😗sorry for any mistakes

3 months later...

Los Angeles, California

April 4th

Friday

Sekani blankly looked at the young, dark skin 14-year-old boy, whose leg was bouncing 100 mph. Deontae looked around the office as Sekani was trying to figure out why they have these sit down that seem like every day.

"You gon' speak or we gon' keep sittin' hea' lookin' at each other?" Sekani raised his eyebrow. Deontae sucked his teeth "You suckin' yo' teeth fa' what? I told you mo' den once ta' cut da' fight shit out now look. You suspended again" Sekani looked at him like he was stupid.

"I ain' tryna hear allat bruh" Deontae huffed.

"Oh, so you wanna see it? Da' otha' li' nigga doin' jus' fine and goin' ta' be back in school after spring break and whatchu' gonna be doin'?" Sekani asked, "Missin' out on yo' education ta' show you big and bad in front of yo' boys?" He scrunched up his face.

Deontae sucked his teeth and stood up from the chair "Ion gotta listen to dis shit" He snatched his backpack off the floor. Sekani just started laughing and nodded "Aight" He shrugged.

"Youn gotta worry 'bout seein' me in dis bitch nomo either" Tae snapped and stormed out his office, slamming the door behind him. Sekani just chuckled, he knew he would be back. He just needed to cool off.

Deontae wasn't a bad kid, actually a very intelligent and sweet boy but he followed the wrong crowd. He feels like he has to be that show-off kid and be like the people he follows because they're the 'Cool' kids.

Sekani got up from his seat, went into the mini-fridge he had, and grabbed a bottle of water. He grabbed his keys from his desk and walked out of the office, going to the basketball court.

He finally opened up his boy's center called Cartier's Center down in Crenshaw in February. When he moved to Cali when he was 11, Crenshaw was where they stayed until his dad's business blew up. He thought since he knew the neighborhood a little well, the center being there where he saw needed the most help was good.

The center has been a great success for it only to be two months in. They had around 20 boys, ages 12 and 17. He had 15 older men from his team to mentor these younger kids.

At first, the community only thought Sekani was using them to fix the reputation of his name but that wasn't the case. Even before his ex ran his name through the mud, he always wanted to start up a center. He always wanted to encourage the younger and easily influenced to do better.

"Nigga, you don't be guardin' shit!" He heard as he made it to the basketball court. He chuckled when he saw Karsyn and the person he was mentoring. It wasn't even mentoring since Tripp was 17 and just a year younger than Syn. But they have been becoming good friends and Syn is keeping him out of trouble.

"Nigga I take yo' lunch money every week!" Syn laughed and shot the ball, making it in the hop. "It's aight doe, jus' cash app me" Syn smirked. Tripp sucked his teeth and ran off to get the ball.

"Stop takin' dis man lunch money. I kno' he be hungry as hell at school" Sekani teased, dapping Tripp up. "Fuck y'all" Tripp laughed.

"We gotta get back on our side of town doe" Sekani told them. They both nodded, going over to the bench to grab their gym bags and other personal items.

"I'll take you home Tripp. I'on want you walkin' and it's starting ta' get late" Sekani said, turning the Security system on. He planned on hiring more workers so he could stay open longer than 6. He noticed that some boys aren't going to have things to do over the upcoming summer and the streets get more dangerous at night.

"Don't say no. You kno' he ain' takin' no fa' an answer" Syn chuckled when he saw Tripp about to say something.

"Aii" Tripp chuckled and they walked out of the building.

_________________

🎶Weston Road Flows, I did this for my nigga Renny🎶

Weston Road Flows by Drake played inside Cameron's apartment. She stood in the doorway with her hand on her hip and her weight shifted to her right leg while mugging both Syn and Sekani.

Sekani sucked his lips "What?" He mugged her back before Syn pushed past both of them to get inside.

