MALAKAI'S CAR SPED THROUGH WINDING ROADS... The tension in the car was palpable, as Kodi, Malakai, and Mandy sat in silence, each lost in their own thoughts.
Kodi, her heart heavy with the weight of uncertainty, reached out to intertwine her fingers with Malakai's. But he pushed her hand away, his eyes fixed on the road ahead. The rejection stung, but Kodi understood the turmoil he was going through.
•
As they pulled up to Kodi's father's house, Malakai looked at Kodi, his gaze lingering... As Kodi for our of the door, Malakai waved to Kodi before driving off, leaving her standing there, bewildered...
What the fuck just happened?
•
IN THE CAR, MANDY TURNED TO HER BROTHER.... Her voice filled with concern. ''What are you doing, Kai?''
Malakai sighed, his hands gripping the steering wheel tightly. ''I just needed to breathe, okay?''
Mandy shook her head, her eyes filled with worry. ''So you mug her off?''
Malakai's voice cracked as he replied, ''Yes... No... I don't know. I'm not ready for this, I'm not ready to be a father or to be married. I don't want this, not now at least. I thought i were okay with this but I'm not. I'm not okay."
He tried to hold back the tears that threatened to spill over. Mandy reached out to embrace her brother, offering him comfort. "Oh, Kai,'' she whispered.
Malakai buried his face in his hands, his voice muffled as he spoke. ''I fucked up, Mans. I fucked up.''
Mandy held him close, her voice soothing. ''No, no you didn't.''
Malakai shook his head, his eyes filled with regret. ''I did, I wasn't supposed to drag her down... This isn't how it were suppose to go"
"I know" Mandy's voice was barely a whisper
Malakai continued, ''The worst part, Mans, isn't the baby. It's that it could be Lip's, and I lose her forever.''
Mandy looking at her brother, praying and hoping that it's his... She knows how much he loves her, and how if it's not... His whole world will shutter... Please, oh please let it be Malakai's... Please!
Malakai was left to grapple with the uncertainty that lays ahead.
The test results would soon reveal the truth, but for now, is were left to navigate the emotional minefield that had been set off by the possibility of a child that may not be his....
••
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IN HER BEDROOM', KODI SAT ON HER ON FLOOR IN HER BEDROOM... Tears streaming down her face. She couldn't help but wonder if she had lost Malakai, As she tried to compose herself, a small boy entered her room, carrying a plate of food.
''I was told to leave you this?'' the boy asked, his voice soft and hesitant.
Kodi wiped her tears, trying to regain her composure. ''Oh, ahh- thank you... I don't know your name.''
''I'm Eric,'' he said, looking down at the floor.
''Hi, I'm Kodi...'' she replied, shaking his hand, which he did so hesitantly. Kodi noticed that he smiled when she did, and it warmed her heart.
"I was about to watch a movie,'' she continued. ''Want to watch one with me?'' Eric nodded, and Kodi smiled, leading him to her shelf of DVDs. ''You can pick,'' she offered, and Eric began to browse through the collection.
As Kodi stepped out of her room to speak with her father, Kevin, she noticed Eric's plate of food. ''i like him" Kodi and Kev watching from outside her bedroom. ''He doesn't like us very much.''
"He just needs love.. kids in situations like that, are usually children who've been neglected.."
"Speaking from experience" Kev slightly teasing her and Kev's words made Kodi laugh.
"Yes, so take it from one who has been in, many... All he needs is people to love him.. just show him love, even if you don't.." Kev nods at her words
Show him love! Kevin watched Eric come back to them ''I found one, Toy Story,'' Eric said, handing the DVD to Kodi and smiling.
''Then Toy Story is it,'' Kodi said, taking the DVD from him.
''Can I eat in here with Kodi?'' Eric asked Kevin.
''As long as you eat it all,'' Kevin replied.
''I bet if you do, Kev will give you an ice cream,'' Kodi winked at her father, who glared at her playfully. Eric jumped onto Kodi's bed,
Kodi sits goes to sit on the edge of her bed ''Are you a foster child too?'' he asked her.
"I was... I haven't been more a very long time" Kodi said.. she was like me.... Eric thought
"And Kevin and Veronica took you in"
"Kevin is my father.'"
''And Veronica is your mother?'' Eric asked.
''She's not my biological mother,'' Kodi explained.
''What happened to your mother?'' Eric inquired.
"She didn't want me, it's how I ended up in the system" Kodi replied, her voice barely above a whisper.
"My parents didn't want me either,'' Eric said.
''Oh...'' Kodi responded, feeling a connection with the young boy.
"How did you end up here?"
"Moved in at 13.. Its the happiness I've never been" Kodi says to him
"So, you like it here?'' Eric asked.
"Love it here" Kodi said. ''Veronica is more of a mother than my own.'' Eric smiled at her words, and she could see the relief in his eyes.
"So I should trust them?' he asked.
"You're safe here, Eric" Kodi promised.
''You promise?'' Eric asked.
''Yes,'' she nodded, smiling at him.
''Have you seen Toy Story before?'' Kodi asked.
''No, I haven't,'' Eric replied. ''Are you going to be my big sister?'' Kodi nodded and smiled at him.
From the doorway, Veronica and Kevin watched the two children bonding, their hearts swelling with love and gratitude. ''We thought you might like some popcorn,'' Kevin said, offering the snack to Eric.
Eric smiled and grabbed the popcorn from him, and Veronica mouthed 'thank you' to Kodi,
"You guys want to join?" Kodi asks "Can we,?" Veronica asks, Eric looks at Kodi and she nods at him, who then looks at Veronica and Kev and he nods his head, they jump on the bed
Kevin puts the cd in kodis small pink VCR and DVD TV set box, in which Kevin and Veronica had brought for her 13th birthday .. They both smile at each other at their little family..
