Dedicated to Sachi_Sanatan

Song- Not One of Us (Lion King II)

Clarisse.

Words can't express how I feel.

Again, we were about to get married.

So why did I feel so weird?

Every time we get close, something happens and drives us further apart.

I hope it doesn't happen again, I can't handle another deception.

Aiden.

I am so damn happy.

I turned to stare at Clarisse. She was toying with the ring, a huge ass smile on her face.

She turned to face me.

"Why are you staring at me like that?"

I shook my head. "Like what?"

She rolled her eyes "In that aww she's adorable sort of way."

I leaned closer to her. "Because you are."

"No I'm sexy."

I laughed. "Baby you're anything you want to be. But for me you're so many things adjectives nor metaphors can't do justice to describe you."

I saw a smile on her face as she continued toying with the ring.

"We gotta tell Aaron."

I freeze at the mention of his name.

"Do you really want to tell him?" I ask.

She gives me this 'are-you-high' sort of look.

"Obviously. He's family. Plus everything happened so fast, he doesn't even know that we're back together."

"Won't Mel tell him?"

"Of course not. The two of us have a principle: If he does something, he tells me, if I do something, I tell him. We ain't gonna hear it from nobody else."

I smile. They're so close, I wish I had a sister.

You got Melvin.

I scoff. That good for nothing bastard son of Linda's?

Hell no.

"Are you okay?"

I turn to smile at her. "I am as long as you're by my side."

She holds my hand and squeezes it.

"If something is bothering you, you can tell me."

I kiss her on the cheek.

"Nothing can bother me while you're with me."

***************************

We pull up at her brother's house.

I feel so damn nervous.

What will happen?

Will he punch me in the face?

Will he yell at me?

If he does either, I deserve it.

I broke the deal we made.

Clarisse gets out of the car and I get out as well.

We get to the door and she rings the doorbell.

The door opens.

Revealing Aaron.

I brace myself for the punch on the face.

But he doesn't do that.

Instead he stares at Clarisse.

"Why the fuck is this nigga at my door?"

I flinch.

"Aaron language! I don't want Nathan hearing your potty mouth."

I turn to see Mel with a child in her arms. She coos at him and he laughs.

I missed so much.

If I hadn't fucked up, I would've been an uncle.

It is not too late.

I smile.

Aaron's attention shifts from us to the baby in Mel's arms.

"But he's a baby."

"So? He can still hear you."

I watch her reprimand him about his language.

I wonder what would happen if Clarisse and I had a child.

Clarisse lets go of my hand and goes towards the baby.

"My baby boo is awake."

She holds him and rocks him, smiling in content. I watch as he smiles at her and smile too.

She would definitely be the mother we wished we had.

So patient, so understanding, so loving.

I took too long to understand her.

And judging by the way Aaron is glaring at me, I could tell that I was gonna hear about it.

*******************************

"What the hell?!" yells Aaron.

We were in his office after he told Clarisse he wanted to talk to me, alone.

He grabs me by the collar. "Explain yourself! We had a deal and you know that!"

"I know!", I said, nervously, "but that was when I didn't know how I felt about her. I love her, you gotta believe that."

"To hell with your 'love'. Our deal was that you will break her heart and never see her again. It worked, she was about to move on."

I felt a surge of jealousy and hurt at the same time.

"But then a year later, you come back, dump that trick of yours and propose to my sister again? Nigga, back the fuck up!"

"The past is the past!" I defend myself.

"You lost all your chances! Cause I don't give my blessings!"

"You're not her father!"

Really Aiden?

Just then, I heard a gasp and something drop to the floor.

We turned in the direction of the noise.

Shit.
********************************

Aaron.

Why on earth was I even arguing with this boy?

He doesn't even deserve her.

That deal I made with him was a test.

A test that he failed.

I don't want a boy like him near my sister.

Past my foot, your past actions affect your present.

And that's just what happened.

He lost his chance to be with Clara a year ago.

I was surprised at just how quickly he jumped from her to that woman.

And if he could do that, then no telling how quick he could break her heart again.

But for now, our focus was on one person.

And she was standing at the door.

************************************

Dun dun dun!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Oh snap!

But then again, the past is in the past.

Or is it?

So who you with?

Aiden?

Aaron?

or

Clarisse?

Now we're also going to have dedications to the dedicated readers!

#DedicatedReaderNumber2

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Ta ta!

-Safisha