10:04 p.m
Jeffery's Skating Ring

"Next time you need to tell the people at the desk to give you the kids skates Mel. You was gripping the walls before you even put the skates on." Deezy mentioned as everyone followed behind him. A bunch of laughter erupted from the crowd even from Jasmine friends. Melanie rolled her eyes at them before smacking her lips loudly. She desperately wanted to slap fire from the back of Deezy's head, but she resorted to keeping it together.

"Deezy for once in your life can you leave me alone." She pleaded shaking her head.

"Then what type of friend would I be?" He questioned turning around and giving Melanie a giant smile. As much as Melanie wanted to slap the whiteness off his teeth she had to admit she loved Deezy.

"She had King to help her out." Dray acknowledged smirking at King and Melanie. Melanie felt herself blushing despite her complexion and King couldn't help but to tell him to shut up.

"Oh yeah I peeped the two love birds are back." Breylynn added taking a sip of her drink. She was the only one that waited the last ten minutes before the food station closed to order. So now she was currently trying to finish a burger and a large Sprite.

"We're on good terms right now. So let's keep it like that." King stated smiling down at Melanie as he wrapped his arm around her shoulders. Naturally Melanie would have snuggled close in his embrace but she didn't. They were taking things slow so all the lovey-dovey stuff felt kind of weird right now.

"We'll respect that." Mariah added trailing behind Deezy.

As they reached their cars everyone stood around as if it was a meeting. King was holding Melanie, Breylynn was chomping away at her burger, Jasmine and her friends were talking, and Mariah and Deezy stood by his car. Eventually Deezy broke the silence but Jasmine wouldn't like what was next.

"Well baby sister I hope you had a good birthday and that your happy you wiped out my account. But it's time to call it a night. So say bye to everybody and you and the girls get in the car." Deezy instructed pulling his keys out his pocket and unlocking the car.

"Here Jas you can unlock mines too so the rest of them can get it." Mariah said tossing Jasmine her keys. Thankfully Jasmine's other friends who weren't able to make it spared some time for the skating ring. But the problem was their were five extra girls that Deezy couldn't fit in his car now. So Mariah stepped in and volunteered to drive them to the bowling alley and back home.

"Thank you D. And thank you to everybody that came out. I really appreciate y'all." Jasmine replied playfully pushing Deezy but not without giving him a quick hug before she rushed off.

"Oh yeah and before we get home make sure you delete that little boy number out your phone. You thought you was slick but I caught y'all." Deezy demanded grabbing Jasmine's attention.

"Deezy leave her alone." Breylynn vouched rolling her neck at him.

"No she not allowed to talk to no boys until she at least twenty five." Deezy rejected squinting his eyes at Jasmine. She crossed her arms across her chest and shifted her weight to the right side of her body. She was waiting on Deezy to say it was a joke. But when he didn't budge she had no point but to laugh at her annoying brother.

"Jasmine don't worry about him. Y'all get inside we about to leave in a little." Mariah stepped in shooing off Deezy.

Jasmine mouthed thank you to Mariah as she unlocked Mariah's car for her other friends. They all watched as the girls got in safely and closed the doors before Deezy turned to the group. "Now that they got taken care of it's something me and Mariah gotta' tell y'all." He began looking over at Mariah who had a grin on her face.

"And that is?" King asked his grip tight on Melanie.

"Me and Mariah dating now." Deezy announced wrapping his arm around Mariah's waist and pulling her in front of him.

"What the hell?" Breylynn exclaimed her thick eyebrows scrunched together. "When did this happen?" She wondered.

"Y'all made us wait for this?" Dray asked giving them both a blank stare.

"Right. I had already peeped that." King interrupted putting in his two cents.

"Me too. Plus I been asked Mariah if she was dating Deezy and she never answered. So I went ahead and put two and two together?" Melanie said shrugging her shoulders.

"You sure you got four and not six. You know they had put you in remedial math ." Deezy wondered causing Melanie to lunge at him. But King pulled her back as he shook his head at them.

"Dray I dare you to laugh." Melanie warned as she looked up at Dray who had a big smile on his face. Holding his hands up in surrender mode Dray drew a line across his lips.

