Sky walked over to Rodney and sat down beside him on the porch bench.
"Sky I know I'm the last person you want to talk to, and I've been wanting to apologize to you in person. But it's not like you've been taking my calls" Rodney points out
"Yeah, I don't receive calls or messages from people I've blocked," Sky said snidely.
"Now that I'm here in front of you, I don't know where to start" Rodney started and Sky looked completely disinterested in the conversation.
"I want to start by saying I'm sorry. I'm sorry for all of my actions. I'm sorry for all the lying and manipulation I did while we were together. I let my insecurities dictate how I acted. I was willing to go as far as to mess up my hand, just so you wouldn't be with Junior. I take full responsibility for my actions, but-" Sky cut Rodney off. "Why is there a but in your apology?" Sky said sassily.
"I just want you to know I wasn't in the right state of mind when I did everything I did" Rodney admits
"I'll say," Sky huffed
"I've been seeing a court-ordered psychologist, and she diagnosed me with multiple personality disorder" Sky's face softened. "I know it doesn't excuse my behaviors, but the way I was acting, was not me. I need you to know how sorry I am" Rodney apologizes
"Really? I'm supposed to believe that you didn't know you've had this disorder for the 22 years you've been on this earth?" Sky questioned
"I know that you don't trust me, and it's going to take some time to earn it back. But you must know that I didn't even know I was living with it. Even though I have a very mild version of it, I have it" Rodney explains
"If you're faking this, you would disgust me. Because you can't get any lower than pretending to have a mental disorder" Sky said
"I promise you I'm not lying about it" Rodney reassures Sky.
"Then I'm sorry to hear that, it must've been tough when you found out," Sky said empathically, but still hesitant
"It was devastating, but it also helped me understand why I thought the way I thought, leading to me doing the things I did" Rodney said, and Sky listened. "For the first time in my life, my mind feels clear" Sky was apprehensive, because she has been fooled by Rodney before, and she can't tell when he's lying.
"I'm happy for you," Sky said
"Thank you" Rodney smiled. They both sat there with no one saying anything. But the silence wasn't awkward. Sky was honestly just taking in everything she was told.
"I know I'm here just to apologize. But I just have a question to ask you" Rodney said.
"Here we go," Sky thought to herself. "Go ahead," Sky said
"Did you ever have feelings for me?" Rodney asked, Sky was surprised by the question and paused to answer it. "I guess that answers my question" Rodney laughed awkwardly.
"It's not that I didn't care for you. You came into my life when I was still in denial about my pregnancy, and I honestly appreciated your support. But I had mistaken my deep care for you as real feelings" Sky admitted, and Rodney nodded his head. "And if I'm being honest, I wasn't 100% forward about my relationship with Junior, and for that, I'm sorry" Sky apologized
"What weren't you forward about?" Rodney asked
"I think you know now that Junior and I weren't just friends when we first got pregnant. We were friends with benefits, and in complete denial about our feelings for each other. I wanted to be honest with you, but I wasn't even being honest with myself" Sky admits.
"Did you figure it out while we were together?" Rodney asked bluntly.
"Uhm yeah, I did" Sky answered honestly. There was a long period of silence, and this time it was awkward.
"I know our relationship was far from perfect, and it was doomed from when I first asked you out. But is there any way we could still be friends? after everything, we've been through" Rodney asked. Sky was hesitant to respond. "How could we be friends when I don't trust you at all. We don't have to be friends to be cool with each other. I accepted your apology" Sky said
"I just wanna go back to when we first were getting to know one another, before you told me you were pregnant. We had such a good time, we'd talk, hang out, and we'd have so much fun with each other" Rodney said, and Sky lowkey understood because she loved their friendship too, it's definitely what helped her through the denial period of her pregnancy.
"But I was literally lying to you for that entire time frame. I was still in a bed buddies relationship with Junior and using you as a distraction from the fact that I was pregnant. Why would you want us to back to that?" Sky asked, and Rodney was taken aback.
"Well, I didn't know all of that was going on, but I know how I felt about us during it. I felt like we were genuine friends-" Sky cut off Rodney.
