9: 53 p.m

Although Melanie had worked a short shift she felt drained. She felt like she had a for sure reason to blame it on the baby now. In fact every time she said baby her cheeks couldn't help but to rise. She was excited and it was showing.

Closing the door behind her Melanie covered her mouth as a yawned escaped. Letting her purse slide off her shoulder she placed it down on the dining table. Quickly locking her door before she forgot Melanie immediately placed the grocery bags down on the counter. After leaving work she had made a quick stop to Walmart for a few little snacks. But hers eyes couldn't help but to wonder around the aisles.

And yes indeed did they roamed. Besides her groceries Melanie had found her way towards the pregnancy test section. At first she was skeptical due to knowing Dr.Janes had confirmed it. But she wanted to physically see it.

You know for her own eyes....

Melanie figured that would finish her shopping spree, but once passing the children section her lightbulb couldn't help but to go off. She had remembered the ton of pregnancy announcements videos she had watched on YouTube. At the time it was just one of those random YouTube nights. Where you watch videos that you know you wouldn't have regularly searched. But now was the perfect time to surprise King with one.

Of course it wouldn't be as planned out as she wanted it to be and she had hopes of recording it. But there was more she could record and planned on recording. With the idea in her head Melanie found a small box that she could place the items in. She didn't just want to burst out and say they were expecting. Instead she wanted him to guess what the different items were for.

The first item were mini Hersey chocolate bars. Hinting at whenever Melanie told him she wanted to have little chocolate babies by him. Next, would be a what she thought was a non-sex pacifier. It was a simple red one. She had also purchased what to her were the smallest socks she had ever seen. Adorable wasn't even the word for it. Also she added a tiny toy football that she planned to write on. And to seal things off underneath a piece of paper would lie the pregnancy test. It wasn't much but Melanie thought it was cute and simple.

As she began to unpack Melanie hands ran across the pregnancy test box. Pulling it out Melanie examined it as if it was a hidden jewel. Never had she thought she would need one of those. Putting away her few items and leaving her reveal items in the bag. Melanie rushed down the hallway and into bathroom.

Closing the door she immediately dug into the box as if she was a kid on Christmas. Opening the flaps she pulled out the first test and the instructions that came with. It wasn't until then that Melanie had realized that she had grabbed the wrong box. But she didn't complain she just figured that she would use the other test another time. Or unless Mariah and Breylynn got pregnant anytime soon.

Undoing the instruction's  Melanie skimmed over the passage until she got to the part that really mattered. It was simple, urinate on the stick for about five seconds, top it up, lay it flat and wait for the countdown to start.

Taking a deep breath Melanie proceeded to take the test. At first it felt weird taking the test but she knew what she wanted to see. Finishing Melanie quickly topped it back up and placed it on the counter. Making sure it was flat. After cleaning herself up she instantly washed her hands and waited.

According to the test a countdown would start. Drying her hands she took a peek and secretly screamed when she seen the countdown. The instruction stated that it could take anywhere from a minute to three for results. So for that quick time Melanie decided to check her phone. Pulling out her phone from her scrubs Melanie pressed the power button. And soon she was met with her past notifications.

Instagram 2h ago
(mmelaniee._) Kevgeaux : you want them next Saturday? Or you just gonna stop by?
Instagram 2 ago
(mmelaniee._) Iamkw commented "😍❤️"

Messages
Brebug 💕 6:46 p.m.
Do you think this cute?
Brebug 💕 6:44 p.m
Attachment: 1 Image
babe 🥰💋 5:03 p.m.
You good Mel?

Phone
babe🥰💋   4:33 p.m.
Missed Call

"Dang." Melanie mumbled to herself as she quickly glanced at the missed notification. Logging in she made sure to look at Breylynn's photo. Bre and Mel did this thing where before they purchased anything they made sure it looked good in the other person's perspective. Just to make sure they weren't out here looking any type of way.

Responding with a quick yes Melanie swiped right on King's missed call, and soon waited for him to answer. The call hadn't made it to it's second ring before King's voice could be heard.

