Every Kind Of Way.

familiar face.

"You should look for your mom, if that's what you want."

"If I look for my mom, will you ask auntie about your dad?"

"Really? Is this some sort of 'if I jump, will you?'"

"Yes, yes it is actually."

"Okay, fine. I'm scared to though."

"Why?"

"Because he left for a reason. I don't know the reason but it seems like he didn't want his kids."

"Maybe there's something deeper than that, you never know."

I nod. We sat in silence for a moment, then I heard snores. I look over at Zac to see he was knocked out. I knew he was a goner because he had his left hand in his shorts, not that I be looking, but he always sleeps like that.

As the day went on, Zac and I relaxed for the most part. We talked about everything we could. I find joy in talking to him because he's smart and funny.

Before long, he went off to pick up Leon and go visit Leon's mom. While I was ordering some things off of Amazon, Maj called me.

"Hi brother Maj." I say putting the phone on speaker and continue scrolling Amazon.

"Hello sister Marie, what are you doing?"

"Nothing, why?"

"Why you at Zac's crib?"

"Because I can be, stop stalking my location."

"Yall kissing?"

"No we aren't Maj grow up."

He smacked his lips, "I'll ask him, he tells me everything. Anyways, I'm calling because I got something for you. Me and Lori gon swing by there when she gets off work."

"Why?"

"I just said I got something for you dummy. We'll be over later."

"Okay fine."

"Don't break my homie heart again Marie."

"I did not break that man's heart, shut up. Plus, we're focusing on being friends now."

"Good, I'll see you later. I love you."

"Okay, I love you too." I hung up.

Zachary

"What's up, you have a good day at school?" I ask Leon as he got in my car. "Yea, it was cool" He told me. I put the car in drive and went out of the line.

"You hungry or anything?"

"Nah, I just want to see my mom."

"Bet."

We went on to the hospital. When we got there, we up to Lena's room. I've never heard Leon talk so much with the way he was talking to his mom. I could tell they were the best of friends. While they were talking, Dr. T came in.

"Hey family," He said. As he was talking to them, I studied his features. I just can't shake this feeling that I know this man from somewhere. I stopped myself from looking at him before I got caught looking dumb.

When he left, I heard Lena say, "Zac, why were you looking at that man like that?"

"Huh?"

"You were looking at him like you were trying to figure something out."

"Nah, he looks so familiar. I'm trying to figure out where i've seen him."

"Well it looks like you were looking in the mirror."

"What?"

"You favor him. Maybe he's a family member."

"I don't know any of my family members but my uncle and my mom and they didn't have any siblings, that I know of at least. Maybe i'm just tripping."

After another 20 minutes, we left going back to the crib. When we got there, Fatima was coming out of my bedroom.

I look at her suspiciously as she looked guilty of something, "Babygirl, what are you doing?" I say closing the door.

She smiled, "Nothing."

"Mhm. Leon, this is my gir- my friend Fatima. Ti, Leon."

"Hi Leon, it's nice to meet you."

"Nice to meet you too."

"You got some homework?" I ask him.

"Yea."

"Go ahead and do it, if you need help, ask her."

"Really Zachary?"

"Yes, I don't do school work."

"Fine, I got you Leon."

"Thanks." Leon went over to the table taking his work out of his backpack.

Fatima turned to me, "He seems so sweet."

I nod, "He is. He's such a good kid."

"I love that you've taken him under your wing." She tried to hug me but I stepped away.

"Aht, what were you doing in my room? Huh? And don't act like I can't see my shirt behind your back."

"You worried about the wrong things."

"What do you have my shirt for? You have a shirt on."

"Inventory."

"Inventory? You can do better than that."

"Because I wanted one of your shirts, is that okay with you?"

"That's all you had to say."

"Mhm, don't think I didn't hear you almost say 'my girl'" She walked away.

Fatima helped Leon with his math homework when he needed it. I watched from a distance, seeing a smile on Leon's face.

After a while, Maj and Lori had showed up. They even brought some food from Lori's mother. We ate, talked, laughed, and everything.

After eating, Maj said he and Lori had something for the both of us. Lori pulled out a bag from God knows where and opened it, giving us both a folded shirt.

"Unfold it and read what's on it." Maj told us with a grin on his face. I looked at Fatima with a raised eyebrow and we unfolded the shirt.

Mine said Promoted to Uncle, I looked at Fatima's and hers said, Promoted to Aunt.

"You're lying!" Fatima and I both said.

"Nope, i'm pregnant." Lori said showing us an ultrasound picture.

"I knew it! The Lord didn't put that on my heart for no reason." Fatima said.

"We got a lil boy on the way, hell yea nigga." I say dapping up Maj. "You already know, nigga." Maj said.

"Um bye, it's gonna be a girl." Fatima said and Lori agreed with her.

Maj sucked his teeth, "Leon, is it going got be a girl or a boy?"

"I'm team boy."

"Exactly!"

"Yall only saying that because yall are men." Lori said.

"Leon you were supposed to be on our side." Fatima said.

"Not when it comes to this." Leon said.

"That's my guy." I taunt Fatima and Lori. "If it's a girl, yall have to plan an entire trip. If it's a boy, we'll plan it." Fatima said.

"Deal!" Maj and I say.