They pull into the driveway of Stephens house and Raven stares in awe. The large house was definitely something compared to the small three bedroom that both her parents lived in. Once inside she couldn't help but fall in love with the beautiful mini mansion that Stephen hadn't even bothered to tell her about.

"Emanuel is that you?"

"Yeah mama it's me."

His mother, a small light brown woman with grey hair, finds her way around the corner to where they stand. Eyes growing large once they land on Raven. Her small stature made her appear childlike. While Maryland was aware that she wasn't as skinny as all the other girls her son would bring home and have meaningless relations with. She wasn't aware of how much weight Raven actually carried with her. It fit her, but Maryland couldn't help but think of how unhealthy it was and would hate for her son to gain any unnecessary weight while being with her.

Raven waved and spoke just loud enough for her to hear her greeting ,but Maryland, unable to gather her thoughts about what she had just laid her eyes on. Couldn't bring herself to speak so a small wave and head nod would have to do.

"Son, can I talk to you for a moment."

"Yeah, Let me get her settled in first."

Raven follows him to his room where he sets her things down nicely on her desk and making sure she was comfortable and knowledgeable about where things where in his room.

When in the kitchen with his mom he rummages through the fridge in search of something for the two of them to snack on until dinner was ready.

"What's up with you today?" he ask her as if he's disappointed.

She knew that her son could tell that she had nothing positive to say about Raven, she just hoped that her face didn't give too much away about her distaste for the girl.

"I don't think I'll like her, when you said she had some weight on her I thought you meant a reasonable amount. Not that you were in love with some... some overly obese child Stephan!"

"Watch your fucking mouth!"

"Who the fuck are you talking to boy? I brought you into this world and I'll take you right the fuck out!"

She tosses the spoon that she's using to stir her food with in his direction before making her way to him and slapping him for disrespecting her. She now had no respect for his son anymore. He had chosen a girl over her, a girl that could leave him any moment while she was going no where until God chose to call her home.

"I don't like the fucking girl, I don't like you being with her, and I don't like the fact that you chose to date a fat girl when that's not how you were raised. Once she get's comfortable with you she's going to let herself go and gain more weight. I don't want you gaining weight too. And I damn sho'll don't want her here so she can eat us out of fucking house and home."

The both here the front door slam and look out of the kitchen window wondering who was leaving or coming in. Stephan catches a car pull off and runs to his room hoping that Raven hadn't heard any of his mothers' stupid statements. He opens the door to find an empty room, empty bed, empty desk, and a feeling of emptiness falls over him.

He couldn't how stupid he was bringing her home with him, he knew how his mother was about "fat" people. She believed that they were all just sad cases that would rather bury their hearts in food instead of in the gym where she believed they belonged. She always told him that she would never allow him to bring home a "Big" girl, that was just something she would never accept. Her son was too perfect, too small, too toned, and too healthy for a "Big" girl to just walk into his life and let all her days of gym training, meal planning, and making him cut weight for sports to just go down the drain for some Double cheeseburger chin.

Maryland finally finds her way to his room almost praying that it was Raven that had stormed out of the house and drove away. Entering she finds her son shaking from anger while reading a piece of paper left on his desk. She snatches it knowing Raven left behind some sappy ass "We can't be together" letter. She knew the girl was soft but she expected her to be a little tougher when it came to people calling her fat.

"Boy I know you ain't crying over that girl?"

He starts tossing stuff out of his closet and onto his bed, at this point the only thing Stephan was focused on after reading that letter was getting his girlfriend back and getting as far away from his mother as possible before he did the unthinkable.

"You're pathetic and miserable, no wonder Mike and my dad left, I wouldn't want to stick around either. I wonder if his wife's the reason why you hate big girls. She got a ring in six months and y'all dated for four and all you got was a kid."

She stands, lost for words, arms wrapped around her body, almost feeling her sons' newfound hatred for her radiating from his body. She jumps once the door slams shut leaving her alone with her thoughts as hot tears run down her face.

Maryland now regretted everything that spewed from her hate filled heart and wanted nothing but to apologize to the girl her son had fell madly in love with. He was starting to remind her of his father when they had first met.

Stanley was a loving and caring man but he seemed to never want to move thing along when it came to his and Marylands' relationship. But who could blame him, she was always a beautiful girl but, she came equipped with a slick mouth and a nasty attitude towards anyone that didn't meet her standards.

While his mother was stuck home alone gathering her thoughts, Stephan had found himself wondering around the city trying to ease his mind and stop the hole in his heart from growing. Raven had been sending him to voicemail continuously and he could feel himself slipping every time he made a call and got no answer. After almost an hour of driving he finally got the call he had been waiting on, pulling over to take the call he answers with swiftness.

"Baby can you just listen to me for a moment, I know you're hurting right now but please? Understand me when I say this. I love you Raven, and I would never do anything to hurt you intentionally. And I know whatever Maryland said hurt you're feelings but you know I don't think of you that way. I tell you every day how much I love everything about you baby girl just let a nigga know where you're at."

"I just can't right now Stephan, I... I need some time to think. Your mom basically just told you that I wasn't good enough for you because I was too fat, no, "Overly obese" and "Would eat you out of house and home." when all I did was say hello. I knew being with you was a mistake but I took a chance like a dummy. Now look at me hurt and "burying my heart in food" and "letting myself go" just like she said. You can do so much better than me so just leave me alone. Please?"

"I told you I'd never leave and I meant that. Whatever Maryland said isn't how I feel Ray and you know that. Can you just tell me where the fuck you are? I need to see you, I need to make sure you're okay, I need you to see that I mean everything that I'm saying right now. Please Ray?"

After a couple of moments of silence she finally agrees to meet with him to talk.

When they arrive Raven walks slowly towards the car while Stephan steps out to meet her and his attempt to hug her is ignored while she climbs into the passenger side of his car slamming the door.

"Yo look I didn't mean for shit to go down like that."

She rolls her eyes, uninterested in whatever Stephan has to say.

Little does he know what she has to say next will ruin his whole Christmas break. She now wanted nothing to do with him. Couldn't handle being such a burden on him and his relationship with his family. She wanted nothing more than for him to be happy and one with his family. So for things to go back to normal she would be leaving for home.

"I don't really care Stephen. I'm not you or your family's problem anymore. My plane leaves at 5. I was just coming to say goodbye and that I'm transferring schools. So you don't have anything to worry about."

"The fuck are you talking about?"

"I'm leaving E and I'm not coming back."

"So that's it. You done ? After everything? After all them long nights of me telling you everything huh? You just gone leave me like that?"

"I don't know what the fuck you want from me. Your mom talked shit about me like I couldn't hear and she didn't give a fuck. She said out of her own mouth that I wasn't good enough for you and you said nothing. Obviously she can find someone good enough for you and I wish you the best but I have to go."

She gets out of the car and into her friends before pulling off leaving Stephen there. Emotions raging, lost for words, and confused. He had let his mother win once again. Leaving him heartbroken while she search for a girl to meet her standards to make him happy. So she thought. She had ran the love of his life away.

But she wouldn't let a little plane ride keep him away from his girl. This was only the beginning.