Part Seven - Tysharn's Story.

Chapter 1 ...My little sister Mia/a month later...

“Tysharn, when can we come back to your house again?” My 8 year old sister Holly asked me. “He doesn’t want you here again Holly! You spilt Ribena all over his sofa!” Her twin brother Harvey said. I laughed. “How about next weekend?” I asked. “YES PLEASE!” Holly shouted. “It’s a date then” I said to her smiling. I put them in the back of my car and drove them back home. Holly knocked on the door whilst I got their stuff from my car boot. My 19 year old sister came to the door. She looked ill. “You look like death warmed up!” I said to her. “Funny guy” she replied. “Where are Mum and Dad?” I asked. “Round Aunty Jamilah’s mate” she said walking into the living room. I carried Holly and Harvey’s stuff upstairs and put their dirty clothes in the washing basket. They had already gotten ready for bed before they came back home so they got into bed and I put a DVD on for them to drift off too. I went to go talk to my sister as I knew something was wrong with her but she just wasn’t telling me. I walked back downstairs and heard her on the phone. “No they don’t, not yet anyway, don’t say a word to anybody please babe, keep it on the down low” she said to someone on the phone. “Alright, I’ll come back down tomorrow then yeah?” she carried on. Who was she talking to? What did she mean by she was going back down tomorrow? I crept back up the stairs and then walked back down them. As I opened the living room door she came off the phone. “Who was that?” I asked her. “Nobody” she said. I knew she was lying. She can’t look people in the eyes when she’s lying. I went and sat on the other sofa. “You can talk to me you know! I’m not a fed!” I said to her. “If I had anything to tell then I would tell you...but I haven’t so there’s nothing I have left to say” she said to me her eyes fixed on the television screen. “Lied” I said. “How am I a liar? Oh you know what Tysharn! Don’t even get me mad” she said. “Why?” I asked her. “I do NOT have to explain myself to you!” she said to me. I laughed. “WOULD YOU SHUT UP!” she screamed at me. “Calm down!” I said to her. She got up and stormed into the kitchen. Mum came back with my 5 month old sister Ellie. “Hello sweetheart” she said to me kissing me on my cheek. “Hi Mum” I said to her. “Where’s your sister?” she asked me. “Holly and Harvey are in bed and hormonal is in the kitchen” I said. Mum passed me Ellie and went to go sort Mia out. “What is up with you Mia?” Mum asked. “Nothing just leave me alone! Why has something got to be wrong with me?” Mia said back to Mum. “Don’t lie to me Mia. It’s been going on for months!” Mum said. “After you killed my everything? You know if it wasn’t for this stupid family then he’d still be here and my baby would still have a Dad” she confessed before walking into the living room.

Chapter 2 ...Secrets...

“What did you just say?!” Mum asked her. “You heard me! IF IT WASN’T FOR YOU LOT THEN JAMAHL WOULD STILL BE HERE!” she shouted at Mum, singling each word out like Mum was stupid or something. “No! The other bit” Mum said. Mia looked confused. She was so into the argument she didn’t even realize she said it. Mum looked down at Mia’s stomach then back at Mia. “You did hear her didn’t you Junior” Mum asked me. “Yeah, I know I did” I replied. Mia sat there and thought for about 30 seconds. “Oh....that” she said. “YES THAT!” Mum replied. “Let me just go settle Ellie down then we can talk about this okay” Mum said. Mum took Ellie off me and went upstairs. “I KNEW something was wrong!” I said to Mia. “Well done Sherlock!” Mia replied. “Why didn’t you tell me?” I asked her. “I have my reasons” she said. “You keeping it?” she asked. “It’s the only part of Jamahl that lives on” she said beginning to cry. I got up and walked over to her, she got up and I hugged her. “I miss him so much Tysharn!” she said crying into my stomach. I hugged her tightly. Mum came back downstairs and looked at us both. “Come here Mia” she said opening her arms for a hug. Mia walked over to Mum and cried into her chest. Mum held her tightly. I decided to leave them two to it and got my keys and walked out of the house. I heard shouting and looked up the street. I saw a woman struggling and a man with his hands around the woman’s neck. I couldn’t ignore it as I’d want someone to do the same for my sisters or Mum. Dad came back as I was running up towards the commotion. Dad ran up behind me and jumped on the man so he couldn’t go anywhere. He restrained the man as we waited for the police to arrive. A phone started to ring. I went over to the woman and looked for the phone. I answered it. “Sharna where are you?!” a person asked. “Aunty Jamilah?” I asked. “What are you doing with Sharna’s phone Tysharn?” she asked me.

Chapter 3 ...Full on dickhead...

The darkness made it hard to see her face but the girl lying on the floor was my younger cousin Sharna. I say my cousin but we’re not related in any way accept marriage. Dad isn’t my biological Dad but he’s been there since the day I was born so I call him my Dad. Dad then got married to Mum whose best friends with Dad’s younger sister. “DAD IT’S SHARNA!” I shouted at him. I’d forgotten the phone was still on until Dad took it off me. “Jamilah....its Jason....there’s been an accident....we’re just up the road” Dad told my Aunty. I took my jacket off and put it on top of Sharna. She looked so pale and so cold. Aunty Jamilah came running up the road. “WHAT THE FUCK HAVE YOU DONE?!” Aunty Jamilah screamed at the guy. I’d forgotten about him. I moved Dad out of the way and started punching up the guy. “DON’T FUCK WITH MY FAMILY!” I screamed kicking him as hard as I could. Mum and Mia came running out of the house to see what all the commotion was about. Mia ran up to Sharna, Mum behind her. “WHAT THE HELLS HAPPEND?!” Mia shouted. A female came running up from out of nowhere. “Which one of you pussyholes did this to my brother?” she asked. “I DID AND WHAT?!” I shouted to her. “Tysharn leave it!” Mia shouted at me. “You’re next!” the girl shouted at my sister. My sister looked at the girl. “I’LL FUCKING KILL YOUR CLART!” she shouted at the girl stepping to her. “You always were a pair of skets anyway, I knew Sharna would fall for the bait!” the girl said. Mia charged at her but Mum grabbed her. “MIA! LEAVE IT!” she shouted at her. “I’LL LEAVE THIS BITCH FOR DEAD!” Mia screamed at the girl. Mia broke free and pounced on the girl. “ABOUT YOU WANNA TRY KILL MY BABY SISTER! THEN BURN MY HOUSE DOWN! THEN YOU WANNA TRY KILLING MY BEST FRIEND? ARE YOU ON CRACK BITCH?!” Mia screamed at the girl punching her. From then on I realized who she was talking about and who she was fighting. It was none other than her arch enemy, Leanne.

Chapter 4 ...Dead girl walking...

I helped Mum get Mia off Sharna before anything happened to her. The ambulance came and Aunty Jamilah went with Uncle Jordan to the hospital. They arrested Liam and Leanne on suspicion of attempted murder and were going to charge Leanne with the killing of my cousin’s baby father, Jermaine. Me and Mia decided to stay round Aunty Jamilah’s and babysit my cousins Shaquille who was 6, Nevaeh who was nearly 4 and Sharna’s daughter Alisha who was 21 months old. Dad still didn’t know about Mia’s baby so me and Mums shut up about it. “Dad can I talk to you please” Mia said to him. Me and Mum carried on walking inside. They re-appeared about 10 minutes later. Dad looked like he’d been crying. Mia went upstairs to get her bag ready whilst I waited in the living room with Mum and Dad. “That girl...” Dad began. “What about her babe?” Mum asked. “She’s too young and we both know it” Dad said to Mum. “I was 15, I coped!” Mum said to him. “Yeah” Dad said. Mum rolled her eyes and went upstairs. “Women!” Dad said to me. Mia came back downstairs with her overnight bag and we drove back to mine so I could get some stuff. On the way back we decided to nip to the shop for some supplies. As I was walking in a girl walked out. She caught my eye with her beauty. She had piercing emerald green eyes, caramel skin and long brown straight hair. She smiled at me and I felt my heart melt. This girl was a boomie and I couldn’t let her just walk out of my life. “Excuse me you got the time?” I said to her. “It’s 20 to 11” she said looking at her watch. Luckily I wasn’t wearing one today. After a dose my charisma she gave me her number and told me to call her. “What’s your name anyway b?” I asked her. “Ashley, yours?” she asked. “Tysharn” I said to her. She smiled at me. “See you around Tysharn” she said. “Yeah, see you around Ashley” I said to her. I went into the shop and got the supplies before leaving for Aunty Jamilah’s. We got back and we could hear crying coming from upstairs. Mia ran up the stairs and I followed her. “It’s okay Alisha, Mia’s here” she said to her goddaughter. She picked her up out of her cot and took her back downstairs for a bottle to calm her down. Mia was a natural at all this mothering stuff.

Chapter 5 ...Justice at last...

