Please excuse ANY errors.

November 30, 1998

~Tia's P.O.V~

Just as I was about to knock on the door, the door flew open revealing Courtney. She stepped back and I walked inside.

"You're late," Courtney told me with a slight attitude.

"Well, hello to you too, Courtney," I said closing and locking the door.

I then turned to her to see that she looks STRESSED the hell out. She didn't reply to me AT ALL. She just stood there leaning on one leg with her hand to her mouth. I kicked my heels off and took off my blazer. I just came from work and the traffic was sort of bad as I was leaving which explains my lateness.

"I said hello." I chuckled and she looked at me. "You alright?" I asked her.

"I'm- I'm pregnant..." She said in disbelief.

"WHAT!?" My voice came out a little louder than I intended.

"I mean- I mean, I don't know for sure, but I think so."

"What do you mean you think so?" I questioned. "Is this a celebration or like?" I trailed off.

"NO, it's not a damn celebration!" She huffed. "I don't want no damn kids! I'm not even married. Shit, I'm not even in a damn relationship!"

"My bad..." I held my hands up in defense.

"I mean, I missed my period this month." She revealed.

"Oh. It doesn't mean that much. It could just be late. It happens." I told her.

"No, I MISSED my period for TWO weeks."

"Again Courtney, it HAPPENS," I repeated.

"I took a pregnancy test." She sighed.

My breath hitched. "What'd it say?" I asked her in a curious tone.

"I don't know." She shrugged.

"Courtney... What? This doesn't make ANY sense, sugar." I told her.

"It DOES make sense, Tia."

"I don't think-"

"I didn't look at the test and I was waiting on you to show up to look for me. I'm sorry to put this all on you too, but I didn't want to tell Jazzy. She already has a lot going on. Plus..." She took another deep breath. "Plus, I don't want family knowing about this just in case I am. Then Elijah... Well, Elijah's a man and wouldn't fully understand."

"We girls and that's what we do. We are there for each other. I got you." I told her. The room fell silent again.

I would ask her a CERTAIN question, but she's already stressed, and what if she isn't pregnant? Another question is...

I cleared my throat. "So, how late is your period?" I asked her.

"Two and a half weeks late." She shook her head.

"Since you already took the test then when should the results be ready?" I asked her.

"Now. They have been ready, you're just late." She told me.

"I'm sorry. I am late, but so are you." I chuckled.

She looked at me with a serious expression that could probably stab me in my eyeballs if I don't look away. Then she laughed.

"Tia, this is serious!" She said laughing.

"I know, BUT you don't even know the results yet. Lighten up, girl." I said standing up. "Do you want me to look at it now or what?"

"Yeah- wait, NO!" She panicked.

"Which one is it, sis?" I asked.

"Go, it's in the bathroom on the sink." She pointed.

I nodded and walked in the direction of her bathroom. I looked down at the stick. It wasn't the best kind of test, but it's a test nevertheless. I mean, I have never taken one but I know by word of mouth. I looked down at the test, took a deep breath, then turned it over. Oh... I looked at Courtney.

"Well... What does it say?" She said looking at me anxiously.

"I need the box," I told her with a calm expression.

She handed it to me. I sat down at the edge of her tub, I looked down at the box then at the test. I repeated that action a few times before looking up at Courtney.

"Maybe you should take another one..." I suggested.

"What? Why?" She asked me.

"Just to be on the safe side." I smiled. "You know... To be sure."

"What does it say, Tia?" She asked me again.

I took another deep breath. "It says that it's positive."

Her breath hitched. "What?"

"It says that it's-"

"I heard you the first time." She muttered, taking a seat on the toilet.

"I'm sorry." I apologized. "Maybe we should get another test to be sure," I told her. "Where'd you get this one?"

"Dollar Tree." She told me.

"Well, let's get Clearblue from Walgreens. It's close." I suggested.

"Sure." She shrugged. "I think that positive is really positive. I haven't experienced any sickness or anything, but I have been having other symptoms."

"Like what?"

"Nausea, fatigue, and increased urination."

I nodded. "Well... You stay here OR you could come along and I'll get the test." I told her, standing back up.

"I don't want to be alone, so I'm coming," Courtney said standing up.

I nodded silently and followed her out of the bathroom. We put our shoes and hoodies on and left. Courtney stayed in the truck while I grabbed a test and a few other things. You know, snacks and things just in case. I HOPE it isn't one of those nights, but it just might be although I hope it isn't. I want for her what she wants for her herself and more. That's my best friend and I got her. I paid for what I had and then went back to my truck. I turned back on the car, making the music automatically come back on.

