Chapter 4-2: Lover to Lover

                Yalena need not have worried. She and baby Brielyn were released from the hospital the following day. Both mother and baby were healthy and ready to resume normal life.

                 It did not take Yalena long to discover just why Xander had wanted her to find her own place. The apartment had been cozy, in her eyes, before Brielyn arrived. Now it was cramped and not a one of the residents could get a moment of privacy or peace. Yalena began searching for an affordable apartment near the school.

                Though it didn’t take Yalena long to acknowledge the merits of moving out, it took even less time for Xander to take back his terms. He fell in love with Brielyn the moment that she had been brought home and could always be found snuggling her or taking care of her needs. Yalena needed not for a babysitter when she was in school.

                 “Yalena, really, I don’t mind if the two of you stay,” he offered one day.

                “Xan, you were right. This apartment is too small for the three of us,” she admitted.

                Xander would be sad to see them go but the apartment they were moving to was just up the road so, hopefully he would have time to visit often.

                Yalena finally arrived at her new home, ready to begin her life as an adult. Her birthday may be a few years off yet but she knew that it was time to grow up and live on her own. She hadn’t had time to do a walkthrough of the premises between school and Brielyn and homework and everything else she needed to do but the real estate agent had assured her it was a good find.

                 It was a townhouse style home that had been converted into apartments. The apartment itself was small enough to be affordable but large enough for her and her daughter. Best of all, it was right next to the school so she would be close by. When her boxes of belongings, all three of them, had been moved in, Yalena stood and surveyed her new home. “It will do for now,” she thought to herself, pleased with her choice.

                 Lyric was the first to stop by and congratulate her on the house her very first night there. She made dinner for them and they sat in the middle of the living room, catching up.

                 “Can I meet her,” he finally asked.

                He hadn’t come to visit her in the hospital, though Yalena suspected that Jeanie had something to do with that. Everything had been so emotional and overwhelming that guests had really been the last thing she needed.

                “How did you decide on the name,” he asked, gazing down at the infant.

                “Well, you know about my mom. So that is where the Brie comes from. And, even though he’s not in our lives anymore, I wanted something for Glen, so that’s the lyn part. Brielyn. It sounded pretty enough.”

                “She’s beautiful.”

                 Yalena put her daughter back to bed. She was surprised and slightly worried about how much her baby slept but she had been assured that it was normal for babies to sleep as much as Brielyn did. Never though did she sleep through the night or let Yalena get a full night’s rest, resulting in exhaustion pretty much 24/7.

                 “Um, Lyric, can I ask you a favor,” Yalena mumbled.

                “Anything,” he responded. Though he hadn’t brought it up to her, he was fully aware that she had distanced herself from him the last few weeks and, not having her around as much, had made him want her even more. He would have done practically anything to get back in her good graces. Anything but dump Katherine, that is. He still needed her connections.

                “I’ve never spent the night by myself before. Can you, will you, spend the night? I’m kind of scared to be alone,” she confessed. “I only have sleeping bags though.”

                “It’ll be like camping. Without the bugs and dirt and lack of bathroom,” he joked.

                They changed into their pajamas and settled down to sleep. Moving and Brielyn had tuckered Yalena out and she was asleep in minutes. Lyric however got less sleep that night than he had in awhile, laying there beside her, so close but so far away.

                 “Damn it, my teacher wants to hold me after class to discuss my almost failing grade,” Yalena complained to Jeanie that day at lunch. “Doesn’t he know I just had a baby?”

                “Just go. Maybe he can help you get back on track. You do want to graduate on time, right?”

                “Yeah but Xander has band practice. He can’t watch Brielyn after three.”

                “I’ll do it,” Jeanie offered.

                “Yeah, and I’ll assist. Don’t want to leave Jeanie alone with her,” Lyric piped in as he joined them at the table. Jeanie glowered from across the table but said nothing.

                While Yalena met with her  teacher, Lyric and Jeanie came to an uneasy truce so they could work on something for Yalena. She was always the glue that held their little group together and, without her there, it was more difficult to play nice. Jeanie still disapproved of his relationship with Katherine and he still held her very nature against her. They worked silently, side by side, with little Brielyn’s crib rolled out to the hall so she was far enough from the fumes but close enough to keep an eye on.

