De'Maria's POV:

I woke up with fear in my heart. Last night, I thought my dad was gonna kill me. I bet you think that Terrence snuck in last night and we were doing things. No, that's not the case at all. He and his stepdad Trey got into an argument over something and his mom Sandra decided to kick him out for being disrespectful. To be honest, I believe its Jordyn's fault but that's a whole other story. Well, Terrence decided to come to spend the night and said he would apologize to his mom in the morning. He climbed the side of the house and onto the roof where my bedroom window was and I let him in through there. While we were talking, I heard my dad's shotgun go off and Terrence got scared. I don't know how he knew Terrence was here but he did. It's not like him and I are dating but he did say no boys are allowed in my room at all. I guess I got myself into this one.

I pull myself out of bed and walk to my closet. Grabbing my all black Maxi dress, black flower sandals with a small wooden platform heel, black flower headband, black VS matching bra and panty set, black body shaper, fresh Suave deodorant, Bath & Body Works set, and my phone I walk into the bathroom that connected to my room. My dad had it built in on my 12th birthday, I was beyond happy. It's all pink too, my favorite color.

I plugged in my phone to the speaker that's built under my bathroom sink. Surrounding sound and the speakers are on the floor where the water can't damage them so much. The walls are soundproof, so I can sing along all I want and no one can hear me. I grabbed a towel to dry off with, and to wash my body from the bathroom closet. I then grabbed my dove body wash and other shower remedies, including my face wash.

I pressed play on my shower playlist and I Bet by Ciara blasted through the speakers. I put the songs on shuffle and began to strip out of my clothes. I threw my clothes in the dirty clothes hamper and turned the shower on. After testing the water, I hopped in and took a long, nice, warm shower. I'm going to need this because I'll have to face my dad today after last night. My heart is pounding just thinking about it.

After I shower, I dry off and brush my teeth before getting dressed. I flat ironed my naturally curly hair and slipped on my headband. Interrupting Drake's verse in July by Jhene Aiko, I took my phone off the speaker, turned the speaker off, and walked out of the bathroom. I grabbed my backpack off my computer stand, my dance bag out of my closet, and turned off my lights before heading downstairs and making breakfast.

I grabbed my apron and slipped it over my head while tying the strings in the back. I then grabbed all my ingredients, plus the pots and pans to cook. I washed my hands and began cooking breakfast for everyone in the house. This is some times job for me, or chore I should say. Dad cooks and everything most of the times but he tends to zone out and get overwhelmed some days. Since I'm older and the woman of the house, I think it's best If I put the skills Shawny taught me to use. I don't mind, because Dad would never make me do everything. Last night was the most I ever did in one day.

As I was finishing up breakfast, the twins walked downstairs with Dad all ready to go. The twins sat at their little table as usual and I served them their food. Dad got his own plate as usual and said his genuine thank you as always. Although I'm still scared about last night, I'm glad I can please him. I smiled faintly and washed the stuff I used to cook before sitting down at the counter and eating.

Dad: "I'll talk to you later about that tonight." He said before finishing his food and washing out his plate. "You hear me?" He asked as he looked at me. We all know what that is

Me: "Yes, sir." I nodded.

Dad: "Don't bother going to practice today either." He said walking pass my dance bag and grabbing his keys.

Me: "Yes, sir." I mumbled.

I'm upset because dance is my life and he knows I never miss a practice. I don't know what I'll say to my coach, she'll probably give my spot to Jordyn. Jordyn has been wanting to be front and center since she found out I was guaranteed to be Captain our senior year. I'm working on my dance scholarship to any college I might want to go to and I'm afraid this will affect that. I don't think dad understands how important this is to me, this is my future he's tampering with.

Dad: "Okay yah, Let's roll." He demanded everyone.

The kids grabbed their little backpacks that had nothing but toys and coloring books in it. Trinity had a purple Princess & the Frog back pack and Shario had a one strap red Iron Man backpack. They'll be driving around with Dad until it's time for them to go to school. They're in kindergarten and attend a private elementary school. Good thing, they don't have to wear uniforms. Trinity held onto her lucky teddy bear, Elise. I don't know why she would name her teddy bear her middle name but If that's what she likes. I'm glad she's a normal little girl, living a normal childhood besides the fact that she didn't have the pleasure of having a mother.

We walked out to the silver Mercedes Benz and I helped my dad strap the kids in their booster seats. I sat in the passenger seat while dad sat in the drivers. We put our seatbelts on at the same time and dad started the car. The TV's on the back of our seats began to play and little Einstein's theme song played through the speakers while the twins sang along.

Shario & Trinity: "We're going on a trip in our favorite rocking ship. Flying through the sky, Little Einsteins. Climb aboard, get ready to explore..." They sang.

My Dad chuckled while I shook my head. Soon enough, we both started humming it out of nowhere. We caught ourselves and joined in a laugh but it died down once we realized how much fun we were having. Dad and I don't have fun anymore. Everything is always serious. I'm not completely sure but I think I know how Shawny would feel most or some of the time. She really loved him and I appreciate her for loving him the way she did and loving me the same even though dad wasn't on good terms with her at the time.

We both know that her missing is the gap between us but neither one of us has the courage to talk about it. The sad part is, we're both so confused as to What's my role in the house that I can't get upset when he treats me like a child and an adult at the same time. If Shawny was here, this will all be leveled out and I could live a normal life with a normal family. I feel like I'm a mother already, which I don't mind one bit, but I don't think it's fair to my Dad because I know he doesn't want me to live this way. Yet again, we haven't even talked to each other about the situation.

