Jake's POV

27 Terrace Avenue…my mother's current address…she left me alone at my house so she could go live with her pimp and have sex all day and get high whenever she wants. It's disgusting, really.

She's always told me she knows I'm gonna come crawling back to her, begging her for favors or for her to sober up and come home. She's right. I need her to help me with Kimi and the baby, something I never wanted to do. I have pride, and I want to provide for my family on my own. But I can't.

And Kimi won't go to her parents because they don't know yet. She just moved out without telling them anything. They'd probably kill her if they knew. For all they know, their daughter ran off to be with a boy.

So this is the only way. I have to ask my mother for the sake of my girlfriend and our baby.

As I open the door, the smell of weed and alcohol overwhelms me and I gag with the disgusting smell.

"Jeez, she's smoking again." I mutter, wandering into the living room, beer bottles and empty bags strewn all over the floor, melted spoons on the table. Empty…wrappers everywhere. It's a hell hole, and I'm ashamed she gave birth to me. "Yo, Louise!" Louise is her name.

"Ugh…w-*hic*who's…there? Bastard…better…better get out…" Her boyfriend.

She came out in a skimpy, lacy lingerie outfit, something I never wanted to see my mother in. I almost threw up, she was so gross.

Her blond hair was stringy and snarly, circles under her eyes, and marks on her arms from injecting cocaine.

"What the hell do you want, you little bastard?"

"I, uh…I need help."

"I knew it. What'd you do? Knock a girl up?"

"Yeah…we need money for the baby."

"Abortion?"

"No! We're gonna raise it. We just need money to help us take care of it. Please?"

She laughed a drunken, stoned laugh. She took a beer bottle that was broken and threw it at me, slicing into my cheek. The blood streamed down my face, dripping onto the floor.

"Why the hell should I help an ungrateful person like you take care of a mistake you made?! Jeez. I knew I should've gotten rid of you when I had the chance!"

Huh? What was…what was she saying?

"What do you mean?"

"I got in the same situation with you! Your father walked out because he didn't want to be tied down by you! I made the wrong choice by keeping your filthy self!"

"Don't talk like that! Kimi and my baby are not a mistake! She's my life! They're everything to me! All I need is some help from you! I swear this will be the last time you ever see me again!"

She paused for a moment, considering the options lain out before her. I wondered if my plea was enough to change her mind.

"Fine, I'll give you money. Hey, Brent, where's your checkbook?!"

"Wallet…*hic*pants…"

"All right, fifty-thousand dollars will be enough for you, right?"

"Um…probably."

"I'll also give you ten thousand dollars a month in addition to paying your bills. That ought to keep you satisfied."
"Yeah, thanks. I mean it."

"Don't expect me to be all maternal."

"No…"

She handed me the check, and pointed towards the door, already getting her next needle ready. Stupid crack addict.

And within seconds, mother and son parted once more.

Later-Jake's house

I opened the door to my home; it was near midnight. My eyes were tired, and my legs ached. I'd walked around the block for a couple of hours, trying to clear my head. My mom has that effect on people.

I tried to be quiet, so I wouldn't wake up Kimi. Pregnant girls need their rest, so I've read.

"Jake? Is that you?" She came out in pink tank-top and white shorts, her hand resting on her stomach, which seemed to protrude a little more each day. And supposedly there's only one baby in there.

"Yeah."

"Did your mom give you the money?"

"Yeah, she did."

"Oh, my god, you're bleeding!" She rushed over to me, her hands cupping my face. "Oh, my sweet Jake. What happened?"

"She was high. Beer bottle. But it's okay."

"No, it's not. I don't like anyone hurting you." She hugged me, her slight frame shaking. I wrapped my arms around her, holding her close.

"Its okay, Kimi. We're gonna be okay."

"If you say so."

"I know so."