"Wassup baby?" He asked with a pinch of excitement in his voice. It was true King had been waiting for Melanie to text or call him back. He wasn't so much worried but he just wanted to hear from her to make sure she was good. Just a normal check in.

"Hey." Melanie cheesed as if he could see. She didn't know why she was smiling so hard but if she didn't stop she was going to look like the Grinch.

"Everything went good with your appointment?" He wondered as Melanie could hear him flipping through the channels.

Melanie paused for a second remembering the test that laid to the left of her. Her eyes roamed over and suddenly Melanie had to muffle her scream.

"Mel you good? You still there?" He asked pulling the phone away from his ear in confusion.

"No. I mean yes. Yes I'm good." Melanie reassured him as she screamed in the inside this time. Picking up the test Melanie placed King on speaker as she read over the screen again. There in bold print read Pregnant and like Dr.James predicted she was past six weeks pregnant. Although 4 weeks + was what the test actually read.

"Okay." He laughed. "You off of work yet?"

Melanie bounced up and down with excitement as she held the pregnancy test in her hands. She wanted to cry but she had made a promise that today she had let out enough tears.

"Yeah I got off around nine." She answered starring at the test to make sure her eyes were correct. "Umm your home right?" She asked King tapping her phone for the time. It was shortly going on ten but there wasn't a set time to tell someone your pregnant right?

"Yeah I just made it back like twenty minutes ago. But I'm about to leave out to get me something to eat though." He explained questioning why Melanie wanted to know. Usually if she wanted to come over she would just say it or pop up.

"Okay well look I'm about to come over." She noted grabbing her phone off the counter. Making sure to grab the test too she turned the light off and exited the bathroom. With him leaving that gave her enough time to prepare the box and head out.

"Alright. Let me hurry up and go so I can be back."

"Okay." She said grabbing the grocery bag and throwing it on the couch.

"Alright. I love you." He mentioned laughing a bit after it.

"I love you too." Melanie cooed laughing at herself. "Now hurry up and go so I can come over." She instructed looking around the room for her pen. Awhile back Melanie had borrowed Breylynn's paint pen for one of her cousins football projects. Hint as to where she got the idea to write on the football.

"Why you rushing me?" King wondered. "What you trying to surprise me with something?" He inquired knowing Melanie liked to do little things like that. But Melanie knew exactly what something was.

"One its not that type of surprise. I hate to burst your bubble." Melanie mentioned giggling as she headed back down the hallway. She knew for sure that those type of surprise wouldn't be happening for a little minute now. Well months now. "I'm saying I need you to hurry back so I can come."

"I mean both are good but you kn-."

"King I'm not playing." Melanie laughed.

"Ok. Ok. I'm going. Bye." And with that the call ended. Placing her phone back in her pocket Melanie scanned her room. She couldn't quit remember where the pen had rolled too but she had a feeling as to where.

Looking her bed Melanie immediately spotted it. Laughing flat on her stomach she reached underneath until her hands found it. Pulling it out she rose up and dusted herself off. Walking back into the living room Melanie plopped down on the couch and began her project.

Pouring everything out on the coffee table Melanie started with the box. The box was gold which was a little to much in her eyes but the color didn't matter. Taking the top off Melanie un-topped the pen and started to write. She wasn't doing anything big so she kept it short and wrote Guess What? From there she placed the pregnancy test at the bottom of the box.

Opening the gift tissue she placed a piece down before grabbing the blank index card. Lift me up to see, was what she wrote before placing the card on top of the paper. Next she opened the red pacifier and placed it on top. The football was next and she didn't know wether she wanted to write on it or not. Deciding too Melanie grabbed the tiny item and wrote. Can't wait to play. She also place the socks on top before placing it in the box. Melanie opened the mini chocolate and poured it on top too.

It wasn't the best but it was something, Melanie thought as she shrugged her shoulders. Topping the box back up Melanie cleaned up before heading back to the bathroom. She planned on showering up and then heading out.

