One week later

Naomi, Jade, KJ, Dre and Aria walked through the mall on a Saturday, wasting time, they didn't have anything better to do

" I still can't believe you fought at that party " Dre said to Aria as they walked inside forever 21

" Cynn got exactly what she asked for " Naomi said nonchalantly " Why did y'all fight anyways "

" Somebody said it was over Karter but I thought Karter was like your brother " Dre said

" He is " Aria said nervously " Cynn just overreacted "

" Well now next time she know better than to swing on people " Dre laughed making Naomi and Jade laugh

Aria picked up a hot pink dress and examined it " you like it? " Jade asked " I can get it for you if you want"

" We'll be over there " Dre said before taking KJ away to the men's part. They had gotten so close in a week, they were inseparable and KJ really liked Dre. He was two years older than him, very mature and caring, all the traits of a good boyfriend.

" Nah I'm good, thanks" Aria replied, she didn't like taking anything from anybody and she didn't need anybody to buy her anything because

"It doesn't hurt to steal sis " Jade whispered giving Aria a look. Aria had never stole anything a day in her life, Jade grabbed the dress Aria was looking at and looked around before putting it in her purse. Aria's heart started to beat fast, she was nervous, she didn't want to get caught and her friend was acting so bold. Naomi was used to it though and that's why she didn't let Jade come over her house, Jade wasn't raised the way they were and it was obvious.

" Relax " Jade said noticing Aria was nervous, she picked up some more things before heading to the register. When they walked through the door the alarms went off

" Can I see your bag ma'am " one of the workers said, Aria almost passed out, she thought they had gotten caught. Jade passed her the bag and she checked it, she gave it back

" I'm sorry, these things are so old they go off for no reason all the time" the worker laughed " have a good day ma'am "

Jade looked at Aria and smiled before they walked out the store together

" Now you have the dress you wanted and you didn't have to spend any money"

" You can keep it " Aria assured, she wanted no parts.

A group of boys walked past and one of them roughly bumped KJ almost knocking him down " Watch where you going faggot "

" Don't talk to him like that " Dre said angrily

" Or what ? " the boy said walking up on him. Even though the boy was taller and more buff than him, Dre wasn't intimidated at all. Aria and her friends turned around and KJ looked like he could cry.

" Come on man " One of the boy's friend said trying to pull away, he chuckled before walking away with his friends.

" Are you okay ? " Dre asked KJ, KJ snatched away from him

" I don't need you to defend me okay? "

" He was talking shit, I did what I had to do KJ " Dre said in a confused tone

" Like I said, I don't need you to defend me.. it's not like I'm your boyfriend or anything "
KJ said he headed towards the exit " Come on " he said to Aria making her leave every one confused.

Aria got into the car and so did KJ, the ride home was silent, neither one of them bothered to turn on the radio. When they got to their house Aria parked the car and stopped KJ before he could get out the car.

" Are you okay ? " She asked

" You don't know what it's like Aria.. I grew up with that type of treatment from my mom everyday, and when I finally felt comfortable with myself it was like that guy came and made me feel small again.. "

" This world is not going to love you the way you want it to, you're an openly gay black male and the world is intimidated by you.. but if you really love yourself none of that is going to matter, okay ? Fuck what anybody has to say.. if somebody has a problem with your sexuality it's because they're confused about their own. I never want you to feel small ever again "

KJ sniffled and wiped the tear that fell down his face " I just wanna' feel accepted " He admitted " I wanna' be able to go places and not get looked at like it's something wrong with me.. "

" The people that love and care about you accept you and that's all that matters " Aria said " It's nothing wrong with you, you are who you are and nobody can change that "

****

Sehkani was taking his daily after school nap when his phone began to ring, he answered it without looking at the caller ID " Yeah ? "

" Sehkani " Aaliyah's mother said frantically

Sehkani sat up and checked his phone before bringing it back to his ear " Yes ? Is everything okay? " he asked

" We're on the way to the hospital, the baby's coming " her mother replied

" Isn't it too early, like a month? " Sehkani replied. Her due date was in two or three weeks but the baby couldn't wait.

" Sehkani I don't have time for questions, meet us at Grady memorial " she said before hanging up

Sehkani quickly got up and got dressed putting on a plain white t-shirt and a pair of grey sweat shorts and black Gucci slides. " Ma " he yelled out

" What ? " Adryian replied in a annoyed tone " Sehkani didn't I tell you to get these clothes-

" Aaliyah's about to have the baby " He said cutting her off

Adryian's eyes widened " What? Now ? " she asked, Sehkani nodded his head yes and Adryian rushed to her room to tell Kasuan.

