Part Ten - Shanice's Story.

Chapter 1 ...One month later...

“Shanice what time is Elliot coming round again? We need to get leaving soon” Mum asked me. “Anytime now” I replied changing Aaliyah on her changing mat in the living room. Elliot had been allowed home a week ago after he made exceptional progress and he now spent most of the time with me and Aaliyah. I’d just put Aaliyah’s dirty nappy bag in the bin and washed my hands when there was a knock at the door. I ran to the door to find Elliot standing there smiling at me. “Hello beautiful” he said kissing me on my cheek. I smiled at him. It’s mad crazy because I still felt crazy about Elliot even after everything we’d said and done to each other. “Where’s my princess?” he asked me. “In the living room” I said. He walked in and started playing with her. I stood at the door and watched him play with our daughter. I knew this was where I belonged and that was that. Mum walked in from the kitchen. “You want a drink or anything Elliot? Excuse my daughter’s bad manners” she said. I just carried on watching in amazement at how much Elliot had changed and grown up in the past few months. Mum looked at me. “Everything okay darling?” she asked me. I didn’t hear her like I was in a trance. “Shanice?” she asked. I still didn’t hear her. Elliot looked back at me and finally I was snapped out of the trance. “Yeah?” I said to them both. “Are you okay poppet?” Mum asked me. “Yeah, fine Mum” I said to her. She smiled at me and went to go make Elliot a drink. After I’d finally got Aaliyah’s bag ready I went to put it into the car. Mum rang Grandma to tell her we was on the way. 2 hours later and we were finally back in Birmingham. I could tell by Elliot’s expression on his face that he was scared as this was the first time he’d be meeting most of my family members including my elder brother who still lived in Birmingham. I got out the car then got Aaliyah’s car seat out. He took the car seat off me and held my hand. “It’ll be okay” I whispered into his ear then kissing his cheek. He gave me a nervous smile. We walked into my Grandma’s to find everybody there including my elder brother Tyreece and his girlfriend Tyrah. He looked at Elliot in a weird way before giving him a smile to tell him everything was going to be okay. Tyreece was known around the ends as being a hard nut and a bad boy. “So, this is the guy that impregnated my little sister” he said. I knew he was joking but Elliot didn’t know him like I did so Mum gave him a look. “Stop it you fool” I said to Tyreece. He nodded. “I was only joking you idiot” Tyreece said to me. “Haha very funny” I said sarcastically. Mum sent us to the shop for my Grandma to clear the air a bit. “Take Aaliyah with you, I didn’t take her pushchair out of the boot from yesterday” she said going out to the car to get it. She put it up and I transferred her into the pushchair. She gave me a cheeky smile and with that me, Elliot and our daughter set off for the shop however, I couldn’t believe who we saw and what they was doing on the way.

Chapter 2 ...Old faces...

“GET OFF ME YOU IDIOTS!” I heard a girl shout. I looked across the road and a girl was being beat up by 2 other girls. I didn’t have to think twice to who it was. Elliot knew it was Holly too. I looked at him then ran over dragging one of the girl’s hair back. “WHAT THE FUCK?!” they shouted. “Don’t fuck with my bitch!” I shouted at her. “WHO ARE YOU?!” the other one shouted. “YOUR WORST NIGHTMARE!” I said getting all up in her face. I knew I was intimidating and it was only proven when the other girl told the girl to leave it. I helped Holly up off the floor. “Who the fuck was they Holly?” I asked her. “I beat up their friend yesterday, it was to be expected to be honest” she said to me like it was a regular occurrence. Holly looked over at Elliot. “Can I see her?” she asked me. I took her hand and led her across the road. To say what happened Holly and Elliot still spoke just not a lot but they were civil for mine and Aaliyah’s sake. I pulled the cover of Aaliyah’s pushchair back and Holly had her first glimpse of her. “She’s gorgeous” she said. I smiled at her. Elliot went to get the stuff my Grandma wanted from the shop whilst me and Holly sat at the bus stop talking non-sense. It was like I never went away except for the fact I now had a daughter. He came back and Holly got up to walk home. “We’re walking you home, you haven’t got to speak to Elliot, you’re my best friend, and well at least I still think we’re best friends?” I asked her whilst Elliot was crossing the road. She pulled up her jumper sleeve and shown me the friendship bracelet I had the matching one too. “I never take it off” she said to me. “Me neither, even when I had Aaliyah it was round my wrist” I said to her. “I don’t think it’s a good idea my Dad saw Elliot though, he’s still mad and he’s at home” Holly said. “Oh, alright” I said to her. I knew what she meant so I couldn’t complain. I hugged her and she hugged me back. “See you around” she said to me smiling. “Bye Elliot” she said coldly. “Cya” he replied. I looked at him and he looked hurt. We walked back and after a while set back off for Manchester. I’d just got Aaliyah fed and ready for bed when I decided to try cheer Elliot up. “What’s up?” I asked him. “Nothing” he said not even looking at me. “Why lie to me?” I asked him. “I’m not Shanice just leave it” he said to me getting an aggressive tone in his voice. I looked at him to show him he’d hurt me. “See, this is why I didn’t want to say anything Shanice, I knew I’d upset you!” he said to me. “What are you talking about? You haven’t said a word since we seen Holly, you’ve been being off with me Elliot and I don’t see what I’ve done wrong!” I said to him. “Before you met me, yours and Holly’s lives were perfect, I think it’s better if we had some time apart, that way you and Holly can be friends again like you used to” he said.

Chapter 3 ...Responsibilities...

