Nothing Stays The Same

Chapter 15: Face Off Pt. 3

Nikkie was sitting in front of a treefar from the picnic sight. She stared at the lake in front of her. She had her arms wrapped around her knees. She had one hand wiping away her small tears that balled up at the edge of her eye lids. While her other hand held on to the dog chain that Jimmy gave her. She let the breeze rush through her hair. She closed her eyes as the song "And I" by Ciara poured through the air from the sound system. She was in peace until she heard someone sit down next to her and she heard someone ask:

"What are you doing here alone" the voice asked. Nikkie opened her eyes and quickly turned to see, HIM!!! She quickly got up. He then quickly got up also.

"What do you want" Nikkie asked him nervously

"I don't want to hurt you....I just want to talk" Reggie said

"Look, I need to go" Nikkie said trying to walk away. As soon as she began to walk he said something that made her stop.

"I never touched you. I didn't want to get involved" Reggie said. Nikkie turned around slowly.

"And you think that made things easier to handle" Nikkie asked

"I never said that, I'm just-" Reggie was inturrupted

"No, you just nothing. You could of saved me from that pain. Even though you took me home, dosn't change the way I think about you." Nikkie snapped at him

"Look, I told you once, and I'm gonna have to say it again. I don't get involved in another nigga's business.I tried to help, but they wouldn't listen to me. I do me, and that's my story. I don't smoke, I'm not a drunkie or crackhead. I'm just me, doing what I got to do to get my part" Reggie yelled at her. Nikkie looked down. She began to break down inside.

"I-have suffered, so fucking much. I have been through serious shit in my life. But I keep my head up. But after that night my head was never able to stay up. I put on a act, with a fake smile, like everything is ok, but everything is not ok. I have been torn apart. People take one look at me, and they think they could use me. I am way better than that. So don't come with bullshit about how your life runs, because obviously I have gotten my part in my life, a part I never fucking deserved" Nikkie yelled as she gulped back tears. Reggie stood in shock. He had never been told something like this. No one has ever confided in him this way. But it hit him, his life wasn't exactly dandy as he explained it.

"I know how you feel" he told her

"Oh really, explain to me. Maybe your life story is more interesting than mine" Nikkie told him

"Look, I never hurt you, I never touched you. When I saw you the morning after, the look in your eyes told me you were filled with hard shit. When you told me you grew up in Richmond, there must be a past. Coz nobody could live in Richmond without having some type of shit in their life. that's why I gave you my number. Incase you ever needed to talk. Coz I knew what it was like. I know what it's like living in some ghetto shit as a kid and not even knowing what comes next" Reggie explained. Nikkie closed her eyes and tightened them, Tears began to fall out. She breathed in deep. She turned around again and began to walk away.

"You can walk away from me, but you can't run from your past. Thought I'd just let you know, Chase is here. And he's on the prowl" Reggie said walking past here back to the picnic area. Nikkie watched him walk away. She walked back to the picnic after Reggie had disappeared in the distance.

(411: Nikkie knows Slim as Slim not as Reggie)


Kayla was sitting against a tree with Alexa sleeping in her lap. She was watching the kids. Marcus came upon the scene and pulled Kayla to the side to talk to her.

"What's wrong Marcus" Kayla asked him

"You and me....have been working together for a while now. And I don't know how you feel about me, but I know how I feel about you" Marcus said

"And how do you feel about me" Kayla asked him

"Um...well. I like you Kayla. I know it sounds like a high school kid, but I mean it in the most professional way" Marcus said

"Wow, very professional" Kayla said. Marcus and Kayla laughed

"No, really. I was hoping we can move from "business partners" to....well my woman" Marcus said

"Your woman, boy please" Kayla said

"No, not woman, I mean girlfriend" Marcus said

"Marcus, that is truly sweet. But the kids don't know you to well yet. I want them to get along with you before, we take things to the next level" Kayla said

"But Alexa likes me and Nikkie...well" Marcus stopped

"And Nikkie, dosn't know you well enough. She's a picky girl, and my Raylese dosn't even know you to well either" Kayla said

"Ok, ok. I guess I could wait" Marcus said

"Good" Kayla said with relief

"But is it too soon to do this" Marcus said finishing with a soft passionate kiss. He pulled away from her.

"Yes, I think it was" Kayla said smiling. She turned and walked back to Alexa who had woken up from her sleep.

"Ok, look I completely forgot. You still havn't met my son" Marcus said

"Where is he" Kayla asked

"Wait a second" Marcus said. He turned to the crowd and studies the people. He finally spotted him and called out his name.

"REGGIE, REGGIE!!!" Marcus yelled. He waved for him to come over to him and Kayla. Reggie came towards him.

"Yes dad" Reggie said

"Reggie, this is Kayla and her daughter Alexa" Marcus said introducing them

"Hi, nice to meet you" Reggie said shaking Kayla's hand.

"Same here" Kayla said

"Where are your other daughters my dad told me about" Reggie asked

"Um, Raylese left early, and the other one, should be somewhere around here. In fact there she is" Kayla said. She called for Nikkie to come over to them. Nikkie's eyes popped open when she saw Slim standing next to Kayla and Marcus. Nikkie slowly walked towards them. She felt a shiver in her spine. She finally reached her point she stood face to face with Kayla.

"Nikkie, finally. I've been looking for you" Kayla said

"Yeah" Nikkie said standing there staring at her feet

"Nikkie, I want you to meet my son, Reggie" Marcus said. Nikkie stopped breathing, REGGIE!!!! His name was Reggie, she thought. The name touched some feelings from the past. She saw Reggie reach his hand out.

"Nice to meet you finally Nikkie" Reggie said. Nikkie stared at his hand then at him. She shook his hand.

"Same here, Reggie" Nikkie said letting go of his hand and sticking her hands in her jacket pocket

"So kids, go have fun, don't mind us" Marcus said. The song "Tempted To Touch (boomtunes remix)" from Rupee came on. Manny and Hazel came running towards her.

"Nikkie, come on this is our song" Manny yelled over the loud music, as she pulled on Nikkie's arm. Nikkie looked at Reggie and then turned away. Hazel stood by, staring at Reggie, but Nikkie pulled Hazel along with her. Reggie turned around to see Nikkie and her friends on the dance floor. He stared at Nikkie as she moved on the dancefloor. It was like slow motion for him. He watched the way she moved to the music. He had to admit it, his eyes and heart did not decieve him...................he was feeling her.

AUTHOR'S NOTE: Who saw that coming. Ok, simple as that right, wrong. There's a hidden question hidden in this chapter. And you have to figure it out. Review with your review on the chpt, or on what you think the hidden question is.

It's not exactly a question, but it's a statement made somewhere in this chapter.