2005

"AYE TORYN, YOU READY?" Nineteen year old Sean asked his five year old daughter while typing the shoe laces to his sneakers.

He looked up when he got no response, watching his daughter standing there in a frilly pink floral dress with all kinds of flowers over it. It was Fall and the weather was in the sixties but the wind was still heavy causing a thick white cotton sweater to be placed over the little girl. Her hair was freshly braided, with blue beads on the ends of her hair for decoration. She stood with tears glistening in her eyes as she held a very small plastic bag from Tiffany Jewelry store, containing the gift she picked out for her new friend.

Sean chuckled with a big smile on his face, he put his hand out for his daughter who gladly found her way toward him, rubbing her eyes which did nothing that stopped the tears from falling. He pulled the child between his legs, tilting her chin up. He was starting to think she had some kind of disorder or something. She cried for everything. Then again, she was a very sweet and soft child.

"Aye, come on Tee-Tee, cut that out. Why you always crying. You got the gift for your friend right?"

Toryn quickly nodded her head, gripping the bag in her hand tighter. Sean got the news from one of his old friend's that they were living next door to him. An old friend named Laura, that had been his friend since he was seven. Their mothers had were friends and had introduced them at that age. Ever since then they had been tight and had even went to all of the same schools, except when they hit high school. It's been five years since they've seen each other, so when Laura had suddenly wrote on Facebook where she was living, Sean was surprised it was not only in his neighborhood, but the house right next door.

With how close they were, it would have been nothing for them to meet up right away. But both of them had busy schedules. When he was home Laura was at work, or when she was home he was at work or out doing something else. It seemed time would never compromise with them, but finally after a week, they both found an empty hole in their schedules that allowed them to make time for each other. Sean was even surprised when he found out Laura also had a child. A five year old just like him. Their children even had the same birthday. June 4th, 2000. Laura's son was a morning baby and Toryn was born at night, so the only difference was her son was born a couple hours earlier.

As soon as Sean found out about Laura's son, he took Toryn to the mall and made her pick out a gift. He took her to Tiffany jewelry store and let her get anything she wanted for Laura's son. It might have seemed extra, but he's known Laura forever so it wasn't a big deal for him to go that far in buying real jewelry for her kin. He wanted to pick her up something as well, but she had a man so he didn't think it would be appropriate.

Sean planned on making them hang out and talk to Laura about them attending the same schools and everything since her son was new in the area. He wanted them to be lifelong friends like he and Laura. Especially since Toryn had a lot of issues and didn't really have any friends.

She got made fun of in school a lot for being "ugly." She wore very thick glasses that always seemed to sit on her nose instead of high up on her face like they were suppose to. The thickness of the lens made her eyes appear really big and even with the glasses on she was always squinting or scrounging up her face like she couldn't see. She was tall and lanky, awkwardly built. She had very light skin that was smooth as it should be at her age, but her fingers were horrible looking. She never had any nails because she also chewed them off, down to the cuticles. The skin off her fingers were also missing. Sometimes she peeled the skin off her hands so far they bled.

Sean had took her to the doctor to figure out what was wrong with her and why she was harming herself. He was devastated because he didn't know if a child so young could be suicidal. The first time he saw her fingers bleeding he thought she just cut herself on something, but as she got older and he noticed her chewing her own self until the pinkness of her fingers showed, he became worried and truly creeped out.

When Toryn first started doing it she was three, so Sean just thought she was teething. It wasn't much damage she could do to herself at that age anyway. But shortly after he learned she was being abused at daycare he dropped her off at while at work by older kids. So he took her out of the daycare and transferred her, but she never stopped doing it. Her biting herself up like that didn't register to him as a problem since she was a baby. It wasn't until it got really bad and her fingers looked like they had gone through paper shredders did he take her into the doctor.

Apparently when he went to the doctor, he learned that she suffered from dermatophagia. Which was a disorder where someone chewed at their own skin and flesh until it bled and became discolored. It was a mental issue caused by nervousness. It was hard for Sean to believe at first because she had started doing it at three and there would be no reason a three year old would have nervous issues. But it did start with the bullying at the daycare. She had always been a target for children to mistreat, so he couldn't argue with that.

It was really hard for Sean to see his baby girl go through this, on top of the fact she had mental issues. It was hard taking care of Toryn on his own as a single parent but he loved his little girl nevertheless. Her mother was in a mental hospital suffering from severe schizophrenia and memory loss, a type of dementia. She was so young and it was sad, but it was life. And unfortunately, due to genetics, Toryn suffered from the exact same thing.

Sean use to take her to see her mom, but stopped after a while because Toryn was scared of her. Her mother would terrify the shit out of her. Scream and yell at her, always asking the nurses to make them leave. Toryn's mother Allen, didn't remember anything. She didn't even remember the fact she had a daughter, she didn't remember Sean or her own parents. On some days she would get flashbacks or her memory would come back temporarily, but it would go right back to blankness within a matter of days or even hours. Sean thought he should let Toryn make the decision for Toryn to visit her mother when she got older if she wanted to. But for now he left it alone.

"Okay, you good?" Sean asked, smiling.

