Chapter 54: What about Love?

Nicki

“You look good Nika,” Cassie said as she looked me up and down. Nae nodded in agreement and I smiled. I wasn’t trying to look good for anyone except for myself. Okay that might be a slight lie but still.

“I mean when you’re a bad bitch you’re expected to,” I flipped my hair cockily before laughing.

“Is everyone ready?” Nae asked once everyone was dressed.

“Let’s go,” I smiled before we all headed out. When we arrived at the reunion, there were some of the team there but a lot of them were late as expected. “Paris!” I pulled Paris into a hug. I haven’t seen her since Mardi Gras last year when I visited New Orleans. Everyone greeted Paris before we all went to the table. Aubrey walked in with Shad and Mylan by his side. I saw Cassie tense up but then she just went over to Kyle. I guess avoiding him was the main priority for her tonight. I went over to them and pulled My into a hug. “Hey baby, are you feeling better?” I checked her forehead and she felt normal.

 “Yeah and Dad gave me some medicine this morning,” she nodded before looking over my shoulder. I heard a gasp from behind me and already knew what was about to happen. Here goes her mini me with the dramatics.

“My!” Alexis ran into My’s arms. My laughed while picking her up and pecking her cheek. Alexis has been dying to see My and it’s only been two weeks since they’ve seen each other.

“Hi baby!” She went over to the table to greet everyone else. My looks at Alexis like a little sister and she never fails to mention that she wants a sibling. She just said as long as it’s not from Channing. She didn’t exactly like him but she didn’t hate him so I think that’s okay.

“Hey Nicki,” Shad smiled at me.

“Hi Shad,” He went by some other people; leaving me and Aubrey alone. I caught him looking me up and down. He seemed in a daze from the way he was looking.

“Damn you look good,” he slipped out. I blushed at the comment. It’s nice that after all of these years he still thinks I look good.

“You don’t look half bad yourself,” I joked and we started laughing. I felt Channing come by my side and rolled my eyes. Why does he always have to ruin a good moment?

“I’ll see you around,” Aubrey went over by Shad.

“You don’t have to come every time that I’m around him,” I hissed but he ignored me. I looked at the entrance and saw Blake and Mere. “Blake!” I ran into her arms. I haven’t seen her in about a year because she was stuck in Miami modeling; yeah she started modeling. I went to hug Mere before Cassie tackled Mere into a hug.

“Mere!” She smiled. Cassie sees Mere as the big sister she never had and they’ve become really close.

“Nice to see that you’ve missed me,” she laughed before hugging her back. Mere went over by Shad and Aubrey as Cassie hugged Blake. As we walked towards the table, Alexis jumped up and ran to Blake.

“Auntie Blake!” She jumped into her arms leaving Blake to catch her. She expects everyone to catch her but I told her ass that one day someone isn’t gonna catch her. She’ll learn when she ends up hurt.

“Hey you,” she tickled her as she held her. “I see you’re still getting in trouble,” she pointed her finger at Alexis.

“It’s not trouble if you don’t get caught,” she smiled. That line sounded extremely familiar and I suspected who taught that to her.

“Who taught you that?” I snapped my head over to her.

“Mylan,” she answered innocently. I looked over at Mylan who just shrugged. Blake put her down and went to hug Paris even though they recently saw each other. She hugged My purposely taking her time until she saw Nae but she finally walked over to her.

“Hey Nae,” she pulled her into a hug. It’s weird knowing that they haven’t talked in six years but I guess Nae was right; what’s there left to say?

“Hey Blake,” Nae said as she hugged her back. I’m not gonna say anything but that hug lasted a little too long in my opinion. Then again who am I to make that comment?

“You look so different,” she eyed Nae.

“So do you,” she laughed as they caught up. I noticed Shad kept glancing at Cassie and held in my laugh.

“He’s eyeing you,” I whispered to her.

 “I don’t know why,” She finally looked over at Shad and they locked eyes. “Watch, by the end of the night he’s gonna grab my elbow and drag me somewhere,” she shook her head. I had to go to the bathroom so I walked out and went. When I got out, I noticed a balcony and it had a great view of the city.

