I was not excited to be back on campus. Classes started right after Martin Luther King day and it's been extra aggy. Every time I look up, people are looking at me and whispering to each other. To say I was irritated was beyond an understatement.

I left my class of the week and headed to the UC to use the computer lab to organize myself for the semester. I made sure to put my beats on as I walked to block out the bullshit. Just as I was about to walk into the UC, someone pulled my beats off my head making me turn around ready to swing.

"Chill" Pharaoh laughed smiling at me "I been calling your name for five minutes behind you"

"Sorry boo" I sighed

"What's wrong?"

I shook my head and turn to keep walking. Pharaoh grabbed my hand and interlocked our fingers as he walked beside me. I attempted to head for the computer lab but was swiftly pulled to the food court.

"What you want?" Rao looked down at me

"Nothing"

"Miss me with that! What you want boo?" he pulled me closer and kissed my forehead "I'm gone get us some food then we can talk about whatever is causing this mood you in"

"I don't want---"

"I didn't asked anything. Matter fact, go sit down somewhere. I already know what I'm gone get us since you want to be difficult"

I couldn't help but laugh at Pharaoh acting like somebody daddy. I shook my head and headed over to a booth in the corner. I pulled out the syllabus I had collected throughout the week, my planner, and my computer. I started filling in my planner with all my assignments and class meetings. I was almost done when Pharaoh came and sat a to-go box in front of me. I sniffed the box as he sat down laughing at me. I went ahead and opened it and my mouth watered at the bake potatoes covered in queso and bacon.

"Rao Rao!" I happily whined

"Aye!" he mugged me "You know you can't say that outside my parents house!"

"Thank you Rao!"

"I got you baby"

"How you know I wanted just cheese and bacon?"

"Because you been saying you wanted some queso since Tuesday and you been talking about bacon since we spent the night at my parents house... and that was literally two weeks ago"

"I don't know what it is but my mouth water just thinking about bacon" I laughed as I ate "It's good as hell too"

"I know what I'm doing girl"

"Whatever"

"So tell me what's wrong with you today?"

"Noth---"

"Essence"

I sighed not wanting to have the conversation but also knowing he wouldn't let it go.

"Fine" I rolled my eyes "Every time I walk out of class or around campus, I catch people staring at me or whispering while looking at me. Like that shit extra aggy! I mean I might be being paranoid but it's like what the fuck!"

"You not" he sighed "I thought it was just happening to me"

"Huh?"

"My LBs been hitting me with shit they heard in the group message all week"

"Like?"

"I promise you don't want to know"

"Raoooo" I whined

"Fine" he shook his head chuckling "First we been together in secret for bout a year now"

I hollered out a laugh before covering my mouth.

"Nahh" he laughed "I aint done umm I've been cheating on you with Harm. Umm you know about the baby and want to take it from her so we can be a family. Let's see, one said I been cheating on Harmony with you because she's really my secret girlfriend" he shook his head "Oh shit let's not forget that you pregnant too"

I spit out my drink "What?!"

"Yeah apparently that's why people don't know you. You've been hiding your pregnancy"

We stared at each other before bursting into laughter.

"That's crazy" I shook my head

"That's what I been saying" he paused "But seriously are you okay?"

"I mean you know how I feel about all this attention. I like my privacy for a reason... but I can't control what people come up with in they heads. I do think if it's brought to you then set them straight"

"I have been don't worry. You know I got your back"

"I know baecon" I smiled "But in other news, what's up with movi---"

"Pharaoh I been looking for you" the pregnant girl and her clone walked up "I need to talk to you. You got a minute"

He looked surprised and confused while I had to take a deep breath.

"What's up with the movie game night thing you been talking about" I kept talking and eating "I need to know so I can fix my schedule"

"Umm" he looked at me but I only cocked my head to the side making him laugh "We gone figure that out"

"Excuse me" she spoke again

"Yo rude ass is excused" I finally looked at her

"Ess" Pharaoh sighed

"I pray you teach the baby some manner because clearly shorty aint got none"

"Who do you think you're talking to" she crossed her arm

"Clearly I was talking to him. Your disrespectful ass need to learn some manners. It is rude to interrupt adult conversation honey. So next time lead with the excuse me"

I went back to eating, choosing to ignore their conversation.

"Harmony you can't just run up on me like that. I was having a conversation and it was rude. I definitely didn't want this to be how I introduced you two but this is Essence" I refused to look up "Anyway what's up ma"

"You know what" she clearly had an attitude "Since your so busy with your hit me when you have time for the mother of your child!"

She stormed off with her clone shortly behind her.

"Don't even say nothing to me" I spoke without looking at Pharaoh "Get your baby momma together because I aint trying to have beef with her and give people more of a reason to talk about this situation. Keep her rude as together or away from me. Simple"

"Look at me Ess" he grabbed my hand so I looked up "I wasn't going to say anything. That was rude. All I'm gone say is don't come at people neck like that. Not just Harm, but anybody. Don't let they actions get you out of your character baby girl"

"I'm not out of characters. Pharaoh baby I know you used to sweet Essence or even chill Essence, but you have had no reason to see the other side of me. There's a reason my line name is Explosive"

"I knew you was crazy"

"I just don't play bout that shit. She almost made all of NOLA rise up out of me. Got me acting ethnic on PWI campus" I shook my head "Whoa child the ghetto"

"Shut up" he laughed "But seriously that's not how I wanted y'all to meet. I mean it ain't like I wanted y'all to be friends but you're both permanently in my life"

"I get that baecon and I'll play nice with ya baby mama but you need I let her know chill with the rude disrespectful shit"

"I'm gone talk to her I promise lol

"And you might be want to set some boundaries. I already see it. She the type that's not satisfied with coparenting. Mark my words"

"I hear you baby girl I promise"

Pharaoh and I spent the rest of the day together on campus then we met back up at my house. It was a new common thing for him to spend the night every now and again. It was fun to eat dinner with him and the twins. They love having Rao around and treated him like Mazi, while he he treated them like mini Heiresses.

After dinner, I couldn't help but stare at him and the twins as he helped them with homework while I cleaned the kitchen. It was this weird feeling that flowed through me. It made me think of Pharaoh and me in the future with our own little family. I smiled but it quickly dropped knowing that it was a future that I wouldn't get to see.

Meeting Harmony definitely wasn't fun. It brought up a reality the two of us in Pharaoh's life won't mix well. We are two different types of women who function on different levels. But her position is special and permanent. She'll always be the mother of his first born, while I can only hope to always be his best friend.