Chapter 1: Moving Foward.

There was a married couple, packing their belongings on a hot Harlem summer, finally moving out the dreadful neighborhood they raised their only daughter in.  It was definitely time to go back to their old dreams.  The husband, Clayton, used to travel across world as an archaeological digs, and on the hunt for a new discovery with a team of others like him.  His wife, Marie, would travel with him as his personal assistant.  Two incredibly young and talented adults ends up having a bundle of joy in the prime of their career.  They decided it was best to settle down, for the sake of the child, so their baby could have the life they never had.  A childhood surrounded by neighbors they'll grow up with for the rest of their lives.  Unfortunately, they only job Clayton could get at the time, was as a professor at City College of New York.  Marie gotten a job as an elementary teacher at Alain Locke.  Both these schools were in Harlem, New York.  Sure the area was bad, but at least their daughter grew up knowing what's right from wrong and always doing her best.  So at the age of 15, when their daughter started dating the son of a gang banger, at first their were skeptical.  But they knew the mother and the boy, and realize, they can't base judgement on what her ex boyfriend did.  The fact that she knew that was not the life she wanted for her sons and left him a lone showed that she had character.  And that her son, Usher, was behaving himself and participated in school sports, and even joined the writing club with their daughter, showed that he was nothing like his father.  But their daughter was a smart kid, just like they were, and knew that their daughter would avoid trouble at all cost.  Now, their precious Olivia was bound to for greater things.  Hopefully her and her boyfriend Usher gets married and live in upper east side Manhattan and far away from Harlem as possible.

At the last day of school, Olivia was happy that she'll never have to step foot in high school again.  Sure there was the graduation, but she didn't have to attend to it.  It didn't matter to her, that she was Valor Victorian, and she could make the 'high school is over and we're moving on' speech.  To hell with High School for all she cared, she had no friends except her best friend Maciah and her boyfriend Usher.  Those were the only two she cared about besides her parents, and her adult friends at the local jazz club.   All the girls at the school lust after her boyfriend of three years, Usher.  She still remembers the first day they met in third grade.  The girls, as always, was making fun of Olivia during recess due to the fact she was reading a book instead of playing jump rope with them.  It wasn't that she didn't want to, but merely because she didn't know how to play.  The girls were ruthless with their taunts, and Olivia began to cry trying to explain no one has ever taught her.  Usher and the other boys were playing tag, and when Usher ran past the girls and poor Olivia crying, he stepped in and told the girls to leave her alone.  All the girls at school had a crush on him, even Olivia.  The girls tried to plead their case, but Usher simply grabbed Olivia's hand and walked her to the girl's restroom so she could get some tissue and clean her face.  Once Olivia emerged from the restroom, she told him thank you in the shyest voice imaginable.  Usher said, "If those girls ever mess with you again, let me know.  I'll take care of it." and then he smiled at her and then walked away to continue playing tag with the other boys.  When he left Olivia began to blush.  Since then they became friends, and the girls hated her even more.

As Olivia was walking to her locker, where she always meets her best friend, she noticed that she was crying.  She rushed over to Maciah and asked "What's the matter?"  See, Maciah was dating a guy who has a girl friend.  Apparently the guy and his girl friend has been inseparable for years.  Maciah feels like if the guy had met her first, they'd be together instead of him being with his girlfriend, and cheating on her with Maciah.  But Olivia was against it from the start.  No matter what he says, obviously he was using Maciah for his own pleasure, and not for love.  But Maciah would always cry about the boy.  Olivia thinks that Maciah and the boyfriend are wrong, what about the his girlfriend and how she would feel if she found out.  The only thing Olivia really wants to know who is this mysterious guy Maciah has gone coo coo for co co puffs for.  Maciah refuses to tell her because she "apparently" promised to keep his identity a secret because no one is supposed to know of their "forbidden love".  However Olivia always keeps secrets, I mean, who is she going to tell?  No on really likes at school anyway.

Once Maciah finished crying on Olivia's shoulder, and the tardy bell rings for class, she grabs Olivia's arm and takes her to the restroom.  "Maciah, you know how I hate being late.  I know it's the last day of school and all, but can't you text me what that mysterious 'boyfriend' of yours did while I'm in class?"

"O, ya know you don't read texts durin class.  You can be late for once out of tha four years of high school.  I mean, come on, what I gotta tell ya is very important.  I don't want no one ta know."  Then Maciah starts looking under the stalls in the restroom to make sure nobody was there.

"What is it Ciah?  You know you can tell me anything."

Maciah began to open her mouth, and then more tears fell.  Then she just blurted it out "I'm pregnant!"

Olivia gasp.  "By him?"