"How about a wow we're so happy. Congrats guys. Aww. Anything?" Mariah pleaded holding her hands out towards them.

"I mean we're happy as hell for y'all but we already knew. Y'all weren't good at keeping it a secret no way." King said shrugging his shoulders also.

"I agree with King. Y'all could have just text the group chat." Dray included waving his phone in the air.

"At this point I'm just about to buy a cat. Everybody in this friendship is in a relationship and here I am just seventh wheeling." notified Breylynn as she threw her hands up in the air.

Everyone couldn't hold back their laughter as they soon realized that she was right. Breylynn was the only one that wasn't dating anyone. Which was a good thing in their eyes. That meant she had less problems to deal with unlike them.

"Don't feel like that Bre. The right one is coming you just got to wait on him." Mariah reassured as she placed her hands on top of Deezy's. In a way she was happy they had finally told everyone and didn't have to seem so weird all the time. But in reality they both knew that everyone was catching on they just felt telling them would be better.

But we see how that went.

"Girl how much longer? Because at this point I then ran out of time." Breylynn pointed out as she starred at her invisible watch on her wrist.

"Don't rush it Bre." Dray said rubbing Breylynn's shoulders. "But it's been cool hanging with y'all but I need to bust out real quick." Deezy mentioned pulling out his keys from his pocket. Dapping the boys down they said their goodbyes and soon he gave each one of the girls a hug before drifting off.

"Same over here unfortunately your girl has work in the morning and I cannot be late again." Breylynn admitted before saying her goodbyes and heading to her car.

"Y'all might as well leave too because me and Mariah about to do the same." yawned Deezy as he covered his mouth.

"Yeah alright."

While they dapped each other down Melanie rushed over and gave Mariah a big bear hug. Not before whispering in her ear. "I'm going to pray for you because Deezy is going to be a handful."

"And your not lying." She pointed out giggling as she released Melanie.

Once again everyone parted ways as they walked to their cars and surprisingly King had parked next to Melanie. She had arrived with the rest of the group but Deezy made it known that King had to run to the bank. At the time Melanie didn't pay it any attention but now she was starting to see that King had a plan all along.

Unlocking her door Melanie was about to hop in before King stopped her. Looking at him crazy Melanie wondered why he had stopped her.

"Dang you not even gonna' tell me bye." King said shocked as he held his mouth open. He had now closed his door and leaned against the passenger side of her car. His hands on top of her hood and his dark eyes starring into her.

"Really King?" She asked laughing as she shut her door and walked over to his side. He shook his head in agreement as he held his arms out for her. Falling into place King rocked them back and forth.

"Drive safe kid."

"I told you about calling me that." Melanie complained punching King in the chest. But of course he dodged her baby hits causing her to give up.

"My bad but no for real get home safe Mel." King said seriously unlocking his door as Melanie walked away. She had mumbled okay as she too got in her car, started it up, and drove out.

Plugging in her aux cord Melanie struggled to find her phone in her back pocket, and to keep her eyes ahead of her. Finally retrieving it she quickly plugged it in and switched the stations. Pulling out of the bowling alley Melanie unlocked her phone and clicked her music app. Coming up to a red light Melanie placed her playlist on shuffle.

As she turned up the volume J Cole Deja Vu started to play. Melanie smiled to herself as she remembered the time she loved this song. And what she didn't know was it was King's favorite song too. It was something he liked to play whenever he thought Melanie especially back at ESU. Honestly this song described them to the tea.

Some people talk about that love at first sight shit
To keep it real I don't know whether I believe it's true. But if it is than tell me if I'm wrong or right. If, I fell in love with you before I ever even knew......

_________

The next day Melanie woke up excited realizing she didn't have to work today. She had agreed to fill in today if Rebeca, a new trainee didn't show up. But lo and behold Rebeca was their early in the morning. Giving Melanie some time to relax to herself, but that only meant sleeping in. And once that was over with Melanie found herself stuck with boredom.

