Please excuse ANY grammatical errors.

February 7, 1996

~Tionne's P.O.V~

I haven't been able to see Dalvin in a little while now. I really miss my man. I've been busy with the group and trying to deal with financial things. The label has been ripping off many artists. Tlc, Jodeci and the list goes on. We've had a bunch of screaming fans but nothing to show for it. Something wasn't right, and after Dalvin explained to me what Suge explained to them, it made me look at Andre and the rest of them sideways. (Ik they weren't under the same label in real life.)

All of this time they were pretending to be our friends and family all while stifling all of us out of money. Then them trying to turn somebody of the group against another. The whole situation is mind boggling and hurtful especially since we grew with the label.

"Girl, where you finna go?" Lisa asked me.

"I'm just going to go call my man." I responded getting up from the couch.

"Okay." Rozanda and Lisa said in sync as I walked off. I went to a quiet room and call Dalvin. He should be up. We're on the same time zone and it's only 10:38 pm.

The phone rang but he didn't answer. So, I called him again and this time he answered the phone. "Tionne?" He asked in a slur.

"Who else!?" I laughed. "How's it goin' in North Carolina?"

"It- it's goin' good?" Dalvin responded, but it sounded like more of a question than an answer. He was still slurring his speech.

"I don't know, is it goin' good?" I chuckled a bit. "It sure sounds like it's been goin' good. You slurring ya speech so y'all must've partied?" I asked him.

"W-we had a lil fun." He chuckled lowly. "It was, I'm a lil drun-"

"Dalvin, who's that?" I heard another's woman voice on the other end.

"No, WHO IS YOU?" My voice held hostility.

"Calm, down baby. This just my cousin I told you about. Remember, I'm sharing a hotel with her?" Dalvin was quick to respond, slurring and all. A little TOO quick...

"I remember." I nodded. "How is your cousin?"

"Sh-she good. She havin' fun. How's everything back in Atlanta?"

"The usual. In and out the hospital and the bullshit with the label. It's a lot honestly and I'm ready for it to be over with. So what you doin'?" I smiled because I really miss him.

"It's goin' good, I j-ju-" Then I heard the phone drop.

"Dalvin?" I called out, then I heard the phone move.

"Hello?" His cousin answered.

"Yeah, umm... Wassup with Dalvin?" I asked still skeptical about this chick.

"Yeah, Dalvin fell asleep. We had a loooonnnnggggg night." She laughed lowly. Is she hinting at what I think she is!? "Goodbye. Well, goodnight." The woman said and I heard the dial tone.

"OH, HELL NAHH!"

I jumped up off the bed and walked straight out the front door of Rozanda's house. They called out my name but I kept walking. I knew this nigga was lying. Who the fuck stays in a hotel with a cousin of the opposite gender and they're making money? That was stupid of me to believe. I went straight home, and while on my way, I called to see when was the nearest flight to North Carolina and if there were any seats. I don't care where I'm seated because I'm trying to get there as soon as possible. He got me bent!

When I got home, I packed a small bag and was out the door. From there I went to North Carolina. I already knew what hotel Dalvin is staying in so all I need to do is show up and kick some ass. Oh, YES! I'm not playing with his ass! The plane ride was short, it only took an hour and about fifteen minutes. I went through baggage claim and was on my way.

It was around 12:30 when I arrived in North Carolina. I knocked on Dalvin's hotel room door and waited for someone to answer. The door opened and it was the woman. I socked her right in the jaw. She fell to the floor and I kept going. The sound of footsteps inched closer and closer to me ear. Ain't no stopping me now!

"Baby!" Dalvin yelled at me. "Stop!" He grabbed me but her hair came with me.

I jerked away from him. "Don't you BABY me! You fuckin' a bitch that you claim to be ya cousin AND the BITCh got the nerve to have a horse stickin' up on her head!" I threw the hairpiece at Dalvin's face.

"Baby, wh-when did you get here?" Dalvin stuttered.

"FUCK THAT, YOU KEEP DOIN' THIS SHIT TO ME! FIRST YOU DON'T COME TO SE- see, you know what. I'm not going through this no more. We're through." I said calming myself down.

