engaged and underage.

“Leila, how can you think you’re in love with this man? He’s not right for you.” 1

Here we go again with my mother promoting that speech that I need a better man than Brett Johnson. 2

“Ugh mom, he’s a good man, he serves his country as a Marine, He played football in High School, he’s an excellent dancer, and need I remind you where we met?” I retorted3

“Yes please refresh my mind on where you met and why you didn’t turn him down.” My mother Elena replied. 4

“You know that he and I met when I was dancing with Kimberly Hillyard Academy. Kimberly herself assigned me to the Jadelene Music video. I was practicing with Jadelene after our initial rehearsal was over. And Brett was watching from the doorway. When Jadelene had to go to the recording studio and I gathered my sports bag to leave, he offered me a fresh water bottle from the vending machine. And I clearly remember telling you this story when I got home that day that I turned his offer down.” 5

“But Leila after you told me that story and before I knew it, he’s in our house invading your personal space and taking you away from your studies.” My mother protested6

“Mom I graduated from the Academy in the top ten percentile of my class. If he did anything he helped me get better. He worked with me as a trainer to better myself. Shouldn’t you be happy about that?” I asked her. She got up from her designated seat on my couch, walked into the kitchen where I was kneading dough. She cupped my face in her hands and spoke softly to me. 7

“I am happy he helped you get better in you’re studies, and I know you loved dancing that’s the only reason why I put you at that academy. I was not expecting you to want to do dancing for a career. He influenced you on that.” 8

“So what exactly were you expecting from me?” I asked, starting to loose my temper. 9

“I wanted you to do anything in the world you wanted to do, but Brett is not the man I pictured you with for the rest of your life.” She replied. 10

“Dancing is what I love and Brett is who I love.” I retorted. I gazed down at the chocolate chip cookie dough. I licked a lump of the dough off my index finger and then fixed my eyes on the picture of me and Brett at my family’s annual fourth-of-July fireworks extravaganza in Cocoa beach, FL. My head was on his broad shoulder. His beautiful brown eyes twinkled when the photo was taken. He had on a red t-shirt underneath his black hoodie, and a black baseball cap that covered his brown spikes (at the time). His masculine jaw accentuated his pearly white smile and his soft lips. Oh how I loved his lips. He gave the best kisses I’ve ever been given in my entire nineteen years of living. The timer went off on the oven. I washed my hands, fitted the oven mittens on and took out my second batch of Chocolate chip cookies. I let them cool on the stove. 11

“Just how many batches of cookies are you going to make tonight?” My Mother asked12

“I don’t know, until I run out of dough.” I responded coldly. Truth was I had enough dough to last me months. 13

“Crazy.” Elena Mumbled. 14

“Crazy Leila. Ain’t that right mom.” I chuckled a little bit. 15

”So are we going to finish our conversation or not.” 16

My mother’s mouth dropped open – which was never a good sign. Thank God for my sister Madman Madison. 17

“Hey fam…” She greeted in all her hiphop glory. Tight jeans, Midriff jersey, teased hair. I swear where ever she just came from I know she had sex with her rap-star boyfriend Lil’ Bucky. Madison strutted over to the couch and gave mom a kiss on the cheek. She came over to the kitchen counter where I was and flicked cookie dough at me. 18

“UGH!” I shouted in disgust, and flung some back at her. 19

“GIRLS!” Mother shouted. Madison stuck her tongue out at me. I made the scissors motion with my index and middle finger. HA! That got her to stick her nasty tongue back in her mouth. 20

“Before you want to snip off my tongue with your finger scissors, you may want to hug me first.” Madison teased. 21

“Why would I want to hug you? Never in my life have I ever wanted to hug you.” I replied. Madison stuck her index finger and thumb in her mouth and whistled so loud I could have sworn my glass sliding door was going to break. 22

Brett waltzed into the room, looking better than ever. 23

“Oh My…Gawwwwwwwwww.” I stammered. I couldn’t even finish the word God. I screamed loud and jumped over the counter making a bigger mess of all the ingredients I had out. Unfortunately my foot landed on an old issue of Cosmo magazine and I slipped falling flat on my ass. Brett couldn’t help but laugh. He walked over to me and helped me up. Bad mistake because what I did next was jump onto him. Legs wrapped around him, arms sloppily draping over his shoulders and need I tell you I got cookie dough all over my black tank top, blue jeans, his uniform, my hair and his bald head. 24

He held me there for what seemed like eternity before setting my butt down on the counter and leaning back into me giving me one of the most passionate and beautiful kisses in the entire world. He even threw in a few Eskimo kisses that always made me blush. God I love him so much. 25

“Why didn’t you tell me you were coming home?” I asked. 26

“Well I told you our term got extended when it didn’t cause if I didn’t tell you that then I wouldn’t have been able to pick this up for you.” He scooted off of me and I sat up straight. He dug a small velvet box out of his pocket, and kneeled down on one knee. He grabbed my manicured hand, and massaged my knuckles. 27

“Leila, My happiness with you has been out of this world, nothing in my twenty-three years of breathing compares to what you’ve given me in the past two and a half years. The way your body just molds next to mine when I’m asleep with you, they way you’re so fragile and vulnerable at night makes me want to protect you forever and always. That’s about how much time I want to spend with you. Leila Michelle Kennedy, I am asking for your hand in marriage.” He paused and revealed the beautiful, pink, heart-shaped diamond ring. “Leila will you marry me?”28

Tears ran down my face, and my smile wouldn’t quit. I was speechless but I said yes. 29

“Brett Tanner Johnson, My boyfriend for two and half years, a soldier for a year, and will be my husband until death do us part.” I cried. He stood up and I wrapped my arms around his neck. He had his arms on my back and he looked at me straight in my hazel eyes with the most loving gaze I’ve ever experienced. I couldn’t help but kiss him. My luscious brown hair (tinted with blonde) fell over his shoulders as our kiss deepened. 30

“I love you.” I told him.31

“I love you too.” He whispered back. He set me back down onto the ground, and Madison – who was drying her tears came up to Brett. 32

“Welcome to the family. Brother-in-law.” She gushed. He couldn’t help but smile, he pulled Madi in for a hug, and my mother stood up. 33

“Brett Johnson, I need you to leave.” 34

Oh no. The drama queen strikes. 35

“Miss Kennedy, with all due respect, I know I asked you for Leila’s hand in marriage once, and you turned me down, But I can’t help how I feel for Leila.” He responded politely. 36

“Brett, Not now, not tomorrow, not a month, a year, or even a decade from now will you have Leila titled as your wife. Now leave!You have overstayed your welcome” My mother hissed. 37

“Mom!” I Screamed. 38

“Leila it’s okay.” He soothed. He brushed my bangs out of my eyes, and moved his thumbs across my cheekbones wiping away the tears. 39

“I’m coming with you.” I cried. 40

“Leila!” My mother’s tone was harsh and unloving. Brett kissed me goodbye and whispered in my ear he’ll be back and that the engagement is real, no matter what my mother says. 41

“Mom, I don’t care what you say, I live on my own, I work on my own, and I was taught to be a good human being by you. Let me have this.” I provoked. 42

“No!” My mother instantly shut down. 43

“Mom!” I shouted once more. 44

“There are things for you too see, that cannot be seen with him. Leila you cannot marry him.” She replied sternly. 45