"Where you headed this early in the morning?" Rita asked as she seen Dominique heading for the door, dressed all nicely. Rarely did he wake up before nine in the morning, so seeing him strolling around with a fresh face was surprising. He looked to be in a good mood too, which she took notice of by only seeing him for a second.

"Out, but I won't be gone for the whole day." He simply answered.

She furrowed her brows since that didn't really answer anything. Where could he possibly be going this early in the morning? For some reason he wasn't trying to tell her but she could easily put two and two together. He was going out to see someone, but she wasn't sure who. It could either be the young woman from camp, or Kendra since he's been spending a lot of time with her lately. Every other day she and the other two stooges seem to be dragging Dominique out of the house to do god knows what. Rita couldn't just force the boy to stay in the house and away from certain people, he was a grown man and could do as he please. She just wish he wasn't out getting into trouble.

He hasn't been acting out or doing anything too crazy, that she knows of, so hopefully he was actually trying to pull himself together.

"Well wherever you're headed off to, don't forget about your therapy session at 2." She reminded him and watched as he froze.

"Huh?" He asked like a confused kid, or anybody caught off guard by something they didn't expect to hear.

"Dominique I been reminding you about this for a whole week now. Don't tell me you forgot that easily." He wasn't forgetting things on purpose, he's been under the influence so much that certain things seem to slip his mind. Like this dreadful therapy session he was still on the fence about in the first place.

He shook his head and sighed, not even being in the mood to go and talk to a therapist today, tomorrow or next week "I didn't forget." He lied through his teeth "But can't you reschedule it? Since I'm not really feeling it today?"

"Oh really? and when will you be feeling it? Another month or so?"

Quickly licking his lips he decided to be honest for a second "Maybe, to tell you the truth I'm still on the fence about all of this. I ain't all that comfortable with sitting in a room and discussing personal things with a stranger." He admitted.

"Dominique, that stranger is willing to help you get better."

Sucking his teeth, the thought of these so called therapists being portrayed as the messiah's was enough to irk his nerves "Helping me by reading whatever they got out of a textbook? I don't know, I just feel most of them is there for they check and just say anything to make us feel better. I don't wanna be bothered with sitting there and having somebody talk to me like something that needs to be fixed." Though, that's the case here.

Honestly, Dominique would probably leave that session misinterpreting everything the therapist said, only because he wouldn't be listening for real.

Sighing to herself, Rita couldn't help but to shake her head "You can be so stubborn sometimes." She told him, as if she wasn't talking to a taurus.

"I know." He agreed like it was nothing, slowly making his way towards the door once again.

"You still have a session at 2, Dominique, and you have to go because I already paid." She reminded him again after their short conversation. From now on she should start paying after the session, just to be sure that he actually goes and so she doesn't waste her pennies.

"I hear you." He mumbled and continued walking out the front door, not wanting to think or talk about it anymore.

His plans for the morning was to go and check in with Angel being that he missed her like crazy. They still haven't talked to each other since the last day of camp, being that they were always out and about or their missed phone calls weren't getting back to them. It's a shame that they went from talking every day to not hearing from each other in two weeks. He expected Angel to be blowing up the house phone every chance she got, but why would she when he only called once or twice his damn self. They needed to get back in touch as soon as possible, and Dominique didn't mind making the first move once again.

Making his way around the somewhat familiar Gardenland neighborhood, he made sure to look at the addresses carefully, not trying to walk up to the wrong persons door. It seemed half the neighborhood was outside. Whether some guys were occupying the corner or others were just chilling on their front porches, looking like a scene straight out of Friday. He earned a couple of lustful glares from the chicks around here who were outside in revealing clothing, wondering where this unfamiliar but handsome face came from. Who was he around here to see?

Hearing a whistle as he strolled down the street, he looked over his shoulder quickly at a woman on the porch "Fine ass! You wanna be my baby's daddy?" She boldly joked, before erupting in laughter with her two homegirls who sat with her, just day drinking.

