Can't Take My Eyes Off of You

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Giovanni

"Claire you're jealous of Evie, which is normal. You're sisters it happens but blaming her for your insecurities is not okay. She cannot be blamed because people like her. While you're so worried about what your sister has going on your not living your life. Your about to be a mom and you're still acting like a child. You have to grow up, baby girl." I said looking at Claire as she wiped her tears. She nodded her head letting me know she heard me.

I looked at Evie. "Evie, I know you're tired," I said. "You always have to be so strong and put together. You've always been like that, even when you were little. So quick to detach from any and everything." I paused. "Too scared to let yourself be completely vulnerable that you're always ready to leave at any moment. I can't help but feel like it has to do with what happened when you were a kid." I said looking at Naya. Realization slowly washed over her face.

"For a child to have your mother seemingly just disappear for several months is a lot. Then to have your grandfathers taken away for years—I'm sorry I didn't do a better job at helping you process those huge changes. You're too kind and pure of a person for me to just sit back and watch you become cold and hardened. Just stay and talk. We'll listen." I promised her. She looked away from me wiping the tears that rolled down her cheeks. I looked to my boys.

"And you two." I began. "No," Sonny said shaking his head. "Let him talk," Zay said. Sonny tightened his hoodie but stayed silent. "I'm sorry for not being as present as I should be. There's no excuse for it but I would never choose Que over you. You're my sons and I swear to you I will be a better father," I said.
Sonny refused to look at me as he leaned into Evie for comfort.

I waited to see who would go first. "Sonny and I feel like you've replaced us with Jacques," Zay said. "Just because he doesn't have a dad doesn't mean we have to lose ours too. You have four sons and you'd rather be a dad to him." Zay finished. I dropped my head as tears filled my vision. "I am so sorry. I know I'm saying that a lot but I truly am. Because of my past relationship with his dad, I felt an obligation to him. It's no excuse but it is the reason." I explained.

"I've been running around trying to handle everything because I was stuck in this mindset that I have to hold everything together. If I don't then I'd lose everything. I was more concerned with keeping the peace at every turn that I ended up neglecting the very people I've been trying to protect. And because of it, we're all fighting, and I've lost all of you anyway." I said.

"You haven't lost us," Evie said as she hugged Sonny. "Yeah, we're just hurt," Claire said before turning to Evie. "Evie, I'm sorry for what I said. I didn't mean it how it came out. I've just been so frustrated and—," She paused. "And jealous of you. You're pretty and everyone gravitates towards you. It's like that with all of you, it always has been. I always have to try so hard to make friends while all of you do it so effortlessly. I usually can handle that I'm different but lately, it's started to get to me." She explained.

"Why do you feel out of place? Are we making you feel like that?" Naya asked. "No. No, I was talking to Tron's mom and aunts. They aren't happy about the situation. They think I tricked him. Trapped him." She said. "What?" Evie questioned.

Claire shook her head. "They asked why he couldn't date a black girl someone more like you," Claire said looking at her sister. "I was angry at what they said, and I directed that anger at you because people are always comparing me to you. I'm so sorry—but please don't cut me off. Don't leave." She cried. I looked at Evie waiting to see what she would do.

Evie

I glanced at my mom and then at my dad. "I understand why you're upset, and I sympathize with you," I said calmly. Claire stared at me with tear-filled eyes. "But that doesn't give you the right to take your anger or frustration out on me. Your issue was with Tron's family, so you should've gone to them or at the very least Tron." I said.