Mama always tells me not to stand on the back of the couch, but she's in the other room doing laundry and she can't see me. I watch through our big window as the truck pulls up next door. No one lives in the house and there was a sign poked in the grass until yesterday. A lady would bring people to see the house, but they always left and never came back.
The truck becomes quiet, and a woman that was driving gets out, shutting the door behind her. I remember seeing her a while ago. I remember her being very pretty like my mama. But this time, a boy is with her and he jumps out of the other side. He has her same brown hair, it’s not as dark as mine.
I climb down from our couch and run through the house until I get to the laundry room. I tug on the bottom of mama's shirt. "What, Daphne?" Mama looks down at me with a smile, her light-colored eyes sparkling.
I frown. "Who’s those people next door?"
"What people?" She smiles wider.
"C'mon, I'll show you." I grab her hand and pull her along with me. "They have a big truck."
Mama moves the white lace curtain and peeks out the window. "Hmm. That's a moving truck, Daphne, it looks like we're getting neighbors."
Excitedly, I ask, "Can we go meet them?"
She laughs but shakes her head. "Why don't we wait until they’re moved in?"
"But, Mama," I pout with my bottom lip sticking out.
Mama gives me that look that says she means no. “No, Daphne.”
"Fine." I cross my arms, narrow my eyes, and sit on the couch, mad that she won't go over there.
Mama walks back to finish laundry and I stare out the window again. The boy sits on the curb with his head down. He looks sad. I turn, looking toward the kitchen. Biting my lip, I walk over to the front door, open it, and run over to the boy, sitting next to him.
I give him my best smile, even if he isn’t looking at me. "Hi, my name is Daphne Brooks. What's yours?"
He turns his head to see me. He has pretty blue eyes and the longest black lashes I've ever seen. Are boys supposed to have pretty eyes like that? A tear sits on his cheek. "Devon Mayfield."
I pull my shirt down over my knees and hold my legs to my chest. Mama always tells me not to do that because it will stretch out my clothes, but I do it anyway. "Why are you sad?"
"Because I want to go home." He looks down at the ground, picks up a small rock, and throws it across the street. "I'm never going to see my friends again."
I watch every move he makes. "Why are you going to live in this house?"
He continues throwing rocks. "My dad's job.”
I shrug. "I'll be your friend." I smile, but he is still frowning. "I'll be right back."
I jump up, run into my house, and go into my bedroom. Sitting on my bed is my favorite teddy bear. I grab Grizzly and run back outside. Sitting next to Devon, I hold my bear out for him to take. "This is Grizzly. I've had him since I was a baby and he's my favorite. When I'm sad or have nightmares, he helps me."
Devon looks at me with his brows up. "Thanks." He takes my favorite stuffed animal from my hands.
I smile. "Maybe he will help you too."
"Yeah, maybe." He looks down twirling the brown fuzzy bear in his hands.
"Daphne!" Mama shouts from our front porch.
"I gotta go!" I jump up and run back to my house.
Mama has a hand on her hip and her mad face on. "I told you we weren't going over there."
I lower my head. "I know, but he was sad. I wanted to help him not be sad."
"Oh, Daphne." Mama sighs. "You have such a big heart."
"Am I in trouble?" I bat my eyes at her.
"Yes, for going outside when I told you no. Go to your room until your dad gets home.”
Huffing, I do as I'm told. I sit on my bed thinking about the boy next door. I wonder if we will be friends.
* * *
Mom laughs at something Devon's mom said. I zoned out, not really paying attention as our parents joke and converse after we've finished dinner. It's the same thing every Friday night since I was six and Devon was seven. Soon after his family got completely moved in, my parents introduced our family to Devon's and the parentals became best friends.
I roll my eyes at the topic of where Devon and I will be going to college. Devon kicks my leg under the table gently. Gazing up at him, I smile. "Daph and I are going to start the dishes," he says.
I jump up from the table, probably a little overzealous, but I don't want to hear about college when I don't even know what I'm going to do next freaking week. All I know is I want to do something with my art, but my parents are pushing for a University. Following Devon into the kitchen, he spins to face me and stalks forward until I’m backed against the wall.
"I couldn't wait to get out of there." His lips smash against mine, his arms move around my waist, pulling me in closer.
"Me either." Hooking my arms around his neck, I bring his lips to mine again before he places them against the crook of my neck.
I feel Devon’s lips lift in a smile against my flesh. "Let's get these dishes done and then we'll sneak over to your house."
"Agreed." I grin. "You want to rinse or load?"
"I'll rinse." Taking my hand in his, we walk to the sink.
Devon fills one sink full of hot water and soap, making the bubbles almost overflow the top. I open the dishwasher and wait for him to hand me dishes. We've been doing this together long enough that we have a system down, and once he starts handing me glasses, I know we are about done.
"Hey, Daph."
My head snaps in his direction. "Yeah?" Bubbles land on my face; Devon busts out laughing.
Blowing them off my nose, I pull the bottom of my shirt up and wipe my face. Devon is bent over cackling. "I'm gonna get you for that!" I try to be serious, but my lips are already lifting, giggles are pouring out of me.
His eyes widen. "Oh, shit!" He turns, opens the back door, and takes off running through his backyard and into mine. I follow behind nowhere near fast enough as I continue tracing his steps until I reach my bedroom.