I got up the next morning to find Shaquille, Nevaeh and Alisha already awake. I walked downstairs and Shaquille and Nevaeh were sat at the dining room table eating Weetabix with Alisha being fed hers by Mia. “TYSHARN!” Shaquille said running up to me and hugging me. “Shaquille, be a good boy and eat your breakfast” I said to him. He nodded and went to sit back down. My phone went off and it was text. “Want to link up tonight? A” it read. I text back “Yeah b, I’ll ring you inabit yeah.” I replied. “Who was that?” my sister asked me washing up the dishes. “Ashley” I replied. “Oh yeah, your new wife yeah?” she asked. “No” I replied. The home phone started ringing and Mia went to answer it. “Hello.....they’re fine.....how’s Sharna?.....oh okay that’s good then!.....okay will do.....okay Uncle Jordan see you soon” Mia said locking off the phone. “Sharna’s coming home at 4....that gives us 3 hours to get ready, clean the house over and get the kids ready...TYSHARN HOP TO IT!” she said to me. I cleaned up the house whilst she got the kids ready. We made a good team. She then got herself ready whilst I watched the kids. After that I got myself ready whilst she did. We’d just sat down on the sofa when the door opened. “HELLO MUMMY AND DADDY!” Nevaeh squealed. She ran up and kissed her Mum on the cheek. “Have you been good for Tysharn and Mia missy?” Aunty Jamilah asked. Nevaeh nodded. “Yes I have Mummy!” she said following her Mum into the kitchen. Sharna and Mia hadn’t spoken since Jamahl died, even before that they never really spoke, but when Sharna came through the door Mia ran up and gave her cousin a big hug. “I love you man!” Mia said. “Thanks for looking after Alisha for me yeah” Sharna replied. “It’s okay, I need the practice anyway” Mia said looking down at her stomach. “I don’t follow....” Sharna replied. Sharna was always the slow one. “I’m pregnant” Mia told her. Sharna hugged my sister tightly. Aunty Jamilah came back in the living room where we were all sat. “Can I have a word with you two please?” she said beckoning us into the kitchen. I walked in, Mia walking behind me with her closing the door. “Thank you for everything last night” she said hugging both of us. “It’s okay Aunty Jamilah” Mia said. “They’ve also got enough evidence to put them both behind bars for a very long time” she said.

Chapter 7 ...Heaven’s missing an angel...

“Good!” Mia shouted. “Serious” I said. “Aunty Jamilah, I need to tell you something...” Mia began. “What sweetheart?” Aunty Jamilah asked her. “Erm, I don’t know how you’ll react but...” Mia began. “What is it sweetheart?” she asked my sister. “I’m pregnant” Mia said. Aunty Jamilah’s jaw dropped. “That’s wonderful news sweetheart!” Aunty Jamilah said hugging her. “I wish Dad saw it the same way” Mia said. I didn’t even think she heard what Dad said last night but obviously she did. “What do you mean babe?” Aunty Jamilah asked. Mia broke down in tears. “He said I’m too young!” she said through her tears. “You’re not babe! Calm down sweetheart” Aunty Jamilah said wiping away her tears. After Mia calmed down, I decided to walk her back then drive back to mine. I got my phone out on the way to ring Ashley. “Hello” she said. “Kool b it’s Tysharn” I replied. “Oh hi” she said. “What you doing tonight?” I asked her. “Going out with you by the looks of it” she said. This girl was one of them girls who weren’t afraid to make the first move. We arranged to meet at the cinemas for 6. I waited outside for her to arrive. I saw a girl get out of a car. She had a grey jumper dress on with black tights, grey boots and a black jacket. She walked over to me. Heaven must have been missing an angel tonight because she looked so heavenly. After the film we said our goodbyes and arranged to meet up again two days later. I woke up the next morning to my phone ringing. “Yes Mum” I said down the phone. “Have you seen your sister?” she asked me. “Which one Mum I do have 3 you know” I replied hoping for a laugh. “It’s not funny Tysharn! Mia! Which one do you think?” she shouted at me down the phone. “No why?” I asked. “She’s not here! When I woke up everything was gone! Her car clothes and shoes....everything!” Mum said to me crying.

Chapter 8 ...Two months later...

Mia still hadn’t turned up and nobody had seen her, not even Jade who was Jamahl’s little sister. I hadn’t seen Ashley, who was now officially my girlfriend, in a long time so I decided to invite her round for dinner. I got myself ready and decided to go to Tesco to get my supplies. I then drove back home and got cooking. I’d just put the chicken in the oven when the doorbell rang. “I swear the girls not meant to be here until 8” I said looking at the clock which only said 6:30pm. I opened the door and I couldn’t believe my eyes. My little sister stood there tears streaming down her face. “Where have you been Mia?!” I said to her hugging her tight. She just shook her head and cried into my chest. I walked her into my living room and she sat down on the sofa. “Where you been sis?” I asked her. “Here, there” she replied. “Everything okay with the baby though right?” I asked her. “Yeah, your unborn NEPHEW is fine” she said. This was the first time she told me she was having a little boy. I got up and hugged her. She’d grown up so much in the 2 months she’d been gone. It got to about 7 when I decided to ring Ashley. She heard Mia in the background and started getting cocky with me. “Who was that?” she asked me. “Nobody” I replied. “Don’t lie to me, I DO NOT LIKE BEING LIED TO!” she shouted down the phone. “It doesn’t matter and it’s not like that!” I said to her. She went off on one so I put the phone down on her. “What’s up bro?” she asked me. “Nothing sis it’s just stupid women!” I replied. “Mum or Dad or Aunty Jamilah?” I asked her. She looked at me gone out. “Well, we need to tell someone where you are! You know Mums hardly slept since you runaway Mia?” I said to her. She looked guilty when I said that because her and Mum were always close. I rang Mum and told her I needed to see her urgently, she said she was with Sharna but that didn’t matter. She told me she’d be over soon. There was a knock at the door and Mia went to go answer it. “Who the fuck are you?” I heard Mia shout. I heard her scream. Ashley had my sisters hair in her hand. “GET OFF HER!” I shouted at Ashley. “YOU’RE GOING TO CHEAT ON ME WITH THIS SLAG?!” she shouted. That wound Mia up and she started fighting her. Mia punched Ashley straight in her jaw. Ashley then pushed my sister too hard and she fell onto the floor. “WHAT THE FUCK DO YOU THINK YOU’RE DOING?!” I said stepping in front of my sister. “NO GIRL FUCKS WITH THIS BITCH!” she shouted at me looking at Mia. “THAT’S MY SISTER! MIA! YOU FOOL! YOU’RE LUCKY I’M NOT A WIFE BEATER!” I said helping Mia up off the floor. I saw Mums car pull up outside. Mia looked so pale. “You okay sis?” I asked her. “Yeah...fine” she replied. Sharna came inside and looked at my sister. “What’s up with her Tysharn?” she asked me. I looked at Ashley. Sharna ran after Ashley. “ARGH!” Mia screamed in agony.

Chapter 9 ...Home sweet home...

Mum raced over to Mia. “Mia what’s the matter darling?” she asked her. “Mummy it hurts” she said in pain. I felt so guilty. Mum rang an ambulance. “TYSHARN GO FIND SHARNA! I NEED HER HERE!” Mia shouted at me. I ran outside and down the road to find Sharna kicking the crap out of Ashley. “YOU FUCKING DUMB BITCH! I WILL KILL YOU!” Sharna shouted at her. My cousin was a good fighter, I’d give her that. I ran up to her and got her off Ashley. “Leave her for another day...Mia needs you” I said to her. “I SWEAR YOU KNOW IF YOU’VE HARMED HER OR MY SECOND COUSIN! BOY! I WILL COME FOR YOU IN THE DARK OF THE NIGHT AND CUT OFF YOUR HEAD BITCH!” Sharna said. I took her hand and we ran back. The ambulance came and took Mia to the hospital. “She’s going to be fine, but she’ll need to stay in overnight” the doctor came and told us. After a while Mum took Sharna home. I decided to stay with my sister because we still needed to talk properly. “Mia, I’ve been thinking” I started. “Thinking? With what brain have you been thinking with?” she said to me. I loved my sister and her little comments. I gave her a look and she smirked at me. “Go on...” she said to me. “You know how I’ve got two rooms spare at mine? You want to move in with me or something?” I said to her. “You being serious? You really want a baby waking you up at god knows when?” she asked. “No, but I want to be here for you Mia. I love you so much sis” I said to her. “Come here” she said opening her arms for a hug. “So was that a yes?” I asked her. “Yeah, it makes sense doesn’t it? However, it would only be until I got my own place sorted” she said to me. “No rush sis” I replied. She smiled at me. The next morning she was discharged and I took her back to mine. Mum came by a few hours later to check on us both. “Why did you runaway Mia? It wasn’t because of your Dad was it?” she asked. “Yeah it was” Mia replied. I knew my sister was lying but I decided to let it go. When Mum had gone back home I decided to quiz my sister about it. “So now, tell me the truth Mia” I said to her. She looked at me and she knew I knew something. “Get Sharna here and I’ll tell you” she said. I rang Sharna and told her to get here as soon as she could.