I looked at him and tears were starting to well up in my eyes. I tried to hold them back but it failed and each one flew down cheek like it was a race or something. Elliot looked at me. “See, I can’t upset you if I’m not with you” he said to me. “I love you princess” he said kissing my cheek. Aaliyah started crying. I went over to her cot and picked her up. “What? So you’re going to leave your little girl too? A little girl without a Daddy isn’t right! You know it’s not!” I said to him whilst rocking Aaliyah on my shoulder. “I’ll still be here for both of you, just not like that” he said to me. I wanted to shout at him so hard but I wasn’t going to shout at him around Aaliyah. “I’m sorry” he said to me. “Yeah, whatever” I said finally getting Aaliyah off to sleep. I walked back over and put her in her cot then sat down on my bed. Dad knocked on my bedroom door. He clocked me crying and looked at Elliot’s guilty facial expression. “WHAT HAVE YOU DONE TO MY DAUGHTER?!” he shouted at Elliot pinning him up against the hallway wall. “DAD LEAVE HIM ALONE!” I shouted at him jumping over my bed and running into the hallway. “NO! HE’S UPSET YOU I KNOW HE HAS! I HEARD EVERYTHING! WHAT KIND OF MAN ARE YOU ELLIOT?!” Dad shouted at him. Elliot looked so angry, hurt and afraid. “MUUUUM! MUUUUM!” I screamed down the stairs. “What’s up angel?” she shouted back up the stairs running up them. “Dad! Stop him!” I said to her. “Carlos stop it!” Mum shouted at Dad. “He’s just upset your little girl?! He’s lucky I don’t throw him out the window” Dad said rage in his voice. “CARLOS! YOU’RE HURTING HER EVEN MORE CAN’T YOU SEE THAT?!” Mum said. By this point I was sitting in the corner of my landing, my back against the wall and my arms covering my bowed face. I looked up and Dad looked at me. He let Elliot go and Elliot looked at me. “Sorry” he mouthed before walking swiftly down the stairs and out of the door. “ELLIOT NOOOO!” I shouted getting up. Dad went to grab me but Mum stopped him. “Let her go” she said to him. I ran down the stairs and it brought back memories of the night I nearly lost Aaliyah. I had to fight for her Daddy like she fought for her life that night. I didn’t even put any shoes on over my socks so the cold stones on my driveway hurt my feet but I didn’t care. He stopped when he was halfway down my driveway and looked back at me. “Shanice I’m sorry, I can’t do this no more, I’ve tried but I’m sorry” he said to me. The tears in my eyes made it hard to see but I’m sure he was crying too. He walked away and I stood there and cried. I turned around and saw Mum at the door. I began to cry even more now because the love of my life had just left me.

Chapter 4 ...Daddy’s girl gone bad...

Mum ran up to me and hugged me. “Come inside sweetheart” she said to me. She took my hand and led me inside. I walked up to my room and Dad was sat on my windowsill looking at Aaliyah “GET. OUT. OF. MY. ROOM.” I shouted at him. He walked over to me trying to hug me. “MOVE!” I shouted at him. “I was only protecting you” I said to him. “SHUT UP AND GET OUT OF MY ROOM!” I shouted getting really angry at him. Aaliyah began to cry. “Your granddaughter needs seeing to; GET OUT OF MY ROOM YOU IDIOT!” I shouted at him. “How dare you!” Dad shouted at me. “How dare me what? Stick up for myself?” I asked him. He stepped to me like he was going to do me something. On the inside I was scared but on the outside I couldn’t make him see me defeated. Mum came up the stairs just as Dad grabbed my wrists. “YOU DON’T KNOW HOW MUCH ME AND YOUR MOTHER HAVE HAD TO SACRIFICE DO YOU?!” Dad shouted at me shaking my wrists so the whole of me shook. “Carlos leave her alone” Mum shouted. I knew she was scared of Dad a little. “YOU UNGRATEFUL LITTLE GIRL!” he shouted at me. I didn’t like it when my Dad was like this. Something mad crazy happened next. My breathing was getting heavier and my head felt weird. Mum looked at me. “CARLOS LET GO OF HER NOW!” Mum shouted at Dad. Aaliyah was screaming. “She’s got to take care of her daughter now GET OFF HER!” Mum shouted at him. He just said so many hurtful things to me but I blocked them out and I could only hear my daughter crying. Mum walked up to Dad and got one of his hands off me. However, when she went to get the other one off he hit her so hard she fell. Her nose was bleeding but she still got up to try get Dad off of me. Dad looked at me and then at Mum before releasing my wrists. I ran over to Mum and I hugged her. “GET OUT NOW!” Mum shouted at him. Dad did as he was told. He got his car keys and I watched with Mum as he walked out of the door. I walked into my room and Aaliyah lay there screaming her lungs out. I wiped my tears with my jumper and then picked her up. There wasn’t any need to wipe away my tears though because when I held her even more were falling. Once I’d finally gotten her to sleep I lay in my bed. Mum knocked on my door. “Tyreece and Tyrah are coming up tomorrow so get some sleep” she said. I got up and hugged her. “Don’t cry sweetheart” Mum said to me. I got ready for bed and then went to bed. I heard Mum quietly sobbing downstairs. I also cried myself to sleep that night.

Chapter 5 ...Tyreece and Tyrah...

I woke up to find Aaliyah already awake but being reasonably quiet. She must have known Mummy needed a good night’s rest. I got myself ready. I say ready I got my shower then put on my tracksuit bottoms and a standard long sleeved black top. I then bathed Aaliyah and put her into the exact same I was wearing. I heard a knock at the door and I heard Tyreece and Tyrah’s voices. I didn’t really feel like socializing so I just stayed in my room playing with Aaliyah. There was a knock at the door. “Come in” I said. Tyrah stood at the door smiling at me. She was like the big sister I never had in a way because she understood how I felt all the time which very rarely happened. She came in as I got up; she then walked over to me and hugged me. “Its okay babe let it all out” she said hugging me tightly. I told her about me and Elliot. “Well, he’s an idiot to be honest with you! You’re a pretty amazing girl Shanice and so is your daughter” she said to me. I smiled at her and she smiled back. She used her sleeve to wipe away my tears just as Tyreece came into my room. “Take it you’ve told her then?” he asked Tyrah. “NO! You’re an idiot, I was getting to it” Tyrah replied giving him a screw face. “Well, you know how me and your brother are at THAT age now where we want to settle down and have kids” she said. I nodded. She shown me her hand and on it was the biggest engagement ring I’d ever seen. “How’d you feel about being my little sister-in-law and also a bridesmaid?” she asked me. I nodded really fast like a retard. She then walked over to Aaliyah’s cot. “How about you as our flower girl young lady?” she said looking at Aaliyah. Aaliyah laughed. “That’s if Mummy says yes” she said looking at me. “Yeah! This is the best news I’ve had in a long time” I said to her. She smiled at me and I smiled back. I looked at Tyreece and I knew something was on his mind. When Tyrah took Aaliyah downstairs, my suspicion was proven.

