"Girl, you've been at that daycare so much I feel like I barely see you," Paola says as I sit in her room, laying on her bed while she sits at her vanity removing her makeup.

I'm sleeping over tonight. My parents got over the whole me and Paola lying and going out to a party thing.

I needed to get away from Jesse.

He didn't do anything, He didn't say anything to hurt me but I think it's best that I distance myself because I'm worried that I might just be spending too much time with him.

It's to the point that I literally almost said I love you to him when he bent down to tie my shoe after I complained that my waist and lower back was hurting that day.

So to save myself the embarrassment I called off from working at the daycare and told Jesse I was sick so that I'd be going home after school. He probably still went to go drop off 10 piece chicken nuggets from Mcdonalds for Giovanni since that's become a bit of routine for them.

"Yeah, I just took up a few extra shifts now that I've gotten all my hours and I'm getting paid." she nods in understanding as she runs the makeup wipes over her eyelids removing her eyeshadow.

"We love that for you!" she claps enthusiastically going back to taking off the makeup on her other eye.

"So how are you and Ryan doing?" I ask as I watch her smile small through the mirror of her vanity.

She turns around quickly dropping her makeup wipe as she meets my eyes and smiles widely showcasing her teeth, "I think I'm ready to tell him I love him." and I'm about to say 'aw' before she holds up her hand to stop me and she says, "He still hasn't asked me to be his girlfriend." I feel my jaw drop and I'm about to ask so many questions before we hear the doorbell ring and we both come to the conclusion that it's most likely Justine.

I tell Paola to hold on as I open the door of her bedroom and walk down the stairs to get to the front door, seeing Justine's silhouette through the door. I open it as she holds 3 boxes of pizza in her hands, leading her upstairs.

When we get up to Paola's room her eyes light up as she's now moved from the vanity to the bed that I was sitting on. She says 'Hi' to Justine enthusiastically before Justine goes into her bathroom to change into her pajamas as Paola and I sift through our purses to find money out of our wallets to pay her back.

When she comes back, she ties her hair up and sits on the bed grabbing a slice of pepperoni pizza as Paola and I do the same, continuing our conversation.

"Justine, do you know that Ryan hasn't asked out Paola?" I ask and her jaw drops similar to mine as she begins to ask questions

"Wait! But in class, he told Warren that he was taken...by you." she tilts her head as Paola rolls her eyes and tilts her head back.

"He was just saying it to annoy her. You know they can't stand each other."

"Well maybe he was but he obviously likes you," Justine says shaking her head,

"Well, why do you guys think he refuses to ask me to be his officially. We're already acting like we're together, he's even met my mother! Whenever I'm with him, he's the sweetest man on earth and then one day he'll wake up and go ghost on me. He won't speak to me all day, doesn't show up to school, and only ever texts me back at night time when I'm damn near sleeping."

I can't even begin to describe the guilt that I feel once I register her words. I know exactly why Ryan isn't looking to make what they have official because he doesn't want to drag her into his lifestyle with Jesse. I mean, after all, he did say he'd kill her if she found out.

But then again, he said the same thing to me after I literally watched him kill two people so I'm starting to believe he just says it to scare people.

"See this is why you can't trust men," Justine says and we both start laughing but shaking our heads knowingly. "You know what, Paola. I think he got a little too comfortable. He's probably thinking, 'Why buy the cow when you get the milk for free?"

"Unless my name is Beyonce, Kelly, or Michelle you will not catch me catering to anyone's son." Justine continues as we all burst out laughing at her reference to such an iconic destiny's child song. "The boys at our school cannot be the same men that I'm supposed to be out here taking off shoes and tying durags for." she shakes her head

"Hanging out with Cyrus has taught me that men are only good for a few things." She stays quiet, looking up at the ceiling as Paola and I glance at each other in confusion. She moves her eyes away from the ceiling and says, "Oh sorry I was trying to think of an answer and I couldn't find any." this causes Paola and I to snicker as Justine smirks triumphantly at the joke she made.

"No, but seriously, Paola. If you want Ryan to recognize your worth you might have to distance yourself just a little bit."

Paola pushes out her bottom lip and begins to pout, "But I don't want to!" she sighs and leans back onto her bed, facing the ceiling, "It wouldn't be a bad idea but I don't know if I can physically do it."

"You know for a guy whose nickname is literally Simp, you'd think he would do a better job of actually...simping." I say and Justine claps her hands and covers her mouth trying to laugh

"People actually call him that? Bye!" she laughs, "What's Jesse's nickname? Fucking Voldemort or something?"

"Well, actually he told me that his family calls him Junior," I say softly

"Well...that's more normal than I expected." she laughs, "He actually told you something personal like that though?"

"I mean yeah. It's not that big of a deal or anything." I say as I watch Paola rise up from her laid down position with her jaw slacked similar to Justine, "What?" I ask in confusion

"What do you mean what?" Paola says, "This boy actually told you a personal family thing about him? The boy that people think he's a whole gang member trusted you with that information."

"You know...I'm starting to think Jesse is easier to talk to because Ryan doesn't tell me anything about him, his family, or anything. Anything that I do know about him, I usually have to drag out of him, and you're just learning all about Jesse for free."

"Has he told you anything else?"

Yes.

"No." I shrug. Everything he said was beyond personal and I just know he wouldn't appreciate me talking about that one vulnerable moment that he had with me. I can't break his trust like that.

"And speaking of boys that don't deserve anything, Justine, don't think I haven't noticed you and Cyrus making googly eyes during class, and don't think, Ms.Karma, that I don't notice Jesse playing with your hair while you giggle like an elementary school girl." Paola crossed her arms smirking

"Jesse and I are just partners and since we spend a lot of time together, little things like that are bound to come out."

"Girl, the only thing I want to do with Cyrus is going to 7/11 and buying him a box of Tic-Tacs because every time he tries to talk game to me, it stinks. Every time." Justine crosses her arms.

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I'm just giving y'all the calm before the storm ;) so enjoy this filler. Thanks for reading. <3

Btw if anyone's confused about Justine's reference listen to Cater 2 You By Destiny's Child