Chapter 10 ...Final showdown...

10 minutes later I heard Sharna’s car speed round the corner. She got out and ran up the path. She looked like she’d just gotten up as she had her pyjamas and her glasses on. She hadn’t even done her hair, just shoved it up on top of her head. I went to answer the door. She ran inside. “What’s up? Is Mia okay?” Sharna asked me. “I’m fine S DOG!” Mia shouted through to the hallway. Sharna ran into the living room and Mia got up. They both hugged each other tightly. “What’s up?” Sharna asked my sister. “Well....” Mia began. Her whole facial expression changed and she ran upstairs. Sharna ran after her. Two minutes later they both appeared back down on the sofa. “Sorry about that, morning sickness” Mia said. “Enough of the chit chat....what’s up Mia?” Sharna said eager to know what was up with her cousin. I looked at Mia and she looked at me. “I had to get away, people were after me” Mia finally blurted out. She began to cry. “Who Mia? Who was after you?” Sharna asked. “She said she’d kill me” Mia said starting to get hysterical. “WHO’S THREATENING YOU MIA?! I’LL KILL A GIRL YOU KNOW!” I shouted as Sharna held my sister as she wept. Mia passed me her phone. “Look at the texts she’s sent me” Mia said to me. I looked at the horrible texts someone had been sending her for the past 2 months. “WHO THE FUCK HAS BEEN DOING THIS MIA?!” I said getting irate. Mia looked at me. “Lauren” she confessed. I looked at my baby sister, tears streaming down her face. We needed reinforcements so I rang Auntie Jamilah and Mum. 20 minutes later and the door knocked. I went to the door and opened it. A girl stood there with a gun in her hand. “THAT LITTLE SLAGS FINISHED TONIGHT!” she said waving a gun in my face. I stepped to the intruder. Mia walked out the living room door. “Stay there Mia” Sharna, who was now behind me, shouted to her. “No, she’s going to hurt my brother when it’s me she should be hurting!” Mia shouted back to her. Lauren aimed the gun towards my sister. I pushed Mia out of the way and I felt something sharp pierce my skin several times. I fell to the floor. I looked at Lauren and she put the gun towards Mia who was knocked unconscious on the floor. She pulled the trigger but nothing happened. The dumb bitch had run out of bullets. I felt my body go cold. Sharna started beating up Lauren before the police came. “FUCK YOU BITCH!” she screamed. I lay staring at Mia. Her eyes opened. She looked at me. She crawled over to me. “Tysharn stay with me I love you bro” she said to me. I could tell she was in pain and that something was wrong but she was holding it down. “What’s up sis?” I asked her. “Nothing, just stay with me, I need you” she said crying. She got out her phone and rang the emergency services. I heard Mum pull up outside. I felt my eyes close.

Chapter 11 ...Sharna’s takeover...

Aunty Tyla and Mum pulled up just as I kicked Lauren in the face. “Sharna stop it!” Mum shouted at me. “NO! I’LL FUCKING KILL HER MUM!” I shouted kicking her again. Mum ran up to me and got me off her. Aunty Tyla looked at Lauren and the gun in her hand. “Sharna...what have you done?!” she asked me looking at the gun. “SHE’S SHOT EM! THE DUMB BITCH!” I shouted getting free and jumping on Lauren. “Shot who?! MIA! TYSHARN WHERE ARE.......OH MY GOD!” she said running into the house. Mum ran in after her. “You know if you’ve done anything to them...I will kill you and your scumbag family!” I shouted at her. She wasn’t going anywhere. She just lay on the grass barely breathing. I ran inside. Junior lay on the floor, lifeless. Mum looked at Mia. “Are you okay Mia? Is something wrong?” she asked her. “No, nothing” she replied. I knew she was lying. The ambulance came and took Tysharn to the hospital. After a brief questioning from all of us they let us go to the hospital to see how my cousin was doing. When Mia fell she’d hit her head so they’d taken her away for a few tests to make sure she and the baby were okay. Mum held Aunty Tyla as she cried hysterically. I sat there thinking about the possible outcomes. If he died then he would really be missed by so many people. Uncle Jason and Dad arrived. Uncle Jason held Aunty Tyla as she cried. “Where’s Mia?! What’s happened to Mia?! If that little tart has hurt her or my unborn grandson...I’LL KILL HER!” he shouted. “Calm down Jase, she’s been taken for some tests to make sure everything is okay with her” Mum told Uncle Jason. I just sat there staring at a mark on the hospital floor. I hated the smell of hospitals. They reminded me of dead people. Would Junior die? Or would he pull through? Was Mia and the baby okay? I was awoken from my deep thinking by my phone vibrating. “Come down to M33. I need you. Don’t tell anyone. Just let them concentrate on my brother. M xxx” it read. I got up and ran to the lift. Mum didn’t even notice I was gone, I don’t think anybody did. I got in the lift and looked at the chart next to the buttons. “M33. M33. Where the fuck is M33?! Here!” I said to myself pressing the button with the 2 on it. The lift came to a stop and I slipped out the door before it could open fully. I didn’t know where I was going so I decided to stop and ask for directions. “Excuse me can you tell me where M33 is?” I asked a woman in a nurse’s uniform. She directed me and I tried to remember but I just couldn’t. I heard a familiar voice shouting every swear word under the sun. I followed the voice.

Chapter 12 ...A new arrival...

I finally found M33 and asked a receptionist where Mia was just to make sure. The receptionist told me to take a seat. A midwife came and approached me. “Sharna Hayden?” she asked me. I nodded. “Where’s Mia? Is she okay?” I asked her jumping up out of my seat. “Yes, she’s in labour” she told me. My face dropped. This baby wasn’t due for another 4 weeks. She led me to a room where Mia sat on the led. “YOU TOOK YOUR FUCKING TIME!” she shouted at me. I gave her my dead eye. “Look I’m sorry, it just hurts, come here make yourself useful and hold my hand!” she shouted to me. I ran over to her bed and held her hand. I looked at her. She was in so much pain. I wanted to take the pain she was feeling away but I just couldn’t. “Anything I can do to help you Mia?” I asked her. “Keep talking to me...for god sake please keep talking to me” she said. “Erm, remember when we first met each other at school? When Miss Campbell sat me next to you? Said you had to be my tour guide for the day?” I said to her. She laughed. “Yeah, and how you went quiet because people kept telling you to say words because of your accent” she replied smiling at me. “Oi! That wasn’t even funny! Anyway, who’d have thought you’d have become my best friend Mia? I love you biatch!” I said to her. She squeezed my hand with the next contraction and it hurt badly. I couldn’t imagine the pain she was going through. I can’t remember much of when I had Alisha because I was on gas & air and that stuff really does get you high off the NHS. Mia looked at me. I could see the fear in her eyes. She began to cry. “Mia stop crying! Soon your little son will be here! Trust me it’s all worth it one you get the baby in your arms!” I said to her. “This isn’t right, Jamahl should be here” she said crying. “Mia calm down, he’s here, his soul is here babe trust me” I said comforting her. “Thank you for always being here cuz” she said to me. “It’s okay it’s okay, just be a good girl and listen to your midwife okay” I said to her. She nodded. A few pushes later and she’d done it. She had tears in her eyes and I had to wipe away a stray few tears too. After he was checked over and cleaned up, the midwives left us for a little while. I took a picture of them both then sent it to Jamahl’s Mum and his sister, Jade. “What’s his name then b?” I asked her. “I’m going to name him after the two most important men in my life” she said. “Who are they then? Because if you’re talking who I think you’re talking then his name would be Trey Graham or Drake Songz” I said jokingly. She had a thing for Trey Songz and Drake. She had all their CDs and posters all over her bedroom wall. “Shut up init” she replied giving me dead eye. After a while however it failed and she started laughing. “What’s his name then b?” I asked her. “Welcome to the world Jamahl Tysharn Macintosh” she said looking at her newborn son. “He would be so proud of you b, trust me” I said to her.

Chapter 13 ...A life lost...