Scrolling through her emails Melanie decided that she would visit a family member today. She had talked to her mother and grandmother yesterday after work. And honestly she didn't to much care for her aunties so visiting them was a big no. Matter of fact she didn't care for her aunt's children either, but she adored their children.

Kacey and Kaden to be exact. They were basically Melanie's children just not with all the labor and stuff. They were two of her many baby cousins but Melanie loved them the most. She would literally lay her life down for them and dared anyone to play with them. So checking up on them were definitely in her plans today.

Shooting their mother aka her older cousin a quick text Melanie rolled out of bed. Letting her feet slide into her slippers she drug them down the hallway until she reached the kitchen. But as she entered the kitchen Melanie suddenly felt sluggish as if she was tired all over again. Despite just taking an almost eight hour nap.

Yawning Melanie shook it off as she opened the refrigerator. She wasn't to big on breakfast and honestly with the tiredness coming out of no where she wasn't about to cook. Closing the fridge she opened the cooler and pulled out two Smuckers Uncrustables peanut butter and grape jelly sandwiches. Popping them open Melanie threw them in the microwave for thirty seconds.

And yes she completely understood that you weren't suppose to microwave them. But that's how she enjoyed them. Grabbing a plastic cup Melanie went back in the fridge and grabbed the apple juice carton in the back. Untwisting the top she poured herself a nice amount before topping it back up, and placing it back in the fridge. Hearing the ring go off Melanie opened the microwave and pulled out her sandwiches. 

"Fuck!" She yelled waving her hand back and forth. She had completely forgot that the sandwiches were hot now. Blowing out a breath of frustration Melanie held them by the tip of the paper, grabbed her juice, and walked into the living room. Plopping down on the couch she placed her juice down and her sandwiches on side of her.

Grabbing the remote Melanie pressed the power button. She waited for the television's name to disappear and soon the last channel started playing. Switching it Melanie settled on the cooking channel. Grabbing one of her sandwiches Melanie started to nibble on it not wanting to burn her tongue. A few minutes of this and then she would start getting dressed.

What was only post to be a few minutes turned into an hour. Looking at the wall clock above her television Melanie jumped up rushing down the hallway. Immediately going into the bathroom Melanie started the shower. While that got hot she stripped of her night clothes and undergarment. Kicking it to the side she removed her bonnet and placed a shower cap over her hair. Judging by the looks of it a ponytail was defiantly looking like the style today.

After about a ten minute shower Melanie stepped out feeling rejuvenated. Wrapping the towel around her tight Melanie used a small towel to wipe away the fog on her mirror. Taking the shower cap off and letting her hair fall down Melanie started to dry herself off. Once she had that completed she moved on to brushing her teeth, cleaning her face, and even doing her hair.

Melanie didn't understand why people didn't handle what they need to handle in the bathroom first and then get dressed. Not get dressed and then go back and brush your teeth, and do your hair, and all that. She just felt like she was knocking two birds out with one stone when she did it this way. Opening the bathroom door Melanie exited out and into her bedroom.

Seeing that the sun was out Melanie settled that it was probably blazing outside. Opening her one of drawers from her dresser she looked around until she seen a light pair of denim jeans. Luckily they were the ones that were rolled up at the bottom. They had a few rips in them but not to many. She decided not to do the most and went for something simple shirt wise. Which was a white shirt that had powerful and black written on it but crystals.

Putting in on Melanie picked out her Steve Madden crystal sandals to go with it. But she quickly forgot that she was ashy and grabbed the lotion. After lotioning herself up she glanced at herself in the mirror. She debated on whether she looked good or not. But soon realized it didn't matter because she was only going to see her baby cousins. Grabbing her phone off the bed she stuck it in her back pocket. Fixing her bed a little Melanie grabbed her keys off the dresser and headed out. Walking into the living room she cut the tv off, turned off all light, and her air conditioner, and proceed to leave.

After about thirty minutes of driving since her cousin wanted to move all the way on the other side of town. Melanie had reached their one story brown house. At first she was about to go off when she didn't see her cousin's car outside, but she soon realized that she probably parked it in the garage. Killing the engine Melanie exited out of her car and shut the door behind her.

