Different Type of Love

8.

March 2019

The Settles family has been in St. Louis for an entire month now, almost fully adjusted to their new life. Aden got a job working at the Nike warehouse, Armani and AJ are still getting adjusted to their new schools, Angel is loving her new job at St. Mary's hospital, and Anthony has moved his construction company to St. Louis working with a good friend of his, Big Mike.

Big Mike is Malachi's dad and an old friend of Anthony as they grew up together in Miami. Anthony informed his friend of what happened between Malachi and Armani, when the situation was happening and Big Mike truly understood. He had no feelings for his son as he was always causing trouble and there was nothing anyone could do to save him. A few weeks after moving to St. Louis, Armani was introduced to Big Mike and his family, instantly getting close with Malachi's twin, Michael Jr., but everyone called him Lil Mike. Knowing the situation that happened with Malachi and Armani, Big Mike and his family would do everything in their power to make sure Armani always felt safe. They would even get involved with her pregnancy helping out where they could.

Being 17 and pregnant was already rough, but having her family along with Lil Mike's family made things a lot easier. Going to the same school as Lil Mike made Armani's adjustment even easier as she had someone to show her around. Making sure to call Emily everyday before and after school, Armani didn't miss a beat with her best friend.

Every morning, Lil Mike made sure he picked up Armani and AJ to take them to school. AJ and his sister, Makayla went to the same middle school so he figured he might as well drop everyone off. Armani was very grateful for Lil Mike, but still wanted some independence as she wasn't handicapped.

Arriving at the high school, Lil Mike's friends, Christian and Carter, waited in their car in the same parking spot like they did everyday. Lil Mike parked next to the twins and before Armani could open her door, Carter had already beaten her to it, holding his hand out for her to grab. "Good morning baby momma" Carter said, helping her out of the car. Armani was almost six months pregnant and her baby bump was really showing. "Hi Carter" Armani replied slightly blushing. After she was out of the car, Carter handed her a brown bag along with a hot tea.

"I made you a breakfast sandwich and some hot tea since you can't have coffee for real cuz of the baby." Carter said so proudly. Armani took the items from him thanking him but assuring Carter that he didn't need to do this every day. While Armani had only been at her new school for a short period of time, Carter took a liking to her quickly and he didn't care that she was pregnant. He knew what she had been through because Lil Mike told him and Christian one day after Armani arrived at their school.

While Christian and Carter usually showed their hard side, they softened up around Armani because they knew she needed good friends in her life, especially in a new state. Since she was carrying Lil Mike's niece or nephew, they became attached and had to protect her like they protected their little sister, Caliyah. Except for Carter, he didn't look at Armani like a sister. He knew that he had feelings for Armani and they grew deeper as he got to know her.

At the end of their school day, Lil Mike and Armani headed to get their siblings, along with Caliyah as she went to school with AJ and Makayla as well, from school as Christian and Carter stopped to get everyone food before meeting up at Armani's house to do some homework. After everyone arrived at Armani's house and ate their food, AJ, Caliyah, and Makayla went to the front room to do their work as the others went to the basement.

Getting all of their work done before six o'clock, the oldest group went to check on their siblings and found them playing Mario Kart. "I know that work better be done" Lil Mike said to all of them. "Been done" AJ, Caliyah, and Makayla said in unison staying focused on the game.