Nia

  Well, i mean, if it’s all right with him, I don’t see why not? Ah, so I guess the possibility of you staying with me is off the table? Seven’s really nice, a lot of land and animals. I see why you’d want to go there.

But... he seems kind of stressed now so I'll wait to mention it to him. Oh well... I don't want to distract you from your work and you know, I'd want to respect your mother's space...and I feel like if I moved in a lot of things happening between us.... wouldn't really do that. If you catch my drift. It's more the people and their lifestlyes. I know everything's revolutionized now, but I feel like it just makes it harder to be a lively sociable interesting person with all of these screens and lights in the way.

  Yeah, I don’t think there is anything you can do. But, thanks.

Do you think maybe Adonis could help...? Or one of your co-workers?

  Yeah, no. I put all of this shit off so I could try and get everything ready for Christmas. Now, I’m going to need to completely pull everything out of my ass to get it done on time.

O-oh... I'm sorry. I don't really have a reason to apologize but uh- still. If there's anything... I can do to help just.. let me know. Good luck otherwise.

  I guess I understand. Just.. Ask your father if you could move into a nearby house..? Or move into like a shed or something in your back yard? Maybe an old garage? I can do repairs on it and stuff…Make it seem like a loft.

Maybe I should ask Zuriah to let Brooklyn stay with him for a while, give him a couple thousand dollars to help her take care of her and then save up from there.. I need some kind of a plan. I think if I save up enough money.. I don't know. If I move I don't want to settle just anywhere.. I wanna go out to seven.

  Who cares what other people think, Nia. They see me as a Barbarian, but do you think that’s true? Am I really some savage? No. I’m not. People who gossip are just way too boring to develop social skills of their own. Do what makes you happy, not what forces you to fake a smile.

It's not that easy... this life is everything I am. Helping people out, I can still do it but it won't even be close to as effective if I leave my dad and Brooklyn.. I can't afford to risk her not having the things she needs because I was selfish and wanted happiness. It's different when you have children, Adonis. I know you only want to see me happier.. and that means a lot because you're one of the firsts but none of this- as as simple as you're making it seem and I'm sorry.

  That is complete fucking bullshit. Nia, if he’s doing all of that, then he shouldn’t be considered your family. Family takes care of one another regardless of the mistakes one person makes. Family is supposed to be proud of who they are and what they did, they shouldn’t try to hide it.  Fuck financial aid, I’d help you and Zuriah would too.

Shhhh. Don't be so loud, someone might hear you and tell him. But then the whole thing spirals out of control. I leave the king, the king's left to believe I'm plotting against him because they've provided for me my entire life and then I'd be seen as ungrateful and the Primary's not big so word spreads fast and it just... hm.

Unless they asked, no.— Well, I don’t know. I’m not sure. Well, like… building a tree house for Brooklyn shouldn’t be a problem. Really, I mean it’s just a tree house. Why don’t you move out?

He likes to keep his yard looking professional and doesn't necessarily want a reminder-- or want to remind the neighbors around us that can see it that there's a teen mom on the block. I'd lose my job... and all of my financial support. And.. my only family.

  Perhaps the mother was a bad influence? Or she was unfit to be a mother.. Other than that, I would tell my kid, regardless of the mother and I’s relationship…Why? Okay, why do you care so much about your Dad’s opinion?

You wouldn't even tell them that they were unfit to be a mother and a bad influence..? I'm not... exactly sure what you're talking about. I mean he's raised me my entire life so I think most of his life ethics are just drilled into me and I'm also still living under his roof so I wouldn't want to be disrespectful in any way... if that answers your question.

Maybe. Yeah, that was definitely a nice change. Okay, go ahead, shoot… But I have a question for you too..

So let's say you had a child.. and for some reason the mother of the child wasn't in the child's life anymore.. what good reason would you have not to tell the child about it? And this is like.. once the child's fully grown, practically an adult. Oh, alright you can ask away.

  Work? Oh yeah, Work. Um.. It’s been good. I didn’t get a chance to break my Christmas record this year. Well, I watched my Mom pretty much build ..My house so.. I fix things up when they need to be fixed. Why?

Aha, did I throw you off your game there? Well hey, you were spending time with your family this time around which I think is a pretty good excuse if you ask me.. and it shows progress. We don'y have to talk about that.. I was just making casual conversation. I was ... unreasonably dreaming about building a tree house.. or a play house for Brooklyn somewhere but then I realized me dad probably wouldn't want that int he backyard. Can I ask you a real question this time? I'm not going to kiss you again, I promise. 

So how's work going? Have you set any new records lately...? Oh- and speaking of work and all I remember you mentioning you have power tools handy.. if that just a side hobby of yours?

I don’t understand what your asking.

96 hours. I was asking if there's anyways you could sort our your time, you know breaks so that the amount of time doesn't seem as stressful.

  Why don’t you come here? Since you have something to tell me.

4 days. 96 straight hours. Do you see my annoyance yet?

Well.. do you just need that much time to finish all of your work or do you need the hours?

And what if I don’t want to?

Then I suppose you don't have to..