🎶So you're havin' my bab-🎶

Not right now Jodeci! I quickly turned the radio station and looked at Courtney. What a coincidence... The ride to and from wasn't pure silence due to the radio playing.

We went back inside and Courtney took the test, walking straight into the bathroom. I waited outside the door on the floor, waiting as she did her thing. My phone rang, scaring me out if my thoughts. I picked up my phone, bit even looking at the caller ID. I'm pretty sure who it is anyways.

"Hello?"

"Hey, babe. What you doin'?"

"At Courtney's house."

"Oh..." He trailed off weirdly.

"You just getting back from the studio?"

"You want me to pick you up from there or..."

"Huh?" I asked. "No, I drove here."

"Don't tell me you forgot..."

I looked up at the ceiling, stretching my legs out with a sigh. I JUST remembered. Fuck! We were supposed to be going on a date to somewhere we both haven't been, but also something Donald wants us to experience for the first time together. He made reservations. I sighed before speaking.

"Donald, baby. I'm sorry. I forgot and unfortunately, I won't be able to go."

"Why? What's going on? Everything okay with you?" He said throwing me question after question.

"I'm fine. It's just that Courtney needs me right now and probably the rest of the night."

"Is she okay?" He asked me.

"She's just going through something and she REALLY needs me to be here," I said bringing my knees up to my chest and resting my chin on top.

"It's cool. I understand. We'll just go some other time. I just hope everything is okay."

"We're fine, babe," I told him just as Courtney opened the bathroom door. "I'll call you back later. Okay?"

"A'ight, imma get some rest then. I love you."

"I love you," I said before hanging up. I stood up.

"Now we wait," Courtney said already knowing what I was about to ask. She slid down the wall and onto the floor next to me. "Who was that? DeVanté?"

"Yeah." I nodded.

"He had something planned?" She asked me.

"Yeah, but THIS is important," I told her. "How long does the box say wait?" I asked.

"Only a few minutes. Thank you." Courtney said to me. "Thank you for canceling what y'all had going on for me. I'm sorry for my tone over the phone and everything too. This is a lot."

"No problem, girl." I gave her a reassuring smile.

My smile turned into a smirk as I stood up. I started singing and dancing like I was in a TLC music video.

"Friends may come, and friends may go
But you should know that

That I've got your back, it's automatic
So never hesitate to call
'Cause I'm your sister and always for ya, and I-"

Courtney cracked the first smile since I've been here. Good! She also joined in on the singing. Except she could actually sing. Courtney made the song sound better.

"Don't know what I'd ever do without you
From the beginning to the end
You've always been here right beside me
So, I'll call you my best friend
Through the good times and the bad ones
Whether I lose or if I win
I know one thing that never changes
And that's you as my best friend"

We didn't sing the next verse, instead, we just hummed it while dancing and laughing. We would hum every verse but sing the pre-chorus and chorus. I don't think either of us knows the full verses anyway. Courtney was laughing at my horrible singing voice and my eventually sloppy dancing. After doing this for a good ten minutes, I leaned against the wall out of breath.

"Alright." Courtney said as our laughter died down.

"You ready?" I asked her. "Did you want me to look again or are you doing it?"

"Could you, please?" She asked.

I nodded and walked into the bathroom. I picked up the stick, looking at the results. "Courtney, you're pregnant." I looked away from her to look down at the stick that read in big and bold PREGNANT.

"Oh my God." She cried out.

I embraced her as a way of comforting her.

"What am I gonna do?" She cried even harder.

I patted her back. "Whatever you decide to do, I'm still here girl," I reassured her to let her know that she isn't alone.

She continued to cry as we stood there for a good twenty minutes. I feel bad. She finally pulled away, shaking her head.

"What the fuck am I gonna do?" She said walking back into the living room and plopping down on the couch.

"Will you tell Germy (J.Cole)?" I asked her, taking a seat nearby.

"I- I- don't even now w- who's it is." She said looking at me.

THAT was the question I was going to ask. Who's child is it? I just didn't want to be that friend. To be honest, that question is rude.

"Oh, who have you been within the last few weeks?"

