No Letting Go II

24

A couple months had gone by and it was a new year. Colin was named league MVP a couple days ago, and has led the Texans to a Super Bowl which is next Sunday. Aaliyah's getting her ducks in a row for when the season is officially over so that she can start her career back up. But right now, it's all about Colin, and Riley. Riley's basketball season is coming to an end soon but she still has playoffs. Aaliyah's happy that both of her babies are prospering.

Aaliyah's beyond ready to start her career back up. It's only been six month, but for her, that was a long time.

The Super Bowl is in Houston this year, which is perfect so the family doesn't have to travel and the kids won't be missing any school. However, Riley is trying to convince her parents to miss a couple days of school to do some of the festivities that come along with the Super Bowl and Aaliyah and Colin aren't having it. Not this time.

It's Sunday night, and Colin is finishing up packing. The team has to stay together  in a hotel this week. Riley makes one more attempt to convince her parents.

"Hi mommy." She says flopping on the bed next to Colin's suit case.

"Hey my love. What do you need?"

"Why must I need something. Can I not just come and hang out with my faves."

"Okay, now what do you really want?"

"Nothing mommy."

"Yeah right." Aaliyah says hitting her with a pillow.

"What's up bear?" Colin asks walking out of his closet.

"Nothing...daddy, do you have to leave?"

He smiles, remembering when she was younger, and would ask him that constantly while he would pack for every away game.

"Yes bear...I do. But I will see you Tuesday night for the game. The whole team is coming actually."

"Oh my god...remember the last time you all came? JJ almost got kick out of the game."

"Yeah, because those refs were trash."

"No they really were. I had to sit out for like the entire 3rd quarter because I picked up a foul that wasn't even a damn foul."

"Excuse me?" Aaliyah says.

"Watch your mouth punk." Colin says, hitting her with a pillow. "And shouldn't you be in bed?"

"I wanted to tell the two best parents in the whole wide world goodnight."

Colin looks over at Aaliyah, then back at Riley. "What do you want?"

"Why suspect that I want something?"

"Because I know you Riley Marie Kaepernick. So go ahead and tell papa what you want."

"To skip school to go to the Super Bowl experience with Isaiah."

"Anything but that."

"But..."

"We've been through this. There will be things to do when you get out of practice. If your brothers can wait till after school, so can you."

"Ugh. I tried." She says accepting their final decision.

"Mhhmm. Now get to bed." Colin says.

"We'll see you in the morning." Aaliyah adds.

"Goodnight."

"Goodnight." Aaliyah and Colin both say.

"She's persistent. I like that." Colin says.

"Yeah...she keeps going till she gets what she wants. Just like her daddy."

"Mommy too." Colin adds.

"Truuee."

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The next morning everyone's up and getting ready for the day. Riley's taking the boys to school and when they finish getting ready the kids give Colin and Aaliyah love before they leave.

Riley pulls up to there school. "Hey, bubba isn't that your little friend?" Riley points out. He looks over and it's Jordyn headed towards the doors.

"She's not my friend." He says flatly.

"What, why? I thought she was."

"She picks on him." Aalijah says.

"She does?"

"Yeah. It's no big deal though."

"Yes it is. How long? And I thought she liked you?"

"She did...but when I told her we're just friends, she started picking on me."

"You should say something to mommy or papa."

"There's no need to. It doesn't hurt my feelings. She's just mad because I don't like her."

"Well, I guess that's a good way to look at it...you sure you don't need big sister to handle this for you."

"I'm sure."

"Okay. I love y'all."

"I love you more sissy." Aalijah says.

"Love you too sis."

"Y'all have a good day."

"You too." Nate says with a smile. She waits to drive off until they are in the school. Being the protective sister that she is, knowing that Nate was being picked on bothered her. Yes, they were just little kids, but she still didn't like it.
After dropping them off, she heads to school.