They Don't Know {Sequel}

Chapter 3 - JAMILA

Next Day
3:15 PM

"You good lil sis? You been quiet since yesterday." Dakota stirred his bowl of cereal but never took his gaze off of me as I continued to play in my bowl.

"I'm fine. Just tired, that's all."

"Tired huh. How come you not out with Ryan or Adriana? Don't y'all have some girly stuff to do?"

"Ryan's going in for her interview at the daycare and Adri's working. So no. I have nothing to do today besides unpack my stuff from yesterday."

He nodded, "You know Jalen left right after you. He seemed down about how you reacted."

"And," I shrugged, "I deserve a moment to feel my emotions and act accordingly. Did he expect me to jump for joy or something?"

"Wait, you didn't know about New York?"

"NO!" I yelled, frustrated with having to reiterate my perspective. "He told me nothing. Therefore, I'll feel how I want to until I don't want to anymore. Got it?"

"Come on Mila. I know you're upset, but you have to see it from his point of view. You left him at the table hurt and embarrassed, that's not cool."

My eyes shot up from my bowl to see the sympathetic look on his face.

"You can't be seriously taking up for him." He continued to stare at me, hoping my expression would change. "So you're telling me that if Adriana woke up and decided to move to New York, you'd be totally fine with it."

"That's not the same thing-"

"It is. It is the exact same thing."

"No it's not. The difference between us and y'all is that we have communication skills and use it. We're not perfect but when shit comes up, we handle it like adults."

"Whatever. Either way, it's messed up."

"Jamila you should be happy for him, you didn't even say congratulations. I'm with you when you're right, but right now, you're being selfish."

He got up from the table and took his bowl with him into the living room, where he continued to eat.

Am I the only person that saw an error in this situation? Am I in the wrong? Either way, there wasn't anything I could do about my feelings at the moment because my issues were far greater than me and Jalen.

Maya's coming home.

And I know that should make me feel better somehow, but it doesn't. My chest has been aching since Nia told me how soon she was coming home and I didn't know how to feel.

I remember every moment with her, every conversation, that night she trashed her aunt's house, the kiss she gave me that left me speechless in the mall the day she left.....

Our kiss, I almost forgot about that.

I guess it happened so fast that my mind thought of it more like a dream than a reality, but she did it. She kissed me and meant it sincerely.

I didn't know how long I'd been reliving that moment in my head until I realized the bowl of cereal that sat in front of me was no longer there and my mother was walking through the door.

"Hello, hello, hello. Kids? Y'all home?"

I watched as she dropped her briefcase on the table near the door and slipped out of her heels, obviously exhausted from her day at the firm.

"Hey mom." I smiled. "How was work?"

"Oh you know, work. Few cases here and there, few calls every other hour. Nothing new." She walked over, kissing my forehead. "Where's your brother?"