"Jermaine, Kofi, and Choi. I didn't think twice about it all until this week when I realized I missed my period. I DO know that I don't want a child." She sighed. "I slipped up with both Choi and Jermaine and we forgot condoms. It still could be any one of theirs. I don't think I want to tell them."

"Now that you do know and what you mentioned before, you should wait it out- maybe even sleep on it for a clearer decision. Plenty of people feel like you feel when they find out but later change their minds. You're stressed right now." I told her.

"I AM stressed, but as you said, my decision isn't as rational as it would be if I got some rest or something." She replied sounding depleted. "I'm tired and hungry."

"I'll see what you got to whip up in there, but there are some snacks right here." I stood up and brought the bag to her.

"Thank you, sis." She smiled. "Always come in clutch."

I chuckled, "You're welcome. Let me see what your almost non-existent cooking ass got in this kitchen." I said walking out of the living room.

"Don't forget the deep fridge in the basement!" She yelled at me.

That creepy ass basement? Hell, no! I'm not going down there ALONE. I don't know the history of this house, but I've been down there alone about twice and frankly, I don't think I'll ever go back down there again. Even when I spent the night at her party, weird things happened. I know I was high as hell, BUT I also know what I saw and heard. I've had enough paranormal experiences growing up and I'll be damned if something follows me home. My phone rang again.

"Hello?" I answered.

"Girl, where you at?" Elijah said checking up on me.

"Courtney's house."

"I thought you said you were going home?" Elijah asked.

"I was but decided to come to Courtney's," I replied, looking through the fridge.

Sausage patties, bacon, eggs, milk, orange juice, and baking soda! 🤢 No nose plugs, so no ma'am!

"Oh. I knew you weren't home because I just left home. What is y'all doing?"

"I'm looking for something to make, but don't see crap in this fridge or freezer that I make a meal with."

"I'm on my way with some food then," Elijah told me. "I'm not doing shit anyway, so I might as well hang with my sisters!"

"I-"

"I'm on my way! Bye!" He said hanging up.

I looked at my phone for a split second in disbelief. This motherf- I closed the freezer not finding anything much then washed my hands. I went back into the living room, looking at Courtney.

"Umm... Sis?" I called out.

She turned to me. "Could you stay the night? We haven't done this in a while and I don't feel like being alone today."

"Yeah, I'll stay. I shall warn you that Elijah is on his way." I told her.

"I don't want him to know because I don't wanna hear his mouth." She told me.

"I get it and that's why I'm telling you. He hung up before I could get another word in. He's also coming with the food."

"Oh, GOOD!"

"I'm going to go to the car for my laptop," I told her putting on my heels. "And for a change of clothes."

I put my heels and blazer back on to go outside. I have no clue why I put the blazer back on because it's HOT. I opened my trunk and grabbed my travel laptop and bag. I closed the trunk and saw headlights in the reflection of my back window. I turned around and saw a car. Even though the lights are dang near blinding, I could see that it isn't Elijah's car. The car was turned off, revealing who it is. Oh, snap! I ran back into the house, closed then locked the door behind me.

"Why did you just run in here like that?" She asked me laughing.

"Choi is on his way up to your door right now. He was right behind me." I told her all in one breath.

"Tell him I don't want any company."

"Right..." I nodded feeling like an idiot.

There was a knock on the door that I'm currently leaning on. I opened the door with a smile and he looked at me awkwardly. Probably because I ran in here like a madwoman after making direct eye contact with him.

"Hi..." I greeted him so awkwardly.

"Hello, why'd you do that just now?" He chuckled awkwardly.

"Do what?" I asked.

"Run inside like that after I saw you."

"I was just practicing for cross country." I chuckled.

"Where Courtney?" He asked me. "Can I come in?"

"She's inside. She uh- she doesn't want any company right now."

"She doesn't want any company, but you're standing right here, Tia..." He said awkwardly.

"She's feeling a little under the weather and I'm taking care of her." I smiled. "So if you could just like... Go?" I said not sure if I was asking or telling with a shrug.

"Is there something I did?" He asked me.

"You didn't just hear me just now? I said she's sick, now scat." I told him with sort of a harsh tone. "I'll tell her to give you a call or something."

"Is it something I did?" He asked.

"No. I'm sorry. Like I said she's sick and doesn't feel like having company at the moment. I'm sorry for coming off mean." I told him.

"Okay, we'll when she starts feeling better, could you tell her to give me a call?" He asked me.

"Will do." I smiled just as Elijah pulled up.

