Four years earlier…

As Lupe anticipated his best friend, Vee, to climb through his open window any minute now, he wondered what the future would hold for both of them. He knew if his mom got any worse he would leave. However, she had seemed to be getting better. She started getting up again and cooking in the morning before Lupe would go to work. Things were finally looking up.

Lupe admitted they were a little old to be sneaking around but it was his mother’s roof so the “NO LIL’ GIRLS AFTER DARK” rule from his childhood still applied.

Before he knew it, Vee was shimmying through his window, looking as fine as ever. Although he was enticed, she made it very clear that they were just friends, always. He had to stop trying after she turned him down in the eighth grade for the star basketball player. However, that chocolate skin, broad smile, and those thick thighs always got him going at least a little bit.

“What you staring at, stupid?” Vee stated, calling him out.

“Not you, ugly.”

“Ugly? Hm, but you want my ugly self.”

“Shut up, Vee.”

They both knew he couldn’t say anything else. Vee was speaking the truth.

Lupe watched as Vee slinked over to him in her short shorts and threw her arms around him. He breathed in the strawberry scent of her pixie cut. In that moment, life was sweet.

After laying down for a while, Lupe and Vee decided to pick a movie to watch on his laptop. Of course, Lupe had seen every movie at least 3 times. However, it didn't stop Vee from consulting him on which movie to pick. She was considerate that way.

“So Lupe, how's your mom?”

Lupe touched his cross, scared to jinx her recent good health.

“I don't know honestly, it's hard to tell day by day. I know something is wrong but I don't know what. And she won't go to the doctor.”

Lupe felt a lone tear fall down his face. He was overwhelmed. He couldn't lose his mom.

Vee must have heard the sniffles, which were a side effect of the now waterfall of silent tears.

“Lu? Are you crying? Aww, Lulu don't cry. It's gonna be okay.”

“Don't call me that, Vee. My mama could have cancer. CANCER!”

“Keep your voice down,” Vee whispered trying to calm the situation.

“I'm sorry Vee. I just know that without her, I'll have no one.”

“Lupe, that is not true. You're always gonna have me.”

“It's not the same, Vee.”

“Maybe not,” Vee said sitting up and reaching to stroke his face,“But I’m your family, too. I love you, Lupe.”

One week later, Lupe’s mom was diagnosed. He had holed himself up in his room after that. He couldn’t focus on Vee anymore. Not while his mother was dying. He couldn’t stay and watch her fade away like he had seen in the movies. So while his mother was still in the hospital receiving treatment, he packed up and went on vacation. He figured it would only be two weeks. One and a half weeks after leaving, Lupe came across the opportunity of a lifetime: to intern at Hard Hat Records. After speaking with his mother and getting her blessing, he took the position and moved his whole life to New York. He had worked his way up the ladder, and a two-week vacation turned into four years and a promotion to his dream job. He forgot all about his night with Vee. When he would think about her from time to time, he would push it out of his mind, just like the thoughts of his mother and how he had left her in her time of need, just like his father.

Vee: Im pullin up now

Yet another moment of truth for Lupe. It was time to see Vee again, and what she thought was their child.

Vee: do i hav 2 cum in thru the window or u meeting me outside?

Lupe: Im cumn now

As Lupe made his way to the front door, his life up to this point flashed before his eyes. “Everything would change now,” he thought, grabbing his cross. “No matter what, everything will change.”

He opened the door and there she was looking just as he remembered her last time. Beautiful; big brown eyes, pillowy lips, hips and thighs that every man would dream of, and the smoothest chocolate skin he had ever seen. This was his Vee. He thought he would faint at how good she looked. How did he ever leave her behind?

“Still staring I see.”

“Still ugly I see.”

“Hey! Don't talk to my mommy like that,” yelled the sweetest voice Lupe had ever heard.

At 6’1” Lupe almost didn't hear the little munchkin with the hair that matched Vee’s now long and curly mane.

“Who's this little princess?” Lupe asked bending down.

“I am LuLu. So you can call me Miss LuLu.” LuLu said, with her hands on her hips to show that she meant business.

Lupe could barely pay attention to any of the attitude LuLu had been serving. He was too busy looking into her eyes. The only person with eyes like that was his mother.

“Hey Vee, long time no see!”, said his mother joining them from her room.

“Hey Ms. Cee! You remember LuLu, right?”

“Of course, I do! The last person I seen in the mirror that pretty was this morning in the mirror.”

Everyone burst into laughter, except for LuLu who Lupe could tell spotted the resemblance.

“I like your eyes!” LuLu said to Califa.

“They look just like yours, don't they Lu? But anyway, we not staying long. I just need to get your sample. Then we can head out,” Vee said.

“We’re trying to find my daddy. Mommy said it's outta two people. Either you or Mr. Dre.” LuLu said with the biggest smile on her face.

“Two?” Lupe thought out loud, confused. Vee had been with someone else around the time they had their night?

“Yeah Lupe. Two.” Vee said with her head down.

“Wow Vee…I gotta go lay down.”

He couldn't handle the possibility of not being the father. Lupe had already started too fall in love with Lulu after one meeting. He could also see himself falling in love with Vee, too.