Rap videos were on TV as Troiann and I sat up in her bedroom Wednesday evening discussing the first day of senior year. We talked about who lost weight and who found it, who hooked up and who broke up, and who had babies, neglecting to talk about who got pregnant all together.

Troiann and the Ballas had obviously grown closer while I was away, because she had nothing but adventures to fill me in on. Midnight streaking with Chris, egging an annoying teacher's house with Tremaine and Marcus, and watching movies with DeAndre along with a few other shenanigans Tremaine and she had gotten into.

         I looked around Troiann's bedroom. It had changed over the summer. Her bed was moved, her TV swapped out for a flat screen, and there were lots of pictures everywhere.

         On her nightstand were a cluster of photos, some from our youth and others from recent years. There were a few new ones I hadn't recognized that I had to grab to get a good look at.

         One frame held a photo of the Ballas and Troiann at After Hours, another of Troiann and Anh in bikinis at some lake. I gravitated towards a photo of DeAndre that was sticking out. He was sitting on the hood of a black Rolls-Royce Phantom; his legs open wide with the hood ornament in between them. DeAndre was holding up three fingers on one hand and an O on the other, representing our area code. Marcus was posted at the grill of the car with a snapback on giving an adorable little mean mug that even had me about to giggle like a school girl.

         "They looked so good I had to take a picture," Troiann said.

         I ran my thumb over the image of DeAndre. He was wearing a gray t-shirt with the word Jefe on it along with camouflage shorts and some basketball sneakers. Yeah, they did.

         There was another photo of Troiann under DeAndre's arm doing her impression of a duck face pout. The last photo was of her and Marcus kissing with the moon shining down on them.

         "Mr. Parker got DeAndre the car for senior year and because he knows this season is going to be hard without his brothers on the court. We went driving and just started taking pictures," said Troiann.

         "Sounds like you guys had fun while Chris and Trey were away."

         Troiann side eyed me. "Not as much fun as you and Tremaine apparently."

         I knew I had that coming.

         "Yeah," I let out.

         Troiann crossed her arms. "Okay, spill, CJ. What happened?"

         I thought of the midnight swim Tremaine and I'd shared, knowing it was staying in Florida. "Nothing."

         Troiann went back to watching videos. "You suck, Cree."

         "Anyway," I said, changing the subject, "this year's off to a good start, don't you think?"

         "Oh yeah, I saw you at lunch. You barely ate."

         Omari and I had been talking a lot, barely giving either of us time to eat, not that I minded. I had really enjoyed his company.

         "We were caught up," I explained.

         I watched as my best friend sat Indian stlye and faced me. Something was up.

         "Okay, Marry, Fuck or Kill," Troiann said with a mischievous grin. "Omari, Tremaine and DeAndre."

         Ugh. Those were my choices? No celebrities? "Really?"

         "I'll give you mine and you can think of yours, deal?"

         I rolled my eyes. "Sure."

         "Kill: Omari, only because I've seen him at school and though he's fine and all, he's too good, and that's boring. Fuck: Tremaine, because I wanna see all the shit that he's been bragging about. I'd marry Dre because he's quiet, mysterious, but I just know one on one he's gotta be more."

         He was. He so freaking was. "W-what about Marcus?"

         Troiann waved me off. "That's a safe bet."

         I thought of my choices, feeling shy at the meaning of my options. "Um, I would kill DeAndre because he hooked up with Draya and the last thing I need is her sloppy seconds. Screw Trey because I'm not sure he's marriage material. Marry Omari because he seems nice and genuine."

         "Dang Dre gotta die?" Troiann laughed. "But for real when his dad finds out he's gonna kill him."

         "He doesn't know?"

         Troiann shook her head. "Dre found out two weeks ago. If his dad knew..."

         She didn't have to elaborate. If Mr. Parker knew there'd be a storm no less.

         I didn't want to think of DeAndre, at all, so I let it go.

         "How are things with Marcus?" I asked.

