65

The Next Day...

Angel

"Very funny... So what now? I reckon y'all want a kiss?"

"Kissing would be niiccee, yes."

"AAAHHHHHH!" Kali and I burst into laughter watching Tiana scream her head off and back into the dresser, knocking all the toys down to the floor.

Me, her, and Kai were laying down in my bed cuddling while we watched The Princess and The Frog. I find it so cute and heart warming how she holds onto me so tight.

And guess what else she does: she rubs her feet on people when she cuddles, just like me! I found that out last night when she ran into my room begging to sleep with David and I after all the lightening and thundering scared her.

I see so much of me and him in her that it's crazy. We really look at, treat, and love on her like she's our very own child.

The bedroom door flew open and our heads turned to it. Dave walked into the room smiling at us.

"Angel, can I talk to you for minute in the bathroom?" He asked taking his jacket off and sitting it down on the bed. I furrowed my eyebrows at him.

"Uh, yeah. Sure baby." Throwing the covers off of me, I got up out of the bed.

"You think you can handle her until we get back Kali?" I pointed to a calm, propped up Kairi who's eyes were glued to the television.

"Yeah I can!" She excitedly as she nodded her head.

"Alright, we'll be right back Little Butts. We're just going to talk for a second. Blink ya eyes and we'll be back." I said walking into the bathroom with Dave.

"I blinked Angel!" She yelled to me.

"Well blink slower!" I yelled back and shut the door, hearing her small giggles shortly after.

Resting the back of my head on the door, I watched him put his hands on the bathroom sink and lean up against it.

"Baby, what's wrong? Is everything okay? What happened over there?" I was beginning to become concerned.

He just shook his head shamefully, making me fold up my arms.

"They didn't answer the door did they?" He stood up straight and sighed.

"No, and they're home too. I could hear them on the other side of the door before I knocked. But when I did, they got really quiet as if no one's there."

I scoffed and a chuckle came behind it. "Wow..."

Every since we got home yesterday from London's party we've been trying to take Kali home, but Miracle or her boyfriend won't answer the door.

"God, that's so irresponsible! Like they don't even care who their daughters with or even if she's okay! They'll literally leave her with anyone!" I whisper yelled so the babies wouldn't hear me.

"David, I'm just..." I sighed feeling my eyes sting from the tears that desperately wanted to fall.

"Angeelll..." He walked over to me and pulled me into his big strong arms. I laid my head on his chest, letting them soak his grey LSR tee.

"I don't want her grow up feeling like I did growing up. I want her to know that we love her and we care about her." I spoke into him.

"I know baby, and I want the same! But I'd rather her be over her than over there any day. At least we know she's safe here." He said rubbing my back, soothing me.

"You're right..." I lifted head up allowing him to kiss my tears away.

"But I'll tell you what, we not going over there anymore. If they want her, they gonna have to come knock on that door and get her." He laid one last on my lips. I hummed at the goosebumps that rose on top of my skin.

"Mmm, I love how sweet you are." He mumbled against my lips.

"You do?" I asked in a seductive tone. "Yes I do Mama." He smirked at me.

Leaning down, Dave drew his hand back and brought it down on my butt. "Damn that ass fat... Make it shake for me."

"Baby no! We gotta get back to the kids now." I whined as he gripped my butt.

"Come on Ma! Make it shake. Just a little bit." Rolling my eyes at him, I threw my head back.

"Okay. Only because you asked nicely..." Throwing my arms around his neck, I slightly made my ass jump in hands.

"Fuckkkkk Angel..." He groaned in my ear. "Come on baby just five minutes." He said pulling me towards the sink.

"Baby no! It's almost time for me to start dinner." I sternly said while looking into his eyes.

"Angel please! I can bend you over the counter and we'll be done! Baby pleassseee!" He held onto my waist begging me.

"NO, I mean it now. Let's go." I opened the door and walked out of the bathroom.

"Yeah that's what Ima say whenever yo ass wanna go shopping." I stopped in my tracks hearing him mumble under his breath. Quickly turning around, I stuck my head back in the door.

"Hmm? What you say? I couldn't quite hear you." He startled by the sound of my voice.

"I-I said I can't wait to take my baby shopping. When you wanna go boo?"

