Searching for Love, Found Wealth

That’s my first all friends in picture. It’d make a good memory.

I now had the simple things of life. Friends, peace and family.

“Okay, so Charles and I…”.

I didn’t even wait for Chloe to finish before I blurted out with excitement and surprise, “Are dating? You guys are dating?”.

Chloe had a stunned and embarrassed look, she looked from me and to the rest, giving her awkward looks, and then back to me.

“I guess not” I laughed nervously. She was so gonna kill me. Well to be fair, she’d done similar stuffs to me. Like when she was drunk, I’d never forget.

“Oh, are you on your way to meet your own model hottie?” Jasper teased Chloe.

“No, I wanted to say Charles and I got a slot at a photoshoot. I guess I’ve finally found something I could be hood at, Modeling” she said in a less excited tone, still giving me death glares.

“Hey, happy for you. Go whoop Samantha’s butt” I cheered.Content bel0ngs to Nôvel(D)r/a/ma.Org.

“I am just getting a slot. It could help me rise to fane, it could not” she deadpanned. The rest began dispersing.

I noticed Chris scratching a part in his hands that had a red rash.

“Oh, it’s my body’s reaction to some grasses. When we went uptown, we laid low besides some grasses. I don’t even know their names” he explained when I gave a concerned look.

They were all there that day? I was very surprised to see them coming down from police vans when I was taken to the hospital.

I never thought much of it and assumed they’d driven there.

“Thanks. Deeply appreciated” I smiled at him. He smiled back.

“Let’s take it to the nurse. She’d know what to do” Jennifer said in her class captain spirit and ushered Chris towards the nurse’s room.

Sheena followed her, she seemed to be following her a lot more often but it was good. I guess maybe they aren’t letting their parent’s divorce affect them as sisters.

That reminded me that I had pushed my dad away, so far out of reach now. I went sober for a bit.

I wondered how Gladys felt knowing she’s been disconnected from her birth mom and birth dad.

It would be very hard for her if she minded. Which she would of course.

I stopped being sober and joined the mini party thrown in my favor. I was surprised to know it was Jacob that baked the cake. It was amazing.

“Nice cake” I made a thumps up at him.

“I had help. I’ve been doing cooking too lately” he said proudly.

“Guys that can cook are the whole deal” I recited something Chloe used to say while looking for her to remember. She wasn’t around me so I shrugged.

I noticed Reuben’s stare on me, “What did I do?”.

“Guys that can cook are the main deal? What? That’s your ideal type?” he seemed amused.

I noticed Jacob was over looking at me with a smirk. They heard me? Then they were totally misunderstanding me.

“It’s not what I meant. It’s something people say. That’s all” I didn’t want to say “something Chloe say” so they’d not give awkward looks when she returned.

I was already responsible for one of her awkward looks of the day.

“I heard you say it now so… I guess your ideal type is picked my your stomach and not by your heart” Reuben grinned.

J-twins began laughing, including Nancy who had been silently listening.

“Too bad you can’t cook, Reuben” Jasper taunted.

“Yeah, too bad” Jacob winked at both of us and joined his twin in cutting more portions of the cake.

“Anyone can learn to cook” I said to cover up Reuben’s shy look.

Yes, his cousin’s had just passively exposed his crush but I’d act oblivious, for his sake. I was yet to know how I should react to it, even.

He sighed, it had relief, and I bet in his mind, he’d be thankful I am oblivious, “Yea, I can do anything if I put my mind to it”.

The day went with me eating cake, laughing to one of J-twins’ jokes or taking photos of Chloe while she ‘practiced’ modeling.

I rushed home as I had something important I wanted to say to Gladys but a surprise awaited me at home.

I hadn’t met the woman before. She didn’t look violent but really pretty, with her blue hair and dark lipstick.

“Hello, I’m Kiera” I greeted since mom and Gladys were just staring at me and her.

Baby John began crying and we both turned to him together, Gladys rushed to him and took him inside.

The lady looked at them leave longingly before turning back at me and then to my mom.

Then I saw it, the resemblance between she and Gladys. It was striking but it was there and now I couldn’t unsee it.

“Gladys mom?” I was more excited than shocked. Then I became resistant. “Why are you here?”.

Did she come to take the kids away? My life was just going smoothly minutes ago.

“She wanted to see the kids but Gladys doesn’t want to see her” mom answered for her.

That explained the glare Gladys had when looking at her. And perhaps even baby john didn’t want to talk to her that’s why he cried.

“Please help me to talk to her. I am not taking her away. I just wanna talk to my babies” the lady pleaded.

I nodded and got up to leave but then I turned back, “Weren’t they your babies when you left them alone? I know how Gladys feels. When my dad had come home after eight years demanding to ‘talk to his baby’ I didn’t want to cos he had left his baby” I narrowed my eyes at her.

She looked sorry but that doesn’t cut it out.

“I’d tell her to come meet you. The decision is hers. You have to sacrifice more time to meet her. Visit in school, at home often and all, if you wanna talk to your babies. And when you do, please don’t make it a hobby” I added before leaving for upstairs Gladys went to.