Chapter 6 ...Once a cheat, always a cheat...

“You know if I speak my mind you won’t hate me forever will you?” he said to me. “Obviously not” I replied. “I think you should go and talk to Elliot” he said to me. “It’s actually not that” I said to my older brother. “I’ll ring him then init” he said. “I don’t think you will” I replied. “Why are you being like that?” I asked him. “Like what?” I replied lying on my bed staring at the ceiling. “You’re telling me you’re not going to fight for him?” he asked me. “No” I replied. He looked at me a hurt look in his eyes. “You’ve changed!” he said to me. “No, I just learnt that shouting doesn’t always solve everything” I said to him defeated. “Aaliyah needs a Dad” Tyreece said to me. I felt guilty when he said that because I knew exactly what he meant by it and I also knew that I had to do right by Aaliyah and get her Daddy back in our lives. “Come, I’ll take you to his, you two can talk” he said to me. “I don’t WANT to go though, I only want him in Aaliyah’s life!” I said to my older brother. “Shanice, you know you love him so get some shoes on and get in the car!” he said to me. I stood there and cried. I don’t know why I was crying exactly but I just was. “What’s up Sis?” Tyreece asked me. “Nothing, it’s just, he told me it was just the 3 of us now” I said to my brother. Tyreece held me as I stood there in his arms and cried. After about 10 more minutes of crying I finally stopped long enough to put some trainers on. I then got into Tyreece’s car and I directed him to Elliot’s. I walked up the path and knocked on the front door for Elliot’s Mum to answer it. She looked like she’d been crying. “Don’t Shanice, don’t go in there darling” she said trying to drag me away. I ran into Elliot’s house and looked for him, he wasn’t in the living room, or the kitchen so I ran upstairs and to his room. Holly was sat on Elliot’s bed half dressed whilst Elliot was sat in the corner of his bedroom sobbing.

Chapter 7 ...Friendships and relationships...

“You little bitch!” I screamed at her launching her in her jaw. She fell to the floor and her nose started bleeding. I ran down the stairs and by this point Tyreece was hugging Elliot’s Mum who was now in such a state she couldn’t speak. Elliot came running down the stairs after me and grabbed my arm he grasped on to it and Tyreece went ballistic. “GET YOUR HANDS OFF MY BABY SISTER INIT! YOU KNOW I NEVER LIKED YOU!” Tyreece said punching him. I had to get him off of him because no matter what, Elliot was still Aaliyah’s Dad. “ELLIOT YOU HAVE A CHILD WITH SHANICE! YOU SAID YOU LOVED HER! WHAT HAPPENED ELLIOT?!” Lisa, Elliot’s Mum, shouted at Elliot. I looked at Elliot, hurt, anger, pain and regret in his eyes. Something in me snapped and I charged for Holly and she tried to run up the stairs. I grabbed her leg and she fell onto the step hitting her nose. “I’M SORRY! HE WAS MINE FIRST!” she screamed at me as I punched her. “YEAH! BUT YOU DON’T HAVE A BABY WITH HIM THOUGH DO YOU HOLLY?!” I shouted punching her again. “ELLIOT GET HER OFF ME!” Holly screamed. I felt someone grab me from behind and Holly ran upstairs. I swung round thinking it was Elliot but Tyreece had me in his arms. I cried into his chest and he hugged me. He then took my hand and walked me down the path towards his car. I took one final look at Elliot before getting into my brothers car and driving back home. I ran inside the house and ran upstairs. I heard Mum shout after me but I just didn’t care. I ran into my room and slammed my door shut after that I threw myself on my bed and started crying like I’d never cried before. What had I become? Before any of this happened I used to be strong. I’d never let a boy make me cry and let him see I cried. There was a knock at my bedroom door. “GO AWAY!” I shouted through the tears. “Shanice, open the door!” the person said. Was I hearing things or was she really there?  

Chapter 8 ...Can’t believe it...

I opened the door and Dominique stood there. She hugged me and I hugged her back. I’d missed her so much and we hadn’t really spoken after she found out about me and Elliot. “I’ve missed you bitch” she said to me. “I’ve missed you too” I replied. I walked into my room and sat on my bed. She followed me and sat on my bed next to me. “How did you know?” I asked her. “I was round Mia’s, with Holly and Harvey, well me, Mia and Harvey were out at the time but Holly said she felt ill so stayed behind...can’t believe she’d even go back to him” she said to me. “Him, happens to be Aaliyah’s dad” I reminded her. “Oh...yeah” she said. “Where is Aaliyah anyway?” she asked me. “Downstairs, you wanna meet her?” I asked her. She nodded and together we walked downstairs. Aaliyah was lying on her play gym whilst Mum, Tyrah and Tyreece were talking about Tyrah and Tyreece’s wedding. I walked over to where Aaliyah lay and picked her up. “Shanice, me and Tyreece are nipping to the shops, do you or Dominique want anything?” Mum said. “Yeah, just get us bare munchies and some pizza thanks Mum” I said to her. “Alright poppet” she replied getting her car keys. We then took her back upstairs. Dom sat on my bed and I let her hold Aaliyah. Tears started to well up in her eyes and she began to cry. “What’s up babe?” I asked her concerned. She just looked at me and passed me Aaliyah back. “I can’t do it” she said beginning to cry even more. I laid Aaliyah back down in her cot then went to sort Dom out. “What’s up babe? I’ll hurt anyone that’s hurting you!” I said to her. “They’re making me do something I don’t want to do!” she confessed. “Who’s making you do what?” I asked her. “Harvey and Mia” she continued. By this point Dom was sobbing and I’d never really seen her cry before like this minus the night Harvey nearly died. “I just can’t do it Shan! They’re making me do something that I physically and emotionally can’t go through again!” she said to me. I looked at her. Its girl code but I knew exactly what she meant before she even said the words. “They want me to have an abortion Shanice! I CAN’T DO THAT!” she said to me through her tears.

