Just Friends

Falling into Place

ZONNIQUE'S POV

I was cleaning up my guest bedroom a little, preparing it for Zya, when I found one of my old photo albums. At first, I wasn't going to open it. But as I started thinking about it, I realized that I hadn't seen my family in so long that I was starting to forget what they looked like. So, I sat down on the floor and hesitantly opened up the photo album. The first photo was a picture of my dad and I when I was around five. I was on a bike and I had on all this protective gear, which indicated that I was learning how to ride a bike.

I stared at the picture for a while, trying to remember it. For the most part, I could. Some bits and pieces were a little fuzzy, but I remembered the most important part. Which was when I started pedaling faster and I got scared, asking him not to let go. So, he told me "don't worry sweetheart, daddy will never let you go."

I shook my head and closed the album, wiping away the tears that were rolling down my cheeks.

"You good?"

I jumped and looked over my shoulder to see Chris in the doorway, leaning against the frame and staring at me with a concerned expression.

I sniffled and wiped away the remaining tears. "Yeah, I'm fine." I mumbled while standing up.

"Is that a photo album?" He stepped into the room.

"No." I said lowly and tried to shove the album back into the top of the closet.

"Liar." He chuckled as he reached over my head and took the photo album from me.

"No! Chris I--" I tried to take it back. "Give it back to me."

"Aw, look at lil Nique learning to ride a bike." He grinned as he studied the picture.

I sighed and crossed my arms, waiting for him to finally hand it back. Unfortunately, he flipped to the next page. We both looked down at the picture of my mother and I on Christmas. I was sitting in her lap, holding a new barbie car and smiling up at the camera with a few teeth missing. My mother was looking down at me with admiration and pride evident. I tucked my lips in and let out a deep breath.

"You don't like looking at these pictures, huh?" He asked me while closing it.

"No." I shook my head.

"Can I suggest something?"

"Yes?" I looked up at him.

He put his hand on my waist and pulled me closer. "Later on tonight, you an I can make hot chocolate and cookies, then we can cuddle up on the couch, and look through the album together."

"Thanks, but no thanks." I rejected.

He sucked his teeth. "Why you always gotta be like this? I'm just trying to help you. I get that its hard for you to talk about your family, but I honestly don't even feel like you're trying to open up more to me." He scoffed. "It's hard for me to talk about my childhood and my stepdad, but if you asked me anything about either I would tell you with no hesitation. Because I love you and I know I can tell you anything."