Parris returned about 15 minutes later with both orders in hand. Drake got up to help her with the drinks. After he set them down on the table, Parris turned to tell her boss she was taking her break. Drake pulled out her seat, and Parris smiled before she took her seat. Drake took his seat across from her, and he smiled at her. Parris began to unwrap her sandwich and open her chips. She took a sip of her frappe and then she bit into her sandwich. She looked up to see Drake staring at her.
"What?" She smiled
"Nothing," Drake smiled back before he bit into his sandwich.
"Sure," She smiled
"Where did you grow up?" He asked
"I thought you needed someone to talk to about YOUR problems?" She smiled
Drake simply smiled.
"Chicago," She answered
"That explains the hot chips," He laughed, "I love it there."
"Yeah me too"
"Then why did you leave?"
"What did you wanna talk about?" She asked quickly changing the subject
Drake figured that was a topic that he should avoid, "Uh yeah it's just a lot on my mind."
"Like what?"
"The album, this success, a tour, what to do next, my mom….."
"Yeah how's she doing?" Parris interrupted
"She's better," Drake said in a not so convincing tone
"Really?"
"Well…."
"What's going on?"
"It just scares me. I like seeing her that way. My mom has always been the person that's doing something. She was always on the move. Now…..it's the complete opposite," Drake said biting back tears
"Aaawww you know its okay to cry right?" She asked him
"No, no its not," He responded
"Yes it is. That's that mentality that fucks up people lives," She told him
Drake remained silent as she continued to talk.
"I was in a similar situation where I acted out instead crying. I jumped into a lot of things because of it. I treated people badly, and I acted like I had no sense or home training," Parris admitted
"Well how did you get passed it? You're doing pretty well for yourself now"
"Well let's just say out of all those mistakes, one thing occurred that wasn't so much of a mistake, and it made me realize life waits for no one"
"Would that on thing happen to be your daughter?" the words were out of his mouth before he knew it
Parris began to choke on the popcorn and grabbed her drink. She took a sip and when she settled down she stared a hole through Drake, "How did you know about my daughter?"
"A few weeks ago. Me, Tyga, and Chyna were walking the streets here shopping, and we saw you….and her."
"Oh it that have been when I was getting off of work," Parris remembered
"Damn girl how many jobs you got?"
Parris giggled, "2 jobs, but including dancing, 3"
"Okay I see you"
"Yeah"
There was a minute of silence. Parris really didn't know how to respond. Drake was the last person she wanted to know she had a baby. 3 years of hiding, all for nothing.
"She's beautiful"
"Thanks," Parris said with a small smile
Drake looked at her. Parris reached into her pocket and pulled out her phone. After pressing a few buttons, she handed it over to Drake. He grabbed it, and he was a little shocked to see she had a flip phone. To him she was so perfect that even the little things associated with her should be perfect. All that slipped his mind once he looked at the screen. On that was screen was the most beautiful little girl he had ever seen.
"Her name is London; London Janae Collins. She's 3 years old, and she's my everything. I do it all for her. The reason why my life turned completely around is because of her. I'm working 3 jobs, and I'm going to school because of her. Even if my life is a complete mess, I'm going to make sure hers' is completely perfect," She explained
"She's gorgeous Parris," he said still looking at the picture. It was something about her that he couldn't quite put his finger on. Her smile and her eyes looked familiar to him. Even though she looked exactly like Parris, it was something else about her that screamed someone else, but he couldn't think of who.
Parris noticed how he was looking at the picture, and she figured out what he was doing. She needed to stop him before he put everything together, "Um my break is over"
"Oh okay. Um listen, can we do this again…maybe tonight?" Drake asked
"I would, but my mom's out of town, and there's no one to watch my daughter," She explained
"Bring her! You can bring her. I would love to meet her," he said honestly
"I'll…I'll…let me think about it," Parris said
"Okay! You think about it, and you can call me when you decide. I'll put my number in your phone," Drake said since he had her phone. Drake stored his number in her phone, and handed it back to her. They cleared off the table, and threw the garbage away.
"Hopefully I'll see you tonight…." Drake said hopeful
"Yeah….hopefully," Parris said before she went off back to work