Chapter 9 ...Mysteries...

I looked at Dom and she began to cry even more. Rage started to bubble in my veins. I got up and started searching for my phone. “Shan leave it, it’s only going to cause arguments” Dom said to me. “ABOUT LEAVE IT! YOU’RE LUCKY I DON’T GO ROUND THERE AND KNOCK 4 SHADES INTO ALL OF THEM!” I replied. I then found my phone and rang Holly. “Hello...” she started. “PUT YOUR FUCKING SISTER ON NOW” I shouted down the phone. “No, she’s busy” she replied. “I said put your sister on this phone now!” I screamed down the phone. “Why? So you can shout at her? No thanks” Holly replied putting the phone down. “Where’s your stuff?” I asked Dom. “It was only a day trip, I’m meant to be going home now” she said to me. “So you’ve got everything of yours yeah?” I asked her. “Yeah, why?” she replied. “You’re staying here tonight!” I told her. “Won’t your Mum mind?” she asked. “No, you’re one of my long time friends!” I said to her using my sleeve to wipe away her tears. “Thanks Shan” she said smiling at me. “What are friends for?” I asked her. “Yeah, but I haven’t been a very good friend have I? I mean, the only reason I haven’t spoken to you is because I don’t know how you’d react, all those times I wanted to ask you how you were and how and if you were coping! I love you so much” she said. I smiled at her. “It’s okay” I said. “What are we gonna do?” Dom asked me. “We can go talk to Tyrah? She won’t say anything to nobody else about our little conversation, she never does!” I said. “Alright” she answered. “Now, you wanna hold your goddaughter whilst I go get Tyrah?” I asked her. “You’re asking me to be her God Mum?” she said looking at me. I nodded. She smiled at me once more before I went to get Tyrah. “TYRAH!” I shouted down my stairs. “Yes Shanice” she shouted back. “Can you come here please” I asked her. “Coming...” she said. She walked up the stairs. “What’s up?” she asked me when she was nearly at the top. “I need your help” I said.

Chapter 10 ...Revenge...

“Normally Shanice when you say you need help that means trouble!” Tyrah said to me. “It’s not for me though” I said to her. “Ohhhh, alright” Tyrah said. I walked into my room and Tyrah followed. Dom started crying as soon as she started telling Tyrah what was up so I had to finish telling her the situation. “Mia what?” Tyrah asked us. “Johnson” I said. “I’VE NEVER LIKED HER! She thinks she’s something nice, the bitch” Tyrah said. Me and Dom laughed because it was actually true. “So, what do YOU want to do Dominique? Forget about how old you are and your situation, also forget about what everybody ELSE wants, what do YOU want to do?” Tyrah said to Dom. “I want to keep him or her I can’t go through losing a baby again!” Dom replied finally calming down. “Right, that’s sorted, you’re keeping this baby!” Tyrah said. “What about Mia and Harvey?” Dom asked me. “I’ll sort them out! I never liked Mia!” Tyrah said. “Give me Mia’s number” Tyrah continued. “Why?” I asked her. “I’m going to sort this out, if she wants to bully little girls she can bully me too!” she said. I gave her Mia’s number and she went to ring her. “Thank you” Dom said to Tyrah as she waited for Mia to answer. “Don’t mention it.......RIGHT YOU WANNA PICK ON LITTLE GIRLS YEAH?!” Tyrah shouted down the phone. “Thank you too Shan” she said smiling at me for the first time. I smiled back. “It’s okay” she said. “OH YEAH?! YOU’LL HAVE TO GET THROUGH ME FIRST!” Tyrah shouted down the phone. Tyrah locked off the phone and put it in her pocket. “She said she’s coming round here, apparently” Tyrah said. “Just in case Dominique, stay up here with Shanice and Aaliyah” she said to us both. “Alright, thank you so much!” Dom said to Tyrah. “It’s fine, I class Shanice as my little sister and now I class you as one too!” Tyrah said smiling before leaving my bedroom closing the door behind her.

...20 MINUTES LATER...

I heard banging at the door and I went to the top of the stairs but still in the darkness so nobody could see I was there. “Alright! I’m coming” Tyrah said. “WHERE THE FUCK IS SHE?!” I heard someone shout. Mia.

Chapter 11 ...You’re crazy...

