What We Keep Hidden (Jai Brooks- Ariana Grande)

The Three Stooges

Throughout the tutoring session, Brandon stayed quiet in Ariana's lap, occasionally playing with her hair and adjusting his position to be more comfortable. Towards the end, he turned sideways and rested his head on her chest, looking at the teenage boy across the table, silently staring as he held his "bankie" (blankie.) in his left hand and sucked his thumb on his right.

Ariana kept one arm looped around her sons waist and leaned down every so often to kiss his head. When she did this time, she gently removed his thumb from his mouth. She was attempting to break him of the habit of sucking his thumb. Smiling at the boy in her lap, she turned back to Jai who was having a stare off with the child. "Okay, last question. Who led the civil rights movement of the sixties?"

Jai snapped out of the trance he and Brandon were in and looked at his ex best friend, who was staring at him intently waiting for his answer. "Huh?" Realizing her question, he smiled. "Oh, Martin Luther King." She gave him a raised eyebrow and he quickly corrected himself. "Jr."

Ariana smiled in approval. "Right. Okay I think we're done for the day." She shut her books and looked at Brandon, deciding he needed a reward for being so cooperative and quiet when she asked him to. "Do you wanna go to the park baby?"

The little boys eyes lit up in excitement. "Yeah!" Brandon quickly moved off his mothers lap as she laughed and started to run for the door before he stopped and turned around, looking at Jai, even more excited. "Jai! Come with us!"

Ariana's eyes widened in shock and her face paled a little. "Bran, I don't think--"

"I'd love to!" Jai grinned at him, giving him a high five when the boy raised his hand.

"Yay!" Brandon yelled then scurried out to get his gamma to help him get changed.

Ariana stared at Jai, her jaw clenched in anger.

He only smiled back at her sweetly as he shoved his books into his backpack.

xxxxxxx

Ariana silently walked by Jai as they made their way to the park by foot since it was just a few blocks away from her house. She watched as Brandon walked in front of them, trying not to step on the cracks in the pavement. It was surprisingly warm for a day in the middle of October so she let him get away with only wearing a coat without a scarf or hat. But she still held the two pieces of clothing in her hands just in case it got chilly.

Jai glanced down at the petite brunette beside him, trying to think of a conversation starter. He cleared his throat a little too loudly. She didn't look up. With a frown, he decided 'fuck it' and started talking. "He's a great kid. You're doing an amazing job with him."

A small barely there smile formed on Ariana's face. "Thanks.. I wish I had some help though." she said the last bit with barely hidden conviction, letting him know she resented him for abandoning her in her time of need. And abandoning his son.

Jai winced a bit, sliding his hands into his front pockets. "Uh.. Yeah.. I'm real sorry about that. But I'm here now and-"

"And what? Jai, I appreciate your attempt at trying to fix your past mistakes but I don't think it's such a good idea to let him know who you are." Ariana quickly cut him off before he could finish his sentence. "In all honesty I'm still very hurt by you and I'm extremely angry at you and I really can't decide if I want you back in my life or not." she took a deep breath as they turned into the park and watched as Brandon made a beeline for the swings. She kept him in her sight as she continued speaking.

"And yes, I understand that Brandon needs his father in his life but honestly I can't trust you not to abandon us again." She softly said, taking her eyes off her three year old to look up at Jai. "You would need to prove to me that you're going to be here for good. Then, and only then, we can consider telling him who you are."