What GREAT timing! I mean that in the most sarcastic way. I shift my eyes back to Choi who's walking to his car. Elijah got out of the car.

"Hey, girl!" Elijah came up to the door. He looked at me. "So you gon' move over so I could come in or not?" He scoffed.

I moved over and Choi gave me a confused look before entering his car. I closed the door.

"Hey E!" Courtney hugged him.

"Hey, girl." He hugged her back.

"Where the food at?" I asked Elijah. "And how come you didn't tell me you were near?"

"Oh! I thought that we should go out to eat. We haven't done that in a while now. We have been so busy with our man and work. I think it's a great idea for all three of us to go out. I DID say that I left the house and you know I drive fast."

"You mean, you speed and cut red lights." I corrected him.

"Whatever." Elijah rolled his eyes.

I looked at Courtney. Elijah is right. We haven't been out with each other in a whole month. I mean, we've been to her house and she's been to ours but we haven't been anywhere as a whole group in a while. Maybe Courtney needs to get out of the house. While I may enjoy being home, sometimes that contributes to stress too. Being pregnant is stressful, especially in her situation.

"Okay." Courtney shrugged. "Let me put some clothes on and we could go."

"Alright, well I gotta piss. So imma go in there."

"Wait, I think I left my phone in there. I don't want you to get it wet." I chuckled then walked inside, closing the door a bit.

I unraveled some tissue, wrapped it around the test, and shoved the test in my blazer. I walked out without a word.

"Your phone is right here." Elijah pointed to the couch.

"There it is!" I laughed. "I'm over here looking everywhere thinking I left it in there." I shook my head. "Thanks." I grabbed my phone, before sitting down.

Elijah gave me an awkward look before entering the bathroom. I looked down at my phone and Courtney called my name from the other room.

"Tia?"

"Huh?" I looked up.

"Girl, help me look for something to wear!" She told me.

"Girl, just put on something decent so we could eat." I laughed, standing at the entrance rod her room with my hand on my hip. "I'm hungry too."

She rolled her eyes. "Help me look for something."

I walked to the closet and pulled a couple of things out.

"Uh- uhnnn... Bihhh, why are there pregnancy test boxes in the trash can?" Elijah asked Courtney, standing at her door while waving his index finger around.

"It's mine," I spoke up.

"Both of them? DeVanté clapping those cheeks now, huh?" He laughed.

I gave a firm, "NO, not that it's ANY of your business. I took it- we both took one as a joke. We thought it'd be funny." I told him.

"Oh." He nodded in understanding.

"Yeah." Courtney chuckled.

I pulled out some clothes. "What about this?"

"You want me to wear THIS while y'all dressed like THAT?" Courtney said with her hands on her hips.

"You asked me to-"

"Girl move. I'll find something myself." She pushed me to the side.

"You asked me to look. I didn't offer." I pointed to her while laughing. "We'll be in the car waiting for you," I told her.

"Alright."

Elijah and I walked out of her room. Before I left out of her house, I went to use the bathroom. I always have to go before leaving. I also washed using feminine sports wipes. I always have a few packs in my overnight bag because it's convenient. I don't stink, but throughout the day we can accumulate sweat in in-between places. I put on a new pair of underwear as well, washed my hands again, and walked out into the living room. I put my blazer and heels back on.

~Elijah's P.O.V~

As soon as we made it outside Courtney's door, I turned to Tia and opened my mouth to speak. "Y'all really did that as a joke?"

Tia turned to me. "DUHH!"

I pursed my lips. "You sho' DeVanté-"

"NO!" She said laughing. "He ain't bussin' NO cheeks and nobody bussin' his."

"Shit I hope not!" I told her laughing. "You know I can almost always tell. I don't get those vibes from him nor have I ever heard about him with no niggas. Even though they do be hitting on him with his lil flat ass." I chuckled.

"He got a lil somethin' in the back, but it's the front that counts." She rolled her neck at me.

"I know that's right!" I egged her on. "But I like me a man with something in the FRONT and BACK."

"Hey, that's your preference." Tia shrugged.

"I don't even know why we standin' out here, I'm cold as fuck. Let's go to my car."

"No sir! We don't wanna ride with you. You drive too crazy and you're in your sports car." Tia said laughing. "I don't even know why I followed you over here."

"Don't do me, because I'm not THAT bad," I told her.

"How many cars have you wrecked?" Tia asked me. "I'll wait..." She leaned on one leg.

