Between the Lines

ʙᴇᴛᴡᴇᴇɴ ᴛʜᴇ ʟɪɴᴇꜱ
ɴᴇᴡ ʏᴏʀᴋ, ɴᴇᴡ ʏᴏʀᴋ
ᴏᴍɴɪꜱᴄɪᴇɴᴛ ᴘᴏᴠ

The car ride was quiet, an uncomfortable silence settling between them. Kimora's nerves were on edge, her fingers fidgeting with the hem of her sleeve as her leg bounced restlessly against the floorboard. She didn't know what was going on with Kennedy, but the panic in her voice still echoed in her head. Whatever it was, it didn't sound good, and she was starting to feel the nervousness, pressing down on her.

Darius drove, his eyes focused on the road, glancing at Kimora every now and then but not saying a word. He could tell she was tense, her body language stiff and her eyes far away, lost in whatever thoughts were racing through her head. But he didn't push her to talk. He wasn't sure what to say, especially when he had no idea what was happening.

As the minutes passed, Kimora's anxiety only seemed to grow, and the silence between them felt suffocating. Finally, Darius broke it, his voice low and calm. "Whatever's going on, it'll be fine. Your leg shaking and shit, try to calm down."

Kimora didn't reply, but the words seemed to settle on her shoulders, it went in and out her ears. She wasn't sure she believed him, but she appreciated the effort. She kept her eyes on the road ahead, trying to focus on the drive rather than what might be waiting for her.

They pulled into a small, dimly lit park a few minutes later, the time on the dashboard reading 3 AM. Kimora's stomach twisted as she glanced at the empty swings and silent playground. The park was quiet, deserted in the dead of the night, and it only added to the unease she already felt.

She turned to Darius, her voice small but urgent. "Kennedy said she's here. I—I don't understand why she didn't come home... I'm worried." Her hand gripped the door handle as she spoke, ready to get out of the car.

Darius gave her a quick, reassuring glance. "You're good. Let's just see what's up." He didn't ask questions. He just opened his door and followed her out, staying a few steps behind as she headed toward the park bench where Kennedy had said she'd be.

The moment they reached the bench, Kimora froze. Kennedy sitting on the bench, her head in her hands, shoulders shaking with quiet sobs. Kimora's heart sank.

"Ken..." Kimora's voice cracked as she stepped forward, crouching in front of her sister. Kennedy looked up at her, her eyes red and swollen from crying.

"I—Kimora, I didn't know what to do. Like the whole house ganged up on me." Kennedy's words were broken, rushed, like she was trying to say everything at once.

Kimora knelt down beside her, her chest tightening with worry. "What's going on? You're scaring me, Ken."

Kennedy swallowed hard, trying to pull herself together, but it was clear she was struggling. "I... I had a pregnancy scare, Kimora." She sniffled and wiped her eyes, taking a shaky breath before continuing. "And I—I think Dad found the test. He—he didn't know how to handle this. He's so mad at me."

Kimora looked at her in disbelief. She opened her mouth to say something, but the words caught in her throat. Kennedy had always been careful. Kimora always told her to be.

Kennedy's hands trembled as she wrapped them around her knees, her voice small and shaky. "I know. It's bad. I never seen him so mad."

Kimora's heart broke at the sight of her sister so vulnerable, so lost. "Kennedy, everything is going to be fine...You're not pregnant right?," Kimora said softly, her hand gently resting on Kennedy's arm. "You just need to talk to him. We'll figure it out together."