black Dahlia|| Craig Cody

22

dahlia's pov
i wake late at night being shaken "ma...ma" it's j. i sit up and whisper "what?" noting craig asleep. he whispers "i need help" i nod and take craig's arm off my waist slowly. i stand "lets go" we sit outside "what's going on?" "i kissed my teacher..." anger. what the actual fuck?! i say "i want her name" he shakes his head "she's a cool person ma. but i know it's wrong us two. hell i have nicky. i just need help on what to do" i ask "do you care about nicky?"

he nods "yeah. but i know this job. it'll put her family at risk...her too. but anderson is my teacher" i ask "have you ever thought that maybe that teacher might be using you for something" trying to see why the fuck a teacher would start now. he's been in her class for a while now. he asks "what?" "it's known that we might do illegal shit but it's not proven. hell all the boys been to jail. pope just got outta prison. what's this teachers past?" i ask. and i go and get my laptop and ask "what's her name?" he tells me and i go into the system and look her up "j...she got caught trying to buy drugs from a cop" showing him. he sighs "but she's a good person" "wanna know what i think?" i ask gently. he nods "please"

"i think you see your mother in her j. but she's not her. and i think you're a kid that got wrapped in a lot of shit so soon after your mothers passing and now you're making a decision outta stress and yearning. it's okay to miss her. but your teacher...who's got reason to wear a wire to try and fuck with us? a grown ass woman? you're 17 j. she's fucking sick. you need to heal and figure your shit out and that...her...ain't the answer. i know you're gonna make whatever decision you wanna make...just...be careful j" i say to him gently kissing his forehead.

"you were always more of a mother than she was" he tells me with a soft smile. i stroke his hair "she was still your mom j. she was fucked up. yes. but deep down..she did love you. this? this life...isn't what she wanted for you. it's not what i want for you either. but smurf is gonna do what smurf is gonna do and i need you...to keep that heart of yours j. don't let her change who you really are. she changed me. fucked the boys up beyond repair...don't let it happen to you too baby boy" he smiles "i'll keep that in mind ma...and for what it's worth...i think you're fixing them" i chuckle "can't even fix myself right now j." he grabs my hand "how are you doing really? don't tell me you're fine ma..."

"it has its days J. i don't want to go into detail and show you the worst of it because julia did...look at what it made you J. you're still a kid. you might not be mine by blood but you're mine okay? i'm gonna shield you from the darkest parts of me in a way she never bothered to" i explain. he gives my hand a squeeze "do you know...that baz" fuck. i nod "i suspected. she told me you weren't. but the fact that you look so much like him at this age..." he asks confused "why would you stick around and take me in as your own...if he cheated on you and made me" i take his hand "because i knew you needed someone. it wouldn't have been her...considering what she fell into. it's a wonder you even made it out healthy. despite my anger at both of them...you were innocent."

he replies "didn't you want a life of your own? kids of your own" i tell him "i might never be able to have them. endometriosis and pcos" his eyes soften "ma" i tell him "it's okay J. i'm happy i didn't get pregnant by baz." he asks "what about craig does he know?" i nod "he does. and it's okay. did i want to be a mother? have a kid of my own? yeah. i did. but i have you. and if i never have that...i'll be okay J" he says "but there's still a chance. if anyone should be able to have a kid of their own...it should be you" giving my hand a squeeze. i tell j "if the teacher is trying to get shit on us and is fishing for information...i know you don't really know shit. but still...give her crumbs. be careful about what you talk to her about okay? if she is trying...she deserves to rot." he nods "i know what to do now ma" i nod and kiss his forehead. "good. keep me updated okay? stay safe" he nods and kisses my cheek "get some rest ma. i know you need it" i nod and head back to craig getting in bed and he says "where you been? bed got cold" wrapping me in his arms kissing me softly. i kiss him back "just had to talk to j really quick" he asks looking back at the clock "at almost 2 am" i nod "he needed my opinion on something that's happening with him. and we sat and had a talk about his mom" he nods kissing my head "hes lucky to have you" i smile "really. you love that kid as if he's yours" he continues and i say "he had nothing but me." he nods "our future baby will be lucky to have you as their mom baby" his hand on my stomach and i say "that's if it can happen" he smiles "trust me baby my swimmers are strong. you get off that birth control and im tellin ya. you'll be pregnant in no time" i chuckle "lets hope" he grins "im ready whenever you are baby" and with that we go back to sleep.