She couldn't wait to see the look on King's face.

______

"Will she pick up?" Nikki repeated for the third time tonight. Her foot repeatedly bounced up and down as she waited for a response. But soon her anger started to boil as she had once again been sent to voicemail. "I promise when I see her I'm going to slap this-."

Buzz !  Buzz!

"Hello." Nikki answered anger still hot to the touch.

"Girl why are you blowing up my phone?" Niyelle asked seeing the many missed calls that she had received. Honestly Nikki had called at a bad time.

"Because your my friend and I can call." Nikki explained cutting off the engine of her car. She took her keys out of the ignition and dropped them in her purse.

"Well right now isn't the best time." Niyelle mentioned as she took a deep breathe in. It truly wasn't.

Nikki pondered for a second as she listened to Niyelle deep breathes. At first she wanted to throw up but she expected this from her. "Please don't tell me you have me on the phone while you and Quan are getting busy." Nikki stated more than asking as she pinched the bridge of her nose.

There was a moment of silence before Niyelle could be heard smacking. "Damn always got to ruin something. Hold on baby I'm coming right back." She explained smacking her lips again.

"This is so trifling." Nikki said shaking her head. "Look whatever you and Quan are doing can pause for one second." She reminded her looking at the people next to her. It was a young couple existing out the car. The girl had the baby on her hip as she struggled to balance the child and the bags. Her boyfriend on the other hand carried their takeout food.

"Girl what do you need?" Niyelle demanded more than asking. But what Nikki didn't hear was that she told Quan to return to down below so he could finish.

"You remember when you use to stay in those apartment close to downtown?" Nikki asked watching the couple walk up the stairs.

"How can I forget. I didn't have hot water for two months over there." She remembered shaking her head at the thought.

"Did the name change or something?" Nikki wondered looking around for another sign that read the name.

"Why?" Niyelle wondered.

"Because a coworker having a house warming party tomorrow and she stay where you use to. But when I typed in your address it pulled up some more apartments." Nikki lied squinting out of her window.

"Girl you didn't hear about the fire?" Niyelle paused. "Some women left her grease pot on and it burned down the whole section. After that they shut it down and tore the place down. Rebuilt it and found new management. So whatever address you got is right. There's only one set of apartments downtown."

"If I wasn't so mad at you I would have told you thank you." Nikki commented taking a sip of her water before topping it up.

"Whatever go take care of my son for me." Niyelle noted speaking of Trey. Nikki had met Niyelle back when both had entered the new nursing school in town. Niyelle stayed true to the dream but Nikki bailed. But that didn't stop the girls from hitting it off and becoming close friends.

"I'll tell him his aunt said hey."

"Alright." Niyelle laughed before ending the call.

The call had disappeared and now Nikki was faced with Deezy page. She was well aware that Deezy didn't know she had been following him since last year. And when Nikki constructed her plan he fitted perfectly into it. Clicking the video Nikki watched for close details.

It had been a video of Deezy surprising King for his birthday. She didn't care to swipe to see what Deezy had done. What she cared about was the fifty-nine second video of Deezy walking up to King's door. She couldn't quite pick out where he lived but from the stairs she knew it was upstairs. But if she looked very close in the corner she could see what seemed to be a New Orleans Saints floor mat.

"What am I'm doing this is no hope." Nikki mumbled to herself as she leaned her head against the window.

Suddenly her eyes grew huge as she quickly leaned up and starred out her window. This had to be joke. There was no way that she had seen King step outside of the door and go back inside. Was it really that easy? Quickly grabbing her purse Nikki exited the car but made sure to lock it before she closed her door. Clutching her purse tightly she made her way up the stairs. As she reached the last few she could see the Saints rug and secretly said a thank you to God.

Jogging up the last few Nikki paused when she stepped foot to King's door. She wanted to knock but her hands wouldn't move. Looking inside her purse Nikki made sure the pregnancy test was inside before taking a deep breathe.

Here goes nothing.