Chapter 3: Inside Out

Jay was thrilled to have his brother back, and the island was beautiful. Jay's heart was finally pulling back together, but there was another sadness he was battling.

"Jay are you even listening to me?" Amber asked.

She had been talking non stop about Bray and his wishes to be involved in Baby Bray's life. Jay was listening at first, but after awhile tuned Amber out. He was thinking of being alone with Ruby.

"Oh my God you weren't even listening!" Amber exploded.

"I was too listening…the conversation just got dull," he said bluntly, "Amber, Bray is Bray junior's father. Did you expect for him not to want to share in his son's upbringing?"

"No Jay, you are his father now, he doesn't need Bray!"

Frustrated Jay sat up, "Yes he does."

"You're siding with him….Jay?" Amber watched as he climbed out of bed.

"Yes," he looked back at her only for a second, "I'm going for a walk."

Ebony was thrilled to no longer be battling morning sickness, but she felt crummy still. How was she going to even live this one down? The tribe would ridicule her; she could even picture Slade ridiculing her. She said she hated kids, now she was going to have one.

Looking up from where she sat on the beach she spotted Lottie. She was guessing the little girl spotted her because she froze.

"Get over here kid!" Ebony shouted in her direction.

"I didn't take it…I swear!" Lottie shrieked and ran in the opposite direction.

Ebony sighed; she hadn't meant to frighten the little girl.

"Are you sure you are ready to have kids….I mean….you certainly have a way with them," Jay snickered.

He had been walking and spotted her alone. He figured she was doing some searching inside as well.

"Shut up…are you sure you're ready to be Amber's shadow?" she counterattacked.

"No I'm not ready to be anything she wants me to be, that includes the role of father…I just…I don't know how to break up with her."

"Well you certainly knew how to break up with me…" she snorted.

"Actually it was you who broke up with me, remember?" he asked recalling the memory of her breaking up with him.

"Okay, fine…well how'd you break up with Trudy? That was easy wasn't it, give old Eagle a taste of her own medicine," Ebony said smirking.

Jay shook his head, "You will never change."

"Well nobody ever said a tigress could change her stripes overnight."

Jay laughed, "So what are you going to do…you know about your condition?"

"What are you going to do about yours?"

"Why do we even bother talking, we never get anywhere," he sighed.

"Because you need me to keep your secret, and I need you to keep mines," Ebony said smirking.

She stood up and walked off leaving Jay to think about the predicament he had gotten himself into.

Ruby loved Jay. He was open with her and not some mysterious jerk like Slade had been.

"So who is he?" Cloe asked. She had been trying to get to know all the new Mallrats.

Ruby looked away from the water lapping at the shores, "I beg your pardon?"

"You're walking on the clouds girly, who is the lucky guy?"

Ruby didn't know if she should open up to Cloe, but she figured it was harmless, "Jay. He and I have been secretly seeing one another; he doesn't know how to break things off with Amber."

Cloe shrieked with joy, "I knew it!"

"You aren't going to tell anyone are you?" Ruby looked at her, a startled expression on her face.

Cloe shook her head no, "It is not my place."

From the inside out Jay was a mess. His facial hair had grown out making him appear older than he was, his hair was un-kept, and he felt sick.

"I'm sorry; maybe I am overreacting…a bit much…" Amber found Jay on the beach.

"A bit?" he questioned.

"Okay, a lot…I just want Bray jr. to have a father that will be there with me, by my side. I can't raise him alone, and Bray well…he would be conflict between you and me."

"Amber if you want baby Bray to have a father you're going to have to let Bray in."

"Okay, are you sick, you aren't even making since…I'm talking about Bray still having feelings for me…him getting involved would be…."

Jay interrupted her, "Amber I can't be your son's father, it wouldn't be right."

"Why," Amber asked.

"Because I am in love…with Ruby."

He watched her run off, tears streaming from her eyes. Why had he listened to Ebony? It was déjà vu all over again. He had left Ebony for Amber, Trudy for Amber, and now he was leaving Amber for Ruby.

But this time he didn't feel confused about his feelings. He was certain he had made the right choice, he was just sad that Amber was hurting. He made a mental thought to thank Ebony then he went in search of Ruby. He was in love and he loved her from the inside out.