One month later

It was the first week of spring,and it was a beautiful day. Charmaine decided to get out and take Malani to the park as she asked this morning. Charmaine dressed in a pair of boyfriend jeans and a crossed back camisole with her white chuck taylors. She dressed Malani the same just not a in the same kind of top. A crossed back crop top camisole was not appropriate for a little girl. There was a nice park fifteen minutes away. Charmaine conditioned Malani Hair putting it up in a curly ponytail.

"We can go now?"
"Yeah Tiani is there waiting on us. " Charmaine grabbed her small wallet and phone.
"Lights check,Tv check, windows check" Malani said. Charmaine locked up then they began their walk to the park.

"I hope they have swings"

They were walking in the park seeing it was packed. Lots of kids. Some were blasting music from their Cars. It looked like everyone was having a good time. She seen Tiani sitting on the bleachers watching guys play basketball.

"Mommy can I go?"
"Only around this part and call me if you need me...and don't talk to-"
"Strangers"Malani laughed walking off then picked up her pace.
"Finally" Tiani smiled seeing Charmaine.
"It's nice out today"Charmaine smiled.
"Yea you know every now and then the whole community comes out and there's music. The guys play ball we watch and bring out the grill. Normally someone would rent an ice cream truck for the kids...it's just a good time you know." Tiani said looking around.

Charmaine smiled then she squinted looking in the direction of the basketball court.
"Is that...Kain?"
"Yea. He be out here going hard"they both watched as he made an easy three pointer.

"So. Do you still have a crush on-"
"I did not say that"Charmaine Gasped.
"Do you like him?"she asked with hope in her voice.
"He is good looking. I give him that. I don't know him enough to actually like him. Besides I like where I'm at right now in life. I feel...free. "

"Char...Maine" she heard a voice say. She looked up to her suprise seeing Bear. "Hey "she waved at him.
"When you start hanging over here?"
"That's what I want to know"Kain said walking over. She noticed he had no shirt on. In fact none of the guys did. Kain was the only one to grab her attention. His body was tatted. All of them were neatly done too. He knew exactly what he was doing by taking his shirt off in the first place.

"I-I just wanted to come out and enjoy the weather "she said making sure not to make eye contact with Kain. The last thing she needed was for him to be on his bullshit today and call her out infront of all these people.

"That's wassup"he said not really caring. Omaion walked over with a water bottle in his hand.
"Mari"Tiani called out. He looked up at her. "Remember Charmaine?"

"I work with her"he said.
"No. Back in high school. It use to me me,you,Char and that other boy until yall all start going to school with Kain at North East."
She tried to explain.

Omarion looked at Charmaine. His eyes then grew wide.
"Yo"he smiled stepping back. Charmaine smiled at him.
"What happened to you. One day you just up and went missing. We been working together this whole time. Why ain't you say something?"

Charmaine shrugged not really wanting to bring up any thing too personal. "Aye look man. I ain't even know that was  you. If you ever need anything hit me up."he said in a serious tone.

"Thank you "
"So how old are you now. Twenty? Twenty one? Omarion didn't know. When they use to hang out Charmaine was the baby of the group. Tiani was already twenty and Omarion was soon to be twenty three.

"No I'm nineteen" everybody looked at her upside her head. Even those who were sitting near by,but not in her conversation.
Kain and Tiani were the only ones who knew her situation. They seen it with their own to eyes. Charmaine also accidentally let the cat out of the bag with Kain ,and she actually told Tiani she was forced to have a baby with Griff.

Kain felt Charmaine uncomfortableness. He knew how she felt. He felt bad for her.
"Why don't yall mind yall fucking business. "He said everyone turned back to what they was doing. Omarion was still clueless."my bad if I made you feel like center of attention. I wasn't expecting you to have a daughter and all that."

"It's fine"she said. Deep down in side she walked to crawl away into a small black hole. Malani came over frowning a little.

"Mommy!"she said with her hand on Charmaine leg. She looked up to see what was wrong.

"Yeah baby?"
"That boy is not sharing the swing. I asked nicely and he still didn't give it up. Then when he was swinging he was teasing me"

"How was he teasi-"
"Show me who it was"Kain cut her off. His folded white shirt was over his shoulder. 
"Kain! "She squealed. Ever since she met him he became her favorite person in the world.
Malani been to work with Charmaine a lot more often. When she did go with Charmaine she would wait for Kain to show. He always played with her and gave her snacks lowkey and joked with her.

" Hey baby,Come on show me what lil nigga want they ass kicked. "
Tiani nudged Charmaine wiggling her eyebrows.
"Why do you even think for a split second that I like him. "

"Not that you like him,but yall would be perfect together. "
"Why do you think that?"
"Cause you two are opposite. Opposite's attract. "

"Well not us two. I appreciate him bringing a smile to my daughter's face but that's as far as it will go. "

Tiani always liked playing match maker. She knew all Charmaine needed was for someone to love her and treat her like a queen. Kain was the guy to do that. From observing his past relationships he adored and worshiped every little thing about his girlfriend...well ex now.

Kain walked over to the playground holding Malani tiny hand in his. "Who was it? Him?" she nodded hee head. Charmaine ended up following behind them. "You really don't have to do this Charmaine said putting her hand on his arm. He turned and looked at her. He looked down at her hand then she quickly moved it.

"It's cool. I ain't going to beat somebody kid up "he joked.
Charmaine went to say something,but a laugh came out instead.

She stood in her current spot and watched as kain walked over there. Kain called the little boy over . you could tell he was scared shitless. The little boy had to be at least eight or nine.

After getting the little boy to apologize. "Thank you"Charmaine smiled.
He nodded his head.
"Your job isn't finished mister "Malani said pulling his arm. He looked down laughing at her. "

"I'm trynna go play ball"
"No. Push me on the swings"
"You a big girl. "
"Fine then I'm going to come with you"she said with her hands on her tiny hips.

"Come on"he gave in. Charmaine walked back over to the bleachers and sat besides Tiani. All the guys were joking around roasting each other or slap boxing.

"You better leave bear alone for he really fuck you up"Tiani warned her brother. Omarion kept hitting Bear. Bear wasn't doing anything yet. He was going to wait to catch him slipping.

"Oh hell no"Tiani said along with a few others