Mackenzie and I had a half-decent conversation for the next twenty minutes. The boys sat in the strange house, as close to me as they could get.

I took a deep breath when I saw the door open, and then waited for Shanelle's reaction to us being there.

"Mackenzie, we-" she began, but stopped dead when she saw me. "Torrance? What are you doing here?" she screamed, running over to us.

"I just came down to see what was wrong... and-" I started, but Mackenzie cut me off, smiling.

"She came down to see you, and I went nuts on her... I just flipped out. I told her to stay away from you, I'm so sorry baby." he looked a little embarrassed.

"So... why are you here now?" she asked, still looking at me.

"We talked, and we're ok." I answered. Mackenzie nodded.

"Oh my God, thank you so much, Mack!" she shrieked and hugged her boyfriend really hard. I just let out a laugh.

"Oh... Shanelle, these are my boys... that's Eden and this is Emery." I told her, pointing to each of them,

"Wow, they're beautiful... they're... identical." she laughed.

"Yeah they are. But Emery wears green and Eden likes blue, and Eden also has a scar from getting stitches... right here on his upper lip." I said, pointing to it.

"Wow, I can't believe this. Aren't they adorable, Mack?" Shanelle asked her boyfriend. He just smiled.

There was sort of an awkward silence for awhile, and I just smiled down at my boys.

"Mama," Eden whispered to me, "Us go?" he asked. I laughed, and so did Shanelle.

"Ok guys..." I replied to my sons. "I guess we should go." I looked up at Shanelle, and then at Mackenzie. "I'm planning to take the boys shopping, but I don't really know my way anywhere, you know? So... would you wanna come?" I asked Shanelle.

She smiled but before she replied, so looked over at her boyfriend. It almost looked like he was going to say no, but then he grinned and replied,

"Yeah, ok, go... have fun!"

Shanelle squealed and hugged him again. Then I grabbed both my sons in my arms, and carried them towards the door.

"Bye Mackenzie, and thanks." I smiled back to Mackenzie, before we left.

"See ya Torrance... bye guys." he waved at us. "Bye, baby." he said to Shanelle.

"Bye Mack." she finished.

She was still grinning as we left their apartment. The two of us walked down the long hallway, me carrying my boys.

"I-I don't know what you did to him, to make him not hate you... but I'm glad." Shanelle whispered to me, just incase he could still hear.

"I'm not sure. I think I made him feel sorry for me, a little." I laughed. "He seems like a nice guys."

"Oh, he is. His mom was very young when she had him, and his dad ran off before he was born, He had a hard childhood. He is afraid that if he has a kid, it'll grow up like he did, and he doesn't want that." Shanelle told me. I didn't know what to say.

"Oh... man, that sucks." I replied stupidly.

"Yeah, I met him when I was 14, we just became best friends. But now he's really protective of me. I'm surprised he let me go out with you tonight." Shanelle smiled. "He must like you... and trust you."

"I hope he does, but I really want to become friends with both of you." I told her.

"So do I... I haven't really had too many good friends, because of Mackenzie, you know? And there hasn't been anyone our age in this beach house since we've lived here." she told me.

"Yeah, that must kinda suck." I replied.

"Kinda. But... I think this is really going to be good. And maybe Mackenzie will learn to like your babies, here." she laughed, touching Eden's long soft hair.

"I hope so." I finished.

Then we all went up to our apartment. I got the boys ready, and then got myself ready while Shanelle watched the boys. I could tell they liked her already. And I was glad. Then we left my apartment again. It was 7:30pm when we were in the parking lot, desciding which car to take, mine or hers.

"Well, maybe I should drive... you know, I know Tampa pretty well." Shanelle concluding.

I nodded, hoping she'd say that. Then the four of us got into Shanelle's redish colored car, and drove to the closest mall. I really was hoping that this would be the beginning of a beautiful friendship.