I watched as Tyrah started fighting Mia. “YOU WANT TO START ON LITTLE GIRLS YEAH?! YOU CAN FIGHT A BIG GIRL THEN CAN’T YOU!” Tyrah shouted. I’d never actually seen Tyrah like this and was actually quite scared of Tyrah now. I’d heard stories about how good of a fighter she was but never actually seen her fight like this. I crept across my landing and looked out the window so I could see what was happening as they were fighting. Tyrah grabbed Mia’s hair and kneed her in the face a few times. Mia fell to the floor. “DO. NOT. FUCK. WITH. DOMINIQUE. OR. SHANICE. AGAIN!” Tyrah said singling the words out. Mia got up and ran for Tyrah. She jumped up on top of Tyrah making Tyrah fall and hit her head on my doorstep. I ran down the stairs and started punching Mia. She got her off of me and ran up the stairs. “I KNOW YOU’RE HERE DOMINIQUE!” Mia shouted. I ran up after her. “MIA STOP IT WHY ARE YOU EVEN DOING THIS?!” I shouted at her whilst she was looking in every room for Dominique. “I’M PROTECTING MY LITTLE BROTHER THE WAY TYSHARN WOULD HAVE WANTED ME TO!” she shouted at me. “YOU’RE A PUSSY! I SWEAR! TYSHARN WOULDN’T EVEN WANT TO KNOW YOU!” I shouted at her. She looked at me and calmed down a little. “You’re right, what am I doing? It takes two to make a baby! I should be killing Harvey for even persuading me to do this” Mia said. Was I dreaming or was Mia actually apologizing to me? “Tell her I said sorry, and I’ll keep out of it!” Mia said walking back down my stairs and out of my house. By this point Tyrah was in the kitchen cleaning herself up. “I’m sorry” Mia said. “Yeah” Tyrah said. Mia left the house and I walked over to Tyrah. “Are you okay Tyrah?” I asked her. She nodded. “Go check on Aaliyah and Dom” Tyrah said. I did as I was told and ran up the stairs just as Mum and Tyreece came back. I walked into my room and found Dom clutching her stomach crying silently. “Dom, what’s up?” I asked her. “I think I’m losing my baby!” she screamed getting hysterical.

Chapter 12 ...Eediat...

“MUM! MUM! MUM!” I ran to the top of the stairs screaming. She came running up the stairs. “What’s up Shanice?!” she asked me. “IT’S DOM! SHE NEEDS TO GO TO THE HOSPITAL NOW!” I shouted at her grabbing her hand and taking her to my room. “What’s up Dominique?” Mum asked her. Dom was too upset to talk so I told Mum an outline of what happened. “TYREECE! COME HERE!” Mum shouted. “Yes Mum” Tyreece said running up the stairs. “Carry Dominique to my Car, you and Tyrah can look after Aaliyah can’t you?” Mum said. “Yes Mum” Tyreece said picking up Dom in his arms. I guess all those weights really did him good. Tyreece put Dom into the back of my Mums car. I then got in the passenger seat whilst Mum got in the driver’s seat. She then sped for the hospital as she knew time was critical. Once we got to the hospital they took Dom so they could check her over. Mum then went to ring Dom’s Mum and Dad to fill them in on what had happened. I sat there thinking about the revenge that was going to be coming Holly and her family’s way. Half an hour passed and a doctor approached me and Mum. “What’s happened? Are Dom and the baby okay?” I asked her. “Yes, Miss Baker is doing well, so is her baby however, we do need to keep her in overnight just to make sure” she told me. I smiled at her. “Thank you so much!” I said. “Thank you” Mum said. They let us see Dom and she was lying in the hospital bed crying. I walked to her and hugged her tightly. “I know how you feel babe, don’t worry!” I said to her. “It’s a horrible feeling knowing you could have lost something so special!” I said to her wiping away her tears. I looked at Dom and she looked like I did the same night I nearly lost my little girl. An hour had passed and Dom’s Mum, Dad and little sister Demi came into the hospital room. Mum offered to take Demi home with us so Dom and her parents could have a proper talk. We got home and I put Demi to sleep in the spare room. I’d just gotten ready for bed and I was sat on my laptop when I heard crying. I followed it and when I found out whom it was I wanted to cry too.

Chapter 13 ...Little sister...

Demi was sat up right in bed crying her eyes out. I walked over to her bed and hugged her. “What’s up Demi?” I asked her. “Is Dom-Dom going to die?” she asked me. “No! She’s going to be fine sweetheart!” I said to her wiping away her tears with my thumb. “I had a dream that she died” Demi confessed to me beginning to cry even more. “Demi she’s going to be okay, I promise you!” I told a hysterical Demi. “I know I annoy her but I love her!” Demi said crying in my arms. “It was only a bad dream Demi, trust me she’ll be okay and most probably will be out tomorrow” I said to her. “I love you Shanice, you’re like my other big sister!” Demi said to me. I smiled at her. “I can’t go back to sleep now though Shanice, I’m scared” Demi said to me crying her eyes out again. “Alright, well you can come and watch a DVD in my room with me if you want? I’ve got some kids ones you might like?” I asked her. “Alright” she said smiling at me. I picked her up and carried her into my room. She didn’t know about Aaliyah so was very surprised to see a cot in my room. “Who’s that?” she said looking at Aaliyah. “My daughter” I replied. “Oh, she’s very pretty!” Demi said whilst I put her down onto my bed. I smiled at her. I then put on a DVD and got into my bed the side closest to Aaliyah’s cot so I could make sure she was okay during the night. I looked at Demi and she soon nodded back off to sleep. I soon fell asleep myself and woke up to Aaliyah crying. I got myself out of bed and went to see to her. After I changed her nappy she calmed down a little but I was adamant to get her ready for the day as she’d only had a few hours sleep and I knew she’d go back to sleep. Demi soon woke up after that so all 3 of us went downstairs. I made myself and Demi some breakfast whilst Aaliyah sat bouncing in her rocker. It was only 8am and there was a knock at the door. I didn’t even believe who was standing there.

Chapter 14 ...Take me back...

I tried closing my door back but Elliot put his foot in the way so I couldn’t. “Shanice, we need to talk” Elliot said to me. Tyreece came down the stairs and looked at Elliot. “What is HE doing here?” she asked. “I’m sorry Shanice, I really am!” Elliot said. I looked deep in his eyes. “At least come on a walk with me, I can’t explain myself but we need to talk! I miss you and Aaliyah, you two are my world and I was blind not to see that” Elliot said. “You hurt her and I’ll kill you, you feel me?” Tyreece said. I looked at Tyreece. “Go then you fool, I’ll look after these two” he said looking at Demi and Aaliyah. I got my coat and walked out my house closing my door behind me. I was still in my pyjamas but I was sure nobody would have been awake at these times anyway. We walked to the park and sat on the bench. He said some meaningful stuff but nothing that I hadn’t heard before. He just told me how much loved me and our daughter. “I don’t care, I’ve heard this all before!” I finally said to him. “Look me in the eyes and tell me you’re sorry!” I said looking at him. He looked at me, deep in my eyes and told me everything he just told me but had more meaning in what he was saying. I believed him and decided to take him back. “It won’t automatically be like how it was before but obviously, in time, we shall get back to that but stronger I guess” I said to him. It’d been an hour since we left mine so we decided to head back. “You’re going to have to apologize to my family too you know, they don’t like what you did or you anymore” I said. It was harsh but it was true. Elliot apologized in a way that even pleased my brother. A couple of hours later and Dom came to pick up her sister along with her parents. She looked like she’d been crying so I took her hand led her to my room. “I’m moving, I’m not even going to be living in England! Not even in the UK!” she said started to get hysterical. I started to cry too because I’d only just gotten her back and now I had to say goodbye to her probably forever.