         My best friend sighed, picking at her comforter. "Oh we're fine. Sometimes I get iffy, but that's just because Howard and my mom are trying again and you know how that goes."

         I sympathized with her, placing my hand on her thigh. "It's not Marcus's fault, Troy."

         She gave me a lopsided smile. "I know, he tries to be there and understand. My guard's not as high as it used to be, which is good."

         It was. Together they were chaos, but as dramatic as they were, it was love all the same.

         As if we'd spoke him into existence, Marcus soon was entering the room carrying fast food.

         "Hey," he said to the both of us. He came and handed Troiann a bag and stood back, looking proud of himself.

         Troiann dug into the paper bag and soon procured a burger. She investigated it, it seemed as she unwrapped the burger and inspected what was beneath the bun. She looked up at her boyfriend and smiled. "No tomato and no pickle. You're the best."

         Marcus grinned. "I know."

         Troiann rolled her eyes. "You all right."

         Marcus went and grabbed Troiann, holding her tight as he buried his face in her neck.

         "Ahh!" Troiann squealed before laughing. "What was that? Did you bite me?"

         "You just look so damn edible," Marcus cooed.

         Sensing the intimacy of their moment, I took it as my cue to go, despite Troiann's pleas for me to stay. I stood up and backed out of the room and headed downstairs. Anh was watching TV on the sofa in the TV room with their dog, Bugs, lying next to her.

         "Cree, baby, something wrong?" Anh asked.

         I shook my head, feeling ashamed for what I was really feeling. "I-I just have something I need to do. I'll call Troy later, okay?"

         "You sound upset, come here."

         I couldn't, because I knew I'd cry and confess things I shouldn't have been feeling or thinking. Especially with reality being so cruel.

         "I'm sorry, I can't. I have to go."

         Anh shook her head. "Well, at least let me take you home."

         "I'm not going home."

         "Where are you going?"

         "A friend's house."

         Anh stood and turned the TV off. "Come on, I'll give you a ride."

         Anh enjoyed looking after me as if I were her own, and it was no surprise when she grabbed her car keys and insisted on driving me all the way to DeAndre's house.

         "So you like this boy?" Anh asked as we sat in the car. Up ahead of us the Parker estate appeared ominous, as if total doom awaited me upon my embark up the drive.

         "I can't," I said as I turned to Anh. "He's got someone."

         Anh reached out and patted my knee. "Doesn't mean they're the right someone."

"It doesn't matter now." Draya was pregnant and there was no way that could be forgotten.

         "Then why are you here?"

         I looked down at the mixed CD in my hands. Something about seeing Troiann and Marcus made me want to go to DeAndre and give him the CD I'd worked so hard to make. The thirteen track mix held things I couldn't put in words and could no longer ever attempt to say. It wasn't supposed to be how it was, but there was no denying the present.

         "I don't even know," I confessed.

         "You've always been an outspoken girl, Cree. Don't change now, go and tell him how you feel."

         And how did I feel?

         "Thanks, Anh, I'll be sure to get a ride back home," I said.

         Anh hugged me and I got out of the car and headed up the long driveway to the front door. I rang the bell and stood back, feeling my stomach flip-flop inside of me. And then the door opened and there it was: reality.

         Draya was standing in the front doorway, looking past me and then at me. "Yeah?"

         It took me a moment to find my words. "Um, is DeAndre here?"

         Draya shook her head. "No, he went to get some food."

         "A-nd Mr. Parker?"

         "Is clearly not here either. He's staying with some chick." Again Draya looked past me. "Did you need something, Cree?"

         My hand shook as I raised up the CD. "I needed to give this to DeAndre. School was crazy and I forgot."

         "So you came over in the middle of the night to give it to him?" Draya was eyeing me funny.

         Pathetic. I was pathetic.

         I held the CD out. "Can you just give it to him, please?"

         Draya accepted the CD and eyed its cover. "All right, it'll be here for him when he gets back. You can go now."

         I stood, staring at her, unable to believe this was DeAndre's future.

         "What?" Draya snapped.

         "You don't have to speak to me that way."