Maciah nods her head and cries out "Yes!", and then hugs Olivia.  "I talked to him last night, about him breakin up with that bitch, and he said that he can't  and that he didn't want to talk about it.  I started cryin and shit while I'm still on tha phone with that nigga, and then instead of findin out why I was cryin, he just said 'Look, I'll call ya tomorrow' and hung up.  Didn't say good bye, or nothin."  Olivia began stroking Maciah's hair and hugging her.  She didn't know what to say, she was completely lost for words.

"Whoever this guy is, he doesn't deserve you or that girl that he's with.  It's ashamed that he's doing this to the both of you."

"O, fuck that bitch.  She's such a...oooooohhhhh....it just makes me mad that he's with her.  I mean, we would be so perfect together, and him and her just doesn't make sense, ya know.  And she's supposed to be this perfect lil princess, but if she was so perfect why is he fuckin me and not her."

"Ciah, that's not fair.  First of all, she's probably a sweet girl or maybe not.  But it's not for you to judge, I mean, after all you are in the wrong.  You knew he was in a relationship, but you went after him anyway.  Besides that, it's not her you need to worry about.  You need to worry about you and your child.  What are you going to do?  Does he know?"

Maciah starts pacing.  "I'ma tell him after school today.  But I'm scared.  What if he wants me to have an abortion?  Or he doesn't care?  I mean, I don't want to be that crazy babymama on Maury screamin 'YOU ARE THE BABY DADDY' you know what I mean.  Shit Connecticut is a drive to go to talk about some nigga who can't admit that he fucked me and that this is is mutha fuckin baby."  Olivia couldn't help but to laugh.

"Look Maciah, you know I'm always here for you.  Even though I'm going to college.  I got accepted at NYU.  Brown hasn't contacted me yet, so I'm thinking I might not be eligible.  But if you keep the baby, if it's a girl name her Olivia and if it's a boy name him Oliver."  And they both started laughing.  Maciah felt a little better and gave her a smile.  Maciah was lucky to have her as a best friend and she knew it.

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It was a typical high school day for Olivia, and she was glad it was the last.  Sure the girls were much nicer to her today and didn't talk about how they apparently "screwed" her boyfriend.  She didn't hear rumors that her boyfriend was unfaithful.  The guys didn't sexually harass her today.  Everyone was emotional, except her.  She was just happy that she never has to see them again.  Moving to the dorm rooms tomorrow, going to spend the rest of day packing, and then later on spending her last night in Harlem with the love of her life Usher, at the Jazz Club.

The Jazz Club was their special place.  It's when Usher finally asked Olivia to be his girlfriend.  It was about three years ago.  Anyone under 18 was not allowed entrance after 8 o'clock, but Olivia snuck in anyway on Wednesday and Thursday nights.  Wednesday was open mic night, and Thursday was poetry night.  Either way she got to hear jazz and poetry.  See, Olivia wants to become a writer.  At the time, when she was 15, she didn't know what kind of writer.  But she was always good at poetry.  Listening to the poets read their work inspired her.  Unfortunately, she was too shy to let anyone read her work, not that she had friends anyway.  The only person she talked to was the most popular guy at school, and friend.  Usher.  At the time Maciah just moved from Atlanta, Georgia, and they were slowly becoming close friends.  One night the owner of the caught Olivia sitting at the bar.  He was going to rush to her and tell her to leave, but he saw how she was hypnotized by the way the poet was reading their poem.  He saw the sparks in her eyes as if she wanted to be up there captivating people with her poetic words.  So he decided not to say anything just yet.  He let a few more poets read their material and watched her.  Unlike other kids her age, they would've tried to buy alcohol, but not Olivia.  She just ordered a cherry coke and a Shirley temple.  Once the last poet of the night read, and the jazz music started to play, the owner decided to talk to Olivia before she left.  "Excuse me young lady, if you want to continue to sneak into my club, you have to give me a reason why I should let you and not tell ya parents whatcha doin?"

Olivia completely, flabbergasted, began to stuttered and say "Be be be because I I I li li like to write.  But I'm sorry for sne sne sneaking in, I I I didn't mean to." And she tried to hurry off.

He gently grabs her should and says "So you like to write huh, what's your name young lady?"

Olivia turned around with her head down and said "Olivia Marie Jones."

"It's nice to meet you.  I'm the owner of this fine establishment.  They call me Big Daddy, but you can call me Mr. Big.  If ya wanna continue to come into my club, tomorrow I want ya to be reading one of yo best poems.  If you don't do it, then you are no longer allowed to come back ya hear.  But if ya do read it, then I'll let you slide and you could sit with tha big boys like myself."  He said with a friendly smile.

"I can't read in front of all these people, sir."

"Oh yes you can, and you will.  Unless you don't want to come back?"

The next day Olivia came with her poem she had wrote about Usher.  Not knowing that Usher's mother got him a job at the club as a busboy that night..

