Him.

Chapter 29.

There will be a Him two. Titled 'Us.' Which will be more about Justin and Carmen or 'Him 2' which will be about Isaiah. Until then though take a look at 'My kNight'

Justin.

I look into her blue eyes wondering what she's doing here.
"Are you just gonna leave me standing here," she asks.
"I was thinking about it," I answer.
"I'm still your mother," she states.
"McNealy, whose at the door," Carmen asks coming up behind me. "Oh hey Mrs. McNealy, come in." I step aside letting her in. We all take a seat in my living room.
"I wasn't expecting to see you here," my Mom states to Carmen. "I thought y'all broke up?"
"You thought wrong," I reply looking her dead in the eyes.
"I'm not going anywhere," Carmen says and takes my hand running her thumb over my knuckles.
"Is your son here," my Mom asks her.
"Our son is not here," I answer.
"You're pregnant again," she asks Carmen. "The glow is all over your face."
"Or maybe that's just me," I say and peck Carmen's lips.
"Or it's the baby," Carmen replies teasingly.
"Another one," my Mom looks shocked and starts shaking her head. "Y'all aren't even married yet!"
"Yet, exactly," I say. "So Mom what are you doing here?"
"I heard y'all broke up. I was coming to check on you," she states.
"It was a misunderstanding as you can see we're all good," I say.
"I feel like you don't really want to see Justin and I together. Tell me if I'm wrong," Carmen says raising her arched brows.
"I just don't feel like your white for Justin," my Mother argues.
"You said white," Carmen takes a deep breath. "I'm hoping and praying you meant right." She shakes her head and walks to my room closing the door behind her.
"You can leave. Don't come back," I say and walk away. I join Carmen in my room. "You alright?"
"She doesn't like me because I'm not white. So I guess she'll never like me because I'll never be white," she states.
"I don't care if my Mom likes you. I love you Carmen. I've always loved me some chocolate and you're definitely my favorite," I admit walking to my bed and lifting her into my arms. "I love you and I'll always love you if you just let me."
"I'm not racist," my Mom states busting into my bedroom. "I just--"
"You're really starting to piss me off," I admit and put Carmen down.
"Justin don't talk to her like that," Carmen argues folding her arms across her chest. "You just what," Carmen ask mother.
"I like black people. I just-- I didn't want my kids marrying you or having kids with you," my Mother states sounding even more ignorant.
"I'm going home to my son," Carmen states grabbing her stuff.
"Well then I'm coming," I say and she shakes her head.
"No you're staying and you're gonna talk to your mother. She doesn't have to like me that's not going to change how you feel about me and I know that. She's still your mother. She still deserves your respect whether you agree with what she has to say or not," Carmen states taking her stuff and walking out the room. Damn, I couldn't even get a kiss goodbye.
"She's a sweet and smart girl," my Mom states.
"When she wants to be," I say and my Mom laughs. "All these years you knew how I've felt about Carmen especially when we were kids why didn't you ever say anything?"
"I didn't think you crushing on her was that serious. I thought you were gonna have plenty of crushes. I didn't know you'd get her pregnant during your senior week this isn't what I wanted for you Justin," she states.
"This is what I want for me, Mom. I'm happy. Carmen and I aren't perfect. We argue and disagree on a lot but I'm willing to make things work because I love her. I love her I always have and always will," I explain. "Hopefully, one day you can appreciate us and our relationship before it's too late. I want you to know your grandchildren I want you to be apart of their lives Christmas, Thanksgiving, basketball games... But I'm not gonna have you disrespecting Carmen. I won't because she respects you even with the ignorant things you say."
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Carmen.

Putting on my cap and gown tears stream down my cheeks.
I've worked so hard my whole life just to get to where I am today.
I've put my blood, sweat and tears into graduating.
"I've done all of this for you. You know that," I ask Isaiah as I try not to cry. "I've done this all for you. Mommy loves you." I kiss him.
"Love you too Mom," he replies looking at me weird. He doesn't understand but one day he will.
"Alright now let's get out the door before we're late," my Mom instructs grabbing her purse and drying her tears.
"Where's Justin," Crystal asks as we all migrate out of the door.
"He's got an interview in New York that  he couldn't turn down," I answer and shrug my shoulders. I hate he can't make it to my big day.

As the graduation begins and everyone's names are being called I start to get nervous.
1
2
3
I can do this.
This is the day I'm jumping over a big hurdle.
Just thinking about how hard I've worked makes me become teary eyed.
"You alright," Honesty asks from behind me. I look back at her and nod. Throughout the room you hear sniffling. It's not that we're sad we're just so happy. So many people tell you that you can't do it or that you won't be successful. This is the day you're proving all of them wrong.
"Carmen Foxx," my name was called but my legs won't move.
1
2
3
I can do this.
I walk across the stage and shake the speakers hand with my right hand and grab my diploma with my left. As I step down the steps on the other end of the stage Justin is there on one knee.
"McNealy, what are you doing," I ask completely shocked.
"Marry me. I know we've had all odds set against us but together we can do anything Carmen. Marry me," he says and nod my head with tears streaming down my cheeks.
"Yes. Of course," I say and patiently allow him to place the 18k white gold ring on my finger. I jump into his arms.
He lifts my chin and kisses my lips.
"Thank you," he whispers.
"For what," I ask and he pecks my lips again.
"Making all of my dreams come true," he answers and kisses me again.

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One more chapter.
Y'all do me a favor and comment some questions you'd ask Carmen and Justin.