• Shang •

• Next Day •

• Kale's Park Trail •

I was so out of shape.

Never would I have ever imagined walking alone on a trail could get me so exhausted.

Jogging at first was going well until my ankle felt like I misplaced it.

On this trail with me was of course my good ole friends Andre, and my boy Steven.

They the only two who been by my side since this roller coaster even started.

I had a lot of fake love, fake friends and they started showing their true skin once the fame took off for me.

But, that's life.

Untwisting the bottle cap, I saw a perfect bench that no one was on and I could have sworn it was calling my name.

Looking ahead of me Dre, and Steven was half way up the trail.

" ayo Shang!!!" Steven called out.

Why wouldn't one of them look back to not noticed me behind them.

I threw my hand up as it drop back down like a lifeless noddle.

Dre started to laugh as he seen throat I was tired and out of breath.

I rested my legs and aching feet as the boys came back up to meet me.

" what happen bro?"

I shrugged my shoulders as I rub my thighs that felt on fire all of a sudden.

" I can't do it. I'm burned out man"

They both laugh to each other as they attention went back on me.

" nobody ask you to eat all that food" Dre playfully slap my stomach

It did a small jiggle and we all laughed in unity.

" man whatever I'm gone definitely bounce back believe that, it's just with me taking a break from drinking and smoking I think my appetite for all sorts of food came back" I try to justify.

" well chubby boy we need you back on your feet and ready to hit this jog with us on a bout five minutes" Dre said as he chug down his protein shake.

" y'all not about to kill me on this damn path i can promise you that" I joked

" alright get your ass up its time to roll" said Steven

Standing to my feet, I did a few stretches and after that I found myself jogging behind them again.

I placed my music back into my ear as the sound of my voice always seemed to motivate me.

Now feeling like I was putting in some work I couldn't help but to stare at a women who was also jogging.

She was a little bit further than us but Just by her figure i knew she seem familiar.

I didn't want to catch up with her but then again I didn't want to lose track of her either.

" after we come up this point we can take a quick break" Dre said as he looked over to me.

" yeah, but I'm going to keep going" I said

Dre gave me a look with a smirk as he continue to run.

" that's what I'm talking about. See I knew you had the motivation and dedication" he then slapped my shoulder

I don't know about having all that but my real mission was to keep up with that women that I was jogging also.

As Dre and Steven took a rest on the bench I continue to jog making sure to not lose sight of her.

We was now a few miles ahead as she started to slow up.

Not wanting to be to close on her I started to slow up my pace.

Moments later she completely stop by a bench that had a pretty clear blue pond next to it.

I stop by the tree before throwing my hoodie over my head.

I knew I couldn't just go back, and jogging over to the bench would probably scared her, so I just decided to keep going but walk this time.

My nerves was starting to takeover my body as I took in a big gulp.

The closer I became I glance over as she was on the phone.

The moment I was waiting for was right now, and just as I walked pass I didn't even bother to look back over.

I just froze and now it would be too awkward to turn around and walk back through.

Not even a few inches from the bench a soft whisper stop me.

" Shang?" She said.

Taking in a deep breath I slowly turn around and it was definitely her.

" Melody" i responded.

Not sure whether to walk back over or not I noticed her scoot over to make room.

I took that as a welcome sign.

I clear my throat as I kept my hoodie on.

I took in her appearance as I was now a bit closer and she seem a bit different.

" please sit" she offered while removing her bottle of water.

Stepping up on the bench, I took a seat beside her on the table.

" sorry about being so quiet.. it's... um" I was stumbling

" it's okay. Im not expecting you to be all talkative, it's been a while since we..."

" right" I finished.

I then removed my hoodie as i rub my fingers through my hair.

" I like the blue streak in your hair it fits your face, also I like the weight" she observed

I laughed while patted at my stomach.

" nah this got to go. That's why me, Dre, and Steven was out here running and doing some workouts" I said

" you don't need them. So how's the career treating you?" She asked

I started to fiddling with my hands as I pulled my strings on my hoodie to give me something to get my nerves down.

" it's been good. As you know I just recently finish up my fifth album, uh I'll be going on tour in about three months, uh what else, I got my first award well three awards but you know that"

She nodded with a smile.

" it's been rough for me a little with going for help far as my drinking problem, I've been attending anger management class, but I'm good now"

" I hope I'm not priding into your business but are you still with her?"

