Protector.

11.

My eyes landed on none other Dwayne. I couldn't believe who I was seeing. I swore he was dead, people told me he was dead. But here he was infront of me. He was in a wheel chair though.

"Dwayne?" I called out and he smiled, his smile was still so beautiful. And it gave me a familiar feeling.

He pushed the wheels and came closer. I tried hard not to stare but it was hard to do. "Wha-wh- how?" I forced out finally finding the words. He chuckled a bit, "you remember that night you told me not to go and I did?" I nodded my head starting to remember everything. Me and Dwayne weren't together towards the end of my pregnancy but I still cared for him in every way shape or form. He was deciding to seek revenge on some people and he didn't call back that night. He didn't call back after a week which turned into months which then turned into years.

"I recall."

"I was half dead an-and I knew you didn't want me around because of all the shit I was causin' I didn't want my daughter to be harmed," he admitted wanting me to feel sorry for him but I refused. I believed that was a coward move. You care more about your own life than your daughter's or mine for that matter. "Anything could've happened to us whether you were there or not an-and that's selfish, you put yourself before me!" I pointed to myself, "before her!" I then pointed to A'melia. I refused to cry in front of this man, I've cried enough the last few years.

"You not understandin' I didn't want you to lose her and I didn't wanna lose you!" He shouted startling A'melia a bit.

She eyed him, "mommy he's scaring me," she admitted while clutching her small hands around me. I held onto her and looked back at Dwayne. "I'm not tryna scare you sweetheart," he informed having her slowly look at him. "I jus' want to be your friend," he implied sending her a warm smile. She couldn't help but smile back.

I shook my head in disbelief, my phone suddenly started to ring loudly. I removed it from my purse and saw it was Trell. I declined it and gave Dwayne my full attention once more.

"I'll see you around," I insisted starting to push the basket in another direction.

Dwayne looked quite confused, "you'll see me around when you gone let me be around my daughter," he pondered while following behind me. I couldn't believe he wanted to be father now about five years too fucking late. A'melia had me and that was all she needed. Dwayne coming back into her life would confuse the hell out of her. She still believes her daddy was in heaven but here he was following us around in the store.

"I came back for her Wynter!"

I ignored his shouting and carried on before he startled her anymore.
_______

I entered the house and sighed seeing it was still full of people. I needed to talk to Kentrell and as soon as possible. "Can y'all help get a bag or something?" I questioned while eyeing Been and Three who seemed to be in their own world's.

"Yeah," Three spoke standing to his feet and nudging Ben to come follow.

A'melia raced down the hall into a spare room with her brand new Barbie dolls I had bought her.

I entered the kitchen and started putting away the many can good I had bought. I could feel eyes burning into my backside. I looked over my shoulder seeing Kentrell standing there with a straight concentrated face. "Is there something wrong?" I wondered getting back to doing what I was doing.

"Nah jus' your booty been lookin' right," he informed while lighting a blunt.

I quickly walked towards him and snatched it. "What did I tell you?" I nearly shouted. I guess it was because I was so frustrated about the incident which happened at the store. It started to feel like there was a dark cloud hanging over me and there was nothing I could do to get rid of it.

He kissed his lips, "what did I tell yo ass?" He then snatched it back, "Meli in the backroom playin'."

I shook my head in defeat.

"What's goin' on wit yo bobble headed ass?" He teased jumping back onto the island and sitting there watching me. Three and Ben suddenly entered the kitchen, dropping off the many bags.

"I saw Dwayne," I started.

"The Dwayne?" Ben questioned.

I nodded and ran my hands down my face.

"He alive?" Three wondered seeming just as puzzled as I was before.

I nodded once more, "he's very much alive and now he's demanding to basically be in Amelia's life... Won't that just confuse her an-and I don't want her to be mad at me thinking I was lying to her about anything.. This will be the most hardest thing to explain to her."

Kentrell then jumped off the counter, "he shouldn't have no dealings with Meli he ain't been hea' for five fuckin' years. They say all a child needs is a fatha figure and I'm the closest thang she got.. Me and you all she need, end of discussion."

"But it also doesn't feel right having to keep her away from him, I-I don't know what to do," I shrugged while hugging myself. My stomach started to turn in knots, I was starting to feel very sick and very fast.

"Tha fuck I jus' say?" Trell asked glaring at me.