The announcer came on stage and said "Tonight is Thursday, and you know what that means.  Poetry nights.  Now our first poet is a young cat.  This is her first time being here, so please make her feel welcomed. O, also known as, Olivia."

Olivia shyly came to the mic and began reading her poem

"How can I begin
to comprehend
about how I feel about my friend?
How can I tell him
that I want no one else but him?
How can I let him know
that poetry just flow
when I'm around him?
But he is my friend
and times end
I have to hear about every girlfriend
about every girl that he's with
and I just can't comprehend
how could he not see
that we should be one.
We should be US
but I must
sit there
being tortured
when I see him hold some other girl's hand
and I can't even understand
why can't I tell him
that I no longer want to be his friend
and that I want a romantic relationship to begin?
How can I begin to explain
that this whole time
since Kindergarten
that every story I write, at the end
we're together
living happily ever.
Yet you have an endless amount of girlfriends,
and you can't understand why they won't work
because maybe you can't see
that we were actually meant to be
and that I am the perfect girl
that has always been inside your world.
But I can't even begin
to comprehend
how I feel about my friend
because I know at the end
the relationship I long for
will never begin."

Amazed by her poetry, the audience began to snap their fingers, while some clapped.  Olivia rushed off stage, feeling accomplished that she actually read her work and that people liked it, only to run into Usher with a smirk on his face.

"Ush, uhm...whe whe where di di did you come from?"  Olivia had a horrible habit of stuttering whenever she was nervous.  Usher knew this and smiled.

"I work here now.  My mom thinks that if I have a job it'll keep my from being on the streets like my brother."

"Oh."

Olivia tried to walk away and then Usher grabbed her arm "So, Oli, who's that poem for?"

Blushing, she began to stutter and say "Oh, na na no one tha tha that you kn kn know."

Usher smiled again, "I had no idea you hadda crush on somebody.  I didn't think you liked anyone." teasing her.

"I am a girl Usher.  I know sometimes you forget that some..." and then Usher kissed her.

"See, I know you're a girl, Oli, and I think sometimes you forget that.  But trust, I never forgot that."  She to blush. "I have a great idea, you're smart so you can tell me if I'm crazy, but I think you should be my girlfriend, I mean after all, we've been friends for almost 10 years, I'm pretty sure we shoulda been married by now."  He said with a smile.  Olivia said yes and hugged him.  Since then they were inseparable.

Boy did time fly by, Olivia thought as she walked home from school.  Just to think, her and Usher has been together for 3 years now.  Usher was her first boyfriend, and as far as she was concerned, the last man she'll ever be with.  Even though she hasn't had sex with him, she feels like he doesn't mind and understand.  He never pressured her about it because he knew her well enough to know why.  She was scared of losing her virginity, and in their neighborhood, girls get pregnant all the time.  Plus, her parents had to stop their lives because of a pregnancy.  Sure she knows there's condoms and birth control, but why risk their future on an accident that they are both not prepared for?  She was certainly glad she wasn't in Maciah's shoes.  And then it made her wonder, what if Usher cheated on her?  Then she laughed to herself, she trusted him why too much.  She knew he would never do that to her.

As soon as Olivia got to the door, her parents were waiting, holding an envelope in their hands.

"This is from Brown."  her mother said.

"Whatever this says honey, we are proud of you." her father said.  With that, her parents looked at each other, smiled at her and gave her the letter.

She began opening it, she didn't want to read it at first, but her parents were watching uneasily.  Their probably wondering what she's wondering...is she accepted or not?  With a big gulp, she quickly took the letter out of the envelope and began to read the letter.  In the longest moment of silence her parents had to endure Olivia screamed and said "I'VE BEEN ACCEPTED!!!!!!!!"  Her parents let out a big sigh, and once those three words sunk in, the yelled for joy with her and hugged her.

"Congratulations sweetheart,  I knew you would get in." her mother said, giving her a kiss on her cheeks.

"Way to go kiddo, now you're going to get big money from ya mom's parents."  her father said kidding. "I'm proud of you."

"Thank you daddy and mommy."  Olivia said with a huge smile and tears running down her cheeks.  She was beyond happy.  "I'm going to tell Usher right now."  She grabbed the keys to her car and began to drive straight to Usher's house.

At last she got there, she rushed up the stairs to his apartment.  The elevator always took to long any way.  Once she got to his apartment, the door was opened.  She almost didn't enter, until she heard a girl screaming.  Nervous, she pulled out her phone and was ready to dial 9-1-1 as she slowly entered the apartment until she heard another scream.  But this time, she realized it wasn't a scream, it was a moan.  "Oh Usher."  Olivia almost made a noise, she wanted to see for herself what all the girls at school told her Usher was doing.  Sleeping with everyone but her. Then she heard it again "Oh Usher" Once she opened his bedroom door, her mouth dropped.  She covered her mouth with her hand and began to cry, she couldn't believe what she saw.

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