"Girl leave that nigga alone!" One of them said in the middle of laughing.

Ignoring them completely, Dominique only shook his head with a smirk while continuing to walk. Finally approaching the beige and black colored house, Dominique became nervous for some reason. He was more than ready to see Angel, but he wasn't sure she'd be the one to answer the door. What if it was one of her ain't shit family members, ready to make him feel awkward. He didn't wanna be bothered with it.

He started to feel like some teenage boy getting ready to take his crush out, but had to meet the family first.

Putting all that aside and doing what the fuck he wanted, since he took the bus and walked all this way, he confidently walked up to the door and rang the bell. Sliding both hands in his pockets, he just stood there with a straight face until someone answered, and hopefully it was Angel. Before he could slip back into his thoughts, he heard someone's voice on the other side while the door was finally opening. Their stood a male figure that seemed to be at at least six feet tall, but that was nothing to Dominique.

Staring at him for a second, Micah asked behind the screen door "Wassup, can I help you?"

"Yeah, is Angel here?" Dominique asked, wondering who the hell this could've been.

He chuckled for some reason "I don't even know, her little ass love to run the streets so much." He said out of nowhere prompting Dominique to raise a brow in curiosity "I'll go check real quick." He told him and stepped away from the door, but left it cracked.

Dominique took a seat on the one step they had and just waited for whatever. He doesn't remember if Angel was an early bird or not, so if she was out and about running the streets, he wondered with who and what exactly she could be doing. She did tell him she preferred to be elsewhere besides under the roof with her folks, so she gets out whenever she can.

Minutes later, he heard the door creak open once again and glanced over his shoulder to see Angel appearing. The two couldn't help but to grin happily at each other's presence, being that it's been a while since they've been around each other physically. Standing up to greet her and check her out from head to toe, Angel stepped closer and draped her arms right around his neck while he held her waist. Rocking them both side to side, he rubbed up and down her back before gently squeezing her. Both took in the nice perfume and cologne the other was wearing and just cherished the embrace.

"I missed you!" She cooed, those three words being the first to leave her mouth.

"I missed you a little more. Surprised to see me?" He chuckled and landed a quick kiss on her cheek. Though she was all dressed and prepared for the day, he could tell she just woke up not too long ago. He figured from how soft her features looked, like her eyes and lips.

"Definitely, I like surprises like this." She told him and gave him a gummy smile "What are you even doing around here?"

"What you think i'm lost and just knocking on people doors? I came to see you." He stated the obvious making her playfully roll her eyes "We saved each other addresses for a reason."

"What took you so long to come and see me?" She questioned him while taking a seat on the step.

"I was going back and forth with myself and wondering if it was a good idea or not. It almost seemed like you forgot all about me. I ain't heard from you in a while." He admitted, two weeks being a little too long for him.

"I can say the same for you, last time I checked I never even received a phone call. What? Did you lose my number?"

Dominique furrowed his brows "Of course not, the two times I actually called your mom always answering the phone with an attitude. Evidently she ain't letting you know someone been trying to get in touch with you."

"Your aunt told me she'd let you know that I called one night. Now either she forgot or you just didn't feel like hitting me up..." She trailed off "Since you're always out with Kendra." She said that part in her head.

Dominique snickered "Nah she never gave me that message, and don't be silly, if she would've told me you called I wouldn't have wasted any time hitting you back up." He shook his head, wondering what was going on with their folks not telling them about missed phone calls. Was that purposefully?

"Well from now on, when neither of us are at home, just leave a voicemail. At least we can depend more on that than somebody else playing messenger." Angel suggested and he only nodded.

"Cool."

Feeling a set of eyes on them, Angel looked behind her and noticed the blinds swinging as if someone was just watching them. Rolling her eyes at whoever it might've been, see just grabbed Dominique's hand who was oblivious and stood from the porch, ready to get away "What made you wanna pop up over here so early in the morning?" She asked, walking them away from the porch.

