The Dove And The Grenade.

Chapter 6: It's Complicated.

The outfit on the side is the one Eliese is wearing, minus the hoodie. Anyways, enjoy!

Eliese paraded down the street from her one bedroom apartment in East L.A, from her childhood home in Inglewood to her apartment was a full hour of travelling. She strutted down the street in a white corset that had a floral design and a silk ribbon tying behind her neck, bearing her back to the hot sun. She wore high waist jeaned that had a silver butterfly design running up the leg and a pair of silver sparkly open toe high heeled shoes. Matty gave her a ride home before dropping Emily off at School; she had enough time to do her hair and makeup before she worked the sidewalk to the small beauty shop down the street.

Eliese's mind raced with thoughts of last night; Matty kissed her. He really did that, it wasn't a dream. It was real life and she enjoyed it too. She touched her lips every time she thought about it, she could feel his lips masking hers like a fitted sheet. But the dream she lived in was her paradox, she blissfully melted into the thought of the ecstasy and romance but then shied away in fear at the physical affection. Her dream come true is her worst nightmare, and her worst nightmare is her dream come true.

Did she really allow her best friend to kiss her? Did she let him manipulate her into agreeing to the insanity of him becoming Emily’s step dad? She mustn’t have, but she did. She wallowed in the bone shaking bliss of security for her and Emily. She caved into normality, but this wasn’t normality. This was the opposite; it was insanity. This wasn't what she wanted for her daughter. She didn't want her daughter to live in confusion and uncertainty, but Emily deserves someone to love her like a real father.

When she entered the small building she was greeted by the weekly usual’s and her co-workers. She immediately melted into a happy mood that was uplifted by friendly customers who discussed their issues with her. It was refreshing to deal with issues she could actually handle with great stride and a smile.

"How's the boyfriend? Did he get home safely yesterday?" Ana asked about Matty with a joking tone from across the floor, trimming thick black hair into manageable layers. Eliese looked up from the mixture of blonde hair dye and tin foil that was folded on one of her request client's head. She shot Ana a displeased look and shook her head with a sigh.

"First thing's first: he's not my boyfriend. And yes he got back safely." Eliese had to keep telling the ladies at the shop that they are not in fact together, as a couple. Patricia smirked at Eliese, shaking her head before stopping at a certain sight out the window.

"Speaking of not your boyfriend; here comes your baby daddy." Patricia pointed out that a brown haired brown eyed man was approaching the shop with a furious expression. Eliese's stomach fell and she realized that Nathan must've gotten the court notice; he has to pay child support otherwise he's going to be fined and do jail time.

"What did you see in him?" Ana asked as she examined the Native American man outside. Eliese shrugged and scoffed at her teenage stupidity.

"I have no fucking clue, I was thirteen and he was fifteen." Eliese met Nathan when she was eleven and he was thirteen; he was her mom's friend's kid so they hung out a bit. They were good friends then Nathan asked her out when she was thirteen, six weeks later he dumped her after she put out. A month later Eliese found out about Emily. Nathan dumped Eliese because people thought they were cousins since they're both Native American. Eliese thought that was a decent excuse back then but now she shakes her head at it.