Thursday.

The end of the weak

The rain continued to pour but they disregarded it. Cedric held Estelle's small frame by the waist, with his eyes closed and kissed her passionately as the drops drenched their bodies. Estelle kept the jacket raised above her head as she kissed him back. Cedric put his hands on the sides of Estelle's cheeks and looked at her in the face. She looked back at him with eyes that he knew would follow him anywhere. He put his head down in short grief because he knew that this was what he truly wanted. Looking down, he saw that the rain had completely soaked through Estelle's night gown, revealing her naked body entirely. He then removed the jacket from Estelle's hands and wrapped it over her shoulders, grabbed her soft back side, and gave her a final kiss on the lips before turning around to get into his car.

Estelle watched him back out of the driveway and stood outside until the car disappeared out of site. Once she was back inside, showered, and in bed she laid down in the dark. All she could think about was Cedric. She wished Cedric had stayed. She knew she had made him leave for a good reason, but that good reason was becoming cloudy now. She could imagine Cedric's large arms lifting her onto the kitchen counter, kisses on the neck... I think I'm going to try and go for the plan she thought to herself. It will all work out. I want this. She thought till she drifted into sleep.

The next morning, Estelle slept in. She was well-rested and in a good mood. "Wake up, sleepy head, it's almost midday" Stephanie said as she climbed into bed with Estelle. "What's up, sis?" Estelle said smiling. "At least somebody is in a good mood. I just got back from Rebecca's house. Cedric broke up with her last night." "What? Why?" Estelle responded. "He said he just didn't want to string her along and that he didn't feel for her in that way like he thought." "Wow" is all Estelle could find to say. "I know. She took it well at first, then I found her in the bathroom crying. He probably has feelings for someone else. What a jerk." Stephanie said with disgust. Estelle didn't know what to say. She didn't know how to feel either. On the one hand she knew that this was part of the plan, but on the other hand she didn't know Rebecca would take it so hard. "You should go see her, try to make her feel better. You always make her smile." Stephanie said while hopping out of bed. "Don't spend too long though, it's Saturday, we have to clean the house. You left a big muddy footprint in the living room. Jeez, what size do you wear, Estelle?" Estelle ignored her sisters complaining and got dressed. She felt awkward going to her sister's house since she was the reason for her distress. But she also felt like she had to go there. Stephanie was the tough sister, who would occasionally bully Estelle when they were growing up. But Rebecca was always the one who had made Estelle feel better. As two-faced as she felt for heading over to Rebecca's to try and comfort her, she would have felt worse abandoning her in her time of need. This is all for the better she told herself, and what she planned on telling her sister as well.

As Estelle put her seatbelt on, she received a text message on her real phone. It was Imani. Meet me at the park in an hour so we can talk about you and Cedric. Estelle's mouth went dry. She didn't know what to text back or if she should at all. She began to text back "What do you mean" but stopped, Imani clearly knew. Did she see them last night? How? Suddenly another text from her came in. Or I tell Rebecca. Estelle decided not to text back in order to avoid any evidence, but she headed to the park immediately and waited for Imani in her car. Her stomach was bubbling, and an hour could not come fast enough. Luckily Imani was there fifteen minutes ahead of time.

     Estelle got out of the car and sat on a bench outside of the jungle gym. Imani wasted no time. "Okay, I'm sorry I have to do this to you girl but I need 500 dollars by Monday." "I don't have 500 dollars, Imani." "Well you're going to have to help me find it, or I'm sorry, I have no choice but to tell Rebecca you been creeping around with her man." Imani said with desperate anger and without looking at Estelle. "What makes you think-" "Stop, Estelle. Stop" Imani said when Estelle attempted to open her mouth. "When I took his credit card to pay for your little date, I saw his name is actually Cedric, not Jason. I even asked him for his ID. I thought to myself hmm, why would they lie to me like that? Unless they got something to hide. Oh well, whatever. But you left all in a hurry, then I got a drunk call at like 2 am from Rebecca talking about some 'Oh Cedric, Cedric, I think he's cheating on me' and yeah... It was easy to figure out." Estelle sighed heavily. She could not afford the 500, but she could not afford to have her sister learn the truth. Especially not like this. "You're really going to do this to me?" Estelle said now feeling desperate. "Look, Rebecca is my best friend. Since high school. I might never see her because I have two kids to worry about, I work two jobs, and I try to do hair on the side, but she still is, and always will be my best friend. I really should be telling her anyways. But I need this money. You did this to yourself, and technically I'm giving you a way out."  Estelle sighed again. "Okay."

Estelle skipped going to see Rebecca and went straight home to sulk in bed. She told Stephanie she felt sick so she would leave her alone and decided to text Cedric.

Estelle: Imani is threatening to tell about us if I don't give her $500 by Monday

Cedric took about fifteen minutes to answer back.

Cedric: Wow. My ID at the restaurant. It's all good though.

Estelle: All good? How?

Cedric: I'll give you the money. It's no problem babe

Estelle: What about Imani? She knows!

Suddenly Rebecca came into her room and stood at the doorway. Estelle's heart dropped. "Becky?" she said at almost a whisper. Rebecca just looked up and tried to hold her tears back. "Oh my God. Becky!" Estelle said as she climbed out of bed and hugged her sister. She pulled her onto the bed and just held her as they sat quietly for a while. "What do you guys want for..." Stephanie began until she got into the room and saw Estelle holding Rebecca. She sat on the other side of Rebecca and put her arm around her as well. "You really loved that jerk, huh?" Stephanie finally said. Rebecca gave out a stuttering breath. "It's... It's not that." "What is it, sis?" Estelle asked rubbing her back. "I've been late for the past two weeks. I didn't want it to be true. I couldn't tell you last night, Stephanie... I... I took the test last night while I was in the bathroom, after he broke up with me." She said between sobs. "No, Rebecca. Say it's not true." Stephanie pleaded. "I'm pregnant." Estelle began to cry as well. In the pit of her stomach she knew that this would mean a change in her relationship with Cedric, but she genuinely cried for the situation that her older sister was in. "Estelle, go get her some napkins" Stephanie said as she fought back tears. Estelle got up and went to the bathroom to grab a few sheets of tissues. While there, she heard the worst possible sound. It was her ringtone for Cedric on the phone he got her that she had just left on the bed. The sound that came next, however, was the only thing that could have been worse.

"Hello?"