"Wai- wait, baby THIS is my cousin." Dalvin grabbed my arm.

"So we sleepin' with cousin's now, huh? And get your hands off me nigga!" I snatched away from him. I bent down, grabbed my purse that I dropped. "Fuck you and this bitch!" I hit him one good time and was out.

"Tionne!" He called out to me. His ass was half naked in the middle of the hallway. Only in his boxers. I kept walking because I don't have time for no more of his shit. I went to my hotel room that's on a different floor.

February 13, 1996

~Courtney's P.O.V~

"Is is going to hurt?" Tia asked us laying on the table.

"Girl you saw me." I said laughing. "HELL YES, it hurts."

"It will hurt, especially when we get to the lips. Once you start getting it done frequently, you'll get used to it." Rai'Ann told her. "You exfoliated, right?"

"Yes, I did." Tia responded.

"Besides, you have nothing to worry about with your pain tolerance." I side-eyed her with a smirk.

"Girl, my pain tolerance is high but the vagina is a whole 'nother subject." Tia chuckled.

"Right, but I went first so it's your turn." I told her.

"Yeah and you can start by opening up yo legs." Rai'Ann laughed as Tia followed directions. "Brazilian?"

"Yeah, my girl got her a man!" I teased.

"That is not why." Tia rolled her eyes at me playfully.

"Girl, please. Who you foolin'?" I asked Tia.

"I'm not fooling anyone. It's the truth. I want to do this because I want to do this." Tia told me.

Rai'Ann blew on the wax to cool it down some and it won't be too hot. "This your first time?" Rai'Ann asked.

Tia lifted her head. "Yes, this is my first time. I usually shave."

"You don't have any discoloration or anything. People who shave usually have that." Rai'Ann out the wax on Tia.

"You heard that? I got a pretty kitty!" Tia said laughing. "Why thank you Rai'Ann for the compliment."

"You're welcome." Rai'Ann ripped the strip of Tia. "Wasn't so bad was it?"

"No." Tia shook her head.

"Wait 'til she get to the lips." I muttered.

"I'm sure I'll be fine." Tia responded. A couple minutes later, she was yelling. "Hold my hand!"

I grabbed her hand while laughing. "Are you in labor or are you gettin' your coochie waxed?"

"Shoo, it feels like it." Tia tightened her eyes shut with a slight chuckle.

"It'll be all over soon." Rai'Ann stated.

"I sure hope so."

"You want a little break?" Rai'Ann asked Tia.

"No, I'd rather get this over with." Tia responded.

"Okay..." Rai'Ann trailer of and continued.

After they finished, Tia looked at me. "How does it look?"

I looked down. "Its red as hell but it looks good. You act like you can't look down there or see past yo titties." I laughed.

"Dang near." Tia laughed and looked down. "Okay, look at her. She looks good. Almost... brand new..." She side-eyed me.

"Don't start with the singin'. Please!" I laughed out.

"You make me feel so brand new." She sang looking at her vagina. "Okay, let me stop. This is weird." Tia jumped down from the table and got dressed. "Thanks. It hurts but I love it." Tia told Rai'Ann.

"You welcome girl. Does that mean I have a regular customer?" Ria'Ann raised her eyebrows at Tia.

"For as long as I'm here and need it done, you do." Tia told her, tying up her sweats, then putting on her Jodeci boots.

"See you, girl." I waved at Rai'Ann as we walked out the room.

"See you, come back." Rai'Ann told the both of us.

"I want to go back home and get freshened up and change. I look like a whole dude. You want to come back around this way and go shopping?" Tia asked me. "I don't have to do anything until later.

"Girl, Cole is down here and want to hang out." I told her.

"Oh, yeah? Y'all CYUTE or whatever." She gave me a look.

"Girl, we are just like you and him. We're friends and this is the first time he's done this." I told her.

"So ,what's up with y'all?" Tia cheesed

"Nothin', just... Hangin'." I shrugged.

"Mmhmmmm... Hangin'... Off what?" She side- eyed me with a goofy grin.

"We aren't doing anything. You know somethin' I don't?" I turned to her.