Chapter 15 ...Goodbye my friend...

“I’ve only just gotten you back and you’re leaving me again!” I said to Dom. “Yeah but my Dad said it’s not safe for me anymore! So now we’ve all got to move, I don’t want to leave you either!” Dom said to me. “Where are you even moving to?” I asked. “Toulon” Dom said. I gave her my confused face because geography wasn’t my best subject. “South of France...I’m going back to my roots!” Dom said. Dom’s Mum, Amelié was French and Dom’s Dad, Andre, was Dominican. I say Dominican but he was born in England after his parents moved to England. So in a way, I guess having to fly a few hours to France rather than a couple more to Dominican was a better idea. “I’ll be back when I’m old enough, I promise you that one!” she said to me tears in her eyes. She set me off and I started crying too. “You best msn me every day!” I said to her. “I will babe and I’ll ring you!” Dom said to me. I gave her a hug and we cried some more in each other’s arms like bitches. “I’m gonna miss you man!” she said to me. I was too upset to talk. “Just take care of your little one okay and remember I’m always here if you need me” I said to Dom. “I will babe don’t you worry! I know, like I said I’ll be back, I won’t even tell you I’m coming back, just turn up and hope you’re in” she said to me. After about another 2 hours it was time for Dom to leave. I hugged her tightly and I didn’t want to let her go. I finally did and then hugged Demi. “Thank you for last night Shanice” she said hugging me back. “It’s okay, now you look after yourself okay” I said to her. She didn’t even know what was going on. She just thought it was a big holiday. I took my angel wings necklace off and put it around her neck. “Whenever you get scared or feel unhappy just remember I’m with you” I said to her. I then took off my bangle as it would have been too big for Demi and put it around Dom’s wrist. “Same for you homie” I said to her. “Hurt my homie like that again and I’ll kill you” Dom said to Elliot. “I won’t don’t worry” he said to her. She hugged me and then went to get into her parents car. I waved her goodbye with Elliot. I then went back inside and Elliot hugged me as I cried. I spent the whole day with Elliot and Aaliyah. Once the day was over and Aaliyah was in bed I cried myself to sleep.

Chapter 16 ...Hurt...

I woke up the next morning and got Aaliyah ready. I then got myself ready whilst Mum watched Aaliyah. I heard Elliot’s voice whilst I was sorting my hair out. “Where’s Shanice?” I heard him ask Mum. “Upstairs” she replied. “Thanks” he said. I heard him run up the stairs and knock on my door. “Come in” I said. “YOU KNOW I JUST SAW TYLA GO MAD AT MIA AND HARVEY AND HOLLY!” he confessed. “WHATTTTTTT?!” I asked him. He told me how he’d heard shouting since about 9am and it’d had been going on all the way up until he’d left his. I looked at the clock and it was a few minutes past noon. “What were they arguing about?” I asked Elliot. “Dominique! Amelié must have rung Tyla going mad last night apparently, and then Tyla’s just going mad at Holly for what she did with me, it was all going off this morning!” Elliot said. I looked at him and laughed. “WOW! I love Tyla you know!” I said. “Me too, she doesn’t ramp!” Elliot said. I finished my hair and put some make up on. After that me and Elliot took Aaliyah on a walk. Elliot used one of his hands to push Aaliyah and the other to hold my hand. We walked to the park and stayed there for half an hour before walking back. We were walking back when we saw a police car followed by an ambulance. “Wonder what’s gone off” Elliot asked me. I shrugged my shoulders and carried on pulling faces at Aaliyah. We were just about to walk onto the road before mine before we realized it was all locked off. It looked like there had been a crash involving a car and a lamppost. Something was telling me to be inner and see what was going on so I did. I called a police officer over and he told me that a woman swerved off the road to avoid a kid that ran into the middle of the road after their ball. “Oh, okay” I said to him. I watched for another 30 seconds as they were cutting a car to free someone from it. “What are they doing now?” Elliot asked. “Well, there’s a woman stuck in the car so the fire fighters are trying to get her out” she replied watching as the fire fighters got the woman out of the car. My eyes aren’t that good but I was sure it was Tyla. My heart started pounding and I asked the police officer what the cars registration plate number was. She told me the worst news possible. The one she told me was the same of Tyla’s car.  

Chapter 17 ...Madness...