“What’s happening with my brother?” she asked me. I looked at her. I’d forgotten about that. “I don’t know babe, but I can go check if you want?” I asked her. “Thank you cuz” she replied. I hugged her and then kissed Jamahl on the cheek then went to see what was going on. I was ecstatic but I still couldn’t forget about tonight’s events. I got the lift back up to the floor where everybody else was. I walked down the corridor and into the waiting area. Aunty Tyla was still crying on Mum. Uncle Jason and Dad were just sat there. Mum looked at me. “Where have you been?” she asked me. “I needed to clear my head” I replied. She got up and hugged me tightly. “I love you so much Sharna, remember that okay” she said to me. “I’ll always love you Mum” I replied. I sat down on the chair and started to play with my bracelet. A doctor came in a second later. “Could I please have a word with the parents of Tysharn Johnson please?” he asked. Uncle Jason got up and held Aunty Tyla’s hand. They walked out the door and closed the door behind them. “NOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!” I heard Aunty Tyla scream about a minute later. “Ty, calm down calm down” I heard Uncle Jason reply. “HE WAS MY FIRST! HOW CAN I CALM DOWN!” she screamed. I began to cry. Mum broke down in tears too. Dad went and held her. I felt rage bubble in my veins. “I’LL FUCKING KILL THAT BITCH!” I screamed punching the wall over and over. My knuckles started to bleed. I broke down into tears in the corner of the room. I slid my back down the wall and knelt on the floor so I wasn’t touching it, put my head into my knees and cried. Mum came over and helped me back up. I hugged her. Mia still hadn’t been told. “I need some air” I lied. Mum nodded and I walked out of the room. Uncle Jason was holding Aunty Tyla as she cried. I ran down the stairs and started walking once I’d gotten onto the war. I opened the door. Jamahl lay sweetly in his cot. Mia lay half asleep staring out into space. “He’s dead isn’t he?” she asked me. I nodded beginning to cry again. “Come here babe” she said opening her arms. I walked over and hugged her. “He wouldn’t want us to cry babe, trust me” she said. She was being so brave about it all. I never even got to tell Tysharn how much I really cared and how much I really loved him. Mia gave me her front door key and I went back to hers to get some stuff for her and Jamahl. I drove past Tysharn’s and started crying. I walked into the room where Mia lay. I let it all out. She woke up. She got out of the hospital bed and I got up. She hugged me so tight. I cried into her shoulder. I wanted Tysharn back. I loved him with all my heart.

Chapter 14 ...You’re still here...

Mia wiped away my tears. It was finally bright outside. I felt my phone go off and with that Jamahl woke up and started crying. “Hello” I said answering my phone. “Sharna where are you?” Mum asked me. She heard the crying. “You’re not where I think you are, are you?” she asked me. Mum was always the smart one. “No” I replied. “Don’t lie to me” she replied. Mia grabbed the phone. “Yes Aunty Jamilah” she said. “How’s Mum?” she asked. “Okay...well bring her down to M33 and ask for me at reception” she said locking off the phone. Mia went to sort herself out and put some fresh pyjamas on. She’d just sat back down on the bed when the door knocked. Aunty Tyla and Mum stood there. “OH MY GOSH! MIA I’M SO PROUD OF YOU BABE!” Aunty Tyla said hugging Mia. “You little devil! I knew something was going on! You don’t go for walks Sharna!” Mum said to me. She kissed me on my forehead and then went to have her first look at Jamahl. “He’s gorgeous!” she said. Aunty Tyla just kept hold of Mia. She was sobbing her eyes out. “Mum do you want to hold him?” Mia asked her. She nodded. “I’m so proud of you Mia, you went through all of that alone!” Aunty Tyla said to Mia whilst Mia carefully picked up her son. She was a natural. “I wasn’t alone though Mum, Sharna was here to help me, plus I know Tysharn and Jamahl were here too” she said to her Mum. “He’s the spitting image of his Dad!” Aunty Tyla said to Mia. “That’s why he’s named after him” Mia replied. “What you mean babe?” her Mum asked. “He’s named after his Dad, his full names Jamahl Tysharn Macintosh” she said smiling at her Mum. “He would have been so proud of you Mia, him and your brother would have been” her Mum replied. Mum looked at me. She wiped away a stray tear when she thought nobody was looking. I went over and kissed her on her cheek. “I love you Mummy” I said to her. “I love you too sweetheart” she replied. A few hours later and Mia was allowed home. She went back to her Mums as her Mum didn’t want her staying alone, plus the forensics were still at Tysharn’s. The next morning I went over to hers with Alisha. Alisha knocked on the front door and Aunty Tyla took her off of me. She loved Alisha to bits. She then looked at me. “Go talk to her please Sharna” Aunty Tyla said to me. “What about?” I asked her. “She’s talking about moving away for good” she told me.

Chapter 15 ...Me and my son/Mia’s thoughts...

I sat on my bed staring at my son. I knew this was the best thing for both of us. I needed to get away from everything and everybody. I knew this is what Jamahl would have wanted me to do. Move away and start all over again. Sharna came storming in my room. “WHAT IS THIS ABOUT YOU’RE GOING?!” she shouted at me. “Shush, you’ll wake Jamahl” I reminded her. “You’re not going ANYWHERE MIA!” she shouted. I got up and pulled her out of my room before she woke my son up. “Come with me” I said to her smiling. “You want me to come with you?” she replied. “Yeah, we always said we wanted an adventure” I replied. “What about Alisha?” she asked me. “Bring her too babe! We don’t need to stay round here, there’s nothing around here but bad memories” I said to her. “Where would we live though? How would we get by?” she asked me. “My Dads sorted it, he’s agreed to pay rent on this house, was going to surprise me and Tysharn with it but he said he wants me to have it, it’s fully furnished! Come with me! Please! Plus, my Dad would sort us out for money” I pleaded. She stood there looking at me. “Well?” I asked her. “I don’t know who’s lost the plot more, me for going along with it or you for even suggesting it” she said. “What you mean you’ll come with me?” I asked her. She nodded. I hugged her tightly. “Come, we need to go talk to our Mums about this” she said to me. I went to the top of the stairs. “MUM! CAN YOU RING AUNTY JAMILAH PLEASE! ME AND SHARNA NEED TO SPEAK TO YOU BOTH!” I shouted down the stairs. I walked back into my room, took Sharna’s arm and we played with Jamahl whilst we waited. 10 minutes later and Aunty Jamilah appeared with Mum at my bedroom door. They both walked in and sat down on my window ledge. After a while Aunty Jamilah finally gave in and said she’s fine with it. Mum was a bit more stubborn. “Why can’t I go Mum?” I asked her. “I’ll miss you! I need you here with me Mia!” she said beginning to cry. “Mum come here!” I said hugging her. She hugged me back. “I guess you’re growing up, but make sure you both come back down here every weekend! Ring us every day you heard!” Mum said finally giving in. I hugged her even tighter.

Chapter 16 ...2 weeks later...

I put Jamahl into his car seat which was attached to the passenger seat of my car. Sharna then strapped in Alisha into the back of my car. We’d moved all of our stuff already but we just needed a few last bits. Sharna had left her car back at our new house so we both didn’t have to drive. “Be careful!” Mum said hugging me. “I will!” I said to her hugging her back. Sharna hugged her Mum goodbye. Then we switched over. Aunty Jamilah had always been there and I truly loved her. Her and Mum would look after each other so I didn’t have to worry. We’d already said goodbye to our Dads. Mine even cried when I hugged him. We got into the car and I started it up. I looked at my cousin through my rear view mirror. “You ready S Dog?” I asked her. “FO SHO M DOG!” she said back at me smiling. With that we set off for our new lives. We were leaving behind bad memories and also some good times. We weren’t leaving behind our loved ones however as they were only a phone call away. I looked over and Jamahl and I knew he was my number one priority. I had to protect him with my life just as his Daddy and Uncle would have wanted me to. I then looked back at Sharna and Alisha. They were my joint second priority. I loved them both dearly. I smiled because for once I knew my life was perfect. I also knew that Tysharn and Jamahl were watching over us whilst playing Xbox together in the sky.

THE END

Part Six - Mia's Story Part 2

Chapter 1 ...Locked up...

The police had taken both me and Sharna down to the station so we could give our statements on what had happened with Leanne. Sharna could hardly talk with what she’d just found out. Leanne confessed to murdering Sharna’s baby father, Jermaine. After they’d taken our details we were allowed to go. I rang Jamahl off my phone. “Where the hell are you Mia? I’m here waiting for you! I’ve got work you know!” he said down the phone to me. “Come and get me please” I said to him. “Why where are you? What’s happened? Are you okay?” he asked me. “Just come and get me please, I’ll explain everything when you get here” I said to him. I told him where I was and he said he’d be here in 15 minutes. I held Sharna as she cried. “I swear, if she EVER gets out of prison I won’t be holding back! I’ll kill her Mia! You know I’m capable of it!” Sharna said into my shoulder. I wanted Leanne to pay for what she did but Sharna had far too much to live for. “Imagine though Sharna, if you were to make her pay, the police would find out! Then what? What’d I tell Alisha about her Mummy?” I said to her. She looked at me. “I DON’T CARE I WANT REVENGE!” she shouted and began to cry even more. Jamahl’s car came around the corner and he got out of the car. I got in the back with Sharna and she cried on me all the way to Grandma’s house. It was round about 10 and Harvey and Holly were fast asleep on Grandma’s sofa. I put them in the car then kissed Grandma goodbye. Sharna had finally calmed down and stopped crying by this point and even smiled from time to time. “It’ll be okay I promise you Sharna” I said to her. “I know, as long as I’ve got family like you, I know it will” she said to me smiling. Jamahl followed me in his car as he’d phoned in to work sick because he wanted to spend time with me and make sure me and Sharna was okay. I still hadn’t told him my news but it didn’t seem the right time to tell him.

Chapter 2 ...Secrets...