"Well, idunno. Maybe? Or maybe I'm just pulling your leg." She suggested.

"You know somethin' but not saying anything. But I'm still trying to get over that other situation. That shit was toxic as hell and I'm not gon' lie, that shit did something to me. I just was spring off the dick that I let things slip past me." I shook my head and closed the car door.

"I'm sorry. You know I got in Tai's behind for that." Tia told me and started the car.

"Yeah, but it wasn't his fault. That was his cousin and I probably would do the same thing."

"Nahh, screw that. Tai knew and should've mention that- idunno Alessandro was married. That's jacked up! Especially since dude been doing it for a while." Tia shook her head. "I'm sorry, girl. I didn't mean to make you feel worse." Tia sympathized.

"It's good." I waved my hand at her. "Drive." I laughed. "Y'all told me since we went to Austria that something wasn't right. I was too dickmatized to even notice." I strapped myself in as she drove off.

"Don't we all..." Tia told me.

"Not you, you ain't ever got the dick." I laughed.

"Yeah, but touching it does somethin' to ya." She shivered then laughed.

"Girl... Whatever. What he did was fucked up though." I told her.

"We all make mistakes and as long as you learn from those mistakes, your fine." She told me making a left turn.

"I definitely learned from that!" I told her.

"Good. Now, please be quiet so we can listen to some music." Tia chuckled and turned on the car radio.

When I found out Alessandro was married, I was crushed. I don't even really do pink meat but he was an exception. That exception just happened to be good and close to the best I've EVER had. He played so many fucking mind games with me and it kind of fucked me up. These niggas don't even be caring of they're married with kids or not. They still fuck around and it's sad. It made me more sad that I was part of breaking up a home. I mean, I didn't know that's what I was doing but I did.

"Bye, girl!" I said with a wave and closed the car door.

I went in the house and immediately hopped in the shower. I only have about thirty minutes to get ready before Jermaine gets here. Now, this is out of the norm for him to want to hang with just me. It's usually everybody as a group but lately it's just been him and I. I just hope he's not trying to do anything. Like I stated before, I'm not ready at the moment. I'm tired of falling hard for niggas who don't appreciate it just to get my heart broken again.

"I'm coming!" I yelled and went into my living room and opened the door.

"Wassup Shanade. Can I come in?" Jermaine asked me.

I moved aside. "Come in." I closed the door once he was inside. "What's up?" I said turning around.

"What you mean?" Jermaine asked me.

"I MEAN, what are you doing HERE at my place?" I asked him.

"To see how everything was with you. How's it goin'?" He asked and took a seat on my couch.

"I'm... Doing... Great. What about you?" I say down across from him.

"I'm good. So how's everything with Alehondross?" He asked me.

"Alessandro and good I guess..." I shrugged dismissing the topic.

"So, when you gon' leave ol' dude alone? EVERYBODY know he playin' you. Deep down you know it too. You should know your worth Shanade. You better than him." Jermaine told me.

"Jermaine, thanks for the encouragement but Alessandro and I are done. No more." I said flaring my arms. "He's old news and everyone knew it and I just didn't listen. Look, I'm tired of talkin' about him so drop the conversation." I exhaled.

"Okay, let's go." He stood up.

"Let's go?" I asked with raised eyebrows.

"Yes, you ain't forget, did you? I said let's go out and do somethin' and you agreed."

God, Courtney you are forgetful these days. "I did... Why isn't everyone else coming?"

"Because they busy. Let's go." He opened the door. "After you."

I walked out the door and locked up my apartment. "Where are we going?"

"To have some much needed fun." He said while we walked down the hallway. "I ain't trying to kidnap you or some shit." He laughed. "Calm down and just follow me."

"Okay." I responded.

We ended up going to Dave & Buster's. We had a fun time and it helped me relax forget about everything that's been on my mind. It was refreshing to not go anywhere with someone without two men following me everywhere I go. Tia's my girl but I don't see how she can do things as if she's not having men follow us wherever we go.

"Thanks." I told Jermaine as we walked to my apartment door.

"You're welcome. That's what frie- you're welcome."

"Why didn't you finish your statement?" I laughed.