I started screaming and both the police officer and Elliot looked at me gone out. “ELLIOT IT’S TYLA! ME AND HOLLY HAD A SONG TO REMEMBER HER NUMBER PLATE!” I screamed at him crying. “I need to go with her! Please!” I shouted at the police officer. “How do you know her?” The police woman asked me. “She’s like my Mum! I’ve known her since I was like 6!” I said to her. They let me go with Tyla in the ambulance whilst Elliot took Aaliyah home and rang Mia. He promised to come and join me at the hospital “Is she going to be okay?” I asked the paramedic whilst on the way to the hospital. “Nobody knows I’m afraid” he said to me. Once we got to the hospital they took Tyla into theatre whilst I sat in the waiting area. I couldn’t stop crying and I didn’t care how much people were looking at me. I just wanted to know Tyla was okay and that she’d make it through. I didn’t know where her kids were but Elliot soon turned up with my Mum half an hour after we got there. “I can’t believe it....heard anything?” Mum asked me. “No” I said shaking my head and crying. Elliot held me as I cried. 20 minutes later and a doctor approached us. “She’s in intensive care at the moment but she might be able to recognise a familiar voice?” the doctor said. Elliot and Mum looked at me. I went with the doctor and he led me to a room where Tyla lay. She looked kind of peaceful. “Try talking to her, she might respond” the doctor said. “Tyla, its Shanice” I said about to cry once more. “Try holding her hand, see if you get a response that way” the doctor said. I held her hand and asked her to squeeze it if she could hear me. Nothing happened and I wanted to cry right there and then but I knew Tyla wouldn’t want me upset so I kept strong. I started telling her all about Aaliyah. I told her how much she’d changed me and how glad I was about what had happened but not in the way it did. A doctor came in the room with Mia, Harvey and Holly following her. “What is SHE doing here?” Holly asked looking at me. I didn’t even retaliate. Mia started on me and I had to tell her about herself. “Where have you 3 ACTUALLY been?! Your Mums in hospital and it takes you THIS long to get here?” I shouted at them. Tyla’s heart monitor started going faster and faster like she was having a panic attack or something. “GO GET A DOCTOR QUICK!” I shouted at Holly. “DON’T YOU DARE SHOUT AT HER!” Mia shouted at me. Just then Tyla’s heart monitor went silent like her heart had stopped beating. I started screaming. “MUM?! MUM!” Mia shouted. Harvey just stood there and cried. I had to get out of the room so ran to where Mum and Elliot were. “SHE’S GONE! MUM SHE’S GONE!” I said crying hysterically.

Chapter 18 ...Judgement...

Mum held me as I wept onto her shoulder. I couldn’t control myself. I’d never actually cried so hard. I was crying that hard that I didn’t notice when Holly, Harvey and Mia came into the waiting room. “I’m so sorry” Mum said to them and that’s when I finally realized. 20 minutes later and a doctor came into the room. “Shanice?” he asked. I looked up. “Can you come with me please?” he asked me. “What do you want with her?” Mum asked. “I just need to ask her a few questions, if that’s okay?” he said looking at me. I nodded and went with him. “Tyla’s alive, she wants to see you, she told me not to tell them where you were going though” he said to me. I was so confused. “What happened? I thought she died?” I asked him. “Miracles do happen” he said to me. I walked into the room and Tyla was smiling at me. “Can I hug her?” I asked the doctor. “Yes but very carefully” he said to me nodding. I walked up to her and hugged her. “I thought you were gone” I said to Tyla. “No! I’m a fighter! Thanks for everything sweetheart, the doctor told me you’d come” she said. “Did you hear me talking to you then?” I asked Tyla. “Yeah, I want to meet Aaliyah, when I’m well enough I’ll have to take both of you out” she said. I smiled at her and she smiled back. “Well, I think it’s time to see my other children” Tyla said. “What do you mean other children?” I asked her. “Shanice you always have been and always will be like a daughter to me no matter what!” she said to me. I smiled at her and she smiled back. “Is Elliot here?” she asked me. “Yeah, so’s my Mum” I told her. “Ahhh, you’d better get off then poppet, Jason’s on his way, he should be nearly here now” Tyla said. I knew what she meant by it and that Jason was still after Elliot. “Keep in touch sweetheart” Tyla said as I hugged her. “I will do, I want to see you before you go back to Birmingham” I said. “Of course!” she said. I smiled at her and then left the room. I walked back into the room where everybody else was. “Mum can we go please” I asked her. She just did as she was told. Elliot looked like he had something on his mind. When we got back to mine I relieved Tyrah and Tyreece of Aaliyah and went to get Aaliyah ready for bed. After I’d bathed Aaliyah and put her into her night time all in one suit, I took her back downstairs and passed her to Mum whilst I got ready for bed. “Where’s Elliot?” I asked her. “Gone shop for me sweetheart” she said. She looked like she knew something but didn’t want to say anything. Tyrah and Tyreece were looking at me smiling like they knew something too. I ran my bath and got into it. I’d been in there for half an hour when my phone went off. “Follow the signs” it said. Elliot had sent it. I opened the bathroom door with my towel wrapped round me. There were red skittles on my landing carpet and I was guessing they were the signs. Elliot knew I only liked the red skittles and the other ones got thrown at his head. I followed them and they led to my bedroom. The stopped at my bed and I looked on my bed. I felt like crying again. Elliot had spelled out two words in red skittles only. Marry me.

Chapter 19 ...Love note...

I found a note next to it with the words “Open me” written on the front. This is what the note said:

To My Soulmate,

Look, I know it might seem like this a bit TOO soon considering we’ve not long gotten back together but I mean it when I say I’m sorry and seeing Tyla like that, well it’s shown me that life’s too short! I want you in my life forever and I understand if it’s too soon but I just want you to know that I actually am crazy about you. I want us to be together forever. To be there holding each other’s hand when we see our little girl growing up. Meaning I want you to be holding my hand when she’s taking her first steps all on her own and when she starts school. I want to be able to hold your hand when you have my other children. You know we’re not stopping until I get a son right? Unlike when you had Aaliyah, I’ll be there by your side holding your hand and taking all your abuse. We’re the golden couple baby girl and I just want you in my life forever. I love you forever and ever and ever princess.

Elliot xxxx

I began to cry as I read the note. All the words in there were from the heart and I knew it. I’d never really felt like this with a guy before and I knew Elliot was the one. I turned around and Elliot stood there. “I meant every word baby and I love you” he said to me. I ran up to him and kissed him. Elliot got a ring out of his pocket. He got down on one knee and asked me the question. “Yeah, obviously” I said to him. He put the ring on my finger and it fit perfectly. “Isn’t this the same wedding ring that was on your Mums chain?” I asked him. “Yeah, when Dad died he told Mum to give it to me when the time was right or when I asked for it, tonight was that night” he said to me. I kissed him so passionately and he kissed me back the same. I went to show everybody my ring and found everybody eating skittles. For the first time in so long, I’d finally felt the best about myself. All I had to do now was focus on school and study hard in order to support Aaliyah when she was growing up.

