Besties

5

Anna's POV

I sit down and stare at Lala's liquor cabinet. Why did I have to be pregnant?

"Are you sure you're going to be okay?" Lala asks.

"We can cancel if you want?" Nini says.

"No this will be good for me. I get to watch you guys's kids and get a first hand look on parenting." I smile.

"Okay, but watch out for the twins. They like to do dangerous stunts." Lala warns.

"Mine like to fight, so be careful. Don't let the looks fools you. My daughter is worse than her brother." Nini says.

"Everything will be fine. Just have fun on y'all double date." I assure them.

"You sure?" Nini asks.

"She's sure. Let's go." Joey says.

"Before we're late." Rich says as he rushes them out the door.

*****
"Where are you guys?!" I scream as I frantically search the house for Nini's twins. "This is not funny!"

"It's a little funny." I turn around and see Dwayne smiling at me.

"Why are you here?" I demand. "How did you get in here?"

"Anthony let me in. You really shouldn't have a seven year old answering the door." He laughs.

"Just shut up and help me look for Nini's daughter. It's time to put her to bed." I tell him.

"Isn't that her daughter out there?" He says pointing behind me. I whip around and see Zhené standing on the edge of the pool.

"Zhené!" I scream as I run to the backyard. I take her into my arms right before she could jump in. "Oh God." I sigh in relief.

"I think you could use some help." Dwayne laughs.

"I have everything under control." I lie.

"Stop being stubborn. Give me the toddler and I'll take her to go lay down." He says.

"Thank you." I say as I hand him Zhené.

When Dwayne comes back downstairs we sit on the couch and he rolls up. "You don't smoke no more?" He raises an eyebrow at me.

"It's just that Lala doesn't like smoking in her house." I lie.

"C'mon. She'll never know." He says. Fuck it. Why not? This baby will be fine. It's still small anyway. I take the blunt from Dwayne and put in between my lips. "There's the Anna I know." He smiles.

"Shut the fuck up nigga." I demand.

I sit on the couch high as fuck with Dwayne. "Imma go check on the kids." I tell him as I get up.

I walk up the stairs and into R.J.'s and Will's room. All the kids are sleeping on a big pallet on the floor.

"Where the fuck is Anthony?!" I shout as I realize there are only four kids and not five.

I run to the bed and pull the covers, back and it is just the pillows. I carefully step over the sleeping children and look inside the closet. Still no sign of Anthony. I run downstairs and look in the kitchen, but still no sign of him.

"What's wrong?" Dwayne asks.

"Anthony is missing. We have to find him before Nini finds out." I tell him.

"You lost a child?" He raises an eyebrow.

"You were here too." I demand.

We search the house inside and out, but Anthony is nowhere to be found. "I'm going to get in the car and search the neighborhood for him. You stay here and keep an eye on the rest of the kids." I order him.

"Okay, but what if they wake up?" He asks.

"Put them back to sleep." I shrug my shoulders and walk out to my car. This boy better be okay. Please be okay. Nini is going to kill me if she ever finds out about this. Please don't find out. Please. Please. Please.

I start up the car and drive down these street. I go slow as if I am about to do a drive by, but I don't see Anthony. Fuck! Why me?! Why couldn't he just go to sleep like the other kids? Why are kids so bad? Fuck my life man. I am not ready to be a mom.

I pull onto the side of the road and rest my head on the steering wheel. What if this was my kid? I am too irresponsible to be a mother? What if something is wrong with Anthony? What if something happened to him and it was all my fault? Nini would never forgive me.

Buzz.Buzz.

"Hello?" I answer fighting back my tears.

"Where the fuck are you Anna?!" Nini screams.

"I'm just taking a drive to clear my head." I lie to her.

"You lying bitch! I found Anthony at the park in the middle of the night across the street from Lala's house!" She screams.

"I am so sorry, Nini. I was looking for him. I swear."

"Get your ass back here right now." She hangs up. I start the car back up and head back to Lala's house.

When I walk inside Nini is putting coats on her kids and mumbling something under her breath. "How could you be so stupid?" Nini demands.

"Be easy on her." Lala says.

"No." Nini says sternly. "She lost my son. He could have been seriously hurt."

"I am sorry Nini. I am so sorry." I apologize.

"What if this was your baby? You are going to be a mom in a few months and you need to be more responsible." Nini sighs.

"Are you pregnant?" Dwayne asks.

"Anna, you didn't tell him?" Lala asks.

"He doesn't know?" Nini wonders.

"You're having my baby?" Dwayne asks.

I ignore all of their questions and run out the frontdoor. I can't face Dwayne right now. I wanted to wait for the right time, but now I guess it's too late.