“You’re getting a vasectomy,” Pree barks.
“The hell if I am,” Knuck responds.
“Ugh, you make me sick.”
“Stop being an asshole. Come here, girl,” he says, forcefully pulling Pree into his arms and kisses her. “We’re having a baby,” he whispers in her ear. I watch Pree turn into putty, before Knuck playfully pushes her away, grabs Kenya and walks off. I burst into laughter.
“Oh, shut up,” Pree snaps.
“I ain’t even say nothing,” I laugh. “So how far along are you?”
“Fuckin’ fourteen weeks,” she replies as we walk back stage. “You can have this one.”
“Yeah right. You say that shit now until I come to collect the baby,” I laugh.
“I’m serious.”
“Yeah, me too. I’m actually thinking about freezing my eggs,” I confess.
“Seriously?”
“Yeah. I mean, I don’t foresee me having any babies any time soon and I ain’t getting any younger.”
“So, you’re not going to have little Tron-men running around?” She giggles, laughing at her own stupid joke.
“Shut-up. He’s not ready for all of that.”
“He’s not or you’re not.”
“He’s not. He is just now getting his feet wet with his career. I gotta let him live and enjoy,” I shrug. Knuck slowly approaches us.
“Where are the kids?” Pree asks.
“I don’t know. They ran off with Maroon.”
“Who?” Pree asks.
“You know, Yellow, Peach, Purple…whatever Beyoncè’s daughter’s name is,” he shrugs.
“Blue?” Pree and I question.
“Yeah. Her,” he laughs.
“See, this is the shit I’m talking about,” Pree snaps.
“Relax, Miss Tina’s with them. There is a little playroom for all the kids.”
“Kenya just turned one, Marquise,” Pree huffs.
“Yeah, and she’s playing with Magenta and all the other little fuckers that are running around here.”
“The baby’s name is Blue,” Pree yells before storming off.
“I don’t know how you put up with her,” I laugh.
“That’s my baby. I love her crazy ass,” Knuck chuckles.
“So, baby number three, huh?”
“Yeah. My soldiers be workin’ overtime,” he smiles.
“TMI, homie,” I giggle walking away from him.
I enjoy the show with my family and friends until it’s time for me to get ready. I’m back stage with my band and dancers getting ready to hit the stage.
“Ten minutes,” the stage manager informs me.
“UNCLE JAMES,” Destiny screams, running into his arms.
“Hey baby girl,” he says hugging her. “Hey Aneesah,” he smiles.
“What’s up?” I dully reply. I haven’t seen him since he stopped by that day after Serge died. Nyce cocks his head and stares at me like a creep.
“What the fuck you lookin’ at?” I snap.
“Why so hostile?” He replies.
“Because you’re creeping me out staring at me like that.”
“I’ve called and texted you. Why aren’t you responding to me?” He asks stepping closer to me.
“Because I blocked your number.” He looks me in the eye before putting his lips up to my ear.
“Remember who you belong to,” he whispers.
“Remember who your wife is,” I whisper back. His demeanor changes.
“If you would answer your phone we could have an adult conversation about it.”
“I don’t want to talk to you about it. It’s not my business.”
“Diamond, you’re going to listen to me one day. You can’t run from me forever.”
“Who said I’m running? This is me walking…away.” I turn my body to leave. He grabs me and forces me to look at him.
“I fucked up, but I told you I am in the middle of fixing my shit and when I do, know that I’m coming for you. I don’t give a fuck who you’re with so go on and finish playing house with that little ass bastard, but you already know who you belong to,” he smirks before letting go and walking off.
I am all the way pissed off at this point. Who the fuck does he think he is and why the fuck am I wet from his arrogant ass statement? My mind is racing, head is spinning, and I have two and a half minutes to get my life together before I go on stage.