Toryn nodded her head and gave her dad a high five. Sean smiled and scooped her up and she began laughing while he tickled her. He kissed her cheek and she latched onto his side as he began to walk toward the door. She could feel herself getting nervous. She wondered if the girl was pretty...would she make fun of her like most people did? Was she tall like her or short? Was she mean?

Toryn began chewing her nail on her index finger. It had just grown out a little and she was already biting it off again. Her little stomach was bubbling and honestly she didn't want to go anymore. Sean walked across the grass next door and knocked on the door. He knew Laura's man was suppose to be home soon, but she said it was fine that he could come over because her boyfriend wasn't the jealous type. Sean wasn't a pussy either, so he of course took her up on her invitation.

The door opened thirty seconds later and Sean was hit with all kind of eccentric smells coming from the kitchen. It seemed like so many things were being cooked at once he couldn't tell what they were exactly.

"Oh my gosh...best friend!" Laura squealed, laughing really hard as she clapped her hands together.

Sean immediately put Toryn down, attacking Laura with a hug. Toryn watched them nervously as Sean had his hands around her nearly resting on her butt and Laura had her hands around his neck, while they stumbled backwards. They looked like they were about to kiss. Toryn immediately looked away, feeling uncomfortable. She low key began to look around for the little girl.

"Oh my gosh, Sean look at you!" Laura gasped, taking in his handsome features. He was still as light as the first day she met him. He had no facial hair but had very deep waves, his ice brown dark eyes and tall height. He was such a class clown growing up, but he really took care of himself and still looked good like he always did.

Sean smiled really hard, licking his lips. "Whassup La." he said, taking in how beautiful Laura was. Her brown skin was radiant and her brown eyes brighter than the sun. She had some small lips that poked out, he wondered if she was a good kisser.

Them flirting was nothing, they always did it growing up, but they never took it past a certain level. And they were glad they didn't, they were really close but didn't want to ruin the friendship. Sean couldn't deny how beautiful Laura had become. It wasn't a shocker though, she was always pretty.

"And is this your little lady," she gasped, "oh my gosh, hi honey."

"Hi." Toryn said putting up her hand quickly and looking away. She was very shy and didn't like any other adults except her dad. Most people were strangers to her. She didn't even have a good relationship with her grandparents from either side.

Toryn was too young to understand why but when Sean had gotten her mother Allen pregnant with her, he was only fourteen at the time and Allen thirteen. He and Allen were separated immediately and forbid to talk to each other by both of their parents. Allen's parents were especially mad at Sean because they felt he took advantage of Allen. She was a barely a teenager and had severe mental health problems. They wanted to press charges on him but they couldn't since the sex was consensual even though she was thirteen; and because he was only one year older than her, so it couldn't be considered statuary rape when they were both minors.

The only time Allen's parents contacted Sean is the day Allen went into labor. Right then and there they gave him the option to take Toryn or give her up for adoption, because they didn't want her. Even though he was a child himself he didn't want his baby going anywhere but at home with him. Sean's mother also angry, couldn't allow that despite she was very disappointed her son had did what he done. So they raised Toryn together. While his mom watched Toryn in the day, he went to school. As soon as he became old enough, he went out and got a job and saved up his money.

He saved up enough to get his own crib and everything. Now it was just he and Toryn. He had his mother had a falling out which caused them to stop speaking. They always had problems ever since he got Allen pregnant; even though she agreed to keep the baby, for years she talked about how much she regretted letting him keep Toryn and how he should have gave her up for adoption. It got to the point where Sean stayed up some nights and cried. Because nobody seemed to love this little girl except him. So when he got enough money he moved out, never looking back.

Sean looked over his shoulders, sucking his teeth at his shy daughter. "C'mere Tee Tee stop acting like that, what I tell you?"

Toryn immediately stepped forward, hugging her dad's leg while she held the small blue plastic bag in her hand. Laura bent down, making the little girl grip her dad's legs tighter. Laura smiled. "Is that for me?" She asked playfully, pointing to the small bag she held.

Toryn quickly nodded her head yes and extended the bag toward Laura. Laura laughed, "She's so adorable."

Sean chuckled too in amusement. "Aye."

Toryn looked up at him with tears starting to brim her eyes. She hated when people laughed at her. "You gon' give your gift to your friend away? You mad disloyal Tee Tee."

Laura stood back up to her height and playfully mushed Sean's arm. "Boy shut up..." she then walked toward the kitchen, letting Sean get a view of her frame in her black t-shirt and pink jogging pants. She had a small little butt as always but it fit her. "You guys can take your coats off and everything."

Sean did as she said and slipped his coat off, dressed down in a black long sleeve shirt. He walked over to one of the couches in the living room with Toryn still locked on his leg. He took a seat and began to unbutton her sweater until Toryn put her hand over his. "No I wanna keep it on." She said.

He laughed. "Okay little girl, no problem." He pulled out his phone and leaned back in the couch, checking his messages. Sean was very known all over so it was no surprise he had a barrage of text messages and mixed calls.