"Why do you want to be friends so bad? I feel like a clean break is best for us" Sky said
"Because I still love you." Rodney spits out, Sky was taken aback. "You still mean so much to me. I don't want you out of my life. I want to be friends, I want to know your baby, I just want to be in your life" Rodney exclaimed, Sky was conflicted. She didn't know if she should fear him, or let him into her life. Sky usually doesn't think with her heart, she thinks with her head. But her hormones were not allowing her to do that.
"I just want you to think about it," Rodney asked
"Think about what?" Sky was playing dumb.
"About the possibility of us being friends" Rodney proposed. "And don't get anyone's opinion on it. It's just your complete decision"
"How are you gonna tell me not to discuss with anyone? This is a big deal" Sky said annoyed with Rodney.
"I only ask because do you honestly think any of your friends would understand why you would ever think to give me a chance? I'm assuming everyone hates me. Which I understand, but I want this decision to be just yours, not anyone else's" Rodney explained, Sky nodded her head.
"I'll think about it, but like I said earlier in order for us to be friends I have to be able to trust you," Sky said slowly standing up to leave.
"I'll find a way to earn your trust back. That's a promise" Rodney said also standing up, about to leave. "Would it be okay if I went in for a hug?" Rodney asked.
"It would be best if you didn't. You should just go" Sky said. With that, Rodney walked off the porch. When Sky first saw Rodney sitting on the porch she thought there was no way, she'd hear anything he had to say, but now after listening. She finds herself actually thinking about a friendship with him.
The next day, Junior was dropping off Sky after their doctor's appointment, and they were parked in front of Sky's house. They say sat in silence, for a minute.
"Well, you've avoided talking about what happened with Rodney last night, all morning. What happened?" Junior asked
"Junior, I already told you I don't want to talk about it. Can we just go inside?" Sky sighed
"Actually, I can't. I have a thing with my family. So I'm just gonna head over there" Junior said annoyed. "Why is she hiding her conversation? What could've possibly happened last night, that she wouldn't want to talk about?" Junior questioned in his head, he didn't understand.
"Don't be like that. I just don't feel like talking about it. I will tell you another time, it's not a big deal" Sky said trying to brush it off, but Junior was not buying it.
"Not a big deal? If it's not a big deal why won't you tell me? It's obviously bothering you. Today at our appointment, they told you that your placenta Previa had absolved itself. And you didn't look happy or excited at all" Junior pointed out.
"It's not that I'm not happy about it, it's that whether or not I have it doesn't make a difference to me. I'm almost eight months pregnant. I feel like shit most of the time, I'm not gonna be going for a run until I have this baby. I still can't do what I want to do even though I don't have placenta Previa anymore. Except now I'm free to have sex, but I never feel sexy to be having sex. So if I seemed disinterested, that was why" Sky admits to Junior. Junior realized it wasn't Rodney, that was bothering her. It was herself. Junior had noticed whenever Sky would call herself a cow, and talk about how much weight she's gained. At first, he thought it was all jokes, but now he's seeing something more.
"Sky, you are literally so sexy, especially right now. You are probably the hottest pregnant person alive right now" Junior compliments Sky. Sky rolled her eyes at Junior's corniness.
"You're only saying that because I said something" Sky rolled her eyes
"No, seriously Sky. You are literally the sexiest person I've ever met. I mean look at you. You make sweatpants and an old T-shirt look so hot. If I could sleep with you right now I would" Junior went on, as Sky blushed so hard.
"Now don't start something you can't finish," Sky said seductively, Inching her face closer to Junior.
"When did you start feeling this way?" Junior asked
"I'm not sure. One day I looked in the mirror, and I didn't recognize myself. On top of that, I felt like blubber" Sky admits
"I will remind you every day that you are sexy, just in case you forget" Junior promised. Sky leaned in and looked at Junior adoringly. Junior took her chin in his hand and planted his lips onto hers. Butterflies erupted in Sky's stomach, as she kissed him back. She loved that it always felt like the first time they're kissing, whenever she kisses Junior.
Junior pulled away slightly and was met with Sky's heated gaze. Their sexual tension had been building ever since she was diagnosed. Sky gave him a flirty grin, and taking his face in her hands she pressed her lips against his. Flicking her tongue out, and tracing his lower lip.