I’m strumming my guitar playing “The Beautiful Ones”, performing the last song in my set as my band follows my lead. The clouds open up and a drizzle of rain starts to fall as purple and blue halos illuminate the stage. Because the words of the song are so powerful, so meaningful, I tap into that energy. The energy of falling in love with the wrong one, the beautiful one, the one you can’t seem to get enough of even though you know they aren’t going to do anything but toy with your emotions and break your heart. My mind slips into a zone and for the moment, I am stuck in this zone as rain from the sky pours down on the crowd, pours down on me hiding my tears as I recite Prince’s lyrics in Nyce’s face who is conveniently standing in the small VIP section in front of the stage, and I do mean in his face. I don’t remember at what point in the song I dropped my guitar and jumped off the stage but all I know is right now, I am in his face crying as I belt out the rift of the song asking him…
Do you want her?
Or do you want me?
Cuz I want you…
And like an idiot, I am straight begging. To the audience, to the camera’s, I am giving an amazing theatrical performance but to my family members and friends who are sharing this small VIP section, they can see my hurt, my pain, and my confusion. Nyce stares at me with a look that I am not familiar with even though I know this niggah like the back of my hand, but this look, I cannot read. And as I’m standing, crying tears and feeling a pain that I forgot existed, he pulls me into him and kisses me full force with so much love that I crumble in his arms as my band plays on and the crowd screams. I’m not sure how long the kiss lasts. All I know is that we are both soaking wet from the rain, my hands are clinging to his shirt as his hands cup my face and we are both locked and committed to this moment.
“He’s married,” I hear Rita’s soft voice flutter through the noise as we let go. We stare into each other’s eyes for a moment before I let security escort me back stage with Pree, Jada, and Morgan running behind us.
“I fucked up,” I scream when we make it to my trailer. “I fucked up. He’s never going to talk to me again,” I cry, collapsing on the floor dripping wet. We are all dripping wet as my girls stare at me speechless, unable to come up with the right words to turn this bad situation around.
“Somebody say something,” I snap.
“That was a fuckin’ great show,” Jada says as we all burst out laughing.
“He’s gonna leave me,” I whine in between my laughter and tears. I pick myself up off the floor to change my clothes into the outfit I am going to wear for Tron’s set. My trailer remains completely quiet for almost an hour until someone bangs on my door.
“Ten minutes,” one of the stage managers advises.
“Fuck,” I exhale. I open the door and make my way to the stage. When I get there, Tron’s people are blocking me from going on.
“He doesn’t want you,” his manager says.
“Max, I…” I start to say something before I spot Heather B who briskly walks past us with a microphone in her hand. Tron’s people lets her through and she emerges on stage singing my fuckin’ part. I laugh.
“I deserve that,” I shake my head. “I’m going to his trailer. Allow me that,” I say to his team. They all look at each other in confusion not knowing what to do.
“I’ll tell him I snuck in,” I advise before walking away. They don’t try to stop me.
“Aneesah, maybe you should let him cool off first or somethin’,” Pree suggests. I pull out my phone and look to see that twitter is already poppin’.
@therealheatherb…it looks
like little miss sunshine made up with her jail bird #freeheatherb
@therealheatherb…I guess Tron is done Was just askd 2 sing on his song. He finally recognizes real talent
I don’t know how I am going to make this right, but I have to try. Tell him it was an act or something. I walk inside his trailer and wait for about forty-minutes before I hear his voice yelling outside.
“WHO LET HER IN? FUCK HER,” he yells, kicking the trailer as it rocks. Tron storms in and I jump to my feet.
“Let me explain,” I start.
“FUCK YOU. GET THE FUCK OUT,” he barks.
“It was an act. It was all part of the show. I don’t know what happened,” I say in one breath as tears trickle down my face.
“I’M NOT TRYING TO HEAR THAT SHIT. I KNOW THAT’S, THAT NIGGAH YOU GOT ARRESTED WITH. I’M NOT FUCKIN’ STUPID.”
“Tarron…I…” Fuck. The lies aren’t popping in my head fast enough for me to lie myself out of this situation.
“I don’t want to hear your shit you whore.”
“Now wait a minute. You slept with a stripper and…”
“I DIDN’T FUCK HER. I TOLD YOU THAT SHIT ALREADY,” he yells, punching a hole in the wall.
“Please, let’s talk about this. Please?”
“Yo, get her the fuck out of my trailer,” he says opening the door and talking to his security.