The light is off. "Devon," I call out, but he doesn't answer. I step further into my room. Suddenly, his arms wrap around my waist. I let out a loud shriek and my fists hit whatever I can.
He lifts me into the air and tackles me onto the bed. Reaching over, he turns my bedside lamp on illuminating my room. All my band posters and the drawings I’ve done cover my light pink painted walls. I've begged my parents to let me redo my room, but they say no. At least they let me pick out my own black and white comforter. I grew out of the pink stage at ten.
My eyes meet the boy that I have been best friends with for over half my life, and the same boy I have loved for just as long. Neither of us had expressed how we felt about each other until last year. After my break-up with Jake Downing and Devon's with Chrissy Strumley, we decided to take our friendship to the next level. We've been dating ever since. At first, I thought it might be weird not being “just friends” with him, but it wasn’t. It felt natural, right, and perfect.
Devon reaches up, moving my hair off my face. "You're so pretty. You know that, Daph?"
I smile, but my cheeks begin to heat. He always gives me little compliments and they always make me blush. My lips slowly even out as I run my hands through his dark hair. "I love you, Dev."
Narrowing his eyes with a sexy smirk, he replies, "I love you too."
Biting my lip, I gaze into his blue depths. "I'm ready."
He pulls back a little, staring down at me, looking for a sign of hesitation. He won't find any. "Are you sure?" He asks anyway.
I nod. "Yes, I'm sure." I know he's had sex before, but this is my first time. I’ve always wanted it to be with someone I loved, and at this moment, with him, it just feels right. I wouldn't want anyone else to take my virginity.
My arms go further around his neck and Devon lowers his head to crash our lips together. His tongue enters through the seam of my lips, sliding alongside mine softly, lovingly. I spread my legs wider so that his jean covered hips grind against me. He swallows my moans. This is as far as we've ever taken it, but I'm ready for more.
Releasing his neck, I push against his chest, and when he backs away, I sit up on my bed. Pulling at the bottom of my shirt, I remove it over my head, throw it on the floor, and reach behind me to unclasp my bra. My eyes never leave Devon's. I witness them change with a heated intensity I've never seen from him before. They darken with a smoldering want and need for me. My belly fills with butterflies, swarming with nerves.
Devon shakes his head in disbelief as his eyes roam over my naked body. "You're so beautiful."
I stay quiet, mesmerized, at the sight of Devon standing before me removing his clothes. His toned body is on display and no amount of insecurity or fear radiates from him, unlike me. My body is trembling, and an unfamiliar sense of shyness begins to take hold, but I follow his direction until we are both bare.
He pulls a condom out of his wallet, rolls it down on himself, and then he joins me back on my bed lying on top of me between my spread legs. "I'll love you forever, Daph."
"Forever," I repeat. His lips press against mine and never waver until we are breathless and sated.
* * *
"Mom!" I whisper-yell as I push on her shoulder. She stirs but doesn't wake from sleep. It's 3:30 in the morning. "Mom!" I say a little louder.
"Huh?" She responds groggily while rubbing her tired eyes.
"The baby is coming!" Groaning, I bend over in pain, grabbing my stomach.
She sits straight up in bed. "Are you sure?"
The Braxton hicks have been waking me every night for weeks, so I don't blame her for asking, but I know it's real this time. The contractions feel like a rollercoaster of pain and the gush of fluid that came out of my body was the perfect indication that the baby is coming.
I scream, "Yes, my water broke!" My face scrunches up as another contraction hits me.
She shakes my father awake. "It's time!" She jumps out of bed. Without bothering to change out of her night clothes, we rush to get my bag, and we meet my dad at the car.
* * *
Two hours later I'm exhausted, but I give it my all. Bearing down, I push as the doctor counts, and finally, I hear the first cries of my baby boy. My head falls back into the pillow and tears run down my cheeks as I try to catch my breath.
"He's so beautiful!" Mom cries beside me. "You did so good, and I'm so proud of you." She runs her hand across my sweaty forehead, moving hairs that are stuck, and kisses my forehead.
The nurse places my newborn son in my arms. I cry even harder in happiness and pure joy. The worst pain I’ve ever felt in my life is forgotten when I have him in my arms. He's the most beautiful baby boy I've ever seen. He's perfect. My heart fills with so much love for this little human, and I vow to him that I will be the best mommy possible.
Mom asks gazing down at her grandson. "What are you going to name him?"
I had been putting off a name because I couldn't decide, and when I got here to the hospital, everything went at lightning speed as they prepped me for delivery. They even held off on the paperwork because I was so close to delivering.
But...looking down at him now, I know. Without hesitation, I tell her, "Zane Devon Mayfield."
Mom sighs deeply. "Daphne."
Peering up at her, I simply say, "He's still his father."
Devon left two weeks before I found out I was pregnant. I was devastated, my heart was crushed, and I was so broken I didn't believe it was possible for me to come back from the destruction he caused.
At the time it was the worst pain I'd ever felt, losing the person that was your best friend for over half your life and that you loved for just as long. It's been almost a year without a returned call or without a response to the letters I wrote. His parents haven't even heard from him. He left us all behind, and now, that includes his son too.
The son he doesn't even know about.