"Well Ms. Stills, you are indeed pregnant."

I sat there stunned looking at my gynecologist. She had a smile on her face that was slowly fading. "Now if this is something you aren't happy with there are plenty of options for you to choose from," she began. She went through the different options as I zoned out, I was just hoping and praying the home pregnancy test had somehow glitched, but this shit was real.

"Do any of those options sound fitting?" She questioned, I was zoned out as she went through them. I just looked at her and the tears started falling, getting pregnant was never a part of my plan. I had goals that a child just didn't fit into right now. She came over to me pulling me into a hug as I just cried, "it's okay, it's okay" she said while rubbing my back. But it wasn't okay, this shit wasn't okay. I wiped my face as she went and grabbed me some tissues. We talked about options I might consider and she gave me pamphlets of each. I walked out of there with my mind heavy as ever. One night literally changed my life.

I couldn't believe I had been so stupid, I was pregnant by a boy I wanted nothing to do with, because he damn sure wasn't a man.

--

"Are you going to tell Landon?" I was on the phone with Kennedy as I was on my way to my moms, I needed to see my mother, she was my only sense of real reasoning and peace in one and luckily she only lived forty-five minutes away from where I stayed. Not too far, and not too close which was what I wanted.

"I don't know, I mean, I guess I have to." I sighed out.

She sighed as well, "yeah, it would be the best thing to do. Y'all could figure it out together. And before you even start, I know the situation was fucked up. But he's really not a bad dude Aria."

I rolled my eyes, not even in the mood to go there with her today so I kept it short, "okay Kennedy. I need to go though."

"Well let me know when you make it home."

"I will." We said our goodbyes and I hung up the phone, connecting my phone to my Bluetooth in my car, letting soulful 90s R&B soothe me until I made it home.

--

"Hey baby!" my mom said as soon as she opened the door with a big smile on her face. Her smiled faded upon looking me over. My mother was my peace but she could also be a headache because she was blunt as hell.

"What's wrong with you? You got your hair all over your head, you look a mess. What's going on?" She asked as she pulled me into the house and hugging me all I once.

The feel of her tight hug made me lose it again, I busted out crying. "What's wrong baby? Talk to me." I couldn't even talk I was crying so hard. My mother just held me for a minute until I got myself together. She let me go and started walking towards the kitchen, I followed.

"You hungry?" she asked. I shook my head yes and she went and made me a plate of some chicken and rice she cooked and got me a glass of water as I sat there and ate. She just looked me over as I sat there, showing nothing but love in her eyes. My momma never pushed me for anything and I loved that about her, she let me talk when I was ready and didn't force it a minute before.

I finished eating and just came out with it. I didn't know how she was going to take it I knew she wouldn't be happy about it, her goal was for me to finish school first and then she didn't care what I did. She always said that. She just wanted me to be better than her, she didn't finish college because she got pregnant with me when she was 19. "Mom, I'm pregnant" I said looking down, playing with the fork on the plate.

"Come again?" She said with confusion in voice.

I looked up, she was looking at me, eyes wide. "I'm pregnant" I said a little above a whisper.

She nodded her head and swallowed hard, "okay, and what are you thinking right now?" she asked as she crossed her arms and leaned back on the counter.

I shrugged my shoulders, looking down as I pushed my hair back, my hair was in its natural state, curls all wild. "Look at me," she said, I looked up connecting my eyes with hers.

She dropped her crossed arms, "You know I'm not ecstatic that you're pregnant" she sighed, "but understand I'm not mad either" she quickly added in. "Baby, you're grown. I can't stop you from nothing. You did what grown folks do, and now you have to deal with grown up consequences and make grown up decisions."

I placed my elbow on the table, holding my head up with my hand. "That's the thing mama, I don't know what decision to make. I'm not ready for no baby, but at the same time this child didn't ask to be made."

She nodded her head, "that's true baby. Take care of your responsibilities then, do what you have to do, but you better finish school."

"You think I should keep it?" I asked with pleading eyes.

She came towards me grabbing my hands, "I think you should do whatever makes you feel best. Regardless I will support you but I'm not going to tell you what to do, that's completely your decision."

