tw: teen pregnancy, teenage drinking, smoking, mentions of abortion, running away, homelessness, stealing a car
[name_f]Jazmine[/name_f] “Jazzy” [name_f]Danielle[/name_f] [name_m]Keifer[/name_m] (19) is Maren’s cousin on her paternal side. [name_u]Jazzy[/name_u] was always closer with Maren’s sister, who is 21, and always found [name_f]Maren[/name_f] to be a bit spoiled and annoying, though, of course, she wasn’t very close to her, being 5 years younger. While the two of them were not friends as kids, they did grow close once [name_f]Maren[/name_f] went to college. [name_u]Jazzy[/name_u] was 12 years old when [name_f]Maren[/name_f] went to college, and as she grew up, she saw more of [name_f]Maren[/name_f] in herself. This wasn’t a good sign to her, she didn’t like [name_f]Maren[/name_f] very much, but they ended up growing closer as [name_f]Maren[/name_f] started giving [name_u]Jazzy[/name_u] advice. It was unfortunate, though, when Jazzy’s parent’s banned her from speaking to [name_f]Maren[/name_f] after she was found to be drinking and smoking and sneaking out when she was 14. It wasn’t Maren’s fault though, it was all [name_u]Jazzy[/name_u]. She found herself in the wrong crowd of friends and ended up getting pregnant at age 16. She was super scared and didn’t tell anyone, and ran away to Maren’s sister’s apartment.
After a few days at Maren’s sister’s house, Jazzy’s parents came along. Maren’s sister had already let them know what was happening, and it was very emotional for [name_u]Jazzy[/name_u] and her family. Her parents, who are very loving people. told her she could either give the baby up for adoption or leave the house. Jazzy’s decision was overwhelming and she was terrified. She promised to give up the baby but once he was born, she refused, and she ran. It was a terrible choice, to be honest. While she loves her son, [name_u]Atlas[/name_u], she wishes she cold give him a better life. After [name_u]Jazzy[/name_u] stole her mom’s car, she and baby [name_u]Atlas[/name_u] went into hiding. For 6 months, they were on the road. She had just gotten her license, and it was a terrible time, sleeping in the back of her car and stealing things to keep her baby alive and comfortable. Finally, after a long 6 months, [name_u]Jazzy[/name_u] went to Maren’s house. [name_f]Maren[/name_f] was 23 at the time, and working on her schooling and relationship. She didn’t have room for 2 more, especially not a baby. She did help [name_u]Jazzy[/name_u] by buying baby clothes and providing a safe space for her, as well as letting her stay for a few days while they found a place for her. She moved in with a friend of Maren’s, a kind young woman named [name_f]Jenna[/name_f]. [name_f]Jenna[/name_f] is 26 and also a single mom. She has a 4 year old and 3 year old named [name_f]Sadie[/name_f] & [name_f]Julianna[/name_f] “Jules”. [name_u]Jules[/name_u] is the same age as [name_u]Atlas[/name_u], and the three young toddlers have a great sibling/like relationship.
[name_m]Even[/name_m] though it’s been hard, [name_u]Jazzy[/name_u] still loves her son. She loves to see [name_f]Maren[/name_f] and Maren’s sister…but she misses her family, especially her little siblings, who would now be 16 and 14. She misses her parents too. She had trouble with alcohol earlier in her years, but is 2 years sober now, and is trying to live happily. She wants to reach out to her family, to tell them she is doing well, that she is going to community college and has a job. She wants to tell them she misses them and wants them to meet [name_u]Atlas[/name_u]. She wants to know how her sister and brother are doing. She hopes they are all okay and that they don’t hate her. She just doesn’t know how they’d react.