Unbelievable

2

As I predicted, Ranea understood when I told her. 

"I can't believe it," she said sitting at the lunch table.

"And then with Jasmine too."

"Oh yeah that's going to cause some major issues," she picked up her plastic spoon, "Baby mother comes back into baby father and child's life after disappearing for ten years only to find out they both moved on," she reported as if she was on the news.

I laughed slightly. "You are crazy."

"No that's crazy."

"Yeah. It's a disaster."

"What are you going to do?"

"Act like nothing happen. She's just another wall or a piece of furniture. I dont talk to inanimate objects."

"That's mean."

"I know." 

"Hello ladies." Devin, Ranea's boyfriend joined us.

The horrible boyfriend who liked to play games. He used Ranea to get back at me for some foolishness. He claimed to like me, but he got together with her. Right now, to keep the peace, I cooperated with him until I can expose him.

"Hey baby." Ranea leaned in to kiss him.

Devin turned to me. "What's up boo?"

"Babe don't call her that." Ranea stared at him with wide eyes.

"Why not?"

"Because that's not my name," I said.

"You don't like my little nickname for you. I thought we were friends again."

I said nothing. He laughed mischievously Ranea frowned. And I gave him my most disgusted look. He looked back and forward between us.

"Chill. I'm just playing. Why are y'all so serious for?"

"Devin it's just-"  Ranea started but he cut her off.

"Whatever. So what were y'all talking about before I came over here?"

I watched Ranea look sad in the face for a second before she recovered with a fake smile. Something to remember.

His display of behavior was inappropriate. Devin disrespected Ranea openly. She accepted it like it was okay. Deep down inside, her unhappiness was there. It surfaced when Devin disappointed her. I sensed it from her tone of voice and facials. The biggest concern was why did she excuse his behavior so much. I intended to discover her reasons.

"Miesha's mother came back."

"Oh the famous mom who left?"

"Yeah that's the one."

"Isn't that lovely?"

"No it's not," I said.

"Why not? Don't you miss her?"

When Devin and I were friends, I opened up to him about my situation with my mom. At that time, he supported how I felt and comforted me. Now, he acted like every moment we shared banished.

"I don't miss that lady. My dad is my only parent."

"Miesha, you have to stop being such a daddy's girl. You too old for that."

"Whatever," I told him.

He squeezed my cheek. "Stop that. You and I both know that you missed your mommy," he teased while laughing.

"Devin leave her alone. This is a big shock to her," Ranea said.

"It is, but I'm strong. I can do this. She will only be there until she can find another place anyway."

"Who cares about parents anyway. They are useless, low down, and stupid," Devin expressed.

Ranea and I exchanged glances. Devin told me nothing about his home life or parents. There was only that one when I was at his house when I asked about his family. I only knew that he was an only child.

Before I could ask, Devin left that topic alone and changed it. That was another thing I kept in my memory. This could help in understanding him more. Or better, why Ranea stayed with him.

Later on, I informed my other friend Malesha about my mom. I befriended her when Ranea and I weren't getting along. She was there for me. Every since then, we were close. So when I told ger about my mom, she advised me to at least be cordial. But that wasn't happening. Maybe I was stubborn and difficult. That was on the outside. The insides were completely different. I just wasn't ready to deal with my issues.

"You got this," she encouraged.

Her, Melina, and Antonio were with me outside. I had already explained everything in theater. After school, I seen the three of them together and just came to talk more. More so, I didn't want to go home. If she tried talking to me, I may have yell at her to leave me alone.

"Can't I just go with you?" I asked.

"You know you can. But what about the next day and the day after," she pointed out.

"I can do this for months. Hopefully, that's all she's going to be there for."

"Girl just go home to your mommy." Melina as usual, clung to Antonio as he stood there nonchalant about it. They were more of Malesha's friends. The dynamics of their friendship was weird. Melina held so much interest in Antonio. But he had no interest in her. Or that's how he was around us and his other friends. Antonio's normal mood was bad. Maybe their was a side to him that Melina experienced that the rest of us didn't.

"That is not my mommy."

Malesha pulled me away from them. "I believe in you. You are too brave and determined to be avoiding home."

"Yeah exactly my problem. I'm so brave and determined to treat her like nothing. As I told Ranea, she is just the wall to me."

"Now your dad wouldn't like that."

I tapped my finger on the side of my head. "See that's why I am avoiding home. If he's there too, I likely wouldn't talk to her crazy," I explained my logic.

She folded her lips in. It looked like she wanted to laugh but held it in. "Girl you are too crazy for me."

"Hey Malesha. I'm riding with you. Antonio had to do something," Melina said.

I searched for him, but he was gone. He was always so mysterious.

Malesha nodded. "So Miesha. You want a ride home, so you can fight the brewing anger for your mom."

"That's okay. I want to prolong getting home as much as possible."

"Okay girl. See you tomorrow."

It took me 30 minutes to get home. I detoured the neighborhood even though I seen all of it. I slowly twisted the key in the lock. The living room was quiet. But I heard her moving stuff in the kitchen. I crept through the living room and got near the stairs.

"Darrin? Is that you? You're home early."

Her smile faltered when she discovered that it wasn't my dad

"You sounded mighty cheerful thinking it it was daddy."

She shook her head. "No it's not that I'm not happy to see you. I just know how upset you are. And I completely understand. But you are my daughter. You are all grown up. And I missed out on so much."

There went the tears again. I should've just gone with Malesha. This nonsense she brought me was making me mad. She tricked my dad, so he can provide her with home. Now she tried to trick me. I didn't think so.

"And you saying this for what? That's not my problem you missed out. You're the one who chose to leave."

She reached out, and I quickly backed away. "Don't touch me."

"I really want to make this work," she cried again.

I closed my eyes and counted to ten. "This world is all about decisions. Just like you chose to walk out that door and never come back. I'm deciding to walk away from you and never accept you back in my life. Now leave me alone Bridget," I emphasized her name, so she would know that she would have the chance to be a mom to me again.

I walked upstairs not wanting to look back. No matter how much she called me.