"Don't come for me." I chuckled.

"Oh, but I already did." She smiled then laughed.

"So who car we goin' in?" I asked her.

"We can take my car!" Courtney said locking her house door.

"Want me to drive?" Tia asked.

"Sure." Courtney walked to her car.

"I could drive," I told her.

"Hell NO!" Both of them shouted.

Tia looked at me. "That's the point of not getting in your car. You don't want nobody else to drive but you, which is understandable-"

"Nigga, you drive reckless," Courtney told me straight up.

"Uh- uhnnn. I know y'all hags didn't just do me as y'all did me." I pointed to them.

"Get yo ass in the car," Courtney said laughing.

"That means I gotta get in the back." I rolled my eyes and got inside.

"Too bad, so sad." Tia laughed, starting up the car. "So how was spending the holiday with your folks Eej?"

"It was... Okay." I shrugged. "Dad pissed me off though. Oh, and I also saw your dad- your BIOLOGICAL one."

"Sperm donor and so?" Tia chuckled with a shrug.

"So? He stopped me and he said he been tryna get in contact with you for years now." I told her, holding back laughter.

"Now you know..." She trailed off, pulling out the driveway. "You know DAMN well that man ain't been doing that. He knows how to contact me. I speak to my grandparents on a weekly basis. He really wanted to contact me, he could easily do so by asking them for my number. " She said laughing and I joined in. "All he does is lie with his sloppy ass."

"You ain't have to do him like that," Courtney said laughing her ass off. Shit, I was too.

"I mean..." I trailed off.

"EXACTLY!" Tia said laughing. "Courtney, you just haven't met him. He just lies for NO reason. It doesn't make any sense."

"We see who his son got it from," I told Tia.

"While that's true, leave him out of this, please," Tia told me. "What happened with your folks though?"

"Shit, what didn't happen?" I chuckled.

"Elaborate," Courtney spoke up.

"Just like back in October, there was a bunch of bickering. Only Diane has a reason. She's pregnant with mood swings. It was more so my dad than her though, but you know I just don't like her for what she did." I rolled my eyes at the situation.

"I know." Tia nodded.

"That is fucked up." Courtney shook her head.

"It is, but other than that, she's alright. She got my dad on a straight path and they havin' kids. She's not too bad." I told them. "Imma always be a faggot in his eyes, even when he doesn't say it. I know he be wanting to so bad. It's ridiculous."

"That's a shame. It be your own family..." Tia said to me. "You, Courtney?" Tia asked her.

"You know my family is close-knit. We had a ball and the food was so damn good. I fell right asleep after eating too." Courtney chuckled. "We played games and shit though beforehand. Acted a fool."

"That is beautiful." Tia smiled. "I like it when the family can be family and not fight so much."

"What happened with the in-laws?" Courtney asked her.

"In-laws? Chile, we ain't married." Tia chuckled.

"Yet," I told her.

"I was just about to say that," Tia told me. "We had fun. It reminded me a little of my family way back when I was a child. Except better. There weren't really any problems. We had fun, but I'm still warming up to them."

"What happened?" Courtney asked.

"Same as y'all family, except I didn't eat myself into a food coma. The food was good, but I ain't wanna look too greedy, so I took most of what I wanted to go. Well, told Donald to anyways." She chuckled.

"The parents like each other?" Courtney asked her.

"Yeah, they get along just fine. Only thing is that Donald's parents didn't like the music their family was playing. I thought the whole family was like that. You know, only listen to gospel, but no. Shoo, everybody else was jamming though. I'm telling you, a gang of fun. His grandparents are sweet too."

"I'm happy for you," I told her.

Tia had ALWAYS loved the idea of a close-knit family and she's getting what she wanted. I do too, but I don't have MUCH family. All there is me, my dad, and his newly forming family. My family is progressing but still not quite there yet. It's a work in progress. I have Max too. We don't exactly have the same ideals or goals, but I love my man.

"Me too." Tia nodded.

"Me too." Courtney agreed with us both. "I'm happy that y'all are happy."

"Oh, how could I forget!" Tia chuckled. "I called on my dad, but I said daddy and DeVanté gon' respond. I was embarrassed."

"For real?" Courtney and I said in sync.

"Yes! He knows dang well I never called him daddy- well, except years ago as a joke, but we weren't even together then and we were playing!" Tia said laughing. "My dad gave him the coldest look ever and told him not to play with him in other words though."