         Draya snorted. "Get going, Cree."

         I felt my upper lip curl up. "Just for the record, you're not pregnant in the face. You can still get knocked out."

         "I would love to see you try."

         I would've, but then I thought of the possibly of DeAndre coming home and seeing us fighting and him getting angry at me because I'd hit his pregnant girlfriend.

         "Right, I'll be going, congrats on trapping him—I mean, landing DeAndre Parker."

         Draya slit her eyes and glared at me. "Excuse me?"

         "Nothing, just have fun with him."

         Draya looked me up and down. "I will and I am. Problem?"

         "Besides the fact that I think he can do better? No, not really."

         Draya crossed her arms and snarled at me. "You sound broke bitch jealous."

         "Because I don't have to screw my way to security? I have a job; I don't have to trap a guy because he's next."

         My words set her off and she came down off the front step and over to me. "Trap him? Is that all I'm good for to you people?"

         "You just happened to miss your period after you slept with him?" I asked.

         "Yeah, I did. Why would I get pregnant on purpose, Cree, I'm seventeen!"

         I gestured to DeAndre's palatial estate. "Oh I don't know, you live in a trailer and he sure as hell doesn't."

         Draya took a step back as if I'd struck her. Worse, I saw tears welling up in her eyes. "That's all I am to you, isn't it? Trailer trash out for a quick buck? You think this is easy for me? I see the way his friends look at me. I know for a fact that if it were you, they'd welcome you with open arms and not even act like you tried to trap him, but with me? I'm the evil bitch who got pregnant on purpose. I didn't ask for this, Cree!

          "He was just a boy that I really liked and now he's going to be someone I may have to spend the rest of my life dealing with. It's so easy to jump to the conclusion that Draya planned this." She shook her head and wiped her eyes. "Do you really think I'm that hard up for money I'd have a child? Do you think I want to be someone's mother, or worse, someone's baby momma? I'm seventeen and I don't even have the love and affection from my own mother, how the hell am I supposed to love this baby?"

         Seeing Draya breaking down and being emotional caused me to go and offer her a hug, which she quickly fought.

         "Don't. I don't need your pity, not when you just accused me of trapping Dre," Draya snapped as she wiped her face. "I just liked him a lot, okay? He's cute and mean when pushed and no other boy can stand up to him. We hooked up and it just happened one time and now I'm pregnant. I can't tell my mom because she'll kick me out, I can't take a test because it'll be real, and I can't let it be real, Cree. I have no one."

         Suddenly Draya wasn't just some girl I didn't like, she was just a girl who was in a bad spot.

         "That's not true," I said. "You have Dre."

         Draya went and took a seat on the front step and I joined her. "I didn't think he'd be here. I told him I was pregnant and he didn't even ask me to get rid of it. He just told me he was here and we'll do it together. Like there was no other choice."

         "His mother left him. I don't think he has it in him to abandon anyone."

         "We both have shitty moms, how are we gonna raise a baby together?"

         "Do better than your parents, that's the best you can do." I reached out and patted Draya's shoulder. "One thing's for sure; DeAndre has a lot of great friends who are going to be here for him, no matter what."

         Draya looked over at me and sniffled. "Thank you, and I'm sorry for being so rude. It's just that you're always there. One minute it's DeAndre and his crew, the next it's you and Troiann always with them, and then there's you and Dre."

         "We're just friends, best friends, it's nothing." It never would be.

         "You can't blame a girl for getting jealous. You're smart, opinionated, beautiful—"

         "Don't." I waved her off, not wanting to hear her make things up.

         "Okay I know I called you basic, but you're not. When you really dress up you got it, that talent show was amazing. Hell, you've got talent. What do I have to offer besides my looks?"

         "Then why are you so stuck-up?"

         "Because I have to be. You think it's easy being pretty and in shape? Growing up girls were so mean to me, they put gum in my hair, called me names and boys would grab on me. You'd learn to put up a front if you grew up like I did. All my life I had to fight—"

         "Okay, Sofia," I cut in.