I looked over at melody and at those eyes that I can't seem to stop staring into.

She drop her head as if she was trying to hide herself from me.

" to be truly honest melody i was so stuck and in love with you that our relationship was rocky and it got I'll admit physical a lot but some of that was due to my drinking. I regret doing the things that I've done to you, and I also regret a lot of things that I've done to kae, but at the end of it all I couldn't stop wanting to be with the one person that I ever said I love you too" I explain.

She covered her mouth as she started to cough heavily into her inner arm.

She rub her eyes but not once look over at me again.

" how about you?" I asked next

" what about me?" She said quickly

" I took noticed of you with Giveon, im sure he treated you better than I did"

" he was okay. Just wasn't the man that I needed, the one that I ever needed was already in a relationship and it seem like he was enjoying it"

I knew she was talking about me and I didn't bother to comeback with anything on that topic.

We sat quiet for a moment as we just took in the birds chirping, the sounds of the trees blowing and the people having conversations as they walked by us.

" I want us to start over mel" i just went for it

I knew if I left right now there was a chance that I would have never seen her again.

With me about to be on the road for tour I needed my women back and by my side.

" I'm not fit to be with anyone". She said sadden

" please" I joked with a laugh

" I'm not afraid to tell you how bad I miss you, and how much I want you in my life for the rest of my life. Your the only women that make me feel complete and Im comfortable with being around. Your the only one who don't give a damn about the fame and the money that I have you saw me for when I wasn't even in this spotlight. I get it, I hurt you bad with something's that I'm not proud of, and I understand if you can't comeback from that. But just allowing me to sit here beside you and apologize for my wrongs even when I performed it on stage at the awards everything I said was true. I don't ever want to be that stranger In your eyes anymore. I want you to be mines and I want to be yours for as long as we both shall live."

I didn't care, I slip my hands right into her cold hands as they shook inside mines.

She was trying her best to not look at me but I use my hand to turn her to face me.

She had her eyes closed but I continue to tell my truth.

" Melody I love you. I love you and I can't stop loving you and when I did it was hard. Starting over with other people that wasn't you was breaking me, it was masking the man that I hate seeing, it made me do terrible things two into drugs that i can't explain and won't talk about but without you I'm nothing mel. Please look at me"

I hated when my voice cracked and I wasn't a type of man to ever feel vulnerable about any women but it was something about melody that made me feel this way.

She drove me crazy, I was insane for her love.

It took her a moment but her eyes soon open up and I was looking right at her.

" I need you, I won't stop until I have you melody i can't lose you again."

I would have thought she would have taken her hands away from mines but she didn't.

Instead a smirk form on her face and then it change to a widen smile.

I busted into laughter as I watch her head nod with a yes.

" it's that a yes that you'll take me back? Are you giving me a second chance baby?"

She kept nodded repeatedly and I snatch her face to crash into mines.

" your so rough" she squeal as her arms wrap around my neck.

" I don't care I have you back in my life baby your not going anywhere no time soon"

I pulled back as she could catch a breath before I crash my lips onto her once more.

" oh Shang your messing up my hair" she poked my fat side and I jump from the tickling.

Letting her go I was shock to see Andre and Steven standing by.

" damn how long was y'all standing there for?" I said mad that they was interrupting our Bonding.

" bro we was here for the kissing scene, we knew"

" huh? What you mean you knew?" I asked Dre

Steven laughs as he came to drape his arm over my shoulder.

" we called melody out here. We knew you missed her bad and you was going down a dark hole and was in a very dark place at times so we called her up, talk to her for about two hours we setup this trail walk told her where to meet us and let the rest happen.

How bad I was mad at them for setting me up I couldn't do anything but hug my dawgs as they knew this is what I needed.

" y'all know me. That's why y'all my day ones and always will be" i said

We all started to play fight before I put my attention on melody who was smiling as she watch us.

Looking down at her hands because it was so obvious I noticed how they was still twitching.

I stare for a moment until she covered them up with her sleeves.

Breaking my focus I put my attention back on the guys as Dre was telling me what he wanted to get into tonight.

I looked back over my shoulder as she was staring at me as a tear slip through her eyes and rolled down her cheek.

I knew something wasn't right, and I knew eventually everything was going to come out but what happens when it do.

Would i be able to accept the outcome?