"I would've been embarrassed as fuck." Courtney said still laughing.

"He knew what he was doing," I said with my laughter dying down.

"And DID!" Tia said laughing. "The look on everyone's faces was just priceless. My mama's eyes were bigger than normal and THAT speaks volumes. It was a joke though and everybody just ended up laughing it off. Anywho..." She trailed off. "Where the frick am I driving to?"

"That's why you should've let me drive!" I told her.

"Tell her where we goin'," Courtney ordered.

"A restaurant in Sandy Springs since we dressed up," I told her.

"So nowhere specific?" Tia asked me.

"Nope. Just out." I told her. "Courtney, you're usually quiet."

"Huh?" She asked.

"I said you unusually quiet," I repeated.

"Oh, I'm just thinking."

"About what?" I asked.

"EVERYTHING!" She chuckled and then turned the radio up.

"The new year is coming up and it's the LAST New Year of the century." Tia shook her head.

"Yeah, that's crazy. We gettin' on up there. Touching thirty in a lil bit!" I told them.

"What are you talking about? I'm not even twenty-seven! Don't push me up there with you." Tia laughed.

"Right!" Courtney laughed. "Let us enjoy our twenties!"

"I know that's right! Ain't no rush in getting older." Tia glanced at me through the rearview. "That's Donald, he closer than I am."

"He about to turn next year, right?" Courtney asked.

"Yeah. He's kinda old." Tia said laughing.

"Mines too. Courtney here doesn't have to worry about that. Germy is young." I chuckled.

"But Kofi Creamer is OVER thirty and Choi IS thirty," Courtney said to me.

"That's why Jermaine is so damn childish. He young as hell." I told her.

"He's only a few years younger. He's a'ight, but yeah... He is kinda childish." Courtney agreed.

"And I- OOP!" Tia said to her. "That's tea."

"No for real. He's not stable and at this point, I don't see myself having a relationship with him. It could change, but I'm not waiting in a man to see whether he likes me or not." Court ey told us.

"Aman! Make sure the man likes and loves you more than him." I said to Courtney.

"That's what grandma always said and look at her and my grandpa. I didn't understand that then, but I get it now." Tia told us, putting on the turning signals.

"And she was right. Men tend to have roving eyes and actions. You're lucky these days to even get that." Courtney said to us.

"Yeah, but sometimes it's not that they love you more, they just match your love language which could be different from yours," I told them, slightly backtracking.

"Yeah, but also a woman tends to love men more than they love them. Women tend to love men more than they love THEMSELVES and do crazy things for them so they COULD love us and don't get shut in return but lies, women in the side, kids on the side, physical and verbal abuse, kids they don't take care of, and in many cases, DEATH. Look at Fatal Attraction and shows like it." Courtney told us.

"True..." Tia agreed. "I don't necessarily think it's one partner loving another more, BUT in different aspects of their personality or relationship in general."

"Courtney, you can't say much because you messin' with three dudes as we speak," I told her.

She turned to me, rolling her eyes. "Nan one of them made a commitment to me and ONLY me. Until then, I'm going to do what I do and hopefully, the right one comes along. Choi is the ONLY one who seems like he's getting around it. The other two? Nahh... They just wanna fuck." She shrugged.

"It's a mutual agreement that you agreed to though," I said to Courtney.

"Elijah, you can't come for her when not too long ago, you were doing the same thing," Tia told me.

"I'm not coming for her. I'm just telling the truth, Ms. Thang." I chuckled. "I won't deny that I was sleeping around, but not too far from that, I was a virgin. Plus, you can't say anything either. You had a lil phase late last year and real early this year." I told Tia.

"I was dating around, but I wasn't SLEEPING around." Tia shook her head.

"A bit of coochie munching was going on." I looked at her.

"I mean... Yeah, but I wasn't doing anything. I ain't put no work in, they did." Tia laughed.

"But you had DeVanté wait for that long for him to nyam you?" Courtney asked Tia.

"You don't know how long I waited," Tia told her. "Y'all don't even know if it is happening," Tia spoke to the both of us.

"You waited a while because I sure do be hearing things that I ain't heard before on that other side of the house..." I trailed off speaking to Tia.

"Hold up? When did this happen?" Tia asked me. "That house is fairly new, so it could be the house settling."