I drove to mine and parked my car. “When you telling him?” she asked me. “I don’t know” I replied. She nodded. I walked into the house to find, Mum and Aunty Jamilah sat on the sofa, with half a bottle of rosé lined up to a full one on the coffee table. “What time do you call this?!” she asked me. “Mum don’t start!” I said to her walking back out of the house. Sharna carried Alisha in whilst I carried Holly to bed and Jamahl carried Harvey. I put Holly and Harvey into their pyjamas, after that I put their nightlight on because Holly was scared of the dark, even though Harvey offered to protect her. I closed their bedroom door quietly then went downstairs. “Where’s Dad?” I asked. “Babysitting Shaquille and Nevaeh with Junior and Jordan” Aunty Jamilah replied. Mum looked at me. “What?!” I asked her. “What? Am I not allowed to look at my own daughter no more?” she asked me sarcastically. I rolled my eyes. “DON’T YOU DARE ROLL YOUR EYES AT ME YOUNG LADY!” she shouted at me. I got up and walked out the door slamming it so the letterbox shuck. I heard Jamahl shout after me but I didn’t care I carried on walking and never looked back. He soon caught up with me. “What’s wrong Mia? You haven’t been yourself today, whose upset you?” he asked me looking worried. I told him the story of what happened today and why I was at the prison giving a statement. “WOIII! Leanne’s on some shit!” he said to me. I looked him straight in the eye. “What?” he asked me. “I need to tell you something” I said to him. “What?” he asked me. “I’m pregnant” I said to him. His mouth dropped and then he hugged me. I know he had mixed feelings like I did but then his face lit up. “THAT’S THE BEST NEWS I’VE HAD ALL YEAR!” he said to me. This made my decision all the more hard.

Chapter 3 ...Doomsday...

I got up at around 8am and got ready. I’d come up with a plan in my head. It was selfish but I couldn’t handle a baby. I got to the clinic and I was made to fill out some forms whilst I waited for the doctor. The doctor called my name and I walked in. I sat down on the chair. She asked me loads of questions and I answered them. “Will you erm...you know...be able to see it?” I asked. “No you won’t, it’ll be just like having a period” she said. “If you take this tablet then it’ll start the abortion process” she told me. I sat there staring at the tablet. I eventually took it. I felt so selfish and dirty but I knew there was no turning back now.

...THE NEXT DAY...

I’d just killed my baby and I felt terrible both physically and mentally. I rang Jamahl. “Hello gorgeous” he said. I began to cry. “Mia what’s happened?” he asked me. I told him that I was losing our baby as this seemed a less selfish version of the story to what had actually happened. “Where are you now? How do you know you’re losing the baby?” he asked me. “I went to the hospital and they told me and driving home” I said to him. I hadn’t even told Mum and Dad or Junior or Aunty Jamilah that I was pregnant. The only people that knew I was were Sharna and Jamahl. I parked my car and got out. It was hard to walk because each waft of pain hurt just as much as the first. Dad came back and knocked on the door. “LEAVE ME ALONE!” I shouted at him. He tried the door. “ARE YOU OKAY MIA?” he shouted through my bedroom door. I just lay there, tears falling down my face. I wanted to die. I felt so low, dirty and selfish. “Mia listen to me, if you’re behind this door watch out because I WILL kick it through” he said to me. I got off my bed and walked over to my door then unbolted it. He hugged me. “Who’s hurt you Mia?” he asked me. “Nobody Daddy” I replied. “I’m being serious I’ll kill them! Who’s upset you like this? Was it Jamahl?!” he asked me. I cried on his shoulder. “I’m having a miscarriage” I said looking at him through the tears. He looked shocked, hurt and like he was going to cry himself. Instead of shouting at me like he normally would, he pulled me in for another hug.  I cried like I’d never cried before.

Chapter 4 ...Let the games begin...

I cried myself to sleep and went for a nap. I woke up at about 5pm and walked downstairs. Dad was sat on the sofa watching a film. I went and sat next to him on the sofa and laid my head on his chest. He put his arm around me and kissed my hair. “I love you Mia, remember that okay” he said to me. “I love you too Daddy” I replied. He smiled at me. Mum came back from work with Harvey and Holly in tow. Dad still hadn’t told her but I didn’t want Harvey and Holly knowing so I just shut up about it and acted as if nothing was wrong. “What’s wrong Mia?” she asked me. Mum knew when something was wrong with me even if I had the biggest smile on my face she’d know that something was wrong with me. I began to cry and ran up to my room, slamming the door shut. I lay on my bed sobbing my eyes out. I wanted Jamahl so bad but I couldn’t because he was at work. Someone knocked on my bedroom door. I went to see who it was. My brother stood there a stray tear falling from his right eye. I cried into his chest. “It’s okay Mia” he said hugging me. I loved my big brother even if I didn’t admit to it. After we’d talked for a while I decided to get ready and go to Sharna’s with Junior as Mum had gone there to speak to Aunty Jamilah. “I’ll catch you up sis” he said to me. I walked out the door and waited for him at the gate. I looked down the road and saw a guy lean in to kiss a girl. As my eyes focused more, I realized who it was. Jamahl and Sharna.

Chapter 5 ...Let the games begin...

“YOU FUCKING SKET!” I shouted running towards them. I ran up to her and grabbed her hair and ragged it back. “GET OFF ME YOU SLAG!” she shouted back at me. I pounced on her and started punching her. I didn’t care if she was my cousin at the moment she’d betrayed me. Junior ran up and got me off her. “MIA! WHAT ARE YOU DOING?!” he said to me. “SHE WAS LIPSING UP JAMAHL!” I shouted. Sharna got up and charged for me just as Mum and Aunty Jamilah came outside her house. “DON’T FUCK WITH ME YOU LITTLE BITCH! YOU MAY BE PREGNANT BUT YOUR FACE ISN’T!” she said punching me in my jaw. “FUCK YOU YA TRAITOR!” I said getting free and punching her. Mum got me off of her whilst Aunty Jamilah retained Sharna. I looked at her. She had cuts on her face from where my rings had pierced her skin. I charged for her again but Mum held me back. “I’D FUCKING KILL YOU IF I WASN’T KILLING YOUR YOUTE TOO! FUCK YOU MIA! HE KISSED ME I DIDN’T EVEN KISS HIM!” she screamed at me. Aunty Jamilah looked shocked. I looked back at Mum and she was just looking at me. Junior snapped and swung for Jamahl. “YOU WANNA FUCK MY SISTER? GET HER PREGNANT THEN GET ONIT WITH MY COUSIN YEAH?!” he shouted at Jamahl. Mum calmed him down. I looked at Jamahl. He couldn’t even look me in the eye like a real man. I broke free and charged for him. I punched him in his jaw and he hit me back. He hit me so hard I fell. “SHE’S FUCKING PREGNANT YOU FOOL!” Sharna shouted at him helping me up. “GET OFF ME! I HATE YOU! AND I LOST THAT FUCKING BABY THIS MORNING!” I shouted at her. Jamahl looked at me. I ran home and Junior ran after me. I opened the door and went into my room. I closed my bedroom door and went for my wardrobe. I tipped out all the things which were on top shelf of my wardrobe, everything, the bags, shoes, scarves. I finally saw it. I hadn’t even needed it since I was 15 but I didn’t care about anything or anyone anymore. I put the blade to my arm. Junior ran into my room and looked at me. “Mia don’t do it” he said to me. I looked at him then at the knife. I put the knife to my wrist. “MIA STOP IT! I’LL FOLLOW YOU!” he said to me. Mum came running into my room but stopped when she saw the blade on my wrist. I looked at her. I saw the fear in her eyes. “Mia drop it” she said to me. “WHY! I’VE GOT NOTHING TO LIVE FOR ANYMORE!” I shouted back at her. “Me and your Dad need you” she said to me. “WHY?! NOBODY NEEDS ME!” I shouted at her. “I’m pregnant” Mum told me.

Chapter 6 ...Family matters...

I dropped the blade on the floor and she came and hugged me. I cried into her shoulder. She cried too. Dad took Junior downstairs to calm him down. “I love you Mia, don’t EVER think about harming yourself again sweetheart, I want you to be able to meet your little brother or sister not me having to tell them about you” she said leaving the room and going into my bathroom. “Keep it on the down low though babe, don’t even tell your Aunty Jamilah okay” she said coming back into my room with the first aid kit. I nodded. She looked at the knife on the floor before starting to clean my face up. “Promise me you won’t do it again Mia! You’re my first daughter, I’d have died inside if I lost you babe! I don’t even class you as my daughter. You’re more like a best friend to me Mia” she said to me. I hugged her. It was true because she did have her moments where she acted like a best friend to me but she was always there to make sure I was okay and protect me. She sat me down on my bed. “Why didn’t you tell me you was pregnant sweetheart? I could have helped you” she said to me. I shook my head and began to cry again. “Oh Mia” she said sympathetically. I felt another strike of pain rip through my stomach. “Mummy it hurts” I said in pain. I squeezed Mums hand. “It’ll all be over soon Mia” she said hugging me tightly. I wanted to tell her the truth but I knew she wouldn’t understand if I told her. Mum left me to do what I was doing but she’d come and check on me every now and then. I lay on my bed, just thinking about stuff. There was a knock at my bedroom door. I went to go see who it was.