“Tarron?” I call his name. He gives me a hateful glare as one of his security men stands in front of me.
“You know better than to touch me, John. I’ll see myself out,” I tell him walking towards the door.
“Tarron?” I try again.
“Get out,” he seethes. I walk out of his trailer and return to mine with a broken heart.
***
“Hi. It’s me again. Can you please pick up?” I say leaving the hundredth message on Tron’s voicemail. It’s been two weeks and he still isn’t answering my calls or responding to my texts. I have to fly to California late tonight for an interview on The View as part of the promos for Lena which was released in theaters last Friday. Every interview that I have done thus far has been overshadowed by the infamous kiss between Nyce and I. I dodge the questions by stating that it was staged. Even Tron’s people cosign until the video and pictures surfaced of me and Nyce the day we got arrested. To make matters worse, it has been confirmed and leaked that Nyce is a married man. So not only am I labeled a cougar, I am now labeled as the ultimate home wrecking hoe. Perfect. I am surprised that the studio didn’t pull the plug on Lena due to all the negative publicity, but it seems that the more I fuck up, the higher the demand for me to work becomes. An interesting twist in fate.
I fly out to California, do my interview and promos before returning to my hotel room. I own a beach house in Malibu that I had inherited from Saheed. It would be the perfect getaway, but I am too lazy to drive so I just hide out in my hotel for the night instead. Around 8pm, my cell phone rings.
“Hello,” I answer with much anticipation to hear Tron’s voice.
“Hey.”
“It wasn’t what you think.”
“I’m over it Aneesah.”
“You’re over me?” I question as tears build in my eyes.
“We’ll talk about it.”
I let out a deep breath.
“I miss you,” I whimper.
“I miss you too,” he admits. “When are you coming home?”
“I have to be in New York the day after tomorrow for the Today Show. I know you have a show that night too. We can meet at my place in Manhattan. I’ll fly home tomorrow.”
“Alright,” he confirms. “I still have the codes, so I’ll probably get there before you do.”
“Okay, that’s fine.”
Silence.
“I am pissed, and I am mad at you,” he says breaking the silence.
“I know and all I can say is I’m sorry. It meant nothing.”
“I think you are in denial or delusional,” he laughs.
“I’m not.”
“Yeah, you are. We’ll talk. I’d rather do this in person.”
“Okay. I love you,” I tell him.
Silence.
“It’s okay. You don’t have to say it back if you no longer feel the same way,” I whisper.
“If it only takes two weeks to get over someone you claimed you love, then you never really loved them to begin with but I’m done talking to you for right now. I’ll see you Thursday,” he says hanging up.
I’m anxious and I want to do something special for him if he’s willing to forgive me. I call my jet and let them know that I am heading to the airport. I am going to get dressed up for Tron and cook him a romantic dinner—a romantic evening at home just the two of us.
I arrive in New York around 2:30 in the morning and pay Rock and Charlie to go inside a 24-hour market to buy groceries, flowers, and candles. I already have bubble bath and a closet full of lingerie at the place.
I greet the doorman when we pull up to my apartment building and head up to my penthouse suite.
“Thanks guys,” I say to Rock and Charlie as they help me bring the groceries inside. “Here’s the key to the apartment downstairs on the second floor.” I hand them the key and watch them walk out the door. I am putting the groceries away when I hear one of my bedroom doors open and soft music flutter out. There are only a few people who have access to my apartment so it’s either Tron or one of my family members. I creep up the stairs and open the master bedroom door. There are lighted candles and soft music coming from the speakers, but no one is in the room. I hear water running in the bathroom and start to walk towards it. I stop in my tracks when Heather B comes out of my bathroom wearing my robe.
“Hello,” she smirks before perching her ass on my bed.
“Babe, I found these ba…” Tron says walking into the room holding my bath beads in his hands. My body is on fire, fueled with rage. I charge at Tron punching him so hard in his fucking face, I hear my index finger pop, but that doesn’t stop me. The adrenaline pumping through my veins doesn’t allow me to feel any physical pain. The kickboxing sessions that I am diligently paying for are coming to use because he is trying desperately to dodge and duck my blows, but I am one step ahead of him and land every one. It’s not until I hear Heather laughing in the background that I turn my anger towards her.
