I quietly went into the house to get me and my daughter's shit.

My baby mama was on the couch strung out, she wasn't always like that though.

 She... we used to be happy as fuck. Everything went downhill for her after she had our daughter, Alexandra. She isn't even healthy-looking anymore. It's sad, she's a borderline crackhead. 

I've been trying to get her some help but she doesn't want any. Her parents don't want to help her since we had a baby before marriage and because I was black.

They couldn't believe their perfect little Native baby reproduced with a black man. Shit, at least they got a good looking grandbaby cause sheesh... I have seen full Native babies who didn't look half as good as my baby doll.

I threw all of my stuff in bags, suitcases, and made multiple trips to and from my truck, it was a 2015 Cadillac Escalade, so I had more than enough room. After my shit was cleared out I started on my baby's room. She was only 4 months so it didn't take long.

I looked around and realized she wasn't even here.

"Rayne! Where is my daughter?!"

"She's taking a bath."

My heart dropped and I ran into the bathroom where my daughter was asleep in the baby tub we put inside ours. The water was up to her ears.

I grabbed my baby tried my best to hold in my tears, anger and frustration flooded my body. If she would've been on her stomach... I pushed that thought out my head and put her on some clothes. Ain't no way in the world I would ever leave my child here with her mom. It was to damn dangerous.

I dressed her and sat her on the sink to take a picture. I was the type of dad to show off my seed 25/8. My daughter was perfect in my eyes. Couldn't nobody tell me otherwise.

I got the whole two puffballs thing down pact. Ya feel me? All you gotta do is slap some eco styler gel up there and brush it up. 

Her puffs might be small now but just wait. My baby's hair is going to be long as hell. Just like her daddy. Cause I'm damn sure far as hell from being bald-headed.

I cut off the light and put her coat on. We gave my baby mama once last look and left out.

I strapped her in her car seat and checked the buckles. Safety first. I'll be damned if I outlive my child.

It was just 6:49. I had a little bit of time to go to the gas station to get Xandra some snacks and juice. We stopped at the Handee Hugo's gas station and went in. We strolled up down the aisle until she started pointing at the stuff she wanted.

Welch's fruit snacks, lifesaver gummies, Cheetos, she ain't even gonna eat all this shit. I went and grabbed her a clear fruit juice then went up to pay.

She started squirming in my arms meaning she wanted to get down... knowing she couldn't walk.

"Stop that shit."

Her face screwed up and she threw her head back.

"You keep on and I'ma pop you. Don't think I won't do it."

She understood that cause her attention-seeking ass laid her head right on my shoulder.

"Like I thought."

She picked her head up and mugged the fuck outta me. I mugged her back. Fuck she thought this was.

"Your total is $9.34."

I pulled out my credit card.

"Chip or no chip?"

"Chip."

"You can stick the card in at the bottom."

I did and put my pin number in.

She bagged my shit up and we were out. I opened the Welch's fruit snacks first and she immediately started trying to shove handfuls in her mouth, I grabbed like 5 or 6 cause I knew her greedy ass wasn't gonna offer me any.

"We starting off fresh Tootie."

I made my way to the lake to wait for Alex.

She was already there in her car listening to Yung Bleu. She caught me looking and rolled her window down.

"I wasn't staring."

"I was just about to ask you what we're going to do next. You gave yourself away."

"Name a state, any state."

"I wanna go to New York, I've never been."

"New York it is, come over here so we can get this figured out."

She came and sat in the front seat.

"Before I leave out this state I need more information about you, I'm texting everything to my best friend just in case you try to kidnap me. I already sent her your license plate number and your description."

"Like what, I wouldn't kidnap you," I laughed.

"Full name, birthday, favorite color, favorite number, gang affiliations, allat."

"Alexander Marcel Brown, silver and gold, 6 and 8, and I'm Crip. That's it, to be honest."

She started banging her head on the dashboard.

"You good, Alex?"

"I don't think this is going to work."

"Why not?"

"I'm Brim."

I slowly slid down in my seat. Shit, I knew this was too good to be true. After a moment of silence, I took a deep breath and told her, "I won't say shit if you don't."

She looked over and smiled, "Deal."

"Your turn."

"Alexandra Guadalupe Anderson- Morales, May 28th, 1999, burgundy, red, black, and gold, 3 and 5. Don't think I didn't notice the fact that you skipped the birthday question."

"Oh yeah. I tried playing that shit off. I guess it didn't work. My birthday is April 1st, 1998."

"Was your mom like, 'He's coming... April Fool's!' or like... I just want you to know I'm not gonna let you live this down. I'm making hella jokes all the time. Damn. I had to be 3 days late didn't I? That's fucking awesome lowkey."

I watched her as she just talked and talked about my damn birthday. Shit, she was more excited about it than me.

"So where are we living?"

"Find something move-in ready."

"2 bedrooms right?"

"Nah. One bedroom is fine. It's cheaper." I smiled.

"Then that means two separate beds. You ain't slick."

"Well, damn. A nigga can try though, right?"

"Hell yeah, you tried... you didn't succeed but you tried."

"I found a one-bedroom, one and a half bath, 1,099 square foot apartment for $2,700. It's in Staten Island."

"Ight."

"All you gonna say is alright?"

"Mhm. Call them tomorrow and tell them we're interested, we can get a hotel until then."

"Ight. I need to start job searching cause that damn rent ain't gonna pay itself."

"I ain't letting you get no damn job."

"Boy, the fuck bye. I don't depend on anybody. I'm going to get a job pay half the rent, half the bills, and pay for half the groceries."

I looked at her, "You must be on your City Girls shit."

"I'm a real ass bitch, give a fuck about a nigga."

"I see."