Chapter 7 ...Holly and Harvey...

Holly stood there smiling at me. She hugged me. “What’s that for?” I asked her. “For being my big sister! I love you Mia” she said to me. I smiled at her. “I love you too Holly” I said to her. I went into her and Harvey’s room with her and we watched one of her favourite DVDs. “Err! I don’t want to get married! Boys are stupid!” she said. I laughed at her. “Not a bad idea kid! Not a bad idea! No but Holly seriously, I don’t want you messing with boys until you’re 16 okay?” I said to her. “That’s old!” she said to me. “So what am I?” I asked her. “Ancient” she said to me, a cheeky smile on her face. I started to tickle her. “I’ll show you ancient!” I replied tickling her. She laughed so hard she went red. “Somebody’s got a ketchup face!” I said to her. “Ketchups disgusting!” she said to me. Harvey came in the room and sat next to me. I started to tickle him too. “MIA STOP IT!” he said to me. “No! I’m in evil big sister mode!” I said back to him. Junior came into the room and started tickling me. “OH YEAH! WELL I’M IN EVIL BIG BROTHER MODE!” he said tickling me. I loved my brothers and my sister. They could cheer me up no matter how bad my day had been. Whilst Harvey and Junior put the beds together for our sibling sleepover, me and Holly went downstairs to get the supplies. I walked into the living room to find Mum and Dad kissing on the sofa. “ERRR!” Holly shouted at them. Dad moved away from Mum as quick as Holly could blink. I walked into the kitchen and Holly followed me. We got 4 bowls out and Holly put two scoops of ice cream into hers and Harvey and then 3 scoops into mine and Juniors. We got the sauce out from the cupboard. She squeezed a drop on each of them then topped them off with sprinkles. We then grabbed a big bag of sensations from the cupboard, 4 Ribena’s, some Haribo and big bar of chocolate.  We somehow managed to carry them upstairs. The boys had made us a very nice cotch for the night. Holly fell asleep half way through the film, Harvey soon after that. We put them to bed and carried the bowls and empty cartons/packets downstairs. We washed up and then went to sit with Mum and Dad in the living room. I then got ready for bed and went to sleep.

Chapter 8 ...2 months later...

I got the twins ready and decided to take them to school as Mum had a bad case of morning sickness. I got them in the car and went back inside to get their packed lunch boxes from the kitchen. I got into the driver’s seat and started the car up. I drove down the road and passed Sharna’s. I still hadn’t spoken to her since we’d fallen out. I knocked on the door as I was taking Shaquille to school too. Nobody came to the door so I decided to ring the house phone. I heard the answering machine kick in. I decided to just let it go and drive the twins to school. I walked them across the road, watched them run around in the playground for a little then walked back to my car. I had 5 missed calls from Mum. I rang her back. She was so hysterical. I drove home as fast as I could. I walked into the house. “MUM! Where are you Mum?” I shouted. I followed the sound of the crying. It led me to the dining room. She sat there tears streaming down her face, and the home phone on the kitchen table. “Mum what’s wrong?” I said to her. She looked at me. “Mia sit down” she said to me. I sat down on the kitchen chair next to her. “There’s been an accident sweetheart” she said. It then hit me that nobody answered the door when I went to Sharna’s so they must have all been at the hospital. I looked at her. “What accident?” I asked her. “Alisha, she’s in hospital” she said to me.

Chapter 9 ...Tragedy brings everybody closer...

I ran back to my car and drove to the hospital with Mum in the passenger seat. “Slow down” she said to me. I didn’t care. My goddaughter was fighting for her life. I got to the hospital and they told us where to go. I walked into the waiting room to find Sharna sobbing on Aunty Jamilah. I went over and Sharna got up. “I’m sorry Sharna” I said to her. “I’m sorry too Mia” she replied. I hugged her so tight and she hugged me back. I’d missed her so much. I sat down next to her. I held her hand as she sobbed in the seat next to me. I wanted to make everything okay. A doctor walked in. “She’s going to be okay, but she will need to stay in hospital for a few days” he said to us. “Thank you” Sharna replied smiling. “I knew she was going to be okay, she’s a fighter” I said to Sharna. She smiled at me.

...TWO WEEKS LATER...

Me and Mum walked to Sharna’s to see how Alisha was as she’d only come out of hospital two days ago. I knocked on the door and Aunty Jamilah answered it. “Hello you two” she said to us stepping aside to let us in. “What was so urgent?” she asked Mum. “Mia go and find Sharna I need to talk to your Aunty alone for a second” she said. “You’re scaring me....tell me” Aunty Jamilah said to Mum sitting on the sofa. Mum went and sat next to her. I went upstairs to find Sharna in her room with Alisha safely asleep in her cot. Sharna was sat on her bed on her laptop. It was definitely one of her ‘lazy days’ today. She had her hair up on top of her head, her glasses on and no makeup on her face. She was wearing grey tracksuit bottoms and a white vest top. I walked into her room and sat on her bed. We spoke about what happened with Jamahl and the baby I’d secretly aborted. I cried a bit and she wiped away my tears. Alisha woke up and we took her downstairs. We went downstairs to find Aunty Jamilah hugging Mum tightly. I then realised that she’d finally told Aunty Jamilah.

Chapter 10 ...Not you again...

Uncle Jordan came back and Mum told him her good news. “So that’s why Jason’s been chirpy recently” he said to her. She nodded. It got to about 11 and me and Mum decided to go home. “Ring me as soon as you get in” Sharna said to me. “Alright, I love you cuzzy” I said to her. “I know I know!” she said to me hugging me. Aunty Jamilah kissed my cheek. “Look after her!” she said to me. “I will” I said to her. I linked my arm in Mums and we walked back to ours. I’d never seen her so happy in all of her life. I saw a woman walk into our front garden then I heard shouting. “SHE AIN’T HERE! YOU BETTER LEAVE HER ALONE!” I heard Dad shout. Aunty Jamilah came up to us from nowhere. “What’s happening?” she asked. Mum shrugged her shoulders and charged up to ours. We ran after her. “Mum leave it, let me sort it” I shouted after her. “WHAT THE FUCK DO YOU WANT?! ROUND 2?!” Mum shouted to the mystery visitor. As I got up to the fence I realized who it was. Mums half sister Natasha who she didn’t even know about until a few months ago. “TY! Calm down” Aunty Jamilah said to Mum. “Yeah when I’ve done this bitch over, I’LL CALM DOWN THEN!” Mum shouted at Natasha taking her earrings out. I knew Mum would do it. “Oh yeah?” Natasha said back to Mum storming up to her. She hit Mum. Dad came and restrained Mum from retaliating. I pounced on Natasha. Punching her, kicking her and head butting her. Anything I could to hurt her. She grabbed my hair and pulled it like a bitch. She somehow got on top of me and started punching me. “DON’T FUCK WITH MY FAMILY YOU DUTTY BITCH!” Sharna said running up the road. She grabbed Natasha’s hair and dragged her off of me. We then tag teamed to mash her up. “LLOW YOU!” she shouted at us both. “NO LLOW YOU! DON’T FUCK WITH A BITCH WHO’S GOT NOTHING TO DO INIT!” Sharna screamed back at her. I was still fighting her when Sharna got me off her. “DON’T YOU DARE COME NEAR MY MUM OR MY FAMILY AGAIN INIT! I WILL KILL YOUR CLART!” I screamed at her. “I didn’t want any trouble! I only came up here to tell her Dad was in hospital!” she said to me.

Chapter 11 ...I see you’re back...

It’d been a month exactly since Granddad died. Mum never really cried over him and to be honest I didn’t blame her for it because of the things he told Natasha about her. I didn’t know whether she was just putting on a brave face or whether she actually genuinely didn’t care. She always had a smile on her face when I came back from college. I came home today to find Mum sat at the kitchen table on her laptop. “Someone’s upstairs waiting for you sweetheart” she said. I looked puzzled. “Go!” she said to me a smile on her face. I ran upstairs and opened my bedroom door. I couldn’t believe it. There was a teddy bear, bigger than me sat on my bed. It was a light brown colour, with a gold bow around its neck. “MUM! WHY’S THERE A GIGANTIC BEAR ON MY BED?!” I shouted down the stairs. “Come here a second” she said. I walked down the stairs. “He left this too” she said handing me an envelope. “Who did?” I asked her. “Open it and you’ll find out won’t you” she said smiling at me. I opened it to find a card with a lonely looking teddy bear on the front and “I’m sorry” in big bold letters across the top. I opened the card and it said:

Dear Mia,

I’m so sorry for hurting you like that baby. I miss you so much and I’m trying to move on but I can’t. I love you too much to let you go. I’ll understand if you never want to speak to me again because I know I was a prick for hurting you in the first place. Thank you for even reading this as I’m not even worth wasting your time.

