Chapter 17: Can You Feel My Heart?

Drake’s P.O.V.

“You okay baby girl?” I looked down at Mylan. Nicki and My have been staying at my apartment for the weekend. Ever since Mylan got released from the hospital I haven’t left her side. It’s been about two days and between Nicki and I, she’s not lifting a finger.

“Can you sing to me like you did last time?” She looked up at me with her big brown eyes. I’ve learned it was impossible to say no to her.

“What do you want me to sing?” I gave in as I sat on the bed.

“Anything,” she smiled at me. I started singing one of the songs I wrote recently. I noticed midway through the song, she fell asleep. I kissed her forehead and tucked her in.

“I didn’t know you could sing,” I was startled by Nicki’s voice. I turned and saw her leaning against the doorframe. I got up and walked over to her.

“It’s nothing serious,” I brushed it off as I turned off the light. We walked to my room and got in bed.

“Well your voice is beautiful,” she commented.

“Please don’t say that,” I groaned as I leaned back.

“Fine, it’s very sexy,” she smirked at me.

“Don’t start something when you gotta get up early,” I warned her. She giggled and pecked my lips.

“What are we doing in practice tomorrow?” She tried to get me to tell her.

“Goodnight Onika,” I pulled her close as she huffed.

“Goodnight Aubrey,” she whispered.

Nicki’s P.O.V.

I walked into the gym and saw Nae talking to CeeJay. I was shocked because that’s my best friend talking to Cassie’s best friend. Isn’t that odd? Cassie and I exchanged a quick glance. She seemed to look just as lost as I did. I sat by my crew and Nae finally decided to walk over. “Hey Nic,” she smiled but I didn’t return it.

“Why were you talking to her?” I asked as she scrunched up her face.

“Who, CeeJay? She’s cool,” she shrugged it off. I rolled my eyes and waited for Aubrey to get here.

“Morning girls, today we are gonna show you a dance and next week you each will individually perform it in front of not only us, not only your team, but for an audience,” Aubrey smirked at me. What? We’re performing in front of random people?

“What?” Cassie looked at him like he was crazy. I’m pretty sure all of our faces mimicked each other.

“We have some of our old friends who will be in the audience tonight. It’s a performance and I want you guys to give it your all because next week seven of you will be going home,” Coach Chimere explained. After she said that, all hell broke loose.

“Hey! Stop complaining,” Shad told us.

“We’re gonna teach you the routine and then you will perform. By next week we will have our final twelve. These are the last cuts so bring your all,” Aubrey looked at us.

“Cassie and Nicki, can you two follow us,” Shad said as he and Aubrey walked towards his office. We walked in and they closed the door.

“You know we’re looking for a captain,” Aubrey looked between us. I knew this would eventually happen because Cassie and I are the best on the team.

“So bring your all next week,” Shad told us before we went back out.

“Watch me perform this and catch on,” Coach Chimere said as we all got in position.

~

I was walking to get a drink of water since we were on a ten minute break. I felt someone grab my waist and pull me into an office. I turned and faced Aubrey with a smirk on my face. “Stop grabbing me by surprise,” I hit his arm.

“You nervous?” He pulled me close to him.

“Sorta, you guys are looking at our personality and we all know Coach Chimere doesn’t like me,” I sighed.

“Just relax and calm down,” he pecked my lips. We fell into a staring battle with each other. I moved and kissed him back as he deepened the kiss. A time like this makes everything worth it.

Nae’s P.O.V.

I walked outside to get some air while we had a break. It’s been a stressful week. “Hey,” I heard a voice from behind me.

“Oh, so now you wanna talk to me?” I let out a bitter laugh as I stayed facing away from her.

“What’s going on with you? Nic and I are worried,” she stood beside me.

“Don’t worry about me,” I mumbled as I noticed Coach Chimere walking towards us.

“Blake, can I talk to you for a minute?” She asked. Blake shot me an apologetic look but I brushed it off.

“We’ll talk later,” she promised.

“Whatever,” I didn’t even care by this point. It’s like all my friends are ditching me. I walked back inside and sat down. Nicki walked towards me and sat down next to me.

“What’s going on Nae? We never keep things from each other,” she looked at me.

“I’m good,” I shook my head as CeeJay nodded towards the door. We both got up and walked out in the hallway.

“There’s this party tonight and it’s suppose to be good,” she smirked.

“Alright, I’ll be there,” I smiled before Coach Graham blew his whistle.

Cassie’s P.O.V.

I grabbed Nicki’s arm on the way out. She looked back at me and walked away from the crowd of girls. “What’s going on between Nae and CeeJay?” I asked her. She sighed and dropped her arms to her side.

“I don’t even know. I worried about Nae because she has never acted like this,” she explained.

“I’m worried because I know how CeeJay gets when she acts like this and adding Nae to the equation is a bad mix,” I was worried for my best friend.

“Look, if I hear anything then I’ll let you know,” she said before walking away. As much as I wished we could drop this BS and just be friends again, I know I can never look at her the same again.

CeeJay’s P.O.V.

“This party is live!” Nae slurred as we danced.

“I know right!” I smiled as they started to play my song. I know what y’all are thinking but I enjoy hanging out with Nae. We both have been feeling the same way for a while. Cassie has been ditching me for Shad all the time and Nicki and Blake have been ditching Nae. We were great friends until Nicki and Cassie had their fallout and we had to pick sides.

“Imma get me another drink!” Nae said as she walked towards the bar. Tonight was gonna be crazy.

Blake’s P.O.V.

I walked into the party and searched for Nae. Parties are not my thing but I knew I had to make sure Nae got home safely. I immediately found her by the bar. “Can I get another drink,” she giggled. Great, she’s drunk.