"Mmhm, that ain't what yo patchy beard having ass said." I retorted walking off.

"IIGHT NOW BALDHEAD!" He shouted from the bathroom making Kali laugh hard.

"Oh I know you not laughing Chunky Butt!" Pulling her to the edge of the bed by her little ankles, I started to tickle her sides.

"HA! NO ANGEL! STOPPPP! DAVEEEE, SAVE ME!!!" She shouted out as she squirmed around the bed uncontrollably.

"Dave can't save you. I've got you now!" I tried to deepen my voice to make it sound evil.

"Give me my baby Cruella!" Dave came up behind me and started to tickle me, and I instantly dropped down to the ground screaming.

"DAVIDDDDD! STAHAPPPPPPP!" I kicked my legs at him feeling like I was about to die.

"Come on Kali! Help me tickle her!" He yelled to her over my screams.

"NO KALI! DONT YOU- AHHHHH!" I was cut off by feeling double the pain when her little fingers moved quickly all over my tickle spots.

***

"Hey looovvvee, I loves you bae. Picking up a penny with a press on is easier than holding you down. Can't be any, harder thannnn holding you up noww. To come clean I said, to be real is to be real it's probably true what they sayyyy about me. Probably came from my inner circle." I gracefully swayed my hips from side to side, singing Go Gina by SZA as I finished up dinner.

"HI KALI! ITS DINOSAUR DAVE, AND IM GONNA EAT YOU! RAWRRRRRRRR!" Dave's 'Monster Voice', as he calls it, rang from the living room and went all throughout the entire apartment.

"DINOSAUR DAVE NO! AHHHHH!" I scrunched up my face after hearing Kali let out an ear piercing scream.

This is what I've been listening to since she's been here. Although I enjoy it, these two are going to get me the biggest noise complaint in the history of noise complaints.

"GIMMIE THOSE LITTLE ARMS! NO I WANT THOSE FEET... GIMMIE THEM LITTLE TOES!"

"Nobody getting my toes! Go get Angel's feet! They're way bigger than mine!" I just knew her little sassy butt had those arms folded up while she was talking to him.

"Nu uh, I don't want those feet... Them feet shank." I heard them both in there snickering, but they stopped once they heard the doorbell ring.

"Oop, let me get that." I said to myself wipping my hands off on my small kitchen towel.

Making my way out the kitchen, I was stopped by running into something hard.

"Damn David! You gonna knock me down! Fuck, hard ass chest!" I held my hand up to my pounding forehead.

"Fuck outta here Angel! You saw me coming! You gone let me get the door?" He asked defensively.

"NIGGA I DIDNT SAY YOU COULDN'T! GO HEAD!" I yelled as I bucked my eyes at him. He let out an irritated sigh and continued to get the door with me hot on his tail.

"Damn, lil head ass. I'm surprised your hard headed ass felt that shit."

"Ugh, shut u-" Once he opened the door, my words came to an abrupt halt seeing Miracle's boyfriend standing behind across from us.

We stared at him in complete shock...

"Y'all know why I'm here." He shrugged nonchalantly.

"Oh hi! We're doing good! How about you?" I stated trying teach him how to properly greet someone, because I don't think him or his rude ass girlfriend knows how to.

He let out an aggravated sigh. "Y'all gonna give her to me or not?"

"Where is Miracle? And wh-"

"Angel, go check on the kids." Dave said interrupting me. I just sighed and did what I was told.

Walking back into the living room, I spotted her playing with Kairi's hands while she was laying in her bouncer.

"Oh hi Angel!" She said flashing that beautiful smile of hers.

"Hi baby... Listen, your mom's boyfriend is at the door and he's asking for you to go back home with him..."

The smile that was once on her face was now gone. I looked into her big brown eyes seeing nothing but pure fear in them. My mind went into a trance seeing myself as a child all over again.

10 years ago...

I walked into the cold apartment absolutely exhausted after a long drawn out cheerleading practice.

Going straight to the refrigerator, I opened it up looking for something to eat. As always, it was empty.

"MA!" I called out for her shutting it.

"Ma, I have to go to the store! Give me the EBT card!" I shouted out for her again, but got nothing but silence back.

She must not be here...

