Chapter 9: Aftermath*

Shelby rolled over and seen Lulu laying there, silently snoring. She smiled and kissed him on the forehead. He smiled and she got out of bed.

Shelby loved the way Lulu looked when he was sleeping. It was as if he didn't have a care in the world. All she wanted to do was lay down with him and never get up again.

But Shelby knew she couldn't do that. She had to fix things with Liz, make sure things were okay with Izzy, and find Daniel and tell him what happened. She walked into the kitchen to figure out what task to tackle first.

Izzy was in the living room, watching Jerry Springer.

“Hey.” Shelby said walking over to Izzy. She sat down on the couch next to him.

“Hey.” Izzy replied with a smile.

“Can we talk?” She asked seriously.

“Yeah, sure.”

“Okay. You know I love you. And your friendship means a real lot to me, Izzy.”

“But?” He asked, knowing that was what came next.

“All we can have is a friendship. I don't like you the way you like me. I love Lu.”

“Okay.”

“And I'm so sorry. Maybe if things were different then we could be together.”

“Okay.” Izzy replied.

“Say something else. Get mad. Do something.” Shelby said, getting annoyed. She hated habing a one sided conversation; and that's exactly what this turned out to be.

“What do you want me to say Shibb? That I'm happy you and Lulu got back together? That I hate you for not giving me a chance? I don't know what to say.” Izzy said staring at Shelby.

“I don't know what you're supposed to say. I just really don't want you to be mad at me Iz, you're like a big brother to me; you always have been.” Shelby said taking his hand.

“Shut up Shibb.” Izzy said with a smile. When they were teenagers, Shelby and Izzy would go back and forth telling each other to shut up. All of it out of fun and mainly to annoy others.

“Shut up Izzy.” Shelby said kissing his forehead. She got up and walked upstairs to Liz and Kassy's bedroom. Liz was laying down with her phone up to her face, Kassy still sleeping. “Can we talk Wiferz?” She asked from the doorway.

“Why?” Liz asked looking at her.

“Because we need to fix things between the two of us.” Shelby replied walking back downstairs. She walked through the kitchen, onto the back porch. The cool October wind hit her as she sat down.

Liz followed and sat down next to Shelby. “What do you have to say?”

“I'm really sorry about the whole me and Izzy thing. I really am; it was a mistake.”

“You really hurt me Shel. I mean I'd expect something like this to happen with some other girl; but not you Shibb. I trusted you.”

“I know kliz and I'm sorry. I promise it will never ever happen again.”

“How do you know? He really likes you Shibb.”

“I talked to him. We're just friends and he knows that.” Shelby said looking at Liz.

“You and Lulu were just friend, then you got pregnant with his baby.” Liz replied, regretting it once the words left her mouth.

“Me and Lulu are getting married. You can have your precious little Izzy...just know he wanted me; Not you!” Shelby got mad and before she hit Liz she got up and walked into the house.

“You okay?” Izzy asked noticing Shelby's red face. She looked at him and nodded, walking up stairs to Daniel and Lexi's bedroom. She knocked before she opened the door. Daniel looked up at her and smiled.

“Where's Lexi?” Shelby asked getting in bed next to Daniel.

“She's in the shower.”

“Oh—I have something to tell you.” She couldn't help but smile.

“What?” Daniel asked as she put her hand in his face.

“Lulu asked me last night.”

“Wow. I thought you were getting with Izzy...”

“No. I could never do that to Liz.”
“I don't fucking get females.”

“Okay; what if I liked this chick, like I really liked her. But she liked you. Would you date her?” Shelby asked.

“Okay. Now I get it.” Daniel said as they laughed.

“Me and Liz are fighting.” Shelby said breaking the silence between them.

“Yall haven't made up yet?” Daniel asked, a little surprised.

“I tried Buddii. But she things somethings going to happen with Izzy and I. I tried to tell her we're just friend but she brought up hoe Lulu and I were just friends when I got pregnant. She brought that up. So I got mad and kinda told her about me and Lu getting engaged.”

Daniel could tell Shelby was rambling, that she was leaving out a part of the story. “What else did you say to her Buddii?” He asked.

“I told her she could have her little Izzy...just remember that he wanted me; not her.”

they sat there in silence; neither of them knew what to say. Shelby knew she'd messed up. That throwing the fact that Izzy wanted her and not Liz was wrong. Daniel took Shelby's hand and whispered, “We'll get through it Buddii.”

They grabbed pots and pans and started to bang them together. Shelby looked at Lulu and smiled. Then she turned to Daniel and laughed. The two most important men in her life were there with her trying to wake everyone up. It was Shelby's idea, she didn't want to have to tell them the news one by one. Telling them as a group was a better idea anyways.

“What the fuck! The suns not even out yet!” Bre yelled as they all came downstairs.

“The suns been out since 6 am—It's 11:4.” Shelby replied as everyone took their seats; leaving Shelby and Lulu standing. “We have news?”

“What?” Chanel asked rubbing her eyes.

“What could possibly be so important that you had to wake us up?” Drew asked.

Shelby looked back and smiled. “We're getting married.” She and Lulu said together.

“Congrats Twinn.” Bre said with a smile, as Lexi shot a look at Daniel.

It's not fair. She and Daniel have been together for 8 years and he still hasn't asked her. Shelby and Lulu weren't even together and all of a sudden they're engaged? How the fuck was that fair?”

“Lemme see the ring.” Sasha said rushing over to Shelby. She smiled as Chanel and Bre walked over too,

Kassy, Liz, Lexi and Jill stayed in their seats. Kassy hated how Shelby treated Izzy; how are you going to make out with him and then claim there's nothing there? Liz was pissed at how Shelby's been treating her. She makes out with Izzy, then flips things so Liz Is the bad guy. Lexi deserved to be the one getting married. Not Shelby. Jill sat there and laughed. If Shelby knew everything Lulu did in the past 4 months; they wouldn't be getting engaged.