“Nae,” I grabbed her arm. She turned around and looked at me.

“What are you doing here?” She still seemed mad at me.

“I need to get you home,” I told her.

“Why don’t you go back to Chimere and not worry about me,” she got up but stumbled. I wrapped my arm around her waist to help her balance.

“Nae, let’s go,” I said sternly.

“You’re no fun,” she pouted as we walked out the house. We drove until we reached my house. I couldn’t let her go home drunk, Karla would kill her. I got her out of the car and went inside. I wrapped one arm around her waist and tried to hold her up as best as I could.

“Blakey! When did you move here?” She slurred. I finally made it up to my room and sat her down on my bed. “Can you help me take this off?” She asked. It seemed like she magically sobered up but I knew better. I nodded as she turned around and I unzipped her dress, letting it fall to her ankles. I kept my eyes down to the ground as she turned around, refusing to look at her body.

“Blake,” she whispered as she grabbed my chin and made me look at her. “Baby, I love you,” she tucked some hair behind my ear. My breath got caught in my throat as she got closer. She kissed me and I stood frozen. She grabbed my waist and pulled me closer. Her tongue snaked out as she sucked on my bottom lip. I opened my mouth and let her dominate the kiss. I felt her hands on my stomach and immediately pulled back. “What’s wrong?” She scrunched up her eyebrows at me.

“You’re drunk and won’t remember any of this. Go to bed Nae,” I avoided eye contact as she went to laid on the bed and was out in seconds. I sat on the floor and just stared at her as she slept. I wish this was real and she really felt this way but she was just drunk. It was like for a second that everything felt right. I felt tears coming down my cheeks. I wish she would just love me as much as I love her.

~

She opened her eyes and stretched. I could tell she was confused until she locked eyes with me. “Why’d you sleep on the floor?” She asked.

“I didn’t sleep,” I said softly.

“Was I really that crazy last night? I’m sorry, when I get drunk, I can be a bit much to handle,” she giggled but stopped when she saw my stone face.

“Are you sure you’re okay?” She looked concerned but I had no idea how to answer that.

Nicki’s P.O.V.

“Hey, I need to get some stuff from my house real quick. Can you tuck My into bed?” I asked Drake as I put on my jacket.

“Yeah, be safe,” he kissed my forehead before heading to My’s room. I walked to my car and pulled off. Now I didn’t mean to lie to Drake but I didn’t want him asking questions about where I was going. I pulled up to the park and got out.

“Hey, thanks for showing up at last minute,” I heard from behind me.

“Of course Cass, you sounded a mess over the phone,” I took a good look at her while mentally cursing myself for calling her Cass. She let out a small smile with a bitter laugh.

“I know. CeeJay is a bigger mess. I had to spend all night trying to help her. Nae and CeeJay went to a party and got drunk,” she explained.

“Okay, how is this that bad?” I was confused because Nae has gotten drunk before.

“They popped pills also Nic,” she had tear coming down her face.

“What pills?” My heart stopped.

“Molly,” she sighed. Only Cassie, Blake, CeeJay, and I know about Nae’s condition. She should know that popping pills puts her life in even greater danger.

“She could have killed herself!” I snapped.

“I know,” Cassie shook her head.

“Let’s go,” I told her as I got into my car.

“Where are we going?” She asked.

“To knock some sense into my idiotic best friend,” I started my car and pulled off.

~

I knocked on Blake’s door hard since I forgot my key. I haven't been home in a while.

“Hold on! I’m coming damn!” I heard her yell. Blake opened the door and was shocked to see Cassie and I together.

“Where’s Nae?” I walked into the house.

“Upstairs with a hangover,” she said as I marched up the stairs with Cassie on my heels. Opening the door to Blake’s room, I was shocked to see Nae sitting up while looking 100% normal.

“Hi Nic,” she smiled but that faded when she saw Cassie. “Why are you two together?” She scrunched up her eyebrows.

“Better question, why did you pop molly last night?” I glared at her.

“Who told you that?” She instantly snapped. “Was it your new best friend right there?” Her eyes snapped over to Cassie.

“Look we’re concerned about you Nae,” Cassie tried to say but Nae cut her off.

“Bullshit! You’ve been jealous of me ever since I moved here because you thought I stole your best friend. Newsflash Cassie, she ain’t a property,” she got up and stood in front of Cassie. I should have known this would happen. Cassie and Nae haven’t always been the friendliest people to be around but they tolerated each other because of our small circle.

“You know what Nae, I was truly concerned but now you can burn in hell for all I care,” Cassie snapped at her and then turned to me. “I’ll wait in the car,” she told me before walking out.

“What the hell was that!?” I yelled at Nae.

“She had it coming for her. What’s up with you defending her? After what happened between you guys, you’re just gonna drop it like that? She took your man Nika and you don’t even care anymore,” she reminded me.

“I’ve moved on and I have a real man now. Why is it so hard for you to let the past go?” I looked at her.

“You know what Nicki, I’m done. Don’t come running to me when you see her true colors,” she walked to the bathroom and slammed the door.

“Come on Nae! Don’t be like this!” I yelled but she turned the water up so she couldn’t hear me.

Mylan’s P.O.V.

I looked up at Brey as he read me a bedtime story. I wish he was my daddy because my real daddy doesn’t want me. Brey finished the story and looked at me.

“What’s wrong baby girl?” He asked. I sighed and he pulled me onto his lap. I laid my head against his chest as he kissed my forehead.

“Brey?” I looked up.

“Yes My?” He looked down at me.

“Can you be my daddy?” I waited for his answer.