"I'm not putting myself in the friend zone to stay." He shrugged with a chuckle.

"But aren't we friends?" I asked him.

"Umm..." He looked at the ceiling.

"What you tryna say?" I asked.

"Well, I haven't been hanging out with you outside the group this long for nothin'. I'm tryna get with you and-" He started but I attempted to cut him off. "Wait, let me finish, I'm cool with taking it slow and all, so don't think I'm trying to rush it or you. Look, I was interested in you when we took that trip to Austria, but you was with somebody at the time so I let y'all do y'all thang." He finished.

"I'm sorry J, but I'm not ready for that type of commitment just yet. That nigga fucked me up with the shit he pulled. You're a nice guy but I just can't..." I trailed off.

"I understand." He nodded. "Well, let me head out. I just wanted to make sure you made it in safely." Jermaine pointed down the hall.

I nodded and walked into my apartment then closed the door. After closing the door, I leaned against it and sighed. Then I swung the door back open. "No, how 'bout- you wanna come in for a bit." I said now standing in the hallway.

"A'ight." He started walking towards me. "That's cool." He nodded.

Let's just say the night ended with a bang (or us banging) and my sister, Jasmine, came home and ended up walking in on us. I mean, we do live together, and that's why I have to get my own apartment SOON!

February 16, 1996

~Tia's P.O.V~

I'm in my office reading over things. I'm ready to go home because ya girl is tired. I've been here all day and honestly need to rest. As of now, I'm not feeling all the way there mentally. Don't get me wrong, I'm happy with everything that I've been blessed with, I'm just stressed and can barely focus on myself or my well-being. It's like I'm always on the go and I just need a breather.

If I'm not out of town filming, I'm at school or doing school related stuff, or I'm here. Even when I am across the country working on film stuff, I'm still doing school work and things related to my business. Traveling is causing me to be in different time zones making me more irritable. Then I have to squeeze in time for therapy sessions and anger management. I don't want to complain because there are people out there doing way more than I am.

I wish I didn't have this crap, this is hard to deal with. The real reason I didn't tell my therapist about this is because people with Borderline Personality Disorder have a bad reputation with therapist. They think we're difficult to deal with. Maybe I am a bit difficult to deal with, but I needed help immediately. I'm happy Mrs. Johnson hasn't given up on me because too many people have already done that including myself at one point.

I wish I could just live a normal life. People say that there is no such thing as a normal life but I beg to differ. Doing just about everything is twenty times harder than the average person. This is the HARDEST disorder to treat according to medical professionals. Not to mention it affecting those around me. The phone began to ring and I stopped tapping myself from tapping my pen that I started to tap unconsciously. I threw my pencil on my desk then answered it with it on speaker.

"Yes?" I spoke.

Afrika cleared her voice then spoke. "Ms. Andrew's, you have a client here to see you."

"Do they have an appointment?" I asked her.

"No, ma'am, he's a new client." Afrika replied.

I looked at my analog clock above my door. I guess I could squeeze in some time. "Okay. Uhh, send him in." I said then pressed the end call button.

"Yes ma'am." She replied.

"Thank you." I pressed the call end button.

Afrika let him in. I gasped, "Dalvin?" I said wide-eyed and surprised. "Long time no see stranger."

"Wassup. How's it going?" He asked standing.

"It's going good. Have a seat." I told him. "How's it going with you?"

"It's goin' good. Look at you on yo bug boss shit." He laughed.

"First of all, I been a boss Dalvin, now I'm a PROFESSIONAL one." I said laughing.

"I know that's right!" He laughed.

We both quieted down. "So, how can I help you today?"

"Well, word around town is yo shit is bomb and went to see for myself and I like it. You got Michael Jackson rockin' yo shit!" He exclaimed with his eyebrows rising even higher.

"I mean..." I fanned myself batting my eyelashes.

He smacked his lips. "A'ight, now. You over here being the female version of Karl Kani but in the south. I want to support yo stuff." He laughed. "I wanted you to create somethin' for Jodeci. We have a few shows and I need it soon." He explained.

"Soon? How soon?" I inquired with a raised eyebrow.

"Two months from now. On the eight of April." He replied.

