(Monday 4th April, 1:00PM, LA)
I bounce Zade on my hip, smiling at him. Papa comes in, grinning. "Aww! Big sister Riri is doing such a good job!" He says. I blush, giggling. "I love him so much! Such a cutie!" I kiss his cheek. Dad comes in. "Aww! My two kiddos bonding! Cn you believe he's almost a month old, babe?" He says to Papa. Papa sniffles, wiping his eyes. "Time flies by so quickly! It feels like only yesterday he was in my tummy!" He says. "Papa..." I chide. Papa wipes his eyes again. "Sorry, sorry! I know you hate it when I'm all emotional!" He giggles, taking Zade from me. "It's time for lunch, bubs!" Zade babbles, smiling. I kiss his cheek again, heading upstairs. My phone rings and I answer it. "Leo! You literally saw me yesterday!" I scold playfully. Leo's laugh floats through the phone. "Sue me, I miss my girlfriend!" I laugh. "You saw me less than 24 hours ago, baby. I think you'll survive." I say. "That's not the reason I called, though..." His voice more serious. I sit up in bed. "What happened?" I ask. Leo sighs. "Melody moved back to New Jersey." He says. I gasp. "What?! Why?!" I exclaim. "I think she's distancing herself from us. What Halsey said at Daniel's wedding was really really mean, babe." He says. I sigh, running a hand through my hair. "I mean, Maddison did turn one last June, babe. That could be a reason." I offer. Leo mutters about Caleb being too sensitive, and I frown. "Leo Herrera! Now is not the time!" I scold. Leo grumbles. "Fine. Sorry." He mumbles. I shake my head. "I gotta go. See you at school tomorrow." I hang up, rubbing my temples. There's a knock at my door. "Come in!" I shout. Papa and Dad walk in, Zade on Papa's hip.
"We heard that Melody and her family moved back up. You okay?" Dad says, sitting next to me. "Is it my fault? Because I didn't side with Caleb and her?" I ask quietly. "Oh, baby..." Papa coos, sitting on the other side. I grab Zade, cuddling him. Papa strokes my hair. "Both parties were in the wrong, sweetheart. Melody shouldn't of done that with Caleb and Halsey shouldn't of said something that horrible. You did nothing wrong." He says. I smile slightly. "Promise?" I say. "We promise." Dad says. The front door slams. "That'll probably be your sister, huh?" He sighs. I nod. We all head downstairs.
"Hello, Maxine." Papa says, bouncing Zade on his hip. "Mhm, whatever." She says, rifling through the refrigerator. "Do you wanna say hi to your brother?" He asks. Maxine rolls her eyes. "Hi, Zade." She mutters, grabbing a Monster and heading upstairs. We hear her bedroom door slam. "It's progress, I suppose." Dad mumbles. I nod.