I sighed digging in my bag and pulling out my light pink Blackberry. I dialed Amir's number; he answered on the 5th ring.

"Hello?" I squinted my eyes hearing his labored breathing through the phone.

"Hey Amir, what are you doing? How come it took you so long to answer the phone?" I held the phone in between my ear and shoulder as I looked through the mail that was on the table.

"N-nothing baby. Wassup? What you need?" "What do I need? I can't call you just to talk?"

He chuckled on the other end. "Sure baby, wassup?"

"Umm, I need you to take me to the store..."

He sucked his teeth. "You can't ride the bus to the store?!"

"No Amir! You know how I feel about riding the bus after dark! Just take me pleassssss-"

"Alright alright! Give me a minute; I'll be there." He said dryly. My eyes then landed on a white envelope with my name on it.

New York State...

"Okay..." He hung up the phone.

Anxiety built up inside me as I frantically opened the letter.

"Congratulations! On behalf of the faculty and staff of New York State University, it is with great pleasure that I inform you of your admission to State as a member of the Class of-"

I sat my bag down on the kitchen table and the stuffed the letter inside it. I ran upstairs to my room to call Amir back.

My soul jumped out of my body seeing my father sitting on the edge of my bed, waiting for me. The phone that was once in my hands was now on the floor.

My mind was telling my legs and feet to run as fast as I possibly could out of the apartment and never look back, but fear kept them bounded to the state I was in.

He got up and walked over to me, placing both of his hands on my face. I became even more scared feeling his evil presence linger over me.

As soon as he leaned down and placed a hard kiss on my lips, my bladder emptied everything that was in it. Urine soaked my underwear and my grey Nike sweatpants. Hearing the sound of it splatter on the wooden floor made it surreal for me.

Seeing an evil smirk grow on his face made tears of embarrassment and fear pour out of my eyes. He enjoyed seeing me afraid like that. He feed off of my fear...

He snatched my clothes off of my body and pushed me face first onto the bed.

"I missed you so much Angel." I began to cry harder hearing the jingling sounds of his belt buckle as it fell to the ground.

***

I sprayed more cleaning products on the spot of the floor where I urinated at. I scrubbed the floor extremely hard trying to get it up.

I stopped when I heard something vibrating under my dresser. Reaching under it feeling around, I pulled out my phone and answered it.

"H-hello?" I spoke softly into the phone.

"Angel! What the fuck yo?! I've been downstairs for the past hour waiting on you! I've been calling you like crazy!" Amir spat into the phone.

"I'm coming down now..." I hung up the phone before he could say anything else.

I grabbed all of the dirty towels, bed sheets, and clothes and threw them into the washing machine. I quickly started it and headed out the door.

I slowly got in Amir's car, bracing myself for the "talking to" I knew that was ahead.

"Hi Amir..." I said slowly putting on my seatbelt.

" 'Hi?' No ain't no damn 'Hi' Angel! What were you up there doing for that long that you didn't see me calling you?!" I played with my hands.

"I-I was taking a bath and cleaning. I just lost track of time..." He scoffed.

"You lost track of time? Angel if you knew I was picking you up, then why wouldn't you be waiting on me?"

"I-I'm sorry Amir... I-Is it okay if I stay the night with you tonight?" My voice cracked as my heart ached inside of my chest.

"I don't know Angel... You know how moms be tripping about that." He said shaking his head.

"I know, I know! Amir please? Take me to get a hotel ro- well no, because I'm about to spend the last of my money on groceries... Take me to a public restroom. Um, I'll sleep in your car! Please, anything. As long as I don't have to go back in there for the night." I found myself begging him, desperate to get away from my parents.

I knew what was coming tonight at 12:23 AM if I was in that bed. I knew because it's been happening every single night at the exact same time since I was little girl.

He looked at me and sighed. "Okay Angel..."

***

I laid in the backseat of Amir's car, snuggling up with the warm pillow and blanket that he brought me from inside his house.

I picked up my phone off the floor to look at the time.

"9:17 PM" I sat it back down.

Staring at the back of the drivers seat, I felt an emotion in me that I didn't recognize: Happiness.

For the first time in my life, I was happy.

