No Letting Go II

13

Waking up from his nap, Nate sits up in bed, looks around and sighs. He's just as upset about leaving as Riley is, but being the quiet one, he doesn't say much. He hops out of bed and goes to Riley's room. Usually he'd knock before coming in, even if the door was open, but the door isn't there.

"Where's the door?"

"Papa took it."

"Why?" He asks climbing on to her bed.

"Because he's so extra."

"What does that mean?"

She sighs. "Nothing bubba."

"Why are you just laying here alone...with the tv off?"

"Papa took my cable away. I'm not allowed in the game room, I'm not allowed in any room with cable. The only thing I'm allowed to do is go outside."

"Let's go outside then."

"I don't feel like it bubs." She turns over to face the opposite way.

"Sissy come on!" He says, laying on top of her. She doesn't budge. He takes her curly hear a tickles her nose with it.

"Bubbaaaaa...ugh. You're bugging me."

"So. I'm your baby brother. I'm suppose to bug you."

"Where's brother?"

"He's still sleep."

"Go wake him up so we can go outside."

"Yeeeessss." He says before giving her a peck on the cheek.

"Ewwwww...putting giving me all your cooties."

"I don't have cooties." Nate says getting off the bed.

"Do too."

"No I don't." He walks out and goes to Aalijah's room. "Bro."

"Mmmm"

"Wanna go outside with me and sister?" He nods, with his eyes still closed. "Get up."

"K."

They meet each other downstairs and ride their bikes to the park in the neighborhood.

Meanwhile, back at the house, Aaliyah let's out some of the frustration she has towards Colin in the state of the art gym they have in the house. She's still bothered by Colin's comments. It was almost to the point to where she believed what he said, but had to snap out of it and realize that she does a damn good job as a mother, and she always put that relationship with Riley first.

While going hard on the treadmill, she looks up to see Colin walking in. She hits the stop button and steps off. She grabs her towel, water bottle and tries to walk passed Colin, but he pulls her back.

"I have nothing to say to you."

"I'm sorry Liyah. You know I didn't mean it."

"Yes you did."

"No I didn't. I said it out of frustration with Riley. You're a great mother, you and I both know that. That girl's a handful and we both need to do a better job disciplining her. We let her get away with too much."