“BITCH,” I yell marching towards her.
“Yeah right. You better not touch my face ‘cause…,” her words are cut short by me punching her in the nose. Blood squirts out landing on my white Vienna Velvet Quilt. I tackle her to the ground and start choking her as she scratches and claws at my hands.
“I’M GOING TO FUCKIN’ KILL YOU,” I yell in my rage with tears of anger falling from my eyes. I feel Tron’s arms wrapping around my waist as I try desperately to keep my grip on Heather’s throat. As Tron plays tug-o-war with my body, Heather grabs one of my boobs and roughly squeezes, causing me to let go.
“OUCH, YOU STUPID BITCH,” I yell. I try to hit her again, but Tron tackles me, causing us both to tumble to the floor.
“ANEESAH, STOP,” he yells as I try to fight him. His heavy body is lying on top of mine as I continue to wail on the floor.
“FUCK,” he hollers when I bite his cheek.
I am finally able to wiggle my body from underneath him and pop back up to my feet. Heather is nowhere in sight. I run out of the bedroom looking for her.
“BITCH, WHERE THE FUCK ARE YOU?” My voice bounces off the walls. I run downstairs and my front door is wide open. I look down the empty hall before slamming the door shut.
“Aneesah,” Tron calls my name walking towards me.
“GET OUT.”
“Aneesah, let me explain.”
“GET OUT,” I scream, running over to my coat closet. I have an antique BB Gun in here somewhere that I bought for Taj when he comes of age. I flip through the boxes and wrap my hands around the gun once I found it.
“Seriously,” Tron says when I point it at him.
“AHHH,” he yells, bouncing on one foot. I pull the trigger again and he dodges out the way. The little BB pellet hits a lamp shattering it, but I keep pulling the trigger. Tron finally makes it to the door, disappearing down the hall. I slam my door shut and slide down it, crying softly. Now that I’m calm, and my adrenaline has worn off, the pain shooting in my index finger snaps me back to the reality that I either sprained or broke it. I jump to my feet and walk into the kitchen to get some ice. My cellphone is annoyingly vibrating on the counter. Walking over to it, I see that it’s Larry calling, and press ignore. When I see that he has called me twelve times back to back and is now calling for the thirteenth time, I pick up.
“WHAT?” I snap.
“I got it. I fuckin’ finally got it,” he says with much excitement in his voice.
“Larry, I’m not in the mood.”
“Kid, I got it. The action movie you wanted, I got it. We have a meeting with Marvel and Disney tomorrow morning. You’re still in California, right? The meeting is in Burbank.”
“I’m in New York,” I mumble.
“Well get your ass back here ASAP and don’t be late,” he says hanging up. I throw the bag of groceries in the refrigerator, grab my purse and keys and head out the door to tell Charlie and Rock that we are on the move again.
I call Pree on the way to the airport.
“I’m sorry. I know it’s late. Didn’t even realize that it’s almost four in the morning until now. Anyway, I was just calling. Love you,” I tell her voicemail. I wipe the tears off my face and sit back, shutting my eyes.
“Try to get some rest and forget about Tron. Your dream of starring in an action movie is about to come true. You worked hard for this and you earned it. Don’t let him take this moment away from you,” I chant repeatedly in my head. I GOT A FUCKIN’ ACTION MOVIE.
Chapter Sixteen
I’m so fuckin’ excited. I have finally landed the movie of a lifetime. Not only is it an action movie that I desperately wanted my entire acting career, it is thee action movie. With Black Panther in the works, Marvel decides to hold on to the momentum and created Nu’bia, Wonder Woman’s twin sister who is actually black according to the comic books. With Lena just being released and doing great at the box office, Nu’bia will be the role that catapults my career into major acting status. I sign a morals clause contract with the studio basically committing myself to being a squeaky clean robot as Larry and the studio heads are still negotiating the money. I tell Larry fuck the money. They can pay me $5.00 for all I care. I want this role and would be willing to do it for free. I leave the meeting on cloud nine, excited about this new opportunity.
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