Happy that I wasn't feeling any anxiety. Happy that I didn't have to worry about my father raping me tonight. Happy that I got accepted into the college I wanted with a full scholarship. Happy that I didn't have wake up in the middle of the night and brace myself for the hell that was about to come. Happy that I wasn't feeling any pain. Happy that I could get a full night's sleep and knowing that I wouldn't be tired the next day like I am everyday.

Happy that I'm here...

I'd be happier homeless than living under a roof with my parents.

***

I snapped out of my thoughts feeling Kali's tears soak the bottom of my shorts.

"Angel please don't make me go with him!" She cried into my lap.

"Shhhh, come here..." I picked her up and sat her in my lap. She laid her head on my chest.

"You're not going anywhere tonight. You hear me? You gonna stay righhtttt here with me, David, and Kai fat mama. Shhh, it's okay..." I rubbed her back soothing her.

"M-M-Mmkay..." She said through her sniffles, calming down.

Sitting her down on the couch, I got up. "I'll be right back Chunky Booty." I went back to the door where they were standing.

"Kali is really tired. We're about to eat and put her down for bed. We'll bring her in the morning." I looked into his eyes trying to read his soul.

"So I came all the way over here for nothing?" He scoffed.

"You know what? You and Miracle have some fucking nerve! I'm sick of the dis-re-fucking-spect from the both of you! We try to bring her home and y'all act like y'all not there! Neither one of you haven't to check up on that baby! And now after two fucking days-" David put his hands in front of my chest.

"Angel, go back in there and feed the babies. I'll handle this..." He said in a very calm tone, not taking his eyes off the man. It was so calm that it was scary.

"Okay..."

I walked away and sat back down beside Kali. She was wiping the tears off of her face. I lifted her head up making her look into my eyes.

"Kali, what's your favorite movie?" I asked her.

"The Princess and The Frog of course! The same as yours!" She said blinking those beautiful eyes.

"And what's your favorite color?"

"Blue! But not any normal old blue... Like a really, really, really light blue!" She said excitedly.

These are all things that we've talked about before and that I already know.

"Kali, you know you can tell me anything right?" I raised an eyebrow at her.

"Yeahhhh"

"Okay, I'm going to ask you something. And I want you to be very honest with me, okay?" I asked.

"Otayyy" She said still giving me her full undivided attention.

"Has Miracle's boyfriend ever touched, harmed, or hurt you in any way? Has he ever touched you in places that made you feel uncomfortable?" I made sure to look in her eyes this time and not miss any signs of dishonesty if it came about.

Now that I know what she looks like when she's honest, I can easily spot when she's not telling the truth.

"No... Well he does hurt my feelings a lot." She frowned. "What do you mean by that Kal?"

"He's mean! And he calls me mean names! He says that I'm ugly and that no one will ever want or love me..." She put her head down. I quickly picked it back up.

"Listen to me Kalifornia, never listen to or feed into anything bad anyone has to say about you. You wanna know why? Because those things aren't true at all. Never let what someone says about you make or define you. People like him are insecure and they're not happy with themselves. So in order for them to feel better about themselves, they tear others down. But you know how to get back at them and shut them up?"

"How?"

"You kill them with kindness; fight them with positivity. Give them a complement. I promise that'll leave them so confused and get under their skin more than anything. So the next time he says anything like that to you, you say something nice to him. And if he EVER tries to touch in anyway, I want you to punch him in between his legs okay?" She nodded her head and smiled at me.

"OKAY!" "Alright, now give me some love Chunky Booty." She jumped in my arms and hugged my neck so tight.

"And you know those things aren't true; you're very beautiful. And me, Dave, and Kai love you. So does TT Stephanie, Uncle JD, Nana Faye, London, and a lot of other people." I said as I squeezed her back.

"You're right! I love you guys too!" My heart fluttered when she gave me the biggest kiss on my cheek.

"Awwwwww, you so sweet!" We giggled as I kissed all over her face.

The front door slammed loudly and we both jumped. Dave walked into the living room.

"Um, babe? Is everything okay?" I asked, furrowing my eyebrows at him.

"Oh yeah! Everything's fine now that I got some stuff off my chest!" He said slightly smiling.

Oh God... I've seen that look before.

"Um, okay baby. Grab Kali and I'll get Kairi. It's time to eat!" She cooed to me as I got her out her bouncer.