I sighed, she hugged me and kissed me on my forehead. "I'm a little young to be a grandma, but shit, they'll have a fly grandma if you decide to keep it." She flipped her hair off her shoulder as she did a little cute turn around. That right there let me know she wanted me to keep the baby, which wasn't surprising. I was just happy to know she would be in my corner.

I laughed, "girl bye, stop acting like you thirty." She laughed, "shit, I look twenty-five." That she did, she looked good for her age.

"So," she began as she leaned on the counter "who's the pappy? You ain't brought nobody home for me to meet."

I rolled my eyes, sighing, I got up to put my plate in the sink. "He's not important."

She put her hand on her chest, "oh no, don't tell me we have a deadbeat on our hands."

"No," I quickly said, "he doesn't even know, and don't judge me, but it was like a one time thing," I put soap on the plate as I turned the water on, "and it wasn't a one night stand" I quickly added in.

She looked at me, a little confused. "Aria, you talking in circles."

I started washing the plate as the water turned from warm to hot. "Well, it's kind of a long story, but the point is, we're not together, and won't ever be together." I didn't want to tell her what happen because my mom would give him hell if she ever met him and knew what happen; and if I keep this baby and he decides to be a part of their life I know they'll meet. I believed in not telling the ones close to you what you don't want them to hold against another. They won't ever forget that shit.

She nodded her head, "okay, okay."

"Where are Dave and Bianca?" I asked trying to change the subject all together. Dave was my stepdad and Bianca was his sixteen year old daughter. With those two we made one big happy crazy family.

"They went to see his mom," she said waving it off as she headed out the kitchen, "they'll be back in the morning."

I finished washing everything I ate with and then decided to head to the small park in the neighborhood just to breathe.

As I got to the park I saw a man pushing a little girl on one of the swings, I sat at one of the tables and faced the street as I put my headphones in. I was zoned out just watching cars occasionally pass by when the little girl ran up to me with a big smile on her face.

I took one of my headphones out speaking to her, "hey pretty girl!" She continued smiling putting her chin down to her chest as if she was shy. "Kelani! Kelani!" I heard the man yell, I turned around seeing he was making his way towards us. I smiled upon seeing how handsome he was, and then became embarrassed realizing it was my neighbor, Jason.

His parents lived beside my mom for as long as I could remember, he was a couple of years older than me. We didn't talk much but we had conversations every now and then growing up. He was definitely a lot more handsome now. His smooth chocolate skin, matched with a low fade and gorgeous perfect smile.

"Hey!" he said looking surprised to see me.

I subconsciously began trying to smooth my hair down in the sloppy bun I had thrown it into. "Hey," I said with a soft smile, "how are you?"

He smiled a big smile as he picked up the little girl, who I guess was Kelani. "I'm good, long time no see. How are you?"

"I'm okay," I said as I began taking the other headphone out of my ear. "This your little girl?" I asked as I pointed towards her. It'd clearly been a long time, I remember my mom saying something about him having a baby. But this little girl wasn't a baby anymore.

He looked at her and smiled, it was cute as hell. "Yeah, this is her."

"She's beautiful," I said looking up at them smiling. She had a smooth brown complexion with her hair in a cute curly ponytail, with her small dimple poking through on her right cheek.

"Thank you," he said looking back down at me. "What brings you into town? I felt like I haven't seen you in, how old are you Kelani?"

She held up four fingers, and screamed "three!" excitedly.

"Three years," he continued. I laughed, "it has not been the long, you clearly just aren't around when I do come into town."

He nodded, "I guess that could be it," he said with a smile. "Well you look good, and it's nice to know you're doing good too."

Did he just compliment me? With me looking like this? My mom told me I looked a mess and I know I did plus I had been crying. I blushed, a little taken aback by the comment.

"You do too," I said returning the compliment, but he really did. "And nice to know all is good your way as well, congratulations on this beauty," I said as I smiled up at his daughter. She quickly tried to get out of grasp trying to come to me altogether.

"Kelani, you don't even know her," he said chuckling. "She usually isn't friendly like this."

I smiled as he put her down, and she grabbed back on to my hand smiling up at me.

"But thanks," he continued, "she's a handful, but I'm grateful for her. How long are you going to be in town?"