“It’s beautiful ain’t it?” I heard Aubrey say from behind me. He always seems to find his way to me somehow. It felt almost comforting in a weird way.

“It is,” I sighed as he came and leaned against the railing next to me. I’m not gonna lie and say I didn’t miss him being this close to me. He still looked the same, smelled the same, acted the same; he’s still just Aubrey.

“I don’t think your little fiancé is gonna like the fact that you’re talking to me,” he smirked a little and I elbowed him. Of course he brings up Channing’s jealous nature but it’s impossible to not notice it.

“Shut up; he just isn’t comfortable with us being around each other,” I shrugged. I guess it makes sense since he’s my ex but he’s also Mylan’s Father. What am I supposed to do; ignore him?

“It’s because of my amazingly sexy looks right?” He joked. I let a small smile appear on my face. Been six years and he still never fails to make me laugh.

“Yeah that,” I said sarcastically.

“Or is it because he thinks that you have feelings for me?” He nailed that right on the spot. I looked over at him and we locked eyes.

“He’s just jealous for no reason; if I wanted you back, I would have come back here years ago,” I regretted saying that when I saw his face drop. “Aubrey-,”

“Naw it’s cool; you’re right. I’ll see you around Nic,” he turned and left. I didn’t mean for it to come out like that but of course I had no filter when I talked.

“That wasn’t harsh at all,” I heard Blake say as she walked and stood next to me. I guess it sounded even worse to her. I didn’t even mean it exactly like that but of course I never can get my words right around him.

“I didn’t mean to say that but it just slipped out,” I groaned. I need to learn how to say things the right way so people won’t take it the wrong way.

“Channing should be jealous, I’ve seen the way you two look at each other,” Nae said as she came out of nowhere and stood on the other side of me.

“We don’t look at each other in any weird way,” I defended myself. I look at him just like I look at everyone else. I mean he’s still my ex so of course I’m still attracted to him but I wouldn’t necessarily say that we look at each other in that way. Okay now I’m just bullshitting because I don’t even know what I mean by that.

“You can say whatever you want Nic, but there are always gonna be feelings there. Once you love someone, you can’t just erase those feelings,” Blake reminded me. She’s right about that but it’s different feelings this time. I still have love for him but I wouldn’t say that I’m in love with him. Then something clicked in my head and I looked at Blake with a smirk on my face. She gave me a warning look but like any good cousin would do, I ignored it.

“Oh really,” I raised an eyebrow and looked between her and Nae. Nae scrunched up her face and looked at me weirdly while Blake rolled her eyes.

“That’s not what I meant Nic,” Blake said softly with a sigh. That’s not what I meant my ass. She was just speaking from her heart to try to get me to understand but it’s really her who doesn’t understand.

“Then what did you mean because I’m confused,” I titled my head and looked at her. I knew that she was gonna curse my ass out tomorrow but I’ll have fun with this tonight.

“I-I,” Blake struggled to think of a lie. Blake might have changed but her lies sure haven’t; she still sucks at lying.

“It doesn’t matter what she meant, all that matters is that ever since you saw Drake, you’ve looked happier,” Nae cut in for her. They aren’t even together and Nae is still saving her ass. I was just getting some shit out of Blake and she just had to cut in.

“Thanks,” Blake mumbled to Nae.

“Well just like you told me, you can’t just erase those feelings,” I said before leaving them alone. I saw Channing glaring at me from afar and rolled my eyes. Does he have to watch my every move?

“Where were you?” Channing asked me as soon as I walked back in.

“I was talking to Nae and Blake outside,” I said quickly. It was true because I was talking to them; I just was talking to Aubrey before them. I need to apologize but I doubt that I’ll be able to do that with Channing breathing down my neck.

“Oh, I thought you were with him,” he softened his voice. I swear that he’s bipolar sometimes but it’s only when he’s jealous.