Chapter 20 ... 4 months later...

I was rushing home from school because today was the day Dom found out the sex of her baby and she agreed to come on a video conference with me. I got home and found Aaliyah awake but quite content in her rocker. I walked in my kitchen to put Aaliyah’s food to warm and found Dad sat at the kitchen table. “What’s HE doing here?” I asked Mum. “He’s going to apologize to you, like the big man I know he can be” she said to me. “Oh, alright” I said to Mum. Dad apologized to me and I wasn’t even listening to him too tough as I was more angry at the fact Mum let him back in the house after he hit her. “Hmm, whatever” I said to him. I took Aaliyah’s rocker with Aaliyah in it upstairs whilst her food warmed. I then put the rocker with her in it on the floor in my room and turned my laptop on. I then went back downstairs to get Aaliyah’s food once it had cooled. I then went back upstairs and sorted Aaliyah out for her food. I put her rocker on my bed as now I could watch her and make sure she didn’t rock herself off my bed. I then arranged my laptop so you could see both me and Aaliyah in my camera as well as hear us both. I then clicked on Skype and Dom was already on. We were talking about the dumbest things as I fed Aaliyah and it was like she was actually in my room. “So yeah, what are you having? Is Aaliyah going to have a potential boyfriend or a new best friend?” I asked her. “A little girl! Let’s just hope she doesn’t have my temper ayy!” Dom said laughing. I laughed too. “What’s it like over there then?” I asked Dom. “Hot...TOO HOT” she replied. “Shame” I said to her. “Oh yeah, I got to tell you something” I said to her. “What? You’re not pregnant are you again Shanice?!” she asked me. “OH HELL NA! I love Aaliyah and all, but ones enough until I get MARRIED” I said showing her the rock on my finger. “WHAT?! ELLIOT ASKED YOU TO MARRY HIM?! WHEN WAS THIS?!” she asked me. “4 months ago, round about, but I hadn’t found the right time to tell you” I said to her. “Oh, well I have something to tell you too, it’s nearly finalized but I don’t know if it’s going to go ahead or what but anyway, I MIGHT be moving back to England, well Manchester” Dom said. The smile on my face grew even bigger than it already was. I decided that I had to give Dad a second chance so called him to my room whilst Dom watched Aaliyah on cam. “Thank you darling, I’m sorry for hurting you” he said. “Yeah, but on ONE condition, I want to get married in 5 years time on 18^th February, thanks, you’ve gotta pay, it’s tradition” I said to Dad who didn’t even know his little girl was engaged. “Alright, but why that time?” Dad asked me. “I’ll be 21 and it’s mine and Elliot’s anniversary on that day” I said to him. “Anything for my little girl” he said.

Chapter 21 ...18^th February plus 5 years...

I sat on the chair whilst having my make up done for my wedding. I reminisced on the past 5 years. Ever since doing well in my GCSE’s and A Levels things were on the up. I’d gotten a job as a Nursery Nurse in the local nursery which I loved. Elliot finally got his act together at the last minute and just scraped enough marks to go onto University. He now had a degree in child development and was a youth worker as he’d been where most of the youths had been and come out on top. We then moved into our own house. And to top it all off a year and a bit ago I had mine and Elliot’s second child, Armani. He was able to walk so was going to be page boy and Aaliyah the flower girl was going to be holding his hand along with Dom’s daughter Amelia would be at the other side of Armani to help his balance. Dom was my chief bridesmaid so obviously stayed at mine last night. Her boyfriend of 4 years, Jerome, got on well with her daughter and was also Elliot’s good friend which was a plus because when me and Dom wanted our girls night they could babysit the kids then when they wanted their boys night we’d watch the kids. Mum offered to babysit both mine and Dom’s kids so we could have our last girly night. My make up was finally done and the stylist was just sorting my hair out. After an hour of doing my hair it was finally done so I finally put my dress on to top it all off. It was a girly white fairytale dress with pink rhinestones on it. Dom cried when she saw me as well as Mum, Dad, Tyreece, Tyrah and Elliot’s Mum. “You look beautiful” they kept telling me. I felt beautiful. The time had finally come and it was time for my wedding party to leave for the church where me and Elliot were getting married. Dom, Tyrah and two girls I met in college, Elisha and Alexis were my bridesmaids. They travelled with Elliot’s best men, Jerome, Reece, Alex and Daniel. To top it all off, Aaliyah, Armani and Amelia went with them as I knew Dom wouldn’t mind keeping an eye on two extra kids. When we got to the church I got out of the car when everybody else had already started walking down the aisle. “You look beautiful princess” Dad said to me. “Thank you Daddy” he said to me. I had a remix of ‘Here Comes The Bride’ done as I hated the original version. As I was walking down the aisle everybody was smiling at me and I felt love. “She looks bum fam” I heard Reece say to Jerome who then hit him. My Dad passed my hand over to Elliot. “Look after her or I’ll kill you” Dad said to him. “I will, promise” Elliot said a tear in his eye. I wiped it away and smiled at him. I fell in love all over again. I knew Elliot was the one I wanted to spend my life with. Elliot wrote me a poem and said it to me. It made me feel so special. As we said our vows we both looked deep into each other’s eyes. After the ‘I do’s’ the reception kicked off with our first dance. I looked deep into his eyes as we danced to a live version of ‘The Day I Married My Angel – Jamie Foxx’ sung by someone who sounded just like him. “Here’s to the rest of our life princess, I love you” he said to me. “I love you too baby” I replied. It felt so good to finally feel wanted and at home. I loved the way Elliot made me feel and I knew that day was the start of the rest of our lives together. Most of my life I’d felt like I needed saving, now I’d finally found my superman and we were going to fight the biggest battle of all. Raising our two kids and our future ones the best we could.

The End