Edited

Kayla

"Let me tell you about this time Andre was like seven or eight years old," his mother said. For the past hour she's been giving me all the tea on Andre and it's been very entertaining. "He had the cutest obsession with this cartoon character on TV. He was in love with her for years. Never missed a show. And practically begged for anything dealing with her. I forgot what it was-"

"Kim Possible," Essence laughed. "You remember when he would go through so much trouble to hide everything when people came over? Had to change his sheets and all."

"Wow," I chuckled. "I can't really imagine Andre being that obsessed with her back then."

"Back then? Girl, he still has an obsession. I even got a video of him singing the whole theme song a few months back."

"What y'all in here talking about?" Andre and his dad walked in. I couldn't hold in my laugh as I imagined this Andre obsessed with a cartoon character. He raised his eyebrow to me.

"Oh we were just telling her about your biggest childhood crush," Essence smirked evilly. "I was even about to show her the video I had."

For the first time ever, Andre looked embarrassed and I couldn't be any happier for the simple fact I'm not the one being all shy and reserved. And since my mom embarrassed me all those two weeks it's finally time for payback. The shoe is finally on the other foot. "Man it wasn't even that serious," he mumbled walking away.

"Here's the video Kayla," Essence said handing her phone to me.

"Yo Essence! Imma kick your ass!" Andre ran back in the room and started chasing her. I couldn't help but laugh at them. They were so lively. These are moments that I wished I could have with siblings. Teasing each other and playing around. No matter how annoying they could be, at least I wouldn't have been alone.

"They're always like this," his dad said shaking his head with a light smile. "That just shows how close they are and how much they miss each other." He looked down at me. "Do you have any siblings Kayla?"

"Well," I mumbled. "My...father has two kids but we never had the chance to grow up together. I'm my mom's only child. But I've always wanted a sibling."

"I see," he nodded. "You're a part of this family now so you're more than welcome to take Essence and Jules."

"Hey!" Essence said, pausing a bit as she had Andre in a headlock. "Don't try to get rid of me old man!"

"Why not? With you gone I can finally start walking around naked and fuckin ya moms like we usually do on our getaways."

"Ewe dad!" She screeched. I laughed a bit.

"Who's Jules?" I asked. I don't remember Andre ever mentioning anybody else. I only know him to have two sisters.

"He's my big brother," Andre said as he flipped Essence upside down. I have no idea how they can have a full wrestling match and continue to be in the conversation but they're like pros. "My pa rents adopted him when I was like twelve I think. He's been in the military for over ten years."

"You two bet not break anything," their mother said glaring at them rolling around. "Andre you're twenty-four years old and still playing around."

He smacked his lips. "Dad still acts like he in his teens though. Swear, always on my back about something."

"Shut up lil nigga. I do what I want." He walked out to the kitchen to check on the food I guess. Mrs. Jackson had me and Essence help her prepare dinner.

"Henry you bet not carry your black ass inside my damn pot," she fussed going behind him.

"Let me go you ass!" Essence squeaked as Andre had her in some kind of lock.

"Ma! Essence cussing!" Andre laughed. I smiled as I took everything in. This is what I missed out on most of my life. Fun, laughter, jokes. I let that man, my father, rob me of happiness and memories I could have had for years. Sure we lived a hard life. We were homeless but I could've made the best out of a bad situation. I didn't have to stop my happiness the way I did. "You okay babe?" I jumped when Andre took a seat next to me. I didn't even know they were finish fighting. "Nah scratch that, what's wrong? I know you're not okay. You were spaced out for a good minute."

"Oh I was? Sorry. I was just thinking."

"About?"

"You look so happy and carefree," I smiled at him. "I always seen the cocky you. Never this one."

He laughed a bit. "Yeah. I always could unwind with my family. They're the most important thing to me."

I nodded but couldn't help these random questions swarming around in my head. "What about Josh and Chris?" He stiffened a bit. "I know this is a sensitive time to talk about them and no place for this conversation but I can't help but wonder. I know you guys have a troubled past and the tension between you guys just got worst since me-"

"It's not your fault-"

"Let me finish," I urged. He nodded and sat back to listen. "I'm not saying I'm blaming myself per se. I just know that I added fuel to the fire even if it wasn't intentional. But even so, you guys are family. You know they didn't do that to your sister and even if you don't like them as family, you should at least try to get along or something right?"

"You've got it wrong short stuff. I live by a philosophy. Blood makes you related, loyalty makes you family. Yes we're cousins by genetics but those two will never be my family. Their loyalty flops whichever way their puppet masters says it to."

"Puppet master?" I questioned.

"There's a lot you don't know short stuff. About Josh and Chris."

I turned to him. "Tell me." I really want to know what I've been missing all these years of knowing Josh and dealing with Chris. I want to know the tension that's between them.

"Well I'm pretty sure you can draw conclusions based on what little truth you know about Josh. They don't live their lives as their own. Their parents make all the decisions. What they do, eat, sleep, and breathe. They can't or better yet won't make a conscious decision on their own. From the schools they went to, to the company they kept. Everything was handpicked and decided by their parents. When they met me, they didn't have a brain for themselves so they judged me based off of what their parents told them. They only started to 'like' me or show interest in me when their parents took notice of my dad becoming successful. I've dealt with more than enough of fake people in my life. In the beginning I was going to be cordial but they were really testing me."

"So, nothing they did went off of what their parents wanted?" Maybe that's why all these years I never met his parents. Never saw his house. I just thought that he didn't want to shame me since my mother and I didn't really have a set home at the time.

"I wouldn't say nothing. They did went off and did their own form of rebelling. In college they did whatever they wanted as long as their parents didn't catch wind of it. College was their only freedom."

"Was?"

"Yup. Fun time for them will be over directly. Once they get their second degree it'll be time for them to fulfill the agreement in the proposal."

"So he's still going through with it?" I was hoping that Josh would have gained some sense and tell his parents he doesn't want to be set up with someone and find his own love life. But I guess that's not going to happen soon.

"Yup. It's a little late for them to try and back out now."

"This is crazy," I shook my head. I popped my head up and looked at him confused. "Wait, are you in on this proposal thing too? Is that why you're at the same school?"

"No. The fuck I look like having someone make decisions on my personal life?" He looked at me crazy. "And I'm there because their program was better than my last school's one. And of course to meet some potential connections." He stopped for a minute. "Josh is twenty-five and so is Chris. How'd y'all end up coming to school together? He should've been two grades ahead of you right?"

"Yeah but Josh failed a grade and I was able to skip one so we ended up being in the same grade and graduated together. I don't know about Chris. He always struggled in the college classes so I'm sure he failed once or twice."

Andre chuckled. "Shameful. Wonder how their parents took to their perfect little puppets falling short." I stared at him as he relished in the thought. "And I guess there was another reason why I chose that school."

"Why?"

"There was something nagging me that I had to be there. Besides my mom."

"Boy what you say?" I heard his mother yell from the kitchen. Mom hearing is impenetrable.

"Nothing," he laughed. I giggled along with him. He looked at me with a sly smile. "I guess it was destiny pointing me to my future wife."

My face was on fire and I couldn't help the smile that over took my face. "Well uh...you see...um...wow it's hot." He laughed at me being so flustered.

"Dinner's ready!" Essence said.

"Let's go eat baby girl," he chuckled before standing up. I smiled and stood up with him. Destiny huh? I never really believed in those things before but now...I guess I like the sound of it. Although, it's way too early to be thinking about the commitment of marriage, I couldn't deny I was happy to think of myself being called Mrs. Jakayla Jackson in the future.