“Well I wasn’t,” I snapped before walking back to the table to talk to everyone.

 

Blake

“Let’s just blame her actions on the alcohol she consumed earlier,” Nae offered. Nicki had been drinking but she hasn’t been drinking that much. Nicki just likes to start shit and she best believe that I’m cursing her ass out tomorrow.

“Ha okay,” I laughed before we stood in silence. “How have you been?” I was interested in what she’s been up to. I mean it’s been six years since we’ve talked.

“Well I’ve been clean for six years and I moved back to Cali for a couple of years but then moved back here two years ago with my boyfriend, Derrick. I know I’ve probably said this a million times but I really want to thank you. My relationships with my parents are so much better thanks to you. You don’t know how much you’ve changed my life by doing that,” she smiled at me. She doesn’t have to thank me for that; it was truly just something that I wanted to do for her.

“I'm proud of you and that’s all I wanted for you Nae; for you to be happy,” I just wanted her to find internal peace within herself. It started there then she could grow and it looks like she did. She looks happy and that alone shows me that what I did was worth it.

“Well I still thank you for that because you really didn’t have to,” she let out a sad smile. She’s right, I didn’t have to but I had it set in my mind that I had to. It was like a mission that I just had to complete.

“I wanted to and I still just want you to be happy,” I pulled her into a hug before we went back inside.

 

 

Cassie

I went to go to the bathroom but felt a tug on my elbow; much like I expected. I turned around and was face to face with Shad. “Can I help you?” I raised an eyebrow. He looked me over like he’s seeing a completely different person which I am; I’m not the same.

“You look different,” he finally spoke.

“That’s what happens when people grow up,” I crossed my arms. That’s the first thing he says to me? I mean he does tend to be bad at the things he first says.

“I see you’re still mad; look I don’t remember shit that went down that night except your hurt expression. We both were so fucked up and I know that’s no excuse but I hope one day you can forgive me. I’m also sorry about your whole graduation thing. I was an ass back then and you didn’t deserve that,” he apologized. I kind have been waiting for that apology for years.

“I’ve already forgiven you Shad; I knew everything that happened that night. I know that you never meant to hurt me and I can’t be mad at that; I can only move on which I did,” I uncrossed my arms. He smiled at me but that quickly vanished as he looked behind me. I looked and saw Kyle holding Alexis.

“Oh Shad this is my husband, Kyle and our daughter, Alexis,” I introduced them. I just wanted to make it clear to him that I’ve moved on.

“Hey,” he shook Kyle’s hand probably to be polite. At least that shows how much he’s changed because before he would’ve been an ass about it.

“Hi I’m Alexis and I love cookies!” Alexis said brightly. That put a slight smile on his face from her personality.

“Hi,” she beamed when he spoke to her. She loves it when people actually respond to her outgoingness. I told him bye before we went about our business.

 

 

Mylan



“So I saw you and Mom talking outside,” I said to Dad as we leaned against the wall. I was just wondering where they went because they were both gone and then I saw them on the balcony; how romantic.

“You always up in somebody’s business,” he shook his head with a laugh. I mean they are my parents so why not figure out what they’re going through? In my head I felt like I was entitled to.

“So what were you guys talking about?” I was hoping that being Dad’s baby girl, I could get some info.

“I love you baby girl but that’s one thing I ain’t telling you,” he smiled at me.

“Fine,” I huffed and went over to Mom. “So I saw you and Dad talking outside,” I tried to use the same thing I used with Dad.

“Mylan stay-,” she started but I cut her off.

“I know, I know; stay out of grown folks business,” I sighed in defeat. I gave it a good try.

Okay so as far as the tumblr thing, I have one but I don't post stories on there. I can't schedule it on there so that would mean that I would have to remember when to post and I have horrible memory. That's why I started scheduling these chapters and sometimes I forget that I even posted. I might put other stories on there but I don't think I'll put this one. As for as the length, I didn't start writing longer chapters until part 4 and I don't wanna rewrite part 3 so bear with me.