"Lies"

"This can't be fucking real...."

"Nai! I-I thought you were going to come home later" mom started

I didn't take my eyes off him as she nervously changed positions in her seat, then I stared at the brown haired man up and down, lastly at mom.

"¿Que está pasando aqui? (What's going on here?)" I asked a bit rudely

I usually never spoke Spanish to her unless I was angry, or feeling happy. However, I know for a fact that I am not happy at what I am seeing at all.

"Hablemos en la cocina (Let's talk in the kitchen)" she responded "Excuse us"

I turned my heel as quickly walked to the kitchen to grab a water bottle. Trying to not look at her.

"What is he doing here mamá?" I asked once more, chugging my water

"Well... the man that you saw earlier... is..."

"Is what?" I said between chugs

"Someone I'm seeing..." She admitted

I chocked on my water and took some short gasps. Patting my chest for me to breath and calm myself down. Did I hear what she just said right?

"I get it, this is some kind of silly joke you always do to me every once in a while" I nodded as I took a breather "The joke is done mamá, they can leave now"

She nervously looks away "I wished I told you sooner Nairobi"

"She is serious..." I thought

"But Nai, he is a really sweet man to me, and his son is amazing as well!" She explained

I shook my head, trying to deny anything she says "May I have to remind you what that kid did?"

"I know, he told me everything..." She sighed "But if you really get to know him, he's not a bad kid-"

"Not a bad kid?!" I repeated, my voice rising a little "I'm going to have to stop you right there. Kids nowadays are liars now, manipulative, selfish and rude. Some are the opposite, but that kid you speak of is probably from the depths of hell itself"

"Nai, I tried to explain to you and you don't want to listen. So here's what we are going to do. We are both going to sit in that living room and you're going to talk to both of them" she explained "¿Me entiendes? (Do you understand me?)"

I looked away angrily as she repeated her last sentence one last time.

"¿Me entiendes?"

"Yeah sure, whatever..." I mumbled

"Good. Let's head in there and you better be nice"

I followed her from behind, I quickly glanced at Nico who was laying in the stairs with his wide eyes. Probably alarmed and defensive.

"Definitely watch out for the kid Nico" I thought as I sat at the edge of the couch next to Cooper

I didn't interrupt mom's and the brown haired man's conversation, not even wanting to be involved since I will most likely respond sarcastically.

I don't even know who this man is. He could be sweet like candy but sour like a lemon behind closed doors, or maybe he just wants my mom for her money?

"Psh, as if he will lay a finger on my mom's cash" I thought

"So! You're the Nairobi that your mother here has been always talking about" He started, cutting my train of thought "I must say she talks a lot about you"

"Yeah because I'm her only kid..." I muttered

"Nairobi!" Mom grunted

"It's alright Melanie" he reassured her

She lets out a sigh "How's about you show Cooper here your room hm? You two have a lot in common than you think"

"But-"

Before I said anything, she gave me the stare. Every Hispanic mom has that stare that scares the living hell out of you. She doesn't even need to say a word, as long as she has the stare, I recommend not responding or do anything that makes her think it's disrespectful or rude.

"Fine. Come on" I gestured Cooper

I grabbed my backpack and started up at the steps, Nico right beside me and Cooper behind me.

I opened my door and dropped my bag in my desk. Sitting in the chair away from him. Nico sat in my lap as he stared him down. I pet him gently as I heard his low purr.

"I should've told my dad I was sick so I wouldn't have to see you" He spoke

"The door is right there, don't let it hit you on the way out" I scoffed

"Yeah right, so my dad could kick my ass? Don't think so"

"Not my problem" I added

"Isn't there an extra chair you can lend your guest?" He grunts

"The floor is a nice place for you to sit on"

I heard him slightly grunt, wow he listened for once in his life like a good dog.

The tension between us was horrible. I wanted to leave, or maybe wanted him and his dad to leave so I can talk to mom and tell her to leave the man so I could never see them again.

"Can't believe that my old man even likes your mom" He mumbled

I quickly turned my chair around as I stared him down coldly "Makes me think the same thing with you dad, matter of fact he shouldn't be with her at all"

"Please, my dad wasn't even looking for anyone until your mom came around. Now he can't stop talking about her" He gaged

"Thank God I didn't have to hear about how annoying your dad is" I muttered "I could see why your mom left"

"You don't even know about my mom!" He shouted as he stood up

"Aww, that seemed to trigger you" I snickered "Lemme guess, she's in some pricey household with a sugar daddy that gives her more cash than yours ever will hmm?"

"No!" He denied "She's in Maryland"

"Oh wowww Maryland. What the hell is she doing over there and not here with your daddy?"

"They're divorced" He responded "Been divorced since I was twelve and she left to live in Maryland with my grandma"

A little bit of him seemed to softened after he said that. I wouldn't say I was sorry, but maybe just maybe a little bit of guilt. Yes call me evil, but I really don't like him.