                When Yalena arrived home, they had finished the nursery. They had managed to paint and decorate in the entire afternoon. She didn’t know how they had managed but it was beautiful and she was beyond grateful. They had even bought a mobile and a rocking chair for the room. ”I have the best friends,” she thought, failing at holding back her tears of happiness.

                She and Jeanie made plans for Friday night. It had been a long time since they had been to the arcade, or so it seemed. Ever since Brielyn had been born, the amount of time Yalena had to do the things she wanted to do had greatly decreased.

                “Hey Yalena, something came up and I can’t make it,” Jeanie called, canceling as Yalena already sat waiting.

                “Alright, I guess I’ll see you tomorrow,” she sighed.

                “Canceled date,” an attractive man asked from the other end of the bar.

                “I guess you could call it that. My best friend,” Yalena explained.

                “Hi, I’m Ace,” he stood and introduced himself.

                “Ace? For real,” she raised an eyebrow.

                He laughed. “Yes, Ace. My parents have high expectations for me.”

                She ended up staying at the arcade and chatting with Ace for the duration of the time that she had the babysitter. They exchanged numbers and continued to conversation throughout the next couple of weeks. Yalena learned that he was the oldest child, had a younger sister, and had high profile parents. That was the extent of information he gave her about his family though. They talked mostly about their dreams and lives on their own. She was upfront about Brielyn as well. They quickly became friends but the subtle flirting hinted at something more.

                “Oh my Watcher, it’s him,” Yalena exclaimed  to Jeanie and Lyric one afternoon when her phone rang as they stood around in the courtyard.

                “Uh huh…uh huh….sure, that sounds great. I’ll meet you at seven,” she was smiling as she hung up the phone. “That was him. He asked me out on a date! I have to hurry home and get ready. And persuade the sitter to stay longer.”

                So engrossed in this little victory, she failed to notice Lyric’s look of dismay.

                Yalena and Ace met at a nearby lounge for drinks and dancing. He knew she was underage but he had a connection at the bar and they allowed her in. She stuck to virgin drinks but they had a fantastic time.

                “Why is that woman staring? Do you know her,” she asked Ace as they danced in the middle of the room.

                “She’s staring at you. She’s jealous because you’re the most beautiful woman in here.”

                Finally, the night began to wind down, for Yalena at least. She had to get home to relieve her babysitter and, as much as she liked Ace, she loved her daughter more. She liked to snuggle her at night, even after she had gone to sleep.

                “Alright, I think I should head home.”

                “Can I walk you home,” Ace asked with a twinkle in his eye.

                “You may, but you’ll stay at the door,” Yalena answered laughing, but completely serious. She wasn’t ready to introduce him to Brielyn yet. She wasn’t sure where the relationship was going and she wanted to be more sure of that first.

                “That works for me.”

                So walk her home he did. They stood at the door, saying goodbye and, eventually, he leaned in for a goodnight kiss. It was short and sweet, rather shy even, but it was very nice. Yalena hadn’t kissed a guy since Glen. Thinking back, she hadn’t kissed him since their secret rendezvous that resulted in Brielyn.

                Ace and Yalena continued dating. They spent a lot of time out together but neither was quite ready to take the next step. She hadn’t introduced him to Brielyn and he hadn’t introduced her to his family either. It wasn’t until Brielyn’s birthday that Yalena finally decided it was time to push their relationship to the next level. She decided to throw a small party with her brother and best friends and invited Ace along.

                Ace, having finally been accepted in fully, rarely left Yalena’s side. He was there to help her set up, he helped her with Brielyn when necessary, and just enjoyed being around her. Lyric was unhappy with the situation. He didn’t like Ace but he didn’t know why. It might have something to do with his relationship with Yalena but there was something else too, something he couldn’t quite put his finger on. “I’ll have to keep an eye on him,” he declared, at least to himself.

                Just as she taking Brielyn over to her cake, her doorbell rang. She answered, and gasped.

                “Dad, what are you doing here,” she exclaimed.

                 “I…,” he started but, before he could finish, another person appeared over his shoulder in the doorway.

                “Glen?!?”

Chapter 4.1                                                                                                                                              Chapter 4.3