As dad pulled in the driveway to my High School, I grabbed my backpack and got ready to hop out.

Me: "See you guys later, I love you." I said before opening the door and hopping out.

Dad: "See you later, princess. I love you too. Have fun at school." He said through the rolled down the window as I walked through the double doors of my school.

As dad drove off, I disappeared in the swarming crowd in the hallways. I made my way to my locker and checked myself in my mirror that I put in here. I then made my way to my first hour, Team Sports. It's my favorite class and I actually have it with my only friend, Terrence. I came extra early to class during breakfast time because this is the time that Terrence and I have our one on one basketball games.

Since he's a sophomore, he's been playing basketball alone for a whole year in the morning and now he has some competition. I enjoy doing it because neither one of us is dedicated to basketball. Terrence doesn't even get involved in the school sports, and I'm a dancer so we just do it for fun. Doing something active while we talk about life. I find it amazing how he's becoming my best friend when we hated each other back then. Which is ironic because his sister is basically my arch Nemesis now. But like I said, that's a whole other story.

I walked into the locker room and changed into my basketball shorts, sports bra, t-shirt, elite socks, matching KD's and my Nike headband to hold my bangs back, and pulled my hair back into a ponytail. I checked myself in the body mirror as usual and walked out into the gym to meet my homie Tee.

Tee: " Wassup, Maria," He managed to say while drenched in sweat and breathing heavily. Since I'm getting in the shower after this, I guess I don't mind giving him a hug.

Me: "Hey, Tee," I smiled and hugged him. He smiled faintly as he pulled away and I can tell he's tired. My smile slightly faded when I noticed that his lip was busted. "Oh, my-"

Tee: "Just drop it," He turned around and walked away. He kept walking towards the boy's locker room.

Me: "Where are you going?" I asked in concern.

Tee: " No game today, Maria!" He yelled across the gym.

Me: "Fine, no game." I shrugged. He continued to walk to the locker room.

I didn't mean to upset him. I just wanted to know what happened to him. He just doesn't know how much that hurt me. He's going through something and I can't help, he doesn't even want my help. I thought we were friends. Well, since he got an attitude, I don't think I feel like wearing a dress anymore today. I'm not even gone participate in class. He just messed up my whole day. I just really hope he feels better soon.

Terrence's POV:

Last night, my momma kicked me out of the house because she lied and said I hit her and got some girl pregnant but not taking care of the baby. I don't know why she would lie on me like that but my mom believed her. I'm going to find out What's going on with my sister, though. Just because I don't live with going, doesn't mean I can't figure out What's going on. She's been acting weird lately, making new friends, chilling with the seniors, partying, doing God knows what.

I lied to Maria about what happened because I don't want to build any more tension between her and Jordyn. Maria is my only best friend and If my sister decides to fight her, I wouldn't be able to choose a side. It's hard, I love my little Sis and I like Maria. It's a struggle. Maria is a good friend, she listens to me and I love listening to her. It's like we vent our feelings out to each other. I don't mind being sad around her but I don't her to see me that way because she's already dealing with her own problems, I don't want to add to them.

I know you're probably wondering how she and I became friends. Well, it really just happened this year. Years before this, I would see her all the time because our parents are close friends but I didn't talk much and she was friends with Jordyn. When this school year start, Jordyn started to change. First, she made new friends and stopped hanging with Maria as much. Then, she changed the way she acts and dressed. That's when Maria stopped trying to be her friend and I didn't see her come around anymore. But one day, I was walking past a group of people and I heard Jordyn's voice. She was telling everyone that Maria was born a man and that she was gay and tried to touch on her and stupid shit like that. To be honest, I found that very disrespectful and

Maria skipped school for a week without her dad knowing because people were teasing her. Jordyn took that opportunity and snitch on her and Maria got in so much trouble. Her dad told her to start defending herself or she was getting in more trouble. After that, she's been fighting all the time but sneaking them on the low. So, she can't get in trouble with school. No one wants to be her friend because they either don't like her or scared of her. I, on the other hand, decided to become her friend because I know how she feels and I hate to see someone that beautiful alone.

Maria is a very pretty and sweet girl. Her giggle is beautiful and her smile makes me smile. I like making her happy because even If I'm not happy at the time, she'll turn that all around for me. She has a great sense of humor and she understands what it feels like to be... disconnected in a way. I regret bullying her when we were younger because I was just saying the things people said to me. I was inflicting my pain on her and it wasn't right because she's the total opposite of what I was saying.

I wasn't the most attractive guy in elementary. I was chubby and ugly. I never had a girlfriend, nor a date. Never been to a dance and definitely never had a friend. Everyone always stayed away from me. I was a mommas boy until Trey came along and That changed after they got married. I never played sports because they said I throw, run, kick, or punch like a girl.

Well, that was until I actually started punching them. I started fighting and bullying other people to make friends in school. It was all fun and games until I met Maria and I only did it to her because she intimidated me. I was actually scared of her. No lie, I still am. Then, she broke my nose and that's the day I began to have a crush on her. I felt bad for treating her like I did. My dad is in prison for the rest of his life for selling drugs on his third charge. I wanted her to feel like I felt but I didn't know how to show it in the right way.

Someday, I would like to ask her out on a date but we both can't and shouldn't be in a relationship right now. I'm not good enough for her anyways. I'm happy we're friends though. It feels good to have someone by your side that you can run to. Maria is that someone.

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