A Mile In My Shoes

TWENTY ONE

Capri

Closing the door, I sighed as the movers had just finished setting the beds up in our rooms. Being that I'm a man, I had to help assist them, and geez, never have I been so tired in my life. I went upstairs to my new room and grabbed a pair of basketball shorts and a t-shirt to wear after I shower. Going into the conjoined bathroom, I stripped bare and stepped in the shower. Not five minutes in, the front door opened, and I heard footsteps jogging up the stairs

"I need you to do me a favor." Dellen burst into the bathroom, not caring that I was naked. Lucky for me, the hot water had the glass fogged up.

"Excuse you. Can't you see I'm busy? Get out." He turned around and I thought he was leaving but instead he closed the door and locked it, causing me to grow nervous. "Dellen, wha-what are you doing?"

"I'm not on no shit like that, Capri." He said, easing my anxiousness. "Just need some privacy to talk."

"It must be important if you're willing to talk right now."

"It is. Sky's pregnant." He voiced after a long pause. I stood there quiet, not knowing if I should tell him I had a feeling or act just as thrown off as he is about it. "Did you hear what I said?"

I nodded. "Mhm."

"And?"

"And I kind of felt that she was at Ms. Pierce's house."

He wiped the glass to peep inside the shower. "What are you talking about?"

"Yesterday, when I dropped Samaria off, I saw her going into the bathroom with a questionable brown paper bag in her hand. I was Skylar a few times in the past, so I had this gut feeling, she could be pregnant. Guess I was right."

"Fuck man!" He shouted out, scaring the hell out of me. "I ain't ready for this shit. She knew better than to be out here letting niggas fuck raw. I don't even fuck bitches raw. You gotta be pissed off at her, Capri."

Confused by his statement, I asked, "What do you mean? What do I have to be mad for?"

"Because I'm mad and you are me, so therefore you're mad too." He explained, making me chuckle, although I knew he was serious. "I can't have you walking around, acting like my sister telling me she pregnant is all good 'cause she gone think she's in the clear. And guess what? She sure in the frickin frack fuck ain't!"

"Dellen, don't you think you're overreacting?" I asked, mocking him earlier.

"Now isn't the time for your sarcasm, Capri. My little sister is knocked up by some lame-ass little boy. I'm serious shawty. You gone have to play the big bro role and not let this slide."

"Pass me my towel please," I said, turning the water off. He did as I said and I continued. "Thank you. Listen I'll be firm with her, but I can't and won't act an ass towards her. She doesn't need that right now."

He sucked his teeth and leaned against the sink. "Man, don't be no softy Capri because if Sky thinks I'm the least bit cool with this shit then me and you gone have problems. Your food downstairs too."

And with that, he opened the door and left. Stepping out of the shower, I sighed as I didn't want to be nasty to Skylar. She's young and made a mistake, something everyone in the world has done before. I couldn't find it in my heart to be hateful with her the way Dellen wants me to be. I'll just have to ignore her completely.

After I was dressed, I went downstairs to eat with everyone. Samaria came up to hug me. "This house is perfect. We did a damn good job."

"Samaria," I warned. She giggled, walking back to the island. "What did y'all bring to eat?"