"Y'all are late! I was so close ta' eatin' without y'all" She rolled her eyes, walking away, leaving him standing at the door. He shook his head, walking inside and closing and locking the door.

"I texted you and told you we were gonna be late" Sekani took his shoes off and put them neatly by the door then walked further inside of the apartment to the kitchen. "I mean but you would kno' dat if you ain' block me" He straight-faced her while she blankly looked back at him.

"And whose fault is dat?" She tilted her to the side, pushing her glasses up some. "Yours, of course," He smiled.

She mugged him "No it's not! Youuu is da' one dat didn't call me back when I was jus' lookin' out fa' you. You was bein' petty too" She fussed and he busted out laughing.

"You shouldn't have fell asleep on me yesterday. How you gon' fall asleep on a movie you picked?" He asked, walking to her guest bathroom and she followed behind him. "I told you I was sleepy" She frowned, leaning on the door while watching him in the mirror washing his hands.

"Mhm," He hummed, drying his hands off with a paper towel. He turned around to face her and she was frowning "You didn't have ta' do that ta' me. My feelings were hurt" She sighed, wrapping her arms around his torso.

"You a clingy li' bestie. You kno' dat?" He asked, wrapping his arms back around her. They hug a lot more in the past three months. He noticed they both felt a sense of calmness while doing it.

That didn't change Sekani from clowning her about it no matter if he liked her hugs.

"I kno'. You should've asked Lex and Pookie before you agreed to being my bestie" She looked up at him, cheesing.

"Okay, four eyes" He chuckled and her smile fell into a mug. "Fuck you" She tried to let go of him but he held her tighter.

"I'm sorry" He laughed and kissed her forehead. She rolled her eyes and put her head back on his chest. "You smell good." He mumbled with his face in the crook of her neck, inhaling her scent. She always smelled like vanilla and he liked it.

She giggled "You tell me dat everyday Sekani"

"Cus you do" He mumbled as she rubbed his back.

"Babymomma!" They heard Syn yell from the kitchen. Sekani lowly groaned while Cameron laughed and they let each other go, then walked out the bathroom.

"Yes, baby father?" Cameron replied when they walked into the kitchen. Syn eyed them and how close they were since Sekani's tall body was all up on her body intentionally.

"What you made fa' dessert?" He smiled down at her. She chuckled "You talkin' 'bout dessert when we haven't even had dinner yet" She shook her head, walking around the island and going to the oven.

He shrugged. "Ima starts makin' desserts since y'all don't want," Syn said, helping her get the plates out. Syn was officially moving in with Sekani at the end of May, for right now he was being things over.

Sekani was happy about it, he had a three-bedroom apartment and now it just wasn't going to be in it. He also understood why Syn wanted to move out of their parents' house. He needed some type of freedom without disrespecting his parents.

Like coming in late without their mom fussing or having girls over. Or leaving the house without having to ask first. Just a little freedom that most teenagers want. Adulthood wasn't easy and he wasn't rushing it but he was ready.

"We gon' start giving you days ta' cook," Sekani said, going into the refrigerator and getting the drinks for them.

"Yes! I want red beans and rice with fried fish sirr" Cameron smirked, pulling the lasagna out of the oven.

"Oh hell nah" Syn shook his head and they laughed.

_________________

Los Angeles, California

April 7th

Monday

"What you wanna talk about today, Ms.Cameron." Dr.Ford softly smiled, crossing her leg over the other with her pen and paper in her lap.

"I-I wanna talk about my babies" She spoke up, fiddling with her locket. Dr. Ford nodded "The floor is yours. Speak when you are ready"

Cameron took a deep breath "Umm... I-I feel like I failed them. I feel like maybe me not being able to carry them full term was a good thing because dey deserves someone better" She spoke. "I'm useless you kno'? Nobody deserves ta' have someone like dat in their life." She looked down at her feet, repeating the words Seth told her.

"What do you feel like you're useless at?" Dr. Ford questioned.