"The eighth?" I said surprised at his answer.

"Yes." He nodded.

"Dalvin, these things take a time. You can't come and expect it to be done then. Especially it being four of you. Or are there four?" I questioned.

"No, De is staying back." He replied then I nodded.

"What do you have in mind?" I asked him.

"Some fly shit. You know our style."

"Yes, I do, but to give you and myself some guidance, take a look through this book and see what catches your eye." I slid the book across my desk.

"Okay." Dalvin grabbed it and began flipping through the book of designs. He did this for a little while. "This! I want something like this." He pointed at a picture.

I turned it around. "Do you want everything to look identical or fraternal twins?" I asked.

Dalvin thought for a minute. "Fraternal. I don't wanna rock what they rockin', but we're a group and I want us all to dress similar. It could look the same with different colors or you could make it the same color but designed different."

"Hmmm... Let me call Elijah in here. He does the sewing." I told him then called his office. "Elijah, I need you in my office." I pulled out a sketch sheet and a pencil.

"Girl, I'm coming." He said then hung up the phone. Elijah is no longer my assistant, he is now my business partner. Elijah's the sewing and I'm the designer. Yes, your girl can draw her ass off if she could. I've been doing it since I was a child.

Elijah walked into my office. "How can I help you?" He asked Dalvin.

If I'm not mistaking, Dalvin and Elijah have never met. I'm sure they've seen each other and Elijah DEFINITELY know who Dalvin and Jodeci are. "Mr. Dalvin here wants us to design Jodeci some clothing for an upcoming show. Take a look." I gestured to Elijah.

Elijah out his hand on his chest in surprise and walked closer. "Do you have an idea design?"

"I want something like this. This here is dope." Dalvin showed Elijah.

"I can do that. This material is definitely still in. Do you have a color theme?" Elijah asked him.

"No."

"You guys looked great in that silver. What about that?" I chimed in.

"Nahh, somethin' else." Dalvin shook his head.

"What about white with a different color for you all?" I asked and Dalvin nodded his head at me. "The designs can be different as well as the style. One could be a shorts outfit, another with the rolled sleeves without a jacket, a pantsuit, and another with a combination of one of the others I listed. I know somebody always wants to be different from the rest."

"That'll look nice on me. I want the outfit like the one in here with the shorts." Dalvin nodded in agreement.

"Yeah, but what about the others?" Elijah asked.

"What about 'em?" Dalvin looked at us.

"I need everyone's measurements." Elijah stated.

"Here you go." Dalvin took out a piece of paper. "Everybody's stuff is on here next to their name."

"Is this show inside or out? We want you all to be comfortable." I told Dalvin.

"Inside. It's cold as hell outside even in March." Dalvin told me.

"Dude, it is hardly cold down here like up north where we're from." I told him chuckling.

"Wait a minute, it's in March?" Elijah asked Dalvin.

"Yes. It's on the eighth of April. Is that okay?" Dalvin asked.

"Yes, but I'll have to start ASAP. That type of material is hard to color. I've never had to do something in a short amount of time. Thanks for choosing our brand." Elijah thanked Dalvin. "I'm sure you all will like it." He smiled and shook Dalvin's hand after explaining the price. "Anything else?"

"No, thanks. My bad for the short notice." Dalvin apologized.

"It's fine, we'll manage." Elijah told him and shook his hand.

"A'ight, cool." Dalvin nodded.

"Well..." Elijah said not wanting to be unprofessional.

"Oh, I have other business to handle that I need to speak to her about." Dalvin told Elijah.

"Oh, well... Okay..." Elijah eyed me. "Thanks again." He said then left, closing the door behind him.

"What's up?" I sat my pencil back down in my desk.

"About De-"

"I know Dalvin." I told him.

"You know?" He asked me in a skeptical tone and I nodded silently. "You know what?"

"Everything..." I shrugged.

"Everything?"

"Dalvin, YES. I know he went to rehab and now he's out- the whole nine." I told him.

"I knew you knew due to- who told you?"

"I speak to Derek. I'm sure he told you?"

"Ahh, yeah... That nigga thought you was dead." Dalvin told me shaking his head.

