Addicted (Lonzo Ball)

31

LANI

After shopping at the mall, me, Danni, Lonzo, and LaMelo go back to my house.

Rain is at work, so everything will be good.

We walk inside of the house and Danni puts her car keys on the hook.

All of us make our way to the living room and we all stop in our tracks.

"Rain!" Danni says, "What are you doing here?"

"I got off of work early," Rain replies.

Rain looks down at me and Lonzo are hands are interlocked.

"You're Lonzo Ball, a grown man holding my little cousin's hand!" Rain says.

I let go of Lonzo's hand.

"Is this the boy you've been going on dates with?" Rain asked.

I nod my head.

"Come here, Lani!" Rain pulls me into another room and she makes me sit down.

"What have you guys done?" Rain asked looking me up and down.

"Nothing much!" I fiddle with my fingers.

"Have you-" Rain thinks for a second. "Held his hand?"

I nod my head yes.

"Kissed?" Rain asked.

I sit there not answering.

"Have you kissed?" Rain asked louder.

"Yes," I mumble.

"Did you guys have sex?" Rain asked.

I bite my lip.

"I-" I start to say.

"Yes or no?"

"Y-yes!" I mumble.

"When did you- you know that this is illegal right!" Rain yells at me. "He could go to jail!"

I stay silent.

Rain begins to lecture me.

My heart beat begins to quicken and my throat begins to feel dry.

If she's mad at me now, she'll be furious with me later, I think to myself.

I open my mouth to speak, but nothing comes out.

"R-Rain," I finally say, my voice shaking with fear.

"What?" Rain asked with a sigh.

Danni walks into the room and Rain and I glance at her.

"I'm..." I let out a shakey breathe.

I'm gonna cry, I can feel it!

"You're what?"

Moments pass and I look around the room.

"Pregnant, I'm pregnant!" I blurt out.

Once I say those words the tears begin falling.

Rain's face shows dissapointment.

She begins to lecture me and I don't listen, I tune her out.

Rain shakes her head dissapointed. "You're not even listening to me, you never listen!"

Rain starts to mumble to herself and pace back and fourth around my room; she's obviously stressed.

"Lani, you've been doing this since you were thirteen." Rain says.

I look up at my older cousin and I see how worried she was.

"I know," I look down again.

"You're seventeen now, you'll be grown next year and I won't be able to help you anymore," Rain says.

I nod my head biting my lip.

"What you've done this time is just- I can't-" Rain lets out a shaky sigh.

There is a few minutes of silence.

"I'm not even sure if I can help you this time, Lani!" Rain blurts out.

I swallow because my throat is feeling dry.

"What do you mean?" I asked concerned.

"I mean you've swam too far this time and I am not going to be able to swim out and catch you!" Rain states her hazel eyes begin to get clouded with tears, and then she breaks down into tears.

Woah, Rain never lets me see her break down like this, I think to myself.

"Rain," my other cousin Danni says.

Danni walks to her sister pulling her into a hug.

I get up from my bed and I wrap my arms around her.

"I'm sorry!" Rain sniffles gaining her composure again.

"Everything will be okay, I've gotta-" Rain snaps her fingers three times thinking of the word to say next.

"Think positive?" I asked.

Rain smiles at me. "Exactly sweetie, think positive!"

Rain and Danni walk to Rain's room and I sit on my bed.

Danni walks back into our shared room and she looks at me.

"Do you wanna talk about it?" Danni asked.

I shake my head no.

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