Junior let out a sexy groan, as his tongue met hers, deepening the kiss. He leaned in as close as he could and placed his hand on her thigh. Rubbing her thigh, and inching his hand upward. Arousal fluttered through Sky's body as Junior placed his hand on her leg. Sky closed her eyes, losing herself to the faint yet alluring scent of Junior's cologne.
Sky pulled away because she wanted to get closer but the car and her belly weren't allowing her to do so. "Let go inside, no one is home right now. And my bed is way more comfortable" Sky said seductively as Junior continued to peck Sky's lips.
"I want to, I do. But I have a family thing I can't get out of" Junior says.
"They shouldn't mind if you're 30 minutes late. And if they do blame it on CPT. Colored people time" Sky suggested, and Junior chuckled.
"As tempting as that sounds, I know that if I come in with you, I'm not coming out in 30 minutes" Junior smirked, and Sky pouted. "But we'll continue this some other time, but right now I have to go, " Junior said
"Alright, well I guess I'll see you later" With that Sky hops out of Junior's car and walked up to the house.
When she enters the house, she's met with a flustered Ana.
"Sky! You're home early" Ana said quickly putting things away.
"No, I'm home on time," Sky said as she opened the fridge. "Ana, have you seen my bowl of leftover chicken fettuccine Alfredo?" Sky asked as she looked through the fridge.
"I thought you were on a diet?" Ana asked, stupidly. She knew as soon as she said it.
Sky poked her head out of the fridge and gave Ana a glare so menacing it scared Ana. Before Sky could say anything back to Ana, she found her pasta. "Here it was, right under my nose" Sky was happy she found it.
Sky wrapped it up and put it in the microwave, and then turned back to Ana. "So why were you all flustered when I walked in?" Sky asked suspiciously
"Nothing important" Ana lied
"If it was nothing important, why did you hide a bunch of shit when I walked in" Sky questioned
"I was just cleaning up the place, I wasn't hiding anything" Ana replied nervously. Sky looked at Ana suspiciously.
"So how long are you gonna be home?" Ana asked abruptly.
"Not for long. I have an appointment with my counselor in an hour, why?" Sky answered
Then out of nowhere, there was a loud ass sneeze coming from behind the couch. Sky immediately looked over to the living room. Ana let out an annoyed sigh.
"If you weren't hiding anything, then who's hiding behind the couch?" Sky asked smartly
"Javi, you can get up, she knows" Ana yelled out
"I was hooking up with Javi before you walked in" Ana admits. Javi stood up, completely nude. With one couch pillow covering his private area.
"You see how much easier the truth was?" Sky sighed and gave Ana a disappointed head shake. After that, the microwave went off. Sky grabbed her bowl of pasta and headed to the stairs. Before running up them, Sky turned over to Javi and said "You can keep the pillow" and shutters with disgust, as she heads upstairs.
Junior was seated at the dinner table with his parents, grandparents, and Zoey. Andre had called for a mandatory family dinner. Even though it was mandatory Jack and Diane weren't there. Which Junior thought was odd. This was the first time he had visited since he got his new place.
"So you get your new place and forget all about us. You don't call or text" Dre stated dramatically.
"You're just upset you don't have a free babysitter anymore" Junior rolled his eyes.
"No, we've all really missed you" Bow chimed in.
"And to think, when I was staying here you wanted me out" Junior joked
"That was all your mama," Andre said, and Bow rolled her eyes.
"I've missed you guys too! But I'm happy to be on my own" Junior made it clear.
"So I called for this mandatory family meeting because we have some important thing to discuss" Andre began
"A family meeting without Jack or Diane?" Zoey questioned
"Well I know what's going on with Jack and Diane, it's you two that I don't know anything about" Andre clarified
"Damn, if I had known this was an intervention I would've made my plate to-go" Pops sighed
"Zoey. We'll start with you. Why did I have to hear from Charlie that you have dropped out of school?" Andre asked.