"So what you been up to these past couple of years?" Laura asked from the kitchen. He heard a clank which sounded like her taking a pot cover off. He could hear the bubbling of some kind of liquid boiling.

Sean smirked, checking his missed calls to see if any important numbers had called. "Raising my baby girl...surviving."

Laura put her hand out and blew the spoon which held some of the liquid of the curry sauce. She dropped two droplets on the edge of her hand and quickly licked so it wouldn't burn her hand. It was a little too spicy but overall it had good flavor. She placed the cover back on and checked to see if the rice had boiled.

"Same. Just raising my baby boy. He's upstairs on his little game or whatever. He's such a game head it's ridiculous. I like it though, different from being a sneaker feign like everyone else."

"True. You shoulda told me though, I woulda bought lil' homie some games."

Laura laughed knowingly to herself making Sean chuckle. "What?"

Laura came shuffling into the living room, her pink cotton candy socks creaking against the floorboards. She appeared at the side of the couch with a hand on her hip, the metal tablespoon still in her hand. "No, not even. Trust me, his father is a drama king. Who bought him this, send it back, I don't want no man buying my son anything. Like...he goes crazy."

Sean chuckled, "Oh, one of those."

"Exactly," Laura sighed, her eyes taking sight of Sean's daughter cradled up to him with her head buried in his neck. Laura sucked her teeth, "Boy if you don't put that girl down."

"My baby just wants to chill with her daddy, right?"'

Toryn just nodded her head, keeping her eyes closed. She didn't like Laura for some reason. She was really aggressive and all over her daddy. She needed to find her own because Toryn didn't like sharing.

"Toryn, why don't you go play with my son Takashi? He's a really nice boy. You can give him your present too."

Sean smirked, licking his lips as he lightly tapped Toryn's back. "That sounds like a good idea Tee. Why don't you go talk to your new friend?"

Toryn shook her head from side to side. She was nervous now and didn't want to anymore. She had no clue it was a boy. Not that it made much of a difference to her, but she would have bought a different present.

Sean shrugged as if there was nothing else he could do.

Laura eyed him, she couldn't believe this was the same Sean. He was such a softie now. This was the same man who claimed he would never do kids and now he had one damn near literally attached to his hip, and looked more like he was the one that didn't want her to go anywhere.

Sean's eyes met Laura's and the sexual tension was stronger than a heat wave. Laura smiled, "I have a man...relax."

"You the one looking at me, miss."

"I was looking at your daughter," Laura blushed and looked away toward the staircase. "Takashi!"

The house was more hotter than usual, signaling things heating up in the kitchen. Knowing Laura, he was gonna go home with a plate and he loved her cooking. Her mom use to make her help a lot of the time. So even though she was a young girl, he knew she could cook.

"Takashi! Laura shouted once again when she got no answer.

"What!"

Toryn opened her eyes, staring at her dress when she heard the screechy voice but both Laura and Sean's heads swung toward the staircase. They couldn't see anything because the door was further down the hall. Sean chuckled.

"Little boy, excuse me?! Takashi Maxwell, bring your little behind in here!"

Seconds later a peanut butter toned little boy came filing into the living room. He had on all black pajamas and sporting almost a grill on his face. His feet stomped down the wooden stairs before he met his mother in the living room. He didn't even bother to look at her guests.

"Have you lost your mind, little boy?" Laura asked.

"No,"

"Then why are you screaming?"

Takashi frowned, only wanting to get back to his game. "Because I'm on level eight of Mario Kart and you keep bother—"

"I don't give a damn what level you on. How bout' I shove Mario's Kart up your ass and you have no game to play. Would you rather that?"

He quickly shook his head from side to side.

"Good. Don't shout when I talk to you. Now say hi, this is my friend Sean."

Takashi's head swung toward the man. He was young looking like his mom. He saw a little girl on him but she wouldn't look up. Takashi noticed the man was leaned back in the couch, very comfortable. Immediately the young boy got defensive. He wondered where his dad was. He looked at Sean. "Hi." He almost spat.

Sean chuckled, finding amusement in the feisty little kid. "Whassup little man, how you doing?"

"Do you know my dad?"

"Nah, do you?" Sean said underhandedly being an ass.

"Sean." Laura said sternly, "don't get slapped."

Sean smiled, still staring at her son. "Your a big boy man, I hear you love games."

"Yeah."

Sean nodded his head, "That's cool, my name is Sean."

"Do you know my mom?" He pouted, looking from him to his weird daughter who wouldn't get off of him.

"Yeah, very well." Sean smiled, he cleared his throat. "Aye you wanna play with my daughter for a while?"

"No." Takashi said.

"Hey." Laura snapped.

"I was just joking." He lied. All he wanted to do was go back to his game. "She can come play Mario Karts with me if she wants." He shrugged, heading back upstairs.

"You hear that Tee? Go on, daddy wanna talk to miss Laura. I'll be right up to get you in three minutes, okay?"

Toryn bit her bottom lip and nodded. She wanted to say no but she could tell from his tone of voice he really wasn't asking. She slid off his lap slowly, dragging herself toward the staircase with her head down.

Laura laughed. "Aww she's so cute."