Angel's Future✔️

9- Trust

•ANGEL•

I roll up to Baylee's house, even though my bones are tired. I don't want to see her, but I have to pick up my son who stayed too long and now can't walk home. I ring the doorbell. Three seconds later, it's opened by Baylee herself. Her hair is up in rollers, blue eyes glimmering like diamonds in the sky, and robe on her.

So her curls were never real?

"Angel!" she shrieks like our children never hang out and I don't see her because of it. She comes forward to hug me, and I let her patting her on the back.

"You're married," I whisper in her ear. She shakes her head no, winks at me, and shakes her ta-tas.

"No, Angel. I'm divorced."

My mouth opens whispering "oh." And then I add, "Well I'm married and I'm here to pick up my son."

Baylee smiles like Cheshire Cat. "He's a real cutie. Looks just like you... except browner."

I roll my eyes. "His mother is black. What do you expect?"

She sighs. "I'm joking, chill. Just saying don't get upset when there's a different girl chasing him everyday."

I laugh actually amused. Baylee sounds like a pedophile and if I call her out, I'm the one wrong. I ask if I can go in and scream for Noel who comes from the backyard door. Sweat seeps down his temple.

"Jeez, Bud. What were you doing?"

He smiles, his eyes widening. "Luke and I were jumping on the trampoline. We did flips and everything, Dad. It was amazing!"

"Wow. You're going to have to teach me."

"Naw, you'd break your back."

I guffaw staring at him. He laughs too and I ruffle his hair. We head out the door as he says bye to Luke who greets me with a head nod. I make him tell Baylee thank you since it's a nice thing to do even though I dislike her.

"So we're going to pick up your sister from Dominoes," I say when we pull out Baylee's driveway. Noel rolls his eyes.

"Why can't we leave her there?"

I chuckle. "Your mother would kill both you and me."

He nods. "True dat, true dat."

I nod also and turn up the radio. He and I listen to Drake since that's his phenomenon and my dude. We're both singing when we get to Dominoes.

"You wanna go get Halo? Or should I go and you stay in the car?"

"You go, but I'll come with you," he shrugs. "I don't want you to face her nasty friends alone. They're like witches especially when they laugh."

I chuckle softly, before opening the door. He doesn't want me to go alone. My kid can be the next Kevin hart.

I open the doors to Dominoes, the scent of pizza and other delicious food sneaking into my nose. My stomach growls, but I know Aviana will get upset if I buy food since we have some at home. I scan the restaurant for my daughter almost missing her when I do see her.

"Halo?" I ask when I take a double take. She gasps, and tries to smile even though the guilt on her face is obvious. I sigh resting my hands on my waist. "Let's go, young lady." She gets up from the booth as her friends wave goodbye. Her wardrope is now a crop-top and shorts that are only meant to be worn around the house. On her feet are heels, looped earrings in her ear, and a full face makeup. Her hair isn't even in a bun anymore. I don't even ask about where her sweatpants and sweatshirt is. We walk to the car quietly as Noel squints at the negative energy now surrounding us.

Drumming my fingers on the steering wheel, I ask, "want to explain yourself to me before we get home since we both know you're done for?"

"Yeah," she sighs twirling with her hands. "I only wanted to fit in. I knew no other girl was going to wear sweats, and they didn't Daddy. They all looked cute... I wanted to look cute."

"Oof," Noel shakes his head in the back like he's disappointed. I give him a glare through the mirror.

"Baby, you can't succumb to peer pressure. It doesn't make anything better. And you wanna look cute? Cute for what? Or who?" she blushes a ruby red. I gulp. I hate giving lectures, but I know Aviana will blow her top when she sees that Halo didn't come home the way she left. I give her a side glance. "You might think this is no big deal, and that it's just and only clothes. But it all boils down to trust."

I stop at a stop light and really look at her. Tears have already formed at the corner of her eyes. "When you went to Dominoes you were wearing sweats. But now you're wearing a crop top and shorts. That's decietful, and conniving. One day you'll ask us to go somewhere, but we won't be able to let you go because we'd think you'll go somewhere else since you had no problem changing your clothes. How do we know you won't change your location and get kidnapped by a psychopath? We don't. That's why this is so important."

She sniffles drying her eyes. "I'm sorry, Daddy."

"Me too."

The rest of the drive is quiet. I dread seeing Aviana's face, already imagining the anger. I pull up to the drive way not long after, and open the door. The security lets off a few chimes indicating that someone's home.

"Babykins!" Aviana yells from the family room. "Tell me about your day!"

When she sees Halo that happy-go-lucky demeanor is shoved down the sink. She frowns deeply creating a harsh crease on her forehead. She sits upright on the couch.

"Who's this child? Not mine, because my daughter doesn't wear makeup, or crop tops outside the house at 13."

Here we go.