"Well, that sucks to be you I guess" I yawned as I leaned back on my chair

"Oh yeah? And what about you?" He fumed, getting defensive again "What's the reason why your dad left you?!"

I shot up a glare as I continued petting Nico, trying to not get mad and hit his punchable face again. I have to show him that I'm the bigger person who won't get mad easily like him.

"Cancer" I responded as turned to my desk, getting everything from the inside my backpack out

"Oh..." was all he said before it got silent once more.

It felt like forever having him in my room, maybe even eternity. I wanted nothing more but for him to leave my room and just stay in the living room at least so I wouldn't have to see his stupid face.

"I-I'm sorry..." he muttered

"Speak up" I berated, sounding annoyed

"I said I'm sorry!" He spoke up once more "I'm sorry about your dad... it must've been really hard seeing him change each day"

I slowly turned around as he hung his head low, playing with a ball he had from I guess his pocket he got from.

"Yeah well life sometimes gives us shitty surprises doesn't it?" I smiled sarcastically "Like right now for example"

"Why are you being such an asshole all of a sudden?!" He shouted as he shot his head up

"Oh I don't know, why did you enter in my life and ruin it hmm?"

"I'm outta here" he grunts as he stands up and walks away

"Bye bye! Hope the door hits you on the fucking way out!" I shouted

I can hear from down the hall his harsh footsteps going down the stairs and onto the living room.

"We are on in three.... two.... one...."

"NAIROBI!" I heard mom shout from downstairs

"Just in time for the big finally Nico! Getting grounded for saying shit to the old mans son!" I smiled at Nico

I casually walked downstairs as I saw Cooper and his dad standing in the doorway. Yes! They are finally leaving for heavens sake!

"Say goodbye" mom said coldly

"Goodbye" I smiled as they said goodbye back

I watched as they walked down the porch and headed to their car. Once mom closed the door I turned back around and headed upstairs.

"Stop right there!" She fumed "What the hell was that?! Being rude to not only to Travis but to his son as well?!"

"So that's his name huh... sounds country" I mocked

"Nairobi! What you did was absolutely unacceptable! I can't even look at you after what you just did to our guests" she huffed as she turned away

"Oh you don't wanna look at me?! I don't even want to look at you! You literally hid this secret, lied to me, and said you weren't ever gonna date again! You made a damn oath!" I shout

My eyes began to prickle with tears, but I aggressively wiped them away with my arm.

"I did this for us Nairobi! Why can't you understand that?"

"You did this for yourself! You're just- just selfish! I want my real dad back damn it!" I ran to my room, shutting the door from behind me

The prickling tears soon became waterfalls, making me hope for the pain to go away. But it didn't. All these emotions became one whole tornado. It made me realize that I was the one being selfish.

All my mom wanted was to be happy. She never complained about anything and always looked at the positive side of life, and the one time that she wants to be happy and move on from dad... I ruined it.

"I'm an idiot" I sighed

I tiptoed to her room and I quietly pressed my ear against her door as I hear whimpers and cries from the other side. I soon realized that I never seen her cry in a while. She always would worry about me, but I never got the chance to worry about her.

I slowly peeked to door open to see her sitting in her bed as she stared down at the ring dad gave her when he asked her to marry him.

"Mamá?" I whispered as her head shot up, then back down at the ring

She gently pats a spot next to her, approving for me to enter. I opened the door widely and sat beside her, saying nothing.

"He always knew just how to make me smile..." she sniffled "Even when we argued, he would find ways to make me crack up laughing. When we got married, he promised me we would never have a frown as long as we were together..."

I watched as she broke down crying once more, making me want to cry with her, but instead I didn't hesitate to pull her in for a hug, a tear going down my eye.

She really did love him. When he was alive I never did see a frown in any of us. We were always giggling and smiling. There wasn't a single person that didn't like my dad, he was just so likable.

"Lo siento mucho chiquita (I'm so sorry little one)" she cried out "This is all my fault"

"No! Mamá don't say that!" I said as we pulled apart "It's my fault and only mine! I-I was being selfish! You deserve to be happy again"

"But I promised you-"

"Forget about that dumb promise!" I cut her off "You can date that Travis guy and I'll be nice to him and Cooper. I know dad would understand"

She wipes her tears off as she smiles softly "You have your dad's personality like no other" She sighed "Always apologizing and trying to make things right"

"I'm sorry for ever saying those words to you"

"You were just mad, I understand" her hand petting my hair "Travis is a good man Nai. Get to know him, and he would do the same for you"

"He seems like a really nice guy like you said" I smiled "I should probably apologize to him and Cooper..."

"Well, we did think about going out to eat tomorrow. Maybe you should tell them then. I think they would understand" she reassured

It probably will not work with Cooper and maybe Travis, but I just want her to be happy. She deserves the world.

"Are we still up for movie night?" I asked nervously

"Duh! I already had the popcorn and pizza ready along with Scream ready to be played"

"Yes! It's gonna be hilarious seeing them run away and still get killed"

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