When Bambi got back to school it was the week before finals and also the week of Nate's graduation. She was pretty sure Nate wouldn't invite her seeing as though they hadn't spoken but Bria was dragging her along with the extra ticket Mac had given her.

Graduation landed on a Wednesday, and was scheduled for 2pm. Flip was coming in just before the graduation started and she was unsure of how he would react when he saw her and Nate. Bambi was just hoping that the day would be drama free.

After coming home from the disaster of a weekend she had Bambi tried not to think about Flip but it was hard. She knew she had messed up but it still hurt to know that Flip was more than likely cheating on her through their short lived relationship. Foolishly, she had trusted him too much and expected better which was all her fault.

Flip had called her and sent numerous text messages but she ignored them all. They didn't have anything to talk about at the moment, she wasn't that far along so he didn't have to worry about the baby. Anything else he could have been calling to talk about was completely irrelevant.

"At least I'm not showing" Bambi said to herself as she buttoned her jean shirt, the last thing she needed was Nate and Flip's family questioning her about a baby.

"Bam you almost ready" Bria poked her head in.

"You questioning me but you're in a towel" Bambi said after glancing behind herself.

"I was just seeing" Bria said before walking away. Bria had gotten used to Bambi's attitude, she only took it because she felt for her and knew the circumstances were completely fucked up.

Bambi was dressed quickly since she didn't put much effort into her outfit. She went into the living room and sat on the couch until Bria was finally ready to go.

She was trying to act cool but in reality she was feeling anxious as hell. Not knowing what was going to happen when she saw Flip and Nate was starting to bother her. Bambi wanted to prepare for something but couldn't because there was no way to tell how the day would go.

Unfortunately for Bambi, Flip and Nate's family sat in the section of seats right next to where they were and they noticed her as soon as she walked in. She said hello to be nice but could tell they were curious as to why Flip didn't even look her way when she walked up.

"Hey Flip" she said trying ease any tension even though she honestly didn't want to talk to him.

He gave her a head nod in response which made her roll her eyes. "I'll see yall later."

Bambi took her seat next to Bria and sighed. "You'll be okay." Bria grabbed her hand and squeezed it.

The ceremony began and despite her current circumstances Bambi couldn't wait to be one of the graduates. She was tired of school and couldn't wait for it to be over.

As everyone names were called families yelled and screamed despite the warning at the beginning of the ceremony for everyone to be quiet.

Mac's small family made a lot of noise even though it was only three of them. When Nate's name was called Bambi felt an overwhelming amount of happiness. She looked over to his family who stood on their feet holding signs and screaming. Everyone except for Flip who clapped with a solemn face.

Once it was over Bambi congratulated Mac before Bria left with him and his family. She took her time walking to her car since she wasn't in a rush to be home alone. She had just walked past the entrance to the large auditorium when she spotted Nate and all his line brothers strolling.

He looked genuinely happy which made Bambi happy as well. She knew his degree probably wouldn't be going use anytime soon but it felt good to now he had finished.

She watched them for a while before she decided it was time to go since traffic was bound to be a bitch.

"Bam" she looked to her left surprised that Flip even had the nerve to speak to her.

"Yeah" Bambi said pulling up her jeans.

"I just wanted to see you, make sure you were good" he said sincerely.

"I'm perfect" she lied.

They stood in awkward silence for a while until they both heard Nate coming closer. "Bye" she said and walked off just seconds before Nate approached.

Illmatic played lowly in the living room as Flip and Nate sat on opposite sides of the room each of them smoking. Flip sat near the door while Nate sat on the floor by the TV blowing thick clouds of smoke into the air.

It was just hours after Nate's graduation and they had just gotten back from his celebratory dinner with his family and a few friends. Nate and Flip knew they needed to talk so they came back to his place but were doing everything but talking.

The big flashing elephant sat right in the middle of the room waiting for either man to address it but neither knew what to say.

It wasn't like they could completely cut each off not that they had any plans too, but their business wouldn't run smoothly with one of them missing. Beside from that they were blood and if it was one thing their family had instilled in them from young it was that loyalty was everything.

"What do we do?" Nate finally asked. His eyes were low as hell as he looked over at Flip.

"I wish I knew, you lucky I aint beat your ass though and that's some real shit" Flip said honestly.

"I ain't mean to fuck you over Flip. It's just a real, real, real messy situation."

"You right about that" Flip chuckled a little bit. "I know she in love with you though. I should have known from the beginning."

Nate shook his head seeing how this conversation was going to go. "You don't know that Flip."

Flip shrugged and put out his roach. "I do know Nate, don't even try to play me. But fuck it let's just hope that shit is yours. Besides I can't act like I aint fuck up too."

"And if it's not?"

"I don't know" Flip leaned forward and rested his head on his hands. "I hate that I still love her ass. Bambi mean a lot to nigga man. That's years of love and friendship we got."

Nate understood what he was saying but at the same time his words didn't match up to his actions. If you loved a woman that much than the next bitch should have never been able to stake a claim in his life.