I shrugged my shoulders, "I'll probably go back tomorrow. Are you back in the area?" He went to college two years before me in a city about two hours away from here.

He waved his hand back and forward, letting me know sort of, kind of. "I live about thirty minutes from here, so in a way but then again not really. Closer than I was."

I nodded my head, "but hey, we should catch dinner or breakfast or something before you go tomorrow" he said as he stuffed his hands in his pocket.

I tilted my head a little to the side and smiled, "yeah, we should."

He smiled, "which do you prefer?"

I thought about it for a second, "breakfast is cool, brunch might be better." I said with a small laugh. It would allow me time to get myself together, I was a mess today.

He laughed, "that's cool. Well check this, I'm staying at my parents tonight and I take it you are too, so I'll come by at like one? You know just knock on the door or whatever."

I laughed, "sounds good, I'll see you tomorrow then." He smiled, "you will." He then looked down at Kelani telling her to come on, me and her said goodbye to one another and they left the park as I put my headphones back in thinking of the decision I had to make.

--

That afternoon Jason took me uptown, which was about twenty-five minutes from where we stayed. We went to Kijo's, this nice little bar lounge that had great food and served breakfast food until three. This morning I was able to get myself looking better than the day before. I threw my hair in a slick bun and put some make up on my face.

"You been here before?" he asked as we skimmed through the menu.

"Yeah, a couple times" I said as I closed my menu, knowing what I was going to order.

The waiter came to the table and we placed our order. We engaged in slight conversation. Getting to know each other a little better. Which was kind of weird seeing as how we knew each other forever, but clearly didn't really know each other.

"I'm about to go to the ladies room," I said to him as I pushed back from the table. He nodded his head. We sat outside since today was such a nice day, so I made my way inside to the get to the restrooms. Once I got inside I scanned my surroundings as I tried to remember which way the bathroom was and then my eyes landed on Landon, he was at the hostess stand with two others, that looked to be his parents. I made a beeline to the bathroom once I spotted the sign, hoping he didn't see me.

Like what were the fucking chances I'd run into him here!? I used the bathroom as I kept it in my mind to make sure I avoided him as I went back outside. I had a full plan but that quickly came to a halt when I came out the bathroom and Landon was leaning against the wall.

I looked him up and down as he stood with his hands in his pockets. He looked extremely crisp and clean, he had on a tan shirt and some jeans with some tan men's Chelsea boots on. I tried to act as if I didn't see him, even though I just grilled his ass down. I quickly started walking by him but he grabbed my arm. "Aria, c'mon now" he said calmly.

I turned and looked at him, "Landon what?"

He looked me up and down, lingering on my stomach more than I'd like, making me self-conscious. He pushed off of the wall, crossing his arms and licking his lips as he visibly tighten his jaw. Still looking me up and down as he asked the question, "you pregnant?"

It was like I'd been hit the way I lost my breath, "what?" I said almost a little too loud. "Is this your way of saying I gained weight or something?" I asked with attitude. He chuckled, "if I was trying to say that I would have said that."

I crossed my arms, "where the hell is this coming from?" I knew Jodie would run his mouth.

He didn't answer, "so you are?"

"I didn't say I was."

"You not saying shit. That's why I'm asking." He barked as he looked down at my stomach again before looking back at me.

I rolled my eyes, "yes Landon, you clearly know." I said with a fake smile as I started walking away.

He grabbed my arm again, this time pulling me hard enough to the point that I went into his body. His light cologne filling my nostrils with how close we were.

"Is it mine?" he asked looking me in my eyes barely above a whisper.

I stepped back, putting some space in between us. Not really wanting to have this conversation right here, right now. "Who the fuck else's would it be?" I asked with anger in a whisper tone as a man walked by.

He sucked his teeth, "man chill out. I don't know what the fuck you be doing." The audacity of this nigga, he annoyed me I wasn't about to do this with him right now. He wasn't going to ruin my day, not now, "we can talk about this later" I said matter of factly as I started walking away.

"That ignoring my calls shit is dead now Aria. You better answer when I call later." He demanded as I didn't even waste my time to even respond.

I cursed myself as I made my way back outside but I quickly shook my thoughts off as I saw Jason, I said I wasn't going to let Landon ruin my day and I wouldn't.