"Did he now? He never said that but THANK GOD that I'm still breathing." I exhaled then chuckled awkwardly.

"I'm apologizing for not believing you when you told me and other important people in our circle about that. We didn't listen and look where it got him- well HAD him." He corrected.

"I'm happy that he's better." I spoke with all honesty.

"Yeah, I'm grateful too and I'm sure he is too. You know he didn't mean any of whatever he said to you during... His problem?"

"Until I hear it from him and I feel it's genuine then okay. Don't apologize to me for him or anything he's done." I emphasized the last sentence.

"I understand but just know he didn't send me to apologize for him. De don't even know I'm here." Dalvin explained.

"Okay." I shrugged off. "Like I said before, I'm happy for him and everybody else that had to deal with that- him and are no longer doing so." I looked back at my analog clock. I'm late for my own "party"... "I hope you-"

The door opened and Taimak came in with bouquet of flowers. "Hey, bab- Oh, I'm sorry, I didn't know you had a client." He said walking back to the door. What is he doing here still in Atlanta?

"No, my business with Mr Dalvin is done for today. Thank you Mr. Dalvin." I said politely shaking Dalvin's hand.

"Uhh, yeah. Thanks again for doing this on short notice. See you around." Dalvin began walking to the door. "Oh, and happy birthday." He turned around snapping his fingers.

"How'd you-" I started but cut myself off. Dalvin gave me a knowing look. "Thanks Dalvin."

"No problem, and uhh... De wanted me to give you this as a thank you for what you gave him recently and everything else." Dalvin reached into his big ol' coat pocket.

"And what was that?" Taimak asked curiously with his hands in his pockets.

"Uhh... A plaque." Dalvin side-eyed Taimak like who the heck was he. "Here it's a card and he wanted you to read it. Have a nice birthday." Dalvin then left out my office.

"Thanks." I mumbled already too late because he had already left. I looked at the card for a while, slapped it against my other hand, then put it in my desk drawer. "We have to go babe."

"I know." Taimak put my coat around my shoulders.

"What are you even doing here? You're supposed to be in New York by now." I asked him.

"C'mon now, you KNOW I wasn't going to miss your first birthday we had together. I never left yesterday especially after Valentine's Day. I'll be escorting you, as well as accompanying you at your dinner." He held out his are for me to loop mines. "Oh, and I'll also be your driver."

"Wait, let me go wash my hands." I said after adding my new flowers to the vase, then went to the bathroom attached to my personal office. If DeVanté didn't know Dalvin came, how did he know to give me that card? Somebody is living fowl. After doing what I had to do, I returned and hooked my arm to Taimak's.

"Why are you even working on your birthday?" He asked opening the door.

"When there's work to be done, breaks are rare." I told him locking up. When we made it to the front, I can briefly spoke to Afrika. "I'm SO sorry for keeping you later than I said. Is Elijah still here?"

"No ma'am." Afrika said getting her belonging.

"Ok." I nodded. I rode here with him today and he left me. They planned this, I'm convinced. Taimak and I left right after Afrika while Taimak held the door open.

"You look good." He said as we stepped into the cold night air.

"Thanks babe. As always..." I said fanning myself.

"You better stop fanning yourself before you catch a cold in this weather." He laughed. "But yes, as always hun." He pecked me on the lips then opened my door for me. I got in the car and Tai went over to the other side and got in the car himself.

"Do you even know where we're supposed to go?" I asked him as he drove.

"Of course." He chuckled. "I wouldn't be your chauffer for the day if I hadn't. We're going to your house so you could get ready then the place."

"What place?" I smirked.

"You know... The place..."

"Okay, you don't know. I will be driving when we leave again." I told him as we pulled up in my driveway.

"We'll see about that." He got out the car then came around my way to open the door.

"Yeah we'll see about that." I rolled my eyes playfully then got out the car.

Author's Note: I HAD to include the Cheaters theme song. I remember watching that and Cops as a child. Junk was TOO funny.

Word Count: 5,015
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Thank you all for taking the time out of your day to read another chapter of this story. Thank you for staying despite the slacking.💚🖤❤💜💙💛