But that was none of his business.

"We can't let the business be affected by this shit."

"Of course, the money can't stop."

Nate nodded his head and sat back looking at nothing in particular. He was trying to figure out how to word his next question. "What if I did get with her?" he finally asked.

"I knew that shit was coming" Flip said with a chuckle. "I wouldn't like it, it probably would fuck with me but at the same time I understand how you feel about her cause I feel the same way. I would just have to deal, I'm man enough to do it. Bambi wouldn't want me back anyways."

"I shouldn't want her man, but I do. Even though I know its fucked up" Nate admitted.

"It's cool, you a real nigga for even talking about that shit with me. These slime ass niggas would have just gotten with her anyways even though she kinda was yours first."

"That's true I wish Noah ass was here, he would find this shit so funny" Nate said and they both chuckled because he was right.

Nate hadn't talked much about his brother since his death but he thought about him every day. Especially when he walked across the stage he could feel Noah with him which made the day even more special. He was just happy to have been able to finish for his brother and show him he could do it.

"I miss that nigga man" Nate sighed and fired up another joint before the emotions of losing his brother could really start to get to him.

➤➤➤➤

Nate woke up the next morning prepared to go to school until he realized he didn't have to see the inside of a classroom ever again. That was a good ass feeling.

Since he didn't have to be to school he lay back down and decided to rest for a little while long. He couldn't remember the last time he had slept in late but today would be the day. He lay with his arm over his eyes, already half asleep when he thought about the conversation he had with Flip the night before.

Nate hadn't expected for it to go so well or be so calm between them. He was just going to blame it on the fact that they were family and nothing could come between them. Not even a woman they both loved.

Hours later Nate woke up to a phone full of missed calls and messages. Most of them were business and the rest were people congratulating him on his graduation. But he was surprised to see that Bambi had called him and texted him. He skipped over reading the message and called her back eager to know what she wanted. He felt like a lame ass nigga for a getting so excited but he couldn't help it.

"Hold on" she yelled into the phone before he could even say hi.

"You good?" he asked when came back to the phone groaning.

"No, this throwing up shit is for the birds. But my mama said the first trimester would be the worse."

"Damn you need something?" he asked and it took Bambi a while to answer.

"No I'm fine I just wanted to call and tell you congratulations since I didn't talk to you yesterday. It was just awkward for me."

He understood because he felt the same way especially after seeing her talking to Flip. "It's cool."

"I got you a present" she said with a little excitement making him laugh.

"What is it?"

"I'm not ruining the surprise" she said in a duh tone.

"Whatever I'll come by later."

"Cool just let me know when."

"Will do" Nate said before hanging up the phone. He knew he needed to reply to the people who had called and texted him but he was stuck for a moment.

It had been awhile since he had been able to have a regular ass conversation with Bambi and he missed it.

➤➤➤➤

"I was thinking for a girl her name could be Georgia or Brooklyn or California" Bria was reading off notes she had made in her journal. The girl already had the baby shower planned and everything.

"Bria i'm not even in the clear yet, I could easily miscarry at this stage. So please don't get too carried away and besides I'm not naming my baby after no city or state."

Bria looked genuinely upset but she knew Bambi was right. It would be tragic if Bambi miscarried or anything else bad happened. "Let's not even think about the negatives okay. Lets talk about the fact that Nate is on his way over."

Bambi knew Bria was hopeful that her and Nate would be together but she couldn't even worry about that. She was too busy trying to plan the next nine months of her life so she wouldn't have to take any semesters off from school. Aside from that, Bambi was still hurt by Flip's actions even though she was acting like she wasn't.

She didn't want the people around her to feel like she was wrong for being hurt because she had done her dirt as well.

"Bria calm down, I'm just giving him his present. We not about get married."

"Yet!" Bria sang as danced to the door where Nate was knocking. She let him in and he walked into Bambi's room surprised at how messy it was.

"Don't judge me, I'm trying to start packing" she said before he could say anything.

Nate held his hands up and took a seat on the bed. "How you feeling now?"

She shrugged and stood up from the floor "better but i know anything can send me running back to the bathroom."

Bambi went into her purse and pulled out the card she brought. The gift was cheesy as hell but it was the only thing she could come up with. "Don't laugh" she warned as she passed him the card.

Nate opened it and immediately laughed at the ugly ass dog on the front of the card wearing a graduation cap. He opened and fell back onto the bed laughing when a 50 dollar Waffle House gift card fell out.

"Really?" he asked holding it up as he continued to laugh.

"Its your favorite restaurant and I couldn't think of nothing else."

"Its a good gift Bam, thank you. At least you put some thought into it" Nate shook his head and put the card back into the envelope.

"You're welcome" she sat back down on the floor and looked up at him.

Nate stared right back at her "you got something to say?"

Bambi shook her head and put her attention back on the clothes she was folding. She was trying to ignore the fact that she wanted to kiss him or even just hug him but she knew better. Getting involved with Nate wouldn't solve any of her problems. Bambi knew she needed to be alone.