I love you,

xxx

I handed it Mum to read. “Mia he loves you! He told me that himself! Do you really think I’d let him in this house if I knew he didn’t mean it? He came and spoke to me and your dad like an adult” she said. “Yeah but Mum he IS an adult” I said to her. “Well you get my point...anyway he’s coming over soon...and you WILL talk to him Mia” she said.

Chapter 12 ...I’ve missed you...

I sat on my bed with my laptop. I put some music on and started to do my coursework. I put the music on low enough so I could hear when Jamahl arrived. There was a knock at the door and Mum went to answer it. “Hello darling...she’s upstairs” she said. “Okay thanks again Tyla” he said to her. “Don’t mention it sweetheart! Just don’t do it again or I’ll have to hurt you” she said. “I won’t, promise” he said. I heard footsteps on the stairs. He knocked on the door. “Come in” I said. He walked in my room. “I’m sorry baby” he said to me. He began to cry. I ran up to him and jumped in his arms kissing him. “I love you too baby” I said. I put my legs around him and we kissed passionately. He was just a silly boy who made a silly mistake. I knew he was the one and we had to make this work. I turned my laptop off and walked downstairs holding his hand. Mum was sat on the sofa watching telly. She looked at us and smiled. I didn’t know what I was going to do about Sharna. She wouldn’t feel the same around him. Jamahl sat down on the sofa and I lay on top of him.

...4 MONTHS LATER...

I woke up to find Jamahl smiling at me. “I love you” he said kissing me. “I love you too baby” I said kissing him back. “What times your Mum and Dad coming back?” he asked. “I don’t know but they’ll ring me” I replied. Mum had my little sister Ellie last night and obviously Dad stayed with them both. I hadn’t met Ellie yet as I had to stay and look after the twins with Junior but Mum sent us both a picture of her and she was gorgeous. She had dark brown hair and hazel eyes. I got up out of my bed and started to tidy the house with Junior. Sharna still didn’t know I was back with Jamahl. My Facebook status was still single, he wasn’t in my MSN name, he never came round when she was here and Mum kept her mouth closed about us. I was hovering the landing when I got a text from Dad. “Be home for 4. Hope you’re all okay. Daddy x” I looked at the clock and it was 3pm. Junior got the twins ready whilst I finished the hovering off before getting ready. I heard the door open and Dads voice. “MUMMY!” Harvey shouted. I knew they were back. I finished getting ready and went downstairs. Jamahl was holding Ellie whilst Mum watched him. I went and sat next to him and he passed my new baby sister to me. “You’re a natural Mia” Mum said without thinking. I wanted to breakdown and cry but I knew I had to keep my cool as not to ruin the moment. After a while I couldn’t contain myself so I went upstairs, and began to cry on my bed. There was a knock on my bedroom door and Mum walked in.

Chapter 13 ...Engagement...

I broke down as she hugged me. “What’s the matter sweetheart?” she asked me. “My little boy or girl would of have been born around the same time as Ellie” I said to her, tears streaming down my face. “Mia sweetheart, it just wasn’t meant to be” she said hugging me tighter. I wanted to tell her but I knew this was something I had to take with me to my grave. Nobody in my family believed in abortions. I knew I couldn’t cope with a baby at my age. I knew I just couldn’t. I’m not as strong as Mum or Aunty Jamilah was or even Sharna is. Mum calmed me down and led me back downstairs. I walked in to find Junior, Jamahl and Dad having a conversation. However, it stopped as soon as I walked into the room. Jamahl stood up. “Tyla can I have a word with you in private please?” he asked Mum. “Why? What’s going on? I don’t trust boys!” she said looking at them all. “Ty, just go” Dad said smiling at her. It’s like they could read each other’s minds because she walked into the kitchen and Jamahl walked in after her and then Jamahl closed the kitchen door. Dad made me sit next to him so I couldn’t hear what they were talking about. “What’s going on?” I asked Dad. “Nothing sweetheart” he said holding Ellie. I looked at Junior and he looked back at me smiling. I knew something was going on. “Stop being so paranoid!” he said laughing at me. “It’s kind of hard when everybody in this house is talking about me!” I shouted at him. “Calm down Mia!” Dad said to me. I sighed and walked back upstairs. I sat on my bed and Jamahl walked in. “Your Mum said will you go shop for her please” he said to me. “Why can’t she come ask me herself?” I asked in a strop. “She’s busy feeding Ellie” he replied. I did as I was told and went downstairs. “Make sure you wear a coat missy! It’s chilly out!” Mum said to me. “Yeah” I grumbled back to her. I went into the kitchen to get my coat from the rack next to the back door. I put my hand in my right pocket to get my glove on and stuck it on my right hand. I then put my hand in my left pocket. I felt something really strange. I got it out. “Come here!” Mum shouted into the living room. Dad and Junior walked in with Jamahl behind them. He walked up to me and got down on one knee. “Marry me Mia?” he asked me.

Chapter 14 ...Bloods thicker than water...

“OF COURSE I’LL BLOODY MARRY YOU BABY!” I shouted at him jumping on him. I kissed him like I’d never kissed him before. Mum began to cry. “I’m so happy for you two!” she said to me. Jamahl went back home to tell his Mum the good news. It had hit 11pm and I still wasn’t tired so I decided to hop onto Facebook for a few hours. I logged on and I had one relationship request. It said “Jamahl Macintosh has enlisted you as his fiancé. Please can you confirm that you are engaged?” I hit the confirm button without remembering who I had on Facebook. I had one new notification. “Oh shit” I said to myself. We had a full blown argument over the status and this is what it said:

Sharna Hayden

You forgetting what he did to us? You wouldn’t speak to me for TIME!

5 minutes ago · delete

Mia Johnson

He’s a changed man. He’s not like that anymore

4 minutes ago · delete

Sharna Hayden

YEYEYEYEYE WHATEVER MIA!

2 minutes ago · delete

Mia Johnson

Grow up. Please, just grow up.

A minute ago · delete

Sharna Hayden

Me grow up?! You’re the one who can’t see how stupid she’s being. He’ll only hurt you again.

35 seconds ago · delete

Mia Johnson

No he won’t! If you haven’t got anything nice to say then don’t say ANYTHING at all. I’ve got nothing more to say to you so goodbye.

13 seconds ago · delete

I logged out of my Facebook and slammed my laptop on the floor. Tears began to stream down my face. What was I supposed to do? Choose him over her? Or her over him? I cried myself to sleep that night.

Chapter 15 ...Jealousy...

It had been 2 months since Jamahl and me got back together. However, Mum hadn’t spoken to Aunty Jamilah or Sharna or Uncle Jordan in all that time because they all had separate views. I didn’t care though. Me and Jamahl were stronger than ever and it showed. About a month ago I came home from work to find him in my room. He’d decorated it with rose petals and everything. It was Valentine’s Day so it was a bit clique but I didn’t care. Dad had taken Mum out and Junior had taken Harvey, Holly and Ellie to visit Grandma Reynolds so we had the house to ourselves. We decided to make the most of it. After a heated session in my bed, I got ready for bed whilst Jamahl made us both a meal. We ate it in my room whilst watching Titanic. After I’d finished my food I took the plates downstairs. I then went back up and fell asleep on him. I woke up the next morning and heard raised voices downstairs. I went to the top of my stairs and Jamahl was sat on the bottom step. “What’s going off?” I asked him. “Mia we need to speak” he said to me. I looked at him and he looked back deep in my eyes. He got up and walked up the stairs, took my hand and led me into my bedroom. He looked at me. “Mia, it’s not that I don’t love you, I just think it would be better if we were friends...look at all this drama we’ve caused!” he said to me. “I don’t care I love you!” I shouted at him beginning to cry. “You’ll always be in my heart Mia just we can’t be together, I don’t want you falling out with your family just because I made a stupid mistake” he said to me. I could see where he was coming from but I didn’t want to leave him, I loved him too much. I took the engagement ring off and put it in his hand. “Keep it baby....maybe one day we can be together but just not today, I love you forever Mia” he said placing the ring into my hand. He kissed my forehead and walked out of my bedroom door.

Chapter 16 ...Wrong place, wrong time...