I decided to answer. "Nahhh, girl. It wasn't no damn house settling." I decided to answer her question. "The day after we saw the movie. You were mad at him that whole day, but the next morning he was tearing you up. I heard could tell by your voice and his. Loud as ever. The only reason that I heard is that I was going for a midnight snack, but it seems that your man had the same thing in mind. "

"Whaaaa?" Tia asked me.

"Mmhm." I pursed my lips.

"That wasn't me, that was the television," Tia told me. "It was VERY VERY VERY loud."

"Moaning your man's name? The woman sounded like you, but higher." I raised my eyebrows.

"Donald is a common name, Eej." Tia told me.

"Oh, a'ight." I poked my lips out. "Back to last year, remember Simu?" I asked Courtney.

"The actor guy? What's his last name? Siu?" Courtney asked.

"No. It's Liu." Tia nodded.

"Yeah," Courtney said looking at Tia. "I remember him. She ain't even tell us about him. We found out on our own."

"Tia always seems to go for the men who specialize in martial arts. Except for DeVanté. That nigga don't know none of that." I told Courtney, laughing.

"Donald can fight though. He's also learning it from his PRO girlfriend." Tia popped her collar. "We teaching each other new things."

"You dropped everything for his ass," I said to Tia.

"Who? Donald?" Tia asked me.

"Yeah! Who else?" I laughed.

"Not really. I mean, YES I did come on a lil TOO strong on Courtney's birthday. I'm not gon' blame it on the brownies because I just did what I wanted to do. BUT I ain't drop everything for him. He earned his spot fair and square. We had more of a bond anyways- a BETTER bond." Tia told us.

"Y'all better had! Y'all knew each other for damn near a decade." I said laughing.

"True!" Courtney agreed with me.

"Y'all both were young as fuck. You just being nineteen at the time." I told Tia. "Y'all damn near grew up with each other being that damn young."

"Yeah, because the ME now wouldn't be so dang trusting. I stayed in his HOUSE for Christ's sake! Lucky he wasn't one of THEM other kind of people in this industry. When I found out who he was- you know being a celebrity I'm like okay, cool, so he not gon' pull nothin'. I'll be doggone. I had too much trust in people because of their celebrity status. If my parents or grandparents knew, they would've told me OFF and snatched me up. I was a fool, but a LUCKY fool." She chuckled.

"Yeah, that was wild of you." Courtney laughed.

"Hell, yeah." I chuckled.

"You know, I kinda knew which is why I didn't tell anyone. Another mistake! Anything could've happened. But it wasn't what I should've been doing. I was getting my first taste of freedom and just doing wild stuff. Things Donald still speaks of to this day." Tai shook her head.

"Shit, I probably would've done the same thing with his fine ass. Him and his brothers. Shit, friends too." I laughed.

"I don't care how fine a man is. If I was who I am now, that wouldn't have happened." Tia told us.

"You live and you learn," Courtney told her.

"Aman to that!" Tia and I said in sync.

We pulled up to the front where they had valet parking. "I ain't ever been here," I said getting out of the car.

"Donald took me here for a date. It's nice." Tia said to me, giving the keys to the valet.

"It looks nice, but is the FOOD GOOD?" Courtney questioned.

"Yes, and they aren't stingy with their portions. Most of these restaurants out here love to overcharge you for adding a couple of leaves." Tia said to us laughing and shaking her head.

The door was opened for us. "Thank you." We all said in sync.

"We don't need reservations?" I asked Tia.

"You can, but they do walk-ins too on days like this. It's a Monday. Most people are out shopping for Cyber Monday and are looking for fast and quick meals." She told us. "Even the rich folks. They love those Cyber Monday deals too." She chuckled.

"They? Ain't you in that category now?" Courtney asked Tia.

"Yeah!" I answered for her.

"You too!" Courtney said to me.

"Yeah, but I'm not as high up as she is," I told Courtney. "I'm only in the fashion and make-up industry. She, on the other hand doing a whole bunch of other shit."

"You will be soon." Tia smiled.

"Hello, table for three?" I spoke up.

"Yes, sir. Are you all over the age of twenty-one?" They asked us. "I need IDs."

"They never really know how old black people are," Courtney muttered to us and Tia gave a low chuckle.

"Yes," I replied grabbing my ID.

We all showed our IDs. "Right this way."

We were led and then seated. "I will be soon?" I asked Tia.

"Mmhm. Do you see how many people are promoting our stuff now? People that others adore and we know what happens then. The people want to wear something similar- if not the same thing as these celebrities." Tia replied.