Pulling her shirt down a bit due to it constantly rising Melanie walked up the pathway that led to the front door. As she got closer to the door she could already hear their mother yelling at them. Laughing at their badness Melanie knocked on the door.

"Who is it?" Kaden bad self asked. It sounded like his mouth was right against the door.

"Didn't I tell you to go clean up them toys!" His mother yelled soon opening the door.

"Melanie!" Kacey yelled sprinting out the door and into Melanie's arms. Kacey was Melanie's baby her first born. She was the oldest out of the three. And she too loved Melanie with all her heart.

"My baby." Melanie cooed giving her multiple kisses causing her to laugh. Melanie looked down as Kaden stood in the door way smiling at her. "Come tell me hey little bad self." Melanie said holding out her free hand.

Kaden was the youngest. He was only two and knew how to tear up a house more than a tornado. But he too was Melanie's baby even though sometimes he didn't care if the girl was alive or not. The only thing that mattered to him was food and play time. Walking out the door with his tiny legs Melanie grinned as he walked towards her. But suddenly he walked right past her and started running full speed.

"No!" Melanie yelled letting Kacey down.

"Kaden get back over here." His mother yelled she too running after him. But Melanie was quicker than her but only because her cousin was six months pregnant.

Snatching him up right before he reached the road Melanie tapped his little legs. But that didn't bother him. Instead he looked Melanie directly in the face and laughed. Walking him back to everybody else she handed him back to his mother.

"I told you about running out this house." She shouted placing him inside.

"Come on Melanie." Kacey cheered as she grabbed her hand and led her inside the house. Closing the door behind them Melanie sat on the couch and placed Kacey on her lap.

"Excuse the mess your cousins made. I can't keep a nice house if I wanted to." She complained rubbing her stomach. She was on her third child and as much as Melanie loved her cousins it was enough. She had so many cousin below the age of ten that she could start a football team. But no matter who they came from Melanie loved them with her whole heart. So when the new baby dropped Melanie was bound to fall in love with her.

"I know you can't not with him around." Melanie added in pointing to the two year old. Who had now came back and gave Melanie leg a hug. Picking him up she planted kisses on his cheek too.

"Did you come over to play with me?" Kacey asked smiling from ear to ear. The love that she had for Melanie amazed her sometimes. That someone could love her so much.

Melanie laughed at her as she pinched her cheek.

"I keep telling you Kay that Melanie is not your age. She's your older cousin not a five year old." Her mother corrected her laughing at her also.

"Don't listen to your mom. I came to play with you Kay and even your little butt too." She said smacking Kaden's butt who had now climbed on top of the couch.

"Yay!" Kacey yelled wrapping her arms around Melanie's neck.

"You had anything planned for them today? I wanted to take them to the park and all that. Just hang out with them." Melanie asked pulling Kaden down.

"Not really." She answered crouching down and picking up the small toy off the floor. "Oh wait." She paused looking up at the ceiling. "What time is it?" She asked feeling her sweatpants for her phone.

Hitting her Apple Watch Melanie read the time. "2:34."

Smacking her forehead she cursed to herself. "Kaden had a haircut appointment for two o'clock and I missed it. And his barber is not going to fill him in." She complained smacking her lips.

Melanie let her eyes travel to the little boys head. Like his father he had soft curly hair but his was way more looser than his father's. Not to mention it was completely brown instead of black. But Melanie could see that he indeed was in need of a haircut. The brown curls had now grown into a wild afro on top of the little one's head.

The kid looked like Napoleon Dynamite.

"Wait. Don't your boyfriend own a barber shop?" She asked placing the army figurine in the box.

Melanie kept her personal business to herself because her family, and when she said family she meant a select few. Always seemed to want to speak doubtful things about her situations. So she wasn't telling her cousin that King and her had broken up.

"Y Yeah he could take him." Melanie replied stuttering a bit.

"Oh my god! Tell him I said thank you." She mentioned disappearing into the hallway.

"Can we get ice cream when we leave?" Kacey asked knowing their mother didn't let them have sweets that often.

"Anything you want