"Sometimes everything. Like bein' a daughter and a sister. I feel like I put so much stress on my daddy, Xay, and Reem. Cutting myself and—and trying to overdose when I was 16. I feel like a burden to dem when they always have to worry 'bout me and I'm selfish for not asking more questions about dem" She blinked back the tears, not wanting to cry and they were only 10 minutes into the session.

"What do we talk about last week?" Dr.Ford asked while writing something down on her notepad.

"About my depression and how serious I should take it," Cameron said quietly, still looking down at her feet.

"Correct. You lost one of the most important people in your life Cam. You were actually there in the ambulance watching her die. That's very traumatizing which results in you being depressed. If they never said or made you feel like a burden, don't think it. " Dr.Ford spoke seriously but it was like Cameron never got through to that concept.

"Whether you were depressed or not, I'm sure they would be worried about you anyways. You're their little angel and only girl right?" She chuckled, making Cameron lightly chuckle.

"Yeah, even before they always been worried 'bout me since I was da' youngest in school and da' quiet and shy typa girl" She chuckled, reminiscing on the memories of her brothers fighting anyone that did something to her.

"See, now what else do you feel like you're useless for?" She asked.

Cameron sighed "I kno' it's not da' right time ta' be thinking about it but relationship-wise. I will neva' be someone's love of thea' life or wife because I-I can't give out kids. There is something wrong wit' me and because of it, I won't find love" She expressed as the tear sipped from her eye.

Dr. Ford nodded "When it comes to relationships, whose do you admire?" She asked, and Cameron looked at her confusedly. "Okay for example, with me, I admire my grandparent's love and look at love with my husband like that. Whose relationship of love do you admire?" She asked.

Cameron smiled "My mama and daddy," She said proudly.

"Can you tell me about their love?"

Cameron nodded "Umm they met in 6th grade. My daddy always described my mom as da' most beautiful person he has ever laid his eyes on. My mom had dark skin with freckles and her hair was naturally ginger color with hazel eyes and she was plus size. My daddy also watched her from a distance because he didn't think someone like her would go fa' him until one day she approached him asking why he was always staring at her" She chuckled thinking of her mother's soft and squeaky voice.

"My dad was so scared because he thought she was goin' ta' be rude because she didn't talk to anyone at school. But he told her how beautiful he thought she was and she was taken back. My daddy was da' popular people or whatever so she was shocked because people always picked on ha' 'bout ha' weight. But they became friends what my mama called it but daddy said they were datin' in his head" She laughed and Dr.Ford laughed with her.

"He knew what he wanted in the 6th grade" Dr.Ford laughed and Cameron nodded while still laughing "He let it be known too. He went around tellin' everyone and anyone dat she was his girlfriend and he was gonna marry ha' one day" She smiled, shaking her head.

"But when they really started datin' and not jus' in my daddy's head, people didn't like it. People still tried ta' bully her because of ha' weight and sayin' my daddy deserved someone smaller" She rolled her eyes. She hated how her mama got bullied because of her weight. Her mama was top 2 and she definitely wasn't 2 with the weight and all.

"But my dad said he never cared. He said they were mad because he wanted her for what she was and not who other people wanted her to be. He showed her love every day, never fell out of love wit' ha'. He loved da' way she was genuine, nice, and sweet. He loved dat she was ambitious and selfless. She had a big heart and a kind soul even if people didn't like ha'. She was herself and a diva what daddy called her."

"People clowned dem fa' always bein' in da' honeymoon stage since dey got together. They loved each other and neva' stopped, neva' afraid ta' show their love. Flaws and all, they still loved each other." She smiled, then took a mental note to call her dad later.

"That's beautiful and I'm glad you got to grow up in a lovin' family," Dr.Ford said, genuinely causing an even wider smile to come across Cameron's face.

"Now when you were talkin' about the way your dad loved your mom, I don't remember hearing he loved her because she could have kids" She raised her brow causing Cameron's smile to fall.