"I was gonna tell you tonight, I didn't know you already knew. But yes, I've dropped out of school" Zoey said
"Why would you give a college education, especially so close to senior year?!" Bow asked
"My styling job with Joey Bada$$ was becoming a full-time job. I was missing out on great opportunities just to learn about it in a classroom. So I dropped out" Zoey said
"What about having a degree to fall back on? What happens when you don't feel like styling anymore, or this styling job falls through?" Bow asked
"Then I'll go back to school, but that's not happening. I basically have my dream job, so can y'all just be happy for me?" Zoey asked. "And I have news too. I'm going on tour with Joey Bada$$. And I couldn't be more excited" Zoey exclaimed
"I'm very happy for you" Junior compliments Zoey.
"Thank you, Junior" Zoey said
"It's not that we're not happy for you. I'm just disappointed that you're not finishing college that's all" Bow said.
"You have two college dropouts, son. What does that say about you as a father?" Pops criticized
"So how are things going with Sky and the baby?" Andre asked Junior moving on to their next issue and ignoring his father.
"They're doing great we had an appointment this morning and the baby is growing normally, and good news! Sky's condition has resolved it's self" Junior cheered
"Oh my gosh! I'm so relieved" Zoey exclaimed
"She's not 100% in the clear, she still has to be careful. But her condition has gotten a lot better" Junior shared excitedly
"That's good news!" Andre stated, but there was an awkward silence after Andre's comment. Junior instantly knew there was something on his parents' mind.
"So Junior, have you and Sky talked about what happens after the baby is born?" Bow asked. Junior, did not answer right away, because the truth is they hadn't talked about the baby at all. Other than the occasional note that the baby kicked, but other than that, they don't really talk about the baby.
"I'm sure Sky has an idea of what she wants to do. Plus I have a nursery set up at my place. Don't worry we'll figure it out" Junior tried to brush it off, but Bow was not buying it.
"Figure it out? You can't just figure it out last minute, this is a baby. A baby is needy and selfish, that baby is going to take everything out of you, and you don't even have a plan?" Bow said frustratedly, with both of her kids
"Babe, relax. He says they'll figure it out. Trust them" Andre said trying to calm his wife down.
"Trust them?! These are two kids trying to have a kid. They are nowhere near ready to have a baby. And as soon as they decided adoption wasn't an option for them they should've immediately started making plans" Bow exclaimed, Junior knew his mom didn't like the fact he was having a baby, but she had never blown up at him like this
"Babe, we weren't ready to have kids when we did, and look how well we turned out" Andre said
"I wanted our kids to be better than us, not end doing the same thing" Bow turned her head to Junior. "It wasn't all peaches and cream when Zoey was born, in fact, we didn't have our shit together until several years after Junior was born"
"Hey, at least you two were married. Junior and Sky are just friends, about to be co-parents" Grandma Ruby piped in.
"So now you want us to get married?" Junior said confused as to how marriage got brought up.
"Wouldn't it be easier if you two were married and lived together? Not worrying about y'all's relationship and focused on the baby" Grandma Ruby further explained. Bow didn't object and Andre was shocked
"You agree with my mama?" Andre asked Bow
"I mean she makes some valid points, it'd be easier if they were married and living together," Bow said
"It would probably be easier if we weren't 20 years old but here we are, and even if we were married it wouldn't solve all the problems we have. I think it might make it worse"
"Y'all if the boy don't wanna marry his baby mama, he wouldn't be the first man to do that. It's not the end of the world. I know how it feels to be pressured into marriage. I mean look how well it turned out for me" Pops said in Junior's defense.
"I'm sorry, who pressured you to get married? Because it most definitely wasn't me. Nobody forced you to get down on one knee, you did that all on your own" Grandma Ruby fired back
"Pops is right. Junior is a grown man, so let him handle this his way" Andre back up his father.
"I'm not marrying Sky out of convenience. I want to marry her because I truly love her, not because she's having my baby, or anything other than love. And if we ever decided to move in together, it'll be because that's what's best for us, not anybody else" Junior stated making his point very clear.
But his parents' concern brought up questions in his mind. He never thought about specifics. Where was the baby going to stay? Especially when he was at work and Sky was at school. They were so focused on how they felt about each other and dating, that they forgot about the elephant in the room. The baby.