"Yeah, our last line sold out within thirty-six hours. That was amazing! I'm proud of us." I told her.

"DUHH, y'all got the MAIN TWO JACKSON's rocking y'all shit." Courtney chuckled. If Janet and Michael Jackson approve, then... you know the rest."

"I KNOW!" I bragged. "I'm loving it, but I STILL won't get to where yo ass is financially. As I grow, you grow."

"It's not a competition to the top, Eej," Tia told me.

"Right, that's how you making it sound," Courtney told me.

"I didn't mean it like that. I'm correcting her statement." I said to both of them. "She said I'll be where she is soon. I won't."

"In a way... Yeah, you will. I just won't be there anymore." Tia told me. "We're both doing our thing and that's all that matters. This year put our brand on the map. We even got invited to Paris Fashion week earlier in the year. "

"One thing you don't do is compare yourself to folks. You will never be satisfied, but burnt out trying." Courtney told me.

"Y'all right." I nodded. "I guess I was in a way comparing us."

"What'd you get last time you were here?" Courtney asked Tia.

"I had salmon wellington and Don had the lamb rack that he claimed was SO good." She chuckled. "My food was good."

"I'm getting me some lamb. That boy knows how to eat. I trust his judgment." I told them. Tia's eyes widened and I could tell she was holding back laughter. "I ain't mean it like that." I playfully rolled my eyes at her.

"Elijah, what the heck are you talkin' about?" Tia asked with a bat of her eyelashes.

I shot her a brief glance, then began reading off my menu. "Lamb, mashed potatoes and gravy and mac and cheese."

"I'm getting that too with some broccoli. It sounds SO good right now." Courtney said licking her lips at the thought.

"I'm getting the stuffed salmon with white wine cream sauce," Tia told us. "Mashed potatoes, asparagus, and hush puppies. Oooh, that sounds so good." She made her body shiver.

"Sh'oll do," Courtney said. "I'm thinking about some scallops too."

"Donald had me try that. I never had them before then. It was good and hopefully theirs is too." Tia said to Courtney.

"Wanna some of mine?" Courtney offered.

"Yes, thank you!" Tia said with her hand on her chest.

"Remember when we used to go out when we were teenagers and when someone offered to pay and yo ass wouldn't order shit?" I reminded her they laughed then looked at Courtney. "But would pick off everybody else's plate."

Tia laughed. "I remember."

"You did that?" Courtney questioned.

"Girl, yes. I'd make my own plate from theirs and everything. It was BOMB too." Tia chuckled.

"That used to get me mad as fuck too, but for some reason this reminded me of that." I shook my head. "Frugal with other people's money and shit."

"That's because y'all would go all out too. Y'all ain't care. My family taught me not to take advantage of things like that. Since y'all did, I didn't." Tia shrugged.

"Times sure have changed. Now we're the ones picking up the tab. Speaking of tabs, it's on me this time." I told them.

"A'ight, but I'm hungry and ain't skimping no more. Ye girl is hungry." Tia laughed.

"Hello!" Courtney and Tia pounded fists, laughing.

A waiter came to our table. "I'm Dallas, your waiter for the day. What will you all have to drink?" She said pouring us some water in a glass.

"We didn't even think of that. Too busy looking at the food." I said to the waiter with a chuckle.

"Lemonade," Courtney told the waiter.

I looked at her surprised. Lemonade!? "I'll have the Sidebar," I spoke up.

"This water will do just fine," Tia told them.

"Alright, you said you were too busy looking at the food, have any of you decided on a meal?" Dallas asked.

"Yeah." We all said together.

We ordered as Dallas wrote everything down. When the waiter, Dallas, left and I eyed Courtney.

"When do you EVER turn down a chance to drink alcohol?" I asked her.

"I'm just not in a mood to. I just want some lemonade. The moment I saw it on the menu, I wanted it." Courtney smiled.

"Mm," I said not really believing her.

"The New Year is coming and why wait for the New Year? I need to slow down some anyways." Courtney replied.

"MM," I said even louder.

"Elijah, stop it." Tia squinted at me. "Leave her be, dude."

"I'm just thinkin' about how much out of the norm for her." I shrugged. "You okay?" I asked Courtney.

"I am, so drop it. Please." Courtney told me.

"I will," I said looking at Tia. "I do have questions for later though."

Word Count: 7,200
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