"I—" She sighed.

"Real love isn't what you can give someone. If someone really loves you, he will make it work. He will see you for how you treat him, how your personality is, and who you are as a person. Most importantly, he will help you figure out the problem and not blame you for it, and still love you. When someone really loves you, they aren't going to stop because you aren't able to have kids" Dr. Ford spoke.

"I want you to try this thing. Stop limiting yourself to love because you feel like nobody will love you because you can't give them kids. I want you to take a picture of yourself and I want you to write down the things you love about yourself on the picture" She instructed. "Then on your next session, bring it and we will go after that"

Cameron slowly nodded, taking in all the information "Okay"

_________________

🎶I want you mental and physically

I belong to🎶

Belong to you by Sabrina Claudio played as lights flashed everywhere.

"Okay! I like dat one" Cameron nodded, looking at the picture she just took with her camera as they were at her studio.

"Lemme see," Sekani said "Wait! no. Lemme get a few more than you can see" She stopped him from getting up. Since he was currently in the off-season, they spent way more time together. More than before.

After her therapy session, she had a few more photo shoots to do but what she didn't know was that Sekani was her last photo shoot for the day.

"Okay, turn this way" She let her camera hanging around her neck and walked over to him. She turned him to his side, stepping back to see if she liked that angle.

She nibbled on her bottom lip before going to the side and grabbing the stool he was sitting on earlier. She put it behind him and pointed to it for him to sit down. He turned him back where she turned him before and stepped back.

She nodded in approval. "Okay, smile fa' me," She said, stepping back a little more. He furrowed his eyebrows "No" He replied.

She sighed loudly "Sekani. Don't piss me off" She straight-faced him "Smile boy!" She fussed as he looked at her crazily.

He turned around and started looking around to see who she was talking to. "Bestie please," She said softly, giving him the face. He sighed and shook his head. She knew she was going to get him. That face always got her anything she wanted.

Being spoiled came with its perks.

"Fats, ain' shit ta' smile about" He shrugged. "Chicken butt" She blurted and he busted out laughing. She quickly took the picture while he continued to laugh.

"You are so childish" He chuckled, getting up from the stool while she sat on the floor, crisscrossing apple sauce, and then grabbed her computer.

"You da' one day laughed. I always use dat on my younger kids. Dey be cracking up at some chicken butt" She shook her head laughing while pulling the pictures up on her computer.

"I think it's da' way you say it" He chuckled, sitting in the chair behind her. He nodded "Okay, you kno' whatchu' doin'."

She sucked her teeth. "Yeah, stop playin' wit' me." She reached up to give him the computer so he could pick and stood up.

"Why you not takin' Reem and Wynter weddin' pictures?" He asked, scrolling through the pictures as she started turning the lights off.

"I took their engagement pictures but since Ima be in da' weddin' they didn't want me takin' pictures" She shrugged, moving things to the side after she turned the lights off.

"Did I ever tell you I'm proud of you fa' doin' dis?" He smiled looking up from the computer. She smiled back "Really?" She grabbed her dustpan and broomstick.

He nodded "Yeah, remember when you were about ta' stop all dis? Now look, you got yo' own studios and one of da' best photographers in LA" He said.

"Thank you Sekani," She said and started to sweep.

Her smile started getting wider, so much that her cheeks started to hurt. She remembers how she was going to stop and not pursue her dream of being a photographer. After her mom died, her dad and Sekani encouraged her to keep going and doing it for her mom a few years back.

That's what she did. Hearing other people being proud of her, she knows Michelle is looking down and smiling at her right now.

She felt someone staring at her and looked up at Sekani "Why are you, starin' weirdo?" She bucked at him. She would always catch him staring at her, it made her feel weird inside and always nervous.

He shrugged "I'on kno'. I stare at ugly people ta' laugh about it later" He said making her jaw drop to the ground.