Sky sat with Dr. Parker discussing the current set of issues. Sky decided to talk about Rodney with Dr. Parker because she can't have an opinion on him.
"Friends?" Dr. Parker questioned
"I know! I admitted to him that I basically cheated on him while we were together, and he asks to be friends. I thought it was really weird. Then he told me he still loves me, and that through me for a loop" Sky tells her
"How did that make you feel when he told you he loved you?" Dr. Parker asked
"I felt sympathy for him because I never had feelings for him and he loved me. And maybe that's why I'm thinking about being friends with him. Out of sympathy" Sky admits
"But is that a way to start of friendship? Because you feel bad for him?"
"When he told me he had multiple personality disorder, I had felt so bad, for all the times I called him crazy."
"Do you think he was being genuine? And all he wants is a friendship?" Dr. Parker asked
"Honestly I don't know. I want to believe him, and just get over it. But then he told me he loved me, and that confused things for me. On top of that, I hate that I'm lying to Junior about Rodney" Sky sighed
"Why did you lie to Junior?"
"I lied to him because Rodney told me not to tell anyone about our conversation, so there wouldn't be any biased opinions. Hence why I told you"
"That's what Rodney told you. But what was the real reason you lied to Junior?" Dr. Parker asked
"Because I didn't want to make Junior think there was something going on, just because I am considering a friendship with Rodney"
"Why would Junior think there was something more going on?" Dr. Parker asked
"He hates Rodney, and I'm afraid he might think I still have feelings for him" Sky admits, and Dr. Parker nods her head understanding
"Well since you're considering it, Why would you want to have Rodney as a friend?" Dr. Parker asked
"Because he's a great listener, and we always have so much fun when we hang out. He can be so much fun when he's not acting a fool" Sky said
"Why wouldn't you want to have Rodney as a friend?"
"Because of all the drama he brings, the fact that he still is in love with me is another thing, and all of my friends don't like him," Sky said
"What do you think about all this? I know you're not supposed to give your opinion, but I need it" Sky asked, Dr. Parker, hesitated, but then responded
"Think about how Rodney is already dividing you from your friends by asking you to not tell anyone, keep it to yourself. You're lying to your real friends, so you can think about a friendship with someone you don't trust" Dr. Parker started. "But on the other hand, you loved your friendship with Rodney, and you guys obviously have a connection that shouldn't be ignored. I'm just worried that the friendship you had in the past, isn't going to be the same this time around. But in the end, it is your decision, just do what you feel is best for you" Dr. Parker advised. Sky loved her advice, but it didn't bring her any closer to a decision. But one thing was clear, she needed to tell Junior. She felt like shit lying to him, and she doesn't want to put what she has with Junior in jeopardy, just because of Rodney.
Sky arrives at home and opens the door to a dark, quiet, and empty house. "I guess everyone had plans tonight," Sky thought to herself. One of the disadvantages of being "the pregnant friend", is never having fun plans. My condition didn't allow me to have fun plans, now my friends don't even invite me to their fun plans. And now that I don't have my condition anymore, I'm still not gonna wanna go because I'm too big to be going around doing fun stuff.
Sky was setting her purse and keys down when she heard something drop. Sky immediately grabs her pink stun gun and points it in front of her. Then the lights suddenly came on and tons of people jumped out and yelled "SURPRISE!".
Sky was stunned. All of her friends and her parents were here. Even Junior and his family were here. Sky looked up and saw the sign. "Sky's Baby Shower!" Sky read out loud.
"Oh my gosh! Thanks, you guys!" Sky walked over to hug her sister, Ana, Nomi, and Zoey.
"I'm just gonna take this" Nomi said taking away Sky's stun gun from her hand, and putting it in Sky's purse.
"Sky, this was what I was actually hiding when you came home this afternoon" Ana admits.
"Then why was Javi naked?" Sky asked very confusedly, Jazz and Zoey looked at Ana with shock.
"So you were hooking up with Javi while you were supposed to be setting up the decorations?" Jazz questions Ana.
"And be glad we were. If Javi didn't distract me I would've finished all the decorating too fast and Sky would've walked in and known we were throwing her a party" Ana explains and Jazz playfully rolled her eyes at Ana.