, sniffing back the evidence.

"Why are you up, baby?" I asked. He walked up to me and I pulled him up onto my lap.

"I couldn't sleep." He breathed, pressing his face into my chest. I placed my hand on his head, rubbing his back with my other.

"Are you sad?" He asked.

"No." I smiled.

"I'll get you a cookie?" He pondered.

"No, it's okay." I laughed. He cuddled into me and I smiled weakly. He wrapped his short arms around my waist and shoved his head into my chest.

"Can I sleep with you?" He mumbled, I felt his voice vibrating against my chest.

This is what I lived for, the small moments. Rylan was my everything and nothing would ever change that.

"Of course, come on." I gulped back the last remains of the water and stood up with him in my arms. Shutting the lights off while walking to my room.

We both laid in the bed, Rylans body on top of mine. I waited ti'll he fell asleep and opened my

Phone.

Glad to know, Goodnight, Ariya.

Damn! Why is he being so nice all of a sudden. I don't like this.

I just liked the message and closed my phone, this cannot be a reoccurring event.

-

I needed to stay away from him, for as long as possible. Any contact can do harm. I slipped through the elevator and scurried into my office.

Collapsing back into my chair while panting.

"Why the rush?"

"Oh my gosh!" I flinched, I look up seeing Kameron in the door of my office. He laughed and I pouted.

"You're mean." I sighed.

"You love me." He smiled.

"Sure."

"So, what's the plan for today?" He asked while bracing his palms on his chin.

"Work, what else?" I asked.

"Cut the shit, what happened last night?" He asked. I locked my lips and looked down, moving my hand up to my pendant.

"What?" I asked.

"You left and Amara just going after you, I didn't see her for the rest of the night."

"How do you know I know where she went?" I asked, oblivious.

"Because neither of you came back to the party, coincidence I think not!" He yelled.

"What if she wanted a quickie? Hm?"

"From you!? Ariya? Are you being serious? Does she think I'm not enough... Ariya, speak to me!"

"I'm joking Kameron, she was helping me with something." I laughed.

"What? Tell me, now."

"Well I was on my period a-"

"Okay! Okay, I've heard enough. Goodbye."

I laughed.