“WAIT!” I shouted after him. He turned round and I gave him one last kiss. He kissed me so passionately and I know I did the same back. I wanted to hold him forever but I knew it would just cause arguments. I walked behind him down the stairs and out the front door. He got in his car. I couldn’t just let him go. “I LOVE YOU” I screamed at him. He looked at me and a stray tear flowed down his cheek. He mouthed the words ‘I love you’ and drove off. I stormed back into the house. Mum was sat holding Ellie, Dad next to her. Aunty Jamilah was sat on the other sofa with Sharna. “I FUCKING HATE YOU ALL!” I screamed at them tears streaming down my face. “What’s happened Mia?” Mum asked me. “THAT’S FUCKING HAPPEND!” I said slamming my engagement ring on the coffee table. “I don’t follow” she said. “Right Mum, because of all you lot arguing, he woke up, walked downstairs and heard you all shouting at each other! Then now he’s left me because he feels that he’s pulling me away from my family! I’d rather be with him but he doesn’t want that!” I shouted at them all. Junior came downstairs, half awake and half dressed. “What’s up Mia?” he asked me. “FUCK YOU ALL!” I screamed. I stormed upstairs. Three hours had passed since the argument when I heard the door knock. “MIA COME HERE!” Mum shouted up the stairs. I walked downstairs to find two police officers sat there on the sofa. I’m guessing Dad and Junior had taken Harvey, Holly and Ellie out somewhere because they were nowhere in sight. “What have I done now?” I asked one of them. “Nothing, but you might want to sit down for this” they replied. “What’s happened?” I asked. “I’m afraid there’s been an accident” they said. “What accident?” I asked confused. “I’m afraid Mr Macintosh was involved in an accident along the M1, we’re sorry to say but he’s no longer with us” they said.

Chapter 17 ...The next day...

I cried myself to sleep last night. I wanted to get him back but I knew that I couldn’t. I blamed my family for what happened to him because if it wasn’t for all their arguments then he wouldn’t have needed to be on the roads at that time. I got showered then put my grey tracksuit bottoms on with a black top. I didn’t even feel like doing my hair or my makeup. I didn’t care I just wanted Jamahl back. I wanted to hear his voice again. I wanted to feel his touch again. I knew I wouldn’t get him back no matter how much I tried. I walked downstairs to find Mum with Aunty Jamilah sat on the sofa. I looked at them both and they looked back at me. “I’m so sorry Mia” Aunty Jamilah said to me. “Save it, it won’t bring him back now will it” I snapped back. “Don’t speak to your Aunty like that Mia” Mum said to me. “Oh whatever Mum” I said to her. “Excuse me!” Mum said getting up. “What?” I said standing there. She sat back down. “COME ON THEN! HIT ME MUM DO IT! JUST DO IT!” I screamed at her. She got up to do it but Aunty Jamilah stopped her. Junior came running downstairs. “TAKE YOUR SISTER UPSTAIRS BEFORE I KILL HER!” Mum shouted to Junior looking at me. “Mia come on!” he said to me. “ABOUT YOU’LL KILL ME MUM! I HATE YOU ALL! IF IT WASN’T FOR YOU ALL ARGUING THEN JAMAHL WOULDN’T HAVE LEFT ME! HE WOULD STILL MOST PROBABLY BE HERE!” I shouted at them all starting to cry. Junior tried hugging me. “LEAVE ME ALONE!” I screamed at him. I ran up to my room, put my Ugg boots on, grabbed my phone, purse and car keys and ran back downstairs and out the front door. “And where do you think you’re going?!” Mum shouted out after me. “SOMEWHERE WHERE I CAN BE CLOSE TO JAMAHL AND I HOPE YOU’RE ALL HAPPY!” I screamed at her. I got in my car and sped off. After what had seemed like hours of driving I reached my destination. I walked up the path and knocked on the door. Tears fell down my cheek as the woman hugged me.

Chapter 18 ...I miss you...

Jamahl’s Mum led me into the kitchen. She was being so strong about all of this. I just wanted to stay with her as she knew what Jamahl did was wrong but she also knew how much I loved him. “He wouldn’t want you to cry Mia” she said to me. “I know, I just miss him so much it’s my fault he’s gone Lisa! I love him so much” I said crying. She reached across the table and held my hand. After we’d spoken a little she rang Mum to tell her I was okay. After that we went up to Jamahl’s room so we could feel a little closer to him. I walked in his room and it was clean to say it was a guys room. He had pictures of me and him all over his room. I saw one of his jumpers on his bed. I ran up to it and smelt it. It smelt just like he always did. It smelt of Lynx. I smelt it and began to cry. “Mia you can have anything you want from in here if it makes you feel better” Lisa said to me. I took his jumper and a few photographs of me and him. I went back downstairs and had a proper heart to heart with Lisa. “How’s Jade coping?” I asked. Jade was Jamahl’s 17 year old little sister. “She doesn’t know, she’s on holiday at the moment and I don’t want to spoil it for her” Lisa said, a stray tear falling down her cheek. I got up and hugged her. “You were the best thing that happened to him Mia” she said to me. “He never stopped talking about you, he loved you so much” Lisa said. After a while I decided to set off back to Birmingham. “Keep in touch sweetheart” she said hugging me. “Don’t worry I will” I replied. I drove back to Birmingham, placing some flowers where Jamahl died on the way. I parked my car on the drive and got out. It had gone 1am so I was guessing nobody would have been awake. I used my phone light to guide me up the stairs and into my room. I got showered and into my pyjamas. I lay on my bed looking at the teddy bear Jamahl got me. Tears started to fall down my face.

Chapter 19 ...Missing...

It had been a month and 3 weeks since Jamahl’s funeral and nobody had seen Jade since. Lisa was worrying so much about her as Jade never even rang her Mum to tell her where she was. Jade never even rang her best friend to tell her where she was or where she was going. I wanted things to be right again but I knew no amount of wishing could change what had happened. It got to about 6 when I decided to get ready and put some fresh pyjamas on as I still didn’t feel very well. I sat in my room in darkness when the phone home phone went off. “Hello.....” I said. “Mia its Sharna” Sharna said. “What do you want?” I asked her. “To talk obviously, just talk to me please Mia” she said. “LEAVE ME ALONE!” I said slamming the home phone down back on the base. It was all her fault why he was dead. I hated her with a passion and nothing could change that. My phone started to ring and I went to answer it. “SHARNA GO AWAY!” I shouted down it. “It’s not Sharna....” the voice said. “Oh, sorry, who is this?” I asked. “It’s Jade” she said. “Where you bin babe? Your Mum is worried to death about you!” I said to her. “In Leicester” she said. “Why are though there? How did you even get there babe?” I said. “It doesn’t matter” she said. She began to cry. “Babe, stay there okay I’m coming to get you and you can come back to mine and sort yourself out” I said. “See you soon Mia and thank you” she said locking off the phone. I pulled a jumper dress on over my pyjamas and put my boots on. “Back soon, M xx” I wrote on a piece of paper and left it on the coffee table. I got into my car and drove to where Jade said she was. I spotted a girl arguing with some guy. I realized it was Jade. “LEAVE HER ALONE!” I said getting out of the car. “Who the fuck are you?” he said stepping to me. “MIA! WHO THE FUCK ARE YOU?! JADE GET IN THE CAR!” I shouted. Jade did as I said. “She’s a sket anyway!” he said to me. “You want to say that again?” I said stepping to him. He realized I wasn’t scared of him and that I would fight him in front of every single spectator who was stood around watching us argue. “Sorry innit” he said walking off. “Eediat!” I shouted getting back into my car. Jade looked at me. “Thank you Mia” she said. “Anytime sweetheart” I said to her smiling. I wiped away her tears with my sleeve. “Where are we going then? Home or back to mine?” I asked her. “Home...but I’m scared” she said. “Why sweetheart? Your Mum will shout but it’s because she cares about you” I said to her. She nodded and we set off back to hers.

Chapter 20 ...A little part of you still lives on...

I held Jades hand and knocked on the door. “If she shouts, its natural okay, she just cares a lot for you!” I reminded her. She nodded. Lisa appeared from her bedroom window. Jade looked up at her Mum. “WAIT THERE!” she said closing her window. Lisa opened the door and held Jade so tightly. She walked her to the kitchen table and I walked in after them closing the front door. “Thank you so much Mia!” Lisa said smiling at me. I smiled back at her. I was driving back to mine when I started to feel nauseous. I pulled over by the side of the road and started being sick. “No I can’t be....” I said to myself. I drove to the 24 hour Asda. It was about 12am so nobody would have been in there anyway. I found what I wanted and paid for them. I then sped home, opened the door and ran upstairs. “What time do you call this?” Mum asked. “Mum leave me alone for 10 minutes okay!” I said smiling at her from the top of the stairs. “What’s going on Mia?” she asked me. “Just don’t come in my room or my bathroom for 10 minutes, thanks mate” I shouted down the stairs. I then ran into my bedroom, locked the door and turned the light on in my bathroom. I opened the box up and took the pregnancy test out. I did as it said with the 3 different tests I brought times two. Each one took a different period of time to come up with a result. I had to wait between 3 and 7 minutes for the whole of them to be done. I went back in my room and turned my laptop on. I watched the 7 minutes go by and went back into my bedroom. My face dropped as I read the first test. “I’m sorry baby” I said as if Jamahl was there with me. I then looked down on the rest of them. The other two types said I was pregnant, as well as the same type that said negative. Tears began to stream down my face. “I knew you wouldn’t leave me all together Jamahl” I said. I went and sat down on my bed. There was a knock on my bedroom door and I went to open it. “What’s wrong?” she asked me. “Erm, nothing Mum” I said smiling at her. “Why are you so happy young lady?” she said looking at me funny. “I finally found something that’s going to make my life worth living for” I said hugging her.

THE END.