         Draya looked at me and laughed, and then I laughed as she elbowed me. "Shut up, Cree."

         We sat there together for a moment as the sun was sinking further in the sky.

         "I'm really glad we didn't fight," said Draya.

         "Me too." Curious, I wondered aloud, "Are you and DeAndre still...?"

         "We're taking it slow, I guess."

         "Right, you've got six months to really get to know each other."

         "Wish me luck?"

         I stood and prepared to go. "Yeah."

         "I'll make sure he gets the CD, I promise."

         The CD wasn't important any more. "Draya?"

         "Yeah?"

         "Be patient with him, he's not like other guys. He needs help with love."

         Draya nodded. "So do I. I've never felt love either. His daddy may be hard on him but at least you know he loves his sons."

         "DeAndre will love you, it'll just take time."

         "Think so?"

         "Yeah."

         "Thanks, Cree. I'll see you around."

         "Yeah, sure. Congrats on your little family."

         Draya gave me a small smile. "Congrats on Omari. All these thirsty birds keep talking about him and all I saw was him up on you."

         Omari, right, the exact thing I'd wished for junior year. To walk into someone new and here he was. Maybe things would be okay after all.

         "We'll see, fingers crossed." I waved to Draya and headed down the driveway, feeling like it'd be one of the last times I'd ever step foot on the Parkers' property.

I was back to work Friday night and as usual it was busy. Nola and I'd just seen a huge dinner crowd and were running around trying to restock the hot case as it was only four in the evening. Nola caught me up with all of the drama via her love life. Not only was she seeing a guy on the side, her boyfriend had found out she'd cheated once and he'd bought her flowers and apologized to her. It was twisted, but what else was there to do at work?

          "And I kept telling Sean that I'm not about to pay a bill, I got school to pay for and the little money I have left goes to me, as it should," Nola was saying.

         She was older than me by a few years and was in college. I wasn't a fan of her personally; she was just too messy for me.

         "Right." What else was I supposed to say?

         Nola rolled her eyes. "Anyway, Jay's girl is starting to ask him questions and he's coming to me for answers." That was another thing; her side boyfriend had a girlfriend, and she didn't care.

         "What are you going to do?"

         "It's not my relationship, now is it?" Nola shot back. She looked past me and did a double take. "Who is that?"

         I turned around and found Omari standing at the hot case. We'd spent the entire first three days of school together. The Ballas made room for us at the table and the boys were trying to make Omari feel included, not that he minded. We mostly talked when we were together, not really paying the group any attention.

         I liked Omari, he was funny, smart and charming, and okay, fun to look at.

         I headed over to the case and greeted him. "Hey, what's going on?"

         "Nothing, you said you worked here and I felt like stopping through," said Omari.

         "Stalker."

         He smiled and I felt like blushing at the sight of his handsome features. "Maybe I am."

         "Well you gotta get something."

         He looked down at the case. "I would, but my aunt's making a big dinner to welcome us down to Akron. Some other time for sure."

         Sometimes I would slip and allow myself to really believe that Omari liked me. We had just met, but there was something about his attention on me that made me feel special, and I didn't want to be wrong about his interest in me.

         Omari started to tell me how his aunt was a great cook when DeAndre came over and my entire mood shifted. What did he want?

         Omari noticed DeAndre and held his hand out. "What's up?"

         DeAndre shook his hand. "Nothing, you?"

         "Was just visiting Cree. She said she worked here. Be honest, the food any good?"

         DeAndre glanced at me. "Only when she makes it."

         Omari looked at me and back at DeAndre who was still staring my way. "Did I miss something? If I'm stepping in your way Dre—"

         DeAndre looked at Omari and flashed a smile. "Nah, you're good." He looked back to me, appearing playful. "Besides, I can't have Cree."

         My fists closed and I lost all sense of happiness over Omari's presence. DeAndre had ruined it and I hated him. I hated him and I didn't want to see him. At all.

         Omari didn't get it, but he kept rolling along. "Probably because she's special."

         DeAndre looked back to Omari. "Very.