Twenty minutes later the whole family had made it to the hospital. Sehkani was nervous, he couldn't believe he was about to be a dad and his heart beated through his chest. When they walked in, the hospital was quiet and somewhat empty with a few people here and there

" Hello im here to see Aaliyah White " Sehkani said to the lady sitting at the front desk

" Name? "

" She's about to have my baby " Sehkani said looking around

" And I asked for your name " the lady snapped

Sehkani sucked his teeth " Sehkani Wright "  he answered

"Room 36a on the 4th floor " the lady said before passing him a visitors sticker and doing the same for Kasuan, Adryian , Aria and KJ.

They headed towards the closest elevator and went to the 4th floor, Sehkani rushed down the hall to find the room Aaliyah was in. When found the room he walked inside " Aaliyah " he    called out

Aaliyah let out a deep breath, relieved that Sehkani was there, she was bent over a counter stretching with the doctor to help with her contractions. The contractions were horrible but after she had gotten her epidural, she felt so comfortable that she actually fell asleep. Sehkani and his family waited in the room as Aaliyah slept for almost three hours

The only time she woke up was when the nurses came in to turn her and check her.  An hour later she had woken up because she started to feel a bit more pressure. The doctors checked her and she was only four CM dilated, so the nurse put her into a position where her feet were elevated and her head was lower than the rest of her body. She was skeptical about it but the nurse said it would help her dilate faster. Aaliyah started feeling sick so they put her back upright, she started feeling sick every time she laid and threw up twice, and after that the nurses let her lie on her side. The nurse left and Aaliyah tried to get some more rest.

Aaliyah's mom, Adryian, Aria and KJ went down to the cafeteria to grab something to eat and Kasuan went over and sat next to Sehkani

" I remember my first time sitting in the seat your sitting in " Kasuan said to Sehkani, Sehkani looked up at him " it was the day you were born.. I was scared, I thought I was gone end up like my dad.. I couldn't stop thinking about all the bad and when you came out, you know you weren't breathing and my heart was crushed but when you let out that loud cry and I held you for the first time.. that was the best feeling ever. I say this to you because I know, no matter what you'll be a good dad.. I know you will. Your kids gives you purpose in life, everything won't be perfect and some days you gone feel like giving up and then you remember you got someone you gotta' do shit for and you get through it. It's time to be a man Sehkani, being a dad is a big responsibility and I know you can do it.. I'm proud of you " Kasuan said

" Thank you " Sehkani replied with a smile.

10 minutes later Aaliyah's mom and Adryian and the kids came back with Chick-fil-A, Sehkani was starving and stuffed his mouth when Aria passed him his food.

Aaliyah began to feel so lightheaded and felt like she could pass out, the monitors started to go off and everyone in the room was concerned, the nurse rushed in and put adrenaline through her IV because Aaliyah's blood pressure had dropped to a dangerous level. After that ordeal, she started to feel these twinges in her lower right side so she got a booster from the anesthesiologist and felt better

Aaliyah didn't become 10 CM dilated until it was almost 3 in the morning and after a hour and a half of labor their baby girl was born. Sehkani's was more than excited to cut the cord and hold his baby girl for the first time. The doctors assured them that even though she was born a little early she was completely fine and healthy.

The next day Sehkani came back without his family to help Aaliyah fill out paperwork.

" Hey beautiful " Sehkani said walking into the room with a few pink balloons to add to the others.

Aaliyah laughed and playfully rolled her eyes " Hey "

" How's she been ? " he asked sitting on the bed looking over at their daughter in her crib

Aaliyah looked up and smiled at her " She's so quiet " she said " Hopefully she stays this way "

" She needs a name you know " Sehkani said bringing the crib over and putting his index finger in her hand, she quickly wrapped her hand around it and he smiled.

" We already have two names picked out remember " Aaliyah said grabbing a clipboard from off the night stand next to her, her and Sehkani had been struggling to pick a name for her. " Jaliyah Nicole Wright or Kelsey Renae Wright "

" Kelsey " Sehkani replied not taking his eyes off his daughter, she was beautiful. Her soft curled hair layed on her little head perfectly. She slept with a little grin on her face which he thought was just too cute and had dimples just like him. He still couldn't believe he was a dad and Aaliyah couldn't believe they were parents, their whole world was about change now.