8am The Next Morning.

Exhaling, I walked inside of my house and dropped my keys in the bowl by the door. Tired was an understatement. I complained about not getting a nap yesterday, only to end up getting no sleep at all. Twenty four hours and no rest.

We had to deal with some snake niggas, taking shit that don't belong to them.

"Good morning." My mom called from the kitchen. A week after she found out about Ariel, she filed for divorce from my dad then moved back in with me. Lately she's been talking about moving out of the state because my dad's constantly bothering her. I guess me almost killing him wasn't good enough.

"Hey ma." I kissed her forehead then sat at the counter. "You about to cook?"

She nodded. "Yeah, I wanted a nice breakfast. So you had a long night?"

"Very."

"Want some coffee?"

"Yes, thank you."

"Mmhm." She poured me a cup then handed me the sugar. "So I noticed you barely get any sleep lately, what's up with that?"

"Just a lot going on. I'll sleep when I'm dead ma."

She rolled her eyes. "You just seem very different lately Chris. And how are you supposed to look after two little hyper girls and you're so exhausted."

"I got it."

"I can tell you're seconds from cracking. I don't think you got it."

"Once I get done with this coffee I'm going upstairs to get some rest. Ariel won't be here until later anyway."

"You're really enjoying this big brother thing I see. You used to beg me and your dad for a baby brother when you were little."

I laughed. "It's cool but I just know how Aubree needs help so I stepped up to the plate. Dad isn't going to do it and Ariel's an innocent little girl, she shouldn't be neglected like that."

"Yeah, she shouldn't. Does she know about you being her brother?"

"No. She just thinks I'm always getting her so that she can be with Royalty. I'm not trying to make shit confusing for her. She knows I was her sister boyfriend and now I have to tell her that I'm her brother. I'd rather not."

"I get it. So I finally met Aubree when I picked up Ariel for you last month. She's very pretty and sweet."

"Yeah."

"Why did you break up with her?"

"I had to."

"Why?"

"This whole situation is frustrating and it made our relationship complicated."

"Or did you make it complicated Chris? Ariel doesn't know that you're her brother, nobody else knows. I can tell that she's a good a girl and I can tell the reason you're not sleeping or eating or functioning properly is because she's gone. You haven't been the same since you found about Ariel."

"I'm just stressed Ma, she's not the reason I'm like this."

"Don't lie to me Chris."

"Can we talk about something else please?" I was starting to get aggravated.

"I'm trying to help. I don't like seeing my son look so miserable."

My eyebrows furrowed. "What you mean?"

"You are wearing your pain Chris. I know when something is really bothering you. The results of you not eating and sleeping is all over your face. The red circles around your eyes, you're losing weight. If this girl has this kind of control over you to where you can let yourself go, you need to get back to her."

"She doesn't have any type of control over me, I'm just busy so eating and sleeping ain't on the agenda. Don't worry Ma, this has happened before. I'll bounce back."

She sighed. No matter how much she tried to get into my head I wasn't going to let her. If I say I'm good, that should be the end of the conversation.

"Okay Christopher."

I got up from my seat. "I'm going to go get some rest now." I kissed her forehead then headed upstairs. As soon as I got in my room I shut and locked the door. Stripping down to my briefs, I climbed into the bed. Before my eyes shut, I cut off my phone and tossed it to the end of the bed. I got all the way comfortable. My eyes immediately grew heavy then I was out like a light.

£

My eyes popped open to the sound of somebody banging on my room door. "What?" I yelled.

"Ariel is here." My mom called.

Looking over to my left I glanced at the time. Damn I've been sleep for nine hours. Groaning I climbed out of bed and slipped my jogging pants back on them headed downstairs. Ari and Ro were already playing but I could hear voices at the front of the house. I walked to the front and my mom was talking to Aubree. And once again my heart was beating hard like it wanted to jump out my chest.

"Hey." I said causing her to look at me.

"Hi." Her eyes roamed my bare chest before she looked back at my mom. "I'm going to head out. I want to do lunch before I start my new job." She said to my mom.

My ears perked up at her having a new job.

"Okay sweetie." My mom pulled her into a hug.

When they let go Aubree hurried to the door and my mom pointed for me to go after her. I rushed out and when I caught up to her, I grabbed her.

"Why do you keep doing that?" She snatched away.

"Why you rushing to leave?"

"What reason do I have to stay?"

"Can we talk? I think we should talk."

"There's nothing to talk about Chris."

"You got a new job, congratulations. I told you something would come through."

"Thanks."

"Aubree I don't want things to be like this between us. I hate the fact that you're mad at me."

"I'm not mad I'm just giving you what you want. You want nothing to do with me but yet every time you see me you're chasing me. Just let me be Chris."

I just looked at her.

"Anything else?" She asked.

"Naw....go ahead. I'll drop Aubree off Sunday."

"Okay." She started walking again.

I didn't want her to go man. "How is it easy for you to look past the fact that we share a sister? People are going to think we're crazy for dealing with each other."

She quickly turned around and walked back up to me. "FUCK WHAT EVERYBODY ELSE HAS TO SAY! People don't even have to know about that situation because it's none of their fucking business. You made all of this difficult for no reason. All because you're worried about what the hell everybody else has to say? Everybody else's doesn't matter. Only thing that was supposed to matter was you and me. But it's too late now."

"Too late? You found somebody else."

"No but I'm not about to sit around and wait for you to come to your senses. You did not want me because of this situation with Ari so keep that same energy."

"I do want you Aubree." I tried grabbing her again but she pushed me away.

"No you don't! Because if you did you wouldn't have walked away when I damn near begged you to stay and work things out with me. Instead you started treating me like I hurt you. That's not okay, I didn't deserve that."

"You're right, you didn't. I'm so sorry."

"I don't want your apology, I don't want anything from you. You broke my heart Chris. You say you might love me but I actually loved you."

"I do love you Aubree."

"Whatever."

I held onto her face. "I love you and I know you still love me. I'll learn to swallow my pride to make things work."

"Lets just focus on Ariel. That's it."

She was starting to piss me off. I'm begging her and now that ain't no good, that shit is crazy. I moved my hands off her face and stepped back. "You're not even acknowledging the fact that I'm trying to make shit right. I said I was sorry."

"You didn't acknowledge me trying to make things right six months ago. You overlooked my begging and pleading because didn't want to be with me. But now that you're ready, I'm supposed to welcome you back with open arms huh? I'm sure you being like this took a little convincing too. Who did it, your mom?"

"I just thought you were the one for me but I'm not about to make myself look crazy. You don't want this then fine. I'll move on."

She nodded. "Okay."

"My mom will drop Ariel off Sunday."

"That's fine, doesn't matter who brings her as long as she comes back."

All I could do was shake my head. Why is she being difficult like this? She say she ain't got nobody else but she damn sure acting like a nigga already took my spot.

"I have to go." She said.

I shooed her away. She laughed then headed to her car. I watched her until she pulled off.

Can't believe she being like this towards me.

Fuck her for real.