Dominique grinned before even answering her "I thought you'd enjoy going to get some breakfast. My teat." He watched as her eyes sparked even more at the plans he made for the two this morning. So this was him finally showing up to her doorstep to drag her out for breakfast, as he said he would. Only because he knew she would really like that idea.

The two didn't have a car to get to their destination, but that's what public transportation was for, which Angel didn't mind at all. As long as she was with Dominique. The two sat hand in hand on the bus, just being in their own world and treasuring their morning with each other. Once they reached their stop at the pancake house, the two were quick to dash inside the restaurant to get a table. Smelling the lovely aroma of breakfast food and the welcoming vibes all around, Dominique felt relaxed. Not wanting to rush this outing, since he had somewhere he didn't wanna be soon.

"So what you been up to for the past two weeks that I haven't seen or heard form you?" Dominique started another conversation.

Angel sighed while looking through the menu "Not much really, just the usual. Ripping and running with a couple of friends from sun up to sun down. I talked to Skai the other day and we're gonna hit up a party this weekend." She said with excitement and Dominique knew why, knowing what exactly goes around at a party in California.

It's been two weeks though, and he was so sure that she already got her hands on ecstasy while at home. She didn't just have to wait around for someone to throw a party.

Dominique slowly nodded "You ain't having trouble at home, right? Things been going smooth so far?"

"I wouldn't say smooth but things haven't got too crazy yet." She shrugged like it was nothing "I'm rarely there and when I am, I don't really speak to my mama because we don't have anything to talk about. She still hasn't confronted me about stealing her $50 which i'm sure she figured out by now. It's like we're strangers and don't feel the need to utter one word to each other unless it's over something silly."

"Wait a minute." Dominique suddenly snickered though none of this was funny "You stole money from your mama?" He asked, rhetorically.

"Yup, and I don't feel bad about it either."

"Really? Why?"

"One morning she purposely didn't make any breakfast for me, knowing damn well I was back from cramp and under the same roof as her, claiming it slipped her mind that I was home." She shook her head "When my brother and his kids walked in, she didn't hesitate to slave over that stove a little while longer for her prince though." Angel rolled her eyes.

"Your brother? Was he the dude that answered the door today?"

"Yeah. His name is Micah, and he's a jackass. I don't know why he keeps coming over every other day, I already gotta deal with one dingbat."

Dominique couldn't help but to chuckle at the insults she was throwing out, seeing how much she couldn't stand her folks. Regardless he was on her side and knew they deserved all the name calling she was doing. He felt she needed to spend some time away from them, but didn't know if that would make things worst. It's not like their the ones who would keep her grounded, but at some point without them in the picture, she may feel like she really has nothing to lose. That'll only cause her to spiral even more.

Soon, the waiter brought their plates over filled with the good looking breakfast food, the smell instantly making their mouths water. Dominique licked his lips at the three fluffy blueberry pancakes sitting in front of him, trying to go easy and not devour this meal in five minutes. His aunt actually feeds him at home.

"What are you up to these days since being back at home? You been enjoying the rest of your summer?" Angel asked while they enjoyed their breakfast.

"I have actually. When I'm not going around the neighborhood cutting yards for some chump change, I'm out kicking it with the crew."

"The crew." She chuckled "And this crew consist of?" She randomly dragged out, giving him the side eye.

Dominique narrowed his eyes at her "Isaac....Nick..............and Kendra.." He lastly said with a teasing grin, causing Angel to wave him off. He snickered and quickly licked his lips "Why you don't like her so much?"

"I never said I din't like her, I don't even know the girl." Angel told him before shoving some of the food in her mouth.

"Well this the second time now that you looked at me funny after mentioning her name..."

"I'm sure you guys have been spending a lot of time together-"

"As friends, absolutely." Dominique cut her off and finished her sentence for her "Is it a problem with me hanging around her? Even though there's nothing going on?"

"It would be crazy of me to tell you who you can and can't hang around with, I'm not that kind of girl." Angel assured him "You can do whatever you want with whoever you want, cause we're not together. Remember?"

Dominique snickered to himself for some reason "I know we ain't together, but you being jealous is cute as hell to me." He laughed a little more.

Angel rolled her eyes "I'm not jealous of anybody. Why would I be?"

"Come on now, Angel. You got it in your head that something's going on between me and Kendra, and that's why you give me the eye every time I bring her up. I told you before that I'm not into that girl romantically, and she knows that. Of course imma kick it with her because we still friends, but you gotta trust me when I tell you ain't nothing going down between me and that girl. I'm only into you, and still trying to work towards that relationship. I even told her that."

"I believe you." Angel told him, truthfully.

"Besides, it would somewhat bother me too if you was spending a lot of time around another dude, especially if y'all had history together." He mentioned and Angel quickly glanced at him for a second before looking back down at her food "We shouldn't be like that though, because you and I are still just friends. We shouldn't have no control over each other like that and shouldn't feel a way about the other giving someone else just a little attention. Long as we stick to the words we told each other, everything should be peachy."

"I agree." She nodded at his words, once again not having anything to worry about. Maybe overthinking was in her nature but she hated that side of her, especially when it came to stuff like this. She didn't wanna come off being too much at times "Anyways, what else do you have planned for the day?" She changed the subject.

Dominique sighed and rubbed the back of his head while groaning lowly, being reminded of the forced plans for the day "I got a therapy session at 2." He simply answered.

Angel raised her brows in shock "Really? You're actually going to therapy?" She asked.

"I don't want to, at least not now since it seem so sudden. It was my aunt's idea but I'm still not feeling it..."

"Why not? Maybe going to therapy would help a little." She told him, sounding like everyone else, but even she had her doubts sometimes and could also think it would be a waste of time. It really depends on the person and whatever trauma they wanted to unload.

"I don't think it would help at all, I'm just not ready to open up to a stranger. I'll just be sitting there with a straight face wishing I could be anywhere else but in that small ass room."

"Anywhere else like where? The liquor store?"

Dominique glared over at her and her sudden choice of words "Maybe, but that shouldn't surprise you. You know how I am."

"Yes, I know you like to drink, Dominique. The reason why you like to drink is the other issue here and that's why a quick therapy session doesn't sound too bad. You're gonna have to open up to a stranger one day, like you did with me, and just get everything off your chest. It'll probably lift a little weight off your shoulders at least."

"Well that might not happen today..." Dominique told her with a shrug, before gulping down his orange juice. it's like he was determined to not change his mind or how he felt about this dreadful appointment.

"Why not?" Angel questioned him, beginning to sound like his aunt putting him under pressure but really they were just trying to figure him out a little bit more.

"As I said before, I'm not comfortable with telling a stranger about the bullshit that goes on in my life. Why is it a problem if I don't wanna sit in a room and go down memory lane about all the traumatizing shit that happened to me? I try not to even think about it, so going to a session and being picked apart ain't gone make me feel any better. If anything it's gone make me dwell even more, and I try to burry certain shit as deep as I can. Going into detail about my upbringing just won't help the situation, and that's how I feel. Y'all just gotta let me deal with my life how I wanna deal with it..." He spoke, talking about Angel and everyone else trying to seemingly control things for him.

Angel sighed at his rant, though she could understand where he was coming from "Evidently you're not burying it deep enough, because it still has a hold on you. That's why you drink and act out, because you're still dwelling on whatever happened while growing up, instead of talking it out and getting it out of your system."

Dominique shook his head, growing a little annoyed with this conversation "Can you stop trying to play therapist for a second." He told her.

She couldn't help but to knit her brows in confusion "I'm not